Edge Davao 5 Issue 111

Namunga’g Durian sulod sa mall

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

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Serving a seamless society

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Science/ Environment

Property

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Gays hit dad for discrimination ICONS. One of the malls in Davao City decorates its atrium with two of the most popular symbols of the Kadayawan Festival, Durian and ethnic-designed fabric. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

By Jade C. Zaldivar

L

Sports

Page 16

EADERS of the gay community yesterday criticized Councilor Berino Libayao Mamboo, indigenous people’s (IP) sectoral representative for his discriminatory stand against them.

Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, Rhoy Diaz, executive director of Iwag Dabaw, which counts 500 members, said that Mambo-o’s stand was opposed to the policy of the city’s leaders particularly the

policy advocacy of Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte against any form of discrimination on any group of Dabawenyos.

Diaz said Mambo-o ought to be educated that the gay community

Kadayawan special

has been participating actively in community events, especially Kadayawan, for more than a decade now.

His views were echoed by Ramonito “Diding” Lopez and Jinky

Guino-o, both organizers of the Miss Gay Universe Davao timed during the Kadawayan festival.

This developed as Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio rejected the stand of Mambo-o who is against the holding of the gay pageant during the festival.

Mambo-o in previous weeks had said that the Miss Gay Universe pageant set for August 10 at the

FGAYS, 10

Dabawenyos can learn from Malaysians

By Antonio M. Ajero (2nd of 3 parts)

Follow Us On

n Sara backs Miss Gay Universe pageant n Says people need to learn respect and tolerance.

D

ABAWENYOS have their own identity, according to Consul General in Davao City Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, in describing the natives of Davao City and those who have come to settle in this city.

The consul general of Malaysia, whose tour of duty in Mindanao is about to end, said that apart from identity, Dabawenyos must have a strong sense of belonging and unity as a people.

n The turning point in Malaysia’s history was the 1969 racial riots were thousands were killed.

“We are very proud that we are Malaysians,” Mazlan said, discussing the concept of “One Malaysia” wherein the three major races in the country –Chinese, Malays, and Indians – act as one regardless of ethnicity, regardless of the color of their skins, regardless of their religion.

Thousands killed in 1969 racial riots

Earlier describing Davao City as an “epitome of peace,” Consul General Mazlan said the turning point in Malaysia’s history came after they lost thousands of lives in the 1969 racial riots, when ethnic differences over economic status, specifically disparity in income, erupted into violence.

“What you now see in as a dy-

namic, progressive country did not come overnight,” the diplomat said. “Malaysia has gone through perseverance, hard work, tears and blood of our people.”

When Malaysia got its independence in August 31, 1957, there was a wide disparity of income mainly between the ethnic Chinese and the indigenous Malay.

This was due to the “divide and rule” policy that their colonizers,

FDABAWENYOS, 10

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THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Washed away houses

City gives P3T to every owner

By Jade C. Zaldivar

F

CLIMATE CHANGE. Dr. Maria Linda Arquiza, director of Institute of Popular Opinion (2nd from right), suggests that the government should educate the people on how to help in the fight against climate change during Kapehan sa

Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. With her are Dr. Rey Cuizon (extreme left), Prof. Maian Cozo (2nd from left), and Dr. Adrian Tamayo (extreme right). [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

IPO report

OLLOWING the destruction of more than 70 houses brought by violent waves spawned by the southwest monsoon, the city government has begun giving P3,000 to each of the house owners.

Houses of illegal settlers along coastal areas in Davao City were washed away by the waves dawn of August 1.

Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio yesterday said the matter is being monitored by the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) under Ma. Luisa Bermudo.

“Those whose houses were completely washed away or whose houses suffered substantial damage will receive assistance from the city,” the mayor said, adding, “in the first place, such areas should not be for habitation.”

“They’re not supposed to receive assistance since they know they’re living

in a prohibited area, but since they have incurred material damage from a natural disaster, we must take notice of them,” she said.

The wooden houses were constructed by illegal settlers in such a way that they would float simulate floating on the water with minimal support.

“They have been constantly reminded that they should not be staying there because those are identified as dangerous areas” the mayor added.

Areas affected by the sudden swelling of the sea are Sabroso village in Ecoland, Purok 12-B in Bucana, and Sta. Cruz, Barpa and Agdao district.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Services Administration (Pagasa) said the southwest monsoon is a phenomenon which usually occurs from June to September.

Climate change worries Davao most T P7.82 M budget

By Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman HE Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) of the University of Mindanao says climate change is the main concern of Dabawenyos among the 11 pre-identified environmental issues.

There were 1,150 respondents in the environmental survey, aged 18 years and over, all residents across the three districts of Davao City. Respondents in the 10-day survey (May 16-26, 2012) covered all barangays, according to Dr. Malen Arquiza, IPO executive director.

A month after the observance of Earth Hour, the IPO survey showed that Dabawenyos are most worried about climate change-issues and that they consider them as the most alarming environmental problems of the city today.

From the data provided by the IPO, global warming and it’s effects ranked first

with regards to the Dabawenyos’ concern on environmental issues, followed by deforestation, city flooding, energy crisis, and air pollution.

Arquiza said those were the top five concerns of Dabawenyos. Ranked sixth is pollution of drinking water, followed by coastal degradation and loss of marine resources, pollution of rivers and water reservoirs, mining and its effects, urbanization and loss of open/free spaces and maintenance of the city’s fresh water supply, respectively.

Eight out of ten respondents expressed concern for pollution of drinking water, coastal degradation, loss of marine resources and as well as the pollution of rivers and water reservoir and about seven out of ten expressed concern for mining and its effects, urban sprawl

and loss space and maintenance of the city’s fresh water supply.

As mentioned, the current levels of Dabawenyos’ concern about these environmental issues are common not only to Davao City but also to other cities of the country as well. Together with Dr. Arquiza in stating the results of their survey, were professor Maian Cozo, Dr. Adrian Tamayo and Dr. Rey Cuizon, all from IPO. Environment protection Cozo said the same respondents were asked which between environment protection and energy production the government should prioritize. He added that almost nine out of ten respondents said environmental protection (88.69%) is of more urgent concern than energy production.

The result of the survey

also shows that Dabawenyos favor environment friendly solutions for addressing the city’s energy problems. They prefer that the city government put greater emphasis on the development of alternative renewable energy sources (95.65%), and the promotion of self-imposed discipline on energy conservation by consumers (92.52%) as the best ways to address the city’s energy crisis.

Meanwhile, distribution or rationing of energy supply (34.96%) and more production of energy from nonrenewable sources (8%) are considered least solutions to the energy problems.

According to Cuizon, it is a good thing to know that Dabawenyos are willing to sacrifice for the sake of all in terms of solutions for addressing the city’s energy problems.

for Kadayawan

T

HE budget for this year’s Kadayawan Festival is about P7,827,000, according to City Mayor Sara DuterteCaprio. Much of it is for cash prizes pegged at P6,226,750.

The amount of P860,000 was earlier released the city’s barangays to fund for their various activities in line with the festival, while P401,672 was released to various communities and organizations for the same purpose, the mayor said.

The preparations and logistics for the festival was given a budget of

P338,600 under “administration expenses.”

Duterte-Carpio said this year’s cash prizes were increased for both visiting and local contingents competing in the street dancing competition.

“One suggestion after last year’s festival was that we increase the prizes for the Dabawenyo contestants since winners from outside the city had higher prizes than the local winners,” she said.

“So this year, the first prize in both categories will be at half a million (P500,000),” she said. [ JADE

Three more DavaoSur town Duerme, Dureza mayors under surveillance team up for art exhibit L I C. ZALDIVAR]

By Anthony S. Allada

By Carlo P. Mallo

F the arrest of Jose Abad Santos town mayor James Joyce last week proved anything, it underscores how heated elections Davao del Sur have become.

After the arrest of Joyce last Thursday for alleged illegal possession of firearms, sources of Edge Davao revealed that three more municipal mayors in that province have reportedly been placed under surveillance by the police . The three are said to be allies of former

Davao del Sure 2 district congressman Claude Bautista.

Bautista is the archrival of incumbent Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Ra. Cagas.

The two faced off in the 2010 elections for the gubernatorial post. It remains unclear whether the two will face off again in the 2013 elections.

According to the source, under surveillance are the mayors of Malita, Santa Maria, and Sarangani.

In a raid conducted by nd

the Regional Intelligence Unit 11 dawn of Thursday, an arm cache was confiscated from the Joyce estate.

However, the Joyce family claims that all the firearms confiscated from the estate are duly licensed.

Joyce is out on bail while the charges against his staff have been dismissed for lack of probable cause and insufficiency of evidence.

The search warrant used during the raid was issued

by Judge Marino M. Dela

Cruz Jr, executive judge of regional trial court in the National Capital Judicial region, Branch 22 in Manila.

The Joyce camp is questioning the legality of the issuance of the search warrant, which was issued in Metro Manila. “We believe that this will not be the last.

There will be more forms of harassment against our family as the election season comes closer,” Joyce’ son, lawyer Jason John Joyce, said.

AWYER Domingo Duerme and businesswoman Elizabeth Dureza have teamed up to launch the debut of their back-to-back visual art exhibit as part of the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MinTTE) 2012 at The Atrium Annex, SM City Davao, Matina, Davao City.

Duerme and Dureza are prominent personalities in the tourism and business sectors. Duerme is the vicepresident for Mindanao of the Philippine Airlines while

Dureza, wife of former Presidential Adviser for Mindanao lawyer Jesus Dureza, owns the Seagull Resorts, Inc. The exhibit dubbed “D2D, The Duerme-Dureza Art Exhibit” will display their artworks through the guidance of renowned artist and curator Victor Secuya.

During the media launching of the expo last week, Secuya said that Duerme’s art is primarily based on watercolors which is “a very difficult material to manipu-

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EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

3

Holcim to establish P250 million waste-to-energy facility in Ilang

C

MISS GAY. Ramonito “Diding” Lopez, one of the organizers of “Miss Gay Universe Kadayawan” (right), says they will go on with the pageant despite Councilor Datu Berino Mambo-o’s proposal to not include it during Kapehan

sa Dabaw yesterday at the Annex of SM City Davao. With him is Roy Diaz, executive director of Iwag Davao. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

DOT Sec. Jimenez to grace MinTTE 2012 at SM Davao T

OURISM Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. is definitely gracing the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MinTTE) 2012 set on August 17 to 19 at The Atrium Annex of SM City Davao.

This was confirmed yesterday by Department of Tourism Region 11 Director Art Boncato at the Kapehan sa SM City Davao.

Boncato was with Charito Aranda, president of the Dabaw Tourism Operators Association (Dabtoa) which is organizing the three-day MinTTE 2012.

“Jimenez will arrive on the second day,” Aranda said.

The opening ceremony will be on Aug. 17 at 2 p.m.

with Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian as special guests.

Joining the event are key players in the tourism and trade related industries from all over the country along with some international guest exhibitors.

Lawyer Domingo Duerme and businesswoman Elizabeth Dureza will also make their first back-to-back visual art exhibit entitled “D2D: The Duerme-Dureza Art Exhibit”.

“A painting by Mayor Sara (Duterte) will also be on display in the exhibit,” Aranda said.

Tribu K’Mindanawan will perform a cultural dance number while a Hip-Hop Dance Inter-School contest will also be staged on Aug. 17.

On Aug. 18, a tourism forum will be hosted involving Sta. Cruz Tourism and Davao del Norte Tourism offices.

Halal Culture and Practices and HSRMA are included in the program while there will be performances by the Voicework Theater Company, Tieza Dance Group and the Bonjee Magic Show.

The finals of the HipHop Dance will be on Aug. 19 followed by the awarding of prizes, including the Best Dressed Booth and the

Zumba Party by Beefit Gym in MinTTE. Raffles, games and product presentations are part of the event held in celebration of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

Cebu Pacific Air is the main presentor while the copresentor is the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, with the support of the City Mayor’s Office, Department of Tourism, SM City Davao, Philippines Air Lines, Air Asia, Air Philippines, Zest Air and Via Philippines.

For more inquiries contact mobile nos.

09228577868 (Lino) or 09228434561 (Chato).

be established at the city district hospital complex.

He said they expect the completion and approval by Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio within the week of the project’s proposed PPP scheme and procedure.

“This is a joint venture with a private partner, but we will make it a propoor health facility, serving mainly our poor constituents,” said Acharon, who initially pushed for the project several years ago while serving as chair of the city council’s health

committee.

Acharon said the PPP scheme and procedure will mainly determine the development track and operational system of the dialysis center.

He did not disclose the project’s proposed investor or partner but said several entities have already signified to partner with the local government for the venture.

Acharon said the city government will shoulder the construction of the building, water and power supply as coun-

terpart estimated to cost around P12.3 million to be sourced from the city trust fund.

