Edge Davao 5 Issue 22

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

8 arrested for fertilizer scam

Indulge!

Page A1

n Lawyer claims adulteration caused P90-million damage to his

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

A

businessman and seven other persons have been charged with mixing fertilizers with salt to the detriment of farmers of rice and other crops in

company n Adulterated fertilizer worth P50 million seized

various parts of Mindanao.

Already charged before the Davao City prosecutor’s office are Carolina Inson (Inson Agro Farm Supply) of Sto.

Tomas, Davao del Norte; Carlos Minor (Caloy’s Farmers Mart/Caloy’s Agrivet Supply) Kapalong, Davao del Norte; Edgar Calledo (MLP Mindanao 5K

F8, 13

Science/Environment Page 12

ADULTERATED. PSUPT. Jacinto R. Malinao, Jr. (right), AOCD-CIDG Deputy Chief, Atty. Wigberto Tanada Jr.(2nd from right), La Filipina Uy Gongco Counsel, Estrella E. Laquinta (3rd from right), FPA XI officer, and Atty. Gavino Barlin (2nd from left), Deputy Executive Director of Fertilizer and

Sports Page 16

Dutertes, Ungab get high ratings

By Lorie A. Cascaro

Follow Us On

Pesticide Authority, check a truckload full of industrial salt during an inspection in a warehouse where the adulterated fertilizers are stored on Monday at Ilang, Tibungco, Davao City. [LEAN

M

AYOR Sara Duterte-Carpio, her father Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Rep. Isidro T. Ungab enjoy high popularity ratings in District 3.

This is indicated in results of the

DAVAL, JR.]

survey released by the Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) of the University of Mindanao (UM).

The result was the last in a series of three opinion surveys conducted by the IPO in the city, according to institute director, Dr. Maria Linda Arquiza. The series of opinion polls was the very first

activity of IPO since it was created this year.

Mayor Sara, with 100 percent, is shown to be slightly more popular than the vice mayor, who garnered 99.7 percent. However, her trust rating of 99.4 percent, is slightly lower than the trust rating of 99.7 of the Vice Mayor Rody.

FDUTERTES, 3

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Two shot day after city gun ban ended

By Jade C. Zaldivar

T

HE day after the gun ban in Davao City expired, two people were shot by still unidentified assailants.

According to police investigation, two males were shot last April 1, the day after the one month gun ban order ended March 31.

Jomel Micarte Macabinta, 20 years old, a resident of Purok 2 Lizada, Barangay Hizon was shot in the head, causing his instantaneous death at the hands of an unidentified male suspect armed with a hand gun of undetermined caliber.

The killer fled aboard a motorcycle driven by a companion.

The incident occurred at 5:40 pm at Kilo-

meter 7, Lanang, this city.

PO3 Carlito Jumawan of the Sasa police station said marijuana was recovered from the scene, ostensibly belonging to the victim.

Further investigation disclosed that Macabinta was a notorious robber who was also involved in the illegal drug trade.

At about 6:30pm of the same day, an out of school youth was also shot in the head at the Lao Store, Waling-Waling Road, Phase 1, San Lorenzo Village, Puan.

The victim, Lorenz Violin Tulbanos, 17, is a resident of Blk. 5 Lot 16, Phase 2, San Lorenzo Village, Puan.

Initial investigation conducted by PO3 Harold Delima of the Talomo police station disclosed

that the victim was buying cigarettes at the store when an identified male shot him once in the head with what appeared to be an improvised hand gun.

The suspect, described as 5’4’’ in height with medium build and about 23 to 25 years old, fled on foot along with two unidentified male companions heading towards Libby Road, Talomo district.

Tulbanos was taken by concerned citizens to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Bangkal for treatment.

Delima reported the recovery at the crime scene of one slug of undetermined caliber which is now in the custody of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) 11 for ballistic examination.

MILITARY. Eastern Mindanao Command’s spokesman Col. Leopoldo Galon said on Monday that the troops under Eastmincom will also be observing the Lent while inside the camps. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Less fires, but more damage in Davao region last March

Gun-related crimes lowest during period of gun ban T

T

HE city’s gun related crimes have been dropping, according to a study on crime incidents from January to March of years 2010, 2011, and 2012.

City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said there were 25 gun-related crimes from January to March in 2010, 18 for the same period in 2011, and only seven gun-related crimes for the same period in 2012.

“With the implementation of the gun ban, it appears that gun-related crimes were reduced to a number which is extraordinary for a highly urbanized city with a population of approximately 1.5 million,” the city mayor said yesterday.

The statistics include all gun-related crimes wherein firearms were used to threaten or inflict violence and harm.

The results are part of a document entitled ‘Scoping Paper on InterAgency Collaboration and the after effects of Gun Ban Implementation in

It figures

1.3million

NUMBER of luxury cars, including 367,000 in the US, that BMW will recall because of a potential problem with battery cable connector. It is BMW’s biggest recall so far.

Davao City.’

This was conducted by the Public Safety Command Center (PSCC) which is under the city mayor’s office and the Committee on Crime Analysis (CCA) of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

Low crime rate The city mayor earlier said she ordered the conduct of a study on how the gun ban, declared in line with the 75th Araw ng Davao festival, affects the crime rate of the city.

“Index crimes are technically crimes committed against persons and property. Over the past three years (20102012), utilizing data from January to March, there is clearly a drastic decline of index crimes from 869 in 2010, 533 in 2011, and 260 in 2012,” DuterteCarpio said.

Index crimes include crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, theft and robbery.

Likewise non-index crimes also dropped from

P1billion VALUE of 5-year bonds to be issued by Davao City-based Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. to fund the continued rollout of gas stations and depots in major areas across the country.

646 in 2010, 446 in 2011, to 184 in 2012 – all within the period of January to March.

Non-index crimes are crimes such as kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, prohibited drugs, and other local laws or ordinances implemented by the city.

The city mayor said the drop in crime rate was attributed to the declaration of the gun ban which increased police and military deployment.

“The number of crimes committed was directly related to the number of police and military on the ground. The more police visibility, the less crimes committed,” she said.

Deployment from the DCPO augmented by other units from the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Task Force Davao as augmented by the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continuously increased.

In the 2010 Araw ng Davao celebration, there

FGUN, 13

$700million COST involved in the joint venture of TeaM Energy and the Aboitiz Philippines for the expansion of a coalfired energy plant in Quezon Province.

By Lorie A. Cascaro

HERE were 33 fire incidents in the Davao region in March this year, an eight percent decrease from the 36 incidents in March last year; but the total amount of damage was P58M last March, higher than the P13M last year in the same month.

Last March was deadlier, too.There was one dead and three injured due to fire incidents last month while there were eight injured but no death last year.

Jimenez said, bsed on statistics, March has the highest number of fire incidents because this is the start of the summer

season.

Inspections In coordination with barangay officials and local government units, the regional fire bureau conducts house-to-house inspections in fire prone areas in Davao City.

These areas include barangays along Quezon Boulevard and Sandawa Street, and in the districts of Sasa, Buhangin, Talomo and Matina.

Before the massive inspections began, firemen gave lectures to communities within their fire station’s areas of responsibility, and organized volunteer fire brigades as mandated by Republic Act 9154.

Jimenez cited some observations from their

inspections, saying that most communities of informal settlers have narrow alleys where fire trucks cannot pass through, and houses are much closer to each other.

Noting the bureau’s coordination with the Davao Light Power and Company, he added that substandard wirings usually cause fire.

All findings of the house-to-house inspection will be consolidated and submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government for concrete action.

Official fire inspectors will be recognized through their uniforms and identification cards bearing the title “Fire Safety Inspector”.

week of May. She said the check-up was upon the advice of her doctor, and it will include getting an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan which would show detailed internal structures for higher accuracy.

Duterte-Carpio said she suspects the problem is connected with her eyesight, saying although the state of her eyesight requires her to wear eyeglasses, she has not done so.

“Dili man gud ko ganahan mag-glasses in public.

Hopefully kana lang kay dali lang na masulbad kay mag-contact lense lang,” She said.

“I hope not dili siya seryoso. Hopefully wala ni.

Hopefully tungod lang sa problem sa mata kay ang akong mata na-laser na ni before unya nibalik napud,” she added.

With her announcement she said she’s leaving the reigns of the city to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the acting city mayor.

“He’s capable of taking care of the city,” she said.

BILLIONAIRE brothers arrested

by Hong Kong’s anti-graft agency, accusing them and a former government top official of corruption. The brothers, Raymond and Thomas Kwok, joint chairs of Sun Hung Kai Properties, were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

WORTH of fraud in Asia every year, because many banks still do have enough teeth to tackle

Sara to take leave of absence

D

AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio take a leave of absence starting Thursday, April 5, to undergo an executive medical check-up in Manila.

The mayor has been experiencing headaches the past months.

“Dili kaayo nako maremember kanusa nagstart (ang headache), siguro December. Dili man pud siya pirmi. Pag mag-inom ko ug tambal mawala man sad siya,” she said.

The mayor’s leave of absence will last until first

P8billion

INVESTMENT of Petron Corp., one of the country’s refiners, in one of two 70-megawatt (MW) power plants.

Petron president Eric Recto said the first unit will be commissioned this year.

2

$1billion

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

Dutertes...

FFROM 1

Congressman Isidro Ungab also enjoys high popularity at 96.9 percent although his net trust rating is lower at 92.3 percent.

District 3 is composed of the sub-districts, also called administrative districts of Baguio, Calinan, Marilog, Toril, Tugbok and Mintal. It has 82 barangays with an estimated population of about 400,000.

Dr. Arquiza said, the demographic mapping conducted to typify the survey respondents reveals that the people who trust these officials have the same characteristics.

The people who believed most Mayor Sara, Vice Mayor Duterte and Cong.

Ungab are those belonging to the younger set of people (18-29 years old) as well as the adults (3649 years old).

However, it can be noted that the younger generation are placing more trust on the mayor and the congressman than on the vice mayor.

The people casting high trust on the three officials are those who belong to the low income group especially the unemployed who either finished high school or have reached some level of college education. The self-

employed also manifest a relatively higher trust on Mayor Sara than the vice mayor and the congressman while the middle income group prefer to place more trust on the Vice Mayor Rody. Interestingly, more married individuals are trusting the congressman more than the Dutertes.

Also, the three officials have a relatively strong support from the people of Toril as compared to the other subdistricts of the area.

Councilors’ ratings The most popular councilor is Bernard Alag, followed by two lady councilors, Myrna Ortiz and Rachel Zozobrado who ranked second and third respectively.

Al-ag, although a first termer in the City Council, enjoyed the advantage of having a family member serving before him for three consecutive terms.

Al-ag has also been very visible lately in his healthrelated projects as chair of the committee on health.

Villafuerte who was only rated as 4th popular came out to be the second most trusted. Ortiz, who was rated as 2nd most popular, came out to be the 3rd most trusted. Villafuerte and Ortiz

are established names in District 3. Fundador Villafuerte served as appointed mayor of the city once. A brother, Cipriano Jr. was a city councilor for several terms. A son of Cipriano Jr., Jose Louie Villafuerte, is an incumbent councilor.

The original Lt. Cipriano Villafuenrte Sr., father of Mayor Fundador and Councilor Cipriano Jr., was a pioneer in Calinan.

Department heads The popularity and trust ratings of selected department heads of the local government as perceived by District 3 respondents slightly differed from the results of earlier surveys in Districts 1 and 2.

The same personalities landed on the top five most popular and most trusted department heads.

However, this time, Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, City Health Officer, is on the top of the list, followed by erstwhile topnotcher Leonardo Avila III, City Agriculturist. Mrs. Bermudo of the CSSDO is on third spot. Fourth and fifth most popular department heads are Atty Lopez and Col. Monsanto. Although, they traded places in the trust rankings, with Col. Monsanto having the slight edge. Mr. Aportade-

Popularity Rating

Mayor Sara Duterte V-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Cong. Isidro Ungab

ra and Mr. Alparaque who were consistently popular in Districts 1 and 2 are not so well known in District 3, hence were not able to be included in the Top 5 List.

The other ten department heads obtained popularity ratings ranging from 20.227.1%. Their net trust ratings were even lower ranging from 14.9- 21.7%.

Welfare survey The popularity and beneficiality of the nine projects/programs of the city government surveyed are presented below.

There are some slight differences in the rankings as compared to the results obtained for Districts 1 and 2, but the top three projects remain the same.

The people of District 3 view Central 911 as most beneficial followed by People’s Park and the Traffic Signalization project.

Prof. Adrian Tamayo, specialist on politics and governance, said people placed higher welfare ratings to projects which they have directly felt such as the Central 911.

IPO plans The IPO planned to conduct surveys related to health, security and safety, and education, particularly the K+12 program in time for the opening of classes in June.

Trust Rating

100 99.7 96.9

99.4 99.7 92.3

Popularity Rating

Rank

Trust Rating

Rank

Al-ag, B.

90.0

1

83.5

1

Ortiz, M.

89.1

2

79.1

3

Zozobrado, R. Villafuerte, J. L. Lopez, R.E. Bello, K.

89.0 88.9 88.0 86.0

3 4 5 6

79.0 81.8 78.0 77.7

4 2 5 6

Advincula, V. Jr. Baluran, C.

85.4 84.6

7 8

73.4 71.5

7 8

Top 5 Dept Heads

Popularity Rating

Rank

Trust Rating

Rank

Josephine Villafuerte (City Health) Leonardo Avila (City Agriculture) Maria Luisa Bermudo (CSSDO) Zuleika Lopez (City Administrator) Vernier Monsanto (Central 911)

62.1

1

57.0

1

46.6

2

41.8

2

38.6

3

33.5

3

33.0

4

27.0

5

32.2

5

27.4

4

Project

Popularity Rating

Central 911

97.2

Traffic Signalization

94.3

People’s Park Drainage Program Traffic Eagle Squad Solid Waste Management

92.9 87.5 87.2 86.3

Sanitary Landfill Shelter Program Food for Work

83.4 82.0 62.1

Ungab

Rank

Welfare Rating 94.6

1

2 3 4 5

90.6

3 2 4 8

6 7 8 9

77.7 78.9 59.5

Ortiz

Zozobrado

Villafuerte

Avila

Bermudo

Rank

1

90.9 80.7 76.1 77.8

Al-ag

6 7 5 9

3

4

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

Solon seeks probe on e-trike project

A

lawmaker has called for a congressional inquiry into the grant of exemption of taxes and duties, and the provision of other government subsidies in the importation of parts, equipment and machineries needed by the private sector for the manufacture of electric tricycles to local government units.

Rep. Teodorico Haresco (Party-list, Ang KASANGGA) said the tax and duties exemption privileges and government subsidies are provided under the E-Trike Project of the Department of Energy-Asian Development Bank.

“There is a need to revisit and review the existing duties and taxes, including government subsidies in the importation of parts, machineries and equipment that will translate to fair and reasonable cost of electric tricycles and result in reduction of loan amount of the LGUs from the Land Bank of the Philippines,” said Haresco.

Haresco sought the inquiry through House Resolution 2258, saying the inquiry will ensure that the primary objectives of the E-Trike Project are carried out, which are namely

to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles and encourage private sector participation in the design, manufacture, assembly and supply of electric tricycles to LGUs under the DOE-ADB E-Trike Project.

“Proper tax incentives and government subsidies should be imposed to achieve the widespread adoption of electric tricycles as well as access to low-cost financing and the development of a sustainable local E-trike industry,” said Haresco, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development.

The government through the DOE and the ADB established a National Electric Vehicle Strategy (NEVS) to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles geared towards the reduction of the following: fuel consumption by at least 2.8 percent which translates to 560,926 barrels of fuel per year; carbon footprint of the transport sector in Metro Manila and other selected cities or LGUs; and air and noise pollution from tricycles plying the streets of these selected areas. (30) rbb

EDGEDAVAO

CARPENTER. A carpenter ignores the scorching heat of the sun as he pounds his hammer on the wooden frame of a bed that he is working on along Quezon Boulevard in the city on Monday. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Chambers to strengthen role in luring investments C

HAMBERS of commerce in Mindanao should take a stronger role in drawing trade and investment to their respective areas.

This was the consensus among the Mindanao chamber officials who attended a “cross-learning” seminar organized in Cebu City by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

The seminar drew executives from established chambers of commerce in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga, as well as from smaller, newer chambers, from the provinces of Sarangani and Surigao and the cities of Butuan, Pagadian and Kidapawan. Representatives from Naga, Iloilo, and Cebu business chambers also attended the activity.

Participants exchanged best practices on chamber revenue generation, policy advocacy, and trade and investment facilitation, focus-

ing on the successful experience of the Cebu Investment Promotion Center.

“We are in the process of reviewing our city’s investment code, and it was particularly useful to learn more about Cebu’s highly focused approach,” said Raymund Salangsang, president of the General Santos City chamber.

“GenSan has wellestablished fisheries, agriculture and IT sectors that bring in business, but we really should distinguish between domestic and foreign investors and their differing requirements,” Salangsang said.

He also proposed a more subregional approach towards attracting investors.

“Some industries cannot be contained in just one city,” Salangsang said.

“GenSan is already the commercial and transport hub

for surrounding provinces, so why not help businesses to locate or expand there?

It works out to everyone’s benefit.”

“We looked at our respective strengths rather than try to replicate what other cities are doing,” said Mercedes Lourdes Quisumbing, president of the Pagadian City-Zamboanga del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. “We are a small city in a highly agricultural area, with only a small wharf, but with established supply routes to Cebu and Cagayan de Oro,” Quisumbing pointed out.

“Rather than focus on direct exports, we studied how we fit into the supply chain,” Quisumbing said.

“Given our large coconut production base, for example, there are opportunities for investors in coco semiprocessing.”

15-minute switching outages, which will take place from 5:00 AM to 5:15 AM and from 12:45 PM to 1:00 PM for the return of loads to normal set up.

Affected by these service interruptions are the power consumers from crossing Maryknoll High School up to New Malitbog going to Tadeco substation.

On the other hand, a separate power outage will be experienced for eight (8) hours from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM affecting the customers situated from Tadeco substation to Tanglaw. This also includes customers in Tadeco Central and entire Sto. To-

mas area.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience of these service interruptions but it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

To get your Davao Light electric bill balance, just text ASKDLPC(space)BILL (space)10-digit ACCOUNT ID and send to 3913572 (Smart, Talk&Text and Red Mobile subscribers) or 09229993572 (Sun and Globe subscribers). Regular rates apply; Davao Light pays for the reply.

Power interruptions set on April 5

D

AVAO Light and Power Company will conduct power interruptions on April 5, Thursday, affecting the customers in the northern area of its franchise.

Corporate Communications Officer Ross Luga said that the service interruptions are necessary to conduct a corrective maintenance servicing of the 23 poles-69 kV lines along Tadeco up to Sto. Tomas.

In order to keep the power interruptions within the least possible time, loads from the said lines will be transferred to the nearby substation This will result to two

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

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

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

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

5

DA ask farmers to take care of farm machines A

GICULTURE assistant secretary Dante S. de Lima yesterday urged farmers to adopt as their own the farm machineries that the Department of Agriculture has distributed to them.

De Lima was here for the turnover of P18.6 million worth of threshers, hand tractors, and four-wheel drive tractors to 126 farmer groups across Soccsksargen Region; the turnover ceremony was held at DA’s Research Outreach Station in Tupi, South Cotabato.

He also awarded P2.4 million worth of other agricultural machines to five best performing irrigators’ associations.

“We hope that you will take of these farm machineries.

You are very fortunate to have been chosen to receive these,” he said.

Earlier, DA 12 regional executive director Amalia JayagDatukan these explained these machineries were provided by DA “in line with the Agri Pinoy Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) which is pushed

by Sec Alcala and one of the top

priorities of President Benigno Aquino.”

The is specifically undertaken under the Agri Pinoy Rice Program’s Mechanization Project that aims to enable farmers to improve their productivity through appropriate and efficient mechanization facilities.

Under the scheme DA pays for 85 percent of the cost of quality farm machineries while the remaining 15 percent is shouldered as equity of the farmer group cooperator.

Among those turned-over to farmer organizations in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces and General Santos and Cotabato cities were 37 rice threshers, 112 hand tractors and 5 four-wheel drive tractors.

This “85-15% counterpart scheme”, she added, “encourages a sense of ownership for the part of the beneficiaries.”

To ensure the successful implementation of these projects, she added, a team from DA would closely supervise and regularly monitor the farm

equipment given to the beneficiaries. She also reminded them to make use of the machines only for purposes they were intended and not to sell or mortgage them.

Asec de Lima further explained that the machineries distributed yesterday were part of allocations approved in 2011.

“Farm machineries for 2012, are expected to be delivered in August,” he said.

Also distributed yesterday were units of hand tractors with trailers, hermetic cocoons, and portable dryers given as incentives to five outstanding irrigators’ associations in the region namely: PULMAKA IA, MAREMCO IA, LD1C IA, MASBACAS IA and Roxas Silang IA. De Lima, who is also the national rice program coordinator, explained these farm machineries were granted to IAs to encourage them further to optimize the production potentials in their area.

Besides farm machineries, DA 12 also turned over 5.6 million pesos worth of certificates for the 45 units Multi-Purpose

Drying Pavement (MPDP).

Earlier, DA has also distributed a total of 3,116 bags of registered seeds to rice farmers while ten (10) carabaos and farm implements were given to outstanding IA’s in Region 12.

In response, provincial agriculturist Reynaldo Legaste, said: “The provincial government of South Cotabato, farmers and fisherfolks would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to our Secretary represented by Asec de Lima.”

For his part, Sultan Kudarat provincial agriculturist Nestor Kasador said: “This really spells a big difference to develop the agriculture sector in the region.

Farmers from our province are very happy knowing that they would get farm machineries from DA.” Dante Cudal, president of the North Cotabato Irrigator’s Associations, said: “Ang DA ang nagbigay liwanag sa buhay ng mga magsasaka,nagbibigay ng mga tunay na programa. Kaya, nandirito ako upang pasalamatan ang DA. Salamat at dumating na ang tunay na Kagawaran ng Agrikultura.”

entrepreneurs.

TESDA- 12 regional director Zeus Ampuyas said they are now implementing TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program (TSTP), which aims to assist unemployed technical vocational education and train-

ing (TVET) graduates find sustenance through entrepreneurial activity.

Ampuyas said under the program, TVET graduates are formed into groups called “TESDA Specialistas” who will be oncall to provide skilled servicesfor-fee to households in their respective communities.

Services these specialistas provide include specific jobs under the following categories: building/house repair and maintenance services, beauty care and wellness services, appliance repair services, automotive/vehicle maintenance services, tourism related services, health related services, and computer hardware services Ampuyas explained that the TSTP is an offshoot of earlier programs, such sa Blue-Desk and Jobs Bridging that conducts jobs facilitation through referrals and jobs fair. TSTP was launched in February in compliance to TESDA Circular No. 26 series of 2011, which enables

trained and certified Filipinos who are economically unstable do gainful activities for themselves as local entrepreneurs.

TESDA specialistas are provided with tool kits as well as uniform vests.

These techno-entrepreneurs, he added, are being managed by “TESDA Nurturers” who will coordinate with local government units are partners in the program, especially in obtaining a site that will serve as center of operation as well as providing other support that will enhance public awareness of such services.

He said, provincial TESDA offices have already begun forming local TESDA Specialista groups in their respective areas of responsibility.

Persons interested to seek the services of the TESDA specialistas may locate these groups of skilled servicemen in their respective communities through their barangay officials or through the TESDA Provincial Offices nearest their area.

TESDA beefs up TVET program I

N response to the increasing unemployment, the regional office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-12) has intensified efforts to give their graduates better chances at earning income by becoming

J

In Aid of Education

Behind Closed Doors

UST because some government officials, who were egged-on by these holier-than-thou alleged environmentalist advocates, deemed their experiment evil, 18 students of the prestigious University of the Philippines – Mindanao campus are at the peril of not being able to graduate this April.

Last year, the students embarked on their thesis experiment, which involved an agricultural crop, which they placed in various pots. It’s not even close to a backyard vegetable plot, or a planta-

tion as one government official wanted to portray it.

When the students returned after the Christmas break, they were shocked out of their wits to see their plants uprooted from its pots. With very little time to replant or grow a new batch of the crops, the students might not be able to graduate this year, with two of the students supposed to graduate as Magna Cum Laude, while three or four others as Cum Laude; all that just because some government officials thought that their experiment was evil. 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 6 SSS collects P2-B OFW Domestic trade up in Q4 of 2011 contributions, cites THE ECONOMY

T

HE total value of commodities traded within the country rose by 4.6 percent to P124.84 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 from P119.33 billion in the same period of 2010.

Trade transactions through water were the major mode of transport, comprising 98.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 99.4 percent in the same period of last year.

The total quantity of domestic trade transactions in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased by 26.3 percent, from 4.37 million tons reported during the

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

same period last year to 5.52 million tons.

The commodities were traded mostly through water transport systems comprising 99.9 and 99.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Food and live animals contributed the largest among the commodities that were transacted throughout the country in the fourth quarter of 2011, amounting to P35.33 billion.

This was followed by machinery and transport equipment with P26.97 billion and manufactured goods classified chiefly by

materials with P17.15 billion.

Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes shared the least value of P1.31 billion.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, most of the traded commodities originated from the National Capital Region (NCR) with value of domestic trade amounting to P29.55 billion.

Central Visayas was second with P22.07 billion, followed by Western Visayas with P16.41 billion, and Northern Mindanao with P12.71 billion.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, Central Luzon

posted the most favorable trade balance at P11.73 billion. Other regions which surpassed the billion-peso positive trade balance were NCR, P4.77 billion, and Eastern Visayas, P2.12 billion.

On the other hand, Caraga suffered an unfavorable trade balance of negative P7.40 billion.

Other regions with more than a billion-peso negative trade balances were Zamboanga Peninsula, P3.26 billion; CALABARZON, P2.83 billion; Northern Mindanao, P1.13 billion, and SOCCSKSARGEN, P1.04 billion.

the Bizbox, a modem with built-in Wifi router, WAN capable connections, a USB port, Ethernet ports and Voip ports, a complete suite of security software to fight against viruses, spyware, fraud protection and an office suite with a web domain name and vanity business email address.

The company also guarantees a minimum speed per package to ensure operations go smoothly at any given time. Rates range from P4,000 to P50,000 a month.

By improving on the product, PLDT marketing head Jerameel Azurin said they are staying true to the company’s thrust of making small and medium enterprises use technology to grow their business.

Since most believe that a high rate of technology adoption leads to bigger IT investment costs, Azurin said PLDT SME Nation comes in to provide solutions that are cheaper but “scalable, manageable and enabling.”

Azurin said that instead

of just basic Internet usage, they try to include packages that would allow businesses to use the Internet to do video monitoring, asset tracking, sales and marketing inventory, audio and data conferencing and online storage.

The company aims to reach the country’s top SMEs, businesses that have a minimum of 10 employees and use at least five computers.

Currently, Azurin said they have between 35,000 and 40,000 customer names with one or two connections using PLDT myDSL Biz. The company claims that subscribers have posted improved sales of up to 40 percent, monthly telecom expense savings of up to 30 percent by using email and social networking sites for promotions, and P240,000 annual savings of handdelivered mails by connecting their various store branches. ”This is PLDT’s way of supporting SMEs to make their business prosper,

knowing that they comprise a big percentage of the country’s gross domestic product. It is PLDT myDSL Biz’s vision to arm them with the right tools, knowledge and hardware to help them reach their full market potential,” said SME Nation vice president and head, Kat Luna-Abelarde.

Azurin, citing government figures, said SMEs make up 99.6 percent of registered firms with the Department of Trade and Industry and Securities and Exchange Commission.

The sector also provides 70 percent of the country’s labor force, contributes 32 percent of the country’s GDP, 25 percent in export revenue and 60 percent of export volume.

Jinky Francisco, PLDT Visayas area sales head, said they prefer to be called partners of SMEs, rather than service providers, because they also host events to help SMEs learn about new trends and tricks in running a business. (PNA)

Organizations Achieving Certified Credit Union Standards (FOCCUS) accredited, Tagum Cooperative was conferred with FOCCUS Achievement Gold Award during the 9th FOCCUS Awards Night held in Davao City in December 2011.

It was also awarded as the Most Outstanding Cooperative for Large Scale Category in Mindanao during the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Gawad Parangal held in Manila in October last year.

To boost its standards of operation and services, it is now working to get the ACCESS Branding that the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) and the Philippine Federation of Credit

Cooperatives (PFCCO) are implementing in the Philippines.

“Our vision for standards started with FOCCUS, then to ACCESS Branding. We’re eyeing for the ISO,” she said. “Their confidence would double because they know that their money is safe,” she added referring to Tagum Cooperative members.

To safeguard its more than P1 billion assets, Tagum Cooperative is shielded with layers of auditing systems, Pereyras said.

Aside from partnering with Reyes Tacandong and Co. as its external auditing firm, Tagum Cooperative has at its helm an Audit Committee manned by Certified Public Accountants elected by the gener-

al membership during the general assembly meeting.

Among others, the committee is tasked to screen the work of the internal auditors.

“Dadaan talaga yan sa butas ng karayom. (That really should pass through stringent scrutiny.),” Pereyras said referring to financial documents and transactions.

Pereyras explained that leveling up the standards of operation and services of Tagum Cooperative is important to keep the trust of its members “for whom we have the passion to serve.”

She cited as valid proofs of members’ trust the sustained financial performance of Tagum Cooperative in its 45 years of existence since 1967.

(PNA)

PLDT to come up with faster DSL packages

O

FFICIALS of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said their PLDT myDSL Biz packages will come up with faster speeds.

Their basic service plan has a speed of 4 megabytes per second (mbps).

The company expects the faster connection to allow companies to maintain websites effortlessly, and download live video feeds from remote branches or support video conferencing.

They said slow and unsecured Internet connectivity affects performance of growing enterprises by causing delays and giving an unprofessional image to the business.

Aside from the higher speed, they will also offer products to come along with the package to help the business thrive.

Christian Lim, PLDT SME Nation’s data head, said the new enhancements are complete business solutions and go beyond connectivity.

Packages come with

Tagum coop seeks ISO certification

T

O shore up people’s trust and confidence, Tagum Cooperative is eyeing to pass the standards of the International Standards Organization (ISO).

Newly elected Tagum Cooperative chairperson of the Board of Directors, Norma Pereyras revealed this in an interview as she assured members that Tagum Cooperative will remain worthy of their trust.

Pereyras said the ISO certification would come as the next hallmark standards that Tagum Cooperative intends to level up to, once it gets the A-One Competitive Choice in Service and Soundness or ACCESS Branding which it is now applying for.

A long time Finance

coverage initiatives

T

HE Social Security System (SSS) collected a total of P2.17 billion in contributions of overseas Filipino workers last year, which was 17 percent higher than its P1.85 billion OFW collection in 2010, a top official said.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said social security coverage of overseas workers is among the SSS’ top priorities, adding that it plans to reach out to more OFWs through additional foreign offices and expansion of e-payment and online services.

“The SSS posted a double-digit growth in OFW collection for the third straight year.

It reflects the growing awareness among overseas workers of the importance of active SSS membership and saving for retirement and other contingencies,” he said.

The SSS has over 738,000 OFW members at present, which it aims to expand through tie ups with key agencies handling deployment of migrant workers such as the Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

“OFWs are usually excluded from social protection programs in their country of employment, even if many of them work in highrisk environments and are considered family breadwinners. This further highlights the value of SSS,” de Quiros said.

Among SSS’ programs for OFWs for 2011 is the Member-GetMember promo, which offers monthly raffle prizes from January to June and a travel package for two in the Grand Draw in September for successful referral of fellow overseas workers to become active members.

“More than 1,900

Quips

OFWs so far have registered through SSS branches and foreign offices, as well as via the SSS website at www.sss. gov.ph. One active participant has referred as many as 109 OFWs at present, and we are only in the third month of the promo,” he said.

Nine OFWs won P10,000 each during the second monthly draw, which was held at the SSS main office in Quezon City on March 30.

The winners for Asia, who are all deployed in Hong Kong, were Maria Riza Santander Wabinga, Salvacion Estaras Espaldon and Arceli Tirol Belen.

The Middle East winners include Pensees Dawny Rodriguez Figueroa and Annie Jean Iran Alcala from Abu Dhabi, and Elizabeth Bucad Fernandez from Bahrain. Amalia Bunag Aquino and Aniana Arellano Dela Rosa, who are both working in London, and Christopher Lechuga Alavado from Rome rounded up the list of winners from Europe.

Wabinga and Figueroa won for the second straight month in their respective regions due to their high number of referrals or “nominees”. The next MGM monthly raffle draw will be on April 30.

The SSS is also working on bilateral social security agreements between the Philippines and the countries of Australia, China, Cyprus, Germany and Sweden.

It wrapped up negotiations with Denmark and Portugal in 2011 and is preparing for initial talks with Japan this year.

“By forging bilateral agreements with other nations, we also help overseas Filipinos become entitled to social security benefits comparable to those received by citizens of their host countries,” de Quiros said.

‘AS much as possible, we want renewable sources of energy, such as hydro and solar.

Coal may be an alternative but we need to have power now.’

--Roberto Alabado III, acting director of Davao City Planning Development Office. BM

EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

BPOs to drive growth in key cities

N

EW business centers in Metro Manila and key provincial centers will continue to grow up to 2015 as a result of the rapid and sustained growth of the outsourcing and call center industry, according to reports by Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu (JLLL), the largest international property services firm in the Philippines.

Phillip Anonuevo, JLLL associate director, said that from two dominant business districts at the end of the 20th century, there are now at least 10 in Metro Manila and 10 more emerging in key Philippine cities – most of them fuelled by the outsourcing and call center industry which was valued as a US$ 9-billion industry in 2010.

JLLL represents 10 of the 12 top outsourcing and call center companies operating in the Philippines. It has also handled 90 percent of outsourcing and call center lease transactions in key provincial cities from Baguio to Davao City.

Anonuevo said that over 50 percent of all office space leased in the Philippines since 2006 has been taken up by key players of this bourgeoning industry, which generates demand for an average 300,000 to 360,000 sqm of office space annually.

“Many top BPO corporations have expanded beyond Metro Manila to cities like Baguio, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Lipa in Batangas, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Davao seeking to tap the services of fresh labor pools. As far as we can see, the industry will continue to provide impetus to the office sector and other related sectors up to 2015,” he said.

In Metro Manila, the fastest growing business district is Bonifacio Global City where JLLL was actively involved in 92 percent of leasing transactions.

“Its proximity to Makati and accessibility to most of the labor pools of Metro Manila has fuelled the rapid growth of BGC,” said Anonuevo.

The company was appointed sole leasing agent by nine building owners in Bonifacio Global City who expect their developments to be completed within the years 2012 and 2013.

These developments include the NAC Building to

be completed in the third quarter of 2012; and in the fourth quarter, Ecotower, W Fifth Avenue, and W Global Center.

In the second quarter of 2013, RSB Corporate Center is set to be finished.

The attractions of Bonifacio Global City are also shared by the adjoining McKinley Hill development with Megaworld boosting development in the area.

Being the largest business district, Makati remains an attractive location. At least two prominent office buildings including the SLC Building along Ayala Avenue are set to open in the last two quarters of 2012 and to be leased out

by JLLL. Also filling up quickly with tenants related to the BPO sector are Ecoplaza and Southgate Tower in the Chino Roces Avenue area and which were completed earlier and are also represented by the company.

In the last few years, the Bay City area anchored by the Mall of Asia development has likewise emerged as a business destination.

Anonuevo said the success of the E-com center dispelled all misconceptions about the area.

“Bay City has become accessible to public transportation and call centers and other firms located there easily attract employees from Paranaque and Las Pinas and even parts of Cavite.”

JLLL is leasing out Aseana One on Bradco Avenue which is set for completion in the second quarter of 2012.

Pockets of Quezon City – like the UP Ayala Technohub developed by Ayala Land, Eton’s Centris development, and The Gateway Tower in Cubao – likewise continue to evolve as their respective skylines change with the addition of new office towers occupied by employees of outsourcing and call center firms.

The same is true with pockets of Muntinlupa including the Madrigal Business Park where Kingston Tower is located. Meanwhile, Anonuevo disclosed that the company continues to actively network with its offices in a number of locations in the US and Europe to attract companies to do business in Metro Manila as well as provincial capitals.

7

Amiya Resort Residences:

Working with nature O

NE of the primary amenities in a residential development is the clubhouse. And at Amiya Resort Residences, their clubhouse is like a jewel under the sun – glittering and shining.

Talking to Ram Lu of Kisan Lu Lands, he said that the intention behind the almost 12,000 square meter clubhouse complex, which includes a 1,300 square meter salt-chlorinated swimming pool, is to give their homeowners a respite from the rapid urban development of the city.

“Once you step into our project, it is like stepping out of the city into a resort.

And with our clubhouse, it is like stepping into an actual resort,” Lu said. “It is

a place of relaxation, and detoxification for the mind, body, and spirit, after a long day in the city. It’s actually a place where you can rest and rejuvenate.”

Amiya promises to be a different community complete with tree-lined streets, pocket gardens, and a fishing lagoon.

Aside from the usual swimming pool, the clubhouse will also feature three restaurants, casitas and villas that can be rented out, and a spa pavilion.

“What we have in mind is for families to have the opportunity to bond with each other within the development,” Lu said. “Instead of having to go outside the village, the families can bond longer with the

amenities and activities we have inside Amiya Resort Residences.”

The main theme of the development is inspired by Thai architecture, which promotes well-ventilated buildings, usage of natural light, and lots of greenery.

To maintain the clubhouse complex, Kisan Lu Lands and Development,

Inc plans to operate the business.

“We want to operate the clubhouse so that it will be profitable and will be able to serve its purpose. Unlike if we turn it over, the clubhouse might suffer in times of conflict among homeowners if the association will be the one to handle it,” Lu said.

How to get the rent you want R ENT is one of the major aspects that come with running a business that you have to allocate for. When negotiating for the rent you want independent landlords are usually easier to deal with compared to mall administrators. However, keep in mind that every negotiation with independents is a unique one. In any case, approach independents and mall administrators with equal courtesy and politeness.

“People in the property sector tend to move

in small and around the same circles,” says Deus dela Cruz, a property locator. “Chances are, the landlord you’re currently dealing with knows another landlord you previously did business with, so having a good reputation is very important.”

You can haggle these items with the landlord: security deposit, advance monthly payments, and the escalation rate. Dela Cruz says it is possible to negotiate that the security deposit and the advance payments be given

and applied in the first few months of operations, instead of paying them upfront at the start of the business. This gives the entrepreneur time to generate revenues, without the monthly rent eating into the business’s sales.

In addition, this will maximize the earning power of your money, as it is put to use immediately.

Note that the number of months that could be advanced to your landlord in rent must not exceed three months, says dela Cruz. As for the escala-

tion rate—or the rate by which your landlord could increase the rent—the legally mandated ceiling is 10 percent annually; you can however negotiate to keep it less than 10 percent. It may in fact be more prudent in some cases to negotiate to lower the escalation rate, instead of lowering the rent per se.

It is more difficult, although not impossible, to negotiate the same items with mall administrators because they follow a standard rent structure, says dela Cruz.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

The paramilitary temptation SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS

BY MARCOS C. MORDENO/MINDANEWS

Y

EDITORIAL

C

Threat to food security

ONRATULATIONS to the government agents for busting what looks like a syndicate adulterating fertilizer products for huge profits, an illegal activity that may prove disastrous not only to hapless farmers but could adversely affect the country’s food security.

So far, operatives of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and the anti-organized crime division of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have arrested a total of eight suspects, most of whom have been charged formally with violations of Presidential Decree 1144, creating the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, and Republic Act 8293.

No less than the affected company, La Filipina Uygonco Corporation, officially complained to the CIDG about the adulteration being made on their manufactured fertilizer carrying the brand “Amigo Planters” in many parts of Mindanao. For instance, urea was mixed with salt and sold to unsuspecting farmers. The farmers, themselves, complained to the company as they noticed that the adulterated fertilizers were not effective in improving the growth of the plants.

Instead, they noticed that the leaves turned yellow leading to the death of the plants.

Workers mixing the fertilizers with salt

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were caught in the act when operatives raided the warehouse of the Davao Golden Century compound, allegedly owned and operated by a certain Edgar Calledo. In that raid, armed with search warrants, the government agents arrested Calledo and seven of his workers. Calledo’s wife, Dely, is still at large.

FPA deputy executive director Gavino Barlin said that adulterated fertilizer will not only destroy the plants applied with the counterfeit product, but also diminish the soil’s productivity for a long time.

On the other hand, La Filipina, the victimized company, claimed that it has lost some P90 million in actual and moral damages.

Indeed, due to one man’s or one group’s greed for more and faster profit, it seems even the country’s food security would be compromised.

Government enforcers ought to see to it that the cases lodged against the syndicate will be airtight to ensure that these unscrupulous traders pay for their crime once proven guilty.

On the other hand, La Filipina’s owners ought to be lauded for their civic consciousness in immediately reporting to authorities the fraudulent practice.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO CARLO P. MALLO Associate Features and Lifestyle KENNETH IRVING K. ONG KARLOS C. MANLUPIG • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., Creative Solutions Photography LORIE ANN A. CASCARO • JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURA Staff Writers

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

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

RICHARD C. EBONA IMELDA P. LEE Advertising Specialists

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

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

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ORK-based Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling on President Benigno S. Aquino III to dismantle all paramilitary groups, citing these groups’ “long and continuing history of serious human rights violations.”

HRW noted that the President has not delivered on his campaign promise to scrap Executive Order 546 signed by his predecessor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in 2006 that has been used to justify arming Civilian Volunteer Organizations as “force multipliers” in counterinsurgency operations.

Aquino’s amnesia doesn’t surprise me.

Like the other Presidents before him, he is finding it difficult to go against the wishes of the generals when it comes to questions concerning counterinsurgency. In fact, he has made known his position [on paramilitary groups] when he said last year that he was considering deploying Citizen Armed Force Geographical Units or Cafgus in areas where large-scale mining ventures operate.

His declaration, which also revealed where he really stands on the issue of mining, came after the successful raid on three mining firms in Surigao del Norte late last year by the New People’s Army.

Like a malignant disease, the use of paramilitary groups has refused to go away even after the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos. The president’s mother and Marcos’ successor, the late Corazon C. Aquino, disbanded the Civilian Home Defense Force only to replace it with the Cafgu. She also supported anti-communist vigilante groups whose emergence was linked to the counterinsurgency strategy called Low-Intensity Conflict.

It’s ironic that the existence of paramilitary groups, which have figured in many abuses, was given a semblance of legitimacy during the Corazon Aquino administration.

She issued Executive Order 264 dated July 25, 1987 creating the Cafgu. In 1991, she signed Republic Act 7077 providing for the “development, administration, organization, training, maintenance and utilization of the Citizen Armed Forces.”

EO 264 and RA 7077 cited Section 4, Article XVI (General Provisions) of the Constitution as their legal basis. This provision states: “The Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be composed of a citizen armed force which shall undergo military training and serve as may be provided by law. It shall keep a regular force necessary for the security of the state.”

Given the political context in which the 1987 Constitution was drafted, it’s highly unlikely that the framers of the Charter had envisioned a citizen armed force to be organized, oriented and mobilized in the tradition of martial law era paramilitaries. The memories of abuses committed by government militiamen were still too fresh as to make the members of the Constitutional Commission entertain the faintest idea of resurrecting a monster.

Undoubtedly, the commissioners had in mind an AFP composed MAINLY of citizen soldiers, a departure from the usual policy of maintaining a large standing army that eats up a huge portion of the national budget.

The central idea of training a citizen army is to have a pool of qualified reservists who can be called upon to to defend the state in times of emergency.

At least two questions therefore can be raised with regard to the existence of the Cafgus: [1] Do the Cafgus we now have possess the qualifications provided for under RA 7077? Are they being mobilized strictly on the basis of conditions enumerated under the same law? RA 7077 stipulates a multi-tiered screening process for would-be citizen soldiers, although in actual practice the selection of Cafgus has been left [almost] exclusively to the whim of military commanders.

The criteria for their selection have been limited to their knowledge of local conditions and willingness to fight rebel groups.

This circumvention of the rules has made the Cafgu a dumping ground of trigger-happy individuals who eventually become the local tyrants.

Moreover, in some areas, the Cafgus have served as security guards for private corporations, a function sanctioned by no less than the AFP General Headquarters.

Surely, this cannot be a function of any selfrespecting citizen soldier. I suppose too that the “emergency” contemplated under RA 7077 refers to situations directly affecting the security of the state.

The provision on the citizen army in the Constitution cannot and should not be made a smokescreen for the resurgence of the discredited paramilitary system. [H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@ gmail.com]

EDGEDAVAO

I

T COULD have been one of Davao’s momentous events, but Mother Nature herself was probably showing her anger against big business which is cutting down century-old trees to make way for shopping malls in this city.

As we watched, first in awe and wonder, then in utter disbelief, the thirty or so lanterns soaring up the night sky to mark Earth Hour over at Magsaysay Park last Saturday night, all of them drifted back to earth, gasping for breath as it were, their flickering lights drenched and dying from the sudden rain that fell from a clear moonlit sky.

There was nothing wrong with the weather. I still could see the three planets, Venus, Mars and Jupiter, lining up next to the bright waxing gibbous moon, clearly visible through the thin cumulus clouds. Where in heaven’s name did the rain come from?

The rain came twice, first at 8:00pm when hundreds of people were preparing their big paper lanterns at the big skating ring under the floodlights. The second downpour came at exactly 8:30 pm when the speech of Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio was read by a city councilor followed by a musical performance by a school choir group, marking the exact time Earth Hour was celebrated all over the world (what happened to the time difference around the world?---Editors).

If you still don’t know yet, the celebration of Earth Hour, the largest environment movement in history, was actually launched in Sydney, Australia sometime in 2007, a worldwide symbolic gesture to make people aware

C

A N D I D SHOTS – We as a people have all too often been fragmented into factions each chasing after its self-interest without regard for the common good.

Perhaps this is the reason we are confronted with life-and-death threats – a magnitude of complex and interlocking problems, arrogance and neglect that have allowed political grievances to remain unredressed and utterly lack a sense of unity. If we do not pull this off, we risk turning the Philippines into a country torn apart by endemic political conflict. oooOooo DAVAO CITY SPEEDING UP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Modern malls, retail chains, restaurants and entertainment centers are proliferating among the busy residential areas and activity-filled streets in the city.

Since early last year, a mammoth, glitzy mall has opened its doors here cramped with a collection of stores dealing in signature apparels, shoes, jewelry, bags, watches, sportswear, cameras, cellphones, electronic gadgets and accessories and many more.

It seems Davao City is rapidly developing into an entertainment and mall-rat haven. The tangible proof is that two more huge shopping malls are in the works while another existing one located in the southern part of the city has recently completed its multi-million expansion project.

Well, I really have no idea if this sign of growth has been a godsend for Dabawenyos like me. Do major corporate players strongly believe that people in the city now belong to the high-spending crowd that they are enticed to invest worth billions of pesos in the city?

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

The rise and fall of Earth Hour’s lanterns of the need to protect the global environment. In Davao, this particular hour at exactly 8:30pm was also observed in different parts of the city as well as provincial cities like Mati, Tagum, Samal, Digos, etc.

In the middle of it all, was Dr. Bo Puentespina, chair of the environment committee of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, egging everyone in the dark public park to shout at the top of their voices, ”Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!” --- or at least after the Earth Hour wound up. As the rain fell in torrents, Bo asked the people to pray and beg Heaven to please, please, please stop the rain, and allow all the lighted lanterns to make their way to the ivory-black sky (how’ that again?—Editors).

(I found out later it was dry in most parts of the city, there was NO rain in many areas, including Nova Tierra, Lanang where I live.

The rain fell, it seemed, only on Magsaysay Park, ruining the Earth Hour event that weekend) Despite the rain, the big sponsors like Holcim, Phoenix, Aboitiz Power, Abreeza Ayala, San Miguel, Anflocor, Dole, Sumifru, etc all got the good PR image they paid for, albeit in the dark. Whether or not these firms are really doing something tangible to improve the earth’s environment is one question left for them to answer, since no amount of publicity can gloss over the pollution they may have spread over the years. But schools lent a helping hand thru their students, who also got their share of public exposure even after they all ended up dripping wet like trembling chicks under shared umbrellas--- Ateneo, UM, Holy Cross, ICCU, USEP, you name it.

It was surprising to find Koreans, those staying in Davao under the Davao Korean Association, making sure they weren’t counted

out by Earth Hour organizers when DKA vice president James Han put up a food booth for nearly 100 fellow Koreans to join in releasing lanterns. “We’re part of this. The whole world is part of this. We’re proud to be here,” Han told this writer, but probably addressing their fellow Koreans in their country, those running factories and industries and polluting the environment.

One of the biggest and most active groups of course, was the group led by Cora Baylon, president of PCEEM Davao, or People Collaborating for Environment & Economic Management an NGO which gets support from Canada and the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which had been selling black Earth Hour souvenir tshirts to participants last Saturday.

Whole families -- mothers and fathers with children in tow carrying paper lanterns—came as early as 4:00pm to sign up for the Earth Hour event that was supposed to last till 10:00pm but was cut short by the sudden rain which fell at exactly the time when they were supposed to light up the wax inside the lantern.

Despite Bo’s preparations and careful coordination with the Davao International Airport to check with them whether it’s clear and safe to fly the lighted lanterns, he didn’t get any warning it was going to rain that night.

Even the local weathermen, if asked, didn’t have any inkling of that sudden downpour that seemed to have targeted only the Earth Hour event at Magsaysay Park.

If Mother Nature was trying to send an angry message to organizers and sponsors of the Earth Hour by raining on this event, we don’t know…

(Comments? Email : tradingpost_davao@ yahoo.com)

Has there been a fundamental economic change happening that the “artificial” consumer boom is on full display or is there a new breed of consumers in Davao City? Actually, in the not-so-distant past such shopping destinations which deal mostly on expensive signature brands were off limits to all but a fortunate middle-class to high-level consumer boom.

But big investors according to noted economic experts are optimistic that a rapidly changing economy is making the medium to higher life available to more and more of the city’s million-strong population. These wellestablished entrepreneurs who are pushing their way into the city probably found a more sizable market for their businesses than in other bustling cities in Mindanao.

How did Davao City become host to many nation-leading investors, it might be asked?

The simple truth: a sign of growing interest among prospective investors are strategic business location, abundant supply of raw materials, cheap labor, ample water supply and power sources. And there’s more – a multiplying number of privileges such as lower tax system, healthy elements of a vibrant and robust business atmosphere, environment-friendly surroundings, livable community and most importantly a well-sustained peace and order and security measures.

What we have had in the city right now is a flourishing economic development. But we cannot talk about development without thinking of the big businesses that keep on pouring in. The city government, as a matter of fact, provides prospective investors an investment space and decided to speed up development, and the decision also includes encouraging investments from other regions, Manila-based capitalists and foreign investors.

Above all, Dabawenyos must learn to live with flexible growth because there is no such thing as a never-ending economic development. The trick, however, is to treat any slow-

down as a breather to map out new strategies for the next leap forward. In other words, continue moving forward – but do it with deliberate speed. oooOooo IT’S FUN TO EAT GRILLED FOOD – Whatever the reason, plenty of people will pay to eat good, affordable food. At different locations throughout the city – public parks, sidewalks, vacant lots and food junctions, you will see and hear group of friends, families and couples flocked in hordes to their favorite grill restaurants, laugh and chat while enjoying steaks, pork and chicken barbecues.

Grill joint owners here had long served sauce-dipped pork and chicken barbecues aside from other popular fare such as litsong manok and manok inasal. Most of time diners are amused and grill restaurant owners at the same time explained that people had “so much fun” using their bare hands to swirl slices of grilled pork, chicken or even beef.

Still, grill joint owners insist that the customer knows best. The secret is out, there’s no candle flickering on their tables, but familysize plates or spread banana leaves full of pork and chicken barbecues cooked in a fiery wood charcoal sizzled in the grill pit.

Local food reviewers call the grill restaurants as future “great date food” centers.

Dragged in by enthusiasm, every diner embraces the great food experience. And grill restaurants are not just for groups, families or dating couples, but for everybody who had the penchant to pay good money for reasonable and delicious fare.

What’s more, all the preparation work is done for customers – which is one reason, a barbecue chain in the city has doubled its size to more locations in the past two years.

With families, group of friends or even couples spending about 25% of their food budget on meals outside the home, they enjoyed the experience – sort of.

No such thing as never-ending economic boom

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The sound of silence

T

HERE is a new game in town called noynoying, and it’s played in the streets, not on cellphones.

Who would have thought that an ordinary but endearing Pinoy nickname would metamorphose into an action word signifying inaction?

Well, the unthinkable has happened – the nation’s political poster boy is now the people’s object of ridicule and raucous streets protests.

Noynoy has, somehow, lost its magic spell and luster. Noynoy is OUT, noynoying in IN. And you can give credit to the fertile imagination of militant students who, visibly frustrated, fed-up, infuriated and mad at presidential lethargy, demanded that Mr. Aquino act decisively and fast to ease the people’s burden caused by the perpetual oil price hike and impending tuition fee increases by private schools and colleges.

The students urged the President to act, not rationalize incompetence; act, not point to scapegoats, act, not justify cavalier leadership; act, not wallow in high trust rating.

Without any doubt, the noynoying act caught Aquino administration drumbeaters with their pants down.

They were stunned and rendered tongue-tied with blank looks on their faces. They didn’t know what hit them.

The communication geniuses at Malacañang could only mumble anemic asides at the protesting students, advising them to concentrate on their studies instead of taking potshots at the President.

It took some time – - about a week - - before someone came up with an oblique counter offensive in the person of Mar Roxas, the President’s political bitter half during the 2010 presidential poll.

Roxas offered his own concept or definition of noynoying which he meant as “someone who always tells the truth” (?) and “who puts the people’s interest ahead of politics.”

But his posturing was sophomoric, if not moronic. He completely missed the students’ message. The inventors of the term noynoying equate it with them four “I’s” indicative of the character traits of Aquino as a leader - - INCOMPETENT, INSENSITIVE, ILLUSIONAL, INUTIL. Oh, by the way, a Korean television personality, who is paraded as Quino’s fictional lady love, also came to his rescue declaring that the President is a “workaholic” (Ugh!).

Pro-Aquino national dailies and tabloids have done their bests to keep the term noynoying out of their pages and eventually confine it to oblivion.

But someone couldn’t help but go back in time to the decade of 60s when movie legend Manuel Conde produced several sequels of Juan Tamad movies culminating with Juan Tamad Goes to Malacañang, a masterful spoof of lazy Juan becoming the country’s president.

Of course, Conde didn’t have Aquino in mind when he made that movie. But if he did, it was prophetic.@ oooOooo Noynoying was the deafening sound of silence that shook Malacañang and left its occupant trembling.@

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COMMUNITY SENSE

Be a junior master chef at IChef this Summer

P

LAY cooking games has always been part of anybody’s childhood. Most people if not all, spend quality time at the dining table with family and friends.

Restaurants all over Metro Davao are chockfull with customers craving for house specialties. The common denominator for all these facts is no less than-- FOOD! That’s why ICHEF launched its Discovery courses for a memorable summer not just for the kids but for the kids at heart who wants to discover the Chef in them. The goal of this program is to bring out the best in every person’s enthusiastic palates into something realistic, fun, enjoyable kitchen activities.

ICHEF offers “Basic Pastry and Bakers Course” for ages 12-18 years old. For this program, one will learn HACCP, Basic Pastry Dough, Sponge/Sauces, different delectable Chocolate Filling and Butter Cream Cake, Assorted French Pastry, Mousse, Cakes and Tortes, Pies and Tarts, Assorted Cookies, Meringue, Roulades, Hot and Cold

Desserts, Breads and Rolls, and also Piping Techniques. Culmination event would be an Afternoon Tea Party where the graduates will showcase what they have learned in the 12-session hands-on training with Chef Clinton Gregorio.

If you are a high school or college level student and wants to learn international cuisine, enroll at ICHEF’s “Flavors of the World!” It’s a 5-day intensive culinary lesson with Chef RJ Custodio. Wear your aprons and toques as you create dishes for a taste of Japanese, Thai, Spanish, Italian and Real American Grill and surprise your family as they come to dine on your Fine-Dining culmination day. / roseatienza The Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF) is the biggest and most modern hospitality and culinary school in Mindanao equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

For inquiries, call (082) 305 8833 or like us on Facebook www.facebook. com/ichefphilippines.

Website: www.ichef.com. ph │ info@ichef.com.ph

LIGHTS OUT. Marco Polo Davao, the city’s tallest building, takes part in the Earth Hour, a global call to save the environment from climate change and global

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

MSU launches Nutraceutical Lab M INDANAO State University- General Santos City launches the 3.7 million worth Nutraceutical Laboratory with the inauguration ceremony Thursday, March 30, at the campus ground.

The day was also the university’s 33rd Baccalaureate Services and Awards Ceremonies.

Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Resources (DABAR) and Guest Speaker Dr. Teodoro Solsoloy led the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Chancellor Abdurrahman Canacan and Vice- Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Mary Lynn S. Abiera.

Developing laboratories is one of the main thrust of DA-BAR. Solsoloy said there are good researchers but are nevertheless provided with

insufficient laboratories.

“There are studies which are just stuck in shelves, journals or publications. It’s time to explore more and prove more,” Solsoloy said.

The Nutraceutical Laboratory, with its stateof-the-art equipment, aims to expose into a more comprehensive way various researches and studies on screen plant and animal resources for therapeutic properties.

Chancellor Canacan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DA-BAR for its support and partnership with the university.

“This is not just a blessing but a big challenge for us,” Canacan said.

Canacan hopes for the laboratory to be properly utilized by the students, the faculty and other users.

Aside from aiding stu-

dents on their studies, the laboratory was built also to benefit other researchers in the region to nurture their knowledge on environment for health and safety.

Solsoloy said MSUGSC is the perfect location for the laboratory and the ideal place to set up the laboratory considering it as the center of all universities and scientific communities in Mindanao.

The laboratory can start its operation six months earlier than the targeted schedule speeded up by the faculty and university management joint efforts.

Alumni Regent Dr. William R. Adan expressed his admiration to the performance of the university under the present administration.

Research Director Dr. Edna Oconer said there will be no problem with

the results of the tests in the laboratory as it is already complete with proper protocols.

The nutraceutical building was a location for an old classroom. It was in summer 2011 when the university proposed the project to DA-BAR. The Nutraceutical Laboratory houses two rooms for different fields of specialization and is equipped with high-tech apparatuses.

The first room is the Phytochemistry Room. It will cater the phytochemical screening of locallyfound plants and animals in the region. The room accommodates different equipment for experiments to be conducted.

The Bioassay Room will be used to check and house the specimens for the experiments and also equipped with modern apparatuses. (MSU-GSC)

No other cheering team in the country ignites with energy and passion quite like the UP Pep Squad (or simply UP Pep). Known for their breathtaking stunts and smooth moves, they rally the UP Fighting Maroons with their graceful flips, spins and tumbles. Outside the hard court, the UP Pep inspires loud cheer from schoolmates with the numerous accolades they have reaped for their school and the country.

Young, dynamic and fierce, the UP Pep Squad has been a force to reckon with on the dance floor in the past seven years, beating other schools in the UAAP Cheerdance competition on several occasions. In fact, the squad has held the title for the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2010, and most recently in 2011. They recently joined some of the world’s best cheering squads when they won the bronze medal in the mixed team category at the prestigious 6th Cheerleading World Championships held at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

This time around, they will be rooting for young people as Sun Cellular’s Youth Icons, a title given to a group of young, unique and passionate achievers who epitomize the brand’s personality. “We are proud and happy to

welcome the UP Pep Squad to the Sun family.

It was an easy choice for us because they represent what Sun Cellular is all about insofar as the youth is concerned,” said Jocel Adorable, Sun Cellular’s Assistant Vice-President for Marketing Services.

The official announcement came during the much-anticipated Elevate: Lift One Another Up, the sold-out annual dance concert held at the UP Theater featuring a dance and music spectacle.

One of the highlights of the event was a dance routine by the UP Pep Squad where they performed their own interpretation of the Sun Text Unlimited (TU) Power Move, a series of hip swag moves inspired by the equally cool Sun Text Unlimited offers. Their number was oozing with style, confidence and energy, much like what Sun is all about.

“We are truly honored,” said Coach Lalaine Perena, who has been at the helm since the team was formed in 1998. She added, “I do hope we live up to their (Sun Cellular’s) expectations.”

Perena shared that what started out as a proposal for a one-time sponsorship culminated to a yearlong partnership.

Their collaboration started with this year’s “ELEV80s Concert” and things went uphill from that point forward.

With Sun Cellular coming in to support the UP Pep Squad’s numerous activities for a year, Coach Perena believes that communication among members will be more efficient and seamless given Sun’s unlimited calls and texts which the entire team can now enjoy. Sun Power Text Unlimited 200 comes with 30 days of unlimited Sun texts, 4 hours of Sun calls and 500 texts to other networks, enabling the team members to call each other and coordinate their schedules.

“Sun Cellular boasts of its power to improve the way people communicate and just like Sun, I believe the UP Pep has this power.” Together, Perena said, they are a powerful team with strong and energetic moves. “That is how we will represent Sun Cellular, UP Pep with Sun Power!”

UP pep squad powered by Sun Cellular

S

UN Cellular names UP Pep Squad as its first Youth Icons

warming. In the photo, General Manager Bruno Simeoni gives his go signal to switch off the hotel’s exterior lights.

Quips

‘I am old, but I still can do my duty,’ --Cuban revolutionary icon Fidel Castro in a conversation with Pope Benedict XVI. BM

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

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ComVal jewelry makers trained by Netherland expert T

JEWELRY MAKER. Dutch expert Robert R. Mallee of PUM Netherlands acts as a consultant to the Planning Workshop of the Jewelry Industry Development Plan in ComVal held at the capitol on March 28-29. Mallee

serves as a manager of “Royal Begeer” from 1983-2009, a company famed on jewelry production in over 200 years. (R. RENOBLAS/IDS COMVAL)

O further institutionalize and make jewelry industry more competitive, jewelry makers of the province undergo series of training from Mr. Robert R. Mallee, the Senior Expert of PUM Netherland.

PUM stands for ‘Programma Uitzending Managers’, which is Dutch for ‘Manager Deployment Program’. It is a nonprofit organization, which has been advising needy businesses in developing countries and emerging markets for over thirty years and promotes entrepreneurship, selfsufficiency and the sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprise locally.

PUM’s objective was to boost employment opportunities in the small & medium-sized enterprise sector in developing nations, while also improving productivity and international cooperation

in the private sector.

The trainer Robert R. Mallee is a Mechanical Engineer graduated at Alkmaar University, Alkmaar Netherlands and a Metallurgical Engineer graduated at HTS Haarlem University, Haarlem Netherlands. He is the manager of “Royal Begeer” from 1983 until 2009.

Royal Begeer is famous and well known jewelry making industry for 200 years because of its high level of production quality as well as its quality and quantity. Its jewelries undergo different production possibilities such as pressing, forming, casting polishing and plating.

On March 17, 2012 prior to the training proper which was conducted in Monkayo, Mr. Mallee, visited some goldsmith shops of the province like Lharz Goldsmith, Marieta Goldsmith, Dodong Goldsmith, Arman’s

WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT. The Mabini Council of Women gives their commitment to help for environmental protection during the women leaders summit last March 27 with CVPCOW chairperson Madam Eunese Uy and Zamboanga City Councilor Myra

Goldsmith, MONKASFED, Jakals Goldsmith, Jovir’s Goldsmith and the Jewelry Training Center of LGU Monkayo.

The weeklong training serves as an enhancement for the jewelry makers of the province. Mallee is determined to help the jewelry industry of Compostela Valley. He even donated 2,500 Euros and jewelry making tools and equipment from his own company in Netherlands.

After the training, Mallee joined the formulation of the 2012-2016 Provincial Jewelry Industry Development Plan as a consultant.

Governor Uy expresses his thanks to partner agencies who help the province come up with the training especially DOST, DTI, and TESDA who initiated the invitation to the PUM Netherland Senior Expert. (Rodielyn A. Manugas-IDS

Paz Abubakar, as guests. The council also launched the Green House Movement, a pet project of the Mindanao Commission on Women, which aims to reduce the impact of humans on the environment through lifestyle and policy changes. (A. DAYAO/IDS COMVAL)

BSP ComVal Council to hold ‘Run for Scouts’

by Grace J. Almedilla

C

OMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE----Amazed by the success of the conducted Bulawan Fun Run spearheaded by the provincial government on March 3, the officials of the Boy Scouts of the PhilippinesCompostela Valley Council also agreed to organize a fun run for the Boy Scouts to be dubbed as “Run for Scouts.”

As planned, it will be on July 14, the same date when the BSP ComVal Council was officially declared as a Regular Council. An overnight Camping on July 13 is also included in the plan.

Another coming activity is the Summer Advance Camp on April 18–22, 2012 in Maragusan.

Also recently, Governor Arturo T. Uy, the BSP Council Chairman led the successful con-

duct of their 6th Annual Local Council Meeting graced by Regional Scout Director Jesus M. Meris of Eastern Mindanao Region. An election of regular members to the Executive Board and sectoral representatives was also conducted.

The annual local council meeting was anchored on the theme, “Be Prepared: Leadership for Life.” (grace almedilla, ids-comval)

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SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Temperatures could rise by 3C by 2050 G

LOBAL temperatures could rise by 1.4-3.0C (2.5-5.4F) above levels for late last century by 2050, a computer simulation has suggested.

Almost 10,000 climate simulations were run on volunteers’ home computers.

The projections, published in Nature Geoscience, are somewhat higher than those from other models.

The researchers aimed to explore a wider range of possible futures, which they say helps “get a handle” on the uncertainties of the climate system.

People planning for the impacts of climate change need to consider the possibility of warming of up to 3C by 2050, even on a mid-range emission scenario, the researchers say.

The study - run through climateprediction.net with the BBC Climate Change Experiment - ran simulations using a complex atmosphereocean climate model.

The representations of physical parameters were varied between runs of the model, reflecting uncertainties about precisely how the climate system works.

And the forecast range was derived from models that accurately reproduced observed tem-

WORLD TODAY

perature changes over the last 50 years.

The low end of their range is similar to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2007 report, but the high end is somewhat above the range their analysis produced.

‘Innovative’ ensemble Myles Allen of the School of Geography and Environment and Department of Physics, Oxford University, principal investigator of climateprediction.net, said other climate modelling groups’ data did not “set out to explore the full range of uncertainty, which is why studies like ours are needed.”

The research was described as “an important step toward estimating uncertainty more comprehensively,” by Gabi Hegerl, professor of climate system science at the University of Edinburgh.

The results were also described as “very promising” by Prof Corinne Le Quere, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia.

“Better constrained climate projections are needed to help plan a wide range of adaptation measures, from sea defenses to water storage capacity and biodiversity conservation areas,” she

added.

However, the research was questioned by Julian Hunt, emeritus professor of climate modelling at University College London.

He said: “I have reservations about relying on a model that combines land temperatures - which are clearly rising - with sea temperatures which can be subject to big decadal fluctuations.”

He said the higher

range of the prediction was looking “increasingly likely”, but for three particular reasons: • release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from seabed and land • “massive changes” in reflection of light at some places on the Earth’s surface • reducing air pollution in Asia that will reflect less solar energy back into space.

these sectors into the EU’s reduction efforts,” said the EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard.

“In Durban all countries agreed revised accounting rules for these sectors. The EU is now delivering with this proposal.

“The proposal will also contribute to protect biodiversity and water resources, support rural development and have a more climatefriendly agriculture.”

The new rules now go to the environment ministers and European Parliament for discussion, and it is not yet clear when they will take effect.

Dispute over CO2 target Earlier Ms Hedegaard voiced regret that Poland had blocked a more ambitious EU target for CO2 emissions cuts.

Poland said no to the Commission’s low-carbon roadmap at a meeting of EU environment ministers on Friday.

Denmark, currently steering EU negotiations, was backed by the UK in calling for a 25% cut in CO2 emissions by 2020. Previously the target was 20%.

But Poland, reliant on coal for more than 90% of

its electric power, fears the move would make energy more costly.

Ms Hedegaard said Poland’s veto was “unfortunate, but it will not stop Europe from moving on with its transition to a lowcarbon economy”.

“The bad news was that Poland blocked [EU] Council conclusions for the second time. The good and encouraging news is that Poland was the only country to block.

“The presidency and the other 26 member states explicitly asked the Commission to move on, and that is what we will do,” she said.

The Commission says the most cost-efficient way of moving to a low-carbon economy is by achieving a 40% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030 and a 25% cut by 2020, compared with 1990 emission levels.

The overall target is an 80% cut by 2050, based on the “greening” of industry, investment in energy-efficient electric cars and housing, renewable energy and modernised, “smart” electricity grids.

Currently the ETS only covers energy-intensive industries such as power generation and cement-making.

The EU’s introduction of carbon charges for aviation in January is highly controversial - it has angered airlines and global rivals such as the US and China.

The EU also plans to include shipping in measures to curb CO2 emissions.

EU brings farms into low-carbon plans

T

HE EU has called on European governments to include data on CO2 emissions from farming and forestry in their efforts to tackle climate change.

The draft law on accounting rules is in line with what was agreed at the Durban climate change conference in December.

But the EU does not yet plan to include farming and forestry in its CO2 Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The goal is to accurately measure CO2 emissions from biomass used for energy and from ploughing and logging.

The European Commission - the EU’s executive arm - says the current rules covering agriculture and forestry account for two of the three main greenhouse gases - methane and nitrous oxide - but not CO2 (carbon dioxide).

Growing plants absorb large amounts of carbon through photosynthesis, but ploughing releases CO2 from the soil. Decaying plants also release CO2.

“What we propose today is harmonised rules to account for forests and agriculture emissions. This is the first step to incorporate

Experts press for health action vs lead exposure

A

N environmental health specialist from the United States and a pediatric toxicologist from the Philippines reiterated on Monday the need for action against a real threat to children’s health: lead-added paint.

At a forum organized by the EcoWaste Coalition, Dr. Scott Clark from the University of Cincinnati and Dr. Bessie Antonio from the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon city jointly emphasized the need for a concerted response to eliminate children’s exposure to lead that could result to health problems with long-term and often irreversible im-

pacts.

Clark, who is in Manila for the partners’ meeting of the IPEN Asia Lead Elimination Project, said that exposure to lead could be dramatically reduced by a ban on the addition of this heavy metal in household decorative paints and in consumer products such as toys.

“Lead is one of the oldest known poisons. While efforts to control lead levels in paint began over 90 years ago, paints with high levels of lead are still widely available in much of the world, including the Philippines,” said Clark.

A global study on paint in 2009 found lead up to

189,100 parts per million (ppm) in 10 of 15 samples from the Philippines, while a follow-up study in 2010 detected lead up to 161,700 ppm in 24 of 26 samples from the country, way above the U.S. limit of 90 ppm.

“Many successful paint companies are already using alternatives to lead pigments and producing high quality paint. It would be horrible and unacceptable to see a legacy of poisoned children.

“It’s high time for all companies to shift to nonlead substitutes for the health of the present and future generations of children,” he said.

EDGEDAVAO

8...

FFROM 1 Transport Corp.) of Agdao, Davao City/ Golden Century Compound in Maa, Davao City; Hector Simplicio (LS Agritrade) of Kabacan, North Cotabato; Julito Canada (Topsire Agri Buy and Sell) of Pikit, North Cotabato; Anna Liza Simplicio (CLS Agritrade) of Carmen, North Cotabato; (Abigail Farm Supply Inc.) of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; and Joel Provido of Datu Piang Mamasalakeg St. in Pikit, North Cotabato.

They are facing charges of violation of Section 168 in relation to Section 170 of RA 8293 (Unfair Competition); and Section 8, Paragraph D (Adulteration) and F (Mislabeling) of Presidential Decree 1144 otherwise known as Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Act. More charges are set to be filed against them soon.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under PSupt. Jacinto R. Malinao Jr. and the Fertilizers and Pesticide Authority authorities arrested the eight individuals during simultaneous raids conducted in different areas in Mindanao last Thursday.

Arrested were Rene Tingal, Edgar Calledo, Limuel Der-der, Eugenio Suan, Antonio Anto, Janjan Sungay, Rodencio Sungay, and Allan Boligao.

Lawyer Gavino Barlin , FPA deputy executive director, told reporters during a briefing yesterday that 70 truckloads of adulterated fertilizer estimated to be worth at least P50 million were confiscated by authorities in simultaneous raids conducted in Davao City, Davao del Norte, Pikit and Kabacan in North Cotabato, and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

The raiding teams, coordinated by retired general Rex Piad of the Transnational Crime Agency under the Office of the President, swooped down on several warehouses and recovered several sacks of adulterated fertilizers.

General Piad said information about the adulterated fertilizer cases had earlier reached Malacanang, prompting President Aquino to direct his office to operate on the case.

In the warehouse of the Golden Century Compound in Barangay Ma-a, this city, bags of urea and other fertilizers mixed with salt were confiscated by authorities. The scenario was repeated in warehouses in Sto. Tomas and Kapalong in Davao del Norte as well

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VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

as in Pikit and Kabacan in North Cotabato and in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

Reports show that Edgar Calledo, one of the arrested distributors, admitted mixing fertilizer with salt for bigger profit.

In an interview in Iloilo City last week, La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporation CEO Aileen Uy Gongco-Ongkauko said they started monitoring the illegal activities of the adulterated fertilizer distributors for some months after receiving complaint from their clients.

Lawyer Wigberto Tanada Jr., La Filipina legal counsel, said initial estimates of the actual and other damages incurred by his client company due to the adulteration is in the vicinity of P90 million.

La Filipina CEO Aileen Uy’s investigation and surveillance identified 10 of their distributors as behind the proliferation of adulterated fertilizer. The businesswoman said they immediately coordinated with authorities after gathering enough evidence and the simultaneous raids were conducted.

Ongkauko confirmed that the suspects have been distributing their fertilizer products for some years past now but had been illegally mixing them with salt.

She added that the erring distributors were also illegally purchasing the company’s fertilizer bags from the manufacturers.

FPA’s Barlin praised the owners of La Filipina for initiating the charges thereby helping government’s campaign against fraudulent practices that not only prejudice the welfare of poor farmers but also destroy the country’s economy as well compromise food security.

He exuded confidence that La Filipina would be able to recover it huge losses by continuing to see to it that their products’ excellent quality is maintained.

Ongkauko said they will be pursuing charges against their erring distributors to serve as a warning to their other distributors not to emulate the illegal activity.

La Filipina is involved in trading of feeds ingredients, fertilizers, sugar, vegetable oils, grains, wheat flour, and owner operators of sugar mill, flour mills, animal feed mills, livestock farms, cargo ships, hotels, housing projects, shopping malls and banking.

House passes 446 measures during first quarter of 2012 T

HE House of Representatives has approved some 446 measures and ratified the bicameral report on the “Strengthening and Propagating Foster Care for Abandoned and Neglected Children and Children with Special Needs for the first quarter of 2012.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said since July 26, 2010 until the adjournment for the Lenten season, the lower chamber processed some 3,088 measures during the 123 session days for an average of 25 measures per session day.

“Despite the various challenges facing us, including the on-going impeachment trial, each member of the House of Representatives was never remiss in his/her responsibilities to their constituents,” Belmonte said.

Gun...

Since the start of the 15th Congress, some 6,057 bills and 2,349 Resolutions were filed, while some 2,064 Committee Reports were submitted to the Committee on Rules for appropriate plenary action. Of those processed, 2,099 were approved.

During the last two months, the House ratified the separate bicameral reports on the conversion of the municipalities of Imus and Bacoor in Cavite into component cities. Likewise, the respective bicam reports on the conversion of the municipalities of Mabalacat in Pampanga and of Cabuyao in Laguna into component cities were ratified. These four bills are now awaiting action by the President.

Also awaiting the signature of the President are six national bills, among which are: HB 5640 – An Act

regulating the practice of Geology in the Philippines, repealing for the purpose R.A. 4209, otherwise known as ‘Geology Profession Law of the Philippines’; HB 5624 – An Act Establishing the Career Execfutive System; and HB 4936 – An Act Decriminalizing Vagrancy amending for this purpose Article 202 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code.

The total number of measures approved as of March 21, 2012 is 2,099, which include 11 national bills and 2 Joint Resolutions enacted into law; 202 national bills and 425 local bills approved on 3rd reading; 10 national and 57 local bills passed on 2nd reading; 10 Concurrent Resolutions, 251 Regular Resolutions and 1,101 Resolutions on Inquiries adopted; and 9 reports on resolutions on

inquiries recorded.

Also reflected in the statistical record from the Committee on Rules are the Report on Impeachment and the endorsement to the Senate of the Verified Complaint versus Supreme Court chief Justice Renato Corona.

However, the President vetoed the following measures: HB 06 (SB 02869) – “An Act prescribing a fixed term for the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and for other purposes”; and HB 05246 (SB 02802) – “An Act recognizing the early years from zero (0) to Six (6) as the first crucial stage of development and for this purpose strengthening the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, renaming the Day Care Center as Child Development Center, and for other purposes.”

peace,” Duterte-Carpio said.

High tourism The city continued to receive high tourism based on data from the Department of Tourism.

Within the months of January to March, there were 157,147 tourist arrivals in January; 177,772 in 2011; and 194,834 this year.

“The steady increase in tourist arrivals which

would reflect the increased confidence and renewal of tourists to visit Davao City,” DuterteCarpio said.

Asked whether another gun ban declaration is mulled for the upcoming festivals, the city mayor said the decision would rest upon the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC).

“Since during the Summerfest there won’t

be any big events which would gather people, maliit lang ang events and there would be few people enough for the police and Task Force to handle, then I don’t think a gun ban declaration is needed,” she said.

“But as to the (Kadayawan Festival) it would be something for the City Peace and Order Council to decide on,” she added.[JCZ]

as to who is still No. 1.

7. Don’t be as aggressive on short putts Part of the reason Woods is widely considered the greatest putter of all time is due to his fearlessness when it comes to ramming in shorter putts.

But at Augusta, where the greens are extra slick and the holes seem to be cut extra sharp, this can often backfire. Lip-outs, especially on downhill putts, can leave even longer comebackers. And in recent years (though he did lead the field in putting from inside of 10 feet during his win at Bay Hill), those haven’t been automatic, either.

8. Survive the Bermuda Triangle Holes 11-13 make up the famed “Amen Corner,” but it’s really Nos. 10-12 that make the players most squeamish.

Woods is not immune to this stretch, either. He has averaged +.15 over par or higher on each for

his Masters career. The most surprising of those is on No. 12, aka “Golden Bell,” the beautiful but often treacherous par 3.

Despite it’s short length (155 yards), Woods hasn’t recorded a birdie there since the third round of 2005 -- the last year he captured a green jacket.

He also killed any momentum he had last year after a brilliant front-nine when he carelessly threeputted for bogey.

9. Regain the swagger A five-shot win at Bay Hill was nice, but Woods still has something to prove in major championships before everyone declares him “back.” He hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open and the last time he looked in control at one, the 2009 PGA Championship, he was taken down in the final group by Y.E. Yang.

While that’s the only time that’s happened in 15 attempts, it’s evidence that he’s lost some of the psy-

chological edge he had over other golfers. Woods still expects to win every time he tees it up, but he needs to make sure his competitors sense that confidence in order to regain his aura of invincibility.

10. Finish off rounds Woods has developed a trend of stumbling down the stretch after otherwise good or great rounds at Augusta. A couple times in recent years, he’s even bogeyed 17 and 18, most notably in his Sunday duel with Phil Mickelson in 2009. Then, of course, there was 2011.

Woods blitzed Augusta’s front nine with a 31, but only played even par on the easier back nine to finish T-4 for a secondstraight year. They say the Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday.

Unless it’s a coronation like in 1997, Woods will need to close strong to capture that elusive 15th major championship.

FFROM 2

were 1,136 PNP personnel and 511 AFP; 1,153 from the PNP and 751 from the AFP in 2011; while last month there were 1,228 from the PNP and 1042 from the AFP. “It would appear that the Integrated Security Plan of Davao City government, the DCPO and the TFD and their augmentation personnel from other units did better this year in terms of keeping the

10...

FFROM 15

280 yards, off the tee. This could especially come in handy on narrow, shortish par 4s like Nos. 7 and 14. Woods showed at Bay Hill that his iron game is sharp enough to leave himself longer yardages on approach shots and still score well.

6. Use Rory as motivation Woods used to go out of his way to find things to motivate him (Stephen Ames, Vijay Singh’s caddie, the Starbucks barista who didn’t fill his coffee to the brim, etc.). While the pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championships still drives him, it couldn’t hurt to add extra incentive. McIlroy has been hailed as the heir apparent to Tiger for some time, and while Woods struggled, many people were ready to hand the 22-year old the title of golf’s biggest star. Woods made it known at Bay Hill that he hasn’t gone anywhere. A win at Augusta would leave little doubt

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

OLYMPIC DREAM S OLYMPIC HOPE. Rey Saludar of Panabo City is the best hope for an Olympic gold in London if he survives the Kazakhstan qualifiers this week.

Davao’s Saludar, Suarez gun for Olympic slots D

AVAO boys Rey Saludar and Charly Suarez will banner the five-man Philippine team that will vie for berths in the April 4 to 12 Olympic qualifying event for Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Saludar, the 2010 Asian Games gold medallist and Suarez both emerged out of the Barangay Una boxing program under the tutelage of former Congressman Tonyboy Floirendo.

The Phl Boxing squad has been in the city of Astana for almost a week and the boxers are eager to showcase their wares in the quest to get slots to the 2012 London Olympics.

According to the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, joining Saludar (52 kg) and Suarez (60 kg) are Joegin Ladon (56 kg), Dennis Galvan (64 kg) and Wilfredo Lopez (69 kg).

Flying to Kazakhstan to cheer the squad are ABAP president Ricky Vargas, secretary-general Pato Gregorio and executive director Ed Picson.

ABAP is pinning its hopes on Saludar and Suarez although the three other boxers have genuine chances of making it to London.

So far, only light-fly (49 kg) Mark Anthony Barriga has qualified via the backdoor during the world championships last year, even as two or three fighters are expected to join him during the Olympics scheduled from July 27 to August 11.

Saludar and Galvan have the brightest prospects of securing seats since their weight classes have an allocation of four each, while three will be made available in Ladon’s and Lopez’s divisions.

Suarez has to go through the eye of the needle to make it since there is only one berth available in his category.

Boxing has contributed five of the Philippines’ nine Olympic medals, including the two silvers brought home by Anthony Villanueva (Tokyo, 1964) and Onyok Velasco (Atlanta, 1996).

Also competing in the Olympics under the Philippine banner are two from track and field, one from shooting and two from swimming.

But observers say that it is only in boxing that the Philippines has a realistic chance of winning a medal.

HANGTIME. Peter June Simon of B-Meg Derby Ace changes his shot in mid air against Asi Taulava of Meralco in this action between the

Derby Ace and the Bolts in the PBA. Meralco win this one as coach Ryan Gregorio beat his former team.

EDGEDAVAO

The Impossible Dream

ATURDAY night, I tried to sing a song I have always dreamt of singing.I cowered under the odds of the unbeatable foe. I was not as brave to dare.

To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go.

So goes the first stanza of the immortal song “The Impossible Dream” which was first sung by Richard Kiley for the play Man from La Mancha (although the best version is by Andy Williams). This song is no joke.

It was sung by Matt Munro, Elvis Presley and lately, Luther Vantross.

Great lyrics. It’s one of the songs you’d like to hear but dread to sing. Unless you are as good as my karaoke king classmate from high school.

This song drifts from an almost monotonous melody before rising to a crescendo and chokes you if you do not have that depth and natural birit skills.To sing this song without making mockery of its genius would be almost impossible for me.

But more than being an immortal classic, this song has a very deep lyrics dug from the ocean-floor deep emotions of the songwriter.

This dream is just as deep and treacherous as it can get.

We call it the Olympic Dream.

The Philippines first took part in the Olympics in 1924. We were the first from Southeast Asia to compete in the Olympics. We were event ahead of China which competed a few editions later.

Until now, the Philippines is still in the hunt for the elusive gold while its Southeast Asian neighbors like Thailand and Indonesia have already savoured the sweet taste of gold.

Both did it concentrating on their core events. Boxing and weightlifting for Thailand which has 7 golds to its name. Badminton for Indonesia where all their 6 golds

came from.

China, meantime, is now an Olympic powerhouse.

Our Olympic dream will take its shape beginning tomorrow when our boxers chase Olympic slots in Kazakhstan. Two of the members of that team are from Davao and they are our best bets—Rey Saludar and Charly Suarez.

If you check on the resume of Saludar and Suarez, one can only get a little excited about the prospects of the country winning its first Olympic gold. More than being excited, you got to start to salivate at the thought of Davao being the first to give this country its “impossible dream.”

Saludar is an Asian Games gold medallist and must be on top of the list in his class while Suarez could be the biggest surprise of the pack.

Both Saludar and Suarez are products of the Barangay Una project institutionalized by former Davao del Norte congressman Tonyboy Floirendo.

If both Saludar and Suarez hurdle the Kazakhstan qualifiers, they will book a berth to the Olympics in London which begins July 27.

Let’s hope they hurdle the challenge in Kazakhstan and close in on that impossible dream.

For sure, the foes in Kazakhstan and London are not unbeatable. Saludar, Suarez and the rest of the Pinoy boxers have tread the road even the bravest dared not go.

This impossible dream can be reached.

When that happens, read my lips: I will sing this song on stage.

Air Force-Phoenix XI saves draw vs Meralco

L

ATE in stoppage time, the Loyola Meralco Sparks looked headed for a win after taking a 3-1 lead over Philippine Air Force Phoenix.

But the Airmen displayed their champions’ heart, scoring two goals against a shellshocked Loyola to force a 3-3 draw Saturday in UFL action at University of Makati.

Joebel Bermejo began Air Force’s remarkable comeback, scoring at the 92nd minute to cut the Air Force deficit, 3-2.

A verbal tussle broke out a few moments later between Loyola’s James Younghusband and Air Force’s Herbert Bayona. Younghusband lost his head, shoving Bayona, and was tossed out with a red card.

With its opponents down

to 10 men and the referee holding his final whistle because of all the extra-curricular activity, national player Ian Araneta scored his second goal of the match to tie the game and help Air Force snatch the draw from the jaws of defeat.

It was a costly result for Loyola, which will be without Younghusband for its next match.

A rematch of the hotlycontested UFL Cup finals, the match got off to a blazing start, with longtime Azkals strike partners Phil Younghusband and Araneta exchanging goals early in the game. Mark Hartmann scored on a set piece later in the opening half to give the Sparks a 2-1 lead headed into the break.

COLLISION. Ian Araneta of Air Force-Phoenix collide with a Loyola-Meralco defender in their recent UFL match up which ended in a 3-all draw.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

Ledesma wins at DCGC L

UDWIG Van Ledesma added another trophy to his growing collection after winning the Class A gross title in the Maopya Sika PDL 237 Open Golf Tournament at the Davao City Golf Club over the weekend.

The multi-titled Ledesma, a construction engineer who still finds time to sharpen his parbusting skills, scored an eagle 3 on the par-5 6th to make up for a pick-up on the par-4 15th for a tournament best 3-under and a 39 aggregate.

Tonino Callao emerged as Class A net winner to share the day’s honors

with Ledesma.

Joel Yamyamin shot six birdies to finish Class A gross runner-up with a 38.

Apo Luna placed net second runner-up with a 41.

In Class B, Bob Abrina took the gross title with 34 points while Alro Paglinawan pocketed the net title with 50 followed by Mateo Uy (46) and Boy Arriba (44) in that order.

Dodong Tamparong shared the limelight by taking the Class C gross title at 31 while the net champion was Fred Baloran (47) followed by Dexter So (46) and Daniel Arquiza (46).

The other winners: Class C – gross champion

The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate during their defeat over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Champi-

- Dodong Tamparong (31), net champion - Fred Baloran (47), 1st runner-up Dexter So (46), 2nd runnerup - Daniel Arquiza (46); Class D- gross champion – Ed de Guzman (24), net champion – Don Zamora (51), 1st runnerup – Ian Dagatan (50), 2nd runner-up – Larry Baluso (45) Seniors Division – 5565 yrs. Old – net champion – Antonio Ansaldo (46), 1st runner-up – Dodong Rizon (45), 2nd runner-up – Frank Aguirre (44); 66 above – net champion – Tobing Nagayo (41), first runner-up – Ken Angeles (41), 2nd runner-up Dante Abaca (41).

onship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on March 31, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

History dawns on Linsanity

Knicks guard out of the season

N

EW YORK (AP)—Say so long to Linsanity.

Jeremy Lin will miss the rest of the regular season because he needs knee surgery that will sideline him six weeks and could leave the Knicks without their star point guard in the playoffs—if they make it that far.

Lin had an MRI exam this week that revealed a small, chronic meniscus tear and he has elected to have surgery next week in New York.

With the regular season ending April 26, the biggest story in basketball this season is done unless the Knicks make a deep postseason run.

Speaking slowly during a pregame press conference, Lin was unable to hide his disappointment with the decision that was reached earlier Saturday after a painful workout.

“It (stinks) not being able to be out there with the team,” he said.

Later, he updated his Facebook page with the message: “Thanks for all the love! (I’ll) return from this surgery stronger and better than before … and hopefully in time for the playoffs!”

Upcoming: Lin-surgery.

He was barely holding on to a place in the NBA back in February. Now, after the back-to-back Sports Illustrated covers and popularity around the world, and now it’s over.

“If this was done very early in the year, obviously

New York Knicks’ Jeremy Lin looks on before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York. Lin will miss the rest of the regular season because he needs knee surgery that will sideline him six weeks and could leave the Knicks without their star point guard in the playoffs if they make it that far. … I don’t know where my career would be. I could be, would be definitely without a job and probably fighting for a summer league spot,” Lin said. “But having said that, this hap-

pening now hurts just as much, because all the players, we really put our heart and souls into the team and into season, and to not be there when it really matters most is hard.”

15

LURKING LUDWIG. Engineer Ludwig Van Ledesma studies his line of putt in this file photo. Ledesma won anew last Sunday at the Davao City Golf Club.

GOLF PREVIEW

10 ways for Tiger to win the 2012 Masters 1. Build on momentum For Woods, returning to the winner’s circle at Bay Hill was huge as both validation that the hard work he’s put in with Sean Foley is paying off and also that he can still get the job done on Sunday. However, it doesn’t guarantee he’ll see the same result when he tees it up next at Augusta. Just three years ago, Woods won his final tuneup before all four major championships, yet didn’t walk away with the trophy at any. This year, however, has been about constantly improving and between Bay Hill and a brilliant final-round 62 at the Honda, Woods has every reason to think he’s peaking just at the right time.

2. Dominate the Par Fives Gone are the days when he could go driversand wedge on No. 15, but Woods should still be one of the leaders when it comes to par-5 birdie percentage, especially at Augusta. While he’s been fantastic on holes 13 and 15, he hasn’t been as good on the two par 5s on the front nine, No. 2 and No. 8. In his win at Bay Hill, Woods was a field-best 12-under par on the four par 5s. To win at Augusta this year, he’ll need similar results.

3. Stay out of the pine straw At last year’s Masters, Woods tweaked his knee on the 17th hole of the third round while attempting to hit a squatting shot from the pine straw. That didn’t keep him from firing a Sunday 66, but that score might have been even better if he had been 100 percent.

After recently re-injuring that leg, specifically his Achilles tendon, at Doral, Woods claims he’s totally healthy. While he certain-

No. 9. Regain the swagger.

No. 6. Use Rory as motivation. ly looked it at Bay Hill, no one really knows if that’s true -- or how long that will last. He should be fine scaling Augusta’s hilly terrain, but avoiding the pine straw, where footing isn’t as stable, will limit his vulnerability.

4. Get off to better starts Augusta National’s opening hole, “Tea Olive,” has statistically been Tiger Woods’ worst in his Masters career. Woods has averaged +.26 over par on the 445-yard par 4, and a double bogey to open the third round in 2009 left him too far back to rally on Sunday.

No. 3. Stay out of the pine straw.

In total, he has recorded a birdie there just four times in his Masters career. And as mentioned earlier, he hasn’t exactly torn up No. 2 lately either.

Being one under after two holes, instead of one over, a couple times this year could easily be the difference between winning and losing.

5. Keep the driver in the bag more Woods’ total driving is much improved in 2012, but he is still much more likely to avoid the big miss (get it?) when hitting 3-wood or his “stinger” 2-iron, which he’s capable of hitting

F10, 13

16

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 22 • APRIL 3, 2012

EDGEDAVAO Unknown upsets Infiesto in MISD Open chessfest

U

Maria Sharapova, of Russia, returns a shot from Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, during the women’s singles final at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla. Radwanska won 7-5, 6-4.

PSET-CONSCIOUS Recarte Tiauson defeated penultimate round leader James Infiesto in the final round to cop the 2012 Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Araw ng Dabaw Open Women and Executives Chess Tournament over the weekend at the NCCC Mall.

The win earned Tiauson the better quotient over Infiesto and Mary Israel Palero, who also finished 6.0 points after whipping Gani Coda in the final 7th round.

Leo Ordiz and Cipriano Magalso settled for 4th and 5th, respectively with identical 5.5 points Ordiz whipped Rowelyn Acedo while Magalso crushed Mary Rose Sevilla in the final round.

Completing the top 15 placers with 5.0 points each are Cipriano Magalso, Cerlin Anabieza, Norberto Agton, Gani Coda, William Sucuahi, Jose Romulo Acay, Danilo Rodrigo, Mary Rose Sevilla, Sandy Duyag, Rowel Modina and Queenie Joy Bulicatin with identical 5.0 points.

The tournament was organized by the National Chess Federation of the Phils. [NCFP) XI. – (SCOOP/ LDR]