Edge Davao 5 Issue 12 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES Yehey, we are

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

Indulge! Page A1 Commemorative stamps Page 4

now a daily!

120 ‘ghost’ workers of Central 911 probed n Sara: All job contracts will be

renewed after March 31 n Alparaque: One quits, more resignations expected

By Jade C. Zaldivar

HE Davao City administration is now looking for 120 employees of the Central 911, the city’s emer-

gency response unit, as they have not reported to work or attended the compulsory meeting conducted by City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on March 15 at the Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC). The city mayor said they have yet to see the faces behind the names of 120 employees registered as employees of Central 911. She did not discount the possibility that the “missing” men and

women are “ghost” employees. Anopther possibility is that they all took a leave of absence. “Out of the 517 names nga naa sa masterlist of employees sa Central 911, we are now looking for 120. Kaning 120 mao ni sila ang wala nag-show up sa DCRC meeting , ug wala pud sa attendance sa skeletal force – katong mga nag-stay sa Central 911 headquarters at

F120,13

Sports Page 15

PROTEST ACTION. In commemoration of the 44th anniversary of the Jabidah Massacre, Moro women staged a protest action in Davao City on Monday to lambaste the continuing presence of US military forces in the Philippines. The group

accuses the US forces as the perpetrators of numerous cases of human rights violations. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Sara’s candidacy depends on dad Rody n Lady mayor admits “I cannot

mount a campaign on my own.”

VEN as the political pot begins to percolate, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said she’s yet to make up her mind on whether to run for political office in the 2013 mid-term elections socalled because it is held in the middle of the

term of the sitting president. “Wala pa ko…unsa ba, wala pa nako gihuna-huna ug wala pa koy decision,” the city mayor said in a press conference yesterday the the City Hall. Mayor Sara is yet to discuss the matter with her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, and brother Councilor Paolo, who is president of the Association of Barangay

Captains. “Wala mi naga-istorya ni Mayor Rody. Dili mi magka-away pero di lang pud mi chika-mate,” Duterte-Carpio reiterated what she said in an exclusive interview last week. However, asked on whether the Dutertes have plans running for Congress, the city mayor said she “feels” her brother, Paolo Duterte, has plans to run as 1st District rep-

FSARA, 13

THE BIG NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

Upsurge of HIV cases in city unprecedented n Average of 8.5 HIV positive cases

monthly

n MSM most common mode of transmis-

sion

By Lorie A. Cascaro

TOTAL of 102 HIV cases were recorded in Davao City in 2011, indicating an average of 8.5 cases a month. This is an alarming trend since there were only 118 HIV cases during the last 17 years (1993 to 2010), showing an average of less than one case (.57) a month during the period. Of those which graduated into AIDS cases, 24 deaths were recorded as of December 2011. During the last 18 years (1993 to 2011), 184 males and 12 females were HIV positive. Interestingly, 76 out of the 220 cases belong to the youth sector, 15 to 24 years old. According to the Alliance Against AIDS in Mindanao. Inc. (ALAGADMindanao), the most common mode of transmission was “male having sex with male” or also known as MSM. This is reflected in the national data in terms of HIV mode of transmission. Project officer Michael Jesus A. Mahinay said that ALAGAD’s data show that as of the last quarter of 2011, Davao City had 31 reported HIV cases, all of which were transmitted through sexual contact, particularly with homosexuals. The total reported cases during the first quarter of 2011 were 22; in the second quarter, 13 cases; third quarter 36 cases. HIV cases handled by ALAGAD outside Davao City (as of December

31 2011) reached 143 cases-- 53 of them from other areas in Region 11, 52 from Region 12, 23 from Region 10, 11 from the Caraga Region, three from Region 9, and one from the ARMM. Data from the first quarter this year will be available in April. Data in the Davao City AIDS Registry are consolidated from the Southern Philippines Medical Center HIV/AIDS Core Team, Davao City; Reproductive Health and Wellness Center-City Health Office, Davao City; and, ALAGADMindanao, Inc., Davao City. Not cure, but treatment HIV infection cannot be cured, but can be treated. “We call it treatment to prolong the life of an infected person,” Mahinay said. Through anti-retroviral therapy (ART), the reproduction of HIV in a body can be controlled, he said, adding that the disease is also called “opportunistic infection” because it constantly attacks the weaker side of the body. “Change of lifestyle, which means avoiding stress and exposure to other diseases, can prolong one’s life,” he said. Among the cases ALAGAD handled, the longest survival time so far was 15 years from the onset of HIV symptoms. Unfortunately, the person just died this year. Counseling Having responded to the issue on HIV and AIDS

through education, organizing and advocacy since 1987, ALAGAD-Mindanao provides psychosocial assistance to HIV patients referred to them by their members and partner organizations. The group does home visits on referred patients as far as the cities of Cotabato and General Santos. An HIV patient who does not undergo counseling continues to become a carrier because his or her lifestyle and actions have not changed, Mahinay said. In counseling, he added, the group ensures that a treated patient will reach the point of disclosing whether or not he or she has a partner, especially live. “Kung naa diay siyay partner, the more nga i-locate namo,” he said, adding that the sexual partner of an HIV patient may have been infected or is the carrier, therefore must be given counseling as well. Mahinay mentioned Mindanao AIDS Advocates Association in Davao City which is composed of all HIV positive patients in the city who are doing Peer Education Outreach Program. This outreach program has two forms: one is through online chatrooms, where advocates educate their chatmates on AIDS prevention as well as the importance of HIV testing; the other is by visiting “cruising sites” where MSMs mainly meet. Mahinay said with the outreach program, more individuals are voluntarily submitting themselves to HIV testing.

TOURISM. Davao City Tourism Office Chief Jason Magnaye said on Monday that there is still a need to rein-

vigorate the traffic of incoming foreign tourists in the city. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Sara names broadcaster as new spokesperson n Aportadera goes back to Norway By Jade C. Zaldivar

AVAO City Mayor Sara Z. DuterteCarpio yesterday announced that she appointed an official spokesperson, following the resignation of Giovanni Rizal “Bong” Aportadera, as acting chief of the City Information Office (CIO). He is Jimmy Torres, veteran radio-TV announcer and retired broadcast executive.. The city mayor said she is “in no rush of finding another CIO head” as the office still functions well on its own. “The office is working and functioning so

there is no rush to find a replacement,” DuterteCarpio said in a press conference yesterday at the City Hall. “Just in case nga kinanglan ug face ang city government, I asked Sir Jimmy if he can be a spokesperson,” she said. Torres, the mayor said, has been a consultant to the city “for many years.” “Dugay na na siya consultant diri. He’s been helping us so mao na akong ingon mag-spokesperson na lang siya,” the city mayor said. Duterte said Aportadera’s resignation became effective March 12. Aportadera was acting chief of the CIO for al-

most two years. The city mayor said Aportadera had to tender his resignation saying “he needed to leave for Norway immediately.” Duterte-Carpio said Aportadera was given an ultimatum by the Norwegian government regarding his immigrant status. “Gitagaan siya ug deadline sa Norwegian government otherwise idisolve iyang petition for immigrant status. He has been in the Philippines for almost 6 years. They said if he does not go back to Norway then madisolve iyang immigration. So he had to leave before the deadline para maka-register,” she said.

their frequent arrests. “Nagadaghan ang mga bata tungod sa Pangilinan law. Sa sigeg sulod-gawas sa prisuhan, they’re improving in their craft,” he said. He added that most arrested minors already brought their birth certificates as proof of their minor age. “Sa kamaro sa mga bata, dili na sila suguon.

Nagadala na gani birth certificate. Pagdakop nimo, dala dala na sila og birth certificate,” he said. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he does not know any case of connivance between police and minor offenders. “None that I know of. Pag naa, tell me and I will act on that immediately,” he said. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

Cops closely watching pawnshops buying stolen goods

EVERAL pawnshops in Davao City suspected to be in the illegal practice of buying stolen goods, also known as fencing are being closely watched. This was bared by Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, director of the Davao City Police Office during last Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City. Dela Rosa, also known by his nom de guere “Bato,” told media practitioners that being watched are pawnshops especially those in Talomo and San Pedro areas, that regularly buy stolen jewelries and other valuables from minors. “Bisan asa nga pawnshop. Negosyo man ng

pawnshop, dili man na public service,” he said. Pawnshops, he added, mostly undervalue their appraisals on the valuables they bought from these minors in order to make big profit. He added plainclothesmen are among those conducting conducting surveillance on the suspected. The police strengthened its surveillance on pawnshops after the arrest of three minors who are suspects of the recent burglary in Central Park Subdivision in Bangkal last month, according to him. The problem, he said, is that most pawnshops do not cooperate with the

police. “Ug dili sila mo-cooperate, kasuhan gyud sila og obstruction of justice ug anti-fencing, labi na nga nakuha na tong pawn paper unya dili nila ihatag,” he told reporters, referring to the pawnshop where the suspects of the said burglary sold the stolen things. He said almost all pawnshops in the city are doing such illegal practice, and that most of the minors involved in theft are patronizing these pawnshops. “Naa na sila mga suki nga pawnshop,” he said, adding that particularly those thieves who were mostly arrested at the back of NHA Bangkal have

“suki” identified as Maranao, who do not have a pawnshop. He added that upon their search of these alleged “Maranao” buyers, the police found out that they already fled. Dela Rosa said the police cannot do more than arresting, detaining, and releasing the minor offenders. “Dakop, buhi, dakop, buhi. Makacommit na man pud og burglary kung dili nimo dakpon. Giswelduhan man mi para ana nga trabaho,” he said. He cited Pangilinan’s juvenile justice law as a factor of the rampant robbery and theft by minors, saying they have upgraded their skills by

Quips

‘OUR February figures show more jobs for every peso of investments. The projects are expected to generate 3,250 jobs once operational, an increase of 2 percent over 2011 figures.’

--Adrian Cristobal Jr., Trade undersecretary and managing head of the Bureau of Investments (BOI).

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

Quality of jobs improves, NEDA

OLLOWING the release of the results of the January 2012 round of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the quality of employment in January 2012 improved due to the expansion of remunerative wage and salary employment as well as the rebound of full-time employment growth. “The growth of remunerative wage and salary employment expanded by 3.3 percent from a negative 1.2 percent in January 2011. Likewise, the growth of full-time employment rebounded from negative 2.6 percent in January 2011 to 2.6 percent in January 2012,” NEDA Deputy Director General Margarita R. Songco said. The NEDA Officer-inCharge said that based on the LFS, majority of Filipino workers remained employed in more remunerative and stable work considering wage and salary workers comprised 54.8 percent of total workers and 3.6 percent were employers. Lesser proportions were self-employed (30.1%) and unpaid workers (11.5%) Songco said that despite the favorable performance of the labor market in January 2012, government must continue to prioritize generating more decent, productive and quality employment that provides adequate income for the Filipino workers. “Government must continue to implement employment-related policies such as more frequent monitoring of and closer coordination among government agencies that implement the Community Based Employment

Program (CBEP), supporting advocacy campaigns for the tourism plan and promote employment-intensive interventions, intensifying implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects and providing microfinancing and marketing support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” she emphasized. She added that government must improve skills matching through enhancing coordination among employers, the academe and government, reduce youth unemployment by motivating the private sector to increase youth employment opportunities and intensify the use of online labor market information systems by public and private offices to expand the reach to job searchers. Songco is optimistic that said that job and employment creation within the near-term will continue to be vibrant despite economic downside risks. “Job and employment creation will continue to expand as government remains committed to implement its programs and projects on time and as domestic industries recover,” she added. The NEDA official identified the factors that will boost the labor market. These are the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) which aims to attain sufficiency in major staples by 2013; recoveries in manufacturing and construction subsectors; the expected surge in inbound tourists due to more aggressive tourism programs; the upbeat revenue target of the BPO industry, and the start of preparatory activities for the 2013 national and local elections.

OREIGN-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. has yet to firm up its relocation plan to those that will be dislodged by its Tampakan copper-gold project, a project partner admitted on Monday. “The current work program at Tampakan continues to focus… on reaching agreement with the community and [national and local] governments on a range of social impacts, including the need to undertake a substantial resettlement program,” the 2011 annual directors’ report of Indophil Resources NL showed. Indophil owns a 37.5% stake at Sagittarius Mines, which is controlle by Xstrata Copper, the world’s fourth largest copper producer. The Tampakan project has suffered a setback after the Philippine government rejected last January Sagittarius

Mines’ application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), without prejudice to reapplication. It cited as reason the unresolved open-pit mining ban imposed by South Cotabato, where the Tampakan project is located. Sagittarius Mines had filed a motion for reconsideration of the national government’s decision last January 27. As of Monday, there was still no decision on the petition and that the open-pit mining ban remains in place, Indophil said. The Tampakan project is feared to dislocate an estimated 2,600 afamilies, mostly belonging to the B’laan in the mines development site, which would span some 4,000 hectares. In an undated statement from the local government unit of Tupi in South Cotabato, it said that Sagittarius Mines

Impeachment Act of 2012 to define the grounds for impeachment as provided for in the 1987 Constitution. The measure has been referred by plenary to the Committee on Justice. Biazon said the country has had only three instances of impeachment cases involving three Presidents – President Elpidio Quirino, Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos. “However, partisan political and political inclinations and preferences precluded the completion of the process, thereby depriving the country of the

legal precedents that could have served as the touchstones and bedrock of future proceedings of this nature,” Biazon said. Biazon said the public has become privy to the sad spectacle of the parties to the impeachment process engaged in seemingly endless arguments involving questionable complaints, the rights of a public official subject to the impeachment, the quantum of evidence required for conviction, and most importantly, the meaning and coverage of some of the grounds for impeachment.