The project’s partner will provide the required personnel, the acquisition of the dialysis machines and the facility’s maintenance. The center will initially operate with 15 dialysis units.

The project’s development works will be completed by the end of the year and will opened by the first quarter of 2013.

[Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]

GenSan to put up dialysis center

T

HE General Santos City government plans to begin by next month the construction and development of its own dialysis center which is scheduled to open early next year through a public-private partnership or PPP scheme.

Jose Orlando Acharon, executive assistant of the city mayor’s office, said Monday the local government is finalizing the proposed development plan and operational procedure for the planned dialysis center, which would

EMENT manufacturer Holcim will invest P250 million for the establishment of a waste-to-energy facility dubbed “Geocycle” in Brgy. Ilang, Bunawan District, Davao City.

Rolando Van Wijen, chief operating officer of Holcim Philippines, said they are looking into using rice husks and other wastes to convert to fuel.

The company plans to get rice husks within the region and collect wastes like plastics and used oil from the city.

“It is one way to deal with the wastes in the city,” he said, adding that it will also help extend the lifespan of the city-owned sanitary landfill in New Carmen, Tugbok to more than 15 years.

Data from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office showed that the city has an average waste of 380 tons per day.

The cement company will soon formally discuss its proposal to the city government. At present, the firm is still on the planning phase of the project. It would be their third Geocycle in the country next to Bulacan and Lugait, Misamis Oriental where the firm’s cement plants are situated.

Joseph Bernal, manager and vice president for operations of Holcim

Davao plant, said the establishment of the facility will also help them reduce coal consumption for their cement plant. He said they currently use 600 tons of coal per day for thermal fuel.

With the Geocycle, he said they will save about 30 percent of thermal substitution. He said the rice husks and other wastes will be shredded, segregated and dried to process those materials and make them as fuel which is the end product.

“There will be less emissions compared to burning coal. There would be minimal impact to the environment,” he said.

The project is eyed to be constructed by next year.

The company, meanwhile, launched last Friday the sustainable barangay manual, a project in partnership with the Green Architecture Advocacy of the Philippines, during their multi-sectoral forum dubbed Holcim Coffeetalks on sustainable construction.

Holcim said in a statement that “the manual will serve as a guideline for local government and private sector towards building communities in a way that is socially, economically, functionally and aesthetically balanced” [MINDANEWS]

Alcantara Group awaits CoA review for Iligan plant acquisition

T

HE acquisition of the Iligan dieselfired power plant by the Alcantara Group has not been finalized since the Commission on Audit (CoA) is still conducting a procedural review for the ownership transfer, a company official said over the weekend.

The Mapalad Power Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly listed Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR), has been awarded the right to reacquire the 102-megawatt Iligan diesel power plant.

Oscar Contreras, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, said the CoA is thoroughly reviewing the pertinent documents for the transfer of the plant that would help boost power supply in the island.

“We are hopeful that the review will be completed at the soonest time possible in order for the Iligan plant to be rehabilitated and come onstream to help ease the power situation in Mindanao, which has recently deteriorated again,” he told MindaNews.

Until the CoA completes the review, ownership of the Iligan diesel plant remains with the Iligan city government.

Contreras said they would only pay the acquisition cost to the local government unit after the CoA could complete the review.

The Alcantara Group originally operated the Iligan diesel power plant, formerly the Northern Mindanao Power Plant, through the build-operate-transfer scheme. The company turned the power plant to the government-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) in 2003.

The acquisition cost of the plant from the Iligan City government was pegged at P300 million but P650 million more will be needed to rehabilitated the facility, earlier said Tirso Santillan, Jr., ACR executive vice president.

It would take about six months to rehabilitate the plant, he said.

The Iligan local government earlier put the power plant in auction after the state-owned Napocor reportedly failed to settle the real property tax due to the city. [BONG SARMIENTO/MINDANEWS]

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

MGB eyes producing more geo-hazard maps T

HE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) aims to expand further its production of geo-hazard maps at scale 1:10,000 meters so more of these can be available for use in protecting life, limb and property against flooding and landslides in communities nationwide.

“We target completing additional maps next year,” said MGB Director Leo Jasareno. He noted that the MGB has already produced some 220 of the geo-hazard maps.

MGB must prepare by 2014 the maps for 1,600 municipalities nationwide, he said.

Jasareno said the geohazard maps’ production next year is among the activities MGB prioritized for

Science vs law

funding through the 2013 General Appropriations Act. The proposed budget for MGB next year, as recommended by the Department of Budget and Management, is about P1.03 billion.

Such amount accounts for nearly 4.5 percent of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ target P23.6-billion appropriation for 2013.

Geo-hazard mapping is part of the environment department’s 2013 activities for promoting environmental integrity as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Records show the target 2013 budget for preparing maps of around 218 municipalities and for as-

sessing climate change’s coastal geo-hazard impacts is about P267.7 million.

DENR continues urging local government units nationwide to use MGB’s geohazard maps as early warning reference for communities. It believes the maps are essential in setting local action plans for protecting life, limb and property in the communities.

Climate change raises the need to set such plans as early as possible, authorities noted.

They warned the onslaught of increasingly violent weather disturbances and sea level rise are among the impacts of climate change.

Both impacts can result in flooding and other disasters, they said. [PNA]

Battle over the Dumoy water resource [Part 2]

By Ricardo Jr. A. Jimenez

T

HIS article focuses on the efforts of the pro and anti cemetery camps in the City Council to use the Water Code in their favor.

The pros, articulated by Councilor Bernard Al-ag, chair of the subcommittee on housing subdivision (middle end), have stood their ground that there was nothing irregular in pushing for new cemeteries where they are proposed to be put up since their areas are outside the “triangulated water resource areas.”

The dilemma of Al-ag as subcommittee chair is this: he has been directed by the presiding officer in the previous sessions to reconcile his recommendations with the Water Code and resubmit his evaluation and findings to the council at large when done.

Caught between the proverbial Devil and Deep Blue Sea, Al-ag chose to stick with his original stand before the item was returned to the subcommittee level. His reason later was: “As chairman, he cannot tell the developer that the matter be denied in the committee level because the Water Code Ordinance is defective which he believed is unfair to the applicant.”

To recall some council sessions back, Councilor Melchor V. Quitain had taken the session floor by storm when he announced: “What are we discussing here in the council? Did we not know that there is an existing ordinance, the Davao City Water Resource Management and Protection Code, Or Ordinance No.117-01, enacted by this same institution we are a part of, in 2001? It says “Cemeteries and memorial parks are disallowed over water resource areas in Davao City!”

Then Quitain went on to define what a water resource area (WRAs) is, the coordinates of the WRAs, prompting his colleagues to mill around him, trying to take a glimpse of an ordinance nobody has heard of. Al-ag admitted himself not being aware of such a thing. The momentum has changed in favor of the antis. A two-minute recess was called. When session resumed, the chair decided to return the cemetery item back to the subcommittee level, this time with the help of the Committees on Health and Environment, to insure objective and fair appreciation of manifestations. However, when the cemetery issue was returned to the subcommittee level, no other councilor was present but Al-ag. Where was the Environment committee chair?

The gallery crowd could easily detect if the councilors were siding with either the pros or the cons from the way they framed their questions before invited guests. Either side would ask leading questions to fish out statements to validate or dispute the opening of new cemeteries over water resource areas.

A case in point was when Mr. Abigail Dune Agus, a geologist from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) was asked to testify by Councilor Al-ag. Her agency had earlier recommended for the council to approve two applications for a memorial park, one in Lubogan, Toril and the other one in Baliok, Talomo, almost side by side with one another. Asked by Al-ag if the proposed cemetery would threaten the water resource, she answered in the negative.

During her presentation, Agus was quoting passages

from the World Health Organization Study entitled “The impact of cemeteries on the environment and public health.” When Al-ag inquired from Agus if MGB will recommend the projects, she replied that based on current situation on the area, with the existence of two cemeteries (Toril public cemetery and the Toril Memorial Park) side by side, no recorded contamination has occurred with nearby DCWD pumping stations, therefore contamination of ground water is “highly improbable.”

Acting Vice Mayor and Presiding Officer Karlo Bello, who was holding a copy of the WHO report from his chair, cautioned Agus not to be selective in her quotation of passages from the same report so as not to mislead the council, lest it would create a semblance of legality.

When Quitain was recognized next, he asked Ms Agus if she would recommend to her agency the approval of the application, the geologist replied that based on assessed geohazard in the area, there is no problem in terms of development even with an aquifer underground.

The former city legal officer then asked Agus if she is familiar with the Water Code which states that “no cemetery or memorial park shall be located within water resource areas,” she answered in the negative.

The law dean of a local university then continued saying that penalty for violation of the code is: imprisonment of not exceeding one year, and a fine not exceeding P5,000.00 or both at the discretion of the court.

Quitain asked Agus: “Are you willing to go to jail with the members of the City Council if we approve your

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Climate change impact heavily on watersheds

W

ATERSHEDS bear the brunt of climate change.

“Alongside agriculture, it is the watersheds that bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change affecting in particular the natural resource base,” said Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

“This in turn affects the livelihood of farmers and stakeholders who are highly dependent on these resources,” he said during the Seventh Executive Forum on Natural Resources Management: Watershed Governance in a Context of Climate Change.

“Inevitably, climate change is here to stay and we are constrained to find alternative and effective means to cope with the effects of this phenomenon,” Saguiguit said.

It is in this light that SEARCA is proud to have coorganized with the ASEAN Social Forestry Network and the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific the forum “that will hopefully equip land use planners and policymakers in the region to better respond to issues on watershed management,” he said.

This will enable the even distribution of “the costs and benefits of watersheds across stakeholders and address barriers and challenges to rural poverty reduction and food security,” he added.

“With or without climate change, watershed management remains a vital issue in daily life,” said Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, during a colloquim prior to the forum proper.

He defined a watershed as an extensive area stretching from ridge to reef, from mountain to sea, a continuum of interrelated ecosystems, from headwaters in the forests, downstream to the lowlands and the coast.

“It is not something that is nebulous but defined by topography with a definite physical limit,” he said. “It is defined by land and not by law, a delineated area that collects water and is drained by rivers.”

The largest in the country, for example, is the 2 million-hectare Cagayan Water Basin in North Luzon which encompasses rural towns and urbanizing settlements as well as natural ecosystems and agricultural land that grows a lot of rice and corn.

The usual suspects in

watershed degradation are upland agriculture, land conversion, destructive mining, illegal logging and erosive upland agriculture, Cruz said.

But if one digs deeper, he said, one finds weak policies and governance; conflicting development priorities between upland and lowland management of natural resources; failure of enforcement; lack of public awareness and participation; and unequal access to resources.

Governing and managing watersheds for multiple purposes involve making trade-offs across stakeholder interests, ecosystem functions and ecosystem goods and services, Saguiguit said at the sidelines of the forum.

“How decisions over resources are made, who makes them and to whose benefit, these make up the essence of governance,” he explained.

“One of the most significant challenges of watershed governance and management is the fact that the costs and benefits of interventions tend to be unevenly distributed, and security over the rights to ecosystem resources and benefits is often uncertain,” he pointed out.

“This sets the stage for potential conflict,” Saguiguit said.

EDGEDAVAO

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

USD 4,931 million May 2012 USD 4,770 million Apr 2012 USD -135 million Apr 2012 USD -209 million Mar 2012 P 4,580,674 million Apr 2012

8. Interest Rates 4/

4.1 % May 2012 P131,403 million May 2012 P 5,075 billion Apr 2012

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74 46.31 46.03

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

5

Forum on Pres. Aquino’s EO 79 on mining draws mix reactions C

HURCH leaders, environmentalists, civil society organizations and a lumad leader took turns in “cutting down” President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s Executive Order 79 in a forum held in Cagayan de Oro City last week, saying the order favors large-scale mining operations.

At the forum, Christian Monsod, chair of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council Committee on Climate Change, presented the President’s recent

order on mining to members and guests of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and local green groups at the Fr. Patrick Cronin Formation Center of the St. Augustine’s Cathedral.

Although the figures do not institute connectedness, Monsod said these “show an association between mining and poverty that at least raises questions on the claim that mining substantially improves life in their communities.”

“Mining has the highest pov-

erty incidence at 48.7 percent in any sector in the country,” he said, citing the booming large-scale mining operations in the regions of Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bicol.

These regions, Monsod said, have a poverty incidence of 47.7 percent, 42.75 percent and 44.92 percent, respectively, adding that “mining does not address mass poverty.”

Barely eight months ago, residents and experts alike collectively pointed to the unabated mineral extraction operations upstream of Cagayan River. Meanwhile, victims of tropical storm Sendong are inching towards recovery after many parts of the city, as well as some other areas in Northern Mindanao, were devastated.

Mining has become a touchy issue here as communities struggling to recover have been divided between livelihood and economic development on one hand and climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness on the other.

