Edge Davao 5 Issue 196

EDGEDAVAO No money for ‘Pasko,’ bonus P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

Indulge

Page A1 A4

Science Page164 /Environment Page

Treasurer won’t certify to P400-M SB No. 3

Patay ang bitok

By Antonio M. Ajero

Page 15

Sports

THE proposed Supplemental Budget No. 3 of the Davao City government involving some P400 million has not yet been approved because the city treasurer will not certify to the avail-

But Sara says she knows there’s money to back supplemental budget Treasurer Riola insists there’s no money

ability of money for it.

This was learned from

sa Pasko!

FTREASURER, 11

Page 16

OLDEST TREE. Davao City’s tallest and oldest Christmas tree at the Victoria Plaza along J.P. Laurel Ave. attracts shoppers and passersby to take a couple of photographs last night. LEAN DAVAL JR.

Typhoon ‘Pablo’

Davao officials prepare for the worst

Follow Us On

D

AVAO region government offices and local government units are closely coordinating to prepare

for the worst as typhoon “Pablo” heads towards Eastern Mindanao and other parts of Mindanao and Visayas.

At 3 p.m. Monday, the Office of the Civil Defense 11 called an emergency meeting with the Coast Guard District South

Eastern Mindanao (CGDSEM), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),

FTYPHOON, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO GenSan ups HIV testing Employers reminded to release campaign as cases rise 13th month pay before Christmas H VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

By Anthony S. Allada

T

HE Department of labor and Employment (DOlE) 11 is reminding all employers to give the 13th month pay of all their rank and file employees on or before December 24, or a day before Christmas Day. “I;m reminding them to give whatev-

er remuneration due to their employees, their 13th month pay, on time,” DOlE 11 regional director Joffrey Suyao told reporters covering the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday morning.

Suyao said all employers are required to submit a compliance re-

Former insurgents in singing contest

F

ORMER members of the New People’s Army, Moro Islamic liberation Front (MIlF) and Moro National liberation Front (MNlF) are among those invited to join the “Singing for Peace” competition on Tuesday afternoon at SM City of Davao, Quimpo Boulevard here.

This was according to lt. Col. Jerry Besana, spokesperson of Task Force Davao when he guested at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday morning.

Besana said the singing competition spon-

sored by Tri-Media Organization for Peace and Alliance (TROPA) in Mindanao, Inc. will also be participated in by best singers from the 10th Infantry Division, Eastern Mindanao Command, Police Regional Office 11, Davao City Police Office, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coastguard, Philippine Air Force, among others.

He said the activity is part of the weeklong celebration of the International Human Rights Week that kicked off yesterday.

FFORMER, 11

port by January 15, 2013 and failure to do so may result to some sanctions.

He explained that the 13th month pay is computed from the total basic pay divided by 12, which represent the year’s 12 months.

Most establishments, especially local government units and oth-

er government offices, have already released the 13th month bonus to their employees.

City government employees, plantilla and job orders, usually receive their pay on the 3rdweek of November plus their bonus of P15,000 for plantilla and P10,000 for job orders workers.

BANGSAMORO. Undersecretary Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon of the Office of Political Affairs (left) explains the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) while Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte (center), Gov. Corazon Malanyaon of Davao

EAlTH authorities in General Santos City have stepped up their campaign for voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among residents in the wake of rising cases of infection in the area in the last several months.

Dr. Mely lastimoso, coordinator of the City Integrated Health Services Office’s (CIHSO) Social Hygiene Clinic, said over the weekend that the confirmed HIV cases in the city since January has so far reached 19, bringing the total number of local-

ly-detected infections to 47.

“The key here is to detect these cases early so we can provide those infected with proper treatment and eventually stop them from spreading it or infecting other people,” lastimoso said.

The treatment, which is provided free by the government, involves regular doses of antiretroviral drugs, she said.

Most of the confirmed HIV/AIDS in the city were found among male professionals who were engaged in “risky sexual behaviors.”

Oriental and Gov. Arturo T. Uy of Compostela Valley Province look at the power point presentation during a special meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council on the FAB at Grand Men Seng Hotel yesterday. LEAN DAVAL JR.

PHL fisheries to rebound in 2013 Architect elected DCCCII president

A

GRICulTuRE Secretary Proceso Alcala expressed confidence that the Philippines’ fisheries sector will recover in the first semester of 2013 as government intervention to replenish fish populations in key marine biodiversity in the country.

Although the Philippine economy registered a 7.1 percent growth in the third quarter this year, besting other Southeast Asian economies, agriculture also fared better in the third quarter than in the four previous quarters with increased rice and corn outputs but recorded weak in the fisheries sector.

Philippine fisheries production has shrunk over the years, with the decline hitting 0.68 percent lower in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the record in the same period in 2011.

Municipal fisheries and aquaculture production went down by 1.52 percent and 1.79 percent, respectively. Only the commercial fisheries increased with 2.77 percent more in output.

Issues such as pollution, overfishing, environmental degradation,

and climate change have negative impact on Philippine fisheries.

To address overfishing, Alcala said he ordered a “closed season” for sardines, herrings, and mackerels in the Visayas Sea from November 15, 2012 to February 15, 2013, the fish species’ spawning season, to enable the fish to regenerate and propagate.

Furthermore, he said, the united States Agency for International Development (uSAID) and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) also launched a new project that will help improve the management of the country’s marine and coastal resources.

The Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) Project is a five-year technical assistance project designed to protect and manage eight marine key biodiversity areas (MKBAs) in the country -the Calamianes Group of Islands in Palawan, lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, Ticao Pass-lagonoy GulfSan Bernardino Strait in Bicol and Samar region, Danajon Double Barrier

Reef in Bohol and leyte, Southern Negros Occidental, Surigao provinces, the Sulu Archipelago and the Verde Island Passage in Batangas, and the Mindoro area.

ECOFISH aims to conserve biological diversity, enhance ecosystem productivity, and restore profitability of fisheries using ecosystem-based approaches to create broader social, economic and environmental impacts.

The Philippines currently ranks 8th in total fisheries production globally. Recent national stock assessment report, however, stated that twothirds of the 12 major fishing bays in the country are overfished. There is also indication that the catch rates of reef fisheries as among the lowest in the world, partly due to the use of dynamite and cyanide in fishing. under ECOFISH, the government hopes to reverse the trend by establishing and implementing technical training programs, supporting local governments in improving management of municipal marine waters, and facilitating collabo-

FPHL, 11

A

PRACTISING architect was elected yesterday president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) for 2013 to follow in the footsteps of another professional, the outgoing president who is a lady medical practitioner.

Architect Daniel “Danny” T. lim was unanimously elected by the 13 members of the board of trustees present inside the chamber boardroom.

(Past president and chairman Domingo Duerme and Edge Editor Antonio Ajero who topped Saturday’s election of five trust-

ees failed to make it to yesterday’s election of officers administered by an election committee composed of past presidents Jose Sevilla, Jose Custodio and Bonifacio Tan.) lim will assume the position to be vacated by outgoing Ma. lourdes Garcia-Monteverde, the third lady--but the first obstetrician-gynecologist--to become president of the chamber.

Honorary life chairman and past president Sebastian l. Angliongto was re-elected chairman of the board.

Others elected were Antonio dela T. Cruz, ex-

ecutive vice president; Ms Myrna P. Valdez, VP for trade and commerce; lawyer Domingo Duerme, VP for industry; engineer Wilfred Teves, VP for agribusiness; architect Agatha Ellen S. Valencia, VP for professional and services ventures; lawyer Enrique M.O. Diola, corporate secretary; and Ms Ma. Julieta R. Torres, corporate treasurer.

Board trustees are Dr. Roberto Puentespina Jr., Ms Amelia Bonifaio, Ms Yvonne Cabada, John Y. GaisanoJr., Antonio M. Ajero. Dr. Malu Monteverde is immediate past president.

tion that could be solely called a Davao invention,” Sangutan said.

He said the Junior Inventors Forum dubbed the “Idea Camp” that will be held at the university of Southeastern Mindanao main campus in Bo. Obrero here on December 10 is the proper venue to discover young potential inventors who will later become members of the Junior Inventors Club.

Sangutan, who became an inventor decades ago with 26 inventions to his name, said there is a need for more Filipino in-

ventors who can come up with products that will become world-reknown.

“This is now our partnership with the academe, to produce Davao inventors who can invent products that will make us Dabaawenyos proud,” he said, adding that if Cebu is today known internationally as inventors of furniture, then we in Davao City should invent soya and herbs products into processed food products.

Sangutan said new inventors will be given free processing to patenting the invented products.

`Idea Camp’ to mold young Dabawenyos into inventors

H

IGH school and college students are encouraged to join the “Idea Camp” to mold them into future young inventors.

Virgilio Sangutan, president of the Davao Inventors Association, said that as Filipino inventions are now in demand in the world they are eyeing younger ones, especially those already in high school and college, to respond to this need.

“As young as they are, we want that their creativity would turn to be a newly-discovered inven-

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 196 •TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

200 Higaonons reconnect for protection of sacred site

N

EARlY 200 tribal leaders of the Higaonon tribe from eight tulugans (tribal halls) in four provinces have gathered at Barangay Kalabugao in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon to reestablish ties, assert their cultural identity and to protect their sacred site.

The tribal leaders, who came from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, gathered in the village from November 25 to 28 primarily to revive the protection of their sacred ground called “Pigtabidan,” which is considered “the safe keeper of the tribe’s history and its customary laws.”

The gathering was convened by Higaonon tribal chieftains Datu Manbinayhon Marcelo lumaya, the Insaan of Kalabugao, Datu Mantangkilan Cumatang, head claimant of the Agtulawon, Mintapod, Higaonon Cumadon ancestral do-

main, and Datu Manbunayan lito Sinhayan.

The three tribal leaders had called for a ritual and consensus building activity among the Higaonons to be held in Kalabugao “in response to the ongoing quarrying activity inside their sacred ground.”

Dominador Decano, a non-government worker who helped organized the event in the remote village in Impasug-ong, confirmed that quarry activities there was one of those that triggered the gathering.

The four-day gathering ended with the drafting of an agreement among the Higaonon leaders asserting their rights and seeking recognition from the government and other institutions about their sacred ground, Decano told MindaNews via telephone.

Part of the agreement was a decision to require construction firm ulticon Builders Inc. (uBI) to seek

a free and prior informed consent (FPIC) before it can proceed with its quarrying activity in the area for a road project connecting Kalabugao to Agusan del Sur, he said.

Decano said it came out during the gathering that the firm reportedly operated a quarry in Pigtabidan, a Higaonon sacred ground in the headwaters of upper Pulangi.

“If the firm resumes operation, they will be asked to seek an FPIC and to relocate their quarry outside the sacred ground,” he added, quoting tribal leaders who signed the agreement.