BANGKATHON. People flock at Sta Ana Wharf on Sunday to watch the 2012 Bangkathon that was participated by more than 70 specialized bangka. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

SMI relocation plan in the works

is eyeing the village of Miasong as relocation site. Miasong is Tupi’s farthest barangay known for its cool climate and vegetable production. The statement said the multi-national mining company is eyeing Miasong for its resettlement and housing project Sagittarius Mines has commenced the study of the suitability of Barangay Miasong for its housing project. They are now into data gathering and validation activities, it said. Bella Lechonsito, superintendent and engagement and partnership stakeholder of Sagittarius Mines, had requested Julgen Dajay, the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, to furnish Tupi’s data. Sagittarius Mines reportedly commissioned Parsons Brinckerhoof to conduct a feasibil-

ity study for the resettlement program. Parsons Brinckerhoff is a global consulting firm assisting public and private clients to plan, develop, design, construct, operate and maintain critical infrastructure, its website said. Parsons Brinckerhoff needs ample data to prepare a due diligence of the identified host community, the Tupi LGU’s statement said. The data requested includes an updated municipal profile; baseline information (population, population growth rate, population forecast by age/gender, student population by grade/ year level, morbidity and mortality rate); existing community infrastructure facilities; social and cultural activities or practices of the community; peace and order situation; and transportation means to the Tupi poblacion, it said.

eases. “The use of recycled cooking oil has its many dangers, leading to the increased incidents of hypertension, damage to the liver, and could be a potential cause of cancer. Other coun-

tries, particularly in China and Malaysia, have also made efforts to curb this unhealthy practice,” Co said. “There have been reports that packs of used cooking oil have mushroomed in the markets

Biazon files bill to define Bill to ban the use grounds for impeachment of used cooking oil

lawmaker has proposed a legislative remedy to expedite the resolution of impeachment cases in the future. “The endless arguments involving technicalities in the on-going impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona opened Congress to negative public perceptions adversely affecting its integrity and credibility in the performance of its constitutional mandate,” Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City) said. Biazon filed House Bill 5969 to be known as the

SED cooking oil, which has been recycled by some enterprising ambulant vendors in cooking street foods, is dangerous to the health. House Bill 5957 authored by Reps. Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe, and Alfredo Garbin, Jr. (Partylist, AKO Bicol), otherwise known as the “Anti-Used Cooking Oil Act of 2012,” prohibits the recycling and selling of used cooking oil. Co cited recent studies showing that used cooking oil utilized in human food preparation poses health hazards because reheating the oil produces toxins that increase the risk of dis-

Quips

‘WE are strongly pursuing cases versus errant stockholders, directors, managers and owners of closed banks. It’s our job to deter shenanigans and to continually pursue criminals.’ --Valentin A. Araneta, newly appointed president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC)

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

SouthCot controls entry of projects

HE Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of South Cotabato plans to regulate the entry of housing and business-related structures within the famed Seven Falls in Lake Sebu town in a bid to protect its environs. South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said the board is initially looking at banning the construction of new housing structures and establishment of business ventures within the two-kilometer radius of the town’s seven waterfalls, which is under the Seven Falls Eco-tourism Development Project. The area is part of the Allah Valley Protected Landscape, which covers a total of 102,350 hectares. “We’re quite concerned with the mushrooming houses and business enterprises there, especially around the zip line area as it might affect the environment there,” he said in a statement released by the South Cotabato Information Office. The governor said they earlier raised such concern in a meeting called by PAMB and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12. Pingoy said PAMB members considered to declare as “off limits” the declared “strict protection zone” of the seven waterfalls to prevent incursions that might damage its natural beauty. He said the board initially ruled that any future business endeavor within the area will have to be cleared first by its members. It emphasized that the proposed business enterprises or ventures that may be allowed should

complement with the culture of the area’s T’boli tribal folks. “The board also urged the provincial government to develop a plan for the Seven Falls that will support the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP), specifically the planting of various indigenous tree species to ensure clean water supply, fresh air, reduced erosion, and environmental productivity, among others,” Pingoy said. The governor said the local government is currently working with PAMB for the formulation and implementation of initiatives that will further improve the Seven Falls eco-tourism project, which is located within a declared protected area. Aside from these, Pingoy said the board recommended the development of a management master plan to help check all the activities within the Seven Falls protected area. The master plan will set the policies and requirements for the approval of clearances for any development in the area, he said. Last year, the provincial government released an additional P5 million to fast track the ongoing implementation of the Seven Falls development project, which it had adopted as its flagship tourism initiative. The project took off in 2009 with an initial funding of P20 million, which was utilized for the installation of a zip line that connects three of the seven waterfalls. The zip lines cover waterfalls 1 and 5 as well as waterfalls 2 and 5 and features a thrilling drop of about 740 and 400 meters, respectively, that were considered as among the highest in the country. [AL-

By Lorie A. Cascaro

areas to report human rights violations, environmental destructions and other violations committed by mining firms through their mobile phones. The project primarily focuses on two mining firms of Cadan Resources, particularly Philco Cadan in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, and TMC Cadan in T’boli, South Cotabato. Any violation caught by the “monitorer” will be reported and posted directly to www.mobit.

LEN V. ESTABILLO / MINDANEWS]

COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and Postmaster General Josefina M. Dela Cruz show Davao City’s 75th year commemorative stamps as part of its diamond founding anniversary celebration during

the Appreciation Night sponsored by the Mayor and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. [JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA]

Power crisis in Mindanao artificial, says Gov. Mendoza N

ORTH Cotabato Gov. Lala Talinio-Mendoza regarded as “artificial” the power shortage in Mindanao. Mendoza said those behind the projection that the region is in crisis are allegedly putting pressures on the local government units and the national government to push through with the full privatization of the power industry. There is a pending plan to sell the remaining power plants in Iligan City and Bukidnon and the other two power barges in Mindanao to private firms. Mendoza, however, is bent on opposing the plan. “I am made to believe that there’s a deliberate plan to set up all LGUs and electric cooperatives to submit to the privatization. So

they project it through putting up an artificial shortage of our power,” said Mendoza. Of all the three power grids in the country, Mindanao has the lowest electric rate because it gets power mainly from hydroelectric and geothermal power plants. On Tuesday, during a public hearing led by the House Committee on Energy, Mendoza, along with other LGU officials from Mindanao, asked power producers in the region to lower their power reserve. She said every power generator has reserve electricity. “But the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) is projecting that we have negative reserve of power for Mindanao, which I believe is wrong,” said the governor. Also, she sought that the LGUs where pow-

er sources are located should be given a direct line so they could enjoy 24-hour electricity. “In North Cotabato, we host the geothermal power plants, which produce 98 megawatts. Yet, we experience three to six hours of blackouts daily,” lamented Mendoza. What irked the governor is that the power industry, at this time, is no longer a utility but a commodity, thus she suggested that the government impose a 12-percent cap in the profit generation of the private power firms. “Because our power is already a commodity, the profit orientation of these firms is already sky’s the limit. And that is not healthy, very frustrating to most of us,” said the governor. She also maintained that the Department of Energy (DoE) no longer

has control over the “artificial power shortage” being projected by power firms in Mindanao. “If we allow full privatization of our power industry, for sure, our electricity rates will skyrocket. The country’s power rate is the highest in Asia, and we’re eighth in the world. Yet, we’re a poor country,” said Mendoza. Since last week, the service areas of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) have been experiencing three to six hours of power interruptions daily. On Wednesday, Vincent Baguio, spokesman for Cotelco, said the NGCP has reduced its supply of power for North Cotabato – from 32 to 22.2 megawatts – after the cooperative failed to stick to the load curtailment. This, he said, resulted in the daily brownouts.

cc, the official website of the project. The report may be in a form of video, photos and texts in English or vernacular language. A local coordinator is responsible of the English translation. Juland Suazo, Panalipdan spokesperson and Mobit coordinator, said this provides transparency and accountability of the mining firms which the Filipinos and Canadians who are funding the project wanted to monitor. “Everything that Canadian

mining firms are doing in the Philippines will be reported immediately to the world wide web,” he said. Using the information provided in the website, which is administered by a group of Filipino IT professionals called the Computer Professionals Union, the Filipino-Canadian community will spread the news so that assistance and appropriate actions will immediately be done. Voluntarily do-

ing the monitoring, the trainees said they prepared themselves to face the risks especially of their security, adding that it is the responsibility of a citizen to become a watchdog in the society. Suazo said his group is planning to replicate such project to monitor other companies, not only regarding mining issues but also issues on environment, housing, and labor rights. “The mainstream media cannot cover all

issues in the communities, much more the details of issues involving the grassroots. It is a way of filling in a gap of information,” he said. Social media, he noted, is giving the ordinary people a platform so that their voices will be heard by the whole world through Youtube, Facebook and other networks online. “Let’s train the community members how to utilize the technology to empower them,” he said.

[MALU CADELIÑA MANAR / MINDANEWS]

Groups train community to monitor mining firms

“

Social media for social change” was the theme of the training held recently in Davao City by Panalipdan Environmental Rights Network and Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights. An offshoot of the groups’ joint project, the Mindanao Mining Mobile Monitoring Project, the training established a pool of monitoring individuals in mining

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

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

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

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

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

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

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 Foreign investments up in Feb 2012 THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

HE Board of Investments (BOI) announced sustained investor interest for the month of February with marked increase in commitments from foreign investors at 249% amounting to P3.22B compared to P924M registered last year. A total of 24 projects were approved for the period, matching that of last year. Total projects approved for January to February 2012 amounted to P12.4B, 11.7% higher than the P11.1B average investments for January to February, historical data from BOI for the past five years show. Thailand ranked highest among the Philippines’ top investors for the period with investments amounting to P2.2B followed by Japan, P703M, and different nationalities including Taiwan and the United States, P182M. Total committed investments for the period amounted to P8.63B lower than last year’s P25B while several firms are finalizing their BOI applications

for their projects. “Our February figures show more jobs for every peso of investments,” said DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) and BOI Managing Head Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. The projects are expected to generate 3,250 jobs once operational, an increase of 24% compared to 2,335 projected jobs for February 2011 approvals. The manufacturing sector posted the biggest share of total approvals, 44% or P5.50B. Other sectors with large investment contributions are real estate, P3.68B; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, P1.82B followed by accommodation and food service, P1.08B, and agriculture, P228M. “There are 240 more projects in the pipeline for BOI approval as of February this year,” added Undersecretary Cristobal. The Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) 2011 identi-

fies agriculture, tourism, ship building, mass housing, energy, infrastructure, research & development, motor vehicles, green projects, creative industries, disaster prevention; and public-private partnership as strategic areas for growth and investments. Data from the BOI show that approved February investments will be dispersed in the regions. Region 4 will receive the highest amount of February investment commitments, P3.13B; Region 3, P2.26B; and Region 7, P1.45B. Key investment projects approved were Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods Phils. Corp. (CP Foods) in aqua feed production project in Bataan; Toyota Motor Philippines in production of Toyota Vios model in its Laguna plant; Quadriver Energy Corp. in a hydroelectric power generation project in Bohol; Zanorte Palm-Rubber Plantation in Zamboanga, and Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation in Batangas. CP Foods, a major transna-

tional conglomerate in Thailand’s agribusiness industry, will construct a modern aqua feeds plant with an annual capacity of 114, 000 metric tons. The approved project will help supply aqua feeds for the local aquaculture and fisheries industries. They will also source their raw materials from local and foreign suppliers and will need local supply utilities. Zanorte Palm-Rubber plantation project is expected to harness the potential of rubber as a new growth industry in the country. Initial target buyers for dried rubber are Dunlop, Bridgestone, and Yokohama. The approved Toyota Motor Philippines project will strengthen the country’s foothold in production of compact sedans. SME suppliers are also expected to benefit from the project through Toyota’s cluster development program “Big Enterprise Small Enterprise” where they monitor and cascade supply development programs to SMEs.

proposed fund will be used to complete all road networks to the various tourism sites. “We hope this budget proposal will be given priority next year because we are really aiming high to make this part of Mindanao globally competitive,” stressed Matugas. Currently, in prepping up Siargao for bigger things, more than P100 million worth of various infrastructure projects such as roads, municipal and barangay (village) ports, and other national government offices are undergoing construction on the island’s nine towns. The provincial government is also preparing for a five-day global fishing competition slated from April 28 to May 1, this year in Pilar town. In another development, the

Region-9 office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-9) said that President Aquino is expected to lead the inauguration of the P342 million Sanga-Sanga – LapidLapid steel bridge in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi early next month. Bridge Project Engineer JulArab Kong of the DPWH-9 said that by April of this year, the bridge will be made opened to the public. DPWH-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWHARMM) Secretary Emil K. Sadain pointed out that after decades at attempting to construct the bridge project, “it is only now that we are to realize it.” The steel bridge is expected to spur economic growth and boost the social transformation of Tawi-Tawi.