Issued last July 6, EO 79 bans the issuance of new mining permits in areas identified under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, AGRI-TRADE FAIR. A sales lady of a flower booth entertains a customer from Luzon at the car prime agricultural lands and park of SM City Mall yesterday where a month-long Agri-trade fair is located. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

those set for agrarian reform, in strategic agriculture and fisheries development zones, tourism areas, and other critical sanctuary sites.

Fr. Emetrio Barcelon, SJ, president and chief executive officer of Turbines Resource and Development Corporation (Turedeco) – which is engaged in the use and development of land, water and environment resources for power generation – asked whether mining is a sin against God. But he was quick to add that “without mining, we will never get out of poverty.”

Bae Inatlawan Adelina Cariño, certificate of ancestral domain titleholder of Mt. Kitanglad, said most of the lumads may be illiterate but their tribes have survived hundreds of years because they “read the stars and listen to the earth.”

“Instead of mining, which is against the environment, why not help us develop sustainable livelihoods based on food production?” she said in the dialect.

Green Mindanao executive director Butch Dagondon said EO 79 is “haphazard,” “discriminate the peoples of Mindanao” and has a “typical business as usual attitude.”

HE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) reported a net income of P9.4 billion for the first half of the year, 52% higher than the P6.2 billion realized in the same period last year. This translated to a 21% Return on Equity and a 2.3% Return on Assets.

Net income for the second quarter was P3.6 billion, 8% higher than a year ago due to the 9.4% increase in net interest income but tempered by the higher tax line.

Both non interest income and operating expenses were relatively flat against the same quarter last year.

For the first semester, the significant growth in profits was mainly driven by the 24% improvement in revenues. Net interest income rose by 9% while non-interest income surged by 51%.

Improvement in net interest income was due to the combined effect of a P32 billion increase in average asset base and a 14 bps improvement in net spreads. Noninterest income was boosted by the extraordinary level of trading gains realized in the first quarter of the year as the Bank sold down its securities inventory.

on track with our target of delivering a sustainable 15% return on equity.”

Addressing the media on the bank’s first half operating results and significant growth in profits are (left to right) Antonio V. Paner, EVP and Head of Global Banking; Jose Teodoro Limcaoco, BPI Family Savings Bank President; Gil A. Buenaventura, SEVP and Chief Operating Officer; Natividad Alejo, SVP and Head of Consumer Banking Group; and Alfonso Salcedo, EVP and Head of Corporate Banking Group.

BPI posts P9.4 B income in 1st sem T Operating expense growth slowed down to 9% with increases registered across all categories of expenses. Impairment loss and income taxes remained to be ahead of the previous year by P438 million and P159 million, respectively.

Loan growth from all segments was sustained as net loan portfolio reached P480 billion, 17% higher than a year ago. Both the middle market and SME segments contributed a 19% growth while the top corporate segment went up by 15%. Consumer lending increased by 17%. Despite the double-digit growth in portfolio, asset quality continued to improve with net 30-day NPL ratio at 1.4% from last year’s 1.8%. Reserve cove r was 140.7% Total intermediated funds amounted to P1.46 trillion as the Bank’s total deposits stood at P734 billion with growth coming largely from low cost deposits. Assets under management was P730 billion, a 15% growth from last year.

BPI’s market capitalization was P265 billion at end of June and remains the largest among domestic banks. Its Basel 2 Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) was 14.5%.

Mr. Gil A. Buenaventura, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of BPI commented, “We are happy to see that loan growth has remained resilient though slightly below the first quarter performance. We expect challenges going forward especially on our net interest margin with the recent cut in the BSP overnight borrowing rate. We will however try to seize opportunities given the continued domestic economic growth, notwithstanding the impact of the Eurozone slowdown. At this point in time, we are

as of august 2010

Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Silk Air Mon/Wed/Sat Cebu Pacific Thu Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat

5J961 / 5J962 Z2390 / Z2390 5J593 / 5J348 PR809 / PR810 PR819 / PR820 5J394 / 5J393 5J599 / 5J594 5J347 / 5J596 5J963 / 5J964 PR811 / PR812 5J595 / 5J966 MI588 / MI588 5J965 / 5J968 5J965 / 5J968

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 18:55 12:55 13:35

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Davao-Cebu-Singapore Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:35 13:25 14:05

Silk Air Thu/Sun Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri Philippine Airlines August Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippines Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun Cebu Pacific Daily Airphil Express Daily Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday Philippine Airlines Sunday

MI566 / MI566 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu 16:50 Cebu-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Cagayan de Oro-Davao-Cagayan de Oro Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

15:20 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Wood cluster eyeing low-cost prefab homes L

OW-COST, prefabricated houses made of wood for low-income families are being eyed as one of the value-added projects by the wood industry cluster team under the advanced stage of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP 2).

German Urbiztondo, forester of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 11), said the team will promote more planting of acacia mangium, mahogany (lawaan) and gmelina trees by tree farmers in the Davao region in the coming +months to meet the new demand.

Although falcatta trees have been very popular with many tree farmers in recent years due to the demand by plywood factories and pallet-makers in Mindanao, its current cheap price is forc-

ing some farmers to shift to other, and more costly, tree species.

“Falcatta is too soft for construction, it can’t hold nails. They’re used mostly for making crates and pallets for banana companies,” said Urbiztondo during a recent cluster meeting of representatives from the private sector, DENR, local govt units and the academe.

The wood industry cluster’s previous goal of reforestation had been achieved in the region with the setting up of falcatta tree nurseries and malapapaya tree pilot farms in the region by farm cooperatives with training and technical support provided by the cluster team under the DICCEP 1.

More wood supply in the region with the planting of more fast-growing trees is still the ultimate goal of the

NOT TO TIPS. A packer of a supermarket along J.P. Laurel Ave. wears a uniform bearing the words “No tip please!”

cluster team that meets regularly to map out plans and strategies to boost long-term tree supply in Davao.

Tetsuo Inooka, a senior consultant of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), told the wood cluster team to continue with the massive reforestation of the Davao region to make sure a stable wood supply to the wood industry over the long term.

“It’s very important that efforts to continue tree planting and reforestation in Davao should be sustained,” says Inooka.

To help tree farmers generate earnings while their trees are growing, the JICA consultant encouraged them to inter-crop their commercial tree farms with highvalue crops like coffee, cacao, banana, among other tree species. [PNA]

to discourage the customers of giving out monetary or non-monetary tips. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Samal Island’s seaweed farmers growing lobsters

G

ROWING seaweeds has become even more profitable for seaweed farmers at Tambo village, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte as they have also been growing big lobsters and lapu-lapu (grouper) right in the sea waters beneath the bamboo structure of their sun drying platform.

“This type of seafood is very expensive in many restaurants here, that’s why the seaweed farmers in this seaweed cluster project are earning more income,” says Domingo Ang, chair of the upgraded Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP 2).

Ang, who also heads the Davao chapter of the Federation of Philippine Exporters (PhilExport) as its president, said the growing of specialty seafood like lobsters and lapu-lapu is especially good during the lean summer months of March, April and

May which are low production months for seaweeds.

“We want to make sure our seaweed farmers in this project will always have something to earn from through this seaweed drying facility and they always come up with very good ideas,” Ang told consultants of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) during a recent meeting at the Davao regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

According to Ang, the peak season for seaweed production is the period covering the months of October, November, December, January, February and March, when seaweeds are abundant all over the Davao Region including the coastal areas of Baganga and Mati, Davao Oriental and the Digos areas in Davao del Sur. Seaweed species grown

by Davao Oriental seaweed farms are all 100 percent

cottoni, while coastal farmers in Davao del Sur grow 75 percent spinosum and 25 percent cottoni, he said.

Seaweeds that can be eaten mostly as table food are spinosum, while cottoni is processed into a whitish powder called carrageenan, a blending agent for foods like meat, ice cream, gel, etc, which is highly in demand for export.

Impressed by the seaweed cluster project, JICA consultant Tetsuo Inooka said the Tambo seaweed pilot project is “a very good model for expansion” especially citing the food production for lobster and lapulapu which was integrated by the seaweed farmers into the seaweed drying facility platform. “”It’s a very good model which can be replicated by other seaweed farmers in other seaweed growing areas in the region,” Inooka said. [PNA]

PROPERTY 7

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

Benefits of green living C

AMELLA Northpoint provides the ideal setting for living green, and its homeowners get to enjoy the pay offs of this elevated lifestyle. Here are six benefits homeowners get from living green made easy in this British colonial themed condo community.

1 - A healthier you. Green living is healthy living. In the same way that you avoid polluting the environment, you also avoid a lifestyle that will harm your body. Camella Northpoint homeowners can stay healthy through a fitness regimen that is easy to follow with the amenities available to them such as the fitness gym and the swimming pool at the deluxe clubhouse, Wakefield Manor.

The jogging track that meanders around the condo property is also a great way to get some workout, and with hundreds of Caribbean pine trees around, there’s plenty of fresh air for healthier breathing too.

With Northpoint’s central location, homeowners can even opt to walk to nearby destinations such as retail stores, restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, and malls.

Camella Northpoint’s green buildings do not succumb to the sick building syndrome, as it is designed to principles of green architecture that ensure indoor air quality is not compromised. With a green building as a home, replete with green surroundings and amenities, homeowners can easily live healthy.

2 - Healthier lighting.

Exposure to natural light helps the body produce much needed vitamin D, supplementing your vitamin requirement. Camella Northpoint’s outdoor is a wonderful place to commune with nature and revel in the early

morning sunshine.

Homeowners can enjoy a few minutes of sunlight at their wide windows, patio, or at the Sky Gardens of the fourth tower, Liverpool, which allows natural lighting to stream into the condo structures. As a mood booster, sunshine improves your disposition, making you happier and healthier to face the rest of the day.

3 – Reduced cost of living. Good health means no frequent visits to doctors, no expensive medication, and no costly hospitalization; only a happier disposition and big savings from unwanted medical bills.

But that’s not all. Green living also means lower utility bills, as Camella Northpoint’s green buildings utilize natural ventilation and lighting to keep its condo units well ventilated and illuminated. No need to keep the aircon running and lighting fixtures turned on 24/7.

That means lower utility demand, which translates to great savings on your utility costs.

4 – Green homes have higher market value. Camella Northpoint’s green condo homes retain a higher resale value because homebuyers are attracted to the idea of green living, which enables them to save on utility and maintenance costs. Add to that the fact that green living is a valued lifestyle not everyone can easily attain.

5 – Improved quality of life. How much would you pay to attain a healthy, clean life? Bottom line is you can’t place monetary value to good health, good living, and an enhanced standard of living. As benefits of green living continue to expand, it makes sense to think green, breathe green, and live green in Camella Northpoint.

6 - Setting a green exam-

ple. Green living in Camella Northpoint allows homeowners to lower energy consumption, as well as reduce waste and consequently decrease pollution. Using less energy and fuel lead to lesser carbon emissions, contributing to overall environmental protection.

Living a green lifestyle in Camella Northpoint is a noble example you can set for others to emulate, to encourage more people to live green for their benefit and for environmental integrity.

This becomes imperative as society moves towards an era of green technology amidst a depleting base of natural resources. Now is the time to

live responsibly, and the best way to do that is to go green.

Discover more ways to

live green in Camella Northpoint by getting in touch with Camella at 2/F Delgar Build-

ing, JP Laurel Ave., Bajada, Davao City, (082) 222-0963 and (082) 222-5221.

The five-story building, which will be situated at the city’s major thoroughfare at J.C. Aquino Ave., will have a gross floor area of 45,300 square meters.

This property development also boosts the city and region’s assertion in becoming a regional hub to watch out as the city holds the 21st Mindanao Business Conference starting today. Hundreds of traders, as well as big property developers, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, government officials, foreign dignitaries, observers and various stakeholders, are already gathered at the Almont Inland Hotel here for the grand opening in the afternoon.

“Butuan is a progressive city that is increasingly becoming the com-

mercial and business hub of northeastern Mindanao.

We are glad to be part of its development through this project that will surely generate thousands of employment and attract even more investments into the city,” said Arlene Magtibay, RLC general manager for commercial centers division.

The mall will feature shops, restaurants and four cinemas, including the first 3D film theater in the region.

“This is good because there will be additional entertainment available in Butuan, including a new theater,” local resident Nonoy Amarille said.

The hotel, meanwhile, is being developed by GoHotels.ph Butuan, which will offer among the most

affordable rates to local and foreign tourists. Room rates range between P400 and P2,000, depending on one’s budget. Guests can even have advanced bookings by accessing the GoHotels website. The rooms will have amenities like Windsor beds, rain showers, flat-screen TV and wireless Internet connection.

“The hotel will cater to both business and leisure travelers. By making available the most important hotel room features that customers look for, and combining these with our pocket-friendly rates, people traveling to Butuan can look forward to a more convenient and pleasurable experience,” Elizabeth Gregoria, GoHotels general manager, said.

