Edge Davao 5 Issue 170

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VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

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Cagas’ dire warning

DavSur polls to be bloody G OV. DOUGLAS R. CAGAS has appealed to the police and military to neutralize the increasing number of partisan armed groups (PAGs) employed by politicians as he predicted the forthcoming 2013 election in his province to be more violent than in 2010.

Cagas expressed his lament

Private armies now in barangays Guns proliferating in many towns

and appeal during the third quarterly meeting at the Grand Men Seng Hotel last Thursday of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Region 11 headed by Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo

del Rosario.

Cagas, who once headed the RPOC for two yearst, spoke out after the report of Regional Police Director Jaime Morente on the peace and order situation in

Region 11.

He said his political rivals have adopted a more creative way of employing goons by deploying them in their bailiwick towns and barangays but who are on call anytime they are needed with their unlicensed arms.

FDAVSUR, 11

CARNAPPED. Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 11 enforcers inspect a suspected carnapped vehicle in a car shop along Matina Aplaya yesterday. The shop owner called up the HPG 11office after suspecting that nine vehicles in his shop are stolen. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Sports

Page 15

22 more stolen vehicles recovered J

By Anthony S. Allada

Follow Us On

UST as Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) 11 regional director Sr. Supt. Gregorio Pimentel announced that more anti-carnap operations will be conducted after 22 more luxury vehicles were discovered Friday night in a big motor vehicle yard in Matina Aplaya

here.

Pimentel said Elmer Ang, owner of the Golden Sapphire Car Shop, surrendered the vehicles following the HPG’s intensified operations against the Baktin Carnapping Group led by notorious and elusive Ryan Cain Yu who was unmasked last week.

He said the vehicles were simply left at the shop by one Rudy Macarampat of Kidapawan City ostensibly for “repair” sometime in April this year.

Pimentel said most of the vehicles are Toyota-made while some are Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Investigation showed that

nine of them turned out be carnapped vehicles from Caloocan City and other parts of Luzon, the handiwork of the Baktin group.

Pimentel said they already received reports about the existence of the shop but did not know its location until the shop

F22 MORE, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Framework Agreement

Lumads, women members in Transition Commission

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HERE are no names yet, but there will be representatives from the indigenous peoples (IP) and women sector in the shortlist of nominees to the Transition Commission that will be set up after President Benigno S. Aquino issues an Executive Order for its creation. What is certain is there will be at least two women and two IP representatives in the 15-member TransCom. The government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are each naming at least one woman and one Lumad representative to the TransCom which will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law in preparation for the new autonomous political entity called Bangsamoro which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by 2016.

The recently signed Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) provides that the TransCom shall be composed of “15 members, all of whom are Bangsamoro,” seven of them selected by the GPH and eight, including the chair, by the MILF. Quoting Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, GPH panel member Senen Bacani told a forum here on October 11, that their seven members will “definitely” include representatives from the Lumad, women and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews in a text message Friday that their list of eight has not been finalized but “IP and women will be included.”

[Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews]

RIBBON CUTTING. Michael Gotianun, Filinvest vice president (left), Schools Division Superintendent Helen D. Paguican (to his left) and Pinky Aquino Abelleda, Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) chair (right), cut the ceremonial robbon while Rep. Mylene Garcia Albano of the

2nd Congressional District of Davao City looks on during the Silid Pangarap turnover ceremony at the Daniel M. Perez Central Elementary School in Bunawan Thursday afternoon. Silid Pangarap is a joint project of Filinvest and AGAPP. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Bayan Muna says disqualification Children of OFWs unveil case a nuisance and harassment first art exhibit in Davao

C

APTURING both still-life and real images, around 30 children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will showcase to the public their first ever art exhibit which mirrors their portrayal of families detached due to the harsh realities of parents working abroad.

Staging their art gallery forum with the theme ‘Unveiling Stories through Angles and Strokes,’ the children’s artworks are borne from the Communicators Development

Training and Mentoring organized by the Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI), a Davao Citybased non-government organization that promotes the welfare of migrant workers as well as their families.

The exhibit which will run starting Monday at 1 PM shall be unveiled at the Davao Episcopal Mission Center, Royal Pines, Matina, this city. The general public and the media are welcome to witness

FCHILDREN, 11

B

AYAN Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares on Saturday dismissed renewed efforts to disqualify Bayan Muna as a mere nuisance case, a desperate act by the administration and its allied groups to harass progressive parties.

The progressive lawmaker slammed the case filed by the so-called People’s Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (PEACE) which is a rehash of the earlier disqualification and criminal cases filed against Bayan Muna and its representatives every upcoming election year.

“We are confident that the Comelec will junk the

said petition, as it did in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010,” Colmenares said.

“These petitions do not even specify the illegal acts allegedly committed by the party. They are bereft of fact and evidence. This is mere black propaganda that will not stand in any court.”

“We’ve already been vindicated in court, by the Comelec and by our track record but here they are again crying wolf,” he added.

In 2007, the Supreme Court junked a rebellion case against six representatives of party-list groups, among them Bayan Muna Reps. Joel Virador, Satur

Ocampo and Teddy Casino. Amid the Arroyo administration throwing its own weight behind the trumped up case, the SC dismissed it for lack of probable cause and due process and scored Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and the prosecutors for “obvious involvement of political considerations in actuations.

“We cannot emphasize too strongly that prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid giving the impression that their noble office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for political ends,” the SC said at that time. In fact, PEACE is the same group

that filed the disqualification case in 2010, only to be dismissed by the COMELEC. “Walang ebidensya, dahil walang katotohanan ang alegasyon na nadadivert ng Bayan Muna ang pondo ng gubyerno sa NPA o gumagawa ng anumang aksyong iligal ang partido para ito ay madiskwalipika,” he said.

“They’re just harassing us, wasting the time of COMELEC and the taxpayers money. For what? To discredit us? To discredit honest work and efforts to better the situation of marginalized sectors?”

Colmenares ended.

HE FOUR provinces and six cities of the Davao region were asked to study and come up with their comments on the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) for submission to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP).

This was the decision of the Davao Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) headed by Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario during the RPOC’s quarterly meeting at the Grand Menseng Hotel last Thursday.

The action was suggested by Davao City Mayor Sara D. Carpio as a result of the discussion on a matter presented by BGen. Ariel B. Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who said that there are certain provisions of the FAB which affects portions of the region, although outside the

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The council will propose to have a meeting with the OPAPP and the government peace panel not later than November 12.

“The resolution is for us to study the Framework Agreement so that we can recommend on how we can [help] push the final agreement. [While] we are not a part of the Bangsamoro area, we are a part of Mindanao,” del Rosario told MindaNews.

Del Rosario said the RPOC also wants a meeting with the OPAPP for the information dissemination of the Framework Agreement to the members.

But before the meeting with the OPAPP, del Rosario said they will come out with an RPOC consolidated legal opinion, which would be the jumping point for the discussion with the government negotiating panel.

Davao coal-fired plant sells 105 mw to 2 Aboitiz firms T

T

HERMA South Inc., an Aboitiz Power Corp. subsidiary and operator of the 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant, has sold 105-megawatts of its power to two subsidiaries as the company is expected to complete its project by June 2015.

Signing supplies agreement with the company Thursday were sister companies Davao Light and Power Co. for 100 megawatts and Cotabato Light and Power Co. for five megawatts.

Arturo M. Milan, Davao Light executive vice president and also the chief operations officer of Cotabato Light, explained that both companies would need additional power supply by 2015 as the National Power Corp. is expected to lower its power sold to utilities as

the contract between the company and the government-run generating company is expected to end by 2015 and that the contracted power will be cut down by 25%.

Even before the ending of the contract and because of the continued problem of its hydroelectric plants, the government power generator, which is supposed to sell 260 megawatts to Davao Light, could only sell just over 200 megawatts.

Mr. Milan said that because the power requirement of the areas of Davao Light is growing 6.5% since 2009, his company would need 104 megawatts by 2015, due to the reduction of power coming from the government generator and the projected increase in demand. and that this is what the Therma South

power will fill.

By end of 2015, demand for power of Davao Light is about 345 megawatts. At present Davao Light has a contracted capacity of 337 megawatts, with 260 megawatts coming from government, with a peak demand of 290 megawatts.

Mr. Milan assured consumers that the increase in rate, as Therma South is selling its power for P5.59 per kilowatt hour subject to the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission, is not much. Although the rate will be fluctuating, Mr. Milan pegged the rate at a range of P3.80 to P4 a kilowatt hour.

“I want to qualify. This (rate range) will depend on the mix (of power output),” he said, pointing out that the company also sources its power from another

sister company, Hedcor Inc., which is selling its 42.5 megawatts to the distributing utility. Hedcor operates both the hydroelectric Sibulan plants in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and the five-megawatt Tamugan plant.