The bridge, one of the priority projects of the national government, will connect the capital town of Bongao to the municipalities of Panglima Sugala, Sapa-Sapa, Tandubas, and Lunguyan. “Most people in this province are eagerly waiting for the completion of the bridge since it will reduce travel time to this (Bonago) town,” Sadain was told. The project, which started in 2008, has five components – the upgrading of the 7.6-kilometer Sanga-Sanga Road, upgrading of the 8.45-kilometer Lapid-Lapid Road, construction of Sanga-Sanga Bridge, construction of the Lapid-Lapid Bridge, and the implementation of the Bakhaw Dakula Link Road.

Filipinos,” the World Bank said in its Philippine Quarterly Update (PQU) report. Besides having strong macroeconomic fundamentals, the lender said the country is benefiting from political stability and a popular government that is seen by many as strongly committed to improving governance and reducing poverty.”

For 2012 and 2013, the World Bank growth forecasts for the Philippines are 4.2 percent and 5 percent, respectively. The PQU says strengthening public finances and overall competitiveness are needed for the country to achieve rapid and sustained growth of above 5 percent for a long period of time.

This was the level of growth achieved by neighboring countries that led to greater poverty reduction and improvement in the lives of the poor. In order for the country to get closer to its potential as envisioned in the Philippine Development Plan 2011 to 2016, the PQU suggests more focus on several key reform areas.

P802 M poured into tourism infra for Siargao

INALLY, the Eden-like island that is Siargao Island has been noticed, and big time at that. In an objective to make the “paradise island” of Siargao the country’s modern tourist destination, a proposed P802-million budget for 2013 was strongly endorsed on Friday. Surigao del Norte Representative Francisco T. Matugas made the endorsement as he briefed Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas during the inauguration of the newly completed P25million Sayak Airport terminal here. Matugas said the proposed budget will make Siargao Island and other tourist destinations in the province more globally competitive.He said the

WB urges PHL to accelerate reforms to improve the lives of poor Filipinos

HE World Bank on Monday said that strong macroeconomic fundamentals have strengthened the Philippines’ resiliency against the global turmoil. “The greater task at hand is accelerating reforms to put the country on a higher and sustained level of development that would significantly improve the lives of many poor

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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

as of august 2010

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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

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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

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THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DTI teaches entrepreneurship through a ‘game’ I

NSTILLING the entrepreneurial spirit is best shared in a game. Small and Medium Development (SME) coordinator Necitas Lazaga of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao del Norte Field Office has found this out in her 13 years of handling the task of enterprise development. In an interview, Lazaga recommended the BEST Game for business starters so they would gain prior knowledge on

how to run an enterprise. Business Expense Savings Training or the BEST Game is an entrepreneurship seminar conducted in a game, giving participants handson experience on how to start and run the business they have in mind. Absorbed in a role play as real entrepreneurs, participants would realize that the success or failure in running a business largely depend on their business decisions, and that, product

quality matters, Lazaga explained. “The game also makes participants discover the (personal) qualities that are needed in running a business,” she said. The module of BEST Game was made and developed by Triple Trust Organization based in Cape Town, South Africa. With participants ideally grouped into three, BEST Game is played competitively in a “simulated business envi-

ronment”, leading to definite outcomes in terms of profit and savings just like in a real life business situation. BEST Game has three modules, namely, Introducing the Basic Business Cycle, Understanding Demand and Supply, and Reaching Your Customers and Improving Business. Lazaga viewed it much better for starters to gain business experience before they venture into real business so they would be guided on what

to do, and what business decisions to take, to help them succeed in business. Lazaga revealed that the BEST Game formed a major part of last year’s SME development activities of DTI Davao del Norte Field Office. DTI Davao del Norte last year conducted 63 trainings, which included nine on productivity, 17 on skills and technology, and 37 on entrepreneurship development. Using the BEST Game, DTI Davao del

MinDA chair backs review of EPIRA

INDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Secretary Luwalhati Antonino has expressed support to moves by Mindanao lawmakers to review the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to address the worsening daily rotating brownouts in the island. Antonino said there is a need to have major policy changes in the EPIRA or Republic Act 9136. Passed in 2001, the law sought, among others, to privatize 10 years later or by 2011, the National Power Corp’s Agus and Pulangui hydropower plants. The plants provide

more than half of Mindanao’s power supply. “Based on series of discussions with, and subsequent recommendations from Mindanao power stakeholders, a significant deal with what needs to be done involves major policy actions such as review of the EPIRA law, among others,” said Antonino, who served three terms as representative of the first district of South Cotabato. “MinDA is currently putting together a position paper and consolidating the inputs from rounds of stakeholder consultations, including Mindanao lawmakers, so that all of us are on same

page on this issue,” she added. Antonino said MinDA will convene a meeting of key power industry players and stakeholders to address issues on rotating brownouts affecting several areas in Mindanao. She noted the power problem in Mindanao requires both immediate and long-term solutions involving everyone in the generation, distribution and utilization chain. “We are confronted with this problem in Mindanao on a recurring fashion and it’s time we deal with this quickly and decisively,” Antonino said. Last Tuesday, a joint hearing of the Committee

on Energy and the Special Committee on Mindanao Affairs at the House of Representatives came up with proposed measures to avert the worsening Mindanao power problem. At the hearing, the lawmakers asked both the Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on the real energy situation in Mindanao. The Mindanao congressmen also inquired on the status of dredging projects that were previously proposed to help improve the generating capacity of Mindanao hydro power plants.

11/JEANEVIVE DURON-ABANGAN)

Phil. Business Registry now available at SEC

BUSINESS AS USUAL. A vendor takes the opportunity of the Araw ng Dabaw festivities to sell his balloons, most especially to children. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Norte has reached out to students of masters degree, Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) and Marketing especially in the University of Mindanao, Tagum City campus. DTI is also using such business game technology in assisting groups and associations of micro entrepreneurs, and those that it is grooming to produce leading products under the One-Town One-Product (OTOP) program. (PIA-

USINESS registration for corporations and partnerships is now made faster and easier through the Philippine Business Registry (PBR) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The PBR workstation, which was unveiled by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo on 12 March 2012, offers a real time business registration solution for entrepreneurs who will set up their business, particularly corporations and partnerships. Through PBR, clients can enjoy a hassle-free business registration in a more efficient way. Applicants of corporate name registration from SEC can get their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and employer registration numbers (ERNs) from Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) at PBR kiosk located inside SEC’s Registration area in just 30 minutes. To avail of PBR services, applicants need to go to SEC Office at Mandaluyong City and register their business first. Then the applicant will proceed to the PBR kiosk located near the SEC Releasing Counters and fill up the PBR Application Form, to be submitted together with a photocopy of SEC

Quips

Registration documents to the teller for processing. The applicant should present the original SEC Registration Certificate and Articles of Partnership/Corporation to the teller for verification. Afterwards, the teller will transmit the client’s application to SSS, PagIBIG, and PhilHealth, and the applicant will get PBR-generated employee registration numbers. The applicants will still have to pick up their employer registration certificates from the said agencies by presenting their PBR-generated ERNs. A flagship project of the DTI, PBR is in line with Aquino administration’s initiative to eliminate red tape in the bureaucracy. It is also vital in improving the ease of doing business in the country. One of the major factors attributed to Philippines’ low competitiveness survey rankings is the business registration process. The PBR Kiosk installed at SEC Office targets corporations and partnerships, which are surveyed on the ease of doing business in the country. PBR is also available at DTI Provincial and Regional Offices nationwide for single proprietorship registration. Local government units, such as Quezon City, Mandaluyong, and Caloocan are expected to link up with the PBR in the following months.

‘THIS is a great honor not only for myself but also for our country and I thank the Royal Academy for the incomparable opportunity to be a member of their academic community.’ --Sen. Edgardo Angara on his appointment as member of the prestigious Hispanic American Royal Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters.

EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

Ugmad Komunidad lightens up depressed barangays D

AVAO del Norte’s Ugmad Komunidad program will strive to change the outlook of the residents of beneficiary barangays, by fostering community pride and appreciation of the natural beauty of their place. Assistant Provincial Administrator Romulo D. Tagalo, who coordinates the Ugmad program, said the target communities must have a change of heart so the mini-convergence initiative can have a positive impact in improving the quality of life of the residents. “What we need to do is to plant hope and change the people’s outlook of their own community,” he told city officials and executives during the Ugmad roadshow in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGCS). He explained the Ugmad Komunidad program is a new strategy of the Provincial Government to combat poverty in poor barangays.

“We should not lose hope in solving poverty and in bringing hope to the people,” he said. He bared it is their intention to make Ugmad’s development interventions sustainable in the villages, even after the program has been brought to an end. The island city was the fourth stop of the Ugmad roadshow, which was rolled out to promote the centerpiece program among the various local government units of the province. APA Tagalo said his team will begin to implement the program through the conduct of a social preparation activity on March 21 to 23 in Talikud Island, Kaputian District, IGCS, which was identified as a pilot destination of the program. Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario launched the initiative last February 2012 to bring together the benefits of the governor’s tourism, sports, and livelihood skills pro-

City Mayor Michelle N. Rabat and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) CEO Darlene B. Berberabe signs a Memorandum of Understanding, which will facilitate the PABAHAY PROGRAM for government employees in the City of Mati. Witnessing the rites are Jose M. Banzon, HDMF VP-Southern Mindanao; Cesar VA. Labuguen, Department Manager III, Pag-IBIG Fund- Tagum ;

Richard L. Villacorte, City Administrator-Mati City. The signing was made on the occassion of the inauguration of the new branch offices of Pag-IBIG in Tagum City. Mayor Rabat is also pushing for the establishment of a Pag-IBIG satellite office in Mati City, which will service Davao Oriental members.

grams into depressed barangays, especially with tourism potentials. The program strategies of Tour DavNor, Dula Dabaonon, and Learn & Earn, aim to make Davao del Norte a premiere tourist destination in Mindanao by developing destinations and products, providing access to existing and tourist potential sites, and aggressive promotions and marketing.

Pag-IBIG declares over P8.4B dividends for 2011

HE government owned and controlled Pag-IBIG Fund has approved the declaration of P8.4 billion worth of dividends for 2011. In a statement, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who is concurrently Chairman of the Pag-IBIG Board, said that the the amount of dividends is equivalent to 71% of the Pag-IBIG’s net income for 2011. This shall be divided among the Fund’s 10.2 million members. In effect, individual members’ savings have earned around 4.13% for the year, higher than what any bank in the country would grant to their depositors. Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe explained that based on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9679 or the HDMF Law of 2009, the Board of Trustees is required to set aside an amount not less than 70% of Pag-IBIG’s annual net income to be paid to members in the form of dividends. “The dividend earn-

ings are proportionately credited to the member’s total savings. We wish to clarify, however, that unlike dividends provided by other financing institution, Pag-IBIG dividends may be withdrawn only at time of membership maturity, together with the member’s personal contributions and the employer share‖ the CEO added. Dividend earnings are tax-free,” Berberabe said. Pag-IBIG members may withdraw their total savings which include all annual dividend earnings under any of the following reasons: membership maturity after 20 years and after saving 240 monthly contributions; retirement; separation from service due to health reasons; permanent departure from the country; total disability or insanity; or upon the death of the member where his legal heirs shall receive his total savings plus an additional death benefit of P6,000 or an amount equivalent to his total savings, whichever is lower. “We take pride in the fact that the Pag-

IBIG Fund has continued to sustain its financial growth through the years, making it one of the strongest and most stable financial institutions in the country today,” Berberabe continued. “Because of the efforts of the management and staff of Pag-IBIG, we were able to register a gross income of P24.8 billion in 2011, 11% higher than our gross income level in 2010 and the biggest in 31 years. Our net income is at P11.959 billion, while our total asset level is now over P302 billion.” “But the Pag-IBIG Fund’s growth is not restricted to its finances. The past year was a year of changes, growth and action. Our efforts to provide quality service to our members have been recognized when Pag-IBIG became ISO 9001-2008 Certified in 2011, the first among key shelter agencies,” Berberabe said. The members—the Filipino workers – are the direct beneficiaries of all the efforts of the Fund. Every increase in its income means higher dividend rates and bigger savings for the members.