Robinson’s Land to put up mall in Butuan C

ONSTRUCTION of the first mall-cumhotel in the Caraga Region by Robinson’s Land Corporation (RLC) is now underway here.

Robinson’s investment in the regional capital of the so-called “Timber City of the Philippines” is seen as prime indicator of the city and region’s potentials as among the vibrant economies in Mindanao, which include the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos.

RLC will be constructing a shopping mall with a 100-room budget hotel on its top floors in partnership with Go Hotel Butuan.

It started construction in the second quarter of this year and is expected to be completed in the third quarter next year.

8

VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO NPAs are again on the offensive

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

(2nd of three parts)

“H

EDITORIAL

T

Radiating a culture of peace

HE TRIBUTE came from a foreigner.

To Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, consul general of Malaysia in Davao City for the last three years, Davao City is an “epitome of peace.” Mr. Mazlan said so in an interview he granted to Edge Davao timed with the opening of the month-long Kadayawan sa Dabaw celebration.

The diplomat paid tribute to the concerted efforts of the city government, the Philippine National Police, Task Force Davao and other sectors and agencies to keep the city peaceful, a system that had been working since the first day he set foot in the city of 1.4 million people.

The consul general, who had

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

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OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing

NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

served in a number of places in the world, said that for Mindanao to achieve the elusive peace, one way that might work is for the kind of peace in Davao to radiate to the other parts of the island.

Mazlan also stressed the importance of integration of all peoples in Davao, regardless of color, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation as one of the city’s strengths. Such integration, enhanced by the city government’s policy against any form of discrimination, a strong advocacy of Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, should be further strengthened during the Kadayawan Festival, an occasion dedicated to the indigenous peoples.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

CARLO P. MALLO Features and Lifestyle

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Creative Solutions LORIE ANN A. CASCARO • JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURA Staff Writers

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

RICHARD C. EBONA IMELDA P. LEE Advertising Specialists

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

E is n o t a t all interested in serious peace negotiations but only in demanding the surrender and pacification of the revolutionary forces and people,” said Fidel Agcaoili, spokesman of the Netherlands-based NDF peace talks negotiating panel.

The fact that the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Peace Process has to conduct a survey via its Twitter account #tellOPAPP asking readers whether “meaningful discussions toward the resumption of formal talks” should at all be a considered a welcome development only reveals the government’s ambivalent and cavalier attitude towards the peace talks with the NDF. The last statement posted in the OPAPP website with reference to the GRP-NDFP peace talks was in June, which said it agreed “to meet the NDF informally to tackle the issues and concerns that have caused an impasse in the peace negotiations since February 2011.”

In contrast, a separate survey shows a different approach towards the GRP’s peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) when OPPAP asked if the readers are optimistic a peace pact can be forged with the Moro rebels this year.

While Aquino broke protocol by agreeing to meet with MILF’s Murad al Haj Ibrahim in Tokyo last year, his negotiating panel has adamantly rejected NDF demands to release the latter’s detained rebel consultants, jeopardizing efforts to revive the peace process.

The increased accessibility of the rebels to the media can only be viewed as a reminder that the CPP-NPA-NDF is a pesky lot that any Philippine government will have to deal with.

Elections and organs of political power More importantly, the 2013 elections could also be the underlying objective of recent increased media presence of communist rebels.

In December 2009, several candidates for local elective posts throughout Mindanao were seen gracing the 41st founding anniversary of the CPP. Four years earlier, a senatorial aspirant reportedly joined the beeline in seeking audience with the NDF in Mindanao. So did a candidate for governor in one of the western provinces of Mindanao who eventually won in 2007.

When Ka Simeon Santiago said a “people’s government” now exists in some parts of eastern Mindanao, these were not only issued to boost the morale of communists rebels and their supporters. It is also a veiled message to politicians eying seats in the local government that they may have to deal with the rebels to again gain access to voters in the countryside. For the CPP-NPA-NDF, this is not just a political statement but also one way of raising rebel funds.

Between 1996 and 2007, the NDF rebels was said to have raised P1.15 billion (US$27 million) from “permit-tocampaign taxes.”

A top military official in Mindanao said the NPAs are intimidating politicians into submitting to the “extortion activities” of the rebels.

“They (NPAs) have even resorted into issuing ‘permits-to-win’ in other areas as if to guarantee victory to some politicians,” said Lt. Gen.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

M

‘Ultimately, direct

marketing is a necessary part of the country’s own economic transformation.

Direct selling is labor intensive – and workers are plentiful in the Philippines.

In other countries, for example, thousands of direct-sales ladies dealing in cosmetics, beauty and skin care products make up many company’s domestic workforce.

Moreover, a major worry of government in the coming years is to find enough jobs for the new unemployed graduates, not least to forestall social unrest.’

Pyramid scheme, scams, and fly-by-night direct-marketing operations are distinctive to unscrupulous local entrepreneurs. Government regulators can refer to the experience of other governments, including the US and some well-developed nations that have

COMMENTARY learned to make distribution channels more transparent to spot and prosecute scams, and to distinguish legitimate, professionally conducted direct sales from pyramid schemes.

The government could also strengthen consumer-protection agencies by directing some stubborn officials to just not merely present broad smiles and wide grins during media interviews. There is nothing really inherently alien about the concept of directmarket selling. Filipinos have been carrying their goods from house-to-house since the first peddler learned to put wheels on his cart. Indeed, direct selling is part of Asia’s economic fabric, from our very own so-called “Tupperware ladies” of old, to the door-todoor hawkers in China and stockbrokers in Japan.

Ultimately, direct marketing is a necessary part of the country’s own economic transformation. Direct selling is labor intensive – and workers are plentiful in the Philippines. In other countries, for example, thousands of direct-sales ladies dealing in cosmetics, beauty and skin care products make up many company’s domestic workforce.

Moreover, a major worry of government in the coming years is to find enough jobs for the new unemployed graduates, not least to forestall social unrest.

Any government does not want to prohibit business activities that can provide jobs. But product distribution in the country has always been a problem because of some scheming and greedy entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, it can be solved in part by the activities of thousands of hustling but thoughtful businessmen moving products all over the country. The crucial answer to the abuses and excesses they commit is more factual and effective supervision, not sweeping prohibition.

Improving PHL’s air capability

HE Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s ability to provide logistic, medical, and fire support to hard pressed ground troops will be greatly enhanced as an additional 21 UH-1 “Huey” helicopters is now on the way for the country’s military aviation arm.

Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary for finance, munitions, installation, and materiel Fernando Manalo said this contract is worth P1.2 billion.

He added that this acquisition proposal is presently undergoing evaluation at the government procurement board.

Once approved by the above-mentioned body, Manalo said the entire 21 helicopters will be delivered before the end of 2012.

“If the contract is signed before end of August, we can assure people there will be 21 UH-1 ‘Huey’ available (for the PAF) before end of the year,” the DND official stressed.

Monkey Business

striving economy. Therefore most of the consumers’ concerns can be addressed through more stringent government regulations.

SPECIAL FEATURE

BY PRIAM F. NEPOMUCENO The arrival of these helicopters would greatly boost the PAF’s helicopter fleet whose number have been depleted through the years through series of air mishaps or lack of spare parts.

Between 50 to 70 UH-1 “Huey” are still in active service with the PAF. UH-1 “Huey” is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor.

The UH-1 was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army’s requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952. It first flew on Oct. 20, 1956.

Ordered into production in March 1960, the UH-1 was the first turbinepowered helicopter to enter production

9

China’s affluence crisis

Direct sales tricks

ORE EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION – In recent years, several foreign directmarketing giants have entered the Philippine market in a big way, eventually producing a modern, market-driven system.

These companies, which sell cosmetics and hair care products, beauty and food supplements, soaps and detergents, clothing lines and accessories, employ several thousand sales staff throughout the country.

The market-driven companies even hired beauty consultants and sales strategists by the hundreds to explain how to use their products – and sell them. They clearly have high hopes for the Philippine market and like other business entities it had substantially invested and tied up with local beauty and skin care specialists and manufacturers to make their products locally.

However, given the constraint imposed by the prevailing economic crisis, innovative local direct-marketing outfits patterned their sales strategy after the foreign direct-marketing firms and need to cut its dependence on imported products to maintain growth and rely more on domestic activity. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of the thousands of direct marketers in the country including Davao City are employed by some hundreds of new home-grown direct-marketing companies. With so many scrambling for a cut of the burgeoning business, scams are not only unavoidable but virtually definite.

Such shenanigans should be the primary concern of government because direct marketing it seems was growing faster than its ability to control or regulate abuses such as fraud, racket or “pyramid” sales schemes, in which some tricky home-grown direct-sales firms spend more time recruiting sales people than selling products. Remember, a pyramid scheme, although sort of a financial cunning rather than sales brought to the collapse of some previously popular home-grown direct marketing establishments.

Under such circumstances, the natural “buyer beware” instincts of consumers have been dampened by decades of life under a

T

VANTAGE POINTS

for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been produced worldwide.

The first combat operation of the UH-1 was in the service of the US Army during the Vietnam War. The original designation of HU-1 led to the helicopter’s nickname of “Huey”.

In September 1962, the designation was changed to UH-1, but “Huey” remained in common use.

Approximately 7,000 UH-1 aircraft saw service in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, primary missions included general support, air assault, cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, electronic warfare, and later, ground attack.

During the conflict, the craft was upgraded, notably to a larger version based on the Model 205. This version was initially designated the UH-1D and flew operationally from 1963. [PNA]

BY MARK LEONARD

A

(Conclusion)

N absence of protection for most workers helps solidify the other leg on which China’s growth stands, cheap capital for investment in domestic infrastructure. Without state-backed pensions, healthcare or education, citizens save almost half their incomes as a hedge against personal misfortune. But the stateowned banks give them an artificially low interest rate. This makes vast amounts of capital available to entrepreneurs at cheap rates for speculative investments, which have swelled the GDP and strewn the Chinese landscape with white elephants like palatial municipal buildings, factories that stand still and empty hotels.

It is not just Guanzhou that is seething with social unrest, although the high levels of development in this region make the inequality more visible. China’s thirst for growth and affluence has created a bubble economy and trapped millions in poverty.

The number of government-recorded “mass incidents” (defined as a violent demonstration involving more than 500 people) has risen from 8,700 in 1993 to 87,000 in 2005, and 180,000 in 2011 according to several state-backed studies.

The debate has been brewing in China over the last few years about how to escape from the trap of its affluence. On the one hand, many on the new left have been calling for ways to stimulate domestic demand to remove the causes of social unrest. At the top of their list is boosting wages, ending the artificial subsidies for exports, providing access to social services, reforming the hukou system and ending the “financial repression” of artificially low interest rates.

Increasing wages and slowly allowing the renminbi to appreciate will be hard enough, but ending the financial repression of artificially low interest rates will strike at the core of China’s most powerful vested interests.

What’s more, these measures will slow growth. That is why many on the right are looking for a way to make China’s affluence more acceptable. They want to privatize state-owned enterprises, encourage business to move up the value chain, and develop policies that can legitimate the inequality they think is essential to drive progress. Many have celebrated what the Chinese academic Xiao Bin has hailed as a “Guangdong model” of flexible authoritarianism that gives greater voice to the concerns of citizens on the Internet and allows civil society and NGOs to voice concerns. Last week – after some particularly violent riots in the town of Shifang in Sichuan province – senior members of President Hu Jintao’s leadership group encouraged cadres to “listen closely to the masses” and try to find ways of mediating and resolving disputes rather than relying on brute force.

But Wang’s worry is that without a massive attempt to deal with the causes of unrest, each of these problems will get worse. “Galbraith’s advice hasn’t led to anything in America”, he wrote in an essay last year, “so Socialist China should be doing better”.

The financial crisis did not therefore just signal the death knell of the Washington consensus. It also started a crisis of China’s own development model. Prosperous areas like Guangdong were immediately plunged into chaos as the West’s demand for imports from China fell off a cliff. This came on top of a growing sense that the traditional foundations of growth were eroding as labor costs, the price of land and exchange rates all went up.

China’s massive stimulus package helped in the short term but exacerbated the longer-term imbalances. Today, intellectuals declare that Deng’s Xiaokang society has reached its natural limits, as migrant workers take to the streets in unprecedented numbers and officials air differences about policy.

While their predecessors had to cope with the problems of poverty and the legacy of socialism, the new generation of Chinese leaders, who rise to power this fall, will need to escape the trap of a market that produces – in Galbraith’s words – private affluence and public squalor.

10

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

MODA Mindanaw 2012 features new Tinalak cloth of the T’bolis Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman

I

N line with the grand celebration of the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City, MODA Mindanaw 2012 will feature the new Tinalak cloth of the T’bolis in their MODA Mindanaw Fashion Season which will showcase the Mindanaon fashion and floral artists at SM City Davao Cinema 3.