Roland U. Gaerlan, Aboitiz Power vice president for marketing, said his company has also started negotiating with other distributors for the remainder of the 195-megawatt output of Therma South.

“Our priorities are (distribution) utilities like the cooperatives,” said Mr. Gaerlan who signed the contract in behalf of Therma South.

Davao Light is also expected to widen its franchise areas if the plan to place under its area the

FDAVAO, 11

Davao LGUs asked to come up with comments on framework

[LoRiE ANN A. CAsCARo/MiNDANEws]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

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4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

At United Nations Biodiversity Conference

Countries agree to double resources for biodiversity protection by 2015

T

HE world’s governments have agreed to increase funding in support of actions to halt the rate of loss of biodiversity at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity last week.

Developed countries agreed to double funding to support efforts in developing states towards meeting the internationally-agreed Biodiversity Targets, and the main goals of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 20112020.

The Saragasso Sea, the Tonga archipelago and key corals sites off the coast of Brazil are among a range of marine areas to receive special attention by governments as part of renewed efforts agreed in Hyderabad to sustainably manage the world’s oceans. Many of the areas are beyond national jurisdictions and, as such, receive little or no protection at present.

Other key decisions taken at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 11) include new measures to

factor biodiversity into environmental impact assessments linked to infrastructure and other development projects in marine and coastal areas.

Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity said: “These results, coming in a period of economic crisis, demonstrate that the world is committed to implementing the CBD. We see that governments are moving forward in implementation and seeing biodiversity as an opportunity to be realized more than a problem to be solved.”

“We now need to move forward in the next two years, under the able leadership of India, the COP 11 president, to consolidate this work and to advance further. I look forward to other pledges in support of the Hyderabad call for Biodiversity Champions that will allow us to realize our goals” he said.

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, minister of Environment and Forests for India, and president of the COP said: “The present economic crisis should not deter us,

but on the contrary encourage us to invest more towards amelioration of the natural capital for ensuring uninterrupted ecosystem services, on which all life on earth depends.”

“The UN biodiversity conference in Hyderabad has taken forward the renewed momentum, forged two years ago in Nagoya,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner.

“Countries have sent a clear signal and delivered additional commitments underlining the fact that biodiversity and ecosystems are a development priority

R

Rhino poaching rates have increased rapidly since 2007 as new markets for rhino horn have emerged in Asia, primarily in Viet Nam. Rhino horn has recently been touted as a hangover cure and treatment for terminal illnesses, according to a report by WWF’s partner TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.

“It is critical for the South African government to engage with consumer countries and to fight against international syndicates involved in illegal rhino horn trade.

WWF is concerned that the Memorandum of Understanding with Viet

countries agreed at the conference to increase funding to support efforts in developing states towards meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

Using a baseline figure of the average annual national spending on biodiversity between 2006 and 2010, developed countries said they would double funding by 2015. The COP also set targets to increase the number of countries that have included biodiversity in their national development plans, and prepared national financial plans for biodiversity, by 2015.

All

Parties agreed to substantially increase domestic expenditures for biodiversity protection over the same period.

These targets, and progress towards them, will be reviewed in 2014.

For the first time, developing countries at COP 11, including India and several African states, pledged additional funds above and beyond their core funding towards the work of the CBD. Marine Biodiversity The 193 Parties to the CBD agreed to classify a diverse list of marine areas, some renowned for containing ‘hidden treasures’ of the plant and animal world, as ecologically or biologically significant.

and

Record poaching drives rhinos to tipping point

HINO poaching statistics released today by South African authorities show that a record 455 rhinos have been lost to poaching already in 2012. The number exceeds the 448 rhinos killed for their horns during the whole of 2011.

“The most recent figure is disappointing as last year’s total has already been exceeded by mid-October. World-famous safari destination Kruger National Park continues to be the hardest hit by poachers with 272 rhinos killed todate,” said Dr Jo Shaw, WWF-South Africa’s Rhino Co-ordinator.

central to a transition to an inclusive Green Economy,” added Mr. Steiner.

“Mobilizing the necessary financial resources from the public and private sector needed to ensure achievement of the 2020 targets remains a challenge - but here in India, many nations including developing economies have signalled their determination and sense of urgency to seize the opportunities by providing much needed additional support,” said Mr. Steiner.

Agreements on Funding Developed

Nam for collaborative action against illegal rhino horn trade remains unsigned. There is also an urgent need for law enforcement actions by neighbouring countries which are implicated as transit routes for illegal trade in rhino horn, specifically Mozambique,” Shaw said.

The number of arrests for rhino crimes has increased this year in South Africa, with 207 poachers, middlemen and couriers taken into police custody. WWF commends the South African government and law enforcement authorities for their continued efforts to help curb illegal wildlife trade, but believes there is no room for complacency.

A major alleged rhino poaching syndicate, the so-called ‘Groenewald Gang’, is due to appear in a South African court Friday. The group, consisting of a safari tour operator, veterinarians, professional hunters and a helicopter pilot, is facing charges related to the killing of 20 rhinos who were found without their horns.

Illicit wildlife trafficking: A form of transnational organized crime

G

OVERNMENTS gathering for a meeting of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime have recognized environmental crime, such as illicit trafficking in wildlife, as a new form of transnational organized crime in need a greater response. The meeting passed by consensus a resolution encouraging governments to further strengthen their domestic laws to prevent and combat these crimes.

“The recognition that illicit wildlife trafficking is a new form of transnational organized crime should be a wake-up call to governments worldwide,” said Wendy Elliott, WWF Global Species Programme Manager. “All forms of transnational organized crime have major impacts on stability, security and development. Urgent action is now desperately needed to strengthen efforts to combat illicit wildlife trafficking at all levels of the trade chain.”

During the meeting,

the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted the sophisticated techniques used by wildlife traffickers, and the links between environmental crime and other crimes associated with high levels of violence and corruption.

UNODC encouraged countries to take action against trafficking in endangered species, and to consider making trafficking of endangered species a serious crime. Under the convention, serious crimes are defined as those that are assigned prison sentences of at least four years.

“Wildlife criminals are raking in huge profits from this illegal activity, at relatively low risk of arrest, prosecution or imprisonment” said Stephanie Pendry, Enforcement Programme Leader for TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.

“They are escaping justice because wildlife crime has not been regarded as a serious crime. But these criminal networks are having huge impacts, threatening not only wild-

life, but also damaging communities, local economies and rule of law.”

Several governments spoke out at the Vienna meeting about the severity of wildlife crimes and their negative impacts on society. South Africa, which is the epicentre of the current rhino poaching crisis, noted progress with inter-ministerial cooperation between its government branches.

“Rhino poaching has escalated dramatically in parts of South Africa, due to the ruthless assault on the rhino population by criminal groups. We are bringing together policy, defence, customs and conservation officials to tackle this serious organized crime,” said Pitso Montwedi, South Africa’s Chief Director of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is the main international treaty dedicated to the fight against transnational organized crimes, such as the drug trade and human trafficking, and has been signed by 147 countries.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

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THE ECONOMY

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

F

Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

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

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

INALLY, a jewelry-making industry is now in place in the mineral-rich town of T’boli, South Cotabato.

Public and private partners recently launched the project to add value to the small-scale mining operations existing in this town in the last three decades.

Gold, either produced legally or illegally, is usually sold to buyers in its raw form and brought outside the town, which is home to the T’boli tribe.

But hopefully not anymore now as a P378,000 jewelry-making equipment has been turned over to 20 beneficiaries

in Barangay Edwards “to make authentic T’boli gold earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and other fashionable items.”

The T’boli local government in fact wants to develop jewelries as the centerpiece of its “One Town, One Product” thrust.

Constancio Paye, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 12 director, said that since mining is a major activity in the town due to its abundant silver and gold deposits, there should be value-adding by converting them right away into fashion materials.

“As the first jewelry project in the region, this is a big

chance for the community to sustain their income through this jewelry-making project,” he stressed.

The venture hopefully will also become a tourism drawer for the municipality, Paye said.

The jewelry-making project is expected to benefit villagers from Desawo and Kematu, where the estimated 2.4 million tons of gold and silver lie.

Under the Social Development Management Fund of the foreign-backed Tribal Mining Corporation (TMC), villagers will be trained to become jewelry makers.

Lawyer Eumir Tiamzon, TMC president and chief ex-

ecutive officer, challenged the beneficiaries to create authentic jewelries that embody the culture of the T’boli tribe.

“Let us spread the feel of Tboli [culture] in these jewelries,” Tiamzon said.

MGB Assistant Secretary Elmer Billedo believed that with the help of the other government agencies, local government unit and private partners, T’boli will land in the jewelry map of the Philippines.