REAL ESTATE MAGNATES IN SENATE. Former Las Piñas Congresswoman Cynthia Villar announces that Senator Manny Villar will be going back to private business after his term. She added that she is eyeing

the possibility of bidding for the senatorial seat to continue her husband’s programs. KARLOS MANLUPIG

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

New China landing vessels point to Pacific rivalry ANALYSIS By David Lague

EDITORIAL

Mining ban

RUE blue environmentalists are euphoric over the progress of House Bill 5684 seeking to ban all kinds of mining activities within the jurisdiction of Davao City. The legislative proposal is authored by Rep. Isidro T. Ungab of the Third District who took cue from the conservationist mindset of Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, one of whose dramatic executive actions lately was to veto the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s ordinance approving the coal-fired power plant of AboitizPower in Barangay Binugao. (Of course, the SP set aside the mayor’s veto by way of an override, a legislative action which now allows the construction of the controversial power plant to proceed). To be sure, there are similar measures in the House of Representatives wherein some lawmakers are seeking that mining-free zones be declared in their respective areas of jurisdiction. The proponents include Reps. Deogracias Ramos of Sorsogon City, Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, Elandro Madrona of Romblon and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro. Congressman Ungab’s proposal however exempts sand and gravel quarrying, provided the mined materials would be used for extremely needed public works and road build-

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ing, including the making of bridges , school buildings and establishing water and energy utilities. Given the terrible experience we had with irresponsible mining in sites where the activities left wide swaths of wasteland and irreparable destruction to life and limb, let alone the continuing environment decay of the areas, Dabawenyos can hardly be blamed for taking the opposite view of Filipinos who welcome mining exploration. The city is in danger of losing so much in an irresponsible mining venture,especially the remaining pristine natural resources that we continue to have despite the rapacious loggers who denuded our forest in wanton abandon. Among them are the watershed areas. The destruction of this very critical resource will mean death to the millions of us, lowlanders, who rely on them for our drinking water. True, our lawmakers can craft draconian laws that prescribe responsible mining practice. Unfortunately, there is no assurance that these laws will be strictly enforced. We have so many laws now that are observed more in the breach, because there is so much corruption and bribery in the system. We sincerely wish that our cynicism is misplaced. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO CARLO P. MALLO Associate Features and Lifestyle KENNETH IRVING K. ONG KARLOS C. MANLUPIG • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA LEANDRO B. DAVAL JR., Creative Solutions Photography 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. QUISIDIO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

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(Parts 2)

HINA in 2010 overtook South Korea to become the world’s biggest shipbuilder and industry experts say the leading state-owned shipyards are steadily improving skills and technology with the launch of bigger and more complex oil tankers, container ships and other, more specialized vessels. Along with more than two decades of rapid growth in military spending, this shipbuilding expertise has transformed the Chinese navy from an obsolete, coastal defense force to a blue water fleet that is expanding its influence into the Pacific and Indian Oceans. China’s best warships and submarines are now armed with advanced air defense weapons and long range, antiship missiles. In its annual report to Congress on the Chinese military, the Pentagon last year said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy now has about 75 major warships, more than 60 submarines, 55 medium and heavy amphibious ships and about 85 smaller, missile-armed fast attack craft. As a major trading power with a growing dependence on imported energy and raw materials, this naval expansion is crucial for the country’s security, according to Chinese military planners. “The safety of China’s personnel, assets and shipping lanes is very important for its economy,” wrote Senior Captain Wang Xiaoxuan, the director of the PLA’s Naval Research Institute, in the official China Daily newspaper last month. “To guarantee this, it needs a strong navy.” SHRINKING US NAVY Military strategists dismiss crude comparisons between navies based on the number of ships alone and most experts agree that the U.S. navy with its 285-strong fleet including 11 aircraft carriers, more than 70 nuclear powered submarines and 22 cruisers remains the world’s overwhelmingly, dominant navy. In size, firepower, integration with other important weapons systems and battle experience, the best U.S. warships enjoy a clear advantage over those of China and most combatants from other navies. However, it is also clear that under the Obama administration’s plan to shave almost $487 billion from the Pentagon budget over the coming decade, the U.S. navy will shrink as China’s fleet continues to grow in size and quality. To meet its budget target, the U.S. navy proposes to retire seven cruisers and two amphibious vessels, delay work on new ships and submarines and scrap some programs which could see the fleet shrink to less than 250 ships, according to senior Pentagon officials. These cuts come as the Obama administration mounts a “pivot” to Asia following the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and anticipated exit from Afghanistan. As part of this effort to boost defense cooperation in Asia, the U.S. military is now holding its annual Cobra Gold joint exercises which run until February 17 in Thailand with troops from the host country, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. It will hold joint naval exercises next month with the Philippines near the disputed Spratly islands. SECOND-RANKED SPENDER This shift of military firepower to Asia and renewed emphasis on building closer ties with traditional, regional allies is partly aimed at countering the rapid growth of Chinese military muscle.

EDGEDAVAO

Corona can self-destruct

HEN it saw the futility of obtaining from the Supreme Court the evidence to prosecute the five other articles of impeachment, it withdrew these articles. In contrast, the Corona lawyers did not show flexibility. At the opening of their defense last Monday, March 12, they stubbornly stuck to their plan. They should have abandoned their knockout move when IC Chair Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and four other senator-judges reiterated the denial of their earlier petitions to junk the impeachment complaint and the prosecution evidence for Article 2. But they still persisted with Rep. Tobias Tiangco as their first witness to open a closed issue – as a saying goes, “to beat a dead horse”. Eventually, they must have seen the futility of trying a knockout; the IC refused to flip-flop. Last Tuesday, they started mending the battered Corona’s SALNs. The task will not be easy; the road ahead may have more thorns than roses, full of pitfalls and surprises at every twist and turn. The discrepancies and inconsistencies may be straightened out; the sufficiency and legality of Corona’s incomes may be proven. But mending is not enough. Will all these make Corona’s SALNs inviolate – free him from penance for his sins? If not, the defense will ironically only highlight Corona’s guilt in not declaring his assets, liabilities and net worth according to the 1987 Constitution and RA 6713, Section 8 – the offense for which he is being impeached. Most Explosive In our last Comment, we discussed how BGEI can undo Corona. What at first appeared casual may turn out to be most explosive. When Mrs. Corona testifies on BGEI, she will not just “connect the dots” as Sen. Francis Pangilinan would like to put it; she will raise big question marks. For instance, in showing the legitimacy of BGEI as a corporation, its money in Corona’s bank accounts and its P11 million

COMMENT By Patricio P. Diaz (Conclusion) loan to Corona, Mrs. Corona may raise the question of her own legitimacy as BGEI president as Corona has claimed. She may raise the question of how BGEI can be legitimate when the SEC has revoked its registration or license. In acknowledging that the “big bulk” of the P32 million plus in three time deposits that Corona closed on December 12, 2011 was from the P34 million BGEI got from the sale of its Sampaloc lot in 2001, Mrs. Corona may have to explain what was done with the P34 million until 2009. And curiously: Why was the P37.7 million (P32 million plus interests) from the three time deposits re-deposited as one checking account still in Corona’s name? Mrs. Corona may be asked to clarify Corona’s pronouncement that the Basas have been given back their shares; they are no longer owners of BGEI. Corona also said that BGEI still has properties after the sale of its Sampaloc lot and commercial building. These and the other questions above may merit summons of the Basas from the impeachment court for corroborative questioning or for invitation by the prosecution as rebuttal witnesses. Expect a lot of fireworks! Expect an unpleasant surprise – worms crawling out of the can named BGEI. The Chief Justice and his wife will stake their credibility against that of the 90-year-old Franciscan nun, Sister Flor Basa, one of the two living original stockholders, and her niece, Ana Basa, daughter of deceased major stockholder Jose Maria Basa III. The Gamble The Basa-Corona confrontation will be the grand finalé of the epic drama,

preferably featuring the testimony of the Coronas. The first two witnesses to debunk the charges in Article 2 showed careful defense planning. So far, the defense has presented evidence to prove the earning capacity of Corona and the trustworthiness of the Coronas. More sources of Corona’s income will be revealed; more alleged undisclosed properties will be proven as owned by others. While the defense team is demolishing Article 2, Corona is on media blitz to show how the Aquino administration is persecuting him. Win at the IC the issues and the minds of the senator-judges; win by media blitz the minds and sympathy of the nation. Of course, the twin thrust is a gamble. Corona with his defense team will erase all doubts on the legitimacy of the sources of his money to acquire real properties and that in the bank. To the surprise of all, including the Basas, Mrs. Corona will prove that BGEI is operating legitimately; she owns it and is in full control of it as her husband has claimed in his media interviews. The crucial question, however, is: Have all these legitimate money and property been disclosed in his SALNs? Corona can self-destruct by just revealing all his wealth without meeting head-on the impeachment charge – failure to disclose his assets, liabilities and net worth as the 1987 Constitution and RA 6713, Section 8 require. While ugly implications are unavoidable and hurt, he is not accused per se of violating graft laws and of hiding his wealth. (“Comment” is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz’ column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. The Titus Brandsma Media Awards recently honored Mr. Diaz with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his “commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate.” You can reach him at patpdiazgsc@yahoo.com.)

What’s really wrong with Europe?

HE euro zone debt crisis shows that something is seriously wrong with Europe. But what is it? Most financial professionals think the problem is economic. They have long considered continental Europe something of a mess – slow GDP growth, inept governments, smothering regulation and a culture that doesn’t “get” markets. European residents seem equally gloomy, especially about the economy. In the most recent Eurobarometer survey, 71 percent of respondents did not expect the crisis to be over two years hence. The economic worries of both financiers and citizens are misplaced. Even if the slow patch does last a few more years, the European economy will continue to do what a modern economy is supposed to do. European consumers are basically as well off as Americans after adjusting for longer European holidays and different lifestyle choices. There is probably greater justice in the distribution of incomes and consumer goods in Europe than in the United States. The euro zone’s low trade deficits – less in total since 1990 than the United States ran in the last six months – suggest that Europe is globally competitive. Europe probably has a worse unemployment problem than the United States, but national governments are belatedly trying to remedy that. Where Europe is really weak is not in economics but politics. A lack of political cohesion turned relatively minor financial problems – one small reprobate government (Greece) and two small careless ones (Portugal and Ireland) – into a disproportionately large struggle to avoid a devastating financial meltdown. Despite the risk, politicians and bureaucrats spent years bickering. They may have finally found the necessary toughness and solidarity, but there are enough unan-

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

COMMENTARY By Edward Hadas swered questions to suggest that further crises are a lively possibility. The indecision and discord needs to be kept in proportion. Politically, Europe is far more stable than it was a century ago, when a much smaller trigger set off the First World War. It is more unified – fiscally and financially – than it was in that war’s aftermath, when the anti-solidarity policy of reparations and the anti-flexibility of the gold standard wreaked havoc. Still, Europe could do better. I suggest a three-pronged effort to make the region stronger. The first is supposedly underway: balanced national budgets in normal economic times. An earlier effort to mandate this, the Stability and Growth Pact, failed, but the intervening crisis may have concentrated minds and strengthened resolve. If it hasn’t, then the euro project is liable to topple over as soon as economic challenges arrive. Second, national politicians and the European Central Bank should agree – and state it publicly in no uncertain words – that the fiscal compact implies that the cost of future national fiscal failures will be shared between debtor and creditor nations. There will always be disputes about how to apportion the losses, but those can be resolved if everyone accepts the principle of shared responsibility. A bad loan is a sign that both sides messed up. A multi-country currency union cannot survive without solidarity among its members. Third, Europe needs to make the economy the servant of something greater, something with more political resonance than a

prosperity pact. A merely materialist agreement will always be vulnerable to economic downturns. Half a century ago, when the predecessor to the European Union was founded, there was a good reason to emphasise economic unity: other sorts of multi-national convergence were much more challenging. Europe is not like the United States, which can boast of a single “American way of life” both culturally and politically. (U.S. states’ rights were effectively crushed 150 years ago in the Civil War.) Nor is Europe like China, which established a national language and culture three millennia ago. On the contrary, European nations have basically been moving apart for centuries, developing their own national languages and cultures. The nations often behaved like teenage gang members, convinced of their own superiority and always up for a mutually destructive fight. After the biggest fight, World War Two, the peacemakers followed their profession’s best practice: build trust by focusing on a common effort in the least controversial area – the economy. It has worked, although almost every step has been difficult. The last step, the merger of monetary and fiscal policies, proved traumatic. But after 60 years of economic success, it should be clear that greater unity need not destroy national diversity. Italians may never be as much like Germans as New Yorkers are like Californians, or as Shanghainese are like Beijingers. But Europeans should be able to find enough common ground – if only as an entity able to hold its own against the United States and China – to give the EU stronger support than mere economic self-interest. If not, there really will be something wrong with Europe.