An emphasis on the new features of the Tinalak cloth was made Oca Casaysay, from MODA Min-

Gays...

danaw 2012, who said it is softer and comes in different colors. He also added that the cloth is naturally dyed from the roots, branches, trunks, leaves and flowers.

Patmei Bello Ruivivar, program officer of the Mindanao Commission on Women, added that the patented indigenous cloth was specially woven by women from Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. “The cloth is

unique for it reflcts the dreams of the weavers,” she said, adding that the new Tinalak cloth will be seen for the first time by everyone. It comes in different colors, like orange, green, blue, pink and others and is no longer limited to shades of black and maroon.

Ruvivar, also said that there will be a demonstration on the process, from harvesting, weaving to dyeing on August

FFROM 1 Almendras Gym should not be held because the Kadayawan Festival is “a celebration of the Davao tribes.”

The city mayor said yesterday that she sees nothing wrong with a pageant showcasing homosexuality.

“We do not see any problem holding a Miss Gay pageant,” she said during a media briefing in her office, adding that during the opening of the Kadayawan celebration at the People’s Park she had waited for Councilor Mambo-o to talk to her.

“For one, the Miss Gay pageant is not part of the official events of the Ka-

example the regular event of Hudyakaan which is in line with the culture and tradition of the indigenous tribes but against Muslim culture.

“Hudyakaan is all about drinking and getting drunk which is against Muslim belief, but do we take that off (the celebration)? We also have sports events which are not what we’d call part of the IP culture, do we remove them?” she asked.

“The main reason we are holding the Kadayawan is because we respect each other’s traditions whether they’re indigenous, Muslim, or Christian,” she added.

recommendation, knowing that the proposed cemeteries sit on an aquifer? She replied that if it is contrary to law, then she will not.

Councilor Conrado Baluran, whose residence is located near the proposed Baliok memorial park, was recognized. Reacting to a statement from Al-ag that the whole of Davao city was sitting on an aquifer, to which Agus affirmed, Baluran inquired if Agus was misleading the council for agreeing to the statement.

Baluran asked the geologist why she agreed that Davao city was sitting on a aquifer when in fact “there is no water in Marilog, and other parts of the third and second district, except in Dumoy, precisely the reason for opposition from Dumoy residents.” Agus replied by saying the MGB is not in a position to comment on the

observation..

Asked by Bello if it was dangerous for a cemetery project to be near DCWD wells, Agus answered in the affirmative saying “the closer the wells, the higher the risks for contamination from a cemetery project” Quitain was next. He said he is not concerned on whether the establishment of a memorial park will contaminate the water or not, but as to whether the law allows the same. He said: “the possible contamination can only be taken into consideration if there is no provision in the ordinance.”

Asked by Quitain that the map contained misleading contents, Agus replied that the location can best be answered by the City Planning Office. Queried next if the speaker made the recommendation because she wanted to help the owners

of the memorial parks, she replied in the negative.

At this point, Al-ag took to the floor to clarify that the map was provided by the DCWD based on the Water Code. Quitain replied that “the map was based on the Water Code where the description did not close the area of the aquifer while the map presented closes everything despite the description which pointed out that those areas cannot be closed.”

What Quitain was driving at simply was this: there no truth to repeated allegations from Al-ag that the three coordinates in the map were to be triangulated.

Part 3 of the 6-part series dwells on the crucial issue: What really is the Dumoy water resource? What is the intention of the Water Code of 2001 with respect to the said aquifer?

BE YOUR SPRINGBOARD FOR ANOTHER SPORTING HEIGHTS, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A BRIGHTER FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU.......YOU LEFT AS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST, SHORTEST ATHLETE AND YOU WILL COME BACK AS ONE THE NATION’S MOST LOVED HERO. PROUDLY PANABOAN!” The pint-sized but crafty boxer was a discovery of the Barangay Una boxing pro-

gram of former Congressman Tonyboy Floirendo who nurtured dreams of producing the first Olympic gold medallist for the country.

Barangay Una project director Generose Tecson said Mark has a lot of future ahead of him. At 19 years old, Barriga should be ripe by the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

The 17-16 loss to the Kazakh was somehow ex-

pected to finish in controversy owing to the string of close calls going in favour of Kazakhstan boxer in the London Olympics including Zhakypov’s win over Jeremy Beccu of France in the Round of 32 where the Kazakh barely won in a 17-16 unpopular decision.

Two Kazakhstan officials sit in the powerful AIBA Board, the world boxing body.

FFROM 4

Barriga...

FFROM 15

Panabo City, Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal, South Cotabato and Davao City.

He said the event will showcase the talent of Mindanao artists.

The MODA Minadanaw Fashion Season will be a design competition and floral accessory competition which is part of the scheduled events coordinated with SM City Davao for the Kadayawan celebration.

the British, pursued.

The Chinese were in the tin mining sector, in business, trading and were the wealthy sector, while the Malays were in the jungle villages and the hinterlands.

When the Indians came, they were brought by the British to the rubber plantations, the rubber estates, which were like the banana plantations here.

This compartmentalized society brought suspicion and mistrust among the major races and eventually made them kill each other.

Consul General Mazlan said that the racial riots prompted Malaysia to reengineer society.

He said the country came out new economic policy. Mazlan said they expanded the economic cake to be shared by everybody.

“That means that when one group is wealthy, it can share its wealth with the other groups.”

He said “we were lucky to have good leaders during that time, in the likes of Tun Abdulraman, the first prime minister, Tun Adbul Rasak,

the second prime minister, and Tun Dr. Mahathir, the third prime minister.” Dr. Mahathir was basically the father of modernization of Malaysia, Mazlan added.

Davao can learn from Malaysia In answer to a question by lawyer-businessman Jude Ralph V. Yap, who assisted Edge Davao in the interview, the Malaysian diplomat said that Davao, the Philippines for that matter, can benefit a lot from the way Malaysia process applications of investors to start business in the country.

“In Malaysia, if you want to start a business, we have a one-stop center, where within three to 4 days your business will already running,” he said.

“No need to go through BIR (bureau of internal revenue) registration that takes two weeks, City Hall registration that would take you another two to three weeks; at the end you have already consumed one to three months just to set up an office,” according to Mazlan, saying that in Malaysia, they

have expedited the process.

“You just go to one center, your visa, immigration, employment, everything, will be handled by one office, one-stop center, and within one week, or less, two or three days, you can already set up office and your business running,” the consul general proudly stated.

Fighting corruption Again in answer to lawyer Yap’s question, the consul general said that there is also corruption in his country.

“But we are trying to improve ourselves. We are trying to counter that, educate our people, and we are succeeding in educating them that corruption is going to do more harm than good to society,” Mazlan said.

He said Malaysia has established a commission whose job is not only to educate people in government and private sector against corruption but more importantly to run those who violate the law on corruption. ( 3rd instalment: Malaysia’s “Look East Policy”)

late.”

“He (Duerme) will soon become a professional painter after he retires from PAL. His paintings are already of professional quality,” Secuya said.

Secuya added that Duerme’s favorite subjects are “figurative, mother and child, boy and a carabao that will capture you also.” “(The) compositions are his strength. He puts his figures in the right position,” Secuya said.

Dureza, for her part, started painting when she accidentally fractured her foot at her resort in Buda.

“It was the best time to paint and it also helped me remove stress,” said Dureza, who loves to paint flowers, including her favorite Sunflower, using acrylic paint.

Secuya said “Dureza’s

artworks are impressionistic, with still life and more on landscapes”.

“She paints freely without inhibitions, very sincere, expressive of herself. The spirit of Beth is overflowing with dynamism,” Secuya said.

In a press conference Monday morning, MinTTE 2012 chair Charito Aranda said this year’s expo is espoused with the theme “Choose Philippines: Affirming the Wonders and Wisdom of Culturally-Diverse Mindanao” on August 17-19, 2012, which is the highlight of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

“This endeavor is participated in by diverse key players in the Tourism-TravelTrade related industries from all over the country and some selected International Guest Exhibitors. Because the expo

is designed to affirm the irreversible role of responsible tourism in realizing sustainable peace and development, a number of DOT regional offices are lifewise participating,” Aranda said.

She said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will be a guest artist, mentored by Duerme and Secuya.

Also gracing the opening day are Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III, Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, and DOT 11 regional director Arturo Boncato, Jr. The three-day event is presented by the Cebu Pacific Air and co-presented by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. Other sponsors are PAL, Air Philippines, Zest Air and Air Asia. It is supported by the City Mayor’s Office, Department of Tourism and SM City Davao.

Dabawenyos...

FFROM 1

dayawan Festival, but since they asked permission to hold it within the period of the Kadayawan celebration we granted their request,” she said, adding that the essence of the Kadayawan celebration is “respect and tolerance.”

“The people should understand that the reason we are celebrating the Kadayawan is not because our tribes are different, but because they are unique,” she said.

“The people need to know the essence of the Kadayawan which is respect and tolerance,” she added.

The mayor cited as an

Battle...

not mass- produced, but hand-crafted and patented. She emphasized that the cloth is simply one of a kind.

The Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism are helping us with the upcoming event by bringing in Manila people as buyers to see the Tinalak cloth, according to Casaysay. He said the designers will come from Surigao del Sur,

17-19.

The event is expected to raise the status of the women weavers, since their skill is actually highly priced. This will be a promotion of indigenous culture, she said, adding that during the Kapehan sa Dabaw there were actually orders from the international market, such as Paris (France). She did admit that the cloth is expensive because it is

Duerme...

FFROM 2

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16th City Council 10th Regular Session Series of 2012

Republika ng Pilipinas SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD Lungsod ng Dabaw

PRESENT: Councilor Vice-Mayor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor

13

ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS: J. Melchor V. Quitain - Temporary Presiding Officer Rodrigo R. Duterte Nilo M. Abellera Jr. Victorio U. Advincula Jr. Bernard E. Al-ag Al Ryan S. Alejandre Dante L. Apostol Sr. Conrado C. Baluran

Karlo S. Bello

Joanne M. Bonguyan

Pilar C. Braga

Arnolfo Ricardo B. Cabling April Marie C. Dayap Jimmy G. Dureza Paolo Z. Duterte Emmanuel D. Galicia Sr. Jashera L. Gonzales Leah A. Librado-Yap Rene Elias C. Lopez Myrna G. L’Dalodo-Ortiz Marissa P. Salvador-Abella Jose Louie P. Villafuerte

Councilor Councilor

Berino L. Mambo-o Sr. Jackson V. Reyes

ABSENT:

Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor

Louie John J. Bonguyan Edgar R. Ibuyan Tomas J. Monteverde IV Rachel P. Zozobrado

- On Vacation Leave - On Domestic Emergency Leave - On Vacation Leave - On Sick Leave

ORDINANCE NO. 0264-12 Series of 2012 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A JUVENILE INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE CIVIL LAW (CICL) AND CHILDREN AT RISK (CAR) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF DAVAO CITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City in session assembled that:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND SCOPE – This Ordinance shall be known as the “Juvenile Intervention Program Ordinance of Davao City”;

ed and protected so that every child can enjoy a full life.