Billedo, an earth science expert, said the jewelry-making project “is a decent business that should be a source of pride for the townsfolk.” [AC/MindaNews]

Farmers find hope in cacao amid banana industry crisis

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

EDGEDAVAO

Cotabato’s T’boli town now producing jewelries

Stat Watch

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

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

M

INDANAO banana growers currently suffering the impact of the crisis facing the banana industry find new hope through the Cacao-Banana Agri-Enterprise Development (CBAED) project.

The CBAED project aimed at cushioning the impact of the crisis facing the banana industry is initiated by the Federation of Cooperatives in Mindanao (FEDCO) with the help of ACDI/VOCA, an international organization currently implementing CocoPal Farming System project in Mindanao funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

FEDCO chief executive officer, Rene Dalayon said, the CBAED project is targeting to help 2,000 farmers in developing 10 hectares for cacao-banana plantations in the municipalities of Sto. Tomas and Asuncion in Davao del Norte.

FEDCO initially provided free intensive trainings on cacao-banana intercrop farming technology to 75 Coco Pal Farmer Leaders (CFL).

The CFLs which have just finished their trainings are currently conducting similar trainings to other CBAED farmer beneficiaries through the so-called Farmers Field

School, Dalayon said.

The training covers the following: Farm planning and farmers’ decision making; farming as a business, and technical training on cacao production using CacaoCheck System developed by ACDI/ VOCA. While the training to other farmers continues, the CFLs have already applied the cacao-banana intercropping system in the said targeted farms in Davao del Norte.

Todate, about seven hectares were already planted to cacao and banana, Dalayon said. He expects the entire project to be fully implemented in the targeted 10 hectares by February 2013 when the project ends.

ACDI/VOCA has granted P3.2 million budget to fund the CBAED project. This is in addition to the P1 million fund it granted last two years ago for FEDCO’s cacao nursery project , Dalayon said.

ACDI/VOCA chief of party in the Philippines, Nicholas Richards said CoCoPal Farming System is working with small holder farmers and agri-enterprise including government agencies and institutions in Mindanao to uplift the industry and lives of the lowly farmers.

FILLING. An employee of Krispy Kreme demonstrates the process of donut filling at Abreeza Mall yesterday. The company

successfully opened two branches in the city recently. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

THE ECONOMY

7

Davao Light, Therma South sign additional power supply contract

By Anthony S. Allada

I

N anticipation of a power shortage by 2015, Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) signed a contract with Therma South Inc. (TSI) Thursday noon to secure supply of power for the city and surrounding areas.

Under the power supply agreement, DLPC will receive 100-megawatt additional power capacity once the construction of the 300-MW clean coal power plant of TSI is completed by June 2015.

DLPC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Arturo Milan, First Vice President for Mindanao Manuel Orig, VP for Engineering Rodger Velasco and VP for Marketing and Sales Affairs and representing TSI signed the deal.

Milan said the contract is good for 25 years, an assurance to meet the power demand in the cities of Davao and Panabo as well as neighboring municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto, Tomas, all of Davao del Norte.

In Mindanao, only these areas served by the DLPC are not experiencing brownouts because of several sources of power supply, such as the National Power Corporation, Hedcor, Sibulan, Therma Marine Inc. and DLPC Bajada Plant.

To date, the power supply is 337-MW while the demand is only 290MW, an excess of 47-MW. But because in 2015 the NPC is reducing its power supply distribution to DLPC by only 195MW, it initiates to tap the TSI as one of their power distributors to meet the power demand.

“We are happy to have earned the confidence of

Davao Light and we will do our best to build and deliver our power plant as scheduled. The people of Davao have welcomed our investment and it is just right that they reap the benefits of the power that we will prodice, TSI chief operating officer Benjamin Cariaso Jr. said in a press statement.

Cariaso said that they have the advantage of having already started the construction and assured they will build a worldclass power plant that the people of Mindanao will be proud of.

For his part, Milan said the combination of rapid economic growth in the Davao Light franchise area and the expected deteriorating supply from the NPC require them to act responsibly and secure this power now and ensure the power needs for Dabawenyos in the future.

“The unprecendented economic growth in Davao City needs electric power and we in Davao Light will do ourt best that this power is delivered reliably and the progress of our city goes unhampered,” he said.

The power supply contract will be submitted for approval to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) which will ensure that the rates are fair and are to the best interest of the consumers.

Therma South is utilizing the latest circulating fluidized-bed technology to ensure power plant operations meet stringent government environment and safety standards.

The Davao Light has an estimated peak demand of 290-MW, serving more than 30,000 customers. [AsA]

CHILI POWDER. An entrepreneur wannabe checks out a booth that sells different kinds of chili powder during the last day of the Davao Trade Expo 2012 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

PARTNERSHIP. Edge Davao editor Antonio M. Ajero, Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde, M.D., Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president, left, and Lenny Castillo of the Davao Branding Program,

sign a memorandum of agreement for the Davao Branding Project Partnership during the networking night of the Davao Trade Expo 2012 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center Thursday night. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO Glan Tourism Master Plan in focus

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

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EDITORIAL

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Killer instinct vs grafters

USTED Chief Justice Renato Corona may soon join former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in jail, according President Aquino . The President’s confident boast hogged the headline of at least one daily yesterday.

It was supposed to have been said to a gathering of Filipinos in Australia.

Hubris and all, the President’s remarks ought to be received with elation

by Filipinos who believe in his “daang matuwid” (straight path) battlecry of governance.

The No. 1 complaint of Filipinos about their government for more than half a century now is rampant graft and corruption that seemed to be worsening each passing day. So, Mr. Aquino is more appreciated by his constituents due to his unrelenting campaign against corruption.

This would require a killer instinct of

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sorts. It was not enough that Mr. Corona had been ousted for an alleged misdeed.

He should be prosecuted for it and jailed if proven guilty.

Such unflinching drive should apply to all alleged grafters, however, side by side with Mr. Aquino’s campaign against bigtime criminals, smugglers, tax evaders and their collaborators in government.

It is not cruelty to felons as may be viewed by some Filipinos with a misplaced sense of charity.It is justice even for the alleged crooks. Trial in the courts is also their hope to be exonerated and be given justice, if indeed, they are innocent.

Rather than be judged and suffer ignominy on the basis of trial by publicity and impeachment trial which everybody agrees to be more political than anything, the former SC chief justice deserves such due process, no less.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEy Consultant kENNETH IRVING k. ONG Creative Solutions

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO CARLO P. MALLO Associate Special Project Consultant LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography

JADE C. ZALDIVAR • VICky BERDINA M. DE GuZMAN ANTHONy S. ALLADA • AQuILES Z. ZONIO Staff Writers

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

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance AGuSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAyAN DE ORO MARkETING OFFICE

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

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

( 2nd of three parts )

RIOR to the crafting of the Glan Tourism Master Plan, Gumasa, its famed beach, was branded as the “Boracay of the South”. That would not be the case anymore.

Given the problems besetting Boracay these days, such as unchecked and rampant infrastructure developments that threaten its surreal atmosphere and continued environmental degradation, local officials and stakeholders do not envision those to happen to Glan. So, it was a fallacious brand.

It was a wrong brand image that did not complement the actual brand experience. Now, GTMP calls for packaging the whole community as a top beach destination coupled with historico-cultural experience. It is an optimistic image because it is unique. Tourists do not only get their own fill of the sun, sea and the sand. They will also have the opportunity to experience culture in natural state and the rich history of the place.

Convention dictates that an effective destination brand should have at least three basic qualities. First, it must be original. To a foreign tourist, for example, all Philippine island destinations are essentially the same. Beautiful, yes. Ideal beach destinations, yes. Almost all islands are perceived to be the same. It is a tight competition and only those that are aggressive enough or with well-developed support infrastructures are able to gain significant shares of the market. For emerging destinations, such as Glan, there is more persuasive reason to package themselves as original.

Each place must strongly project an authentic image that offers a unique and compelling experience different from other similar destinations. Secondly, the image must be iconic.

It must evoke a strong and highly memorable perception coupled with symbols that inspire would-be tourists to explore the place. Thirdly, as in the case of what Glan wants to be perceived, the brand must be competitive. Given the pertinent marketing tools, the perception must be created in a powerful manner, able to grab the attention of the market.

There is a particular spot along Brgy.

Kapatan that reminds me so much of Santorini in Europe. It offers a breathtaking view of the entire blue Sarangani Bay and, on less cloudy afternoons, a rather mysterious-looking silhouette of the towering Mt. Matutum.

Remember that tourism is essentially a commodification of experience. Destination managers are selling experience, a technically non-tangible thing, as a product traded in the market. A sunset-by-the-bay experience in Brgy. Kapatan is where one commodifies such experience. It also offers a perfect spot for the planned conversion of the area into a tourism estate zone that will accommodate roadside restaurants, cafes, pasalubong center, etc.

Foreign tourists, particularly the Westerners, would love it, knowing their preference for well-preserved eco-tourist destinations.

Tourist period in Glan is highly seasonal.

High tourist arrival rates are experienced only from March to May and in December. For the rest of the year, the resorts are practically empty. GTMP calls for the institutionalization of regular and area-wide activities during the lean season to create a new market niche and sustain the operations of private resorts.

These will be coupled with a mandatory and uniform discount scheme to be offered by the resorts, making the Glan experience still attractive to consumers even on cold and rainy months. Development of an inlet, surrounded by well-protected mangroves, is already in place. The area will provide a wide array of wholesome and less physical activities that other segments of the market will find enjoyable. These are your families and the elderly who would rather do boating, hook and line fishing and kayaking than fight the waves at the adjacent beach. Call it product diversification.

Since Glan is the country’s leader in terms of coconut production in municipal level, it does not come as a surprise that its official food icon cum pasalubong item is made from the coconut meat. A distinctly tasting bukayo will soon be mass produced using a recipe that will be developed with the help of experts from the Technology Resource Center of the Department of Science and Technology. To expand the socio-economic benefits of tourism, jobless individuals will be organized as a cooperative and will be tasked to produce most of Glan’s bukayo.

EDGEDAVAO

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Small price for survival

ROLONGED STATE OF ANARCHY – One have to travel many towns across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to see whether life had improved for ordinary citizens. For now, the government’s much-vaunted initial rumblings of economic activities are clearly not gaining ground. Understandably enough, in a place where the peace and order situation is volatile, economic progress likewise is elusive. It has been sixteen years since the signing of the “Final Peace Agreement’ (FPA) between the Ramos administration and the Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), yet ARMM has fallen into a prolonged state of anarchy.

The signs of political stability, socio-economic progress and peace and security are often interrupted by the drumbeats of insurgents’ attacks. Once in a while, life in ARMM on the surface seems normal, but there is a general sense of unease. Residents routinely veer from optimism to apprehension.

The precarious peace and order condition makes it difficult for business speculators and locators to gauge the extent of change, indeed, if there is one. If there is no real peace and security, economic stagnation logically is the end result.

Public spending and investment portfolios have not increased to fuel commerce that would eventually create jobs and give people in the autonomous region a feeling of prosperity they had never known. ARMM officials come and go, but they similarly struggled to keep up with the prevailing socio-economic crisis caused by an unpredictable environment. There were large numbers of unemployed young men and women in most areas due to lack of job opportunities. Unexpected unrest threatens to swamp all the efforts of government to restore back the normal economic activities and surprise attacks targeting military patrols and government establishments had stoked fears that the very foundation of ARMM is shaking.

With the influential clans and political warlords gone, people expect busi-

M

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

ALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/26 October) – A week after the tragedy in Barangay Kimlawis in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur that left a pregnant mother and her two sons dead, no government office or official has issued a pronouncement on the incident.

Not the local government. Not the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

I wonder why the CHR, which is now headed by a former activist, has been mum on what human rights groups and even Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez believe was a massacre. Such attitude is in stark contrast to now Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the former chair of CHR who was known for her independence in confronting human rights abuses during the previous administration.

All that has been reported so far is that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has formed a Board of Inquiry that will determine if the soldiers involved had violated the military’s rules of engagement.

Bishop Gutierrez however has declared he is more inclined to believe in the information given by his social action workers that it was a massacre.

From the legal viewpoint, it is unfair to rush into conclusions. But perception

ness activities would resuscitate and drive an economic boom with their newfound peaceful atmosphere. However, many years on, the reality remains vastly complicated. In some ways, business is potentially huge, but even the normally upbeat entrepreneurs admit that the prediction of the local and national governments about brighter economic prospect was off the mark. But amid the unpredictable peace and order condition are hardnosed business smarts, say those who are already there. The not-so-good situation has not dented their optimism.

Of course, there is always a shadow of hostilities breaking out, but entrepreneurs on the ground say that earning money has been a strong draw and for them, it seemed a small price for survival. Local officials and the national leadership tout the theory that a thriving middle-class and intrepid investors will inevitably demand an end to hostilities and ensure a peaceful environment conducive for business. They’re scoping out opportunities anticipating that sometime the fickle peace and security situation is going to die down.

In fairness, though, the peace and order condition in ARMM is not as bad as what has been described in the international press. Yet you could see outward signs of business at work. All of which proves that ARMM is still a good place to make money – although the harder way. Entrepreneurs in the autonomous region have learned that they need to be flexible about what they are going to do and how to manage their businesses during tight situations that would keep them profitably sound. In the view of other people, it’s really an unpredictable place to live and to engage in business, but homegrown traders make their future here. It takes just lots of courage and willpower, and

a market strategy – essential tools of the trade.

Muslim Mindanao’s search for new identity will be a long and difficult journey despite the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro entity between the GRP and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiating panels. Already, the region’s ethnic and political divisions are beginning to assert themselves sometimes in threatening ways. The signing of the FBA two weeks ago gave the region a dramatic push toward a brighter future – politically, socially and economically. Political and constitutional experts noted the haggling that revealed splits in the formation of a new autonomous political entity could still haunts the region’s political, socio-economic and cultural practices despite insistence of the GRP-MILF panels that the FBA marks an impressive accomplishment for both parties and, particularly the Bangsamoro people.

Can the expected transition proceedings in the coming months or maybe even years to be precise, as the government hands over the power to the leaders of a new autonomous region find ways for warring groups to co-exist peacefully? This will determine whether a new autonomous political entity can become, at one extreme, a model for harmony and unity or, at the other, an unstable haven for prospective investors. The most basic logic in business dictates that economic progress cannot move forward if this has been matched by a corresponding rise in anxiety.

Believers in the FBA might as well say that the new peace accord enshrines the rights Bangsamoro people never dreamed of before: equality, freedom of speech and political identity. However, many legal luminaries and political analysts are coy about FBA’s future, “Isn’t it premature to talk about the realization of the FBA,” they ask. With the final formation of the FBA before President Benigno Aquino III’s term expires in 2016, it’s not too soon to ponder Bangsamoro people’s leaders.

is reality and will remain as such unless convincing evidence presents itself. The problem is, how would the military explain the deaths of three civilians (four if we include the fetus in Juvy Capion’s womb) and the zero casualties on its side and on the group of Juvy’s husband, Daguil Capion? The military also has to explain why the scene of incident had been “sanitized”, that is, evidence had been tampered with, as claimed by an anti-mining group.

The place where the victims lived is part of the mining tenement of Sagittarius Mines Inc. Daguil Capion and a number of fellow B’laans are opposing the presence of Sagittarius in their ancestral domain, and have resorted to arms to defend it. This is the reason why anti-mining groups believe the incident was a deliberate move to silence the Lumads’ resistance, although another group of Lumads is supporting the mining project.

That’s it. The root of the violence that has engulfed the area is the entry of SMI whose tenement also covers Tampakan in South Cotabato and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat. As in other mining communities, SMI’s presence has caused conflicts among the local people. Daguil Capion’s armed resistance and the deaths of his wife and two children illustrate the social evils of a mining venture that amasses mega-profits but leaves just a pittance to host communities that will inherit environmental destruction as well as social divisions that may take generations to heal.

Of course, SMI couldn’t care less if the rivers turn murky and the people remain divided long after the last ounce of gold and copper has been dug out from the same earth where Juvy and her two sons were buried. In the end, profit is the only thing that matters.

So, did the soldiers break their own rules of engagement? Maybe this question matters, but how about the government’s rules of engagement with mining companies? This is a legitimate question too. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com)

Gold yard, graveyard

9

Thank you flood, Gensan is now a metropolis

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( 1st of two parts )

MAGES not only of flooded streets but entire villages used to be unthinkable for those who have been living in General Santos before it became a city.

We d n e s d ay ’ s torrential rains, which lasted for at least six hours, inundated at least six villages in the city long after the last drops of the rain were gone.

In 1969, when my parents ‘resettled’ in this place, the only concrete streets were Pioneer Avenue and a portion of then Albert Morrow Blvd (now P. Acharon).

But then life was simple. When it rains, no matter how heavy the downpour, within hours (if not minutes) the water is gone – seeped deep below the surface. Yes, there were some waterlogs which leave behind chocolaty albeit murky water but they were like potholes in your living room you could easily dry with your floor mat.

Not anymore.

If you are lucky, you can still lie in your bed with an inch or two of water on the floor and wait till it subsides maybe in 30 minutes or so.

But for the first time in their lives Wednesday evening, some 70 families in Purok Balite in Lagao left their homes for the comfort of the dry concrete floors of the village hall as rising waters threatened to drown their children.

It is easy to blame climate change and global warming for this recurring problem that is becoming a metropolitan scourge. Of course it is not entirely correct and, even more so, true to entirely blame changing weather pattern.

Urban blight coupled with unforgivable lack of foresight played the major role in the rising problem of flooding in the city.

The natural waterways in the city are now gone if not claimed by urban settlement.

There used to be a small waterway that crossed near the ‘intersection’ (that is what the junction near dxCP was known to old time residents) passing through what is now Gaisano and Socoteco II office. That waterway stretches all the way to side of Coca-Cola Bottling Plant (where AASI village now stands) before spilling into the bay passing through a small creek beside the old Caltex Bulk Depot.

In Lagao, rainwater from Conel passes through what is now Yanzon Village going to Balite and Pag-asa before draining into the catch basin that is now Gensanville.

But some crazy guy built a wall somewhere there. Poor fellows in Yanzon village, they became lake denizens whenever it rains hard. Mind you, motorists passing by near the Lagao public market need some floaters too lest they leave their vehicles stuck in high waters.

You wonder why NLSA Road is so crooked a road? No, it is not because a Bicolano geodetic engineer skipped every hot chili plant while surveying a proposed road. The NLSA followed the contour of a stream that drains into the Amao swamp area in Bula. Do you still see the stream there?

10 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

GenSan floods subside; evacuees return home

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VACUEES from three flood-hit villages in General Santos City have returned to their homes as the floods spawned by typhoon “Ofel” in the last two days have finally subsided, officials said on Friday.

Ephraim Beliran, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) action officer, said in a report that the floodwaters that submerged communities in Barangays Lagao, Baluan and Bula on Wednesday have already receded, clearing the return of around 150 families that were earlier displaced.

He said all roads in Barangays Baluan and Lagao, especially Apitong and Talisay Streets, that were swamped by “kneehigh floodwaters” have been so far cleared.

Beliran said a total of 140 families or 390 persons in Barangay Lagao evacuated on Wednesday night due to the floods.

In Barangay Baluan, he said some 456 families or 2,018 persons were affected by the calamity, which forced the evacuation of nine families with at least 30 dependents.

Baluan officials said the floods damaged an estimated 60 hectares of

farmlands planted with palay and other crops.

The CDRRMC earlier ordered the evacuation of residents from portions of Barangay Lagao and nearby areas after threeto four feet-high floodwaters swept the area starting Wednesday afternoon.

The floodwaters reportedly came from the irrigation canals in Purok Nursery in Lagao and Barangay Conel that swelled due to the almost nonstop heavy rains in the area.

Aside from Barangays Lagao and Baluan, the floods also affected portions of Barangays Bula, Katangawan, Mabuhay, Conel, Tinagacan and Buayan.

Eduardo Vargas, Bula barangay chair, said five puroks in his area were hit by severe flooding due to the impounding of the floodwaters coming from Barangay Lagao.

He said the floodwaters failed to flow towards the Sarangani Bay, which is the area’s natural outlet, due to the clogged canals and the lack of waterways.

Vargas said the city government and the National Irrigation Administration had planned to construct a drainage channel towards the bay

FGENSAN, 11

RESPITE FROM WAR. Moro women harvest rice in the conflict-affected village of Liong in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on October 24. It has been a year since they last evacuated to the poblacion to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. The signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro

EDGEDAVAO

has given them hope their planting season won’t be disrupted by war again and that they can look forward to more bountiful harvests. [MiNDANEws/Ruby ThuRsDAy MoRE]

187,000 beneficiaries to end dependence on 4Ps in 2013 A

BOUT 187,000 of the 3.1 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program are expected to graduate from it

next year as they will have reached the five-year dependency on the program by then.

In the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Department of Social Welfare and Development and two Davao del Sur municipalities in their inclusion in the Set 6 of the program, Wadel S. Cabrera III said the soon-to-graduate beneficiaries have started their intensive intervention to prepare them to exit the program.

“They have to be provided with intervention so that they will be ready when they exit the program,” said Mr. Cabrera, pointing out that each beneficiary is provided with P10,000 for sustainable livelihood projects

that they would identify.

He said the beneficiaries are grouped so that they can pool their fund and come up with better livelihood initiatives.

Mr. Cabrera added that there is also an assessment undergoing to evaluate whether those who will graduate are ready to exit the program.

Preparing them in the transition period after the five-year period in staying in the program is the intervention to provide them livelihood activities for additional sources of income.

Next year, the program will also have additional 700,000 beneficiaries including those identified through its Set6. As a result of the increase in beneficiaries, the budget

of the program is also expected to be raised to P44 billion, or an additional P5 billion on top of this year’s budget, Mr. Cabrera.

Included in the latest set of beneficiaries are the Padada and Hagonoy in Davao del Sur whose mayors signed the agreement.

Based on the data from the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the program has 168,624 beneficiaries in six cities and 41 municipalities in the region.

“The inclusion of Hagonoy and Padada results in the 100% coverage of the program in all the areas of the region,” a briefing material said.

pered before they arrived.

Banzon said they were surprised with the discovery “since it is public knowledge that the barge owners do not allow local residents to go near the machines and instead rely on foreign workers to do the work.”

The task force that raided the illegal mining operations also includes the police and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“This is a clear evidence that the foreigners who are engaged in illegal mining in Iponan River are well-armed and probably threatening the local residents,” said Orlan Ravanera of the Sulog-One

Sendong is Enough (Sulog), an environmental people’s organization.

The two Chinese nationals were identified as Zhong Hengyuan, 43, and He Jiancheng, 42, both residents of the People’s Republic of China.

They were arrested while working on a barge in Sitio Araw-Araw, Barangay Pagalungan, which is also traversed by the Iponan River.

When arrested, both of them failed to present working permits, only their passports that were confiscated by authorities.

Zhong’s passport had a tourist visa issued by the Philippine consulate

F187,000, 11

2 Chinese nationals arrested

T

WO Chinese nationals without working permits have been arrested following a raid by a multi-agency task force on a dozen barges illegally mining for gold in the Iponan River in Cagayan de Oro City.

Lt. Col. George Banzon, commanding officer of the Army 58th Infantry Battalion, said they found an unlicensed 9mm pistol with two magazines of ammunitions hidden in a steel closet upon inspecting one of the barges in Sitio Dumalokdok, Barangay Tumpagon on Thursday afternoon.

The raiding team failed to arrest anyone from these barges as the foreign workers scam-

F2 Chinese, 11

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“Many of the barangay officials under their influence are holding high-powered firearms who can be called on anytime for operations,” Cagas said.

He said many of the mayors and barangay leaders are maintaining PAGs or are themselves members.

Cagas added that the successful police raid earlier on the residence of a town mayor which yielded several high-powered firearms not even found in the AFP armory is proof of the gravity of the situation in his province. Cagas was referring to a recent raid and confiscation of firearms in the house of Jose Abad Santos Mayor James Y. Joyce.

The governor said the police worked on the case very hard and a search warrant had to be applied for in a Manila court because it would be useless if information about the warrant would leak if applied for locally.

He said that next to the rise of index crimes in Davao del Sur, a “source of his shame, embarrassment and helplessness” as the provincial governor has nothing to do with the maintenance of law and order, is the problem of loose firearms and the presence of guns-for-hire in many towns.

2 Chinese...

He said that apart from the commission of unsolved murders and rampant theft of motorcycles occurring daily in Digos City and other parts of the province, the most dangerous are the PAGs who are capable of committing violence in the coming elections.

“Believe me, when I tell you that almost all barangay captains in five municipalities, namely Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos have unlicensed firearms,” Cagas said, adding that even Digos barangay captains not friendly to him are well-armed.

Due to the presence of PAGs, he expects a bloodier election next year than the two immediately previous.

He said that while his camp won the earlier elections, many of their supporters got killed.

He appealed to Police Regional Director Morente to focus on the problem with his Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG).

“Mr. Chairman, indeed, we are not only a hotspot in this coming coming election. We are at the boiling point, and this boiling point began two months ago. It will boil on until the melting pot breaks,” Cagas warned the RPOC members.

He urged the authorities concerned to confiscate the hundreds of loose firearms, even if “We must kill these guns for hire because there’s no other way to contest these guys,: he said, claiming “they have killed so many people already…a tooth for a tooth…an eye for an eye,” the governor said.

“I am appealing to the police and Armed forces, If you want to have a fair and safe elections in Davao del Sur, focus all the resources there, otherwise it will be a damn bloody election,” Cagas said.

In response, Morente said the police will heed the mayor’s call, adding that he is holding weekly command conferences wherein the non-performing chiefs of police are asked to explain their failures.

He agreed with Cagas that in applying for search warrants, it should be done outside of the region considering that local police officers are usually indebted in some form to local politicians.

Brig. Gen. Ariel B. Bernardo, commanding general of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, assured Cagas that the military will always be ready to respond to calls for assistance from local leaders.

umnist Ben Contreras was able to talk with Zhong in Mandarin, China’s official language.

Translating for Zhong, Contreras told local reporters that the Chinese nationals arrived in Cagayan de Oro two months ago after they were recruited in China.

“Zhong did not even know he was violating Philippine laws,” Contreras said.

He said Zhong told him there were four Chinese nationals working in the barge and that they were working for a Filipino-Chinese who resides in the city. [FRoiLAN GALLARDo/MiNDAN-

FFROM 10

in Guangzhou, China, while Jiancheng’s passport also had a tourist visa issued by the Philippine consulate in Xiamen, also in China.

The two Chinese nationals cannot speak or understand Filipino or English.

However, local journalist and Gold Star Daily col-

Ews]

Edge Davao hiring editor, 3 reporters EDGE DAVAO is in need of an editor and three staffwriters/reporters for its expansion program.

The reporters will be assigned to the business, science/environment and political beats.

On the other hand, the editor will supervise the reporters and do gate-keeping tasks.

Applicant must be a graduate of a four- year college course. For reporters, experience is not needed although preferable. The editor should have at least one-year experience in editing.

Interested parties may send their application letter to Mr. Antonio M. Ajero, Edge Davao editor, thru email address ajero_antonio@yahoo.com. For inquiries, please call Mr. Ajero thru mobile phone 09052422686 or landline 221-3601.

owner himself surfaced and turned the vehicles over to them for fear of being implicated in any criminal act.

“He may just be a victim but he is still liable for accepting them into his shop,” he said.

Children..

Ang said his shop has been operating for sometime and accepts motor vehicles involved in vehicular accidents, towung the wrecks to their shop and helping in the vehicles’ insurance processing and

claims.

As of Saturday, HPG operatives were still towing the vehicles one after the other from the shop to HPG headquarters in Ecoland, Davao City. [ASA]

ous crafts in arts,” Sialana-Elento said.

In partnership with other institutions, MMCEAI taps the role of children of OFWs in shaping local policies and initiatives that aim to strengthen families of OFWs in the city as well as in other parts in Mindanao.

Most of the artworks are the products of children enrolled in different schools in the city which MMCEAI has institutional partnership programs,

said Sialana-Elento.

A total of twenty-nine (29) school-based ANAK OFWs from Davao City participated and successfully completed the training through the following art disciplines: visual arts, photography, radio broadcasting and writing.

MMCEAI is a rightsbased non-government organization assisting distressed migrants, their families and communities in the key center cities in the Davao region.

resulted in conking out.

When Aboitiz Power conceptualized the project about two years ago, Erramon I. Aboitiz, company chair and chief executive officer, said the company was only projecting an increase in demand of power considering that Mindanao is growing at 8% annually.

At that time, Mr. Aboitiz said that based on

the projection of his company, Mindanao would need an additional of 400 megawatts by the time the project, which initially was just 200 megawatts in capacity, is completed.

Throwing its hat also into the arena of producing power is Conal Holdings Corp. of the Alcantara group which is setting up a 200-megawatt similar plant in Sarangani.

tired police official.

Under the program, each child of a family receives P300 if the child is below 14 with the money intended for the education of the child. A family can enrol maximum of three children.

Each family also receives P500 for the health and nutrition under the

program.

For the family to stay in the program, each child must register an 85% school attendance, all the children must undergo healthcare intervention and the entire family must undergo family development session every month.

house in Sitio Kagang, Barangay Tapon in Glan, Sarangani was hit by a fallen timber at the height of the heavy rains on Wednesday morning.

Jerome Baranco, OCD12 assistant director, said the victim was inside their house when the incident happened at around 9:30 a.m.

He said responding local rescuers rushed the victim to the Glan District Hospital but she was declared dead upon arrival.

Aside from the incident, Baranco said heavy

flooding was also monitored last Wednesday in Barangays Tango, Taluya, Ilaya, Calabanit, Tapon and Poblacion in Glan, Sarangani.

“Canals on the aforementioned barangays overflowed due to heavy rains. The knee high flood waters affected the roads and houses in the barangays,” he said.

But he noted that the floods in the area immediately subsided after about an hour. [ALLEN V. EsTAbiLLo/

FFROM 2

the event.

Inorisa Sialana-Elento, MMCEAI executive director, said the exhibit culminates the training held sometime in September of school-based OFW children.

“Our program “Building Capacities and Creating Opportunities for ANAK OFWs” employs undertakings that provide avenues for children of migrants to ventilate their voices and aspirations by enhancing their skills through their vari-

Davao..

FFROM 2

Island Garden City of Samal after the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative agreed to have the city, the main tourist destination in the Davao Region, placed under the former.

Samal’s power requirement is about five megawatts and of late, the city has experienced outages after the submarine cable used to service it maximized capacity that

187,000...

FFROM 10

In his response, Hagonoy Mayor Franco M. Calida said the entry of the program in the second class municipality will help the local government in alleviating the lives of the poor. “We are thankful to the department for including us as this is another way to fight poverty,” said Mr. Calida, a re-

Gensan...

FFROM 10

but the project did not proceed due to the lack of consent from owners of private lands that it would traverse. “(But) the negotiations with the concerned private land owners are ongoing and we’re hoping to settle this matter soon so we can proceed with the drainage project,” he said.

Meantime, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 12 said a four year-old girl identified as Sheila Mae Bericuatro Resaba was killed after their

MiNDANEws]

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Serving a seamless society

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Female, not more than 30 years old A graduate of BS Accountancy, Knowledge of related computer applicants, Familiar with basic bookkeeping procedures, - Attentive to details and accurate, - Well organized and - Can work with mininum supervision

Account Executives (2)

- Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Candidate must posses a Bachelor/College Degree in any Business field.

- Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

HealthandWellness

FOR SALE:

1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/ sq m, along National Highway, facing east, beside NCCC Panacan, Davao City.

2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/ sq m, along Matina Diversion Road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion Road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at P800/sq m along the National Highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/ residential lot along Indangan Road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/industrial lot along the National Highway in Bincungan, Tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/office condo units in Bajada, Davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town Center, along the National Highway, Dumoy, Toril.

9) Ready-for-Occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, Toril.; 3BR 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion Road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, Obrero, Davao City.

11) FOR ASSUME (RUSH): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. Note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

Deadline for submission of materials is 12:00 NN. Deadline for Friday and Saturday issues is 5:00 PM. Deadline for Sunday and Monday issues is Saturday 12:00 NN. For more information, please call our Advertising Office 221-3601; 301-6235 and ask for Jane or Chay.

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IDEAL FOR INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING PLANT, 3 hectares, Santa Cruz along the National Highway, Direct Buyers only Contact: 0927-706-2510

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No(s) under LOYOLA PLAN issued to the following planholders, to wit; PH NAME CFP NO. 1. SUMANDO, RAMON M. 1003830 2. SUMANDO, FELICISIMA D. 21010098

LOT FOR SALE 180 sq. meter, Farland Subd., Dumoy, Toril, P 350,000 only Contact: 0927-706-2510

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were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS ADS13

Shop at

DAVAO LILA DEPT. STORE SHOPPING PARADISE OF THE BUDGET-WISE AT ITS NEW LOCATION NEAR MANILA BULLETIN CAYETANO BANGOY ST. (FORMERLY PONCIANO REYES ST.) CORNER RIZAL STREET, DAVAO CITY CONTACT: TEL. #: 225-5258; 227-3959 CEL.#: 0932-2246429; 0915-4102303

LOTS FOR SALE ROYAL PINES SUBDIVISION MATINA DAVAO CITY SEMI VIEW LOTS BLOCK 3, LOT 5 – 404 SQUARE METERS BLOCK 3, LOT 7 – 349 SQUARE METERS VILLA JOSEFINA RESORT VILLAGE, DUMOY – PHASE 1 BLOCK 6, LOT 13- 240 SQUARE METERS BLOCK 17, LOT 6- 240 SQUARE METERS BLOCK 19, LOT 4- 240 SQUARE METERS (082) 225-5258, 0915-511-1985,

KRISTINE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11th Judicial Region Branch 8, Davao City IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF MINORS ABDUL-ADEL ELMANDA ECORAS AND NABELA ELMANDA ECORAS WITH APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SP PROC.NO. 12,246-2012 SPOUSES PHILIPPE LUTHI AND BEBETH ELMANDA-LUTHI, Petitioners. x-----------------------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER This is a verified petition fot the adoption of AbdulAdel Elmanda Ecoras and Anabela Elmanda Ecoras, filed by petitioners-spouses Philippe Luthi and Bebeth ElmandaLuthi, thru counsel, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, the said minors be declared for all intents and purposes, the petitioners’ children.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set hearing of this petition to December 6, 2012 at 8:30 in the morning.