Phantoms on the net SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS By Marcos C. Mordeno

OR writing column articles unfavorable to impeached Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, some readers think I am acting as a PR boy of Malacanang. I could not help but be amused by this simplistic notion that I have been writing on the impeachment trial on the basis of personal loyalty to one of the parties involved. A reader who calls himself Don Supremo said I am doing a “journalistic black-bag job” and called MindaNews the “South Side of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.” That made me curious since I haven’t really been reading the PDI after resigning as a correspondent of that paper in May 2001 to co-found this self-help media organization. This afternoon I broke tradition by “Googling” PDI’s website for articles on the impeachment trial, and noticed the omnipresence of comments in defense of Corona. Common in those comments is the argument that reduces theimpeachmentintosimplyademolitionjob hatched by the President and his allies in Congress. By the manner with which those comments were written, I was tempted to conclude that somebody with a huge stake in Corona’s fate has organized a media Storm Troopers unit whose job is to monitor and comment on any and all articles related to the impeachment. Such observation is not without basis, as former justice Serafin Cuevas would put it, based on the tenor of the language, line of argument and the apparent attempts to discredit the writer and/or the paper. I don’t care how readers react to my articles or if they choose to use fictitious names in expressing bold views and maligning my integrity as a writer by insinuating that I am a paid hack of Malacanang. So easy to feign courage if one is anonymous. But what is basically wrong with labeling is that it deviates from the real issues being heard by the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court. I also don’t care if comments that are completely irrelevant to the impeachment find their way into this website. Here’s a sample from reader “Arrancar” which I’m quoting in all its unedited glory: “the photo-op of B.s aquino is another who they think we are fools and stupid to believe this B.s aquino is working when it is obvious is just a fake and acted photo-op!! mr. mordeno this country has been beset of so many problems both in the rising of fuels and commodities were many people are suffering because of the inaction of the B.s aquino. maybe this newspaper is another diehard followers of the yellow brigade like the newspaper philippine daily inquirer (PDI) so what can you say mr. mordeno the photo-op of B.s. aquino reading some papers as if workaholic president??” MindaNews’ photo gallery does not show the picture mentioned by “Arrancar”. So he or she better ask PDI or other papers about it. Here’s more from “Arrancar”, again quoted here verbatim : “i don’t know if mr. mordeno is a partial or impartial person the defense hasn’t finish their side of showing their evidences against the articles of impeachment the prosecution panel had accused corona on the no. 2,3 and 7 so why are you mr. mordeno is so itchy and can’t wait for the defense to finish their side when you were able to hear from the bumbling and almost laughable and witless the prosecution team had shown their unpreparedness and laughing stock set of fools team. can’t you impartial since your a journalist when you must be unbiased to either of them.” If the prosecutors were being witless, the defense team need not present evidence for Corona. And I see nothing wrong in presenting my views on each piece of evidence that was and will be presented at every stage of the trial. The prosecution does it. The defense does it. The senator-judges do it. Why should journalists be denied the same right and privilege? May I also quote a comment from “Romie”: “i know this is a free country and you can say whatever you want, although it is very obvious that you are biased against Corona. Give the defense the chance to prove CJ’s innocence...remember the respondent is presumed innocent until proven guilty...i am afraid you may have to eat your own words:) if CJ is found not guilty...” Sorry to disappoint you, “Romie”. Regardless of the eventual decision of the impeachment court, I am not the kind of person who acts and speaks based on what is convenient at the moment. Maybe you are referring to somebody who signed a manifesto against the midnight appointment of Corona as chief justice but became one of his spokespersons. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com)

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Aboitiz joins global campaign to plant trees through ‘APARK’

IVING out its passion for a better world, the Aboitiz Group actively supports the universal campaign to plant at least one billion trees every year, worldwide. Through its APARK (Aboitiz Passion for Reforest and Agroforest to Keep) initiative, Aboitiz Group companies hold simultaneous tree planting and other sustainability-related activities yearly as a biodiversity enhancement program that seeks to plant 3 million trees by the year 2015. These companies contribute financial and human resources to nurture APARK sites all over the Philippines. The trees planted under the APARK program are then entered as the Aboitiz Group’s pledge to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: Billion Trees Campaign, an undertaking that espouses global movement to sustainability by seeking to plant at least one billion trees annually. Under the program, private and public entities are encouraged to enter their pledges as regards the number of trees they will be planting. As of December

2011, UNEP has recorded a total of 12.6 billion trees already planted in 193 countries, with 835,000 trees coming from the Aboitiz Group alone under APARK, which was launched in 2011.“We do not only plant trees for the sake of planting. We plant indigenous trees that support and complement local flora and fauna and support a healthier ecosystem… Remember that every seedling we plant is a gift to our planet and to our future generations. We create a better world with every tree that we plant,” said Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) President & CEO Erramon Aboitiz. The Aboitiz Group began its simultaneous tree planting in 2009, although sporadic tree planting activities have been conducted in previous years, especially in areas where Aboitiz companies operate. A survival rate of 90% to 95% has been noted for the trees planted during these activities.The trees planted by the Group are a mix of about 100 species of fruit-bearing trees, as well as indigenous trees, which are intended to promote the health of the ecosystem

Chart: APARK is the Aboitiz Group’s biodiversity enhancement program to plant 3 million trees in various parts of the Philippines where the different business units operate.

because they support a variety of endemic flora and fauna. They are grown in various areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Aside from biodiversity enhancement, the

trees will also help offset greenhouse gas emissions generated from the different business operations in the Aboitiz Group. As a responsible business organization

APARK is the Aboitiz Group’s biodiversity enhancement program to plant 3 million trees in various parts of the Philippines where the different business units operate.

with a passion for a better world, the Aboitiz Group has integrated the concept of sustainability into the operations of all its business units. The concept is based on the

triple bottom line approach where the organization conserves the Planet and safeguards the People while ensuring Profit from its different ventures.

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

Mindanao tourism school to offer 100% employment By Lorie A. Cascaro

to E approach—enrolment to employment is the target of the Mindanao Tourism Training Institute (MTTI), according to Jonallier Perez, executive director of Mindanao Tourism Council (MTC) for Davao City. “We want to guarantee 100% employment of the course,” he said, adding that they are accepting scholars who intend to be employed or about to be employed by private tourism stakeholders. “We can do this because all our members in the Mindanao Tourism Council are employers, being a private organization,” he said. A program of MTC to provide employment in the region while addressing the needs of the tourism industry, the first batch of scholars of MTTI will probably begin its classes in the first semester of this year, Perez said. Each region will have 500 scholars for the first batch. The classes will take three to four months, he said, and will be conducted in accredited schools in the region,

which will be identified in the process of completing the details of the program. In the meantime, MTC is at the stage of finishing the Needs Assessment Survey, asking people in the region what courses they want to be offered by the MTTI. The courses will all be tourism-related. “These courses should be industry-responsive given that any region in Mindanao has this distinct industry need,” Perez noted. As of the moment, he said, the surveys were done in three out of six regions in the island, including the Davao region which also submitted its data. “We bring the schools to students na walang financial capacity to spend for their fare, food and accommodation. Let’s say someone from Marbel going to Davao to study some technical courses. So we came up with the idea of having a mobile school that will bring the schools to them,” he said. He added that other details concerning the MTTI program are “still on the drawing board.”

ACCESSORIES. Members of the indigenous people of Davao take pride in their role in the establishment of the city. During the parade, they also took advantage

of the opportunity to sell their handmade traditional accessories. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Gaining 64% of visitor traffic from Davao to the Island Garden City of Samal last year following the launch of “Visit Samal” campaign, this year the local government of the island and the Department of Tourism (DOT) relaunched the said campaign to further position the island as the island summer capital of Davao region. “Visit Samal” campaign is a marketing strategy conceptualized by the DOT and the local tourism players to boost tourist arrivals in the island. The LGU declared the summer months until July as the offical peak season

for tourist arrivals, thus tagged «Visit Samal» months. City Administrator Cleto Bravo Gales Jr. cited that this island may not be known as a party island like Boracay, but what makes it distinct from other island destinations in the country is its underwater garden, the rich marine life. “People may ask where the garden is in this island from the name itself, then we tell them to check out the coral garden. That makes Samal different from others,” Gales said. This island also boasts clean waters as

manifested by the bat sanctuary of Monforte that houses more than 2 million fruits bats. Gales also mentioned mountain tourism in the island which offers tourists an eco-adventure experience in more than 70 caves spread across Samal. Most of all, tourists are also given a wide array of beach resort choices with around 70 resorts and establishments offering discounts and promotional packages to visitors. Tourism Regional Director Art Boncato Jr. announced coming developments particularly

in Davao City that will directly benefit tourism in Samal. “We just had a memorandum of agreement with the DPWH for the enhancement of road networks. This program includes a P100-million budget for the concreting and improvement of Samal›s circumferential road,” he said. Boncato said the Tourism Department has included Davao City of the six gateways now being studied to boost tourism. Samal, identified as the island destination in Davao Region is expected to reap benefits from the coming tourism projects.

Dr. Benjamin S. Reyno, DVM spearheads orientation activities on AntiRabies Act of 2007 (RA 9482), updates on animal rabies case in Region XI, bite wound management and updates on human rabies case in the province. Massive registration and vaccination of dogs in different municipalities in Compostela Valley have also been started and will be done up to end of this month. Other interventions of the provincial govern-

ment include intensifying advocacy on Responsible Pet Ownership and enforcing an LGU’s Executive Order known as the Provincial Rabies Control Coordinating Council- Anti

Rabies Taskforce (PRCCCART). As reported, the Philippines ranks 6th worldwide as among the countries with highest incidence of rabies.

Samal Island intensifies 100 summer jobs available in Malalag summer campaign

UMMER jobs await 100 deserving students in the municipality of Malalag, Davao del Sur, in an effort by the local government to help the poor pursue their education. The local government unit of Malalag is set to provide jobs for students from poor families this summer through the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager Bernadette Saladaga said that 100 students will be accommodated this year and will be assigned at different department and division offices of Malalag LGU. Saladaga told the Philippine Information Agency that the students, 15 to 25 years old, will work as On-the-Job Training (OJT) for 20 days, and will earn P180 per day this summer. Under SPES, the LGU employer will shoulder 60 percent of the pay, while DOLE will provide the 40%, she explained. DOLE’s SPES program aims to help the

poor but deserving students to pursue their education by providing them summer jobs. Apart from summer jobs, the LGU also allows college students to work part time with pay at the municipal offices, Saladaga said. She said that Malalag LGU regularly implements SPES as part of strengthening its PESO services, in an aim to help address the unemployment and underemployment concerns of the town that marked at 7.1 percent and 17.5 percent respectively as of last year. Last year, the PESO program has been brought up to the barangay level in this town to directly facilitate employment information assistance to job seekers from the communities. All 15 barangays in Malalag have become PESO centers since last year that function as referral and information facilities for employment opportunities within and outside the municipality. Saladaga said that Malalag’s constituents mostly depend on the agriculture industry with major crops such as coconut, mango and banana.

ComVal beefs up rabies campaign

HE provincial government here beefed up its information and advocacy campaign on anti-rabies in support to the national goal for a rabies-free country by 2020. The Provincial Veterinarian’s Office (PVO) in cooperation with the Municipal Agriculturists’ Offices has lined up several awareness-raising activities in time for the celebration of the Rabies Awareness Month this March. The PVO headed by

Quips

‘JUST getting to the semifinals is a big achievement already, but as players and as a team, we wanted to go that step further.’ --Azkals leading scorer Phil Younghusband on their defeat to Turkmenistan

WORLD/NATION

NATION BRIEFS

Strong growth

IX months on from opening its regional headquarters in Singapore, world leading travel search company Skyscanner [http://www.skyscanner.co.ph] is seeing strong growth in Philippines and Asia-Pacific as a whole with traffic increases of up to 400 per cent in key markets. “Growth in our primary target markets including Philippines has really taken off since we opened our Asia-Pacific headquarters. This speed of growth is something we’ve only seen before in Russia, where we went from a standing start to our second biggest market with over 2 million visits per month in only a couple of years,” said Ewan Gray, director for Asia Pacific.

Electrification

ome 3,000 more sitios will benefit from the administration’s nationwide electrification project this year, after the government achieved its initial 1,520 target, President Benigno S. Aquino III said. Based on the data held by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA), almost 36,000 sitios were literally “kept in the dark” by the previous administration — a problem that was left for President Aquino to address.

EDGEDAVAO

More young Filipinos smoking WORLD TODAY I

T is not just “noynoying” that young Filipinos are adopting from President Benigno Aquino III’s known habit. More and more of the country’s youth are lighting up, with 2 out of every 5 Filipino teenagers taking up smoking in 2011, according to the National Youth Commission (NYC). Using data from a Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 2003 and 2007, the NYC has raised the alarm about the increasing trend among the country’s youth to take up smoking and urged the government to impose stricter controls and higher taxes on tobacco and liquor. “Certainly, based on these [the survey’s] estimates, the health of teen-

age Filipinos are now direly at risk from tobacco exposure and future smoking-related diseases. The immediate execution of more stringent tobacco control policies-such as the Aquino administration’s proposed sin tax reforms-is sorely needed,” the NYC said. The Global Youth survey said it expected the uptake in tobacco use to rise even higher in 2011 because of the decrease in the price of cigarettes and the high demand for tobacco products. Some 5.3 million cigarette packs were sold in 2011, the highest volume of cigarette packs sold in a year since 1993, it said. The survey said around 50.8 per cent, or half of all Filipinos aged

13 to 15, would have tried a tobacco product by 2011. By 2011, smoking among teenagers aged 13 to 15 may have increased to as much as 38.2 per cent (equivalent to 2.2 million people), or 2 out of every 5 young Filipinos, it said. The survey said young people who are not smoking would be exposed to second-hand smoke. It noted that 3 out of 5 teenage Filipinos would live in homes where a family member is a regular smoker, while 78.1 per cent, or 4 out of 5, would live in communities with numerous smokers. NYC chair Leon Flores called for raising the price of cigarettes to discourage young people from taking

up the habit. “If the cost of cigarettes is high, fewer people will buy it. This is just one of the steps we see to curb this vice among the youth,” Flores said. He cited a recent survey conducted by the University of the Philippines Communication Research Society with Health Justice Philippines that found 60 per cent of the sample population would quit smoking if cigarettes were to be priced at P5 per stick. Battle over sin taxes The NYC is sounding the alarm over the dangers of smoking as the battle for higher excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol rages between and among health experts, government, and cigarette makers and breweries.

Reserve force

FTER a series of natural calamities like earthquakes and floods that hit the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to have its own reserve force that can be tapped as frontliners in disaster relief and response. According to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, the police force wants to adopt the military’s reservist system in order to maximize the organization’s disaster response role.

Deal

BOITIZ Power Corp., in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation, recently inked deals with power distributors South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative Inc. (SOCOTECO I), South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. (SOCOTECO II), and major industrial steel manufacturer Steel Asia to help improve the quality of education for the youth. Aboitiz Power and SOCOTECO I, represented by its Board vice president-director Claudio Tapleras, signed an agreement to formalize their partnership in providing information and communications technology training. These are for teachers of Lugan Central Elementary School in South Cotabato.