The City of Davao recognizes its role in ensuring the full implementation of the policies on juvenile justice cognizant with It shall create an intervention the protected rights of every mechanism to provide for child as well as the avowed invarious intervention programs tent under the United Nations and diversion programs for the Guidelines for the preventions Children at Risk or In Conflict of juvenile delinquency declarwith the Law without resorting ing that no child should be to judicial proceedings; subjected to harsh or degrading correction of punishment SECTION 2. DECLARATION measures at home, in school, OF POLICY – The Amended or in any other institution; Children Welfare Code of Davao City declares it as a Pursuant to the said mandate, policy for the local govern- it is the policy of the City of ment to ensure that programs Davao to provide the necesaimed at the achievement of sary intervention programs, digoals for the survival, protec- version programs and related tion, participation and devel- services to Children at Risk or opment of the children are Children in Conflict with the given utmost priority. It man- Law consistent with the indates the establishments of a tent of granting them humans comprehensive support sys- rights and legal safeguards tem for the development of without resorting to judicial the children; proceedings; The City of Davao recognizes that the policy of the State in enacting the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 or R.A. No. 9344 intended to address the different stages involving Children at Risk and Children in Conflict with the Law from prevention to rehabilitation and integration which mandates all local government units to institute a comprehensive juvenile intervention program and requiring its annual funding in their budget to implement the various programs; The City of Davao shall ensure that the rights of every child, consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to survival, development, protection and participation which are interdependent and indivisible should be respected, promot-

The City Government of Davao also recognizes the obligations of the parents as stipulated in Chapter 3, Art. 46, DUTIES OF PARENTS in the Child and Youth Welfare Code where parents shall have the following general duties towards their children, to include extending to their child/ children the benefits of moral guidance, self-discipline and religious instruction, supervising their activities, including their recreation, advising them properly on any matter affecting their development and well-being, among others; SECTION 3. APPLICABILITY – The provisions of this Ordinance shall be applicable to children found in conflict with the law pursuant to the applicable provisions of R.A. No. 9344. Whenever applicable, and for the best interest of

the child, the provisions shall be also applicable to Children at Risk;

to implement the law on (h) Diversion – refers to an Juvenile Justice and cooralternative, child-appropridinate with the concerned ate process of determinagencies as mentioned in ing the responsibility and SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF Title II, Section 8, R.A. No. treatment with the law in TERMS – The following terms 9344; a public custodial setting, as used in this Ordinance shall from which the child in mean as follows: conflict with the law is not (n) Local Council for the Protection of Children permitted to leave at will (LCPC) – refers to the reby order of any judicial of – refers sponsible members of the administration authority; to a child or children, alcommunity as mentioned in Title III, Chapter 1, Secleged as, accused of, or (i) Diversion Program – readjudged as, having comtion 15 of Republic Act fers to the program that mitted a criminal offense No. 9344 which includes the Child in Conflict with under Philippine laws; representative from the the Law is required to unCICL for short; youth sector, government dergo after she/he is found and private agencies conresponsible for an offense (b) CHILDREN AT RISK – or cerned with the welfare of without resorting to formal children; at the barangay CAR, refers to a child who proceedings; is vulnerable to and at risk level, this refers to the of committing criminal of- (j) DSWD – refers to the DeBarangay Council for the fenses because of perProtection of Children or partment of Social welfare BCPC; sonal, family and social and Development; circumstances under the instances mentioned un- (k) Facility – refers to the Ju- (o) Women and Children der Section 4 (d) of R.A. Concerns Section venile Intervention Facility, No. 9344; (WCCS) – refers to the otherwise known as “ChilWomen and Children dren’s Village of Davao (c) Board – refers to the JuConcerned Section of the City”; venile Intervention and DiDavao City Police Office version Programs Board; (DCPO) Women and Chil(l) Intervention – refers to a dren’s Protection Desk; series of activities which (d) BCPC – refers to the Baare designed to address rangay Council for the issues that cause a child (p) Aftercare Services – a Protection of Children; set of support services to come in conflict with the (e) Child – refers to a perby a welfare agency for a law or tend to make the son under eighteen (18) vulnerability to committing child discharged from an years old and those above institution to include comoffense. It may take the 18 but unable to protect ponents as counseling form of an individualized themselves and/or physitreatment program which and other activities for cally or mentally incapable both CAR and CICL and may include counseling, of doing so; their family and commuskills training, education and other activities that nity aimed at preventing (f) CSSDO – refers to the will enhance the psychochildren from reoffending; City Social Services and logical, emotional and Development Office of psycho-social well-being SECTION 5. THE JUVEDavao City; of a child; NILE INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS (g) DCSOCC – refers to the (m) Juvenile Justice and BOARD – There shall be Davao City Special Office Welfare Council (JJWC) created under this Ordinance for Children’s Concern, an – refers to the JJWC cre- a Board to be known as the office created under the ated under Republic Act “Juvenile Intervention and Office of the City Mayor No. 9344. The Council is Diversion Programs Board” as mandated by approval created and attached to (referring to “BOARD”) which Ordinance No. 0292-06 or the Department of Jus- shall be the governing body to the Amended Davao City tice and placed under its oversee the operation of the Children’s Welfare Code; supervision. It is tasked facility and to carry out the pur-

poses of this Ordinance in the formation and management of the said institution. The Board shall be healed by the City Mayor of Davao or his/ her representative and with membership composed of representatives of the following departments or agencies designated by the concerned heads, to wit: (a) City Prosecution Office of Davao; (b) City Social Services and Development Office; (c) Sangguniang Kabataan Federation; (d) Department of Education; (e) Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; (f) Commission on Human Rights; (g) City Health Office; (h) Philippine National Police; (i) Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City-Committee on Women, Children & Family Relations; (j) Two (2) Non-government organizations concerned with children’s welfare; (k) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); The chairperson and members of the Board shall all serve in ex-officio capacity with no additional monetary benefit or remuneration of any kind; The City Mayor shall be designated as the appointing authority for the above named representatives to the Board; SECTION 6. DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD – The Board shall have the following duties and function, to wit: (a) To oversee the implementation of this Ordinance and serve as the supervising and/ or governing board of the facility. The

14

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actual day to day operations of the facility shall be under the auspices of a facility supervisor who shall head the facility, qualified child psychologists and/ or social workers trained to handle cases involving Children in Conflict with the Law or Children at Risk and such other employees who shall all be appointed by the City Mayor.

The qualifications of the facility supervisor, child psychologists and/ or social workers and such other personnel shall be provided by the Board under pertinent rules to be issued by it to implement the provisions of this ordinance;

(4) If the imposable penalty is above six (6) years imprisonment or if the child does not admit to the commission of the crime or does not consent to diversion if it involves community service, the case will be referred to the Family Court through the Social Services and Counseling Division/Department of Social Welfare and Development/ Juvenile Intervention Facility or the “Children’s Village of Davao City” who will act as intake department;

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

the offends’, the victim and the community in prevention strategies;

vocation and life skills programs (Chapter 2, Section 31, (a), RA. 9344 supplied);

The program shall be designed under the guidance of the Head of the Davao City Special Office for Children’s Concern (DCSOCC) in close coordination with the Barangay Council’s Lupong Tagapamayapa, Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), Davao City Council for the Welfare of Children and the Davao City Police Office. A social worker (5) Based on D3WD/Childrens shall be detailed in the Women Village of Davao City evalua- and Children Concerns Section, it shall recommend to the tion (WCCS) of Davao City Family Court the issuance of Police Office IDCPO) for close the necessary orders for ap- monitoring of Children in Conpropriate measures including flict with the Law consciously referral to psychiatrist, psy- taking into consideration the chologist for counseling and rights and needs of the chil(b) To advise the City Mayor of therapy, referral to diversion dren, the victim’s compensaDavao and the Sanggu- programs or require the child tion and the community’s safeniang Panlungsod on all to face a hearing before the ty. The social worker will assist matters relating to juve- family court; the barangay in immediately nile intervention program convening a mediation conferand diversion program (6) Consistent with RA. No. ence with, the child, WCCS, and those relating to ju- 9344 when the child is found parents/ guardians concerned venile justice and welfare guilty by the Family Court for and representatives of childaimed at improving the the offense charged and the focused organizations to efservices of the facility; sentence is suspended with- fectively render justice without out need of application, the resorting to formal court pro(c) To formulate and recom- findings and pre-disposition ceedings; mend policies and strate- report prepared by the D3WD/ gies, to collect relevant Children s Village of Davao Any person who has lawfully information and conduct City shall be forwarded and taken into custody a Child In continuing researches submitted to the Family Court Conflict with the Law shall enand support the evalua- for appropriate consideration roll the child to the Davao City tions and studies on all of disposition measures; Juvenile Mediation Program matters relating to juvefor appropriate case managenile intervention and di- The program shall he de- ment without prejudice to Sec. version programs; signed under the guidance of 24 of Administrative Matter the Bead of the Davao City No. 02-1-18-SC 2002-02-28, (d) To coordinate with the Special Office for Children’s or Rule/s on Juveniles in ConJuvenile Justice and Concern (.DCSOCC} in close flict with the Law: Welfare Council (JJWC), coordination with the conthe Local Council for the cerned offices/agencies; SECTION 10.

Protection of Children BARANGAY-BASED DI(LCPC) and other stake- SECTION 8. JUVENILE VERSION PROGRAM holders as well as with DELLNOUENCY PREVEN- - There shall be a Barangaythe various agencies TION PROGRAM - There based diversion program, mandated under R-A. shall be a. comprehensive headed by the Punong BaNo. 9344 in the formula- community-based Children’s rangay with the assistance of tion and implementation Program designed by the the Local Social Welfare and of intervention programs DCSOCC m its work with Development Officer or other and diversion programs children, particularly Children members of the LCPC, that consistent with the na- at Risk (CAR) in order to disposes the case of a Child in tional program aimed at minimize, if not totally prevent, Conflict with the Law over nine addressing juvenile de- commission of crimes among (9) years old and under fifteen children. A special program for (15} 3rears of age without golinquency; children in need of special pro- ing through court proceedings. (e) To prepare and submit tection shall be appropriately The objective is to prevent the an annual report to the formulated and implemented child from suffering the negaSangguniang Panlung- within the DCSOCC in close tive effects of court proceedsod of the activities and coordination with CS3DO, ings, while at the same time progress of the facil- other agencies and child- putting the offender to a reity based on the monthly focused non-government or- habilitation process following status report filed by the ganizations; restorative justice; facility supervisor and other reportorial matters SECTION 9. CREATION OF The extent of the diversion necessary for policy de- DAVAO CITY JUVENILE program in the barangay level MEDIATION PROGRAM shall include, but not limited to. termination; WITHIN THE DCSOCC UN- the following: SECTION 7. PREVENTION, DER THE OFFICE OF THE REHABILITATION AND DI- CITY MAYOR - A Juvenile 1. Restitution of property; VERSION PROGRAMS - The Mediation Program shall be 2. Reparation of the damage prevention, rehabilitation and designed to create a venue caused; diversion programs shall be or vehicle for deliberation and 3. Indemnification for consesubject to the following guide- determination of non-custodial quential damages: measures in order to avoid 4. Written or oral apology; lines, as follows: the formal contact of the child 5. Care, guidance and super(1) There shall be community with the justice system. It shall vision orders; based programs that will an- demonstrate the Davao City 6. Counseling for the Child in swer the needs and issues of government’s adherence to Conflict with the Law and the community, life skills train- the principle of restorative the child’s family: justice where resolving con- 7. Attendance in trainings, ing and others; flicts require the maximum seminars and lectures on: (2) Referral of the child in con- involvement of the victim, the flict with the law to individual offender, and the community. a. Anger management; or family counseling, restitu- It shall further facilitate a parb. Problem solving and/ or tion and community service ticipatory process in order for conflict resolution skills; instead of filing a case against the victim to obtain reparation, c. Values formation; and the child: reconciliation of the offender, d. Other skills which will aid the offended and the commuthe child in dealing with (3) Diversion can only be ap- nity and reassurance to the ofsituations which can lead plied in cases where the im- fender that he or she can be to repetition of the ofposable penalty for the crime reintegrated into society. The fense; is below six (6) years impris- principles of non-discriminaonment. The end goal of diver- tion and inclusion, survival and 8. Participation in available sion is disposing of the case development of children shall community - based proinvolving a youthful offender guide the operations of the grams, including commuwithout resorting to formal trial program as well, conscious nity service; by the competent authority; of public safety by activating 9. Participation in education,

SECTION 11. CREATION OF GENDER-FAIR DAVAO CITY CHILD AND PRETRIAL HOME - A separate holding and pre-trial home, to be known as the Gender-Fair Child Pre-trial Home, shall be established and operated by the DCSOCC in coordination with the BJMP providing rehabilitative facilities where a Child in Conflict with the Law may be physically restricted pending formal complaints or court disposition of the charge against the child; A separate home for girls shall be established to promote and protect their rights pending trial approximating standards designed in international instruments involving persons deprived of liberty.

The Gender-Fair Child Pretrial Home shall also accommodate children apprehended at the barangay level when circumstances would prevent the rescuing personnel from turning them over to their respective families: The Pre-trial Home/s shall also provide after care services for children, who have been released as part of the reintegration process; SECTION 12. CREATION OF THE JUVENILE INTERVENTION FACILITY, TO BE KNOWN AS “CHILDREN’S VILLAGE OF DAVAO CITY” - In order to provide for an institute to cater and provide for the needs of every Child in Conflict with the Law for intervention programs, diversion programs and other related youth services, the Children’s Village of Davao City is hereby created which facility shall be established and made operational within a period of one {1) year from the effectivity of this ordinance. The facility shall have the following functions and powers, to wit: (a) To provide short-term residential care for Children in Conflict with the Law and/ or those waiting court disposition of their cases or transfer to other agencies or jurisdiction, in proper cases;

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aimed at delinquency prevention through community-based services cognizant of the roles of the family, educational system, and mass media which respond to the special needs, problems, interests and concerns of children and which offer appropriate counseling and guidance to the children and their families intended to promote social justice, equal opportunity, assist Children in Conflict with the Law and/ or Children at Risk and other related measures designed to avoid their unnecessary contact with the formal justice system and other measures to prevent re-offending; (d) To provide, implement and administer diversion programs for Children in Conflict with the Law without undergoing court proceedings subject to the conditions and applicable provisions provided under Chapter 2 of RA. No. 9344; (e) To provide training and disposition, as may be practicable, on miscellaneous learning and guidance to the children in its custody, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) Competency and life skills development; (ii) Socio-cultural and recreational activities; (iii) Community volunteer projects; (iv) Leadership training; (v) Social services; (vi) Home life services; (vii) Spiritual enrichment; and (viii) Community and family welfare services; (f) To coordinate with, and thereafter assess, consider and implement the recommendations of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) on juvenile intervention programs, diversion programs and other related youth services that may be undertaken in the facility;

SECTION 13, MANUAL OF OPERATIONS - Consistent with the provisions and objectives of this Ordinance as well as its Implementing Rules, all agencies authorized to undertake prevention, rehabilitation, and diversion program shall have their own manual of operations for a comprehensive, speedy, and effective execution of this ordinance. A copy of the said manual is to be furnished to all concerned for their appropriate reference and guidance; SECTION 14, APPROPRIATION - An amount necessary to establish the facility and to carry out the initial implementation of this Ordinance shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the Office of the City Mayor.

The next and succeeding funds needed for its continued operation shall be included in the annual/ supplemental budget ordinance of the City of Davao; SECTION 15. RULE MAKING POWER - The Board shah issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the provisions of this ordinance within ninety (90) days from the effectively thereof; SECTION 16. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - If for any reason, any section ox provision of this Ordinance is declared unconstitutional or invalid or null and void by a competent court by final judgment, the other sections or provisions thereof not affected by such declaration shall remain in Sill force and effect; SECTION 17. REPEALING CLAUSE - All existing ordinances, rules and regulations of the City of Davao City or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, rescinded or modified accordingly; SECTION 18. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE - This Ordinance shall take effect after fifteen.

(15)days from its publication in any newspaper of general circulation in the City of Davao:

ENACTED, March 20, 2012, by a majority vote of all the (b) With child psychologists Members of the Sanggunian present. and/ or qualified social workers under its regular CERTIFIED CORRECT: staffing pattern, to provide immediate assessment and recommendation on CHARITO N. SANTOS Children in Conflict with Acting Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the Law immediately after (City Government Asst. Department Head II) the arrest of a child and prior to or at the time of the conduct of an inquest assistance or upon referral to it by any authority ATTESTED: which had the initial contact with the said child in J. MELCHOR V. QUITAIN order to determine how President Pro Tempore to legally proceed with the Temporary Presiding Officer said child; cnz/mbk (c) In coordination with the Local Council for the ProtecAPPROVED:_________________,2012 tion of Children (LCPC-1 and other stakeholders consistent with the intervention programs recommended by the JuveSARA Z. DUTERTE nile Justice and Welfare City Mayor Council (JJWC) in coordination with the various ATTESTED: agencies mandated under R.A. No. 9344, to provide, implement and administer ATTY. ZULEIKA T. LOPEZ a comprehensive juveActing City Administrator nile intervention program

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VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

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TRAVEL

A trip to Malaysia via AirAsia

By Antonio M. Ajero

I READILY accepted the invitation of AirAsia Philippines to join its inaugural flight last month from Davao to Kuala Lumpur via Clark International Airport for three reasons, aside from the usual thrill in taking advantage of such a once-in-a-blue-moon freebie. These are 1). I’ve been a fan of Ma-an Hontiveros, the CEO of AirAsia Philippines. 2) Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad never fails to awe me as a no-nonsense leader of Malaysia of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew genre, and 3). Super impressed by Malaysia’s national strides under Dr. Mahathir, I was eager to see if those who followed him are pursuing his exemplary initiatives. I didn’t regret having joined the trip, my third to that amazing country, correctly hyped as “Truly Asia,” by its tourism drumbeaters.

Truly awesome AirAsia Philippines’ inaugural flight was “awesome” as promised. No hassle at all starting from check-in time at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport at Sasa. The flight was even blissful with the heavenly bodies (no joke) of the three stewardesses who were all smiles and very engaging. Look at their photo somewhere in this page and you don’t have to be a senior citizen to know what I mean.

I wouldn’t be surprised if AirAsia Philippines’ CEO Maan had a say in the design of their sensational red and black uniform. Ma-an, who joined us from Clark to KL, was the same Ma-an who was our muse of the College Editors Guild when we had our annual CEG conference in the Cebu Institute of Technology in the late sixties. Except for the silver streaks threatening to engulf her crown and the apparent extra pound in the midsection, she is still the same shapely, bubbly, super confident, articulate and brilliant lady. She reminded me of one night when I, as editor of the Mindanao Collegian of

UM, participated in a meeting to plot the campaign for the next CEG president. In the same room was Rene Corona (the ousted CJ) who was then editor of Ateneo’s Guidon, Rodrigo “Argie” Roy of Sillimanian, Butch Francisco (he was with Dr. Mac Tiu and Mike Locsin, co-editors of Atenews), Nelson Navarro of the UP Collegian, and (I was told) Don Pagusara, Palanca award-winning Ateneo de Davao professor, was also there as editor of the school paper of Colegio de San Jose Recoletos of Cebu. The group was egging Nelson to run as CEG president for the incoming year. The plan didn’t materialize. It was Ado Paglinawan of_De La Salle College who eventually became the CEG president. He came to Davao City in 2010 to help the candidacy of lady Sonia Habana Rodriguez for congresswoman in the 3rd District.

Nothing low cost Anyway, there was nothing low cost about the inaugural flight of AirAsia to Kuala Lumpur, except for two things. One, the delicious hot food that they sold in-flight were priced low and that we didn’t use the air bridge (tube) in boarding and disembarking from the new plane that we used in going to Clark, in flying out to KL and in coming back. We took a spacious brand new Airbus 320. Ben Diansay and I had the privilege of being with the party which got an Airbus 330 from Toulouse City in France a few years back on invitation of then PAL chairman Lucio

Tan. I heard that AirAsia was acquiring four more aircraft of this model before the year ends. For foodies, Clark, or Angeles City, for that matter, was a perfect launching area for a trip abroad because of the excellent Pampango cuisine. I’ve tasted all kinds of food and food preparations for the last six decades, but I think that the food served us

by Binulo restaurant the night before our flight out of Clark was the best I have ever tasted in my life. AirAsia should get their catering service from a Pampango caterer or hire a Mekeni chef for the dishes they serve inflight.

Let me share some impressions, and photos, of my Dabawenyo companions in that memorable trip.

IAN GARCIA of the Mindanao Times: “AirAsia gives us Pinoys, especially us in Mindanao, another opportunity to explore our ASEAN neighbors without burning (baka boring) holes in our pockets. Its low cost fares give budget travelers extra money (from airfare savings) to spend in the destinations, maximizing the experience in each journey.”

GIGIE ARCILLA AGTAY of SunStar Davao: “The brand new smell of AirAsia Airbus adds to the comfortable feeling one experiences.

My Davao-Clark-Davao flights were my first time to experience earlier arrivals at destinations (by as much as 40 minutes!). Flight attendants exude elegance in their red and black uniform, not to mention the distinct AirAsia service on board. Indeed, this

is a new standard set for low budget airlines. Everyone can fly with contentment and satisfaction.”

EDITH R. REGALADO of Philippine Star. “The in-

flight food was truly great and much cheaper compared to other LCCs (low-cost carriers). Air Asia flights make the travel to Kuala Lumpur amazingly smooth not only

because of the airline’s new fleet of aircraft but also the fare is within reach of almost every traveler. Indeed, Air Asia brings Davao City passengers to Clark and to Kuala Lumpur in a breeze. No worries is more like it. As to Kuala Lumpur and other destinations we went to, Malaysia never ceases to amaze me.”

Yes, even AirAsia’s inflight magazine was a very good read. Indeed, if Dabawenyos want to travel in a no-frills airline in style, they should try taking AirAsia in their future trips to Kuala Lumpur and 77 other destinations beyond Malaysia. (Next: Malaysia’s amazing destinations)

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ENTERTAINMENT UP AND ABOUT

SKYcable Select brings the ultimate adventures this August GATHER the family for another jam-packed TV bonding experience as vampire piranhas, amazing factory demos and nature adventures invade your television sets this August.

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Explore the real world and learn how interesting things around us are produced in “How It’s Made,” on Discovery Science (SKYcable channel 89), Sundays at 9.30pm.

Every episode will feature an in-depth presentation of the processing and manufacturing of four ordinary household objects in amazing factories from around the world. Catch this and other interesting bits of science and technology when you add Discovery Science to your basic plan for only P20 per month.

Dangerous river expeditions and monstrous fishing make up the extraordinary world of legendary biologist and extreme angler Jeremy Wade. Join Jeremy as he faces his toughest challenge yet and continue to wade through the wildest and most dangerous rivers to find the haunting stories of fish vs. man. The fourth instalment of “River Monsters” premieres August 13 at 10 p.m. on Discovery Channel (SKYcable channel 41).

Add Discovery Channel to your basic plan for only P50 per month and expand your family’s horizons with engaging adventures on nature, science and pop culture.

Experience a combination of fun, humor and learning with the “Wild Kratts” on Discovery Kids (SKYcable channel 88), weekdays at 6.30pm. Explore the wonders of nature as you follow Chris and Martin Kratt, together with their friends as they delve into the world of giant squids, sperm whales, hyenas, and a whole lot more as science is made more entertaining and educational through amazing live action segments. Let your kids discover the world in fun and exciting ways through educational and entertaining programs when you add Discovery Kids to your basic plan for only P50 per month.

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VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

Ballet Philippines at SM Davao, August 10 JOINING the Kadayawan celebration at SM City Davao is the country’s top ballet ensemble Ballet Philippines on August 10. Ballet Philippines goes Kadayawan will feature excerpts from the company’s well-loved pieces made possible with the genius of proudly Davao talents.

Moriones. Choreographed by no less than Ms Agnes Locsin, Moriones takes inspiration from the Moriones Festival of Marinduque. The material was originally put together for Ballet Philippines 2’s participation at the Recontres Festival Du Danse in La Baule, France. It also became a study for movement for the Guardias Civil dance for Locsin’s coming Encantada. Full performance was first seen in July 1991, Manila, Philippines.

Pusong Wagas. With the original music by independent music icons Cynthia Alexander and Joey Ayala, Pusong Wagas is an original contemporary ballet based on the legend of the city of Mandaluyong. Set in precolonial Manila, the story highlights the exemplary love of Luyong, a gifted carpenter, and Manda, a tribal princess, and their sacrifice in the face of the coming foreign invaders.

As an addition to the 2 powerful numbers, Ballet Philippines is also set to perform lllustrated Dialects which is an exquisite lyrical interpretation of the slow-moving romance of Filipino love songs.

Feel the Kadayawan vibe at with Ballet Philippines on August 10 and enjoy the SM Kadayawan Sale on

August 13-19. Amazing discounts await everyone, as much as 70% off on great selections mall-wide. To give its valued shoppers more time to shop, the city’s hippest hub is extending its mall hours until 10 PM on August 17 and until midnight on

August 18 for the sale.

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

Half price double delights at Italianni’s and TGIFridays

TGI Friday’s and Italianni’s offers double delights at half the price The Bistro Group of restaurants celebrates the opening of 50 stores by offering double delights at half the price.

SM Department Store gets into the Kadayawan groove Have a Salad Feast with its annual Festival Slippers Design-Making Con- Wednesday at Italianni’s test. as all regular size and solo A minimum, single-receipt purchase of Php1,000 sizes of Sicilian Chicken from the shoes, bags and luggage departments at SM Salad are half off.

Department Store Davao inclusive of a pair of BeachNacho Thursdays are walk Slippers, qualifies customers to submit an entry to the Design Your KADAYAWAN Slippers Contest.

Entries should be submitted on or before August 19 before the start of the online voting period. Online voting will be from August 21 to August 30 with final judging on August 31 at the SM City Davao Annex Event Center.

The grand prize winner shall receive Php10,000.00 and five runners up with win Php1,000 worth of gift passes.

Visit SM City Davao Department Store or see posters for more details.

Kadayawan Festival slipper design contest at SM Department Store

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made more fun as Ball Park Nachos at TGIFriday’s are also fifty percent off.

These back-to-back deals are available for the whole month of August.

Italianni’s and TGIFridays are both located at the ground floor of the Abreeza Mall. For inquiries and reservations you may call Italianni’s at 3219587 or 88 and TGIFriday’s at 3219567.

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VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

50 years Marilyn bid adieu Snow White IT’S 2012. We’ve seen enough to know how stories like Marilyn Monroe’s end.

Even a half-century ago—Monroe was found dead 50 years ago this Sunday—they knew.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Mad Men’s Don Draper says flatly in the elevator in “Six Month Leave.”

And while Draper is a fictional character, his refusal to feign shock is grounded in something real.

“Somehow the pieces seemed to fit into place,” the longtime Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas wrote for the Associated Press just days after Monroe’s death. “It looked inevitable in retrospect that her 36-yearold life would end so tragically.”

It always looks inevitable—in retrospect. That much hasn’t changed.

The tragedy is in what has.

Fifty years ago, there were no Drew Barrymores and Robert Downey Jr.s showing Hollywood possible paths out of addiction.

There was no Brooke Shields talking openly about depression.

Fifty years ago, not long removed from the all-powerful, PR-controlling studio machine, there was only silence from stars on their demons. There were only demises by overdose and suicide that looked inevitable—in retrospect.

Consider the case of Monroe.

Two months before her death, amid complaints of spotty work attendance, the actress was fired mid-shoot from

her latest and last movie set.

Coming out of this, the public discussion was dominated not by talk of what was up with Monroe, but what was wrong with the modern-day overpaid, overprivileged actor.

Don Draper, his worldview informed by writers possessed of hindsight, may have not been surprised by Monroe’s subsequent death from too many sleeping pills, but for the rest of 1962, the picture only became clear after the fact—in

retrospect.

It’s no sure thing Monroe would have lived longer had dialogues about recovery and treatment existed, or if outlets like the “Violent Torpedo of Truth” tour had given her a place to vent en route to her next big-money deal.

Outside of the conspiracy theories that now inevitably work their way into all big stories, including Monroe’s, there is no sure thing. That much hasn’t changed. And that is its own tragedy.

Maybe we’re wiser about how these stories ends. Maybe we probe more. Maybe we probe too much.

But knowing an Anna Nicole Smith or a Whitney Houston is troubled is the not same as saving someone, or, indeed, of the troubled person saving herself. We’ve all been on that elevator ride up, the one with the discussion of the day’s sad news, the one that ends with, “I can’t say I’m surprised.”

So much has changed in the 50 years since Monroe’s death. So little, too.

director gets cold shoulder

RUPERT SANDERS is still in the doghouse according to People.

The Snow White and the Huntsmen director, who admitted he had an affair with Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, still hasn’t seen his wife of seven years, model Liberty Ross, since the news first broke.

A source tells the mag that Liberty, who to make matters worse played K.Stew’s mom in the flick, is completely “devastated” and hasn’t seen nor reconciled with her husband since his public apology.

“She’s been focused just on her kids through this...It’s what she cares about the most,” says the source.

Kristen Stewart and

Robert Pattinson: The Complete History of Robsten From Twilight to Her Snow White Hookup However, although no

reconciliation is in the works, the source says Liberty is hanging in there: “Now she’s really feeling strong and looks forward to resuming her life.”

Although, it seems, resuming her life as Mrs. Rupert Sanders is still up in the air.

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TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

The suite life at the Linden Suites Manila The view from my 10th floor one-bedroom suite screams shopping!

LIFE does throw unexpected surprises and my recent trip to Manila was no exception. This time around, I decided to move base to Ortigas Center where it had been years since I last paid a visit thanks mainly to busy crazy schedules whenever I’m in the metro.

This visit is actually one year in the making. It was early 2011 when Donna San Luis of the Linden Suites invited me to stay at their property, back then my schedules just did not permit me to make my way up to Ortigas. This time however, Donna had a secret weapon, that that was (surprise) Kathy Manuel-Salenga who is now the DOSM and whom I know fondly back in the days of partying at the Pearl Farm.

This time Kathy made sure that I make my way to Ortigas, with airport transfers to ensure I won’t change my mind and as soon I arrived at the Linden Suites, I was immediately greeted by Kathy and Donna and was later joined by their equally dynamic general manager, Lawrence Wee. To be honest, I had to plans to go stay anywhere else as it had been so many years since I last set foot in the area and was excited with the Linden Suites’ location. It was perfect for those who need to to business at the heart of Ortigas Center, and for shopaholics. SM’s Megamall, Shangrila Mall, and the Podium re just within a quick 10 minute walk from the hotel, which means less time spent in traffic, less worries about getting swindled by Metro Manila’s notorious cab drivers, and of course more time to shop!

The rooms of the Linden are another draw to the property, as these are not rooms but full-on suites that are at least 44sqm big and complete with a living

The driveway of the Linden Suites.

Not your ordinary hotel room.

room, dining room, full sized refrigerator and even a kitchen. For the rate that the Linden Suites charges for the room, it is an absolute bargain for those who want to get-away for a weekend. It is no wonder the Linden Suites is the favorite hotel for families in Metro Manila who want to go on a weekend staycation.

I, of course, took the opportunity to re-explore the area again with some cool chaps, but that story has to wait for another week.

Follow me on twitter @ kennethkingong for more travel tips, foodie finds, and random ramblings in and around Durianburg and beyond.

The living room of the one-bedroom suite.

Kathy, me, Lawrence and Donna

Late lunch at Chuck’s Deli at the Linden Suites.

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SPORTS

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

15

Holy Child leads

T

EAM standings as of Aug. 6, 2012

Games on Saturday, Aug. 11 1:00 PM FORD VS JMC 2:30 PM ADDU VS EMAR * Last play date of the elimination round.

Holy Child School of Davao notched win no.

5 at the expene of AgroIndustrial Foundation College 87-65 to remain on top of the pack in the Duterte Basketball League Juniors Division

Tournament held at the Gaisano Mall Skygym over the weekend.

The win by the Reds kept them on top of the standings with 5 wins in 6 outings while Agro dropped to solo second with a 4-2 win-loss card.

Assumption College of Davao improved to a .500 mark with a 3-3 slate after winning over Jose Maria College 81-62.

JMC dropped to 2-3, half a game behind their conquerors.

Idle Ateneo is tied with JMC and Ford Academy with identical 2-3 records in the tournament organized by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas Davao City Chapter.

Emar brought up the rear with a 1-4 slate. (NJB)

the latest world rankings “because I competed in much lesser races than those ahead of me,” Caluag said he’ll take the challenge race by race and not look at it as the overall outcome to ease himself of the pressure.

“I’ll take it one step at a time. That’s what it is all about, enjoying the moment,” he said.

Caluag is the only Asian in a select field of

32 cyclists, and will get his baptism of fire on Wednesday afternoon when he competes in the seeding run designed to ensure that the fastest runners won’t meet in the finals early.

In the course of his long buildup in search for an Olympic berth, Caluag said he had raced with many of the favorites and beat some of them, something that’s giving him the

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TEAM HCSD AGRO ACD JMC ADDU FORD EMAR

RMH CUP. Francis Gabriel of Ateneo musces his way through heavy traffic during the Royal Mandaya Hotel Cup Cadets division match played at the Genesis 88 Gym.(RMH Photo)

WIN 5 4 3 2 2 2 1

LOSS 1 2 3 3 3 3 4

Last Phl hope in rider Caluag L

EFT to carry the load for embattled Team Philippines following the ouster of boxer Mark Barriga, BMX rider Danny Caluag remains unfazed and ready to embrace the enormous challenge that lies ahead in the 30th Olympic Games.

“It’s an honor and I’m very aware of that challenge. All my teammates including the two in track and field who are still competing are very supportive of me. I appreciate it,” said Caluag, who plunges into his first Olympic foray in London

three days from now.

Actually, two other Filipino athletes in long jumper Marestella Torres and 5000-meter bet Rene Herrera have yet to see action, but both are given a very slim chance of figuring in the medal fight given the depth of the field in their respective events.

But that can’t be said of the 25-year-old Caluag, who is expected to do well despite competing against a field teeming with big names in his sport, led by No. 1 Sam Willoughby of Australia,

second-ranked Connor Fields of the United States and defending champion Maris Strombergs of Latvia.

“They’re practically the same people who I know, whom I competed with,” said Caluag as mechanic and girlfriend Stephanie listened.

“They’re nothing new to me. It’s not like something that I need to be scared of.”

On Sunday evening, Danny, accompanied

by Stephanie and coach James Richardson, walked through the BMX venue

Birzhan Zhakypov in the Round of 16 of men’s lighflyweight boxing in the 2012 London Olympics.

The Panabo City pride Barriga thanked his fans and the entire nation for the support and prayers. He posted a photo on his Facebook page showing his taped swollen right hand. He had the hand X-rayed on the day after the fight.

In a light mood after the painful loss, Barriga later posted: “Salamat SAINYONG Lahat kahit MASAKIt katawan ko sa new game ko na wrestling anjan pa rin kayo naka suporta..thank u uli pa x-ray muna Ako..hehe..”

Barriga’s hand was the handiwork of a vicious attack on Zhakypov and the latter’s wrestling tactics.

The Barangay Una Boxng Team also posted on Barriga’s page, the screaming message: “WE ARE PROUD OF YOU....THE TRUE OLYMPIC SPIRIT LIES NOT IN HOW YOU WIN THE FIGHT BUT ON HOW YOU FIGHT THE FIGHT, YOU SHOWED THE HEART OF A CHAMPION AMIDST YOUR DISADVANTAGES IN EXPERIENCE, AGE AND HEIGHT, LET THIS

Barriga thanks supporters

By Neil Bravo

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ILIPINO Olympic boxer Mark Barriga finally broke his silence after his loss to Kazakhstan’s

Mark Barriga at the Philippines’ quarters inside the Games Village a day after losing to Kazakhstan’s Birzhan Zhakypov.

FBARRIGA, 10

inside the Olympic Park, a 450-meter tack featuring a ride down an eight-meter high ramp, then a dirt circuit that has a banked corner, S-bend transfer and jumps mark.

“Oh, it’s fantastic,” Caluag said of the track, taking a few moments before he could say the words.

The son of Filipino parents from Bulacan and Nueva Ecija who migrated to the US before he was born, Caluag found himself the only remaining athlete capable of ending Team Philippines’ shameful run of disappointments since the Sydney Olympics after Barriga lost to Kazakhstan’s Birzhan Shakypov in a controversial bout on Saturday.

But Caluag is welcoming the big challenge like a man.

“That’s a duty I have to perform. I know it’s tough, but my team has worked it out and we are expecting for the best,” said Caluag.

Ranked only 84th in

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16 SPORTS

VOL.5 NO. 111 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Rabies FC wins Kia Rio Cup

By Neil Bravo

O

N a day of big reversals, Rabies FC scored big against its favoured rivals to snatch the Kia Rio Cup 5:30 2D Davao Interclub Futsal Tournament at The Annex of SM City Davao on Sunday night.

Led by eventual most valuable player John Leynes and best keeper Lanzi Borromeo, the fourth-ranked Rabies pulled the rug from under heavy favorite and top qualifier Alia Orange FC in the first semifinals, 3-1, to advance to the finals against another bottom-end qualifier Davao Crocodile FC which upset no. 2 SVDB FC, 4-2.

In the finals, Rabies put up a stonewall defense in the endgame to protect a 3-1 lead and that was all they needed as they frustrated

the Crocodiles’ last ditch effort to level the scoreline.

The black-shirted Rabies actually got to the semifinals by the skin of their teeth, narrowly beating by goal difference Team Bloopers after both teams finished tied after the three-round eliminations.

Jun Mapulan, the Crocodiles’ surprise package usually coming off the bench midway into the match and producing instant goals when they needed, won the best scorer award.

Alia Orange beat SVDB in the battle for third via sudden death shootout to take the third place trophy in this event sponsored by Kia Motors Davao and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Phoe-

nix Petroleum Philippines and SM City Davao. The four-day tournament, the first ever held inside the srawling SM City Davao activity center, is sanctioned by the Davao Football Association and organized by Bravetower.

In the Boys Under-16 division, PTA Boys Juniors avenged the loss of their first team to giant-killer St. Paul College Pasig-Davao Campus to win the title, 5-1.

The overachieving St. Paul side upset the top-seeded PTA Boys RVA, 4-2, in the semifinals to advance to their first ever finals.

The PTA Juniors turned back the challenge of the visiting Maco FC to take the cudgels from their eliminated PTA RVA counterparts

which finished the tournament in third place.

Jeffril Cabaral of PTA Boys Juniors won the MVP award with Gregorio Zamora, Jr. (PTA RVA) as best scorer and Jasper Anutan (PTA Juniors) as best scorer.

Kia Motors Davao manager Paco Mendoza handed over the trophies to the winners along with Phoenix Petroleum Philippines corporate affairs manager Ben Sur. Earlier in the morning, special guest Joaqui Preysler, the former secretary general of the Philippine Football Federation and the first ever Futsal Committee chairman of the PFF, graced the opening program. He was joined

by SM City Mall Manager Lynette Lopez, Mendoza and Sur.

KIA RIO CUP. (Left) Men’s champion Rabies FC receive the champion’s trophy from Kia Motors Davao manager Paco Mendoza and organizer Neil Bravo of Bravetower. (Right) Phoenix Petroleum Philippines corporate affairs manager BenSur (extreme left) and Kia Motors’ Paco Mendoza award the champion’s trophy to PTA Boys Juniors. (Below) Phoenix Petroleum’s Ben Sur, SM City Davao Mall Manager Lynette Lopez and former PFF Secretary General Joaqui Preysler.