The gathering was also conducted to “awaken and to reconnect the history of the Pigtabidan.”

According to the tribal leaders’ statement, the sacred ground shaped the tribe’s history and customary laws in the Bungkatol ha Bulawan (golden rule of the tribe).

TRAINING. Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of Sta. Maria, Davao Del Sur who are also recipients of Sustainable Livelihood Program attend the Training on Capability Building for

Economic Empowerment conducted by Project Development Officer Alexis T. Ladog. [DSWD/Marivic R. Maglunob]

Weather tracking station T remain dysfunctional A

vital Doppler weather tracking station remained dysfunctional and private contractors are working round-the-clock to fix it as the country braces for super typhoon ‘Pablo’ (international codename: Bopha) to make landfall, officials said Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Doppler station in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur has been down for months after it went on line together with other Doppler stations located in Cebu, Subic and Tagaytay.

It is supposed to be part of a string of Doppler stations providing real-time and up-to-theminute information on wind velocity and rain density. Its data is published on the internet and linked up to other weather stations like the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

PAGASA weather specialist Annaliza Fortich said foreign contractors were trying to fix the Doppler station in time for the arrival of typhoon Pablo, which was expected to landfall in Surigao del Norte or in Hinatuan town on Tuesday.

“They (contractors)

are trying to fix it fast.

It might be functioning by tonight,” Fortich told members of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Sunday afternoon.

But Engr. Armen Cuenca, Cagayan de Oro assistant disaster rescue officer, said he tried to browse PAGASA’s Project Noah (http://noah.dost.gov. ph/) early Sunday night but found the Hinatuan Doppler station still not yet on line.

“Because the Doppler station in Hinatuan is not working, Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Northern Mindanao have no idea what is happening.

In short we are blind,” Cuenca said. local disaster rescue committees in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental raised the green alert Sunday afternoon as weathermen projected that Pablo would enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday night.

Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Norris Babiera said that municipal mayors in the province have cancelled a planned trip to Manila on Tuesday to be with their constituents.

Heavy equipment and rescue boats have been ordered prepositioned in

all town halls starting Monday, he said.

Babiera said that 95 percent of Misamis Oriental’s 3,500-square kilometer land area is prone to landslides and flash floods.

For his part, Cuenca said they have already stocked up the food supplies in anticipation of the evacuation that is expected on Monday night in Cagayan de Oro City.

Told to evacuate In Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, the town first hit when Sendong made landfall last year, Mayor Candelario Viola Jr. has already taken the initiative for an information drive in all barangays of the impending typhoon as early as Saturday evening, according to Marieta llanera, program manager of the Center for Empowerment and Resource Development (CERD). llanera said residents in dangerous areas, like those in the shorelines, were already told to evacuate to safer places and to stock up on food. Fishermen have been prohibited from sailing into the sea, too.

She said preparations were underway even though weather condition was

3

SouthCot-Sarangani road construction to resume

still calm as of Sunday afternoon in the municipality facing the Pacific Ocean. llanera’s group, CERD, was among the few institutions that provided relief efforts in the remote town in the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong.

A total of 214 houses in Hinatuan were destroyed in last year’s typhoon that also toppled trees and electrical posts. Although no resident died in last year’s typhoon, two were injured and four fishermen who left a few days before the typhoon failed to return to their homes.

Since Hinatuan is considered prone to tsunamis, residents have undergone evacuation drills and actual evacuations in the past.

Tsunami warnings have been set up all over town telling residents where to go should threats come.

But Viola, in an interview shortly after Sendong, lamented that before the typhoon hit landfall last year, many residents ignored the warnings.

Worse than ‘Nitang’ In Surigao City, Marilyn Pono, Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council officer, said

FWEATHER, 11

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has issued the go-signal for the resumption before yearend of the development works for the unfinished sections of the 75-kilometer lake Sebu-Maitum road network in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani.

South Cotabato (2nd District) Rep. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said on Friday she was informed

by DPWH officials that the ground works for the P175 million South Cotabato section of the road project will finally begin within the next few weeks, after several months of delay due to

problems with the bidding process.

“The contract for the project was already awarded and hopefully, the implementation phase will start this December,” she said.

Fuentes said the project was supposed to begin earlier this year but the bidding process facilitated by DPWH central office was delayed due to problems with some of the bidders.

The official said the DPWH is currently fast-tracking the bidding and awarding of an additional P150 million contract for the project that was scheduled for implementation in 2013.

Tagum grabs Pamana ng Lahi award anew

F

OR the second time now, the local government of Tagum elevated its image as a “champion of exemplary local governance” with its successful win of the 2012 Gawad Pamana ng lahi ng Award, the brainchild awards system initiated by the Department of the Interior and local Government through the late Sec. Jesse M. Robredo.

Mayor Rey T. uy received the glass trophy and a cheque amounting to two million pesos from City DIlG Director Eliza P. Mendoza on December 3, 2012 in front of the city hall employees during their flag-raising ceremony.

“This award is an-

chored on the leadership of the local chief executive and his excellent administration in the promotion of effective and honest governance, creating an enabling environment for citizens and the private sector to reach their full potential,” said Director Mendoza in her remarks prior to the reenactment of the said award.

The Gawad Pamana ng lahi recognizes exemplary performance of local government units in administrative, social, economic and environmental governance that upholds the value of accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in local administration and development.

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Carbon emissions are ‘too high’ to curb climate change

The concentration of CO2 continues to rise, despite global efforts to curb future increases.

I

T is increasingly unlikely that global warming will be kept below an increase of 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels, a study suggests.

Data show that global CO2 emissions in 2012 hit 35.6bn tonnes, a 2.6% increase from 2011 and 58% above 1990 levels.

The researchers say that emissions are the

largest contributor to future climate change and a strong indicator of potential future warming.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Meanwhile, the data has been published in the journal Earth System Science Data Discussions.

Many low-lying nations have used the uN confer-

ence, which is currently under way in Doha, to call for a threshold temperature rise less than 2C, arguing that even a 2C rise will jeopardise their future.

“These latest figures come amidst climate talks in Doha, but with emissions continuing to grow, it’s as if no-one is listening to the scientific community,” said Corinne le Quere,

director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the university of East Anglia.

“I am worried that the risks of dangerous climate change are too high on our current emissions trajectory,” Prof le Quere said.

“We need a radical plan.”

The researchers’ paper says the average increases

allow managers to act swiftly and efficiently under a pre-agreed standard to ensure that harvests do not exceed acceptable limits, ensuring the sustainability of the resource and the consistent supply of fish to our markets.

“Currently, tuna fisheries in this region are subject to management measures imposed on a relatively opportunistic basis under a consensus-based system, subject to many competing interests and values, including a broad range of competing interests that often lead to decisions that maximize shortterm economic interests at the expense of long-term productivity and sustainability that further leads to overfishing,” said Cook.

The implementation of limits known as ‘reference points’ provide benchmarks around which management measures are standardized and allow for explicit, decisive action to occur in the presence of sound scientific information.

If harvests approach a reference point, the WCPFC must take explicit action defined by harvest control rules to prevent

adverse consequences such as overfishing.

“It really is a very simple, concrete and feasible concept. If you are approaching a designated limit that could result in harm to the fishery, you take action to prevent that from happening. Right now, the WCPFC doesn’t really have a mechanism to do that in a timely and efficient way,” said Cook.

Once reference points and harvest control rules are in place, they will prevent the bureaucratic paralysis that the WCPFC often encounters due to the annual horse trading and ad hoc rules of the current process.

The politics of the WCPFC process can often hinder decisive and sound decision-making regarding the sustainability of tuna fisheries. Implementation of these measures would prevent essential action from being held hostage over the political concerns of a single member state by providing clear, objective, and scientific measures that constitute pre-agreed standards for taking explicit, science-based action on fisheries conservation.

ENATOR loren legarda yesterday underscored the best practices in climate change adaptation by communities and urged other local governments to follow suit, especially with the alarming statistics on disaster risks and the natural hazards expected to visit the country in the last month of the year.

“PAGASA officials already warned that the incoming Typhoon Pablo could even be stronger than Tropical Storm Sendong in 2011. Our lGus should now be prepared for it,” said legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

“Furthermore, the warming global climate we are experiencing, which, according to a World Bank study, could even reach 4 Degrees Celsius, should make us all the more committed to increasing our efforts in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging industrialized countries to do their share,” she added.

“We usually see images of devastation every time typhoons or earthquakes hit the country. But we also have examples of best practices in making communities disaster-re-

in global CO2 levels were 1.9% in the 1980s, 1.0% in the 1990 but 3.1% since 2000.

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a new record high in 2011.

In its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the organisation said that carbon

dioxide levels reached 391 parts per million in 2011.

The report estimated that carbon dioxide (CO2) accounted for 85% of the “radiative forcing” that led to global temperature rises.

Other potent greenhouse gases such as methane also recorded new highs, according to the WMO report. [BBC]

silient. It is time we take a look at these model communities and follow their example,” she stressed. legarda said that one of the best practices in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in the Philippines is the Purok System in the Municipality of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu, which won the 2011 uN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. The Purok System focuses on addressing the vulnerability of every barangay in the municipality by mobilizing local resources in creating local and practical solutions based on the unique needs of every community.

The Municipality of San Francisco, along with Makati City and Albay, is also among the uN’s 29 model communities worldwide that are exemplars in disaster risk reduction and management.

Makati City was included in the list for integrating DRR practices and policies in its system of governance, most especially in urban planning, health programs, disaster response and risk governance; while the Province of Albay was recognized for its focus on preparing comprehensive

land use plans that address climate and disaster risks, and for investing in disaster-resilient infrastructure.

In Montalban, Rizal, a group of women farmers started to practice agroforestry to adapt to the prolonged wet season; while in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, a group of women fisherfolk reforested over a hundred hectares of mangrove areas to protect their settlements from storm surges and secure additional source of food for their families.

Meanwhile, the Province of Bulacan won the Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the National Gawad Kalasag 2012 for its effective management of the dams in the province.

“We have many best practices that other lGus can use as guide in crafting their own programs.

Communities that have yet to establish DRR and CCA practices should start now with both a shortterm plan for the natural hazards expected to come within the next months, and a long-term program to ensure disaster-resilient communities in the future,” legarda concluded.

WWF calls for firm limits on tuna Legarda cites best practices fisheries to address overfishing in climate change adaptation

W

WF urged the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to adopt pragmatic measures for limiting the catch of species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean in an effort to stem overfishing occurring in the region.

“The implementation of these measures represents the foundation of a sustainably-managed fishery,” said WWF´s Smart Fishing Initiative Western Central Pacific Tuna Programme Officer Alfred Cook.

“If pragmatic management measures such as putting limits on tuna fisheries are not soon applied, tuna fisheries in the Pacific will face continued declines resulting in substantial negative impacts on our fishing communities and marine ecosystem.”

WWF called upon the WCPFC to adopt specific reference points and harvest control rules for tuna fisheries in the Western and Central pacific region (see notes to the editor).

These tools have demonstrated to be successful in managing fisheries sustainably.

Implementing these measures would

S

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 196 •TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

5

6 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

A

lSONS Aquaculture Corp., based in Alabel, Sarangani, has forged an agreement with two cooperatives to increase the production of export quality bangus or milkfish.

An agribusiness unit of the Alcantara Group, Alsons signed up with the Kawas Mariculture Producers’ Cooperative and Sarangani Seaweeds Producers’ Cooperative to culture the fish in sea cages. under the agreement, Alsons will buy all their harvests

at a price determined by a pricing committee created for this project.

This partnership would address local and international market demand for value-added products produced from 600-800 grams milkfish or known as Xl Bangus, a report from the Provincial Information Office said.

With this partnership, Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said it would be the first time in the country for land Bank of the Philippines to grant the

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

growers financing for the project without any collateral.

Bangus business is among the priority industries being developed and promoted in Region 12. last year, Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region produced 21,234 metric tons (MT) out of the country’s total production of 372,581 MT. Engr. Nenita Barroso, Department of Trade and Industry provincial director, said the national bangus production “continues to increase at a slow

pace but is now driven by production from marine pens and cages.”

Based on the Bureau Agricultural Statistics data from 2006 to June 2011, the South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City area ranked six across all regions in the country in terms of bangus production, with Alsons as the leading company in Region 12 exporting frozen milkfish to the united States (uS) and non-uS markets. [Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews]

Higher investments in social services to help cut poverty

T

HE government should increase investments in social services from this year’s over P500 billion, to enable the poor benefit from the country’s high economic growth.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan underscored this measure during the first national consultation Monday on the country’s development agenda after 2015 when the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) end.

Balisacan said that while the Philippines is on track in attain-

CCT is an important intervention to improve access to education for poor children.

“The CCT is not meant to address poverty now. When these children are able to acquire better skills, they would be able to escape poverty,” he said in an interview.

Apart from increasing the poor’s access to basic services, Balisacan said the government will look for more sources of high gross domestic product (GDP) in a bid to make economic growth more inclusive.

“We want that by 2016, growth will be broad-based.

Third-quarter growth was quite encouraging, we saw growth from all sectors of the economy,” he noted.

Balisacan, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general, said that an expanding economy results in expanding investments. GDP hit its two-year high at 7.1 percent in the third quarter.

“Sustaining the growth means sustaining the creation of employment opportunities.

When entrepreneurs expand their businesses, they create employment,” he said.

Balisacan said labor-intensive sectors such as agriculture, industry and manufacturing are the ones that sustain high-quality jobs.

He also cited the need to create an environment conducive to inclusive growth.

“The most important is good governance. When the public transport their products easily to more markets. Alabado guested in the sector sees good governance in weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday. At right is Task Force placed, there would be better Davao spokesperson Lt. Col. Gerry Besana who spoke about the secuirty confidence in the future of the aspect of the APEC gathering. LEAN DAVAL JR. economy,” he added.

ing some of the 2015 targets, there is a need for the country to double efforts to accelerate progress in areas where it is lagging behind compared with progressive neighbors: poverty, universal primary education and maternal health.

He said more money should be spent on education and health especially among the poor which are keys to reducing poverty.

Balisacan cited some programs and projects being implemented supporting the achievement of MDGs in the country.

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

EDGEDAVAO

Alsons, two co-ops sign accord to increase bangus production

Stat Watch

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

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

PLANS. Roberto P. Alabado III, city planning and development office head (left), says that Davao City is being considered as one of the venues of the APEC 2015 summit adding the city and the national government agencies are now preparing for the holiday. Alabado also said the city is planning to construct a two-route farm to market roads to help Paquibato farmers

These are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Kapit-Bisig laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KAlAHI-CIDSS), the universal Health Care (uHC) and the Kindergarten to 12 years Basic Education Program (K to 12).

The 4Ps is a poverty reduction program using conditional cash transfer (CCT) which serves as the cornerstone of the government’s strategy to fight poverty and attain the MDGs. Balisacan stressed that the

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 196 •TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

COMPETITIVE EDGE 7

BPI sees above 6% GDP for PHL, strong growth for banks in ‘12

T

HE Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) sees strong growth both for the domestic economy and the banking industry for 2012.

“Banks mirror the economy so if the economy is doing well I think this year the banks will do fine,” said Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) president and chief executive Aurelio Montinola.

Montinola projects a five to six percent growth, as measured by gross domestic product, for the Philippines this year, similar to government growth goal for the year. “I think anything over six (percent) for the Philippines is good,” he told reporters recently.

In the first three quarters this year, the economy registered the strongest growth in the ASEAN region at 7.1 percent, the second fastest in Asia after China’s 7.4 percent. “Clearly we’re doing well. And that’s a credit to the government as well as the private sector because both sides have worked well to get to that stage,” Montinola said.

For 2013, the BPI chief sees a growth of over five

percent for the domestic economy.

“From our point of view anything above five (percent) should be minimum and anything closer to 5.5 to six is good. And anything above six is a bonus because the base is also low,” he said.

“If it’s seven it’s a super pleasant surprise for the whole country and we should be all happy about that growth,” he said.

The government’s 2013 growth target was a range between five and seven percent . last October, the World Bank (WB) again revised upwards its growth projection for the domestic economy this year to five percent. The forecast was previously upgraded to 4.6 percent from 4.2 percent.

Similarly, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also upgraded its growth projection for the economy this year to 5.5 percent from 4.8 percent after a strong in the first half of the year at six percent.

Also, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees above five percent growth of the domestic economy this year. [PNA]

INVENTIONS. Vir Sangitan executive vice president of the Davao Inventors Association bares that his group is eager to develop world renowned products that will help

promote Davao City as an inventors’ hub during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday. LEAN DAVAL JR.

conservation tops DHL appoints new country Tuna WCPFC session agenda manager in the Philippines T

D

Hl Supply Chain, the global market leader for contract logistics solutions, announced today the appointment of Suzie Mitchell to the role of Country Manager for the Philippines. Suzie succeeds Olive Ramos who after 17 years with the organization, has relinquished her role as Country Manager to pursue new challenges outside the logistics industry, but will provide ongoing consultancy support to DHl.

Reporting to Oscar de Bok, CEO, South & Southeast Asia, DHl Supply Chain, Suzie Mitchell is responsible for managing the day to day operations and business development of DHl Supply Chain Philippines, steering growth in warehousing, transportation and value added supply chain services across the archipelago.

“DHl has been in the Philippines for 40 years and we have enjoyed stable growth in the market

under Olive’s leadership.

I believe that Suzie, with her broad experience and deep industry knowledge, is the right person to step into this role to continue our focus on delivering the highest standards of operational excellence to our customers here,” said Oscar de Bok, CEO, South & South-east Asia, DHl Supply Chain.

Suzie Mitchell brings with her 15 years of experience in the logistics industry. She has been

in various industry roles across the Asia Pacific region including key project implementation roles for major technology and engineering multinationals before joining DHl Supply Chain focusing on account management and business development. In 2010, she became the Vice President for the Energy & Chemical, Engineering & Manufacturing, and Automotive sectors, delivering strong business growth for these sectors.

proval is among the approved P113.92 billion worth of investments for nine new transportation and infrastructure projects all over the country.

The MRDP2 extension amounts to P7.39 billion worth of investments that will cover agri-fishery infrastructures, livelihood programs and environmental conservation activities. launched in 2007, the program which is jointly funded by World Bank and the national and lo-

cal government units will supposedly end by December 2012. But with the approval of the proposed two-year extension, the DA expects to complete more agricultural projects until 2014.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the approval of the MRDP2 extension project will help push the administration’s inclusive growth in Mindanao.

“This will provide a boost to the Aquino administration’s goal of pro-

moting inclusive economic growth since MRDP2 projects are focused on improving incomes of poor communities in the region,” Alcala said.

MRDP director lealyn Ramos said, “although we are given two years, we hope to complete putting up all the livelihood projects, in particular, by mid of 2013 so that the remaining time will be spent for installing sustainability mechanisms so that the investments will not be wasted.”

MRDP 2 extension gets NEDA approval

T

HE government gives two more years for the poverty-alleviation program devoted to Mindanao.

This as the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Board, chaired

by President Benigno S. Aquino III, approved recently the two-year extension of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Mindanao Rural Development Program Phase-2 (MRDP2).

The extension ap-

HE 9th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) opened last Sunday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City with the search for conservation measures topping the agenda.

The five-day meeting will also review the ongoing ban on tuna fishing in four pockets of high seas in the Western Pacific region and possible replacement measures.

In 2008, the 25-country fisheries commission imposed a limited ban on tuna fishing beginning that year after a steady decline on tuna catch record raised alarms in the highly lucrative and competitive world tuna fishing industry. The Philippines is a signatory to the commission.

In 2009, the WCPFC expanded its conservation measure that included a two-year closure of four pockets of high seas in the Pacific Ocean that lie in the path of the highly-migratory tuna and tuna-like species.

The ban took effect the following year and ended last January.

Earlier this year, the

WCPFC granted Philippine tuna fishing vessels exclusive privilege to resume fishing in Pocket 1 after a strong lobby from the Philippine delegation led

by Mindanao Development Authority chairperson luwalhati Antonino and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez at the commission’s meeting in Guam.

Pocket 1 is an area of about 590,000 square kilometers north of Papua New Guinea and east of southern Indonesia.

The exemption, however, is limited to 36 Filipino fishing fleets with gross tonnage not exceeding 250 tons of traditional fresh/ ice chilled catching vessels.

But as of this writing, only 8 of 36 fishing vessels that were allowed to fish in the area have set sail to the area.

A source from the Philippine tuna industry based in General Santos City said the rest are eagerly awaiting the result of this week’s WCPFC meeting and see if the Philippines will keep its exempt status.

The Philippines is one of the world’s leading tuna catchers as well as producers of canned and processed tuna products.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

A battleground for weapons of the future ( 1st of two parts )

COMMENTARY

M

EDITORIAL

Not really

l

AWYER Eliseo R. Braganza did a good job of explaining to businessmen and professionals the increase in water rates that the Davao City Water District will implement next month. The occasion was the monthly general membership assembly and annual election of officers of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. In a power point presentation, Braganza, who is DCWD assistant board chairman, said residential and government water users will not be affected by the increase.

The increase in rates, also called water rate adjustment, will only affect commercial, industrial, and bulk/ wholesale users, according to Braganza, who said the increases will take effect in January 2013 and appear on the billing the following month (February 2013).

As a result of rate adjustments, commercial and industrial users will

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

RICHARD C. EBONA Advertising Specialist

JOCELyN S. PANES Director of Sales

JANE E. CARO Marketing Assistant

pay as much as twice the rates paid by residential and government. On the other hand, bulk and wholesale consumers will be billed three times more than residential and government. unfortunately, Braganza’s claim that residential and government water users are exempt from the rate increase is not really plausible when one thinks of the actual effects of the selective increase.

The commercial, industrial and bulk users will not shoulder the rate increase, they’ll pass it on to consumers by increasing the rates or prices of their products and services. Such rate increase will have a ripple effect and will still affect, albeit indirectly, residential and government water users. let’s enjoy the Christmas season to the fullest while it lasts, before the New Year brings us back to earth with the increase in water rates, courtesy of the Davao City Water District.

Cheers?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEy Consultant

kENNETH IRVING k. ONG Creative Solutions

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

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

MANILA MARkETING OFFICE

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

By DaviD axe

ORE than a week after a u.S.-Egyptian brokered ceasefire brought a fragile peace to Gaza, military analysts are busily assessing the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Their goal: Apply lessons from the eight-day battle to weaponry still in development.

Israel’s frequent conflicts with its Arab neighbors have historically been proving grounds for the latest in battlefield technology. Arab-Israeli wars inspired the first operational aerial drones, radar-evading stealth warplanes and projectile-defeating armor. All are now staples of the world’s leading militaries.

Analysts now say this recent fighting could spur the proliferation of highly accurate, fast-firing defenses against rocket barrages, a threat that has long flummoxed military planners. The solution could be inspired by Israel’s now-famous Iron Dome, a rocket-intercepting missile system that shot down hundreds of Hamas’ rockets before they could strike Israeli settlements.

“Following the campaign, other nations are expressing interest in this capability,” says Tamir Eshel, editor of the Website, Defense update, who is also an Israeli defense consultant.

The united States, however, has balked at the expense of using missiles to shoot down missiles. The Defense Department could copy Israel’s rocket-defense strategy but with a potentially cheaper twist: “directed energy” weapons, based on lasers.

“Both the Israelis and the u.S.,” said George lewis, a senior research associate in the Peace Studies Program at Cornell university, “have considered lasers for these kinds of systems, and the u.S. is still developing them. They’re just not quite there yet.”

The recent combat in Gaza, however, could help push the technology forward.

It’s happened before.

Consider, in six days of furious fighting in 1967, Israeli troops captured territory from Egypt, Jordan and Syria, massively expanding the border of the tiny Jewish state. Seven years later on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Arab forces attacked.

The 1973 Yom Kippur war was a shock for the once technologically superior Israeli forces. Soviet-supplied missiles took a heavy toll on Israeli tanks and warplanes.

The SA-6 surface-to-air missile was particularly devastating. “The SA-6 would fly out parallel to the desert floor then pitch up at you,” explained Barry Watts, a former Air Force officer now with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a Washington policy organization, “and it didn’t have a smoke trail.

The Israelis lost a lot of airplanes to it.”

The u.S. Defense Science Board conducted a study of the ’73 war and concluded that in any future conflict, American planes would “have a real challenge getting though air defenses.” The board recommended development of a new kind of bomber that would evade the SA6, by being essentially invisible to its supporting radar.

The result was the lockheed F-117, the world’s first stealth aircraft. “The Yom Kippur War was the major inspiration,” said Bill Sweetman, author of “lockheed Stealth” and “ultimate Fighter: lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.”

Today the Air Force is attempting, at great cost, to build a frontline fleet composed almost entirely of stealth fighters and bombers — including the F-22, the F-35, the B-2 and the new long Range Strike Bomber still on the drawing board.

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

The untold story of the Ampatuans’ fall from political grace ( Conclusion )

I

T was a sickening thought.

As president of the then ruling party, Dominguez was then already starting to call the shots in lakas-Kampi and the first thing he did the following day after the November 23 Ampatuan Massacre (many are still referring it as the Maguindanao Massacre) was to call for a meeting of the party executive committee.

He set it for November 25, two days after the massacre.

Before he could even be sure that he will get a quorum, much more a consensus, Dominguez was already determined to do what is politically and morally expected from him as party president.

“Pinatawag ko ang (lakas) execom.

Ako na bahala kay Presidente (I called for an executive committee meeting. I will take care of the President),” Dominguez calmed a fidgety Teodoro as they ended their conversation that Wednesday morning. Dominguez had earlier opted to stay in Manila after the Monday Malacañang meeting.

He was determined to let the wheels of justice begin to grind. He believed it was the most judicious and most honorable thing to do.

The execom meeting, attended by party bigwigs, was tension-filled as some senior leaders are still trying to give the Ampatuans the chance to air their side.

He recalled former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, a member of the execom of lakas, imploring due process before the Ampatuans are expelled from the party.

During the hastily called emergency meeting to expel the Ampatuans, Domin-

S

guez said the discussions on party guidelines and due process were very heated.

“One of them was Justice Gonzales who, as a lawyer, insisted on due process,” Dominguez recalled.

But he said, “This party (lakas) is presented the opportunity to define itself today to stand for what is right as we have not done so in a long time.”

In the end, Dominguez got the decision he wanted from the vote of 7 of 10 execom members present in the meeting.

Minutes later, Teodoro arrived and was handed the resolution.

While Teodoro was on his way to face the press, Dominguez was also bound for Malacañang to follow up some unrelated business with the President.

Before he left Malacañang, he told Arroyo: “By the way Madam President, we just expelled the Ampatuans from the party (lakas-Kampi coalition).”

It caught Arroyo by surprise, who, Dominguez recalled, remained speechless up to the moment he left Malacañang.

Almost simultaneously, Teodoro tersely announced the expulsion of the Ampatuans from lakas-Kampi.

It was swift and daring.

Once one of the most favored and powerful political clans, the Ampatuans

became pariahs in politics overnight.

They protested and expressed dissatisfaction over Teodoro’s announcement expelling them from the party. But they found little or no sympathy. Even their benefactor, the President, could not do anything against the national outcry and international indignation. The Ampatuans found themselves political orphans.

This writer was among the few to whom Dominguez shared the behind the scene events that led to the ouster of the Ampatuans from the party where they were once seen as “the untouchables.” No thanks to their alleged role in the massive electoral frauds that benefited the President herself and many of the lakas-Kampi senators who won in 2007.

Dominguez has repeatedly declined to make public his role in the ouster of the Ampatuans from the party from which he also resigned as a member after the 2010 elections. Prior to that, Dominguez also quit as party president in the middle of the 2010 election campaign.

He said there will be time for telling what happened during those fateful three days in November where he stood by his own conviction.

Now that he will soon leave public office after three consecutive terms, he is reluctantly telling his story, adding that he is not offering a revisionist view of the darkest episode of electoral violence in the country and the most appalling attack against the media in the history of journalism. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for MindaNews and www.asiancorrespondent.com]

gence network reported that private armies were hired mostly by powerful politicians and bigtime businessmen, but also refused to name names for obvious reasons.

As a result, intelligence personnel came under fire from members of Congress who felt that because they linked politicians to private armies, all were considered suspects. This prompted them to raise the question: “How come it is fair for them to indict politicians and not fair for them to reveal their identities?” Ever since committee members were not satisfied with the list submitted by the police and military intelligence linkages because there are other armed groups that are notorious but were not mentioned at all in their reports.

In most instances, the list would identify the maintainers of private armies only by their surnames or nom de guerre.

That’s precisely the reason why members of the previous probe teams complained that the list they saw was quite incomplete. At this stage, though, Congress leadership demanded public disclosure of the names of politicians said to be patrons of dreaded private armies.

“People involved must be exposed before the public’s wrath,” they stressed. In the event any member of Congress or any elective officials for that matter are identified to be maintaining armed groups, it is the task of the respective Committee on Ethics to act on the case posthaste.

The years witnessed the emergence of politicians who established their political and economic foothold and rein-

forced their power and influence with private armies – from Aparri to Jolo. Private armed groups were organized on the pretext of fighting rebels and criminal elements, but these forces were actually used against their political opponents, and violence had become endemic to the country’s politics. At it seems many hotly contested political territories are still exemplifying political warlords and private armies at its peak. In these political turfs lurked affluent and dominant figures considered as quintessential warlords with more than just a taste for violence.

The reduced scale of violence perpetrated by private armies had largely to do with the fear of disqualification. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had passed long time ago a resolution reiterating that violence, intimidation and terrorism as grounds for disqualification and made prohibition procedures summary. It likewise created the presumption that the act of a follower is the act of a leader for purposes of disqualification.

Sad to lament, though, the wary public believes the poll body was perceived to be weak and lacking the will to prosecute a mounting disqualification cases. under the present Aquino administration, a violent-free elections in May 2013 midterm polls are believed unlikely what with private armies and loose firearms still a glaring reality in politics Philippine-style. unless the PNoy leadership and Comelec gather enough strength and political will, the disturbing report on private armies and loose firearms was an “admission of failure” by the police and military establishments because they could not dismantle them outright. And candidates maintaining private armed groups therefore will continue to be emboldened to take the electoral conflicts one step too far.

The existence of private armies

TRONGMEN’S lANGuAGE OF POlITICS IS FORCE – Political violence comes in handy in several provinces of the country where elective positions are hotly contested and where warlords still roam and dominate. Aside from money and party organization, which are usually assumed to be the twin keys in winning an election, some big bosses or strongmen relied on private armies in preparation for their election bid. Their language of politics is force.

It came as no surprise that the presence of private armies existed not only during the Marcos era. The same goes true even during the succeeding administrations – Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo and now the PNoy leadership. Many influential and wealthy politicians along the years hardly shied away from using force to win the electoral battles and cling on to power like hungry leeches.

In a recent report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its Peace and Order Council, it reiterated there were at least 150 or more private armies all over the country, composed of about 5,000 men equipped with sophisticated and high-power firearms. With the disturbing report, concerned committees of both Senate and the House should initiate a no non-sense probe into the existence of private armies allegedly being maintained by moneyed and powerful politicians.

There were already previous testimonies submitted by the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) and later on by the PNP intelligence network to concerned committees in Congress a list containing the names of politicians who maintain armed groups. unfortunately, committee members, as their wont, declined to reveal the names saying the list had already been “sanitized.” Other crucial testimonies likewise alleged the military intelli-

9

Justice delayed, lawyer’s delight How well is justice dispensed in our land? Are the laws applied equally to all?

After over one century of political independence, the matter or issue of proper dispensation of justice remains a national problem.

There is a strong public perception that we have a double standard of justice in our country --- one for the rich and the powerful and influential, and another for the poor and the powerless.

It’s difficult to dispute, or even just downplay, such a perception. It cannot be peremptorily dismissed as a mere figment of the imagination. It’s real. People see, hear and feel it happen.

The cold fact is that the high and the mighty in our society routinely trivialize the laws of our land. They can move the wheel of justice according to their own pace. Why, they can even stop it from moving all together – with their money.

The turtle-paced trial of the Maguindanao massacre that happened three years ago and shocked the nation, is a shameful proof how hard or even impossible to get justice for the powerless and moneyless.

Money, power, influence --- these magnify one’s courage and inflame one’s will to trample the rights of others and defy the laws of men.

The rich do not tremble before the law. It is the lawmen who tremble before the rich.

The rich are now awed by the majesty of the law. It is the lawmen who bow to the majesty of the bankbook of the rich.

Now, it’s not supposed to be that way in a democratic society. We are told time and time again, that everyone is equal before the law. The law is both for the high and the lowly.

Well, it’s a mere motherhood statement, a utopian declaration. But the painful and ugly reality is that the “haves” have faster access to the benefits of the law, while the “have-nots” can hardly find relief in the law. The law seems to be gentle to the rich, and harsh to the marginalized. Something is wrong somewhere.

Where lies the blame? Whose fault is it? The justice system, or the people who run the system?

The system is fundamentally sound, but some of the people who have a direct hand in running the system, are not --mentally and morally.

Our justice system is not perfect. But it has worked for generations for more than half a century since it was enshrined in our constitution at the birth of our Commonwealth government in 1935.

But here is the drawback. Our legal system has been financially rewarding to the classy-looking law practitioners.

The law profession is still one of the most sought-after occupations. Thousands of lawyers are admitted into the bar each year. lawyers can be categorized into two types: those who know the law and uphold the majesty of the law, and those who bow to the majesty of the client’s thick bankbook.

Type 2 lawyers are the ones who see the color of money in their profession.

The brighter the color, the longer the delay of the trial cases. They have a special talent for seeing loopholes in the law.

The ordinary non-legal mind knows it as plain dilatory tactic. The smart lawyer calls it legal maneuvering.

Where is justice, you now ask? Well, it is just around the corner. But it’s being ambushed by smart lawyers who are blinded by the loud color of money.

COMMUNITY SENSE 10 NATION/WORLD

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Lagdameo funds additional P1.9-million health assistance D

AVAO del Norte 2nd District Congressman Antonio F. lagdameo, Jr. recently allocated an additional budget of 1.9 Million Pesos for health and medical needs of his constituents under his Barangayanihan program. lagdameo’s Chief of Staff Ms. GeneRose Tecson disclosed that the congressman has earmarked additional funds of 500T and 250T for Davao Regional Hospital and Southern Philippines Medical Center, respectively. This is to supplement the sum of 3.8M provided by lagdameo for both hospitals during the early part of the year.

In addition, lagdameo has now also budgeted financial assistance to those hospitalized in the District Hospitals of Carmen and Samal at 500T and 200T, respectively.

Funds are currently being finalized and processed at concerned lGus through the efforts also of Carmen Mayor Marcelino A. Perandos and City Mayor Aniano P. Antalan of the Island Garden City of Samal.

The young legislator has also provided separate funding of 250T for the conduct of medical and dental missions all over his district. This will help cater the needs of medicines, anti-biotics, deworming tablets and

vitamins especially in farflung barangays and calamity-inflicted areas.

He also imparted 200T for poor patients suffering from kidney and allied diseases at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in addition to his usual support for Operation Smile procedures of cleft patients in the district.

It is estimated that lagdameo’s Office has already provided hospitalization aid to almost 10,000 patients in his district since 2010 up to the present and his medical/dental missions has reached even more.

These missions are being supported also by the Don Antonio O. Floirendo,

Sr. Foundation, a corporate social responsibility arm of the Anflocor Group of Companies to which lagdameo is also a company executive.

With these health projects, lagdameo hopes to strengthen his support for the hospitalization/medication of his constituents that would complement and converge with his aim of providing mini-ambulance units in each of the 130 barangays of the district.

More than a week have passed already since lagdameo turned-over 55 van-type multi-cab mini-ambulance units to the 1st batch of barangays.

LAGDAMEO

Globe Telecom adopts Boracay as 1st Community of Practice

G

lOBE Telecom adopts Boracay, the country’s premiere tourist destination, as its first Community of Practice (CoP) in the Visayas to help the island achieve social, environmental, and economic development.

Having a strong presence in Boracay especially with the recent establishment of its cable landing station, Globe deemed it necessary to protect the area’s marine life, support conservation efforts by local stakeholders and participate in raising environmental awareness among the youth and local residents.

“Consistent with its sustainable business practices, Globe is committed to collaborate with government, NGOs and private businesses in helping transform the degraded marine life in Boracay via

innovative solutions and financial grants for conservation projects. We hope that through CoP, Globe can make a significant contribution in addressing the environmental issues affecting this tourist gem,” said Rob I. Nazal, head of Globe CSR. CoP is a program designed to synergize the different initiatives of Globe Bridging Communities, the CSR arm of Globe, via active partnerships with community-based non-government organizations, barangay leaders, youth, and the beneficiaries themselves. For this undertaking, Globe has allotted P1 million for various support activities that will be implemented in Boracay and has also tapped Huawei, its end-to-end network solutions provider, as a resource partner.

BridgeCom has five

A PERSONAL LOOK. Second district Congresswoman Mylene Garcia examines the list of residents who signed up during the two-day medical and dental mission held at barangay Monteverde, Agdao district while Dr. Magdalena Dicang (inset) administers

DONATION. Globe Telecomturns over a check donation amounting to P1 million to UNICEF Philippines as part of the telco’s My Rewards My Globe campaign that allowed Globe subscribers to redeem rewards at 50% off. The donation will be used by UNICEF to fund its Maternal and Newborn Health program. Leading the ceremonial turnover are Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu (center) and UNICEF Philippines Chief of Health

pillars which will be mobilized to serve Boracay, namely: ilead (good gov-

ernance), iAccess (social services delivery), iProsper (entrepreneurship),

anesthesia on her patient prior to tooth extraction. A total of 240 young and elderly residents of the barangay availed themselves of the free clinic program of the Davao City solon.

and Nutrition Willibald Zeck (second from right), together with (from left) Globe Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Rob Nazal, Globe Rewards Program Ambassador TV personality and host Bianca Gonzalez, and Globe Head of Customer Lifecycle Management Jay Beltran.

iConserve (environment and sustainability), and iGive (active citizenship through volunteerism).

Initially centered on ilead and iConserve pillars, Globe has entered into a one year partnership with Sangkalikasan Cooperative to support the sustainability of the marine protected area initiative called The Code Blue Project. Code Blue is a medical term generally used to indicate a patient requiring resuscitation or otherwise in need of immediate medical attention similar to what is happening to the coral reefs of Boracay.

Through Code Blue marine habitat enhancement component, 5,000 artificial reef buds have been planted within the 20-hectare marine protected area by grafting or attaching fragments of semi- live corals to the buds to assist in propagation and maintain high

survival rate of the corals. Globe comes in by donating marine epoxy as well as water buoys and markers to cordon off the area and clearly set demarcation lines for navigation, swimming and recreational activities. Early next year, Globe employees who are also divers will be mobilized for offshore clean-up and training so they can be part of the quarterly preventive maintenance of the area.

For law enforcement, Globe already has an existing Sagot Ka ni Kap (SKK) program in Brgy.

Manok-Manok which it extends to include the whole of Boracay. SKK equips local barangay officials with the necessary tools to upgrade the capacity of the village police (Tanods) and the Boracay Action Group for necessary coastline patrolling. Globe provides a multi-cab vehicle and boat to beef up coast and sea patrol activities.

11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 196 •TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

Treasurer...

PHL...

FFROM 1

Mayor Sara D. Carpio in her Monday press briefing.

In answer to a query posed by broadcaster Allan Abais, anchorman of the dxAB’s Banat sa Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN morning program, Mayor Carpio said because of the refusal of the treasurer to certify that there is money for SB No. 3, funding for the ongoing “Pasko Fiesta” activities and the planned Christmas bonuses for plantilla and job order (contractual) employees are now in limbo.

SB 3 reportedly includes some P130 million for Christmas bonuses of P15,000 for each plantilla employee, and P10,000 for each job order (con-

Typhoon...

FFROM 2 tractual) worker.

Another component is the budget of P10 million for Pasko activities, food and other provisions for members of lumad tribes who will participate in the Pasko Fiesta.

However, the lady mayor said she does not believe in City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola’s claim that there is no money for the supplemental budget.

“I know there is money for it,” Mayor Inday told media persons covering her press briefing.

In a follow-up interview by Randy Canedo, another ABS-CBN anchorman, Riola said the city mayor is misinformed and that somebody who assured her there is mon-

ey did not know that there is really no such money.

He laments that city government employees are blaming him for the doubtful status of SB No. 3.

Requested by anchorman Abais for reaction, Mayor Sara said: “Ang problema ni Riola, hindi niya ginagawa ang trabaho niya. Kung siya mayor, ako ang treasurer, dili gyud ko motubag way kuarta kay klaro na wala ko nagtrabaho!” (The problem with Riola, he’s not doing his job. If he were the mayor and I am the treasurer, I would never say that there is no money, because it would mean that I am not doing my job).

FFROM 1

Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Philippine Atmospheric, Geographysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa), among other stakeholders to discuss mechanisms on how to cushion the impact of “Pablo” once it hit the Davao region.

OCD 11 regional liza Evelyn Mazo said that as early as Monday morning, classes in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and some parts of Davao del Norte were already suspended.

This after Mazo reminded authorities of government line agencies and local government units of the provisions under Executive Order No. 66 issued by Pres.

Benigno S. Aquino on Jan. 09, 2012 that mandates the automatic suspension of classes and work in government offices based on levels of Storm Signals issued by PAGASA.

Former...

Weather...

continuous attack of iceice disease.

To pump-prime the country’s seaweed industry and regain its distinction as the world’s top seaweed and carrageenan producer, Alcala said he has allocated an initial budget of P265 million in 2013.

He said bulk of the budget will fund the provision of input assistance to seaweed farmers, consisting mainly of quality and disease-free seaweed plantlets or propagules, worth P232.7 million.

The rest will be spent for infrastructure and post-harvest facilities (P22.3 million), and establishment and maintenance of seaweed nurseries (P8.6 million).

The DA-BFAR also partnered with seaweed farmers and other industry stakeholders for the expansion of seaweed hectarage -- from the current 56,600 hectares, which is merely 23 percent of total potential area of 255,000 hectares.

Of the P74.1 billion proposed budget of the DA in 2013, Alcala said some P3.66 billion will be allocated to the fisheries sector to assist the sector to enhance production.

“With the various government interventions being implemented to help the fisheries sector, its production will have a ‘positive’ record by the last quarter of next year,” he noted. [PNA]

ly coordinating with the MDRRMCs. Based on the 5 p.m. weather advisory of PAGASA, the eye of typhoon Pablo was located based on satellite and surface data at 970 km southeast of Hinatuan, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of up to 220 kph. It was forecasted to move west northwest at 22 kph.

Meanwhile, Mindanao Development Authority Sec. luwalhati Antonino said in a statement Sunday afternoon that her office is “also on a monitoring mode and will be on standby for support to any major Mindanao-wide and inter-regional coordination of emergency relief and

rehabilitation efforts.”

“There is a noted increase in level of preparedness now demonstrated by local disaster response and risk reduction and management councils of local government units in flood prone areas of Mindanao and we are confident they would be able to carry through any possible emergency scenario,” she said.

Antonino said that a public that is aware “through the help of both traditional and social media,” and government preparedness and coordination with private groups, will be the island-region’s “best defense against this coming typhoon.”

[Froilan Gallardo, Bobby Timonera and Vanessa Almeda/MindaNews]

FFROM 3 Davao Oriental has Storm Signal No. 3 while Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte have Storm Signal No. 2 while Davao del Sur has Storm Signal No. 1.

A stoppage of all mining operations in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental was also ordered to prevent landslides.

At late afternoon, Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon ordered a forced evacuation of residents living along the shorelines in the East Coast towns of the province, particularly in the municipalities of Caraga, Manay, Tarragona, Boston, Cateel and Baganga.

Malanyaon sent Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council executive officer Jesusa Timbang to personally supervise the evacuation order, taking particular attention to northern Davao Oriental areas where rain has been falling.

In Davao City, the CGDSEM has already or-

dered the suspension of sailing of all passenger and private vessels going towards the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) late in the afternoon Monday.

Capt. George ursabia, CGDSEM commander, said he already coordinated with local government units in the city and Igacos for the issuance of the suspension to prevent any untoward incident in the Davao Gulf due to typhoon-related occurrences. ursabia said that district offices were also already alerted to monitor the situation of the seas around the region and be ready for any eventuality in close coordination with other government line agencies.

On Monday morning, he only issued the suspension of sailing of passenger vessels jumping off from the Sta. pier to Kaputian district in Igacos and allowed those plying from Km. 11 in Sasa to Babak district, also in Igacos.

Today, Tuesday, aside from the singing competition activity, a film showing and photo walk will be held at the Ateneo de Davao university campus and participants will be treated to free pop corn.

On December 7, a human rights forum will be held at the university of Southeastern Mindanao-Mintal campus to be joined by 13 schools.

The following day, a

“Walk for Pride” will be held in Tagum City to be participated in by lGBT (lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender) to highlight their rights too.

A peace and march rally will culminate the celebration on December 10, with participants starting from the Ateneo campus and ending at Rizal Park where the peace rally will take place.

FFROM 2

Besana said the activities lined up are organized

by Task Force Davao with Amnesty International (AI)-Philippines.

The celebration began with a flag-raising ceremony at their headquarters and later in the afternoon proceeded to Baywalk Park beside Queensland Hotel in Matina Aplaya for the lighting of lanterns that were released in the air.

ration between governments, institutions, and private sector partners.

The project will also establish and enhance inter-municipal government alliances, establish a national training program for local and national government personnel involved in fisheries, undertake programs that will result to increase in fish population, identify opportunities for fishing communities to gain employment and improve their livelihood, and generate public-private sector partnership to support sustainable fisheries management.

On the other hand, seaweed production also went down by 3.95 percent or 12,859.28 metric tons (MT) as a result of

they have tapped the Department of the Interior and local Government and the local radio stations for the massive information dissemination regarding Pablo, which was seen to be worse than typhoon Nitang that ravaged the city and the province in 1984.

Pono said the PDRRMC also tapped the religious sector to help in the information dissemination.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (MDRRMC) are also in place and are conducting series of meetings to prepare for the storm.

She said the PDRRMC is on a 24-hour monitoring mode on the entire province as well as close-

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.

12 CLASSIFIEDS ADS There’s a better way to get attention.

Advertise

with

EDGEDAVAO CLASSIFIEDS RATES FOR BOx ADS BLACK AND WHITE SIZE Full Page Half Page 1/4 Page 1/8 Page 1/16 Page per col. cm.

RATES FOR LINE ADS

Classified Page 10,000.00 5,000.00 2,500.00 1,250.00 650.00 55.00

P150.00 per column inch; P55.00 first three lines; P10.00 on succeeding lines

FULL COLOR ADS + 35% color surcharge

3 + 2 bonus

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.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC., that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT NO(s). 80000166 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No(s) NNN5752712 issued to ANGEL E. FERNANDEZ was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

11/20,27, 12/04

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

Health and Wellness

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), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate A FIlCAB Ordinary Regular Service

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FIlCAB Ordinary Regular Service.

REMEDIOS E. AGDAMAG, Petitioner

Case No.2000-XI-01080 x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

Best for kids ages 1 to 12 years old High in CGF, Taurine, L-Lysine Contains Fortified with DHa available at all Drugstore near you

Multivitamins for Teens & young adults ages 13 to22 years old available at all Drugstore near you

Take 2mg ener-plus Capsule one hour before your intimate encounter • Improve Blood Circulation • Provide Extra Strength & Sexual Stamina • Increase Libido & Sexdrive

available at all Drugstore near you

RAMER R. GEMARINO, Petitioner

Case No.2008-XI-00115 x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING

NOTICE HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FIlCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: MA-A AGDAO ROuTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on December 31, 2012. In the petition filed on October 5, 2012, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on DECEMBER 11, 2012 at 09:20 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, FIVE (5) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 5th day of October 2012 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FIlCAB Odinary Regular Service on the route:SASA VIA JP lAuREl AVENuE ROuTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on April 1, 2013. In the petition filed on October 3, 2012, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

Specialty Store

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on DECEMBER 12, 2012 at 09:10 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, FIVE (5) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 5th day of October 2012 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Tel No. (083)- 553-2211

We offer Pasta, Pizza and all Filipino foods and international cuisine

South Osmeña, General Santos City Cell No. 09999923588 Tel. No. (083) 552-3297

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 196 •TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Ring in the holidays with something wonderful

Y

OuTHFul, dedicated talent. Timeless, classic show tunes.

Seasoned musicians and performers. This heady and potent mix all comes together on December 7 & 8 in a unique, theatrical concert entitled Something Wonderful, Something Musical. Presented by Musikademy, Davao’s premier music school, the concert features song excerpts from three classic Rodgers and Hammerstein hits: The

Sound of Music, The King and I, and South Pacific.

Featured performers include Bo Cerrudo, who is the recipient of the 2012 Aliw Award for Best Male Performer; Hongkong-based concert pianist Michael lopez, himself a Dabawenyo; well-known thespian, architect and lifestyle columnist Michael Ebro Dakudao; and Musikademy’s very own scholars, the M6 Teens.

Something Wonderful,

The King (played by Michael Ebro Dakudao) and the Siamese children

Something Musical is live entertainment that people of all ages and persuasions can enjoy. Even the most jaded, cyber-savvy netizen will find himself lSS-ing and lOl-ing during the concert. The three musicals whose songs will be featured have all been performed anew on the international stage, both on Broadway and the West End, to popular and critical acclaim. Testament, indeed, to the university

13

The King’s wives, as portrayed by Musikademy’s M6 Teens

of their message and the timeless character of fine music.

The venue for this singular event is SM lanang Premier’s spanking new Centerstage, just across from the iMax facility. Matinee and gala shows are scheduled for both dates, at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM respectively. Ticket prices for the matinee shows are P150 and P250. The December 7 gala tickets are P250 and P350, while those of the December 8 gala are P350 and P500.

Guest performer Bo Cerru-

do appears only at the December 8 gala show. Ticket inquires may be directed to 297-4542 for landline, or 0922-2884823/09186969794 for mobile.

Something Wonderful, Something Musical is directed by Cecile Hidalgo. Script and technical direction are by March de Ramos. Choreography is

by Bimbo Edison Morales, and music direction is by Bong Aviola.

Musikademy offers short private courses in voice, guitar and piano, as well as group lessons in

voice and guitar. Musikademy also caters to toddlers through its Musikgarten program, in cooperation with Musikgarten Manila. A special feature of the summer session is the school’s Music Theater Program for vocally advanced kids and teens.

For ticket inquiries and enrollment information, Musikademy may be contacted by email at info@musikademy.com, by phone at 297-4542, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/musikademy.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Club duty is Azkals’ next concern

T

HE Philippines’ management have been working the phones since the Azkals qualified from Group A of the AFF Suzuki Cup on Friday in a bid to obtain releases for their overseas-based players to play in the twolegged semi-final against Singapore.

Several key players, including full-back Dennis Cagara, striker Angel Guirado, holding midfielder Jerry lucena, midfielder Paul Mulders, defender Ray Jonsson and goalkeeper Roland Muller play for European and Asian clubs. lucena left the squad before the 2-0 win over Myanmar in the final group match and indicated that he could return for the second leg of the semi-final in Singapore on December 12.

Coach Michael Weiss said that several players were only cleared by their clubs to play in the group stage.

“We have all the things in plan. We were first planning for the first three matches,” said Weiss. “We

now have to start again to negotiate with the clubs.

“There’s a possibility that all of them will not be available.”

It’s a similar situation to the one Weiss faced before group play with firstchoice goalkeeper Neil Etheridge a last-minute withdrawal after returning to Fulham following a loan spell with Bristol Rovers.

Guirado, who plays for Indian outfit Salgaocar FC, scored in the victory over Myanmar while Cagara and Jonsson are key figures in defence.

MSV Duisburg’s Muller was included in the squad of 22 as “insurance” in case of injury to starting ‘keeper Eduardo Sacapano and did not fly to Bangkok for the group stage.

Philippines play threetime winners Singapore at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Saturday, December 8 - the first time an AFF Suzuki Cup match has been staged in the Philippines - with the return leg slated for the Jalan Basar Stadium on December 12.

Phil Younghusband, shining for the Azkals even when playing hurt, had to say of the Azkals’ second semifinals appearance in the AFF: “You can’t really compare them. It

was the first time two years ago. Now, it’s the same team, but different players; it’s a different time. But the feeling (both times) is just amazing.” affsuzukicup.com

H I lY O u N G H u S BAND knows exactly how it feels to make it to the semifinals of the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup. One of the key figures in an unheralded Philippine men’s football team’s historic run to the semifinals in 2010, the 25-year-old Filipino-British striker once again left an indelible mark as the Azkals reached the Final Four of Southeast Asia’s premier football competition for the second successive time.

Now the star striker hopes he and the Azkals

can go one better as the team bids to reach unchartered territory and clinch a coveted spot in the Final when it plays Singapore in a homeand-away semifinal tie beginning on December 8 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“You can’t really compare them,” Younghusband said. “It was the first time two years ago.

Now, it’s the same team, but different players; it’s a different time. But the feeling (both times) is just amazing.”

The country’s top scorer with 28 interna-

tional goals to his name, Younghusband was the primary - and oftentimes only - scoring option for the 2010 team as he hit three goals combined in the qualifying and group stages.

He struggled to find the goal for much of this week’s group stage in Bangkok but delivered when it mattered most, firing one of the Azkals’ two goals in their last group match against Myanmar on Friday night at the Supachalasai Stadium as the Azkals sealed a place in the semifinals.

“I still feel I’ve been working hard, and it eventually paid off,” said Younghusband.

Now that he is back in the scoring groove, Younghusband hopes the Azkals can reach new heights with a team that has a lot more offensive options than the 2010 team, counting on the likes of Angel Guirado, Chieffy Caligdong, and Paul Mulders, among others.

“As a striker, you get confidence from scoring goals. So it feels good,” Younghusband said. (www.spin.ph)

spot in the ongoing Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte – 10th AFP-PNP Basketball Tournament at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. RPSB downed 10th Infantry Agila Division, 94 – 93, while PN upset Bureau of Fire Protection, 98 – 78.

The win improved their record to 6-3, making the chase for the fourth spot going to the semi-final round too close to call.

RPSB survived to the gritty challenge provided by the 10th ID down the stretch to boost up its own chances to make it to the final four.

Rommel Cameros and Mark Innocentes once again carried the load for RPSB as the duo scattered a combined 40 points.

“We need to win our game against the Navy on

Thursday for us to have a smooth sailing all the way to the next round,” said RPSB head coach Nick Serafica.

Eduardo Mahilum registered 24 points for the 10th ID which dropped to solo fifth place with 6-4 win-loss record.

In a startling outcome, the Navymen posted a biggest upset, thus far, in the league by drubbing the Firemen by 20-points margin.

Michael lagula poured in 26 points and Roberto Munar had 22 baskets as the Navymen kept their final four hopes alive.

The victory was a huge uplift for the PN which has been catching up the fourth spot with the RPSB and 10th ID in the past two weeks.

The loss, only their third in 10 games, virtu-

ally shut the door down for the BFP to enter the semi-final round with a twice to beat advantage or finishing No. 1 or No. 2.

Kristian Coquilla had 21 markers for the Firemen who are now in the brink of falling to fourth spot with their 7-3 card.

BFP will play its last game in the elimination round against the 10th ID on Thursday, a play date that will also feature RPSB pitting the Navy.

In the other match, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology trounced Philippine Coast Guard, 85 – 61.

PCG remained winless in the tournament presented by City Government of Davao and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Region-XI.

Phil: Just an amazing feeling P Win sends RPSB, Navy tied for 4th

R

EGIONAl Public Safety Battalion and Philippine Navy turned back separate opponents on Sunday to forge a tie at fourth

The Philippine Azkals will have to burn the lines to keep their overseas players at home for the semifinals match on Saturday.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

Christmas has arrived!

The Marco Polo Davao kicks off the season with a lighting ceremony

by Kenneth Irving Ong

A ceremonial Christmas lighting ceremony signals the start of holiday festivities at the Marco Polo Davao.Last November 28, Davao’s landmark hotel welcomes the most wonderful time of the year with a show of holiday lights and treats to get into the Christmas spirit.

Present for the lighting ceremonies were Marco Polo Hotel’s Group Director of Food and Beverage Thomas Pfordte, Marco

Polo Davao General Manager Bruno Simeoni, Marco Polo Hotel’s Group Director of Rooms Hubert Aw.

Teddy Bear centerpiece.

Yule Log

Marco Polo Hotel’s Group Director of Food and Beverage Thomas Pfordte, Marco Polo Davao General Manager Bruno Simeoni, Marco Polo Hotel’s Group Director of Rooms Hubert Aw The Melodies of Marco Polo

After the ceremonial press of the button, guests were treated to some caroling cheers from the Melodies of Marco Polo at the lobby area of the hotel. The hotel also set up a photo centerpiece featuring a fireplace replica and filled with sleuth of cude and cuddly teddy bears.

Also launched during the activities are the special Christmas offerings at the Marco Polo Davao.

Cafe Marco presents a Christmas-themed nightly buffet as well as delectable Yule Logs, Christmas Gift Baskets and Gingerbread Houses in elegant Marco Polo packages all December long.

The Lobby Lounge offers Simbang Gabi specials served from 5:00AM to 7AM. A special light breakfast costs P400 net only from December 16 to 24.

Christmas Eve is made more delicious for the entire family at the Cafe Marco and the Lotus Court with their special Christmas Eve buffet specials for only P1,300 net.

And because Christmas is family bonding time, Marco Polo Davao gives get great discounts for superior rooms from December 1 to 30, 2012 at P3,800 net per night only.

For inquiries and reservations, call 221-0888.

The Marco Polo Hotel lights up the December skyline.

Roast rack of US prime rib.

Roasted turkey

Honey-baked Christmas ham.

Christmas hamper.

Marco Polo Davao’s Director of Sales and Marketing, PR Officer Patty Tan, Arch. Michael Dakudao, Marco Polo Davao’s General Manager Bruno Simeoni, Technical Manager Arjun Cellona

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

UP AND ABOUT

Get an edge: Burning up the trails: Give a Lenovo The Columbia Trailmasters 5th leg at Paradise Island Beach Resort

IT’s that time of year again when you’re making your lists and checking them twice.

Whether the people in your life have been naughty or nice, you know in the end, what matters is that your presents are well thought of, if not tailor-fit. Moreover, it’s got to be a good deal for your hard-earned peso.

For utilitarian, practical and affordable presents that give the bang for your buck, Lenovo has a range of smartphones to cater to the different needs of would be users. Ranging from entry-level to professional and fun, all phones offer durability, quality, unique design and competitive pricing, making Lenovo a great valueadded purchase.

Priced to please, the A60+ is Lenovo’s entrylevel smartphone. From the originalsRP of PHP 4,999, the price has been slashed down to PHP 4,699 and comes with a case and screen protector. This dual sIM, dual standby device keeps the young ones and young once connected.

It’sa practical and functional smartphone, running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 2 Megapixel camera,tethering and portable WLAN Hotspot and GPs with AGPs support.

For those that prefer the wide-screen advantage of a tablet, yet the functionality of a phone, there’s the Lenovo s880 to make viewing videos and photos convenient and enjoyable. From the original sRP of PHP 14,999, the price has been slashed down to PHP 12,999. Running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream sandwich and dual sIM features, it has been coined as the phablet in this season’s lineup of Lenovo smartphones.

Business on the go is made more possible with the P700i. An upgraded version of its predecessor the P700, this 4-inch screen smartphone runs on Ice Cream sandwich, a dual core processor and has up to seven days stand by and 28 hours talk time thanks to its 2500 mAh battery. It comes with a case and extra battery pack; and with a price point of PHP 10,999, it’s a great deal for a phone that will work as hard as its user.

The Lenovo s560 was made for music lovers.

Also at an sRP of PHP 10,999, this nifty gadget comes with five licensed songs to get users started on their phone playlists.

It has rich stereo playback and a dedicated smart music button, plus Dolby mobile dual speakers for an excellent sound experience. Backed up by a 1GHz dual core and running on Ice Cream sandwich, this sound monster will get your feet tapping and head bobbing in no time.

Finally, there’s theLenovo K860 which is designed for optimal multitasking. Equipped with a 5-inch HD IPs screen, 8 MP camera with LED flash and special shooting modes, it provides a complete audio-visual experience, giving you all the smartphone fun in your hand.

Running on Android Ice Cream sandwich and with a 1.4GHz processor, this entertainment 360 smartphone is the kind you might be tempted to keep for yourself instead.

In today’s fast-paced, mobile world, making a decision on what smartphone model to buy requires more than relying on what is often seen and heard. It involves selecting a brand synonymous to quality, excellence and added value for money. More popularly known as a laptop brand, and as the slogan of the brand suggests, Lenovo’s mobile units promise to deliver and make the tools that help people do.

A muddy trail, athletic spirits and a marriage proposal aptly sums up the Columbia Trailmasters in Paradise beach resort last Saturday, November 17.

The incessant rains the night before didn’t dampen the athletic spirits of the 190 trail runners and duathlon athletes who conquered the challenging and unpredictable trail. And much to the surprise of Columbia Sportswear Company and the participants, Dr. Kirk Patrick Oliverio asked his long-time girlfriend, Alma Potenciano’s hand in marriage on the stage. Indeed, the unexpected love-binding moment added spice to the already-momentous race.

Columbia Sportswear, a brand best known for its innovative outdoor gear and equipments, has been known for mounting the Trailmaster series in unique locations in the Philippines.

The series begun in Nuvali, Laguna last 2009 which travelled to Cebu, then to Bukidnon, then back to Nuvali. And now in its fifth leg, Columbia Trailmasters has blazed its mark in Davao City. Indeed Columbia management and enthusiasts weren’t let down by the pristine and turquoise shores of Paradise Island Beach Resort which served as a background to the competition.

The race consisted of two categories---the duathlon and the 10-kilometer trail run. The duathlon challenged the more experienced athletes in off road biking and trail running while the 10K trail run category was for the weekend warriors.

A home-maker, Mrs. Joy Mawalic, a member of Team Titans, championed in the women’s open

category for the 10K trail run while Lloyd Malinao bested in the male category.

The duo, Dexter Nonato and April John Maniyog of Davao Outdoor Tours & Adventure (DOTA) ruled

the duathlon event.

Nonato is team captain of the Inday Sara Duterte Cycling team who recently participated in the Ronda Pilipinas qualifying race held in Tarlac.

Columbia Sportswear has long been known for promoting an outgoing lifestyle, and the Trail Masters in Davao was another example of how the brand is committed to this advocacy.

This event was exclusively covered on television by ABS-CBN Davao and on paper by Mindanao Times and Edge Davao. Columbia would like to thank the following sponsors: Primer Group of Companies, Canon, Summit Water, R.O.X., Res/Toe/Run, Gatorade, Beach Hut, Dispatch, Fitness Magazine, OneSport, and Skyflakes, and most especially----Bigby’s for hosting the press conference last September 25.

Special thanks to Lito delos Reyes of Scoop Davao for the excerpts and information.

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBR 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Stars rock 2012 Governors Awards red carpet

BRADLEy Cooper and Kristen stewart helped get 2013 Oscar season rolling in a big way last night when they joined a throng of stars on hand for the Governors Awards at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences 2012 Governors Awards honored four legends: stunt performer Hal Needham, documentarian D.A. Pennebaker, arts advocate George stevens Jr. and executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, who received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

And Hollywood really turned out to support them, led by a conservatively dressed and typically gorgeous K.stew and a dapper B.Coop sporting some fresh facial hair stylings.

Based on Cooper’s stud-

ly scruff look, we’re detecting a subtle stubble trend for winter. Trés grizzly!

But we digress. Bradley often has that affect on us. so, who else strolled the carpet at the formal but friendly affair? Big names included Helen Hunt, ste-

ven spielberg, Amy Adams, Christopher Nolan, Will smith, Tom Hanks, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Gere, Leslie Mann and husband Judd Apatow, star Wars legend George Lucas and Oscar host seth Macfarlane.

music today sound like if these kids didn’t exist?”

Rihanna has also been posting photos of Brown on her Instagram page,

including a shot of him lying shirtless on a bed and an, um, intimate pic of herself giving him a bear hug.

Chris Brown returns to Twitter, posts scantily clad photo of Rihanna on Instagram HE’s baaack.

Chris Brown returned to Twitter sunday, following his vulgar online spat with comedian Jenny Johnson.

But, while his page appears to be back up and running, the “Don’t Wake Me Up” singer has yet to tweet anything (all of his previous tweets have been deleted).

Brown has been active on his NsFW Instagram handle, however, posting a photo of himself and a scantily clad Rihanna sunday morning with the caption, “What would

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

FOOD ENTERTAINMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

Coffee, tea, and chikka

I

remember a time back in the day when the people of Durianburg used to only know coffee as something out of a jar or a sachet, and mixed with water, powdered creamer and sugar. Then came gourmet coffee revolution of the mid-90’s and since then, Dabawenyos never looked back.

Coffee culture was here to stay as many coffee places opened shop promising the best brewed coffee and coffee concoctions while providing spaces for the tired urbanite to meet up with friends, hang out, or have a meeting. One of my favorite gourmet coffee places though would be Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf which have already opened two stores in the Metro (Abreeza and SM Lanang Premier).

Even before CBTL landed in Durianburg, I had been and still am a loyal follower of the brand. Maybe its because of their coffee concoctions and Original Ice Blended drinks (I personally love their Red Velvet Ice Blended that is available only for the holidays), or maybe it could be because of the more palatable tea and tea latte offerings they have compared to their competitors, or it could be CBTL’s more laidback, relaxed atmosphere.

Enter any CBTL store and you are greeted by cozy interiors that harken back to the British tea trade. Add is some caffeine and some good company and you are bound to have great conversations.

And talking about company. The best company for my cup of tea (or coffee) would be some dessert, I suggest one to try their New York Cheesecake. It may look simple as compared to its famous and overtly done blueberry

cousin, but the clean and creamy taste of the New York Cheesecake pairs so well with whatever you are drinking. People who don’t have a sweet tooth however (shame on you) also have savory choices from CBTL’s menu. Be it from their all-day breakfast menu or their savory breads.

Of course, coffee loving Dabawenyos might also want to bring home their CBTL experience.

And they definitely can by purchasing one of CBTL’s one-touch Caffitaly system. The single serve beverage system is amazingly easy to use and delivers the perfect cup of coffee or tea with just one coffee or tea capsule and one press of a button. Seriously, if I can make a Christmas gift wish right now, the CBTL machine would be on the top of my list. Too bad I was only there to review it.

So as I grudgingly walk back my waiting cup of Red Velvet. I can take comfort on the fact that I can still go back to the CBTL store for more coffee, tea, and chikka.

The interiors of CBTL have a colonial British-East India feel to it.

CBTL’s spacious and cozy interiors.

Red Velvet drink (wth half whipped cream) corn muffin and New York Cheesecake.

Me and my cup of tea made using CBTL’s Caffitaly Kaldi machine.

CBTL’s Caffitaly Kaldi machine package.

Brewing coffee or tea using the Caffitaly system is as easy as inserting the capsule, properly securing the capsule into the machine, and then pressing a button.

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 196 •TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

Manny Pacquiao (top, left)) and rival Juan Manuel Marquez (right) are both raring to go in their fourth clash on Sunday.

Marquez to wife, kids: Just watch fight on TV

l

OS ANGElES — Juan Manuel Marquez is so focused on exacting payback against Manny Pacquiao that he has succeeded in persuading his wife and kids to just watch his December 8 encounter with the Filipino on television instead of rooting for him at the MGM Grand in las Vegas.

“I want to be totally focused,” said Marquez, who will leave Toluca, Mexico, for southern California on Saturday.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is sending a private plane to fetch Team Marquez, also made up of trainer Nacho Beristain and training assistants Plutarco Gatica and Angel Heredia, who is also the strength coach.

Marquez said he had brought along his family to one of his fights before and it had disastrous consequences.

“I could not concentrate because I had to spend some time with them.”

Next week’s clash with Pacquiao will probably be the last time he’ll get the chance to show the world’s he is the better man.

Pacquiao has won twice over him. Their first fight ended on a draw in 2004.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is slowing down at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood but trainer Freddie Roach wants to make sure the 33-year-old poundfor-pound king doesn’t lose his focus.

Magical win l

OS ANGElES (AP) -- Dwight Howard wasn’t his usually playful self in the los Angeles lakers’ locker room. He refused to answer certain questions and shared few personal thoughts about his ugly reunion with the Orlando Magic. ‘’It wasn’t emotional,’’ Howard said.

Maybe that was part of the problem - and one reason the Magic left the reunion with their biggest win of the season.

Arron Afflalo scored 30 points, Glen Davis added 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the Magic beat Howard’s lakers in their first game against their longtime center, 113-103 on Sunday night.

Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds against his former team, but the rebuilding Magic rallied impressively with a 40-point

fourth quarter for just their fourth win in 14 games, snapping a three-game skid. Orlando pulled the upset partly by intentionally fouling Howard, who went 9 for 21 at the line - including 7 for 14 in the fourth quarter.

The Magic made their decisive 12-2 run while Howard wasn’t helping the lakers at the line in the final minutes, with Nelson and J.J. Redick hitting 3-pointers along the way.

Howard’s first few months with the lakers haven’t gone the way he might have expected after the four-team, 12-player trade in August: a sub-.500 record, a shocking coaching change, an injured point guard and an unsightly amplification of Howard’s career-long woes at the freethrow line, where he has dropped to 46.5 percent (87 for 187) for the season.

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks score their third straight win, while Marcin Gortat and the Suns drop their third consecutive game. AP

Raring to go l

OS ANGElES — Manny Pacquiao came out of the Wild Card Gym Saturday looking like a kid who had just ransacked a candy store.

“Handang-handa na talaga,” a beaming Pacquiao told a group of Filipino writers a week before he faces Juan Manuel Marquez next week in las Vegas.

Pacquiao engaged in a six-round sparring ses-

sion and pleased trainer Freddie Roach, who labeled his No. 1 fighter as “explosive.”

Roach said Pacquiao will spar for about four rounds on Monday just before Team Pacquiao heads to las Vegas.

Pacquiao and Roach are gunning for a knockout to silence everyone who have started to doubt Pacquiao’s motivation and level of competence.

“He’s ready to go,” said Roach.

Pacquiao said the final days will be devoted mainly on maintaining his current physical condition and Roach is optimistic that everything will turn out right come fight night.

“I am looking for a knockout but if it comes to a decision, I’d like it to to be a clear win for Manny. A close fight will be dangerous,” said Roach.

Pacquiao, who turns 34 on Dec. 17, holds two close wins over the 39-year-old Marquez.

Their first fight ended in a draw in 2004.

Team Pacquiao travels to Sin City on Monday.

The formal arrival rites will be held at the main lobby of the MGM Grand, while the official and final press conference will be on Wednesday. The weigh-in will be on Friday.

Knicks eclipse Suns Arron Afflalo (right), guarded by Metta World Peace, led the Magic past the Lakers.

N

EW YORK — Rasheed Wallace delivered a hard whack to luis Scola, then some hard words to the referees.

These New York Knicks won’t let anybody have it easy at Madison Square Garden, not even the officials.

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points and the Knicks ran their best home start in 20 years to

7-0, withstanding Wallace’s ejection after a mere 1:25 of playing time to beat the Phoenix Suns 106-99 on Sunday (Monday, Manila time).

Phoenix had won its last two at MSG but the Knicks have finally figured out under coach Mike Woodson that homecourt games are not to be wasted. They are 18-1 in the regular season here since he took over last

March, jumping on their last few opponents from the start.

“His whole thing when he came in is we’re going to protect our home floor.

We’re going to win every game at home, or we’re going to try to win every game at home, and we’re going to go out on the road and compete,” center Tyson Chandler said. “So his whole thing is we’ve got to protect our house. Teams

coming in got to feel like they’ve got to go somewhere else to get a win.”

Raymond Felton had 23 points, seven assists and no turnovers for the Knicks, who last won seven straight at Madison Square Garden to open a season when they started 9-0 in 1992-93. The point guard was hurting after the game, saying he was going to get an MRI on his swollen left hand.

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 196 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Football comes home

The Philippine Azkals have earned a semifinals seat as well as the nod of the AFF to play its home game in Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday against Singapore. (L-R, front row) Phil

T

HE Philippines’ reward for finishing second in Group A is a first-ever home match in the AFF Suzuki Cup, a prospect that has thrilled the players.

Two years ago the Azkals were forced to forfeit home advantage in their semi-final with Indonesia as there was no suitable venue in the country.

They played both legs of the semi in the intimidating atmosphere of Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, twice losing 1-0.

But the Asean Football Federation have giv-

Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, James Youghusband and team manager Dan Palami.

en the green light for the last four clash against the winners of Group B next Saturday (December 8) to be staged at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

James Younghusband, a key member of the 2010 and 2012 squads, said that they had achieved their aim of bringing football back to the Philippines.

“It is brilliant for Philippine football that we have qualified for the semis...the whole team is ecstatic. We lost the opening game (2-1 against Thailand) but bounced back really strong and

showed some real team spirit,” he said of the 1-0 victory over Vietnam and the 2-0 defeat of Myanmar that sealed a spot in the last four.

“We are very happy that we get to bring international football back to the Philippines and get to play in our home stadium.

“We have grown as a team in the last two years and a lot of credit goes to the management and the supporters back home.

There is more interest in us (and we have responded). We just needed that dream journey in 2010 to pave the way.