Bargain

YONGYANG’S announcement of a “satellite” launch on Friday was likely aimed at bolstering its bargaining position in future talks with Washington. On Friday, Pyongyang’s Korean Committee for Space Technology announced that a Unha3 rocket carrying the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite will blast off from the launching station in North Pyongan Province between April 12 and 16.

RICE GRAINS. Farmers clean newly-harvested rice grains at a rice field. The Philippines, the world’s biggest rice buyer in recent years, has set a June 30 deadline for importers of the grain to avoid duties on 380,000 tones of shipments, according to the National Food Authority.

Demise

ONGA’S King George Tupou V, who relinquished absolute power to bring democracy to the South Pacific nation, has died at the age of 63, the country’s prime minister announced on Monday. In an address to the nation Lord Tu’ivakano said the monarch, renowned for his eccentricities as much as his democratic legacy, died on Sunday.

Good ideals

EFENSE Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said over the weekend that good ideals in public service, good governance, transparency and accountability are now in place in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “Gone are the discarded malpractices of the past that had cast doubts on the professionalism of our Armed Forces,” he said.

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

Weapon

SIA tops other regions when it comes to weapon imports, according to a study released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Over the past five years, Asia and Oceania accounted for 44 percent in volume of conventional arm imports, the institute said. That compared with 19 percent for Europe, 17 percent for the Middle East, 11 percent for North and South America, and 9 percent for Africa, said the report.

Ramos-Horta out as East B Executed Timor heads for run-off E AST Timor’s President Jose RamosHorta has lost his bid for re-election, failing to make it to a run-off in the country’s second presidential vote as a free nation, preliminary results showed Sunday. The results pointed to a second-round showdown between the opposition Fretilin party’s Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres and former armed forces chief Taur Matan Ruak, an official from the election secretariat said. Ramos-Horta, who shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring peace to his homeland, lagged in third place after more than 70 percent of votes were counted, official Luiz Fernando Valls told AFP. “Guterres and Ruak will go through to the second round on April 16, based on this preliminary

count,” he said. The shift to candidates with lower profiles on the world stage was “emblematic of the desire to move on from being an international cause”, Michael Leach, politics lecturer from Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology, told AFP. It reflected the people of East Timor’s desire “to move on from 10 years of international state building”, he added. Ramos Horta, a popu-

lar leader who survived a 2008 assassination attempt, said Saturday that if he was not re-elected he would have “to struggle to choose what to do”. The 62-year-old added that he had a longstanding commitment to a Western literary agency to write a book. None of the 12 candidates who contested Saturday’s election were able to garner more than 50 percent of the vote constitutionally required

LOSER. East Timor’s incumbent president and presidential candidate Jose Ramos-Horta, seen here driving a mini jeep with children after voting at a polling center in Dili, on March 17. Ramos-Horta has lost his bid to

for an outright win. The vote was the first in a series of key events for the poor and chronically unstable country as it enters a pivotal period. In May, East Timor will celebrate 10 years of independence from Indonesia, and in June, voters will choose a new government in a general election. At the end of the year the nation of 1.1 million people bids goodbye to UN forces stationed in the country since 1999.

be re-elected East Timor president, failing to make it to a run-off in the country’s second presidential vote as free nation, preliminary results showed Sunday

ELARUS has executed both men convicted of a Minsk metro bombing that killed 15 people in the nation’s worst attack since its post-Soviet independence, state television reported on Sunday. The report came a day after the sister of one of the two men, Vladislav Kovalyov, who had pleaded not guilty to acting as an accomplice, told AFP she had been informed of her brother’s execution by gunshot.

Eurocentric

ENEDICT XVI sets off for Mexico and Cuba this week, hoping to win over followers in a region with the largest concentration of Catholics, but where some critics say he has neglected them. While the pope has visited South America just once, when he met with Latin American bishops in Brazil in 2007, 16 of his 22 trips abroad have been to Europe -- much to the chagrin of the faithful across the Atlantic.

EDGEDAVAO

120...

Sara... FFROM 1

FFROM 1 that time nga naga-meeting,” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview Saturday at the Davao City Convention Center along at Torres St. Asked whether the 120 names are ghost employees, the city mayor said “they are yet to know.” “I cannot really say they are ghost employees. That we have to know. They are identified so far as they have names. Naa man pud gud nang question kung nag-leave ba sila ato nga time or naa silay sakit mao nang wala sila kaadto sa meeting or present sa trabaho,” Duterte-Carpio said. “This is now part of the reasons why we are having an audit to be made on Central 911. We will find out in one or two weeks,” she added. The city mayor stressed that all employees not assigned to man the Central 911 operations morning of March 15 should have attended the meeting at the DCRC. “The meeting was for strict compliance. Since they did not show up there, it only means that they are not interested in their job, unless they have valid reasons,” she said. Duterte-Carpio said she had agreed with newly-appointed Central 911 officer in charge Emmanuel Jaldon that the contracts of all employees of Central 911 will end by March 31 in order to seek out the missing 120 employees. “The decision made with Jaldon is to end contracts by March 31.Only those who were present that day (March 15) will have their contracts renewed. That’s if they will choose not to resign,” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview yesterday at the City Hall. “Kung naay mu-reklamo ngano wala na-renew ang ilang contract, and they express their desire to work then we will renew their contract. If they will not show their faces then it’s considered that they have resigned. This is our way of flushing them out. Wala mi intention nga pugson sila i-terminate but we have no intention of paying for people na hindi naman

No...

natin mapapakinabangan,” she said. The city mayor also said she is mulling the idea of hiring new employees for Central 911. “Kung mao na ang tanaw ni Jaldon then we will consider hiring more people,” she said. Resigned The city mayor said one employee, a male, had tendered his resignation following the meeting at the DCRC March 15. “Naay isa nga nagsulti. After sa meeting sa DCRC. I do not know kung unsa iyang trabaho, lalaki siya and he said mag-resign sya sa 911. Wala na lang pud ko nangutana kung unsa na siya kadugay sa 911,” Duterte-Carpio said. The city mayor welcomed the resignation as she said the male employee was one of eight City Hall employees last year who showed positive on the regular drug testing. “I was surprised ngano naa pa siya sa 911 because dapat supposedly after ato na nag-positive siya sa drugs when I said they should be terminated he should have been terminated. So it’s a good thing nga nag-voluntary resignation siya,” DuterteCarpio said. The city mayor on September last year said eight city hall employees were found positive for use of dangerous drugs in the mandatory drug tests conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office Davao. Tested were personnel of the Task Force Davao (TFD), Traffic Management Center (TMC) and Emergency Response Center Central 911 on August 27, 2011. Duterte-Carpio said five of the employees worked under the TMC while three were assigned to Central 911. Meanwhile, Assistant City Administrator Erwin Alparaque said he expects more Central 911 employees will resign. “Mao akong nadunggan,” said Alparaque, who is also acting officer of the city’s Human Resource Management Office. “Nagsulti ang uban nga mu-resign sila so my advise was mag-hatag lang sila sa ilang letter of

FFROM 14 expect? These people will not just come down on their knees and ask for apologies. No matter what and no matter how obvious. It is rather difficult to ask for humility and remorse where the larger in-

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

terest of corporate image, credibility, marketability, and pride is at stake. Yes, the main issue in the Azkals controversy is the sexual harassment case. We do not condone sexual harassment here. We are not absolving the two

resignation,” Alparaque said in an interview March 17. Augmentation from TFD, DCPO Heads of the Task Force Davao (TFD) and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) last week expressed their willingness to augment force of the Central 911. Following the meeting at the DCRC, a press conference was held wherein DCPO director Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa said the police “will be more than willing to aid the Central 911” in the event of a mass resignation while the Araw ng Davao festivities were being held. “Simbako lang ha nga mahitabo na, we will be very willing. Naay vacuum eh and we need to fill it up. The public safety will always be the main concern,” dela Rosa said March 15 at the TFD headquarters at Sta. Ana wharf. TFD commander Col. Marcos Norman Flores expressed likewise, adding that he doubts whether there will be a mass resignation. “I think it will be farfetched to say there will be a mass resignation as what happened during the meeting, most of them raised their hands (when the Mayor asked them who wanted to do their job seriously at Central 911)” Flores said. Meanwhile, City Mayor Duterte-Carpio has recognized that if indeed more people will resign, it will be the emergency medical response services that will be “most likely to be affected.” “All the other functions of the Central 911 can be augmented. The fire response can be made by the Bureau of Fire since originally fire response is not a function of a local government. Terrorism-related response such as bomb, God-forbid, can be turned over sa military. But it will be the medical response that will be affected,” she said. The city mayor added that the city would be “tapping volunteer groups” if ever a high number of personnel under the emergency response services of CenAzkals concerned. There are just some off-timing elements in the case of Clavio’s comments. First, any broadcaster who knows his journalism understands that there is such a thing as sub judice which means it is inappropriate to comment publicly on cases sub judice, which can be an offense in itself, leading to contempt of court proceedings. This is

resentative. “I think, although wala pud siya nag-sulti, na-feel lang nako ang akong igsoon is interested to run for1st District,” she said. The city mayor also bared she does not want politics to be a cause of a problem in the family which takes top priority over all else. “Gamay lang kaayo nga butang ang pulitika para awayan gani so ilaha na lang na,” Duterte-Carpio said. The city mayor said the reasons for her indecision are because of (1) her lack of financial resources; (2) the possibility of her winning City Mayor again; and (3) personal matters. Duterte-Carpio said her candidacy during the 2010 elections was financed by the former city mayor, Vice Mayor Duterte. She added that by herself, she does not have the finances and machinery to launch her candidacy. “The last time man gud, Mayor Rody ang financier nako. I cannot mount campaign nga ingana kadako nga kinahanglang kwarta,” the city mayor said. Another thing that she wants to be sure of, the City Mayor said, is that she’d have the support of the people. “Akong ginahuna-huna ang kwarta and the possibility nga mudaog ko again,” she said. Taking these two matters into consideration, Duterte-Carpio said her candidacy “depends on Mayor Rody as with the line-up of Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (Hugpong) for the 2013 elections.” “The last time it was the decision of Mayor Rody. I don’t know for 2013 what will happen. It really depends kay Mayor Rody and the leadership of Hugpong what will happen during the 2013 elections,” she said. Adding to her financial woes, Duterte-Carpio said she’s also hesitant as she wants to bear a child. “Kung mag-buntis ba ko o dili. Kung mag-take time out (of politics) para mag-buntis. So resources, possibility of winning, and personal. Kana ra man,” she said. Hugpong line-up As the filing of certificate of candidacy is set October 1 to 5, Duterte-Carpio

particularly true in criminal cases, where publicly discussing cases sub judice may constitute interference with due process. The case is already with the PFF Disciplinary Committee under investigation it being the level in football hierarchy charged with the investigation of such cases. I understand that the complaint was filed with the AFC but it has to be re-

said she expects “things to get noisy by June” as returning politicians and political rivals begin their attacks. “By June mag-sugod na na ug saba, kanang away away. Ingana man gyud nang pulitika. One year before election magsugod na na ug away,” she said. The mayor said that she hopes the Hugpong will limit their number of candidates. “I really hope nga dapat eight candidates lang ang supportahan per district para mas solid ang boto and in turn you will get the majority,” Duterte-Carpio said. Asked on who has expressed their desire to run for the City Council, the city mayor said she has heard from former City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang. “Sa karon wala pa actually ga-discuss ug politics although former Councilor Danny Dayanghirang already expressed his intent to run,” she said. The city mayor said Dayanghirang, she learned, will not be running for Congress, the position which he ran for during the 2010 local elections after his three terms as City Councilor ended. In answering to queries regarding the 1st Congressional District candidate, the city mayor said she’s certain her father “has plans.” The seat in the 2010 elections was won by Congressman Karlo Nograles, son of the Duterte’s known rival former House Speaker Prospero Nograles. “Nakadungog ko interesado siya nga kuhaon gyud ang 1st District. Kung kinsa ang kandidato I do not know. Last time it was Councilor Mabel Acosta (who ran as 1st District representative) but I think Councilor Acosta is running for the Council again. We do not know for sure,” she said. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier this month issued the en banc Minute Resolution 120139 which details the calendar for the May 13, 2013 Automated National and Local Elections. It set October 1-5 as the filing period of certificate of candidacies. As regards to the Comelec’s decision to purchase 80,000 PCOS machines, the city mayor said

manded to the host country’s adjudication level. If the case is not yet in the court of law is for the complainant to exercise his or her prerogative. Second, if you are a true Filipino, you do not denigrate a national team moments before they take on a crucial sporting battle on behalf of the country. Prudence dictates to put it off at least when it’s over. Even

having an automated election “is more efficient.” “Ang nahimong bulahan man gyud ani kay ang mga teachers kay dili na sila maabtan ug pila ka-adlaw mag-count ug ballots, a few hours na lang” Duterte-Carpio said. Duterte-Carpio’s mayorship was contested by former House Speaker Nograles, to which she said she was “hurt financially.” (JADE C. ZALDIVAR)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service. MANUEL T. TAN, Petitioner Case No.95-XI-01414 x- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY to any point in Region XI with the use of FIFTEEN (15) units, which Certificate will expire on September 22, 2012. In the petition filed on January 30, 2012, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same units previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 28, 2012 at 10:00 a. m. at this office at the above address. At least, FIVE (5) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 30th day of January 2012 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer /hoc Copy furnished: Petitioner, Manuel T. Tan, 3rrd St., Guadalupe Village, Lanang, Davao City Counsel, Atty. Joshua C. Tan, Magallanes St., Davao City NOTE: Affidavit of Publication and newspaper where notice was published must be submitted three (3) days before the scheduled hearing.