Social Worker Ms Loreli C. Basillote is hereby directed to submit separate child case study and home case study reports to address, particularly,the following: i. the availability of the minors for adoption;and ii. The qualifications of petitioners, pursuant to Republic Act 8552, otherwise known as the “Domestic Adoption Act of 1998”, within thirty (30) days from receipt of this Order.

Petitioners are hereby directed to cause the publication of this Order at their expense, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation, which has been selected after raffle, in the City and the (4) provinces of Davao.

Likewise, petitioners are further directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General a copy of their petition.

Any person interested or who seeks to oppose the instant petition may appear to state why said petition should not be granted.

SO ORDERED Davao City, Philippines, October 3, 2012

10/22, 29, 11/5

(SGD) SALVADOR M. IBARRETA, JR. Presiding Judge

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND, (HDMF) or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee -versus-

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 554-12

JOEL G. MENDOZA married to Ma Theresa S. Mendoza Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund against Joel G. Mendoz married to Ma. Theresa S. Mendoza with postal address at B14 L30 Wellspring Village Catalunan Pequeño 8000 Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of December 3,2010 amounted to ( Php 303,774.67) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on November 15, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 298841 “ A parcel of land xxx (Lot 30, Blk.14 ), situated in the Barangay of Catalunan Grande, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED (100) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on December 13, 2012 without further notice.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND, (HDMF) or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 569-12

-versusFERDINAND P. TARIAGA married to Mitchel P. Tariaga Mortgagor/s.

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund against Ferdinand P. Tariaga married to Mitchel P. Tariaga with postal address at Lot 017 Blk. 035 Dumoy, Toril, Rosalina Village 3, Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 20, 2011 amounted to ( Php 393,436.84) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on November 15, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 270758 “A parcel of land xxx (Lot 17, Blk.35 of the consolidation- subdivision plan Pcs-112402001850,xxx), situated in the City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT (128) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on December 13, 2012 without further notice.

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

Davao City, Philippines, October 3, 2012

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

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Davao City, Philippines, October 3, 2012 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) JOSEPH T. CASTRO,JR. Sheriff IV

Noted by: (SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 10/22, 29,11/5)

(edge 10/15,22,29)

(SGD.) JULITO J. ANGGOT Sheriff IV

14 SPORTS Serving a seamless society

You can now buy your weekly paper fill of in-depth business news and features from any of these establishments still at Php 15.

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

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Pacquiao leaves for US training

M

ANNY Pacquiao left for the US Saturday night to hook up with Freddie Roach as the dynamic duo sets the stage for the most crucial part of the buildup for the fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

By the time Pacquiao shows up for training at the Wild Card on Vine Street in Hollywood on Monday afternoon, there would only be 40 days remaining before his much-awaited slugfest with the Mexican counter-puncher set at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

But Pacquiao insists he is not taking Marquez and his training for granted as he has been working out like a madman in General Santos City the past three weeks.

“Hindi naman tayo nagpapabaya,” assured the 33-year-old Pacquiao, who will enter the scheduled 12-round welterweight match a 4-1 favorite to repulse the challenge of his

Manny Pacquiao

archrival.

Pacquiao has actually begun the sparring phase of his preparation. His sparmate, welter prospect Anthony Marcial, could not endure the punishment that he took from the pound-for-pound king.

Pacquiao is expected to flash his old, fiery form the moment his training shifts

to the Wild Card in an effort to prove to Roach and his fans and followers that he is indeed right on track.

Roach, who has been calling the shots in Pacquiao’s corner since mid2001, has also lined up a bevy of sparmates as Pacquiao’s training goes up a notch.

Both teacher and stu-

dent have agreed that there is no other way to beat Marquez but score a knockout since their previous meetings have all ended in controversial fashion.

Pacquiao holds a 2-0-1 win-loss-draw card with Marquez, who is also in the thick of his training in Mexico City under Nacho Beristain.

INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO Wickedly-wacky Halloween at SM City General Santos VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

UP AND ABoUT

Come october 31, shoppers from all ages are invited to put on their cutest, spookiest or wackiest costume for the Halloween costume contest and celebrate wickedly wacky Halloween at Sm City General Santos.

Joining the costume contest is easy. Registration is ongoing until october 31, 2012. Individual registrants only need to present P 1,000.00 single or accumulated receipts of same day purchase from any mall establishments from oct. 15-31.

Registration forms shall be available at the mall marketing department.

Criteria include visual impact of 30%, creativity 30%, Adherence to the theme is 20% and Stage Presence is at 20%. Prizes at stake are P5,000.00 for the first prize, P2,500.00

for the second prize and P1,500.00 for the third prize.

Have the chance to take a photo of yourself or with loved ones as Halloween centerpiece is available at the Atrium of

Sm City General Santos.

Get the latest Halloween fashion style from the Halloween Fashion Strip at the 3rd floor bridgeway. The mall wide PreHoliday Sale is also up on october 30-November 4,

2012 and save as much as 70%. All these and more fun and excitement for valued shoppers during mall hours. mall hours on october 31 will be from 10am to 9pm. November 1 (Thurs-

day) will be from 12NN to 9pm and November 2 will be from 10am-9pm.

Wickedly wacky costume contest will be on oct. 31, 4pm at the event Center and the mall trick or treat will follow at 5pm

at all participating mall shops. For inquiries, call the marketing department at (083) 878-0667 or like us on www.facebook. com/smcitygeneralsantos and follow us on twitter @smgeneralsantos.

A2 INdulge! eNTeRTAINmeNT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

RobSten reunite in L.A. after separate promo tours abroad

RoBSTeN is reunited back home!

After carrying on separate promotional tours for Breaking Dawn Part 2 abroad, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart stepped out together in Los Angeles Thursday night, their first joint sighting since touching down Stateside.

The duo were spotted leaving Prince’s show at the Sayers Club in Hollywood.

Both attempted to shield themselves from photogs, ducking their heads as they rode off in a car as K.Stew covered her face. R.Pattz, meanwhile, tried to stay incognito under his cap.

Sources tell e! News exclusively that the couple were one of the first

guests to arrive, at around 10:30 p.m., and among the last to leave, at about 2:30 a.m.

The twosome, accompanied by a group of friends, sat in a corner booth, and a source says, “They were affectionate toward one another and appeared very comfortable and content.”

Wearing a black baseball cap, Pattinson danced on the couch and wrapped his arms around his ladylove, who wore a white tank top and jeans.

They both stood during the entire two-hour show, whose other celeb guests included Chris evans and minka Kelly (who arrived together and had their own PDA fest, kissing and holding hands throughout), Joseph Gordon-Lev-

itt, Jenny mcCarthy, Sophia Bush, and Jeremy Piven.

Pattinson and Stewart “stayed to the very end,” our source says, adding that they “were seen tenderly touching the other” throughout the night.

The twosome were on separate promo blitzes this past week as they stumped for Breaking Dawn Part 2 abroad.

Pattinson jetted to Australia, where he candidly opened up about his “pretty ridiculous” sex scenes with his ladylove in the movie, while Stewart hyped the film in Tokyo.

No doubt Twi-hards are waiting with bated breath to see if the duo will finally hawk the film together when the Twilight promo tour gets in full swing next month.

Usher outbids Jessica Szohr for $12,000 goldendoodle puppy omG. That is one expensive bitch!

Usher paid a whopping $12,000 for a female goldendoodle puppy Thursday at the Pencils of Promise Gala in New York City. The R&B star reportedly outbid Jessica Szohr for the adorable pooch.

“All in the name of feline fun!,” Usher tweeted. (Perhaps he meant to say canine?) “It took me 2 years but I outbid everyone this year to bring Poppy home to Ush” “Poppy (????) Raymond

is what I’m think of namin’ her...,” he added. “however there are two gregarious 3 and 4 year olds that will have the last say...and the responsibility that comes wit her.”

Normally, we’d go off on a tangent about why it’s important to adopt a pet and not shop for one, but this money went to a good cause. Funds raised at the Gala benefited Pencils of Promise, a charity that builds schools in Laos, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Ghana.

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

eVeNTS

How do you wash your hands?

By Carlo P. Mallo

It’s a question that offers a variety of answers. But nonetheless, its importance cannot be underscored enough.

Hand washing is something we have always been told to do even before we could recite the alphabet coherently. Looking back, I can just imagine the look of panic on my yaya’s face whenever I’d put my hand in my mouth without washing or how she’d cringe when I’d grab a cookie right after playing, well, without washing my hands.

But how does one wash his hands?

The DOH and international non-governmental organizations approved manner of washing hands would take as long as the “Happy Birthday” song and would involve washing the hands, the fingers, brushing the nails, in between the fingers, and the back of the hands with clean water and anti-microbial soap.

Hand washing, or proper hand washing, usually spells the difference between a healthy kid and

one who is not; it applies to adults as well. Every day, there are a billion bacteria, viruses, and germs that batter our system. And what better way to enter our body than through our own filthy, dirty hands?

How many times have you unconsciously rubbed your eyes, popped a potato chip, or licked your fingers clean while eating melted chocolate without having washed it for the past couple of hours? Hello, germs, illnesses, bacteria, and other things that will put you on sick leave or your kids absent from school.

Last October 15, as part of its continued commitment in promoting proper hygiene and health education among Filipino families, safeguard led the celebration of Global Hand Washing Day in the Philippines by making it even bigger and better.

October 15 marked the

annual Global Hand Washing Day (GHD), which aims to promote the importance of hand washing with soap to avoid diseases.

More than 3.5 million children under 5 years old die every year from diarrhea and pneumonia-related diseases worldwide. In the Philippines, diarrhea and pneumonia are also among the top causes of death among children under 5 years old. The simple act of hand washing with soap at 5 critical times – before eating, before handling food,

FHOW, A4

GlobalHandwashingDayhelpstoeducatethepublicabouttheimportanceofhandwashingwithsoap,especiallyat5criticaltimes:beforeeating, before handling food, after using the toilet, after handling your pets and after playtime.

School children of Magallanes Elementary School learn that the easy and cost effective act of handwashing with City Mayor Sara Duterte leads the handwashing ceremony soap can prevent diseases

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

eVeNTS eNTeRTAINmeNT

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

Koronadal

CromwellBacarezaofFitforSchool,JonMichaelVillasenorofUNICEF,Atty.JojoVillanoand MayorSaraDutertewerethefeaturedspeakersofthe5thGlobGlobalHandwashingDayatthe Magallanes Elementary School

Gen. Santos Drive, Koronadal City Telefax No.: (083) 520-0816 Mobile No.: 0922-843-9427 email: manggorio09@yahoo.com

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines through Safeguard has been a proud partner of the Global Handwashing Day since 2008.

How...

FFROM A3

General Santos

HAVEN BODY WORKS SPA & SALON Door 5 Kaykay Baloons Bldg., Laurel North Cor. Bayabas St. General Santos City Tel # (083) 301- 1991

HELPING YOU MAKE INFORMED BUSINESS DEcISIONS.

after using the toilet, after handling pets and after playtime – is proven to be an effective and affordable way to prevent potentially deadly diseases among children.

On the 5th birthday of Global Hand Washing Day, safeguard promoted hand washing with soap to the grade school students of Magallanes Elementary school in Davao when it participated at their recent Global Hand Washing Day celebration to promote this lifesaving act.

“This year, Procter & Gamble safeguard aims to

help more children reach their 5th birthday. We continue to advocate the importance of hand washing with soap, especially after an often forgotten critical time for hand washing – after playtime,” shared Mr. Chad sotelo, Country Marketing Manager for safeguard. safeguard recognizes the importance of encouraging children to practice the simple yet lifesaving act of hand washing with soap not just within the confines of schools and homes, but as well as while outdoors after playtime.

WORLd tOdAy Serving

a

Seamless

society

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

Davao

Tulip Drive, Ecoland, Davao City

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

HELPING YOU MAKE INFORMED BUSINESS DEcISIONS.

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

Singapore wants revenge vs Azkals

T

Lions coach Eugene Loo was quoted by Asean Football that the Singaporean players want to prove their worth against the Philippines.

Apart from their friendly game against the Azkals, the Lions will also play against Pakistan before the Cup begins on November 27.

Their final 22-man lineup will be based on the results of these two exhibition games.

“All players are enthu-

siastic to win their place in the team but they will have time to do so especially with the two matches that we have lined up,” said Loo. The Lions are clustered with Malaysia, Indonesia and Laos in Group B. The Azkals, on the other hand, will play against Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar in Group A. The friendly match between the Azkals and the Lions will take place in Cebu City.

LTHOUGH a Nonito Donaire-Jorge Arce fight is still up in the air, Mexican champion Orlando Salido shared his thoughts about the anticipated clash.

“Donaire is a favorite in that fight for his speed and manner of fighting,” Salido, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion, told boxing website Notifight.

But Salido pointed out that the all-or-nothing fighting style of his

fellow Mexican Arce makes it a risky bout for Donaire.

“The Menace (Arce’s nickname) was a world champion in that division and is a dangerous fighter,” said Salido.

Donaire, the current WBO and World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond super bantamweight king, is in the middle of negotiations for an Arce fight on December 5.

However, the Filipino Flash said Arce is asking too much money for the

bout.

“He wants more than what he deserves,” Donaire said in an interview with PTV Sports, as quoted by Examiner.

Salido, meanwhile, said he is open to fighting Donaire if the latter decides to climb the featherweight ranks.

“I am in the prime of my career, both mentally and physically. I’m in the best condition of my career, and I want to fight the best in the world,” he said.

STANBUL -- Maria Sharapova swept past Sam Stosur 6-0, 6-3 at the WTA Championships on Friday to retain a small chance of finishing t h e

year as the No. 1-ranked player.

But if Victoria Azarenka beats Li Na in the final match of the day, Azarenka will be assured of staying No. 1.

A g nieszka Rad-

wanska became the third player to advance to the semifinals when she edged Sara Errani of Italy 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4 in a match that lasted 3 1/2 hours. The fourthranked Radwanska will play Serena Williams on Saturday.

Sharapova had already qualified for the semifinals of the elite, eight-woman event and has won all three of her round-robin matches.

The Russian rolled through the first set, allowing Stosur only five points. Stosur was an alternate who replaced defending champion Petra Kvitova, who withdrew because of illness.

HE Singapore Lions want revenge against the vastly improved Philippine Azkals when they meet again in a friendly game on November 15.

The Azkals shut out Singapore, 2-0, in their exhibition match at the latter’s Jurong West Stadium last September.

Just like the Azkals, the Singaporean Lions will also compete in the upcoming 2012 Suzuki Cup in November.

‘Donaire a favorite, but Arce is dangerous’

A

Jubilee Therese Acosta (2) of the Ateneo de Davao University spikes the ball against Demi Bulawin (3) and Trisha Janica Ang of the University of the Immaculate

Conception during the Mindanao Leg of Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League at the University of the Immaculate Conception Gym Saturday afternoon. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Sharapova thumps Stosur Reyes, Orcollo at WTA Championships sizzle in US Open B I

Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts as she returns a shot to Samantha Stosur of Australia during their tennis match on the fourth day of the WTA championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday.

‘’I certainly didn’t want to play as long a match as I did in the previous round. I wanted to do a better job of a few things and I think I did,’’ said second-ranked Sharapova.

Stosur put up more of a fight in the second set, but Sharapova ended it with a smash. Sharapova won the French Open this year and briefly held the No. 1 ranking.

Errani finished the tournament with a 1-2 record. The seventh-seeded Italian won a game in the middle set that went nearly 15 minutes. But she later dropped serve to fall behind 6-5.

Radwanska served out the set and opened up a 3-0 lead in the final set to secure a place in the semifinals.

Williams was undefeated in three matches in her Red Group and didn’t play on Friday.

ILLIArDS Hall of Famer Efren “Bata” reyes and Dennis “robocop” Orcollo continue to sizzle in the 37th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship on Friday at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach - Norfolk Convention Center in Virginia, USA. The 58-year-old reyes, top player of Puyat Sports, toppled Darren Appleton of Great Britain (11-10) and Wang Can of China (11-7), respectively, to remain in the winner’s bracket.

Orcollo, Bugsy Promotions’ top gun, had successive victories over Mike Davis of the US (115), and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands (11-8).

Thus, reyes and Orcollo will meet each other in the sixth round of winner’s brackets on Friday (Saturday in Manila Time).

“Magandang bakbakan ang pagtatapat nina Efren (reyes) at Dennis (Orcollo). Isa’tisa ang labanan kung sino ang buwenas ay y’un

ang mananalo kasi 9-ball ang event,” said Orcollo’s long-time manager Ceferino “Perry” Mariano.

“Panalangin lamang natin na Pilipino ang mag-uwi ng US Open 9-ball crown,” said billiards patron Aristeo “Putch” Puyat.

Three other Filipino players also stamped their class in the $170,000-tournament.

Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, Jose “Amang” Parica and ronato “Volcano” Alcano registered wins against their respective foes.

Pagulayan dismantled Daryl Peach of Great Britain (11-10) and Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei (11-60 to set a faceoff against Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer of the US. The 63-year-old Parica, the leader of the Pinoy invasion to the US pool circuit in the mid 80’s, edged raj Hundal of India (11-10) and Earl “The Pearl” Strickland of the US (11-5). He will square off with America’s Jayson Shaw.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 170 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO