Edge Davao 5 Issue 23

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

Indulge!

Page A4

Keep crime rate low, police told

By Jade C. Zaldivar

Agritrends Page 7

Sports Page 16

Follow Us On

D

AVAO CITY Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio yesterday reiterated that police should keep the city’s crime rate low following the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision penalizing 21 high-ranking police of-

n Mayor says the police needs to keep solution efficiency high ficers due to unsolved killings here.

“Lesson learned ito. Keep your crime rate low and your solution efficiency high,” she said in a press conference.

“Mao ra man gyud na ang trabaho sa police,” she added.

DAVAO CITY STAMPS. A huge billboard is now mounted at the grounds of the Davao City Council Building announcing the release of the 75th year commemorative Davao

Duterte-Carpio said, “We sympathize with the police. Nakabutang man pud didto na it was their performance sa trabaho. Nakita didto nga taas kayo ang crime rate pero ilang efficiency medyo hinay. Lesson learned na ni siya,” she said.

FKEEP, 13

City stamps which are now available at the Pasalubong Center along Palma Gil Street.

Memorial park hearing deferred T HE Davao City Council item on the proposed South Grove Memorial Park, Inc. (SGMPI) in Baliok will have to await plenary discussion following the absence of certain personalities during the special session held April 2.

The proposed resolution approving the SGMPI, which has received strong opposition from a group of residents, has

[KARLOS MANLUPIG]

n Scheduled for discussion on April 17

passed first and second reading.

The item will be heard April 17 when the council convenes again following the Holy Week break, said Council Secretary Charito Santos.

Residents of Dacoville Subdivision and the Dumoy Barangay Council in Toril

are strongly opposing the development of SGMPI on a 6.3986-hectare land said to be sitting on the city’s aquifer which is also adjacent to three water production wells of the Davao City Water District (DCWD).

Although the proposed SGMPI will be located in Barangay Baliok in Toril, it is reportedly very near the Dacoville Subdivision in Dumoy.

FMEMORIAL, 13

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Mayor Sara admits

Working with Rody is ‘difficult’ n But says their tandem is ‘accepted well’ by city mayor and vice mayshe said.

Well-accepted tandem However, despite their differing opinions, Duterte-Caprio acknowledged that ‘perhaps this makes things work.’

After learning the results of a survey conducted by Institute of Popular Opinion of the University of Mindanao, Mayor Sara said that her tandem with Vice Mayor Duterte is well-accepted.

“Ang akong assessment, paggawas atong rating from the private sector, naka-ana ko nga maybe gwapo ang tandem because makita sa tao ang duha ka perspective,” she said.

“Makita nila nga there’s one side of this and this is another side.

Dili kay isa ra ang nagastorya o isa lang ang nagadirect,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio said she had expected her trust ratings to be lower than the vice mayor’s.

“Napansin nimo nga naghalos pareho lang mi (sa trust ratings). You would expect nga siguro mababa ang akoa because dugay na gud si Mayor Rody sa public service.

But you see despite that, the tandem, the working relationship between the

or is widely accepted,” she said.

Mayor Sara and Vice Mayor Rody garnered high scores in trust and popularity ratings based on a survey conducted by the IPO under its Research and Publication Center.

In the first district survey released March 20, the Dutertes tied with 98.8 percent in their trust rating and 99.4 on popularity rating.

Perfect scores were gathered from the 2nd District wherein both got 100% in popularity and trust ratings according to results released on March 28.

On April 2 results for District 3 was released wherein Mayor Sara gathered 100% popularity rating and 94.4% trust rating, while Vice Mayor Rody got 99.7% for popularity and 99.7% in trust.

Duterte-Carpio also said that she perceives the survey results as a challenge to perform better.

“Na challenge ko. We will try to do better,” she said.

“Magpasalamat ko sa ilang pagsalig sa akoa nga buhaton nako akong trabaho ug magtinarong.

Kung ingana ka taas imong trust rating then expectation sa tao taas kayo,” Duterte-Carpio

ity (PRA), Department of Environment nd Natural Resources (DENR) Environment Management Bureau (EMB), including the city government of Las Pinas.

A hydrological study conducted by Tricore Solutions Inc. (Tricore) that the reclamation project will expose the affected area to catastrophic flood and massive destruction to live, property and livelihood of the people once an Ondoy-like storm occurs.

A worst effect of the project, the study said, is the inundation of 37 barangays of Cavite, 17 barangays in Las Pinas and 11 barangays in Paranaque with floodwaters possibly rising to as high as 5.12 meters.

Spearheaded by the Diocese of Paranaque, participants of the protest procession against the feared destructive recla-

mation project gathered in front of the St. Andrew Cathedral on Quirino Avenue, La Huerta, Paranaque City to start the way of the cross along the public places in the city.

One of those feared to be destroyed by the socalled “Freedom Island.”

Also called Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area (LPPCHEA), Freedom Island is home to 165 different kinds of bird, many of which have been identified as endangered species which can be found in this part of the world.

The oppositors charged that the reclamation project will likewise destroyed other natural habitat and ecosystem within Manila Bay. The reclamation will reportedly result in the annihilation of the mangroves, aside from possibly killing more than 5,000 birds of various species.

people

By Jade C. Zaldivar

D

AVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio admits that it has been ‘difficult’ working with her father, the vice mayor.

She said that due to their differing opinions, it was unavoidable that they would clash on issues about how to run the city.

“Kanang kung maglain lain mi ug opinions.

Tapos ug dili mo pareho ug diskarte siyempre lisod. Lisod bitaw katrabaho as vice mayor si Mayor Rody,” the lady mayor said.

“Siyempre, Mayor Rody has been mayor for the longest time. Taas kayo ang iyang wisdom and experience and siyempre pag ingana ka, daghan imong nahibalan with regards sa trabaho, siguro pag naa kay makitan nga dili nimo binuhatan or something new dili siya ingana ka ‘open’. Mga ingana nga ginagmay nga butang,” she added.

Duterte also said it had been difficult for her being criticized in public.

“Lisod mulihok. Lisod pag kontrahon ka in public, especially when you are mayor because it doesn’t really look good,”

Mrs. Villar joins Lenten protest vs 635-hectare recreation project

F

ORMER congresswoman Cynthia A. Villar joined hundreds of other residents of the cities of Paranaque, Pasay and Las Pinas in expressing their opposition to the reclamation of 635 hectares in the three cities by way of a station of the cross last Friday.

The protest station of the cross, with the theme “ Kalbaryo sa Kalikasan and Kabuhayan” (Calvary of the Environment and Livelihood), was participated in by more than 500 residents who claimed that the project will not only destroy the environment but will likewise remove the means of livelihood of several families in the three cities.

It may be recalled that Mrs. Villar petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of kalikasan last March 16 to protest the reclamation project along the Bacoor-Las Pinas-Paranaque coastline of Manila Bay. Among those required to answer Villar’s petition are the Alltech Contractors, Inc. (AllTech), Philippine Reclamation Author-

Quips

‘THE benefits of taking urgent and firm action to address climate change will outweigh the long –term costs involved.’

--Climate Change Commission Secretary Lucille Sering. BM

BROWNOUT. Department of Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit presented the analysis of the government on the power situation in Mindanao during the Mindanao Stakeholders’ Meeting on Monday. She said

that from a total 27 electric cooperatives, only 9 are still suffering from rotational brownouts in the island. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Minda needs mixed power supply—DOE

By Lorie A. Cascaro

T

O address its power situation, Mindanao requires a blending of technologies for power generation, which include hydro, gas, oil-based, coal-fired and geothermal power plants among others, Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Ina Magpale-Asirit said last Tuesday.

Addressing a stakeholders meeting at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City, Asirit said that in terms of generation mix, Mindanao lacks base-load power that operates continuously, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week with a consistent maximum generating capacity.

Mindanao has only 17% base-load power compared to the Visayas which has 70%.

Although hydro power plants comprise 56% of the power generation capacity of Mindanao, they are not considered base-load.

It is so because of the “seasonality of natural resource” which, according to her, makes the power supply inconsistent.

Noting the limited capacity of dams to store enough water needed, she cited other factors contributing to their limitations, such as management of water level, projected rainfall and dam protocol.

As a long term solution to the power shortage, a total of 250MW base-load power is committed to come in by 2014, which is a combination of 200MW coal-fired and 50MW geothermal power plants.

Another coal-fired

power plant to generate 500MW is in the indicative stage, which means it has not submitted regulatory compliance requirements to the DOE yet.

Also at indicative stage is a total of 297MW power supply, which will be generated by minihydro, biomass, and solar power plants.

This solution has a high cost but she said this will not be forever as other technologies will come in by 2014.

While the cost is inevitable, she clarified to the stakeholders that it is manageable when passed on to consumers.

She cited the consumption of an electric cooperative which utilizes mixed generation, having additional cost of P.50 to P.80 to be charged to consumers on top of the existing power rate.

Improved Power shortage in Mindanao was pulled down to 100 MW as of Monday as the result of the issuance of Department Circular 2012-030004, which directs electric cooperatives to nominate their needed power to supply their demands.

Out of 27 electric cooperatives, only nine still have rotational brownouts (with 30 minutes to two hours long) but are now in the process of contracting with power services for additional supply.

While the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Panabo and Cotabato have not experienced power outages, Malaybalay, Dipolog, Dapitan, Valencia, Camiguin, Panabo, Digos, Tagum, Mati, Surigao, Butuan,

and Cabadbaran are not experiencing power interruptions now.

Noting the importance of nomination and dispatch protocol for better planning, she said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines needs to match the demand and the supply of power like in a balancing act.

Also, DOE said the power situation in Mindanao is expected to improve as electric cooperatives were given provisional authorities for the bilateral power service by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

So far, electric cooperatives have already contracted a total of 192 MW. Rehabilitation Considering hydro power plants as important sources of cheap energy, costing about P3.30-3.50 per kilowatt hour as pegged by the National Power Corporation (NPC), the DOE pushed for the repair of the Pulangi plants.

The schedule of repair is being held until April 19 to wait for the expected generation capacity, but to delay it further will cause greater damage, Asirit said.

Historically, April and May have the lowest water elevation for Pulangi.

Its usual 180MW capacity will be cut down to 100-130MW during this period, thus, the repair is timely.

Being pushed by the DOE since 2010, the rehabilitation of Agus plant will begin in June with P2.6 billion budget approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

TransCo asks PPP for ROW documents

T

HE National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) yesterday said that it has requested the Pilipinas Para sa Pinoy (PPP) for documents to support the ROW claims of 87 landowners it claims to represent.

TransCo president Rolando Bacani said that TransCo requested PPP on March 23, 2012 to submit documents to substantiate the ROW claims of the said landowners.

“To date, we have not received a single supporting document. What we got today, April 2, was a letter saying they are “preparing the documents.” PPP has yet to indicate if the people on its list are existing, that they indeed own the subject lots, or that their lots are indeed affected by the transmission lines,” Bacani said.

The documents are required to ascertain whether the ROW claims are valid as there are cases when there are many claimants of one land or the land is not affected by the lines. During the validation process, papers are checked for authenticity and then for ground survey.

Based on TransCo’s initial information, there are four landowners represented by PPP who have already executed Rightof-Way Grants in favor of the National Power Corporation and who have already received easement fees.

“We also have yet to see PPP’s authority to represent the landowners as we have also requested in our letter,” Bacani added. “We need to make sure the papers signed by the landowners with PPP are in order.”

COURTESY CALL. The new International Monitoring Team (IMT)-Team Site 4 headed by Colonel Abdul Bin Waley Mohammad pays a courtesy call to Governor Migs Dominguez Monday, April 2, at the Provincial Governor’s

3

Office. The IMT has been in the forefront of monitoring the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. [SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE]

4,000 security forces deployed in city for safe Lenten Season Pista sa Kinaiyahan 2012 goals set in Davao del Sur

By Lorie A. Cascaro

E

XPECTED outputs are set for this year’s Pista sa Kinaiyahan, an annual celebration initiated by the local government of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, which will be on April 26-29, as presented by municipal councilor Fernando Ugdoracion last Monday.

Geared towards advocating environmental protection through awareness, the celebration this year will highlight the second International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge, Tree/ Mangrove Growing, Duaw kay Apo Clean Up and Climb, and Basura Art Exhibit and Fashion Show.

The Tree/Mangrove Growing will be on April 27-28 at Barangays Sibulan, Zone 2 and Tibolo.

The Duaw kay Apo Clean Up Drive, which will be on April 26-29, is an organized climb to Mt. Apo via the Sibulan trail.

Participating mountaineers will conduct clean up activity within Mt. Apo, and tree planting at Colan, Sibulan, Sta. Cruz.

The Basura Art Exhibit and Fashion Show on April 27 is an event that will encourage waste recycling in response to Republic Act 9003, which will be spearheaded by the Municipal Tourism Council and Solid Waste Management Committee.

The 2nd International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge will be on April 28-29, a 24-hour extreme adventure competition

fro the heart of Sta. Cruz to the summit of Mt. Apo through mountain biking, trekking, road running, tree planting and water tubing.

Ugdoracion said 46 teams had registered for the Mt. Apo challenge, nine teams came from Singapore, one from Vietnam and one from Australia. Each team has three members including one logistics support.

Mountaineering groups in Mindanao will also have base camp activities on April 28-29 which will be held at the municipal plaza while waiting for the racers and climb participants to arrive on April 29.

During the base camp, there will be a climate change forum, mini adventure race, interclub photo exhibit and body painting contest.

With these activities, the LGU expects to plant and maintain at least 500 trees; conduct clean up activities within the Mount Apo National Park; have at least 35 teams competing in the Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge; and train at least 100 mountaineers in advance mountaineering course.

After earning P1M from last year’s Pista sa Kinaiyahan, the municipal government spent P500,000 for this year’s activities.

The main objective of the event is to promote environmental protection awareness among all stakeholders.

The celebration is be-

FPISTA, 13

U

NDER the integrated security and safety plan issued by Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, some 4,000 personnel have been deployed from different units concerned with public safety during the Lenten season, according to Colonel Magno Adalin, Jr., head of the Davao City Public Safety Command Center (DCPSCC).

Guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City of Davao on Monday, Adalin said the security force consists of 3,000 plus personnel of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), some 300 personnel of the DCPSCC, including Task Force Davao (TFD), and another 300 of the Traffic Management Center (TMC).

“Everything is covered,” Adalin said, referring to the areas where security assistance is much needed during the long weekend.

The DCPO is overall in-charge of security in the city, while TFD is incharge of border security, including all points leading to Davao City.

The TMC is responsible for traffic management as the city expects a large influx of people.

Aside from its 24hour manned check points, the TFD has

deployed teams to 16 churches in the city from Wednesday to Sunday this week.

During processions, TMC personnel are assigned to act as marshals at major churches.

The airport security group, which was given emphasis during their meeting with the Mayor last Friday, is being complemented by the TFD. Although there is no expected incoming vessel at the seaport, security is emphasized at the wharf for ferry boats plying between Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).

The TMC is assigned to manage vehicular traffic on and off the ferry boats while the TFD assists in inspecting people going to and from IGaCoS. At the Davao City Overland Transportation Terminal, the DCPO, together with TFD personnel, provides police visibility in the area.

There will also be security personnel deployed at malls, especially during Easter Sunday as many people are expected to go there.

While personnel of Central 911 are on stand-by, medical vol-

unteer groups are visible at critical sites.

The East Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), represented by Colonel Leopoldo Galon of the fifth civil relations group, will cooperate and provide support if necessary.

Some of its personnel are immersed in the community while others are in retreat somewhere.

Galon said there is no “heightened alert”, but only “alert” status at military camps as they already expect NPA forces to harass their detachments.

Subdivision patrol While people are away from their homes, the DCPSCC will provide police patrola in subdivisions with anticrime units, motorcycle teams and mobile patrol groups.

Adalin said they will do patrolling similar to what they did last Araw ng Dabaw celebration, adding that deployed personnel will not have day-off during this period.

Quips

“We advise people to travel early and bear with the security in checking baggage and cooperate. For those going outside their houses, we request you take precautionary measures, like locking your house before leaving,” Adalin said.

Comfortable The road construction along Quezon Boulevard has not caused heavy traffic, said Colonel Desiderio Cloribel, TMC head.

Travel time from corner Roxas Avenue Quezon Boulevard to Trading takes eight minutes during peak hours.

“There’s no such thing as sinasabi nilang traffic masyado, because the time travel including the traffic delay is only eight minutes, which is comfortable.”

While private vehicles are allowed to pass through any route to avoid delay at Quezon Boulevard, public utility jeeps are advised not to re-route considering the “comfortable” travel time. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

‘WE are looking at the current Philippine investment environment and Switzerland has weathered the European financial crisis better than other European economies.’

--Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo Sieber on a proposed agreement between the Philippines and the European Free Trade Association (Efta).BM

4

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

IP dad hits budget lack for tribes’ CADT

By Lorie A. Cascaro

A

member of the Davao City Council who represents the Indigenous People laments the delay in the issuance of certificates of ancestral domain titles (CADT) in some areas of the city.

Councilor Datu Benino Libayao Mambuo said Saturday that the issuance has been stopped from time to time due to the lack of a budget.

The councilor said the National Council of Indigenous People (NCIP) regional office implements projects for indigenous people in the Davao region, but that it is being hampered by the lack of a budget.

He did admit that hisa office has a budget of about P5 million , and that whatever is left of it since he assumed office last January he has been doling out to barangays needing assistance.

Considering operational expenses and salaries of employees, he said, “P2 million has been set aside for community projects--P1 million for the third district, and P1 million for Paquibato district.

Scholarships and livelihood programs are his priority projects for the city tribes.

Mambuo was appointed councilor to represent the IP in the city council, including the Ata, Matigsalog, Clata, Tagabawa, Cagan and Manobo tribes, as per Councilor Arnulfo Cabling’s propos-

al which was approved by the Council last December.

Conflict A consultation among members of the Federation of Matigsalog-Manobo Tribal Councils (Femmatric) in Marilog district was held last Friday, during which the MatigsalogManobo Tribal Leaders of Davao City, as member of Femmatric, requested the NCIP for a separate management of their ancestral domain.

The tribe’s ancestral domain covers Cotabato, Kitawtaw in Bukidnon and Davao City.

“Naa man sa IPRA nga dili madivide ang CADT but in management, pwede na siya bahinon,” Mambuo said.

Mambuo, who attended the consultation together with Councilor Cabling, said the Femmatric wants to maintain management of the entire ancestral domain.

“Depende na sa ilang panagsabot kay sila man gihapon ang magsabot,” he said, adding that the issue will be decided in a committee hearing in the City Council next week.

He said the conflict began when tribe members from Davao City observed that most projects for IPs were given to the Bukidnon region excluding those in Davao City.

“Kung kita lang magbuot, pwede na mahitabo.

Ang atong paglingkod didto, nagsilbi nga guidance lang sa ilaha kay sila man gihapon ang magsabot,” he said.

Tax breaks start use of hybrid cars

T

HE country is inching its way to becoming less dependent on imported fossil oil, as the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading a bill providing tax breaks for the manufacture, assembly, conversion and importation of electric, hybrid and other alternative-fuel vehicles.

House Bill 5460 proposes perks such as exemptions from excise, import and value-added taxes, with the hope that these will bring down showroom prices and make the environmentfriendly vehicles more accessible to Filipinos.

“We have to encourage the use of environmentfriendly vehicles. If you bring down the cost of importation and manufacturing, you lower the prices and more people can afford to buy them,” Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (2nd district, Batangas), one of the authors of the bill, said.

Mandanas said the bill aims to lay down the groundwork for the wide-

spread use of electric, hybrid and other alternative-fuel vehicles to help protect the environment by mitigating the deleterious effects of harmful emission into the atmosphere.

A hybrid vehicle, as defined under the bill, is one that combines the technologies of using internal combustion engine (ICE) with a battery-powered electric motor to gain advantages of both propulsion systems.

The electric car, on the other hand, is a vehicle that uses electric motors solely for propulsion while an alternative fuel vehicle pertains to any vehicle using alternative sources or energy as described in the measure.

These alternative sources of energy include but are not limited to solar, wind, hydrogen fuel cell, compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) other than conventional sources of energy like petroleum and gasoline for propulsion.

HIGHWAY BLUES. Road repairs along the Cagayan de Oro and Davao national highway like this one in Barangay Sinuda in Kitatotao town in Bukidnon have caused delays for commuters. What used to be a six-hour trip between the

EDGEDAVAO

two cities has now become a 10-hour nightmare.[MINDANEWS PHOTO

BY KEITH BACONGCO]

Bt Talong field trial takes off the gound in North Cotabato F

ield trial of the controversial Bacillus thuringiensis eggplant or Bt Talong in North Cotabato has finally taken off the ground last week.

Dr. Lourdes Taylo, an entomologist from the University of the Philippines Los Banos - Institute of Plant Breeding, confirmed that Bt Talong has been planted at a trial site at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan town.

“The field trial would run for about three months,” she told MindaNews, thumbing down “possible contamination of conventional eggplants since the Bt Talong test site has been isolated.”

Jenny Panopio, special projects coordinator of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture – Biotechnology Information Center, separately confirmed the ongoing field trial of Bt Talong at USM Kabacan.

“The planting of the Bt eggplant in Kabacan as

A

part of the multi-location field trials in the country went on smoothly,” Panopio said.

A memorandum of agreement was signed with the management of USM, with Dr. Desiree Hautea, Bt Talong project team leader, on hand, Panopio said.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture in Region 12 also graced the launching of the Bt Talong field trial, she added.

The field trial of Bt talong in Kabacan would have started in 2010 if not for protests due to concerns on genetic contaminations.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of North Cotabato has endorsed last year the field testing of Bt Talong in Kabacan.

Dr. Frank Shotkoski, director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Market II at Cornell University, earlier said the field testing at the USM may run for three to four months, the normal cycle for eggplants to mature and bear fruit.

Shotkoski, whose group is funded by the United States Agency for International Development to help commercialize genetically modified crops for developing countries in Asia and Africa, said that Bt eggplant saplings eight to 10 inches tall will be utilized to jumpstart the field testing in Kabacan.

Once the field test becomes successful, meaning it adheres to environmental and human safety standards and the yields are economically viable, the next step is for commercialization.

“Its commercial propagation will still be subjected to further government regulation, there’s a need to get a variety approval,” he said..

UPLB has been conducting multi-location field testing of Bt Talong that is resistant to fruitand-shoot borer (FSB), so named because it feeds on the leaves and fruits during the early vegetative stage, and feasts on the fruit

during the fruiting stage.

Through biotechnology, the FSB-resistant variety was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co., Ltd. in India.

FSB, according to Dr. Serge Francisco, a scientist at the Philippine Rice Research Institute, could ruin up to 100% of eggplant output.

In a study titled “Value of Environmental Benefits of Bt eggplant in the Philippines, Mr. Franscisco et al said that Bt eggplant reduces not only pesticide use, but also risks to human and animal health.

By adopting Bt eggplant, it is expected that 48% of pesticide use will be reduced, or only 6.2 liters of pesticides per hectare compared to other eggplant varieties, resulting to a savings of P13,959, the study said.

Overall, cultivating Bt eggplant could raise a farmer’s income by about P50,000 per hectare as production cost is cut by 16%, it added. [BONG SARMIEN-

Speaker Pablo Garcia (2nd District, Cebu), author of House Bill 6008.

“It should plug the proven weaknesses of the old system while a reliable, credible anda acceptable automated system is yet in the works,” Garcia said, adding that his proposed measure should apply only to the coming 2013 polls.

Garcia said the May 2010 automated election was an “illegal and con-

stitutionally infirm” electoral process due to the refusal or failure of the Comelec to comply with the provisions of Republic Act 9369.

According to Garcia, Republic Act 8436 was enacted into law in 1995 authorizing the Comelec to use an automated election system. RA 9369 was enacted in January 2007 paving the way for the automated polls in 2010 and in succeeding elec-

tions.

“These landmark statutes ushered in a high sense of hope that the country’s electoral system will finally be insulated from the numerous ills that have perennially plagued the manual election system. Hopes were high that an automated system will ensure the country’s elections to truly reflect the sovereign will of the Filipino people,” Garcia said.

TO/MINDANEWS]

Comelec urged to implement automated election system

lawmaker yesterday urged Congress to come up with a viable, less costly, simpler and more acceptable alternative automated system for the coming May 2013 elections.

“It should be able to strike a balance between the acknowledged benefits of electronic technology and the time-honored familiarity and proven acceptability of manual elections,” said Deputy

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

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

THE ECONOMY

5

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

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

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

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

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

HARVEST. Workers unload fresh pineapples from the conveyor of the harvesting machine at the Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (Davco) plantation in Calinan, Davao City. [KEITH BACONGCO/MINDANEWS]

Typhoon-affected areas have slow econ recovery: study M

ANY residents in poor communities that were heavily affected

by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009 are still struggling to recover due to lack of assets and working capital to restore their livelihood lost to the floods. This is one of the key findings of a qualitative study completed recently by the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) based at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Using focus group discussions and key informants interviews, the study titled “The Social Impact of Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng” probes into the long-term effects of the twin disasters that hit the country in 2009.

The study was supported by a trust fund from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) administered by the World Bank.

Twenty one (21) rural and urban communities were selected for the study based on several criteria including the severity of the storms’ impact and the community’s degree of social cohesion which influences their ability to mobilize resources. The researchers also considered a range of settlements exposed to different types of environmental vulnerability: coastal, lake side, riverine and mountainous commu-

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

nities.

The study says that since 2009, these communities reported overall reduction in incomes due to loss of assets and working capital.

The study notes that affected residents’ assets, savings and working capital for livelihood activities were dissipated as they had to spend more for basic needs including food, water, and medicines as well as rebuilding their houses and shops damaged by the raging floodwaters.

“Wage workers primarily in urban areas may have recovered fully,” the study says. “But for farmers, fishers, small business owners, and informal sector workers, the disasters have long-term impacts.”

Some disaster victims who used to have farms or own small business ended up taking less profitable and less secure occupations like vending and construction work.

“The availability of working capital is the key missing element in recovery efforts,” the study says.

After the typhoons, affected communities took various coping strategies to survive, including having multiple odd jobs; borrowing more from friends, relatives and informal lenders; reducing food consumption. In some cases, chil-

as of august 2010

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

dren are no longer able to attend school as families lack the money to cover school expenses and transportation costs.

That is why, the study notes, many residents in the affected areas, even in danger zones, are wary about relocating far away from their barangays (villages) or the city for fear that they will not have livelihood in resettlement areas and have no access to basic community services.

They also fear losing their current social support mechanisms – their network of friends, neighbors and relatives who can help in times of difficulties.

After Ondoy and Pepeng, the government relocated some affected communities in danger zones to various sites.

The study conducted surveys in an off-city (outside Metro Manila) resettlement area (Southville 5A, Lankiwa, Biñan, Laguna) and an in-city (within Metro Manila) resettlement area (Eusebio Bliss, Pasig City) to compare the impact of these two approaches on the welfare of resettled households.

Overall, respondents in both areas reported improvements in their living conditions: better housing, improved access to sanitation, electricity, and garbage disposal. Access to piped water was a

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

serious challenge in both sites, as was access to livelihoods, the study notes.

“Negative impacts were, however, stronger in the offcity resettlement area (Southville 5A), where two out of three households reported decreased income,” says the study. “Those resettled off-city also experienced higher cost of living particularly due to higher spending for transport in getting to work and school.”

Hence, the study says that, save for constraints like higher amortization rates, communities generally considered incity resettlement as the best option to enable households to retain access to livelihood and employment opportunities as well as minimize disruptions to essential social support networks.

Besides a general preference for in-city resettlement, communities covered in the social impact study also highlighted the importance of strengthening local disaster preparedness activities focusing on the following: • Putting in place a local system for relief and recovery operations; • Inclusion of the entire community in disaster preparedness training; and • Acquisition of basic equipment for relief operations.

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

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

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ASEAN: PH to fuel region’s rise as global mining force B T

he Philippines could fuel Southeast Asia’s emergence as a “global mining force” within the next few years with an estimated $1 trillion worth of mineral resources yet to be tapped for development.

In an investment book released by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines, specifically several areas in Mindanao, was noted as among the areas in Southeast Asia that holds “vast wealth of important industrial ores and precious metals yet to be exploited.”

It said that while the region presently hosts a number of large mining ventures, the exploration and exploitation of the mineral resources have barely started.

“The Philippines, for example, is estimated to possess at least $1 trillion of untapped mineral resources and much of the country’s 300,000 square kilometers of land is yet to be appraised for its mineral content,” cited the book “Investing in ASEAN 2011-2012.”

The book was published by media, marketing and public relations firm Allurentis Limited

TESDA lauds success of ‘specialista’ program

in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat.

It was initially launched last November and was distributed at the ongoing two-day 2nd ASEAN-EU (European Union) Business Summit at the Hotel Sofitel in Manila.

The book said the Philippines specifically hosts huge resources of nickel, along with highgrade chromite, copper and gold.

Presently, prospecting for gold and high value industrial ores like copper has become an important investment focus in the country that reportedly possesses gold ore reserves of about four billion tons, the third largest globally.

The country reportedly hosts about 7.9 billion tons of copper ore deposits and 815 million tons of nickel that represent the fourth and the fifth largest in the world, respectively.

“Gold and copper are mainly concentrated in North Luzon and on the eastern side of the island of Mindanao. Other deposits are found on Negros, Zambales, Cebu and South Cotabato,” it said.

In Mindanao, it said London-based An-

glo American “has been linked” to a potential US$1-billion project to develop the copper and gold deposits in Boyongan, Surigao del Norte.

BHP Billiton has reportedly been exploring for nickel in the island while Xstrata, which it described as one of the world’s largest copper producers, has invested on the Tampakan CopperGold Project in South Cotabato.

“The company is also evaluating a five million tons a year copper project in the area,” it said.

The book said another “potential giant venture” will be Sumitomo’s multi-billion nickel ore project in Surigao del Norte.

It said the project will host the largest nickel processing plant in the country that would be capable of processing some 45,000 tons a year.

“These projects will push the Philippines to reach the status of a mining country, when its mine exports (eventually) total more than 6% of total exports,” the book said.

In terms of investments in the mining sector, it said the country’s laws have been complementing with the de-

velopment strategies of foreign capital that were coming in.

“Investment in the Philippines’ mining potential has been aided by a court decision confirming the right of foreign companies to retain100% ownership of their investment, to exploit the country’s mineral resources,” it added.

The publication’s release came at the heels of the national government’s drafting of a new mining rule, which is reportedly aimed at rooting out corruption and improving environmental protection in the mining sector.

On Saturday, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told reporters here that the new mining rule will likely be issued within the next two months.

But Purisima, who attended a meeting of ASEAN finance ministers here in preparation for the 20th summit of ASEAN leaders and heads of states on Tuesday and Wednesday, assured that the government will allow the existing mining contracts to move forward but will later be subjected to stricter environmental regulations. (ALLEN V. ESTABILLO/

ing TCCs to refund VAT claims and took the longest time to issue and allow its utilization compared with other countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam,” Ochoa explained.

According to the Executive Secretary, such a situation has spawned complaints from local and foreign companies doing business in the country because of the slow processing of TCCs that impede their liquidity.

“We believe that with the issuance of EO No. 68, we will be able to provide a speedy solution to the liquidity concerns of VAT-registered taxpayers, thereby contributing to the goal of President Aquino and his administration of making the county more friendly for business and improving the overall investment climate in the country,” Ochoa pointed out.

Under EO No. 68, the monetization pro-

gram covers outstanding VAT TCCs, issued pursuant to the Tax Code and Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) to qualified VATregistered entity.

The presidential directive gives the taxpayers two options to claim the cash equivalent of their outstanding TCCs: 1) collect in advance from a trustee bank a discounted cash value of their TCCs; and 2) collect the full cash value of their TCCs upon a certain maturity date to be determined by the BIR and BoC. President Aquino tasks the DBM to ensure that the funding requirement for the monetization program is included in the national budget from 2012-2016.

The DOF, on the other hand, has been directed by the Chief Executive to instruct the BIR and BoC to verify all outstanding VAT TCCs and perform other functions to ensure the smooth

and immediate processing of credit claims.

The BIR and BoC will issue the notice of payment schedule to qualified taxpayers upon verification of their outstanding VAT TCCs. EO No. 68 designates government financial institutions (GFIs) as trustee banks for the conversion to cash of the outstanding VAT TCCs. It notes that a special trust account shall be established by the GFIs for the purpose.

The Commission on Audit (COA), meanwhile, is authorized under the EO to examine all transactions related to the monetization of the outstanding VAT TCCs. TCCs for VAT refund only be issued by the BIR and BoC on the request of the VAT taxpayer, pursuant to Section 112 (A) of the Tax Reform Act as amended and Section 106 (e) of TCCP as amended.

MINDANEWS)

PNoy issues EO for speedy release of VAT TCCs

P

resident Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Executive Order No. 68 which halts the issuance of value-added tax (VAT) tax credit certificates (TCCs), with the adoption of a monetization program aimed at expediting the release of tax credit claims of local and foreign companies transacting business in the country.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Sunday the President signed EO No. 68 on March 27, instructing the Departments of Budget and Management (DBM) and Finance (DoF), and the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Customs (BoC) to jointly craft the implementing rules and regulations for the VAT TCC monetization program.

“The DBM has cited studies that indicate that the Philippines is the only country in the ASEAN region us-

arely three months from its launching, Region 12’s TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program (TSTP) has shown promise as a source of income among technical vocational education and training (TVET) graduates.

A press release from the office Technical Education and Skills Development Authority regional director Zeus Ampuyas on Monday said, 130 organized TSTP entrepreneurs in three provinces and one city have already earned a total income of P259,340.

Overall, TESDA Specialistas have served 893 clients in various service categories such as beauty care and wellness, caregiving, building/house repair maintenance, computer hardware servicing, appliance repair, catering/food and beverage servicing to automotive and small engine servicing, Ampuyas said.

Areas where TESDA Specialistas are now operating include North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Sarangani-General Santos.

Ampuyas said, in the past three months they monitored the activities of the techno-entrepreneurs to determine if the purpose of the program has been achieved as evidenced by income per aggrupation.

Results of the monitoring indicated that of the seven service categories, building/house repair and maintenance has the highest average income which reached P43,126.67, followed by beauty care and wellness services which is P41,780.00. The third highest earning category was computer hardware services which accumu-

lated income amounting to P15,100.00.

The rest of the service categories are also picking well in terms of earnings, the report said.

Ampuyas said that the income earned by the TESDA Specialistas in the last three months is an indication that the “newly launched program has started creating awareness and gaining support from the people in the community.”

“Money has also started to fill up the TESDA Specialistas’ purse as they render their services to their valued customers.”

TSTP was designed out to address problem of limited job opportunities in the market by assisting the unemployed or underemployed TVET graduates for them to be able to have a chance to be economically stable.

aintaining the island as a tourist friendly destination, the tourism office here, pulls in drivers for another round of front line service training, anticipating the increase of visitors arrival in the province this lent season and for the rest of the summer.

The activity is heavily attended by van, public utility jeepney and multicab drivers who often serve as tour guides as they ferry visitors in their island tour, hopping from one tourist spot to another.

“The two-day training aims to teaching

them how to effectively deal with the visitors, locals and foreigners alike, to be able to provide excellent quality service,” Candice Naomi L. Borromeo, the provincial tourism chief explained.

She said they always run trainings like this year after year, not only to drivers but to hotel, cottages, and restaurant operator as well.

“It’s the best way to perfect their vacation here, guests must feel good and enjoy every minute of their stay here by providing extra special and hassle free service,” Borromeo noted.

Under the program TESDA facilitates the organization of trained and certified TVET graduates with related skills to be productive into groups called TESDA specialistas who provide technical services for affordable fees in communities where they operate.

TESDA provides them with a TESDA Nurturer to guide and mentor them as well as link with the local government unit for possible support such as operation center and advertisement in the locality.

Those interested to be a TESDA Specialista, they may inquire from the TESDA Provincial Offices near their area for a detailed information.

Households and individuals who would like to avail of the services of the techno-entrepreneurs may contact their local government officials or the local office of TESDA.

Camiguin re-trains tourist drivers

M

(PIA10)

EDGEDAVAO

AGRITRENDS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

Is food crisis already brewing?

7

Text and Photos by Jims Vincent T. Capuno

“F

ROM food are born all creatures that live on earth,” India’s Upanishadsreminds.

“Afterwards they live on food. And when they die, they return to food.”

Last year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations issued a report warning the world to be prepared for “harder times ahead” unless production of major crops increases significantly.

The FAO report indicates that world grain reserves slumped 7.2 percent in 2010, with barley plunging 35 percent, corn 12 percent, and wheat 10 percent. These shortfalls have sent grain prices soaring.

Production of rice, which provides more than half of the calories and protein in the diets of most Asian people, was also affected. Although in some countries production was up, those increases were immediately gobbled up by the soaring population of the region.

As Far Eastern Economic Review puts it: “Asia, once a net exporter of food, the site of the world’s lushest rice bowls and wheat lands, home of some of the world’s most skilled and industrious farmers, is a food-deficit region, literally dependent on the West to stay alive.”

At the start of this year, domestic food inflation in developing Asian nations hit 10 percent, according to a report released by

Banana for export

Dwindling fish catch

the Asian Development Bank. The report cited double-digit rises in the price of wheat, corn, sugar, edible oils, dairy products and meat since January.

Rice shortage is not a new thing in Asia. This is particularly true in the Philippines. For the past 20 years, from 1990 to the first six months of 2010, the country imported $8.232 billion worth of rice, equivalent to P362.208 billion. That’s according to the National Food Authority.

FAO said more than 1 billion people, or 15 percent of the world’s population, suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition – either because they cannot afford to eat healthy diet or the food is simply not available where they live.

“The number of those who are hungry in the world has been steadily increasing in recent years, up from 825 million in the mid1990s, and continues to edge upward,” the UN food agency said.

Two-thirds of the world’s population live in low-income fooddeficit countries. “In these countries,” explains Don Hinrichsen, a former consultant on population and the environment at the United Nations, “millions know hunger, malnutrition, and even starvation when harvests fail, unless other countries provide emergency food aid in time.”

The Philippines, India, Indonesia and 13

other countries in Asia are among those classified under this category. Low-income fooddeficit countries are those that “are not selfsufficient in food production and do not have the financial resources needed to fill the gap with imports.”

The Philippines is touted to be an agricultural country. In fact, agriculture contributes 20 percent of the coun-

Less crop lands

Organically-grown vegetables try’s gross domestic product and employs one-third of the total labor force. Yet, agricultural production and productivity have been insufficient to provide for the country’s increasing food demand.

Scarce food means higher prices. “When food prices shoot up, the low-income people of the developing world are the most vulnerable, as the share of food in their total expenditures is much higher than that of wealthier populations,” explains Dr. Dan Gustafson, director of FAO’s Liaison Office in Washington, D.C. Food, FAO studies show, represents about 10 to 20 percent of consumer spending in industrialized nations, but as much as 60 to 80 percent in developing countries. For instance, when the price of a bag of rice goes up 20 percent, that extra cost will take up a much larger portion of household income for a family in the Philippines than it will for a family in the United States.

The immediate future is bleak. “We’re not growing enough food, and too many of our crops are failing or having disappointing yields, so we’re not able to put as much food into reserves,” Dr. Gustafson warns. “Yet, at the same time, demand for food is increasing.”

The increasing demand is fueled by the escalating population.

In 1980, there were already 48 million Filipinos. By 1990, the population soared to 61 million. Today, the Philippines is home to about 101 million people. As population continues to grow, the land area remains the same: 30 million hectares.

“We have limited and finite land resources,” said Dr. Elmer Mercado, former undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “Majority of these lands are now under deplorable and unsustainable use.”

Population pressure on arable land contribute to the land’s degradation, as more and

more marginal land is brought into cultivation to feed more hungry mouths. It takes 200 to 1,000 years to form 2.5 centimeters of rich topsoil. But on the average, farmlands are losing 2.5 centimeters of topsoil every 16 years, or 17 times faster than it can be replaced.

“Soil erosion is any nation’s enemy - far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” said Harold R. Watson, Ramon Magsaysay award-winning soil scientist. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.”

Water has been a key factor in enabling the world to increase food production. Presently, Filipino farmers use 85 percent of the country’s freshwater to grow food. Crops are irrigated from rivers, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers, which are starting to be pumped dry in some areas.

“We drink, in one form or another, nearly 4 liters of water per

day. But the food we consume each day requires at least 2,000 liters to produce, 500 times as much,” says Dr. Lester Brown, author of Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. To raise a ton of rice, for instance, you need a thousand gallons of water.

Among Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines ranks second (after Thailand) from the lowest in terms of per capita water availability per year with only 1,907 cubic meters, according to the Washington, D.C.-based World Resources Institute.

Areas where the per capita water supply drops below 1,700 cubic meters per year experience water stress while areas with per capita water supply below 1,000 cubic meters per year are already experiencing water scarcity.

A World Bank report states that four rivers in the country already belong to the latter category; these are Pampanga, Agno, Pasig-Laguna, and the island of Cebu.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

The paramilitary temptation 2 SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS

BY MARCOS C. MORDENO/MINDANEWS

T

EDITORIAL

W

A legacy of greed

ITH the demise of Celso delos Angeles, alleged architect of the Legacy scam, what fate awaits the victims in Davao and nearby areas said to have been gypped of money in the billions of pesos?

First off, death has exculpated the late Albay town mayor from whatever crimes he may have committed.

Legacy’s depositors, plan holders and “investors” will not exactly be left with an empty bag. A number of them in fact had earlier been lucky to get back a portion of the money they lost, thanks to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation which coughed up some P10 billion of taxpayers’ money to refund at least deposits in rural banks.

However, it is still tough luck for so called “investors” who put in their hardearned money, some of them proceeds from retirement, after being promised handsome returns.

Without the needed documents as proof, it is now next to impossible to recover their money.

EDGEDAVAO Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing

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

NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc.

OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

There are many lessons learned from the scam and similar financial scandals that occurred during the last three years, starting with the supposed prestigious pre-need plan firms. Government regulators should know better this time around.

Plan holders should always exercise vigilance and discrimination and see to it that the pre-need company they are dealing with have an excellent track record.

It would be cruel to tell the thousands of Legacy victims to their faces that they deserve their fate for having salivated over the “get rich-quick scheme” that eventually stripped them of the shirt on their back.

Either it was greed or naivete that led to their being fooled. But such does not diminish the crime. All victims deserve justice.

It is therefore incumbent on the authorities to pursue the cases against the associates of delos Angeles, especially those who benefited from the “scam”. These include those who also became “investors”-only to end up victims themselves twice over when the Legacy scheme collapsed.

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

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

HE use of paramilitary groups heightened during Martial Law especially when the Marcos military found itself becoming increasingly unable to suppress unrest in the countryside.

Each rural barangay practically had its own Civilian Home Defense Force, which was attached to either the local police or military unit.

That wasn’t the entire story. The military had another tack which has persisted until now to a certain degree: the use of millenarian and quasi-religious sects in the fight against insurgency. In many instances, millenarian and quasi-religious groups tended to exhibit similar characteristics.

In the early 1970s, the military mobilized the Ilaga (Rat) in the war against the Moro National Liberation Front. Firmly believing they were invincible due to prayers, incantations and a supposedly sacred oil, members of the Ilaga became willing pawns in the bloody campaign against the MNLF, which was then waging a war of secession.

The same ploy was used in the campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. In Mindanao in particular, groups like the Sagrado Corazon Senor (notoriously known as Tadtad for their macabre practice of chopping the bodies of their victims) and Rock Christ figured in several documented abuses against suspected members and supporters of the CPP-NPA. There were cases of CHDFs who were members too of these groups.

The Marcos government never acknowledged the Tadtad and other cults as part of its paramilitary network. But their participation in military operations, either as guides or combatants, was anything but secret.

It was only after Marcos’ ouster that millenarian and quasi-religious groups faded into the background with the emergence of largely urban-based anti-communist groups like the Alsa Masa.

Historically, however, millenarian groups in the Philippines had emerged as a response to injustices brought by colonialism and feudal relations. And since they intended to overturn the dominant social order some of them even espoused agrarian reform and other programs that one usually hears from socialists and communists. Hence, given the conditions that gave rise to their existence it would be too simplistic to dismiss them as simply fanatics.

In fact, some millenarian movements were brutally suppressed during the American imperial rule for advocating independence, for example, the Colorums who emerged in the early twentieth century.

In 1967, bolo-wielding members of Lapiang Malaya (Freedom Party) led by Valentin de los Santos were mowed down with automatic gunfire by Constabulary men on Manila’s Taft Avenue. Since Lapian members were mainly peasants it is safe to assume that the quest for agrarian justice was at the core of their ideology, although they also showed anti-imperialist sentiments.

But millenarian groups are far from being purists; their practices and belief systems combine the old and the new and evolve these elements into something solely theirs. The Tadtads, for instance, profess belief in Catholicism but at the same time perform gory rituals which they believe will give them supernatural powers.

Millenarian groups generally revolve around a personality who gains adherents by making predictions about change, if not a utopia, at an appointed time. Members of the group spend their whole lives preparing for the coming of the promised bliss, adopt norms of behavior that suggest rejection of what they consider evil, and strive to live an existence that appears to be detached from the rest of society.

For some reasons, though, millenarian groups have become unwitting tools of repression. Having fallen victims to manipulation, they have discarded their roots as advocates of the people’s liberation.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com.)

EDGEDAVAO

O

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

unit they’re selling.

Assuming one day I can afford to get a condo unit, it won’t be an impulsive decision, as I’ll make sure it won’t be located beside a road or highway where the din of vehicular traffic will drown out whatever classical music I’m trying to enjoy.

I’ll make sure it would be a very quiet place where I could write without encountering any kind of writer’s block.

And I’ll make sure the condo will be located amidst a forest of trees, even an artificial forest, so that when I open my door or window, I will see nothing but trees, trees, trees.

Although I’m still renting an apartment space at Nova Tierra Village here at Lanang, it’s probably the best I ever got for a much lesser rate than the apartments you find downtown.

I love this place because it’s full of mature fruit trees, bushes and vegetation that give you the feeling you’re in the countryside.

When I open the window or door while sipping hot coffee in the morning, I see nothing but trees greeting the early morning sun and hear the chirping of birds coming out of the three big trees--mango, avocado, macopa--- beside the mosque, the sweetest sound that wakes me up every morning.

As I peek out of the window, I can see a hen, a rooster and their family of growing chicks scratching the ground for morsels of food, along rows of okra, gourd and eggplants grown by one of our neighbors.

A number of sandpiper birds also fly over to the railings near the window where I can see them up close.

I guess this is what you like to be surrounded by these days, after you reach 60 when all your dreams for a better life shall have melted away all these years by missteps and misfortunes along the way.

You feel as if you’re about to join the soil where you came from in the first

place. That’s why you begin to develop this deep passion for nature: lots of trees around you, lots of birds chirping and flying around you and, oddly enough, the sound of rain on the roof of your house.

One of the things I love to do at Nova Tierra Village is to walk from my place at Palosapis Street all the way to the highway, about a kilometer away.

I’ve been doing this--- walking, not jogging,-- since my mother was still alive, living in a rented home at Dagang Street sometime in the mid-1990s.

I’ve always been deeply touched by that big wide grassy field dominated by two big fruit trees, one mango and the other a star apple tree where cows often rest in the shade after grazing, often chased by flocks of mayas, sandpipers and Chinese egrets--- migratory birds that flew all the way from Siberia. I often have this foolish notion that Heaven looks exactly like this green field, probably one reason why I always talk, not pray, to that Someone Up There all the time whenever I take these long walks over there.

To me, Nova Tierra is a very beautiful village, much better than Ladislawa Village where I once had a very nice home during my better days, a long time ago.

Walking or jogging is much better in Nova Tierra than Ladislawa because the streets here are better paved, rspecially the Avenida, and you get to pass by big vacant lots turned into mini forests serving as “breathing spaces” for the subdivision.

That’s why you will find many couples--some with their dogs tagging along-walking in Nova Tierra every Sunday morning from their homes all the way to the highway to buy hot pandesal and retracing their footsteps back to their home-sweet-homes. It’s more of a ritual than an exercise for most of the residents of this subdivision who have learned to love this place since they moved here.

(Comments? Email: tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

Monkey Business

Local and foreign investors continue to be highly confident about locating and investing in the city. What we have right now is government of big business and the euphoric business temperament during the past several months is directly related to the construction boom. Looking prudently at statistics, you will see that construction of infrastructures and basic industries is rising at accelerating pace.

That’s precisely the reason an increasingly vocal group of thoughtful observers and business analysts say that they’ve never seen this much construction development in such a short period of time. The long-term economic outlook is getting brighter as the city government in partnership with the business and private sectors has been able to stimulate investors with government-assisted initiatives.

The fast-pace construction of commercial edifices, hotels, malls, sports and recreational facilities, high-rise condominiums and office units, and tourism-related projects increased tremendously during the second quarter of 2011 following a temporary slowdown the previous year. However, boosted by investors’ confidence, construction of infrastructure and basic industries are expected to flourish even more in 2012 and in the succeeding years.

Within this business climate, construction and other related endeavor will improve the city’s commerce and trade activities, which in turn would encourage other prospective entrepreneurs to join the playing field. Eventually, the city government and the business community pretty much got what they wanted. Ironically, thanks were probably due to the return of investors’ confidence and it is an important step along the road to Davao City’s economic progress. oooOooo PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND REAL ESTATE ACTION – Meanwhile, some wellentrenched Manila-based investors probably

thinking that competition is already too tight in the Greater Manila area are pumping their money into infrastructure and consumer-based stocks, and also want a piece of Davao City’s property development and real estate action.

Leading business entities have been moving strongly and investing heavily in Durianburg, buying hefty chunks of properties, and many of them already own prime lots in different locations and other valuable holding in the city’s business and commercial districts, which will ultimately be the site of their proposed structures.

In addition, leading property developers are reportedly interested in expanding their business and want to target niche sectors, especially the top-class and rich Chinese community.

A business insider says there have already been informal discussions the past months for a big property firm to purchase a vast track of land somewhere in the city and transform it into a residential and commercial complex.

On another front, other interested investors are eyeing low-cost housing and tourismrelated projects, too. Their focus now is to continue extensive acquisition and look into other areas of expansion. But the big thing here is the construction of infrastructures therefore new ventures will still all be in the core areas of real estate and property development.

Big investors nowadays are interested in fast-growing sectors. Property development and real estate are two sectors that financial experts understand. Right now, the trend is increasing the exposure of Davao City to most fund managers based in Manila and neighboring Asian regions that are looking to diversify into the city’s unsaturated and uncongested market.

Expectedly, we will see more investors, local and foreign alike coming to the city. How they invest, however, is another story.

C

A N D I D SHOTS – Crime has become the Achilles’ heel of whoever is in power.

That’s the irony of it all. Many of our leaders fail in one critical area: peace and order. Today, as in previous dispensations, the crime situation is for real; and government must address it firmly.

What government should do is to mount a special effort utilizing a more collaborative arrangement among the various law enforcement agencies, with the support of the private sector. However, the biggest problem – and this has existed for many, many years---is the matter of cooperation and coordination.

Unfortunately, different law enforcement agencies instead adopt “each to their own” policy aimed primarily to boost their respective turfs and promote their own interest. Shades of hypocrisy! oooOooo ESSENTIAL THINGS FOR BUSINESS – There are enough reasons to believe that Davao City will most likely remain a top performer in investment, finance and trade in the southern Philippines. I have long been an optimist about the city’s future – socio-politically and economically. The desire of the city leadership, the business and private sectors to constantly improve themselves shows no sign of diminishing.

Government officials and business leaders in the city had been pretty good at doing the things that are essential for business: stable macroeconomic policies, tax incentives, cheap labor, efficient public utilities, infrastructure, increasing investment in education, training and retraining.

Fil Am lady is firm’s CFO/EVP

When a grazing field looks like heaven

NLY ONE thing attracts me to either rent or buy a place to live, whether it’s a house, an apartment or a condo.

I just want to see lots of trees when I open the door or window of the place I live in.

No other reason is needed to convince me to live in any place. I don’t like to open the door or window of the house, condo or apartment and see another building---with clothes hanging out to dry--- or neighbors too close for comfort, they could see everything you do inside your living room or bedroom.

I’ve seen lots of houses like that before but thank goodness, I’ve come to my senses and know how to choose what I want.

The last house I rented before (Yes, Gabriela, I’m still poor and homeless as a rat--- I do not own a house) was an extended building attached to a good-looking bungalow beside the long curve of a highway in Matina where the loud grinding traffic noise of jeepneys and trucks made our lives miserable.

Whenever I looked out the dining room windows, I could see only the kitchen door of our landlady’s bungalow.

When we walked out the door, we saw only other buildings across the street—with absolutely no trees around to absorb all the carbon dioxide being emitted by vehicles.

That’s why I’m so frustrated by salesladies trying to sell me condominiums without describing to me the location of the building, where the road is, the presence (or absence) of trees, and the kind of neighborhood I have to put up with the rest of my life.

They don’t even tell me how big or how small is the floor area of the condo

The return of investors’ confidence

9

CHICAGO

BY JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

S

TARTING April 1, a Philippine-born American woman will be breaking the glass ceiling of sorts when she takes over the helm of the world’s biggest food company as its executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Wan Ling Martello will take over as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nestle S.A.(NESN), the world’s biggest food company, at its headquarters in Veyvey, Switzerland.

Ms. Martello, 53, succeeds Jim Singh, who retired at 65 years old after working for 35 years in Nestle and had held the position as CFO since 2008.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines, Ms. Martello left as executive vice president of global e-commerce and emerging markets of Bentonville, Arkansas-based WalMart, the global leader in revenues/profit and number of employees at 2.1-million.

According to a press release posted on Nestle’s website, Ms. Martello, a U.S. Citizen of Chinese and Philippine origin, is a Certified Public Accountant with MBA from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy from the University of the Philippines.

Ms. Martello has a vast knowledge of the finance and has solid experience in the food and beverage business as well as retail segment.

She formerly worked with Kraft Foods (1985-1995) in finance and business administration as well as with Borden Foods Corporation (1995-1998) as Corporate Controller.

From 1998-2005 she was with NCH Marketing Services Inc., a former subsidiary of Nielsen, as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and then President USA. From 2005-2011, Ms. Martello gained indepth knowledge of the retail and e-commerce business at Walmart where she was Senior Vice President, Chief Finance Officer & Strategy, Walmart International and then Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Global eCommerce, Emerging Markets. Besides her financial background, Wan Ling also has extensive insight of the consumer and branded goods category and is perfectly prepared to assume this crucial role in the company.

Ms. Martello will join a board whose 12 other executives have long experience in working at Nestle. She will only be the second person from outside the Swiss company to take the CFO post in less than a decade. Paul Polman, a former Procter & Gamble Co. executive and now head of Unilever, ran Nestle’s finances from 2006 until early 2008.

According to Bloomberg News, Andrew Wood, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in New York, told investors, “For a company of too many ‘insiders’ at senior level positions, this external perspective and experience could prove to be very useful at Nestle.”

With a market value of about 164.4 billion francs (US$184 billion), Nestle is Europe’s second-most valuable company after Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Martello’s fluency in speaking Mandarin and Fookien aside from her native Filipino language of Tagalog and English could boost Nestle’s goal of expanding its business in Asia.

The company, which agreed to its biggest Chinese acquisition with a bid for candy maker Hsu Fu Chi International Ltd. in July, has set a target of getting 45 percent of revenue from developing countries by 2020, compared with about a third now. Unilever earns about half of its revenue from this region.

None of Nestle’s executive-board members lists Chinese among their language skills in their profiles. She will also be Nestle’s highest ranking female executive.

The new CFO may also improve ties between Nestle and Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer and one of the Swiss manufacturer’s largest customers, according to analysts at MF Global.

Thomas Russo, who manages about $4-billion, including Nestle shares, as a partner at Garner Russo & Gardner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said, Ms. Martello “comes with a celebrated resume and has the required exposure to this business as both a supplier and a customer.”

By tradition, Nestle usually promotes insiders as the average term of employment of Nestle executive board members is 28 years, according to Patrick Hasenboehler, an analyst at Bank Sarasin & Cie. in Zurich.

Consumer-goods companies are promoting people with emerging-market backgrounds as countries such as China and India fuel their sales growth. Rakesh Kapoor became chief executive officer of Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (RB/) this month, capping a career at the U.K. household-products manufacturer that started in his native India in 1987. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

10

COMMUNITY SENSE EDGEDAVAO Start paying water bills through `No limits’ online job hunting with Tattoo BDO ATM and online banking JobStreet special edition broadband stick

D

AVAO City Water District customers can already start paying their water bills through Banco de Oro’s electronic banking and automated teller machines (ATMs) starting April 3.

This payment option has been made available after the system used for the BDO over-the-counter water bill payment launched last February 14 was tested and improved.

“Availability of these services expands customer options for water bill payment, giving them more convenient ways to settle their dues,” said acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado.

Thus, he enjoined DCWD customers with existing BDO accounts to enroll in http://www.mybdo.com. ph and start using BDO’s internet banking service.

Enrollment and use of this service does not require a minimum balance, but maintaining balance for specific BDO accounts still apply.

For questions regarding BDO’s internet banking, customers can use MYBDO site’s “frequently asked questions” (https:// www.mybdo.com.ph/fo/ faq) which answers all possible queries ranging from account creation to the actual payment as well as availing of special services.

DCWD reminds customers that the BDO internet banking payment option only covers payments for regular bills (blue) and notice of disconnection (red bills).

Customers with shut-off order (yellow bills) and

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

those who want to pay fees for DCWD services such as reconnection, new service connection, among others are advised to pay directly to DCWD offices in Matina and Bajada. Furthermore, this payment method is only applicable to personal / individual accounts. Corporate bills, especially those computations with withholding tax component, should be paid to any DCWD offices for proper documentation and validation.

Customers should ensure that there is enough balance in their bank accounts otherwise, payment will be rejected.

Cut-off time for online payment is 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM for ATM. Any payments made after this time and during weekends and holidays will still be subject for verification and will be considered the next banking day. Cancellation of post-dated or recurring payments made through online payment may be done on or before 7:00 PM on the scheduled date.

BDO assures customers that all information withheld is private and confidential. However, all electronic banking services are subject to BDO’s terms and conditions.

For more information, customers are encouraged to visit DCWD offices or contact DCWD call center through 221-9400 or 221-9412. DCWD frontline service attendants and call center agents are ready to assist them if they have any queries or problems.

T

ATTOO, the number one broadband in the country teams up with JobStreet, the leading job site in the Philippines, to launch a powered-up, `no limits’ job hunting experience toward your dream career through the limited edition Tattoo-JobStreet prepaid kit.

As a special treat to graduating college students, the two industry leaders joined forces to launch the limited edition Tattoo-JobStreet prepaid kit that allows jobhunters to access the JobStreet website (www.

JobStreet.com) and search for their dream job even if they have zero-prepaid balance. The prepaid kit is exclusively available at the Globe Online Shop. (http://tattoo.globe.com. ph/promos) John Rubio, Head of Sales Strategy, Development and Operations of Globe Telecom ex-

plained that the tie-up between Tattoo powered

by Globe and JobStreet. com through the innovative and limited edition prepaid kit allows subscribers to apply to their dream job anytime, anywhere for FREE with unlimited access to JobStreet.com for one year even without using the stick’s preloaded amount in their Tattoo-JobStreet stick.

“Fresh graduates, graduating students and those who are searching for their ultimate dream jobs will benefit from the Tattoo-JobStreet prepaid kit that works even without load. This limited edition stick powers up the job hunting experience leading the users to their ultimate dream job,” said Rubio.

“The limited edition Tattoo-JobStreet stick runs to speeds of up to 3.6 mpbs and is sold exclusively at the Globe On-

line Shop at a special discounted price of P835 for savings of P160. The stick is delivered nationwide free of charge. We are excited to announce that we will be offering exclusive Tattoo online offers every month so look out for that,” Rubio added.

For his part, Dong Ronquillo, Head of Globe Nomadic Broadband Business says: “Tattoo has always believed in living without limits. This Tattoo-JobStreet limited edition prepaid kit is a product that exactly translates that belief. This would empower job hunters to scout for their dream job at the JobStreet portal without limits using the limited edition TattooJobStreet stick. This is the fastest, most convenient way to land your dream job because they could search for their dream job anytime, any day and even when they’re on the go.”

JobStreet.com on the other hand, is the no. 1 job site in the Philippines.

More than 4.4 million Filipino jobseekers trust JobStreet.com in finding their dream job from among the 22,000 employers including top companies under its client base. Currently, more than 60,000 jobs are available online through JobStreet making it the top online job-hunting site in the country.

“For over 12 years, JobStreet.com has always been known for pioneering efforts online. We’ve always made an effort to bring jobs closer to the Filipino jobseeker, so that he is empowered to find a job that can improve his future. And thanks to Globe, bigger career opportunities are within reach of our youth with this special edition Tattoo-JobStreet broadband stick,” says Yoda Buyco, JobStreet.com Marketing Director.

Davao Light holy week schedule

A

LL Davao Light and Power Company offices will be closed on April 5, 6 and 7 in observance of the Holy Week but will be open on April 9, declared as a regular nonworking holiday in celebration of the Araw ng Kagitingan.

Regular collection services in the Ponciano, Rondez, and Panabo offices will resume on Sunday, April 8. Meanwhile, paying hours for Ponciano, Bajada and Panabo on April 9 will be from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. While the accredited collection offices in Sto Tomas, Toril and

Calinan will be from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. On the other hand, payment arrangements, billing inquires and complaints, as well as metering service concerns will be entertained on April 9 at the Ponciano and Panabo offices’ customer service area from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Emergency service will continue to be available 24 hours through 229-DLPC (3572).

Davao Light’s normal operations for all services will resume on Tuesday, April 10.

Globe Sales Strategy, Development and Operations Head John Rubio, Jobstreet.com Marketing Director Yoda Buyco, and Globe Banks and Online Channels Head Pilut Montes display the limited edition Tattoo-JobStreet prepaid stick.

Phoenix Petroleum, KIA provide road assistance this Holy Week

P

HOENIX Petroleum Philippines, Inc. teams up with KIA Motors to serve motorists this Holy Week through the nationwide “Trip Mo, Trip Ko!” mo-

torist assistance program.

The KIA Technical Team will provide free service to all kinds of vehicle on April 4, 5, 7 and 8, 2012, from 8am to

6pm.

Participating Phoenix stations are the following: Phoenix Marcos Highway, Antipolo City; Phoenix Mindanao Av-

enue, Valenzuela City; Phoenix Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Phoenix Dasmarinas, Cavite; Phoenix Talisay, Cebu City; Phoenix Dumoy, Davao; Phoenix Bulua, Cagayan De Oro City.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

SUBURBIA

Child development center rising in Tagum T

AGUM City Mayor Rey T. Uy led city officials and bigwigs of the Department of Education-Division of Tagum City in the groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s first-ever child development center last March 28, 2012 in Rizal Elementary School II stressing that putting up with such edifice is “a right start” towards equipping this city’s children with the best foundation for education.

The local chief executive personally received the check amounting to 2.2 million pesos from Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council Sec. Teresita G. Inciong and ECCD Consultant Mr. Johnson Borja See, the lead financing office of the said undertaking.

Said amount will be used in the construction of the 100-square meter building that will be put up in Rizal Elementary

School II, Rizal St., Magugpo South, Tagum City.

The said center shall be the place where children shall be honed in the early stage of acquiring education and shall be fully-equipped with learning materials worth half-a-million pesos.

Secretary Inciong disclosed in an interview that the child development center shall also have a space for parents where they will be taught proper parenting, adding that parents play an important role in child development.

Inciong further stressed that to ensure the successful operationalization of the center; the ECCD shall send a teacher to training in Manila.

Mayor Uy, on the other hand, lauded the project since it will definitely prepare the kids for elementary and lessen the number of dropouts.

This was seconded by Secretary Inciong.

“Ito ang panahong nililinang ang utak ng ating mga kabataan at ito rin ang panahon na hindi natin binibigyan ng karampatang atensyon.”

By putting up the said center in the city, she added that Tagum will be projected as a “model city” in terms of early childhood care and development, citing the extensive and effective programs jointly initiated both by the local government and DepEdTagum.

Present during the ceremony were Vice Mayor Allan L. Rellon, City Councilors De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, Mylene Baura and Francisco Remitar, DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Nenita E. Lumaad, Tagum’s ECCD Supervisor Mrs. Mayumi Pinzon, Rizal Elementary School II Principal Mrs. Erlinda Quinto and her teaching staffs.

Ended, Sec. Inciong projected that the building will be finished by June 2012.

City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy led in the burying of the time capsule during the ground-breaking ceremony of the country’s first-ever child development center in Rizal Elementary School II, Rizal St., Magugpo South. Assisting the local chief executive were Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council Sec. Teresita Inciong and ECCD Consultant Mr. John Borja See, DepEd Tagum Schools Division Superintendent Nenita E. Lumaad, Vice

Mayor Allan L. Rellon, City Councilors Oyo Uy, Mylene Baura and Frank Remitar, Executive Assistant to the City Mayor Mrs. Delia B. dela Cruz, Tagum’s ECCD Supervisor Mrs. Mayumi Pinzon, Rizal Elementary School II Principal Mrs. Erlinda Quinto and Miss Sally Balili of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. Photo by Francis Abrenica of CIO Tagum

Secretary Teresita Inciong of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council personally handsin the check amounting to 2.2 million pesos to City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy last March 28, 2012 at Rizal Elementary School II, Rizal St., Magugpo South. Said amount will be used for the construction of the country’s first child development center which shall be built in the said school above. Present in the turn-over of check are ECCD Consultant Mr. John Borja See, DepEd Tagum

Schools Division Superintendent Nenita E. Lumaad, Vice Mayor Allan L. Rellon, City Councilors Oyo Uy, Mylene Baura and Frank Remitar, Executive Assistant to the City Mayor Mrs. Delia B. dela Cruz, Tagum’s ECCD Supervisor Mrs. Mayumi Pinzon, Rizal Elementary School II Principal Mrs. Erlinda Quinto and Miss Sally Balili of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. Photo by Francis Abrenica of CIO Tagum

City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy puts a cement to bury the time capsule during the ground-breaking ceremony of the country’s first child development center in Rizal Elementary School II, Rizal St., Magugpo South. Looking on are Vice Mayor Allan L. Rellon, Councilor Frank Remitar and Mr. John Borja See of the Early Childhood Care

11

and Development Council, the office which financed the project worth 2.2 million pesos. The said center shall be the place where children shall be honed in the early stage of acquiring education and shall be fully-equipped with learning materials worth half-a-million pesos.

Photo by Francis Abrenica of CIO Tagum.

12

NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS Decried

F

ILIPINOS on social networking site Facebook cried foul over online photos of lady riding a butanding (Rhincodon typus) and a group of locals holding the same whale shark while posing for some snapshots.

The photos were first posted on the Facebook page of Dive Philippines group and went viral immediately, with over 100 shares and hundreds of Filipinos talking online about the supposed malpractice on handling a whale shark interaction.

First time

S

OME 2,000 Mangyans belonging to the Iraya Tribe acquired for the first time their birth certificates in a program led by Plan International Philippines.

The birth registration program was part of several activities conducted simultaneously worldwide as Plan International commemorated its 75th year under the global theme “Count Every Child.”

Common stand

T

HE Philippines wants the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a common stand on regional maritime disputes, particularly over the potentially oil-rich Spratly Islands, before dealing with China on the issue.

“On the Code of Conduct, it is important for ASEAN to first agree among themselves on the draft text of the COC before meeting with China,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario declared yesterday in a statement read before a gathering of foreign ministers of the regional bloc.

I

Scholarships

NCOMING college freshmen are encouraged to avail of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s scholarships in geosciences to boost the country’s geohazard system.

DENR cecretary Ramon Paje issued the directive to encourage more students to take up mining and metallurgical engineering, who would eventually assist in geohazard mapping and assessment.

M

Hailed

IGRANT rights activists hailed the conviction in Malaysia of a Singaporean man who had allegedly victimized more than 100 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Former Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, praised OFWs Marivic Capistrano and Marilou Bagsit, whose testimonies led to the Kuala Lumpur court decision last week sentencing Eugene Beng Hua Lim, alias Alfred Lim, to three years’ imprisonment.

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

North Korea ruling party to WORLD TODAY meet before rocket launch J More time

APAN needs more time to decide whether to restart two offline nuclear reactors, the trade minister said on Tuesday, as concerns about a summer power crunch vie with safety worries in the wake of last year’s Fukushima crisis.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will meet three cabinet members on Tuesday to discuss restarting the reactors, but will not make any immediate decision, Trade Minister Yuki Edano, who holds the energy portfolio, told reporters.

N

ORTH Korea said Tuesday its ruling party would hold a special conference on April 11, bolstering the power of its young leader just before a major anniversary and the planned launch of a long-range rocket.

Preparations for blast-off sometime between April 12-16 are further advanced than previously believed, a US specialist website reported, citing a new satellite photograph.

The North says its rocket will put a peaceful satellite into orbit but the United States, South Korea and other nations see it as a pretext for a long-range missile test banned by the United Nations.

The 38 North website (38north.org) said a March 28 photo of the launch site at Tongchang-ri in the country’s far northwest appeared to show a mobile radar tracking system atop a ridge at the end of a new dirt road.

It said the image also shows previously empty areas filled with rows of what are probably empty fuel and oxidiser tanks, apparently dumped after their contents had been transferred in preparation for launch.

NEW LEADER. This undated picture, released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on March 10, shows N.Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on a

naval vessel. N.Korea on Monday announced April 11 as the date for a special ruling party conference expected to wrap up the power transfer to the new leader.

The North is preparing mass celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary on April 15 of the birth of Kim Il-Sung, the country’s first and “eternal” president and founder of the dynasty which has ruled uninterrupted since 1948.

A successful satellite launch would burnish the image of his grandson Kim Jong-Un as he seeks to establish his credentials as a strong leader.

The party meeting is expected to wrap up the power transfer to Jong-Un, proclaimed “great successor” after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il last December.

So far Jong-un, aged in his late 20s, has been formally appointed to only one of his late father’s posts -- supreme commander of the 1.2-million-strong military, the world’s fourth largest.

The Workers’ Party

of Korea meeting is likely to appoint Jong-Un to the post of party general secretary previously held by his father.

Party committee meetings in the military, provinces, cities and counties elected Jong-Un as one of the conference delegates, “reflecting the unanimous will and desire of all the party members, service personnel and people”, the official news agency said.

rity community, economic community and socio-cultural community pillars.

He said the strategies towards the achievement of such goal were outlined in the ASEAN community blueprint that was adopted by the regional body in 2009.

ASEAN comprises the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. Based on the 20th ASEAN Summit schedule issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 10 heads of state will meet for a plenary session on Tuesday morning before heading off to a series of interface dialogues with representatives of the ASEAN interparliamentary assembly, civil society organizations and the youth sector.

A signing ceremony is also scheduled for various agreements finalized in the series of preparatory sessions of ASEAN senior ministers. Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, who attended the ASEAN economic community

meeting on Monday, said they pushed for measures that would ensure the country’s full participation in the region’s economic integration efforts.

Cristobal earlier said among the strategies that they identified was the increased participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the planned regional economic community as well as enhanced trade facilitation.

He said they would also actively participate in the ASEAN working groups in trade, services and investments. On Sunday, Cristobal represented the Philippines in the 11th consultation-meeting between ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the EU Trade Commission headed by EU Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht.

In a joint statement, the ASEAN economic ministers said they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trade and investments with the EU through the strategies earlier endorsed under

the ASEAN-EU trade and investment work programme.

It said the work programme aims at enhancing economic cooperation as well as address emerging challenges and opportunities for enhanced trade and investment between ASEAN and the EU, which is presently the region’s second largest trading partner and the biggest source of investment flow.

The ministers stressed the importance of the World Trade Organization (WTO as a strong multilateral trading system, which has been successful in promoting free trade and reiterated their commitment to this “stable, transparent, and rules-based system.”

“The Ministers also agreed on the importance of enhancing ASEAN-EU cooperation in the area of trade facilitation and look at the possibilities for region-to-region trade facilitation initiatives to further enhance intra- and interregional trade,” it added.

PNoy attends Cambodia meet on ASEAN economic integration

P

HNOM PENH, Cambodia--Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino is joining Southeast Asian leaders here for a two-day meet starting Tuesday to discuss the progress of the continuing economic integration efforts and adopt fresh strategies that will facilitate the full realization of the region’s goals to become a single regional community by the year 2015.

Aquino is expected to arrive here Monday evening to attend the 20th ASEAN leaders’ summit and 45th anniversary celebration that will formally open Tuesday morning at the Nuon Srey Hall of the Office of the Council of Ministers’ Peace Palace, said Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Noe Wong.

“It will revolve around the ASEAN purpose of attaining the one ASEAN community goal,” he said in a statement.

Wong said this goal focuses on the integration of the 10-nation bloc through the institutionalization of ASEAN’s political secu-

[ALLEN V. ESTABILLO/MINDANEWS]

N

Triumph

OBEL Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide in an election for vacant parliamentary seats, a victory she hailed as a “triumph of the people” after decades of military dictatorship.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won 40 of the 45 available seats in Sunday’s poll, the Election Commission announced on state television, dealing a crushing blow to a ruling party created by the former military junta that kept her locked her up for 15 years.

Sanctions

W

ESt African leaders slapped crippling sanctions on Mali’s new junta ahead of emergency UN talks Tuesday on the troubled nation, half of which is now held by Tuareg rebels and Islamist fighters.

As Mali slid further into chaos under military rulers who seized power on March 22, France called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

A

Criticism

RGENTINE President Cristina Fernandez marked the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war with sharp criticism of Britain for maintaining “colonial enclaves” and a renewed call for sovereignty talks.

Fernandez has intensified pressure on London to negotiate the sovereignty of the islands in the run-up to the anniversary of the 10-week war that Britain and Argentina fought over the remote South Atlantic archipelago in 1982.

C

Freed

OLOMBIA’S leftist FARC rebels released the last 10 police officers and soldiers they were holding hostage, but the country’s president said the move was “insufficient.”

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Latin America’s last major insurgent movement, made good on a February pledge to release the hostages, all held for 12 to 14 years in the country’s dense jungle.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

Memorial...

Keep...

FFROM 1

FFROM 1 The Office of the Ombudsman released its decision stating 21 police officers detailed at the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region as guilty of ‘simple neglect of duty’ as they failed to solve majority of murders from 2005 to 2008.

The Ombudsman said that in four years, 720 people were murdered in the city: 97 in 2005; 165 in 2006; 199 in 2007 and 259 in 2008.

Of the 720 murders, a mere 321 or less than 50 percent were solved.

Found guilty and meted a penalty of a fine equivalent to onemonth salary were: (1) Sr. Supt. Catalino Cuy, Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

EDILTRUDES B. REOYAN, Petitioner Case No.2002-XI-02614 x- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: MAGTUOD ROUTE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on February 16, 2012. In the petition filed on February 8, 2012, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

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

At least, FIVE (5) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

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

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 8th day of February 2012 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer /hoc Copy furnished: Petitioner, Ediltrudes B. Reoyan, Brgy. 2-A, Magallanes Extension, Davao City Counsel, Atty. Napoleon F. Sango, Rm 204, Caritas Bldg., CM Recto St., Davao City NOTE: Affidavit of Publication and newspaper where notice was published must be submitted three (3) days before the scheduled hearing.

13

(2) Sr. Supt. Jaime Morente, (3) Chief Insp. Matthew Baccay, (4) Chief Insp. Filmore Escobal, (5) Chief Insp. Leandro Felonia, (6) Chief Insp.

Marvin Manuel Pepino, (7) Chief Insp. Ranulfo Cabanog, (8) Chief Insp.

Vicente Danao, (9) Supt.

Harry Espela, (10) Supt.

Michael John Dubria, (11) Supt. Rommil Mitra, (12) Sr. Insp. Maximiano Atuel and (13) Sr. Insp.

Arnulfo Mahinay, all of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

Also fined were: (14) Chief Insp. Alden Delvo, (15) Insp. Rolly Tropico, (16) Insp. Dionisio Abude, (17) Sr. Insp.

Antonio Alberio Jr., (18) Chief Insp. Juel Neil Sal-

Pista...

cedo, (19) Chief Insp. Joselito Loriza, (20) Chief Insp. Joel Neil Rojo, and (21) Chief Insp. Napoleon Eguia.

The case stems from a group called Davao City Deserves Good Government Movement (DCDGGM) who complained that the so-called Davao Death Squad was responsible for the killings of more than 800 people.

DCDGGM, in their complaint, alleged that ranking-officers were themselves involved.

Commenting on the Ombudsman’s decision, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reiterated that the DCDGGM is a group under his political rival,

former House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

“Kani ikog lang ni sa iyang gipanghimo,” Duterte said during Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa on April 1.

Duterte likewise sympathized with the penalized policemen saying the decision would be ‘a bad record on the police officers’ career.’

Sr. Supt. Jaime Morente, who is now regional director of PRO-Davao Region, said that the DCPO did its best at the time.’

“Even with those figures at the time, we still received recognition from the PNP (Philippine National Police).

of Trade and Industry; and, Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The cooperators for this event include HEDCOR Sibulan, Inc.; San Miguel Brewery, Inc.; National Commission for Indigenous Peoples; Ka-

piid Ka Banua; Municipal Tribal Council; Barangay Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4, Coronan, Astorga, Darong, Sibulan, and Tibolo; Philippine National Police; Bureau of Fire Protection; 39th IB of Philippine Army; and the Philippine National Red Cross.

FFROM 3

ing implemented by the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz; Municipal Council for Tourism, Culture and Arts; Provincial Government of Davao del Sur; Department of Tourism 11; Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao; Department

Invited by the City Council to speak on the matter are: representatives from the DCWD, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Environmental Management Bureau.

Also invited are the Punong Barangay of Barangay Baliok, Barangay of Barangay Dumoy, Robert Alabado (officer in charge, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), City Engineer Luis Jacinto, and water analysts consulted

by Barangays Dumoy and Baliok.

Committee report Based on the committee report of the Subcommittee on housing & subdivision development (Medium-end projects), relative to the application of owner Francis Ledesma for the memorial park, the proposed SGMPI is alongside other cemeteries.

“This proposed Memorial Park is along the old Davao-Cotabato Road and is adjacent to existing cemeteries such as the Toril Memorial Park, Lubogan Public Cemetery and the proposed Eternal Gardens,” the report said.

The report noted that on November 3, 2010, the CPDO gave its endorsement certifying that Ledesma’s request to the City Council “may be given favorable action considering it has complied with the requirements of law.”

Also giving favorable support to the SGMPI, according to the report, are the Department of HealthCenter for Health Development; the City Health Office; and the MGB 11.

The DCWD issued certification dated August 9, 2011 that the water table in the ground where the

proposed memorial park is located “is not higher than 4.50 meters below the ground surface which is within the allowable limit set by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.”

“Furthermore, the certification (from DCWD) attests that the proposed memorial park is approximately 230, 280, 200, and 690 meters from the existing DCWD Dumoy Production Wall Nos. 32, 27; Dacoville Production Well No. 1; and Lubogan Production Well No. 1, respectively, thus well beyond the 50 meter limit set by law,” the report states.

On November 6, 2011 the United Residents and Homeowners Association of Dacoville, Inc. (URHADI), through their president Conrado Vidanes, forwarded its Board Resolution No. 7 expressing opposition to SGMPI. In response to the letter, Alabado assured the URHADI that “as per certification of the DCWD, there shall be no concern as to the contamination of the water supply in the area.”

Still, on March 11, 2012, the Barangay Dumoy Council in Talomo District issued Resolution No. 14 interposing strong objection to the proposed SGMPI on the ground that “it might cause inorganic contamination of the water source in the area.”

The Committee report ends with the recommendation that “despite the noted objections of several parties, the committee recommends to grant the application of Ledesma.”

The report said it was established, through affirmation and certifications from concerned agencies, that the development “poses no risk to the water system of the area.” [JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

Costly...

FFROM 16

the pack with steady play while five players held the lead Sunday. After finishing with a par in the group before Kim, Yoo figured she would collect a fat runner-up check and head home to Orlando.

And then Kim made a mistake reminiscent of Hoch’s missed 2-foot putt that would have won the 1989 Masters, and Sanders’ miss on a 3-footer to win the 1970 British Open.

“She’s a great putter,” Yoo said about Kim. “She really doesn’t miss those kinds of putts, but … that’s golf. You never know what’s going to happen. I was just watching from the putting green, and that’s some luck.”

Yoo got to make the traditional leap into the

frigid waters of Poppie’s Pond, while Kim’s miss on the Dinah Shore course will go down in LPGA Tour infamy.

She’ll have more than $182,000 to console her—along with the knowledge she had been the most consistent contender amid the wild momentum swings of the final round. She went bogey-free through 17 holes, making a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th and a 20-footer on the 17th to break a threeway tie for the lead.

Yoo and Kim played the 18th again in the playoff, and Kim’s drive barely cleared the water, landing in the rough. She left a birdie putt short from the fringe, and Yoo calmly reached the green before burying her winning putt.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

Time to take a break

Members of the UM Wildcats Volleyball squad was presented to the members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) after the team arrived fresh from their title conquest in the MNCAA National Games in Naga City. Heading the team is UM athletic director Joaquin Sarabia. [BOY LIM]

UM spikers write history M

AKE way for another national champion from

Davao.

University of Mindanao became the latest addition to Davao’s growing list of national champions this year. The Wildcats took home the national MNCAA volleyball title in Naga City recently in what could be the first ever national volleyball crown for Davao.

“I don’t know if there was any but I think this will go down as a first national title in volleyball for UM and probably the city,” said UM sports director Joaquin Sarabia.

The UM spikers came back from a first set loss

to turn the tables around highly-fancied Centro Escolar University 2325, 26-24, 25-28, 28-26, in the finals before a shocked pro-NCR crowd.

The Wildcats advanced to their first stint in the MNCAA National Games after beating its archrivals Holy Cross of Davao and Davao Merchant Marine Academy during the eliminations last February.

John Rick Bacus led the Wildcats in their title run, eventually being rewarded with the most valuable player honors in the tournament. “It’s a team effort. Siguro yung leadership lang ang naging malaking contribu-

tion ko,” said Bacus in the weekly Davao Sportsswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn. “The boys really tried their best to win. Nagsakripisyo sila, mahirap ang dinaanan naming, pati ang byahe naming papunta sa Naga,” said winning coach Jonathan Exequiel Vanta.

The volleyball title came after Davao’s basketball squads Jose Maria College (collegiate) and Assumption College of Davao (secondary) also won the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC) last month.

The Wildcats leaned also on power-hitting

Paul John Saraga who was named best spiker, and Reymark Anthony Demeterio who won best setter honors.

The rest of the team included Marvin Antonio, Peter Paul Tagalog, Gilbert Abis, Francis Caunga, Antine John Escosia, Daryl Baga-an, Rod Michael Nunez, Shier Khan Bakil, and Jerard Lendl Lanaban. Assisting Vanta is coach Manuel Ramirez Jr. The Wildcats hope to see action in three more major tournaments this year—the PRISAA National Championship late this month, the Philippine National Games in May, and the University Games in October.

UM belles 2 in WNCAA, sets eyes on PRISAA title defense A

bridesmaid finish in the recent WNCAA National Games women’s basketball will serve as the final workout for the defending champion University of Mindanao in the forthcoming PRISAA National Finals.

The Lady Wildcats bowed to Centro Escolar University in the WNCAA Finals in Naga City recently to settle for runner-up honors and missed what could have been a historic double. UM is the reigning national PRISAA champions and winning the WNCAA title would have solidified their stronghold of women’s basketball in the country.

“We narrowly missed the title. We did our best but it’s not enough. Malakas talaga ang kalaban,” said UM head coach Ineng Sarabia during the weekly DSA Forum at the Tower Inn. The Lady Wildcats are in the final stage of preparations to their title retention bid in this month’s PRISAA National Championships in Cebu City.

Lorelaine Gestopa was named best power forward of the tournament while Ana Mae Ontua was named best shooting forward. The two will banner the backto-back bid of UM although Sarabia admitted they will be short-handed this time.

EDGEDAVAO

nd

U

NIVERSITY of Mindanao, almost a cast out in the WNCAA/MNCAA Mindanao, proved their real worth in the national stage.

The UM delegation composed of their men’s volleyball squad and their women’s basketball team both came home with a trophy from the WMNCAA National Games in Naga City.

The Wildcats won the national men’s volleyball title while their female counterparts won runner-up honors in women’s basketball.

The volleyball title was extra special for UM as it was their first ever national title in that sport.

I could not recall if there was a UM squad which won a national volleyball title but I remember the UM Tagum squad starring Oliver Balse used to be the Lords of the Spikes in the 90s. Balse later on became a national team mainstay and one of the country’s finest spiker.

The power-hitting Balse was even hired as an import in a Southeast Asian league. I met Oliver two years ago at Bonifacio Global City and he is now a successful self-made businessman. I suggest

they also make a “Hello Gah!” commercial series featuring UM’s sports heroes.

Why not, Mr. Roy Geonzon?

Anyway, UM’s win was the shining moment of the Mindanao campaign in the WMNCAA 2012 National Games. The only shining moment.

Thanks to the UM sports officials who gave us the results.

----I will take a road trip today for a much-needed break. I always look forward to long holiday breaks like this to while away in my sweet old rustic hometown.

Like most of you, I will also spend this time with a solemn reflection. The weeks to come will be a hard grind for this hangtimer so I guess recharging tired batteries is exactly what the doctor will scribble on the prescription pad.

Have a blessed Holy Week everyone.

UM women’s basketball coach Ineng Sarabia shows off the second place trophy won by the UM Lady Wildcats in the recent WNCAA National Games in Naga City. Flanking here are Lorelaine Gestopa and Ana Mae Ontua. [BOY LIM]

Loyzaga quits PSC post

C

HITO Loyzaga has tendered his resignation as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission.

A PSC insider who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to divulge the details said that Loyzaga has already informed President Aquino through a resignation letter about his “irrevocable resignation” which will take effect at the end of the April.

The source said that Loyzaga cited his ailing father, basketball legend Caloy Loyzaga, as the reason for his resignation saying that the 81-yearold former member of the Mythical Five during the 1954 World Championships is still recovering from a stroke in Australia.

Chito Loyzaga is reportedly in Australia to be with his family.

A PBA standout who

played for several teams, most notably with Ginebra San Miguel, Loyzaga was appointed as commissioner in 2010 along with PSC chairman Ritchie Garcia and fellow commissioners Jolly Gomez, Akiko ThomsonGuevara and Salvador Andrada.

He was also appointed as the executive director before Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. took over that post in March.

TEBOWING. Don Allado of Barako Bull does a Tim Tebow after the a recent match in the PBA.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Cents and sensibility F ASHION runs in the bloodline of every woman… even mothers. We rise to every occasion in our own statement look, in different brands, colors, and cuts. In this modern time, women have a great variety of clothing racks to choose from, whether in local retail shops, department stores, or high end boutiques carrying staple and international brands. We have yet to account the limitless options found on cyberspace, making shopping faster and more tempting with just one click.

Let’s face it. Gone are the days when women only had bloomers, hand me down’s, jeans, uniforms, stark dresses, and other plain clothing regalia in their closet. The busy streets (and malls) are now populated by women of different generations, in a mix and match of the old and new, bedecked with edgy accessories, and pumped up soles.

Looking good is a personal commitment. For single ladies, it helps capture the interest of equally available men. For married women / mothers, it helps keep your husbands from going astray.

For single moms, it helps heal slightly wounded egos and re-emerge gloriously after the storm.

As exciting and therapeutic fashion is, the creative course in style synthesis

is less stressful for single women than for mothers.

For mothers, size, budget, and function are always an issue.

Come to think of it, motherhood not only changes your style sense but also your direction in shopping central. A lap or two around the shops of signature labels such as Chanel, Prada, or Louis Vuitton would then conclude a shopping put on halt, in consideration of your child’s needs.

“Isusubo mo na nga, ibibigay mo pa rin sa anak mo.” Yes, all mothers think that way. Nevertheless, we find no excuse to stumble down fashion road kill just because we have to play the role of a self-sacrificing mother. I, for one, turn to spendthrift ways to upgrade my look and put together appealing ensembles to conceal age and baby fats from pregnancy long done 5 years ago. There are just a few days when I can afford to be a one day millionaire and shop for luxe items, while on other days I’m on resis-

tance training. By resistance training, I don’t pertain to the toning workout, but my inner battle with guilt and temptation to shop.

Trying hard to be a wise spender, I set a limit and budget as to how much I can spend on myself every month. As my daughter’s needs grow in numbers, the budget only allows little flexibility for myself.

Left with a deflated purse, I would then focus my styling venture to online shopping.

Back in the hay days, only the big brands could afford exposure on line.

Lucky me, there are now sites that sell affordable yet fashionable pieces. A perfect example is the online site named House of Glam-

orosa by Carine Cabebe, a former TV personality and commercial model. Like her, more and more budding entrepreneurs invest in the fashion industry via Multiply and Facebook.

Even college students make it their money earning venue. The clothes are of high quality and style, and, here’s the best thing, budget friendly, with almost nothing priced over Php800.00.

You’d be amazed to see unique pieces in these sites which are rarely available in department stores. Personally, this comes to my advantage. After all, who would want to be caught dead wearing the same outfit with someone else?

Be it trinkets, clothing, shoes, or bags, the wide se-

lection online can leave you with a mild case of nausea.

There really are lots to choose from! The designs are a mix of classic essentials complemented with a pinch of panache and quirkiness to keep up with the latest trends. However, it takes a good eye to spot the great finds.

Another money-saving benefit of online shopping is you don’t have to spend on gas, parking, cab fares, or your commute. Sellers only charge minor fees for shipping. Online shopping gives moms more bonding time with kids, and save up

on unnecessary expenses that come with constant trips to the mall.

A bit of advice to buyers online. Make sure the sellers have a good record with previous buyers before you engage into business with them. Contact details are not enough to guarantee hassle-free transactions.

Make sure you acquire proof of delivery and secure receipts for payments made. And please, consider it a lowdown to publish disputes online. Settle buyer complains in a graceful manner, with proper and valid reasoning. Be responsible in protecting yourself from hoax trading and cyber-crimes. Make sure your hard earned money won’t go to waste.

As Carrie Bradshaw would put it, “I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet.”

Got questions? Send in your emails to meggy.patricia@gmail.com. Visit her blog site at http://meg-hasscene-it.blogspot.com

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

HEALTH

Concentration killers T

HINGS can get CRAZY at home and in the office. Unanswered emails are clogging your inbox, you’re wondering when you’ll find time to do the laundry, clean house or market and your brain is foggy from too little sleep. It’s not surprising you have such a hard time tackling the projects at work and at home that demand your full attention.

To help you concentrate, experts say you first need to identify what’s derailing you.

Here are six common concentration wreckers and what you can do about them.

1. Multitasking “Multitaskers might feel like they’re getting more done, but it almost always takes longer to multitask than to devote your attention to one thing at a time,” says psychologist Lucy Jo Palladino, PhD, author of Find Your Focus Zone: An Effective New Plan to Defeat Distraction and Overload.

We lose time shifting between tasks. In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, researchers from the University of Michigan and the Federal Aviation Administration conducted tests in which people had to solve math problems or classify geometric objects. The researchers found that people lost time when they switched between tasks. And when the tasks were more complex or unfamiliar, they took even more time to switch tasks.

The key, Palladino tells is be choosy about when you multitask. It’s OK to talk on the phone while you’re folding the laundry, for example, but not while you’re working on a difficult or high-priority task -- say, proofreading a report.

2. Boredom Dull tasks can sap your ability to focus and make you more vulnerable to distractions. “When you’re bored, almost anything else can be more attractive than what you’re doing,” says Gordon Logan, PhD, a psychology professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Logan’s tip: Give yourself little rewards, like a coffee or a favorite snack, for staying on task for a specific period of time. It’s also good to schedule breaks -- to take a 10-minute walk outside, for example -- so you’ll have something to looking forward to and a chance to recharge.

Boredom is one case when multitasking may work in your favor. “Multitasking is often a help when you’re doing something so boring that you’re understimulated,” Palladino says.

If you’re having a hard time focusing on washing the dishes or filing your receipts, for instance, listening to the radio or texting a friend at the same time may keep you motivated.

3. Mental Distractions When you’re worrying about money, trying to remember if you took

your vitamins, and replaying a conversation in your head that didn’t go as planned, it’s hard to settle d o w n and stay focused on a project you’re trying to complete.

Those types of distractions -- the ones that are in your head -- “have a lot of power over us,” says Michael J. Baime, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness.

One way to let go of these nagging thoughts is to quickly write them down. Add items to your to-do list, for instance, or vent your frustrations in a journal entry.

If you’re stressed about a certain problem, find a time to talk about it with someone you trust. “If you have a supportive, active listener, it can help drain away some of the tension that is bouncing around in your head,” says Daniel Kegan, PhD, JD, an organizational psychologist.

Meditation can also help. “When you’re meditating, you learn to manage distracting thoughts so they don’t compel your attention so strongly.

You discover how to refocus the attention and take it back and place it where you want it,” says Baime.

4. Electronic Interruptions “It’s easy to fall into aiding and abetting in your own distraction by checking your email all the time,” Kegan says. “If you’re trying to concentrate, you can lose your train of thought every time you hear ‘You’ve

got mail’.”

We often feel like we need to respond to an email, text, instant message, or voice mail as soon as it’s received. But Palladino suggests drawing some lines so you’re not letting technology control you.

Carve out blocks of time when you can focus on your work without electronic interruptions. Try checking your email at set times each day (rather than constantly), and close your email program the rest of the time.

It may also help to change location.

Take your laptop to a spot where you know you won’t have wireless access to the Web for a few hours, for example.

5. Fatigue Many studies show that loss of sleep impairs attention, short-term memory, and other mental functions. “Your attention falls apart when you’re sleep deprived,” Baime says. Sleep needs vary, but most adults do best with seven to nine hours of nightly sleep.

Getting at least seven hours of sleep will go a long way toward improving your focus during the day.

Also, try scheduling tasks that need more concentration during the times of day when you’re feeling the most alert. “Pay attention to your own biorhythms,” Kegan says, “and learn which times of day you work best.”

6. Drug Side Effects and Other Medical Issues If your concentration problems hamper your ability to function at work or at home, or if you’re also noticing a physical symptom like weight gain or insomnia, tell your doctor.

Poor concentration can stem from conditions such as ADHD, sleep apnea, depression, anemia, or thyroid disease. Certain medications, such as those used to treat depression, epilepsy, or influenza (flu) infections, may cause concentration difficulties as a side effect, as well.

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Adam is single!

MTV reports that Adam Levine is on the market again, ladies. The Maroon 5 frontman and “Voice” judge and his girlfriend of two years, model Anne Vyalitsyna have reportedly gone their separate ways. According to People magazine, Levine and Vyalitsyna ended their relationship as friends.

Fun-filled summer at Abreeza Mall Cinemas

MOVIEGOERS are in for a treat as we usher in the summer blockbuster movies starting this March! The fun starts with the showing of the movie adaptation of the bestselling novel of Suzanne Collins the “THE HUNGER GAMES”, the first of a trilogy set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and a girl between 12 – 18 yrs old to compete to the death on live television.

When central character Katniss Everdeen’s 12 year-old sister was picked, she volunteers to replace her in the deadly competition. “WRATH OF THE TITANS”, the sequel of the hit “CLASH OF THE TITANS”. In this movie, Perseus embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, who has been targeted for capture by his traitorous son, Ares, and his brother, Hades. On April, we await the cinema doors to open for “BATTLESHIP”, from the Hasbro company that brought “TRANSFORMERS”. A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart

their destructive goals.

The battle for Earth begins at sea. With the Philippines’ showing on April 25, Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s THE AVENGERS”—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. And on May, “MEN IN BLACK TM 3 ”. In Men in Black™ 3, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at

stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right.

All these and many more exciting films will be shown in Abreeza’s modern, cozy and stateof-the-art cinemas. Now, it even boasts of being the first cinema in Davao to have two (2) digital cinemas; sealing its’ commitment to innovative movie watching experience.

Already excited? To get seats ahead of the pack, you may also reserve or purchase your tickets online at Ayala Malls Cinemas’ www.sureseats. com. Even when you are still at home or at work, you can already pay for your tickets online using your own credit card. You may also use the MPass, a reloadable prepaid card in transacting online – it lets you buy movie tickets plus place your snack orders online for Taters.

Visit www.sureseats.com for more information.

Watch out for the announcement of our various movie promos. Catch the latest flicks at Abreeza Mall Cinemas and have a fun-filled summer!

“Adam and I have decided to separate in an amicable and supportive manner.

We still love and respect each other as friends,” Vyalitsyna told the magazine in a statement. “I wish him all the best.”

The Russian-born 26year-old, also known as Anne V, met Levine, 33, at aSports Illustrated swimsuit-issue release party in early 2010, where Maroon 5 performed. Vyalitsyna has appeared in the last eight of the mag’s celebrated swimsuit editions.

HOT or NOT

IN a classic case of who is copying who. Jennifer Lopez’s latest single “Dance Again” featured a scantily clad JLo surrounded by even more scantily clad men. Everything would be nice, until you remember the fact that Madonna had already done the exact same thing for her new single “Girls Gone Wild”. Could it be that they had the same photographer?

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

STYLE BEACH BRIGHTS. A blue and pink top matched with pink stripe boardshorts for her and star surfer striped boardshorts for him at The Lighthouse Marina Resort.

Pretty summer plum bandeau two-piece swimwear paired with polka dotted boardshorts for her and ultimate surfer boardshorts in blue and black prints for him at The Lighthouse Marina Resort.

Life’s a beach at SM

OH, the sun kissed days of summer! The living is easy and it’s the best time to enjoy a day at the beach with friends and the coolest trends from SM!

Beach babes can pair their swimsuit tops with board shorts, denims, and beach cover ups for a Coachella vibe; while boys will even have more fun with boardshorts in new, hip designs.

Check out the summer fashion at the Girls and Boys Teens Department in all SM Stores. Shot on location: The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic Bay.

SUMMER LOVE. She’s loving summer in a one-piece fuchsia halter top paired with multicolored drawstring pants for her; while he’s beach bound in graphics boardshorts.

RETRO VIBE. Pretty pink bandeau paired with polka dots boardshorts for her and surfer blue and red boardshorts for him.

THE COLORS OF SUMMER. Fun fuchsia tri-top paired with sky blue boardshorts for her and navy blue pure cotton beach shorts for him at The Lighthouse Marina Resort.

Hawaii beckons in this striped and floral printed top it paired with aqua boardshorts for her and black and white Hawaiian printed boardshorts for him.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

15

Coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats pours out all his emotions in the finals against Kansas. Lower photo, members of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after winning the National Championship of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

N

EW ORLEANS – College basketball’s best team during the 2011-12 season is also its national champion. And yes, that’s actually saying something, because it doesn’t happen very often.

The Kentucky Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the country for 20 of 29 weeks this season, survived a nearly miraculous comeback by the Kansas Jayhawks to win the school’s eighth national title.

Set up as a showdown between two of college basketball most storied programs, this title game was more of a coronation for Kentucky – for 38 minutes anyway. Holding a double-digit lead for most of the contest, Kentucky nearly fell victim to yet another Kansas comeback.

The Jayhawks, down by

as many as 18, rallied to within five with 1:37 to go.

At that moment, there was little doubt Kentucky head coach John Calipari, who’d never won a national championship, started having flashbacks to the 2008 title game when his Memphis team blew a nine-point lead with less than three minutes to go against Kansas.

There would be no choke this time, however. Gilchrist blocked a Tyshawn Taylor shot that would have made it a onepossession game, then the Wildcats made four free throws in the closing minutes to hang on for a 67-59 victory.

For just the second time in 10 years, the No. 1 overall seed won it all.

Kansas fans might not agree, but the best team of 2012 stood on the stage celebrating in front of

70,913 inside the Superdome.

“This is not about me, this is about these 13 players,” Calipari said. “This is about the Big Blue Nation.

But I don’t know of any team that has sacrificed for each other like this team and they deserve this moment, they really do.”

How good is this Wildcats team? They won four of six games in this year’s tournament by at least 12 points and none was closer than eight. Monday night, they built that 18-point first-half lead without Anthony Davis, the AP player of the year, scoring a single point.

That should (but won’t) silence the critics who claim Kentucky wins on individual talent alone – that it somehow has an unfair advantage because of Calipari’s un-

CYCLING. Philcycling regional head Jun Paholio with members of the Mayor Inday Sara cycling team Mark Anthony Cartin, Alfred Panday and Dexter Nonato. [BOY LIM]

apologetic recruitment of the so-called one-anddoners. Sure the Wildcats boast the most talent of any roster in the country – Davis and fellow freshman Michael KiddGilchrist could potentially go 1-2 in this June’s NBA draft – but as they showed Monday night, they win as a team.

At one point, Kansas coach Bill Self squatted on the sidelines of the raised court inside the

Superdome and shook his head. What else could he do? Break it down however you want, but sometimes the other team is just better.

“They’re good,” Self said. “The kids tried really hard. I’m so proud of them. They represented their school and themselves in such a first-class manner, but tonight we just weren’t the better team. They were obviously the better team”

Knowing he wasn’t on his offensive game, Davis made his impact in other ways, grabbing 16 rebounds, blocking six shots, dishing out five assists and snagging three steals. In one sequence early in the first half, Davis stole an attempted alley-oop, pushed the ball up the court where Gilchrist got a put-back jam, then blocked a shot that led to another fast-break bucket.

Never mind that the Bulls still boast the league’s best record, with Oklahoma City losing to Memphis. The killer instinct that carried Chicago wasn’t there this time.

The Bulls hadn’t dropped two straight in the regular season since Feb. 5-7 last season, when they fell at Golden State and Portland, and they sure seemed to be in control of this one until everything unraveled.

The Rockets trailed by as much as 15 in the first half and were down 13 in the third, but two big runs turned this one around. A 14-1 binge tied it at 62 late in the quarter, and they had a 17-2 burst that started in the final minute of the third and gave them an 84-72 lead.

“We got better stops,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. “We were more active on the defensive end. We

chased better on (Richard) Hamilton and (Kyle) Korver.”

Chase Budinger chipped in with 13 points, hitting three big 3-pointers early in the fourth. Courtney Lee scored 13, and Marcus Camby had 12 points and 11 rebounds to help the Rockets bounce back from an overtime loss to Indiana on Sunday.

Luol Deng led Chicago with 24 points, while Carlos Boozer scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Joakim Noah added 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, but it was another rough outing for the Bulls.

They probably could have used Derrick Rose, but their All-Star guard missed his 11th straight game because a right groin injury.

Then again, the Bulls dismissed that as a convenient excuse.

“They got guys out, too,” Deng said.

Bulls lose anew C

HICAGO (AP)—The Chicago Bulls went more than a year without dropping consecutive regular-season games, a run that ended with a rather disappointing effort.

Goran Dragic scored 21 points, Luis Scola added 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets rallied to beat Chicago 99-93 Monday night.

The Bulls had gone a franchise-record 86 regularseason games without dropping two in a row, second only to Utah’s 95-game run in the late 1990s. But after getting mauled by Oklahoma City, they fell again for the second time in as many days, dropping a wild game that saw several major swings in momentum.

When it was over, coach Tom Thibodeau was seething.

“I felt like we let go of the rope,” he said.

16

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 23 • APRIL 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

HEARTBREAKER R

HEARTBREAK PUTT. I.K. Kim of South Korea came up to her final putt—one that has the championship on the line—and missed a one-footer, which is considered a gimme in golf. That missed allowed Soon Young Yoo to seize the moment and snatch the title in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in the first playoff hole.

ANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.

(AP)—For 17 holes and four more strokes, I.K. Kim did everything necessary to win a major. She meticulously hit all 18 greens and patiently played 17 straight bogey-free holes, finally nosing out of the pack during the frantic final round at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

She stepped onto the 18th green two shots from the all-but-certain title. Her first putt went within 1 foot, and she calmly lined up the winner.

That’s when Kim joined Scott Hoch and Doug Sanders in golf infamy, and that’s when Sun Young Yoo seized an improbable second chance.

After Kim inexplicably missed a 1-foot tapin on the final hole of regulation, Yoo won the LPGA Tour’s first major of the season with an 18foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday, earning her first major title.

“I thought I had no chance,” Yoo said. “I thought I.K. was going to make the putt, but it didn’t happen.”

Kim lived every golfer’s nightmare, and the 23-year-old South Korean who lives near Los Angeles couldn’t explain any of it. After barely missing a long birdie putt, she

concentrated fully on her tap-in, and thought she hit it decently—but the ball toured the lip of the cup before coming out on the same side it entered.

Kim raised her left hand to her mouth and turned her head away, unwilling to look at what had just happened at her feet. Fans at Mission Hills gasped, groaned and screamed in a chorus of shared pain.

“I played straight, and it actually just broke to the right, even that short putt,” Kim said. “So it was unfortunate on 18, but … I feel good about my game. It’s getting better.”

After tapping in for a bogey that dropped her into a tie with Yoo, Kim raised both hands to her ears as she left the green, elbows in front of her as she stared down blankly at the bridge while walking to the scorers’ tent. The playoff ended four strokes later, with Yoo confidently seizing her second career LPGA Tour victory when Kim couldn’t relocate her groove.

“On the playoff hole, it’s just hard to kind of focus on what’s going on right now,” Kim said. “Because I was still a little bit bummed (about) what happened on 18, honestly.”

Yoo also lurked in

FCOSTLY, 13