Cristy Ramos, admire her for her sense of nationalism and propriety, was prudent enough to at least let the issue rest while the Nationals are off to secure history for the country. Third, the comments were too sweeping. It was made to curse every halfPinoys in the team and all others of the same circumstances whether Azkals or not.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

BIG WINNERS. Anna Clarice Patrimonio (left) and Johnny Arcilla (top) were the big winners in the recent Selecta-Mayor Inday Sara Duterte National Men’s and Women’s tennis championship at the Woodridge Park

Tennis Center. Marinel Rudas (bottom) finished runner-up to Patrimonio in the women’s side while Davao boy RK Barte was runner up in the men’s singles. (Boy Lim)

RMC, DDS XIs win Te Mem’l titles By Neil Bravo

Delos Reyes

EIGNING collegiate titlist Rizal Memorial Colleges Bulldogs and perennial women’s champ DDS wore down their younger foes in the finals to emerge the big winners in the 1st PSC-DFA Jose Te Memorial Football Festival at the Tionko Field over the weekend. Setting the tone for the finals, Aldin Tiboron scored two goals to lift the more experienced Bulldogs past the high school selection DAVRAA Strikers, 2-0, for the Men’s Open title of this tournament held in honor of the late revered football mentor Jose “Sensei” Te. After a scoreless halftime, Tiborn found the net five minutes into the second half. He followed it ip with another marker three minutes after for

the final scoreline. In the Women’s Open, Rachelle “Ching” delos Reyes turned back the hands of time when she knocked in the decisive goal with the last penalty kick to give DDS a 1-0 win over the youth-laden Solido-B squad after the match ended scoreless after regulation. De los Reyes gifted her one-year old daughter who celebrated her birthday two days before the finals with the game-winner that swerved on top of the left corner for the lone penalty conversion. DDS keeper Lorena Mongao was a stonewall in defense saving all three penalty attempts by Solido kickers Mica Corales, Natasha Doromal and Gabby del Fierro. DDS’s first kicker Kristel Dureza’s attempt went over the cross bar and Mae Salmon’s attempt also missed the goal by an inch away from the

WAKEBOARD PRO. US pro wakeboarder Jeff Langley of the O’Brien Wakeboards perform during the O’Brien Wakeboard Demo at the Deca Wakeboard Park. Using the 2012 O’Brien Valhalla flex-type board, Langley wowed

post. In the age group divisions, Malita United won the Under-6 title over Ateneo, Southpoint took home the Under-8 crown besting Ateneo (1st runnerup) and Abba’s Orchard School (2nd runner-up), Black Knights salvaged the Under-10 trophy over Ateneo (1st Runner-up) and SOS (2nd Runner-up), DAVRAA Strikers bagged the Under-12 plum Dragon Kids-Tagum (1st R.U.) and Maco FC (2nd R.U.) and Sakya won the girls elementary title over rival Ateneo Blue (1st R.U.) and Good Soil Academy (2nd R.U.). The tournament is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission(PSC) through Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. and organized by the Davao Football Association (DFA) under president Edward “Chaya” Lam.

EDGEDAVAO

No apology

RNOLD Clavio and his employer GMA TV have responded to the controversial issue regarding the broadcaster’s comments made on the network’s morning show program. That’s the good news. The bad news is, there were no apologies. Clavio maintained there is nothing wrong in his comments. This was his response as reported on www.gmanetwork. com: Mga igan, nakakalungkot na may negatibong reaksyon ang naging pahayag ko tungkol sa Philippine Azkals kaugnay ng sexual harassment complaint ni Ms. Cristy Ramos. Wala po akong ganoong intensyon. Ang isyu po rito ay sexual harassment at kung may nagamit man po akong mga salita na hindi angkop, nagpapakumbaba po ako at humihingi ng pang-unawa. Dun naman po sa mga kasama kong nanindigan laban sa sexual harassment, maraming salamat po. Seryoso pong isyu ito na dapat bantayan. The network has also made their official response to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) via www.gmanetwork. com. It contained in part the following: Nais po linawin ng GMA Network na ang mga inirereklamong pahayag ay hindi bahagi ng aming news reporting kung saan tanging mga statement of facts ang ibinabalita at kung saan walang puwang ang pagbibigay ng opinyon ng mga host. Ang mga inireklamong pahayag ay unscripted discussion ng Unang Hirit hosts sa commentary segment ng programa kung saan sila ay nagpalitan ng opinyon at nagbigay ng kani-kanilang pananaw tungkol sa naturang issue. Nalulungkot po ang GMA Network na iba ang naging intindi ng Philippine Football Federation sa mga sinabi ni Arnold. Ang pinapatungkulan ni

Arnold ay hindi kung Filipino citizen o kung may lahing Pilipino ang mga Azkals kundi kung naisapuso at naisaisip ba nila ang kulturang Pinoy. And to finally nail down the point, GMA maintained their broadcasters did not commit any racist, discriminatory, libelous and malicious comments: Sa liham ng Philippine Football Federation, sinabi nilang racist, discriminatory, libelous at malicious ang mga pahayag nina Arnold Clavio at Rhea Santos. Pero ang GMA Network po, walang nakitang racist, walang discriminatory, walang libelous at walang malicious sa mga komentaryo nina Arnold at Rhea. GMA stood by Clavio, Santos and their program and slammed the issue raised by the PFF. Both GMA’s and Clavio’s sides maintain the issue is the sexual harassment issue, not the perceived racist dig. Oh well, what can you expect? The explanation made by Clavio and GMA had to serve their interests—first and foremost. They need to keep their reputation intact against an incensed sports community—particularly, football. By issuing those statements, it was clear they had no intention of taking a serious look on their faults. Clavio’s supposed humbling request for understanding is even conditional. He went on to look for sympathy from the pro-sexual harassment advocates. Oh well, what can you

FNO, 13

the weekend crowd with his jaw-dropping stunts. Others who performed in the demo were Thailand based pro Mackie Rosen, and Davao boys Gelo “The Porkchop” Cordero (right) and Zach Stephenson. (BIBOY NGOJO)

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

An exceptional stay at the Oasia Hotel S The oasis ike spa pool on the 8th floor.

INGAPORE is known for boutique hotels and so far I have only stayed at the small boutique hotels that exude british colonial charm. But thanks to Far East Hospitality, I was given a change to experience their latest hotel brand, Oasia.

Located at Singapore’s Novena district, Oasia Hotel all located within a stone’s throw of Novena Square Mall and with the MRT line which is located just beside it, the property is within easy reach of Orchard Road and Chinatown. Novena is also an area where most of Singapore’s major hospitals are located. Designed by award winning Japanese architectcum-designer, Takashi Sugimoto from Super Potato, in collaboration with Singapore architectural firm, Ong & Ong. Both firms are known for their cutting-edge designs and use

of natural elements, Oasia Hotel Singapore is a blend of modern design, creature comforts, and the best of Asian hospitality Walking into Oasia Hotel, guests are enthralled by the cavernous lobby – with its high ceilings, large wooden seating area and a breath-taking granite stone wall – all features which are characteristic of award winning Japanese architectcum-designer, Takashi Sugimoto from Super Potato design. The hotel’s leisure ‘oasis’ on the 8th floor of the property is a tranquil terrace

Running while surfing the world wide web.

The Club room designed by Super Potato.

The hotel’s restaurant, Zaffron.

featuring bamboos, stones and natural surroundings: it includes a tropical roof terrace, sunken deck chairs in the pool and my personal favorite, a 24-hour fitness centre with treadmills that are connected to the internet. Four Club Suites and 100 Club rooms, styled by Super Potato, are designed to provide new levels of unobtrusive comfort and luxury. Each club suite offers a private and residential ambience with an additional lounge that provides the luxury of space for business or leisure needs. I especially loved the Thann toiletries and the in-room Netspresso machines that add another level of luxe to an already fabulous in-room experience. I love the hotel’s 24-hour club lounge, The Living Room. Where daily breakfast is served alongside complimentary cocktails and canapés from 6am to 8pm. Guests can stay connected

Delicious salads at Zaffron.

to the outside world via the complimentary WIFI service. Oasia Club guests can also swim and unwind in one of the highest hotel pools in Singapore surrounded by greenery and panoramic skyline views on the 22nd floor. There are also 224 Deluxe Rooms and 88 Superior Rooms styled by Ong & Ong boast spacious bathrooms with rain shower, 40” LED interactive IP television and an iPod compatible sound system. All rooms are also equipped with high speed Internet access to help business travelers manage the competing priorities and demands of international travel. Of course don’t take my word for it, check yourself into the Oasia Hotel Singapore and experience it yourself in your next Singapore visit. You can also visit their website at www.oasiahotel. com for more details. Follow me on twitter @ kennethkingong.

Meditation by the club floor pool on the 22nd floor, one of the highest pools in Singapore.

Looking at the hotel from Novena Church.

The Living Room.

Loving the view from Oasia’s 2nd floor.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

TRAVEL

Summer travel essentials

IT isn’t a complete summer if you haven’t travelled to some exciting d e s t i n at i o n . Whether you board a plane, sail away on a boat, or hop on a road vehicle, there are things you have to travel with. Here is a list of my suggestions:

A Small Towel: The truth is, not every hotel or inn in the Philippines offers free towels with the accommodations you pay for. This is especially true for budget travellers and back packers who prefer to stay in hotel rooms that are priced at less than a thousand. In fact, based on my experience, even if the hotel/inn provides you with towels, they may seem unsanitary to use. So here is what I do: I bring a small micro-fibre towel that absorbs a lot but does not take up much space just in case I find myself in some hotel with gross towels or with

none at all. However, I wouldn’t suggest that you bring a huge towel with you in your luggage as this takes up too much space. If you find yourself in a hotel without a towel, simply purchase one in a nearby mall or shop. Paper Soap: Check them out at Watsons or any beauty supply shop. They cost around 10 to 15 pesos and are very handy. In fact, the packages they come in are thinner than a regular shampoo sachet. Why must you bring some paper soap with you? Because there are some things that simply can not be removed by alcohol or hand sanitizer. You will never know when you’re going to get your hands sticky (especially on a road trip) so having some in your pocket or wallet would be really useful. When you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with sticky hands, simply wash them with mineral water and paper soap. Ziploc Bags: Ziploc bags are

very useful during travels because they can hold your wet clothes (if you decide to swim) and separate your things from each other. Also, they save you a lot of space. Simply put your folded clothes inside a huge Ziploc bag and try to remove all the air inside whether manually or with the help of a vacuum cleaner, and then seal it. This will consume less space in your luggage. You also need Ziplocs for keeping your medicine, your toiletries, ad your jewelry. Here’s another tip: according to a study, one of the dirtiest parts of a hotel room is the TV remote control. Wrap it in a Ziploc bag before using to avoid getting some virus. Holy Seat (Pee in Peace): There are times when you just can’t hold it in any longer. Unfortunately, most toilets you come across (or sit in) while travelling in this country are not exactly spic and span. To fix that problem, I suggest that you purchase Holy Seat, available in most Watson’s outlets, because it cleans out 99% of germs on the bowl. Simply spray it on the rim of the bowl, let it stay for some time,

and then wipe it off with some toilet paper. Facial Wipes: I don’t know about you, but I always get dry skin whenever I travel. Being stuck in an air conditioned cabin, bus, van, car, or ship takes its toll on the skin, so I always bring some moisturizing facial wipes with me. There are several brands that offer these ad are available in most department stores, but the easiest brand to find is Bench. Plus, they are very affordable. Remember to look for facial wipes instead of anti-bacterial wipes or baby wipes, as these are much too strong for facial skin. As a bonus, you could use facial wipes to wipe off anything sticky and use it in lieu of anti-bacterial wipes when necessary. Oh, and if you find yourself in a paper-less toilet somewhere you could use this to wipe off the Holy Seat (Refer to Number 4). Catch Confessions of a Partyphile (the radio show) every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 on 105.9 Mix FM. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph/ or twitter.com/zhaun

Ziploc bags are very useful during travels because they can hold your wet clothes (if you decide to swim) and separate your things from each other.

Travel 101: 10 things you must keep in mind

WE at INdulge! have compiled a great deal of packing tips after years of traveling and together with some members’ suggestions, we thought we should share them with other travelers setting out.

Security and Keeping Details Safe Scan your passport, passport photos and paper tickets (if not the e type) in. Store this (in an email for e.g.) in your web based email account. You can also store the details of your emergency ‘lost card’ telephone numbers in your web based email account so you know whom to contact if your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen. This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access your all-important information. You can even email the details page of your passport to the embassy or consulate when applying for a new one. Also consider writing your home and destination address (and mobile number if you have one) on a self-adhesive sticky label to stick INSIDE your luggage in a visible place.

If your luggage is lost and the baggage label has come off, at least the airline can still figure out whose luggage it is. Split up your valuables Split up your bank cards, cash, travelers’ cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, your bags and wallet when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won’t be strapped for cash. Nalgene/Small Bottles Use nalgene/ small bottles to pack toiletries and other small items. There are several sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof ones, with clear/see through ones being preferable (easier for security purposes post August 2006). You can also use small bottles to repack shampoo or lotions so that you don’t have to always carry a big bottle

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with you. This is especially useful if you normally take these items in your carryon luggage, which as of early 2007 is much more restricted than before. Backpack Tips When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack. If you are still trying to decide on the right backpack, have a look at Choosing the right Backpack on our Travel Unravelled blog. 5. Plastic Bags It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, the bags can also

come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as a makeshift umbrella. Ziplock or other airtight plastic bags are the best. Pack in Plastic Pack everything in clear plastic bags (preferably zip lock), divided into items e.g. underwear, tshirts, shorts etc. before packing in your suitcase or backpack, one plastic bag for each type of clothing. This is extremely useful in various ways. When you unpack your bag you just take out a series of bags and you can see immediately what you want. So an overnight stay somewhere just means taking 1 item out of a bag - no rummaging. In addition, if you have to unpack at customs etc, instead of having to disgorge all your clothing etc out in front of everybody, you can calmly take maybe 5/6 bags out, the contents of which can

be clearly seen by the officials. To repack then is also dead easy. Just be sure not to leave your plastic bags lying around if you are traveling in nature! Clothes Pack only what you know you will use and if you are traveling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road. You can cut back on the number of clothes items by packing multi-purpose clothing, for example items that can both be worn during the day and as sleepwear. Split up clothes when traveling with others When you are flying somewhere and especially if you have a few stopovers, divide the clothes between different suitcases/backpacks/ bags etc. If one persons luggage doesn’t arrive at the destination, they’ll still have clean clothes available. Airlines gener-

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ally don’t compensate lost luggage for the first 24-48 hours so this will save you money if it happens to you. Separate Beach Bag When packing to head to the beach consider pre-packing whatever you might need at the beach into a beach bag inside your backpack or suitcase. Especially if traveling with kids, this will prove a timesaver! Suitcase lovers Forthose using suitcases without a divider. A piece of cardboard makes an excellent divider and helps keep your clothes organized and neat, as you are able to lay them out flat on the cardboard. It also makes airport inspections a lot less of a hassle as you can lift out your divider with clothes on top easily.

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

REVIEW IN A JIFFY

The Hunger Games

OPENING this week in Davao City and around the world, the Hunger Games is expected to break records. Even Rotten Tomatoes has given it a remarkable 5-star rating.

Meanwhile, British newspaper, the Guardian, gave the movie 4-stars. Here’s their take on the movie: Eliza Doolittle’s transformation has nothing on that of Katniss Everdeen, the hardscrabble heroine of The Hunger Games, who finds herself plucked from Appalachian poverty and madeover as a TV star. Her legs are waxed, her eyebrows plucked, and her lavish new dress shoots sparks when she twirls. Lucky Katniss, it transpires, is all set to represent her district in a primetime reality TV show, a literal knockout competition conducted with blades and bricks for an audience of millions. Put your hands together for America’s Next Top Cadaver. The Hunger Games is that rarest of beasts: a Hollywood action blockbuster that is smart, taut and knotty. Ably filleted from the Suzanne Collins bestseller, it’s a compelling, lightly satirical tale of a post-apocalyptic entertainment industry, set in a dystopian US in which the terrified contestants are selected via lottery and second place does not exist. Outside the capital, the America of The Hunger Games looks a lot like the 30s Depression, full of tarpaper shacks and unpaved roads. Inside, behind the walls, it’s a decadent Gilded Age of grinning dandies and gleeful sadism. Small wonder this youthful cannon fodder feels it has nowhere else to run. Riffing off her recent role in Win-

ter’s Bone, Jennifer Lawrence gives a performance of stoic, solemn intensity as Katniss, the coalminer’s daughter who finds herself schooled in the art of killing while Woody Harrelson’s boozy mentor and Stanley Tucci’s grotesque TV compere look on from

the wings. Training complete, the contestants are deposited in a sylvan woodland glade where they immediately start tearing one another to pieces. It seems at least half the players are accounted for in that giddying opening bloodbath.

BOOKS THE THORN AND THE BLOSSOM By Theodora Goss A remarkable literary artifact! You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel— and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning. One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever

FAERY TALES & NIGHTMARES By Melissa Marr Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments, dark and light, by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from under the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

THE WOLF GIFT By Anne Rice A whole new world—modern, sleek, high-tech—and at its center, a story as old and compelling as history: the making of a werewolf, reimagined and reinvented as only Anne Rice, teller of mesmerizing tales, conjurer extraordinaire of other realms, could create. All at present time.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge! ENTERTAINMENT

Charlize Theron gushes over Michael Fassbender’s junk

CHARLIZE Theron may be in baby bliss, but at last night’s Human Rights Campaign gala, the gorgeous actress had one thing on her mind—Michael Fassbender’s man-parts! While accepting her Ally for Equality Award from Fassbender, Theron couldn’t help but gush over her Prometheus costar’s very impressive manhood... Referencing Fassbender’s full-frontal work in Shame, Theron quipped, “I have to say that I was truly impressed that you chose to play it big. Most other actors would have gone small, trust me. No, I know because I’ve worked with them.” The Oscar-winner didn’t stop there. “Your penis was a revelation,” she said to the howling audience. “I’m available to work with it any time.” On a far more serious note, Theron was honored during the gala for her advocacy work with the LGBT commu-

nity. “Marriage equality is about more than just marriage,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It’s about something greater. It’s about acceptance...I will always be your cheerleader and I will always be your friend. As for her newly adopted son Jackson, the 36-year-old gushed to E!, “He’s doing great. Its very hard for me to leave the house now so you know how important this is because I was like standing at the door going, ‘Ah, this is so hard!’” Theron’s pal Chelsea Handler hosted the bash. “I love Charlize,” Handler told E!. “She’s got her little baby now, she’s a mother. That was almost a reason I stopped being friends with her because I try not to be friends with too many mothers, but we worked through it.” So its safe to say the comedian won’t be on any babysitting duty? “No,” said Handler. “I don’t think anyone would ask me to babysit.”

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

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SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

UE-RMH Warriors battle Phoenix Stags tonight 4

p.m. – RP Youth U14 vs. RMH Davao Youth 5 p.m. – Montana vs. Goldstar 7 p.m. - Phoenix vs. Royal Mandaya Hotel Big-time basketball returns to Davao today with the staging of the 2012 Mayor Sara Duterte &Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 75th Araw ng Dabaw Invitational Basketball tournament which kicks off today at 4 p.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center. Seeing action are the UE-Royal Mandaya Hotel, SSC-Phoenix Accelarate Vega, Goldstar Hardware Davao and Montana Pawnshop Davao. RMH is bannered by the University of the East Warriors from Manila with former PBA superstar Jerry Codinera as the head coach. Team owner Glenn Escandor said his team will be reinforced by

PBA cager John Ferriols of B-Meg, ex-pros Chris Calaguio and Dondon Camaso and slamdunking American Charles Mamie. Phoenix, on the other hand, is powered by the reigning NCAA San Sebastian College Stags of Manila under coach Topex Robinson. “We won’t have an import but our team is intact,” said team manager Cadel Mosqueda. Phoenix has PBA D League most valuable player Calvin Abueva, 6-foot-7 Ian Sangalang, Jovit dela Cruz, Michael Juico, Lyle Antipuesto, Arvin Vitug, Joshua Grilli, Jason Gatchalian and Bobby Balucanang. Davao teams Montana and Goldstar, however, are not to be taken for granted. Montana under coach

Nick Serafica will rely on veteran pointguard Mike Manigo, shooters Tata Fernandez, Kevin Lamocha and 6-foot-7 American import Devon Sullivan. Goldstar under coach Jigger Saniel will have Marc Cagoco, slammer Miko Pacheco and Dado Ayson plus six reinforcements from Cebu City. Goldstar and Montana will play at 5 p.m. followed by Phoenix against Royal Mandaya Hotel at 7 p.m. The curtain raiser will be the exhibition game between the Philippine Youth Under 14 and the Royal Mandaya Hotel Davao Youth at 4 p.m. RP Youth is mentored by Marc Herrera while the Davao Youth is under Henry Asilum of the Ateneo de Davao High School. - LDR

CHAMPS. World no. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarussia (left) and Roger Federer of Switzerland (right).

HEAT guard Dwyane Wade raises his arms after the Miami Heat beat their Florida rivals Orlando Magic 91-81 in the NBA.

Lin and Knicks click, Heat melts Magic

EREMY Lin led the Knicks with 19 points as New York beat the Indiana Pacers 102-88 to improve to 3-0 since interim coach Mike Woodson took the helm of the NBA team. Lin, who emerged as an NBA sensation under former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni last month, added seven rebounds and six assists as he proved he can continue to thrive under the Woodson regime. Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire scored 16 points apiece and J.R. Smith chipped in with 11 for the Knicks, who notched just their eighth road victory of the lockout-shortened season. The victory followed their 115-100 triumph over the Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

Federer, Azarenka win at Indian Wells J I

NDIAN WELLS, California--Roger Federer overcame bigserving American John Isner 7-6 6-3 in the final of the Indian Wells tournament on Sunday, his sixth ATP World Tour title in his last eight tournaments. Federer fended off a flu bug in the early stages of the event before going on to beat former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, 10-times grand slam winner Rafa Nadal and then Isner in straight sets. Since his gripping 7-6 6-4 3-6 2-6 5-7 semifinal defeat by Novak Djokovic at last year’s U.S. Open, the Swiss has won 39 of his 41 match-

es, sparking talk he may be back to his very best. “I think I have been playing extremely well since the (2011) French Open,” 16-times grand slam champion Federer told reporters after winning his third consecutive title on the men’s circuit. Azarenka routs Sharapova World number one Victoria Azarenka clinched her fourth title of the year with a 6-2 6-3 demolition of an errorprone Maria Sharapova in the final of the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Sunday. On a cold and blustery day, the Australian Open champion broke Sharapova’s notoriously

fragile serve twice in the opening set and four times in the second to triumph in one hour and 26 minutes on the showpiece stadium court. Although Azarenka faced a little more resistance from Sharapova late in the second set, she held off the Russian’s fightback and ended the match with a probing backhand which forced a desperate lob from her opponent that floated long. The 22-year-old Belarusian dropped her racket in delight and set off on a running jig in the direction of the players’ box after improving her record this year to 23-0, the best start to a WTA Tour season since 1997.

Since Woodson took over following D’Antoni’s abrupt departure this week, the Knicks have won three games by an average of 23.7 points. While much had been made of how Woodson might change the Knicks’ offensive system -- and how point guard Lin would fit in -- an increased focus on defence has been the most noticeable change. After a high-scoring first quarter, the Knicks gave up just 53 points over the final three periods. Wade ignites Heat to victory over Magic Dwyane Wade scored 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Miami Heat to a 9181 NBA victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, stretching the team’s home-court win streak to 13 games.

Chris Bosh added 23 points while LeBron James contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who improved their bestever start to 33-11 and boosted their lead in the Southeast division to five games over the Magic, 2917. Orlando’s Quentin Richardson hit a 3-point in response to back-to-back Wade baskets to pull the Magic within 73-71, but Miami answered with an 11-2 run in which Wade scored eight points and the Magic never threatened again. Wade, who went 13-of25 from the field, scored off back-to-back Magic turnovers, two of seven for Orlando in the last quarter, then hit back-to-back baskets ahead of a threepoint play by Bosh for an 84-73 Miami edge.

more, so much respect to him,” Lin said. The Harvard graduate now popular for taking the slumping Knicks to a Fantastic February swing that led to the global trend Linsanity, admitted he is a fan of the Filipino champion. “I’m a fan of his and I respect him as Manny and I wish his career will continue to go well, said Lin as he scored 19 points, fed 6 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds as the Knicks won 102-88 on St. Patrick’s Day. Pacquiao has earlier said that he idolizes Lin and wanted to meet him in New York while he was in town during one of his press conferences to promote his June 9 fight against Timothy Bradley. Unfortunately, the

meeting never took place. The Examiner sneaked in a non-basketball question during the post-game interviews, and asked Lin himself about his thoughts regarding Pacquiao, and his reaction to the 8-Division boxing champs’ positive comments toward him. Lin said he has one wish: “Hopefully we get to see the fight that everyone wants to see.” That would be the fight against Floyd Mayweather. When that happens, Lin knows where his bet would be. Last month at the height of Lin-sanity, Mayweather thumbed down Lin by saying he is just as good as any black American player, only he is Asian.

Jeremy Lin: I’m a Manny Pacquiao fan

EREMY Lin says Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao is his idol. Asked by a Filipino reporter based in Indiana in the locker room after Lin’s team New York Knicks won for the third time under new coach Mike Woodson, the Knicks guard of Taiwanese descent was surprised to hear Pacquiao idolizes him and the world pound-for-pound king wants to meet him personally. Interviewed by Dennis Geronimo of the Filipino Examiner, the unassuming Lin can only smile in surprise. “He’s obviously done a lot more than I guess. I don’t even want to begin to think he idolizes me, he has done a lot of things way

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 12 • MARCH 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO