Edge Davao 5 Issue 233 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

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SWOLLEN. A girl runs beside a swollen Lubogan river after the previous night’s heavy rain caused the water to rise, in Toril, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

SCIENCE/ ENVIRONMENT

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COA’s constitutional duty

Sports

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Mao bah!?

Private firm can’t audit Senate-Chiz By EJ Dominic Fernandez and Che Palicte

ENATOR FRANCIS “Chiz” Escudero believes the job of auditing Senate funds is a constitutional prerogative of the Commission on Audit (COA). Escudero, in town with three other senatorial candidates for the 17th anniversary of Karancho, a nationwide motor riders association, said that the COA being

Escudero thinks money quarrel has sunk Senate to the gutter But says chamber’s performance still tops

a constitutional body is an independent body. Hence, there is no need for an independent auditing firm to do the audit of the Senate. As an independent constitutional body,

Escudero said, COA cannot be influenced by the Senate. The issue stems from the recent encounter on the Senate floor between Sen-

vowed to keep the latter’s unfinished advocacy in what could be her strongest chance for a seat in the Senate. Asked on the election process where his late father lost in the controversial 2004 elections to then President Gloria Maca-

pagal-Arroyo, Poe said that people have learned a lot from 2004. With the automation of the elections, Poe is confident that cheating will be contained. “During election, cheating is not only

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Poe not worried about cheating D By Che Palicte

ON’T TALK about election cheating to Grace Poe. Don’t talk about lack of experience too. The Senatorial aspirant blew into town yesterday sans the attention his charismatic father Fernando Poe, Jr. commands but

MX3: HITTING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

Disclaimer:: Garcinia mangostana is a Food Supplement and not a Drug. NO APPROVED THERAPEUTIC CLAIM.

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2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

3 more HIV cases recorded in GenSan

HREE more residents in General Santos City have tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with local health authorities noting that such development “could be an indication that their campaign against the disease has been gaining ground.” Dr. Mely Lastimoso, coordinator of the City Integrated Health Services Office’s (CIHSO) Social Hygiene Clinic, said Friday the new cases were detected in the last three weeks from local residents who have signed up with their ongoing voluntary HIV testing pro-

gram. She said they immediately sent the results of the initial HIV screening, which were conducted by their office, to the Department of Health in Manila for confirmatory testing. “We’re currently detecting a positive case almost every week and that’s a good sign because it means the program is really working,” Lastimoso said. At the end of 2012, CIHSO records showed that the city’s confirmed cases of HIV -- the disease that causes the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

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INSTALLATION. Past president Sofronio Jucutan explains the duties and responsibilities of the newly installed officers of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. during the 45th DCCCII annual installation of officers and board of trustees at the Marco Polo Davao Friday night. Lean Daval Jr.

DSWD-11 assures ‘enough’ relief supplies even for future calamities

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 11 (DSWD-11) has assured it has “enough” relief supplies for the victims of typhoon “Pablo” and the recent flooding in the city, and even for future calamities. Priscilla Razon, DSWD-11 acting regional director, said that their relief supplies “are good enough even for calamities in the future.” “Even if calamities will escalate, we will have enough for relief [operations],” she told reporters. She said there is “enough” supply of rice as the United Nations World Food Programme committed to donate P164 million worth of rice, to be turned over in tranch-

es.

The vessel bringing the first tranche of 22,500 sacks of rice arrived in the city reportedly today (Friday). The flooding last Sunday forced the evacuation of 15,441 families in the city, 15,382 families in Davao del Norte, and 1,680 families in Pablo-hit Compostela Valley (ComVal), Razon said. Aside from the victims of typhoon Pablo, there were 4,404 families in Cateel, Davao Oriental who also reportedly evacuated anew due to the recent flooding brought by heavy rainfall, Razon said. In the city alone, the DSWD-11 provided food packs for at least 15,000 families hit by flood, she said.

Razon also said the Bureau of Customs here has turned over to the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) 391 bales of used clothes or “ukay-ukay” that were earlier seized at the Port of Davao from three container vans. The used clothes have been distributed to the flood victims, she added. The government’s assistance to flood victims in the city’s 21 evacuation centers reached P5.2 million, Razon said. CSSDO head Ma. Luisa Bermudo earlier said that schools, barangay halls, gymnasiums and chapels have been used as evacuation centers for at least 40,000 people affected by the flood. (Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/MindaNews)

AVAO Light and Power Company has worked double time to hasten power restoration in the areas of the flood-affected customers. Starting January 24, a group of Davao Light accredited electricians were deployed to areas of El Rio, Cell 2 Subd., Madapo Hills, San Ra-

fael Vill., Gem Village, Sitio Uyanguren, Jade Valley and Juliville Subd. to conduct inspection on the load side of individual households or establishments whose electrical facilities and meters were soaked in floodwater. As of press time, only Jade Valley and some isolated customers in

other areas are yet to be energized. Davao Light is closely coordinating with the City Engineer’s Office in order to expedite the restoration process. For more updates, please visit the DLPC website, official facebook page and twitter account. For inquiries, contact 229-DLPC (3572).

DLPC restores power in flood-affected areas

CANDIDATES. Senator Chiz Escudero agrees with observation that the Senate honor is on its lowest point in terms of the level of debate but not on the performance as they already passed several bills during a press briefing at Probinsiya Restaurant on

EDGEDAVAO

Victoria Plaza Car Park on J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City yesterday. At left is senatorial candidate Grace Poe who bared her plan to realize the vision of her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr., for the Filipino people. Lean Daval Jr.

Migs says more Mindanao leaders needed in gov’t By EJ Dominic Fernandez

FORMER Mindanao Senator said Mindanao is so weak it needs more leaders elected to national office. Former Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, who hails from Bukidnon, said there is an imbalance of power in the national office putting Mindanao at a disadvantage especially in the preparation of the national budget. He explained saying, “There are only 5 senators coming from Mindanao and Visayas, while there are 19 senators from Luzon, which is why Mindanao always gets the shorter end of the stick and lose.” He cited examples such as the creation of overpasses in Manila which costs PhP 2 billion are easily approved even if there are no rivers un-

der that bridge, while PhP 200 million worth bridges in Mindanao won’t get the appropriate budget. “This is because Mindanao lacks the voice in the national office, in fact, we do not have a (Cabinet) Secretary from Mindanao,” he said. He cited another example saying, “only 19 percent of the budget from the General Appropriations Act goes to Mindanao, when in fact, 45 to 50 percent of the Gross

Domestic Product comes from Mindanao and 80 percent of the resources of the Philippines come from Mindanao.” He also pointed out the damages of typhoon “Pablo” that with only PhP 300 million—the allocation for a pedestrian lane in Metro Manila--damaged bridges and roads from Cateel and Baganga to Davao City can already be fixed. He also clarified that he has nothing against Senator Aquilino Pimentel III when he was asked about their feud. He said, “I am hoping that we will be together in this, I am appealing to Koko that we must not bring ourselves down, instead we must help each other, I am even campaigning for him so that Mindanao will have a voice in the national arena.”

Banana migration good for ARMM

HE MIGRATION of banana production from banana capital Davao del Norte to the Autonomous Regional in Muslim Mindanao is a sign of the new-found investment confidence in Mindanao. Recent flooding and the widespread Panama Disease affected banana production prompting the banana industry players to look for alternative areas for banana production. Thus, came Maguindanao and other ARMM areas. Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said that with banana production moving to the south, the banana industry in the country is further expanding. Autonomous Region

in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman agreed with Del Rosario. He said the movement to ARMM is a result of the confidence in Maguindanao with the enactment of the Framework Agreement by the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). During a press conference held at the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) office, del Rosario said the expansion of the banana industry will be in Maguindanao. Hataman said investors will not expand in Maguindanao if ARMM is still in conflict. “After the Framework Agreement, ARMM has truly become investment friendly, which means it (ARMM) has very

big potential in business.”

Del Rosario said the migration is caused by the spread of Panama Disease which affected farms in Davao del Norte and aggravated by the recent heavy flooding. Del Rosario, however, downplayed the setback to the banana industry stressing that banana is not difficult to rehabilitate. “It will just take only six months and it will be back to production,” he added. He cited an example saying, “Del Monte in Datu Abdulla Sangki of the Second District of Maguindanao already generated 1,100 jobs out of the 550 hectares it has put up

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SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013 In Cateel, Davao Oriental

Cash-For-Work beneficiaries prioritize repair of homes

OUPLE Eleonoro and Christina Cadalso braved the heavy downpour as they walked to the center of their village to collect Eleonoro’s salary for a 10-day work. Cadalso, whose family was among those displaced by typhoon Pablo, was among those 4,173 beneficiaries of the first of the cash-for-work program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the municipality. The program engages the skills of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in cutting, clearing of debris, cleaning, canal de-clogging, repair of houses, day care centers, classrooms, planting of seedlings, etc. Unmindful of the wet clothes, Christina, 57, said that the P2,250 that her husband received would be used in repairing their destroyed home. “Lisod kaayo karon nga nagpuyo mi, nag tent ra mi, lapok among ginatumban (It is very hard now that we are living in tents, we step on mud),” she said as she gestured to her husband who acknowledged her statement. She said that part of the money would be used in buying kitchen utensils as all their valuables were carried away by the rampaging wind. “Salamat kaayo nga wala mi pasagda-i sa gobryerno (We are very much grateful that government did not abandon us),” she added. In the first wave of cash-for-work program for the province, the Department tapped 6,123 affected residents with 1,950 of them coming from Baganga, another town which was also severely-affected by the typhoon. Baganga got P4.3875 million, while Cateel got P9.389 million. These beneficiaries

are part of the 10,948 beneficiaries in Davao Oriental identified for the program as the agency allotted P24.633 million as part of the early recovery plan for 2013. The entire allocation of the program is P488,666,000.00 million for 108,112 beneficiaries. For 27-year old Allan Aguimlod of Barangay Aliwagwag, he would use the money in buying milk for his two-year old baby because the food ration from the government was already enough. “Mangita ko og paagi nga naay maabot ani nga kwarta nga bahin sa akong pamilya (I will find a way so that this money could really benefit my family),” he said. Delia Brasal of Barangay Poblacion, Boston, another town devastated by the typhoon, said her municipality has received donations from the government and some humanitarian groups. “Sukad pagkahitabo, daghan man kaayo nangari diri ug nitabang (Since the incident so many people came here to help),” said Brasal, adding that the cash-forwork program has slowly helped the people in the municipality to start their lives all over again. She said that there is no reason for people to worry because they have been given help. “Mao na ang giingon sa pari bitaw nga kitang gitabangan, dili ta magdaghang samok. Ang gitabang sa atoa dawaton nato, kutob sa ihatag, dawaton. Dili lang pud mo magpasakit og istorya (Our priest taught us that we who have been given help must not create disturbance. Whatever help is provided us, we must receive it wholeheartedly. We should not begrudge.),” she added. [DSWD/Leslie Lao-Francisco]

re-emptive evacuation helps in saving lives of people, Davao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Executive Officer Sonio Sanchez said. Sanchez gave merit to efforts of local government units (LGUs) in executing pre-emptive evacuation to take residents away from the floodprone areas way before flood-waters come rushing and overflowing. He attributed less casualty turn-out in Davao del Norte to pre-emptive evacuation efforts as part of the preparedness measure along with close coordination of local government units in cities and municipalities. “We can’t do everything; we need our counterparts and we commended them for doing pre-emptive evacua-

tion,” he said. The recent massive flooding in Davao del Norte due to the tail-end of the cold-front left only three people dead, two injured and one missing. PDRRMC identified dead as Glen Custodio, 37 years of age of Barangay San Miguel in Tagum City; Jose del Campo, 79 years of age of Barangay Pagsabangan in Tagum City and Teresa Jamero, 90 years of age in Barangay New Bantayan. Rendered injured were a certain Dodong Licomes, 23 years of age and PO1 Joseph Biare, 26 years of age, both from Barangay Maniki in the Municipality of Kapalong while only one was recorded missing identified as Ramon C. Ampong, 63 years of age in Barangay Sonlon, Asuncion.

GREEN BANNER. Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario receives the Regional Nutrition Green Banner Award for Davao del Norte conferred by Department of Health (DOH)-XI Regional Director Dr. Abdullah Dumama and Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator

Ma. Teresa Ungson, during the awarding rites at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City on January 24. [Noel Baguio]

DavNor sustains lead in nutrition program

HE Province of Davao del Norte kept its dominance in implementing the government’s nutrition program as it garnered its second grand slam in the regional nutrition awards. The province once again won three major award categories that include the Regional Green Banner Awards for the provincial, city and municipal levels. The municipal category was clinched by the municipality of New Corella, while the city level was secured by the Island Garden City of Samal. The province also bagged one of the two Regional Outstanding Volunteer for CY 2012 awards won by Enone del Cueva, a Barangay Nutri-

tion Scholar (BNS) of A.O. Floirendo, Panabo City. Governor Rodolfo del Rosario received the award from Department of Health (DOH)XI Regional Director Dr, Abdullah Dumama and Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ma. Teresa Ungson, during the awarding rites at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City on January 24, 2013. The province earned the recognition for its exemplary performance in carrying out basic health and nutrition programs that brought about a significant reduction in the malnutrition rate among the preschoolers in the province from 6.66 percent in 2011 to 4.6 percent last year. Del Rosario said the province has intensified its health and nutrition

programs in order to provide a high quality of life for the Dabaonons, pursuant to his human-centered development strategy P.E.O.P.L.E. The governor reiterated Davao del Norte’s goal of eliminating malnutrition, in keeping with the government’s commitment to the attainment of the millennium development goals. “We endeavor to consistently implement our nutrition program in the hope of sooner achieving zero percent malnutrition rate in accordance with the MDGs,” he said. The other awards received by the province include the 2nd best municipality in the region earned by the municipality of Carmen, as well as, the 3rd place for the outstanding BNS awards,

garnered by Mercedita Mole of Brgy. Magsaysay in Carmen town, Sherwin Abellaniza of Brgy. Magugpo East, Tagum City, and Magdalena Borres of the IGCS. Ungson lauded the exceptional performance of the province, particularly in the micronutrient supplementation program (vitamin A, iron, and multivitamins) to all underweight and severely underweight pre-school children and low birth weight infants, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Out of its 223 barangays, the province has deployed a total of 253 BNS, who facilitated the delivery of basic health and nutrition services to the identified households, particularly the vulnerable groups. [Noel Baguio]

Upon orders of Provincial Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario, Sanchez said the PDRRC is set to heighten preparedness and bring disaster consciousness campaign at the barangay level. He also discouraged the public from taking heed of unreliable sources of information and urged people to listen only to local government officials and official sources of weather forecast broadcast in various media outlets. Meanwhile, Sanchez corrected common belief of residents in Davao del Norte that river dams installed to water banana plantations areas were causing the massive flooding. He said dams here are flowing free unlike those seen in Ambuklao and Angat (in Luzon) which are situated in higher

grounds and which waters are let loose once water levels are beyond the capacity of the dams. Meanwhile, Sanchez assured the public of disaster response preparedness as rescue equipment and paraphernalia have been put on ready use particularly the two rubber boats of 40 horse power each (hp), one fiber boat of 30 hp and one Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) rubber boat of 30 hp. The PDRRMO also has 11 life swings and 50 life-vests among other life-saving paraphernalia. Sanchez bared the purchase of a rescue armory vehicle and another unit capable of firefighting and that he is also requesting the setting up of a bodega or storage facility for stockpiling. [PIA 11/ Jean D. Abangan]

T will be an endless week of singing and celebration as more than a hundred bands have indicated their intention and commitment to join Tagum City’s 2013 Music festival slated on Feberuary 19 to 24, 2013. “More than 100 bands are joining and will be playing their music for Tagum’s fund-raising activity for the victims of typhoon Pablo,” Tagum City Tourism Council chairperson Alma Uy said. Uy said the bands are only some of the musicians who have responded to the city’s appeal to contribute to a good case. Tagum City’s officials decided that it’s time for artists to do their thing and contribute to the rehabilitation of the communities affected by the

typhoon. She said Musikahan sa Tagum is dubbed as a cultural action project designed to engage the collaborative efforts of artists and cultural workers in rehabilitating and reconstructing the typhoon-affected communities in Compostela Valley. A lot of musicians have signified their intention to join that the only problem we have is how to accommodate them, she said. “Wala na talagang tulugan ito tugtog lang ng tugtog kung tatanggapin natin lahat ng nag offer mag perform (if we accept all those who offered to perform then we won’t have the time to sleep we will just play music endlessly),” she said.[Lovely A. Carillo]

Pre-emptive action saves lives I P

More than 100 bands to join Tagum City’s music festival

4 SCIENECE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Addressing climate change

MinDA mulls creating a riverway task force By EJ Dominic Fernandez and Che Palicte

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) came up with a so-called riverway task force resolution to address climate change problems during a forum held in their office yesterday. In a press conference held at the (Minda) office, Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario said, “We have come up with

several major resolutions to rehabilitate local government units (LGUs) damaged by Typhoon Pablo and recent floods, besides taking up the Mindanao Development Plan for 2013, and one of the resolutions is to come up with a riverway task force.” He added, “It aims to rehabilitate by way of eliminating silting to pre-

vent huge flooding.” According to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman,”The task force is basically the forefront that will address issues on coping with climate change.” Del Rosario pointed out how worse the typhoon and the floodings have become, saying, “One half of Davao Norte

Envi group to task force urges

alone is partially under water up to this time, especially Carmen, Tagum, Dujali and Asuncion.” Another resolution is for MinDA to spearhead the campaign for investors and donors by creating a forum to help rehabilitate the damage that had been wrought in the region, del Rosario said, adding, “Hopefully, we can bring in donor coun-

Include local watershed plans in the assessment T

HE environment group Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) welcomed the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA ) initiative to convene a task force to look into the island’s critical river systems but stressed that the task force should also look into the different initiatives being implemented in each local government unit. “There is really a need to assess the island’s river systems, particularly from Bukidnon down to Davao in order to come up with an integrated plan for management and rehabilitation.”, said IDIS

Executive Director Ann Fuertes. “However, the integrated plan should also include the community-drawn watershed action plans so that there will be synchronization of the efforts of all stakeholders towards solving this problem.”,she said. Fuertes was referring to the Davao Watershed Action Planning Workshop which was implemented by the Watershed Management Council last October 2012. The workshop had gathered representatives from upland barangays and various sectors to draft action plans for the Talo-

mo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan watershed areas, the latter being a sub-catchment of Davao River. “These action plans address common issues across our watersheds but also have their own management schemes which are uniquely appropriate to the areas. If there is to be an island-wide river management plan, these community action plans should also be included.”, she said. Among the urgent points in the action plans is the need to establish a buffer zone along the river system. “Riparian buffer zones along riv-

er banks is important to minimize flooding. If this can be implemented all the way from Bukidnon, where the headwaters rise, down here to Davao, then it can help alleviate the problem of flooding.”, Fuertes said. Fuertes also said that relocating informal communities away from riverbanks remains to be a costly but necessary option. “If the LGUs and the communities agree to cooperate then the loss of life will be dramatically lessened during times of flooding.”, she said. Media Contact: Mael Paranial, IDIS, 2994552

be forward looking. It is about time that the city should initiate more serious actions if only to preserve properties and lives of population,” she said. The group cited 10 specific actions that the LGUs should primarily consider. It said that LGUs should incorporate hazard prone areas that are identified in the geo-hazard maps of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in their Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance and local regulations.

Roberto Alabado III, head of the City Planning and Development Office, said in an earlier interview the MGB’s geo-hazard maps and climate change mitigating measures were already integrated with the city’s proposed comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) and updated zoning ordinance. Two years in the making, the CLUP and updated zoning ordinance are now at the committee level of the city council and being eyed to be approved this year. Santos said settle-

ments shall be restricted in hazard prone zones, otherwise mitigating measures shall right away be implemented, and environmentally critical areas shall be preserved from man’s exploitation. Under the proposed new zoning ordinance, Alabado said areas that are highly susceptible to disasters will be restricted from housing projects and from conversion into parks and recreation. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews]

Urban planners to LGU officials: It’s time to take serious actions to prevent flooding

group of urban planners in Davao City urged local government units (LGU) to take serious actions to prevent disasters, considering the flood this week that forced thousands of families to evacuate. Architect Leonida D. Santos, president of the Team Planners Foundation, Inc., said in a statement emailed to MindaNews that putting the blame on anyone will not offer solution to the problem of flooding. “Let us rather learn lessons from the past and

tries and investors from outside the Philippines to bring in their resources to help reconstruct the damaged areas.” With regards to the budget, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chairperson of MinDA, said, “The good thing with this administration is that we have money, mainly because of the transparency and good governance.”

”When Pablo hit, President Aquino right away said, ‘there is PhP8 billion for Pablo victims from the savings of 2012,’ which is something that had never been done before.” Antonino added. “Funds for the riverway task force will not come from the PhP8 billion, this is an initiative of the MinDA board,” she said.

Nicky Perlas-led ‘Liwanag’ climate change confab shows the way

HE Liwanag World Festival can contribute in the process of climate change adaptation in two ways, according to Nicanor Perlas, festival director and co-founder of the Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies through Initiatives, Organizing and Networking (MISSION). The former presidential candidate said the Liwanag event, to be held in Davao City on Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, is the first of its kind in the Philippines that will bring people together who have “exciting initiatives” in facing different challenges in the country. Perlas said one way for Liwanag to contribute to climate change adaptation is to make its conferences “carbon neutral”. He cited that based on the computation of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the Liwanag event will have a total carbon footprint of 77.41 tons of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere. Based on CENRO’s estimates, Perlas noted, Liwanag needs to plant at least 3,100 trees to absorb the carbon dioxide. “But we will plant a minimum of 6,000 trees as it is better… We will be doing this in all our activities,” he said in a phone interview. At least 80 volunteers, including students from various colleges and universities here, will help in the tree planting, according to Maya Vanden-

broeck, Liwanag head for volunteers. Liwanag will also encourage its participants to do their “small share of carbon saving and offsetting practices,” and track and report their commitments in its website: www.liwanagworldfest. net. “In this way, we will walk our talk,” Perlas said. Another way to help in addressing climate change, he said, is to show the systemic approach in major problems in society. “Because in the end it’s not just about climate change, but also about how we run our economy, how we govern ourselves, etc.,” he said. He said all problems, including poverty, will be tackled in Liwanag. The long term goal of Liwanag is to create new kinds of partnerships or a new form of “bayanihan” in eradicating poverty, addressing climate change and issues of governance, Perlas said. He cited that Liwanag will have some 1,000 to 2,000 participants, who will be coming from different parts of the country and the world. He hoped that this event will become annual or bi-annual, noting that it depends on which city in the Philippines. Last Jan. 16 Mayor Sara Duterte, through Proclamation No. 3, Series of 2013, declared Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, 2013 as creativity and sustainability week in the city. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

6 THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Consumer goods prop 2.2% imports growth I

BALUT. This bevy of ladies cleans up trays of aborted duck eggs locally known as “balut” before boiling them along the highway in Tuganay, Davao del Norte yesterday. A slight price increase of “balut” is seen due to the recent flood that hit several towns in Davao del Norte whose main industry is balut-making. Lean Daval Jr.

NWARD shipments of consumer goods, mineral fuels and lubricants, and capital goods kept imports growth in positive territory in November 2012, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). According to the latest report from the National Statistics Office (NSO), the value of imported commodities increased to US$5.1 billion, or by 2.2 percent in November 2012, from US$5.0 billion in November 2011. “The strong outturn in the importation of consumer goods resulted from increased payments for both durable and non-durable items,” said NEDA Officer-In-Charge (OIC) and Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra. Imports of consumer goods reached US$723.8 million in November 2012, or higher by 22 percent from US$593.5 million in the same period in 2011. “The overall increase in the imports of consumer goods partly reflected the generally improved confidence of consumers along with positive developments in the domestic economy,” the NEDA official said. Esguerra added that gains in mineral fuels and lubricants (9.6%) and capital goods (2.2%) also supported imports growth in November 2012. “Higher importation of capital goods from a double-digit contraction a year ago mirrored the slightly upbeat outlook of local businesses,” said Esguerra.

For the first 11 months of 2012, the NSO reported that merchandise imports grew by 1.0 percent to US$56.4 billion from US$55.9 billion in the same period in 2011. “With our relatively strong exports performance, our trade-in-goods deficit for the first 11 months of 2012 decreased to US$8.4 billion from US$11.0 billion for the same period in 2011,” said Esguerra. Meanwhile, the value of inward shipments of raw materials and intermediate goods decreased by 7.2 percent from US$1.9 billion in November 2011 to US$1.7 billion in November 2012. This is due to imports of both semi-processed (-4.8%) and unprocessed (-26.4%) raw inputs posting year-on-year contractions. “The decline in the importation of some unprocessed and semi-processed raw inputs in November 2012 reflected the reduced performance of some segments in the country’s manufacturing sector,” said Esguerra. Based on NSO’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries for the said month, tobacco products, textile and electrical machinery registered yearon-year declines in their respective value of production indices. “Nevertheless, we expect an improvement in the imports of raw materials in the near-term as we anticipate increased volume of production due to improved orders and projects,” he said.

RDC12 to push for bigger share for Mindanao in national budget

HE Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 12 will push anew for a significant raise of Mindanao’s share in the national budget and the immediate resolution of the area’s worsening power shortage in an upcoming island-wide development forum in Davao City. Richlie Lyndon Magtulis, chair of RDC-12’s Macroeconomy, Development Administration and Finance Committee (MEDAFC), said such concerns were among the key recommendations adopted by the council for the two-day 2013 Mindanao Development Forum (MDF) organized by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). The forum, which is expected to gather around 300 heads and representatives of various Official Development Assistance (ODA) offices as well as officials from national line agencies, is slated on Feb. 1-2 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City.

Magtulis said the recommendations were adopted by RDC-12 based on an endorsement from the MEDAFC. In a resolution, the council said the national government should increase the share of Mindanao in the national budget “since it remains very low compared to those of Luzon and Visayas.” It cited the need for the implementation of more effective measures that would address the worsening power supply shortage in the island. The RDC said the now “regular power outage” experienced in most of Mindanao has resulted to the slowdown of various economic activities. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has been implementing major power load cuts in the island in the last two years due to the declining generation capacity of the National Power Corporation’s hydroelectric plants in Bukidnon and Lanao provinces. [Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

MOTORING

FOR THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE

Meet the Black Snake T

HE approaching year of the snake on the Chinese calendar will ring in a new era of opulence for DARTZ Motorz Company, the Latvia-based luxury tank manufacturer. The Black Snake, the company’s first non-armored vehicle, is based on the Mercedes GL 63 AMG and is geared only at the Chinese market with an even more sybaritic model, the Black Falcon, to arrive in the Middle East later this year. The Black Snake is now the centerpiece of the brand with high performance, all-wheel drive offerings and the usual garnishings of diamond-encrusted hood ornaments. No price has been named, but it’s expected to cost well over $1,000,000. The Black Snake tries to mimic the first-rate comfort of the S-Class with the performance of an AMG vehicle.The AMG 5.5-litre V8 bi-turbo engine has 557 hp and a maximum torque of 560 lb-ft of torque. The AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension provides high-level driving dynamics. It goes 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds–enough to get your garden variety oligarch out of trouble in a hurry. Run by Leonard F. Yan-

kelovich, DARTZ goes by the tagline “Bullet Proof Trend Setters” and operates out of the old Russo-Balt factory in Riga. The company makes armored tanks like the T-98 Kombat (which goes for a measly $225,000) and the $1-million Prombron, which has the famous accoutrements like whale foreskin leather, the same as used on Aristotle Onassis’s yacht. The company, which also builds the $1.6 million Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition, outfitted armored vehicles for Czar Nicholas II, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. Fittingly, admiral General Aladeen, Sacha Baron Cohen’s character in his film The Dictator, drives one such DARTZ vehicle, the auto distributor for princes, titans of industry, and (historically) Soviet leaders. Superfluous Opulence The body of the Black Snake is made from space aluminum using the Soviet “kapsula” technology first employed for Joseph Stalin’s armored car. The vehicle has a radiator grille with golden flourishes, and the hood of this Chinese edition vehicle will be covered with leaf gold formed like snakeskin. There’s even an optional diamond hood ornament from Smolensk

DRIVING ON EMPTY

Kristall. The lap of luxury is yours with seats made out of the exotic leather of your choice–snake, crocodile belly, ostrich, and whale penis. The seats feature double topstitching in contrasting colors and DARTZ badges to commemorate the year of the snake. The dashboard, armrests and door paneling come in snake wood. The floor mats made from white shark skin. Yankelovich despises the term SUV when used about his vehicles. “For DARTZ customers who don’t use their big cars for off-loading, don’t deliver a mess from the farms nor weekly food from the supermarket, why do they still have to drive SUVs?” he asks. Instead, he calls them BNOs (Bespoke, Noble, Opulent).

How far can KNOWING THE CAR INDUSTRY your car go? Who owns which brands?

HETHER slogging through commuter traffic or cruising on a picturesque highway, nobody enjoys stopping for gas. Hence it’s easy to play a Kramer-quality game of chicken with the gas gauge — and seeing how deep you can get the needle into the E before the car sputters out. Automakers discourage that procrastination with a low-fuel light, which warns you when there’s a few gallons left to spare; but those couple dozen extra miles aren’t lost on motorists who want to hold off for a few precious freeway exits. What’s left people guessing, however, is exactly how far you can go when the gas light comes

on, and since there’s no established standard for reserve fuel capacity, it varies with each automaker and model. But thanks to the website Tank on Empty, which has a searchable, user-submitted database, you can have a better idea of your on-empty range. According to the site, there are some surprising low-fuel winners: the mammoth Ford Excursion may guzzle gas like a cargo ship, but it also boasts one of the longest ranges, averaging 85.12 miles. That beats the eco-conscious Prius, which can run for 55.12 miles, or a Porsche 911 Carrera, which could quickly leave you stranded on the shoulder with its average of 23.82 miles.

HE auto industry has a very confusing family tree. The past few years have seen partnerships, sales, separations, bankruptcies, and entire divisions killed off, making it difficult to keep up with who owns which car brands. As automakers slim down to become more profitable and efficient, a number of changes have been made in recent years. We have seen storied names, such as Hummer, Mercury, and Pontiac, fade away into the history books. We have seen others, such as Chrysler, Jaguar, and Volvo, find new international corporate parents.

And some, such as Aston Martin, remain in flux. To help clear up some of the confusion, we present a basic road map to navigate who owns which car brands among the major automotive companies that sell in the United States. Of course, the list is definitely subject to change. BMW owns: Mini and Rolls Royce. Fiat owns: Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, and Ram. Ford Motor Company owns: Lincoln and a small stake in Mazda. General Motors owns: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. GM owns

a controlling interest in Daewoo, as well as Opel and Vauxhall in Europe and Holden in Australia. (The U.S. government also owns a stake in GM.)

Honda owns: Acura. Hyundai owns: Kia. Tata Motors (India) owns: Jaguar and Land Rover. Mazda is independently owned. Mitsubishi is independently owned. Daimler AG owns: Mercedes-Benz and Smart. Nissan owns: Infiniti. (Nissan, in turn, is owned by Renault.) Saab is owned by National Electric Vehicle

Sweden (NEVS). Subaru: Owned by Fuji Heavy Industries with Toyota a minority partner. Tesla: Toyota is a minority partner. Partnership with Daimler AG Toyota Motor Company owns: Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu and Hino Motors, with a stake in Fuji Industries (Subaru’s parent company) and Isuzu.

Volkswagen owns: Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, and overseas-brands SEAT and Skoda. Volvo is owned by Chinese-automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, aka Geely.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

By Nicholas Wapshott ( Conclusion ) COMMENTARY

EDITORIAL

The stink

“I

believe what the public really hungers for is the truth about the officials they elected and how their money is spent or wasted. The people now believe that the Senate stinks.” This was the statement of Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s chief of staff, on the controversy over the disposition by Enrile of Senate funds, particularly the P600 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE). “It is sad but I so agree. It is time to look for where the stink is actually coming from,” Reyes was quoted as saying in a Philippine Daily Inquirer story. Many of the senators who have spoken out so far also agree with the observation of critics that the chamber’s image has been compromised by the quarrel over money that has turned personal. Indeed, the Senate now stinks. Many senators agree that an audit be made on the Senate’s funds, a proposal initiated by Sen. Miriam

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Defensor-Santiago and followed up by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano who want it done not by the Commission on Audit but by an independent private auditing company like SGV. Senator Panfilo Lacson, head of the Senate committee on accounts, has pressed for a no-holds-barred audit. Expectedly , the public, including those who hated the guts of the senators for ousting Renato Corona as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and perhaps, even those who have been shamed by the chamber’s countless investigations, would want this audit be done immediately. They no longer want to wait for the statements on the issue by the other senators who have kept a deafening silence over this controversy for a long time now. As Gigi Reyes said what the people really hunger for now is the truth about how their money is spent or wasted by the officials they have elected to their lofty positions. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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By Tian ying

ACED with this added pressure on its currency price, and unable to raise interest rates to maintain the price of their currency for fear of making the recession worse, what is a finance minister to do? The answer, it appears, is to turn this dilemma into an advantage. Two major economies appear to be trying to break from the rest of the pack by slyly allowing their currencies to slide. The first is Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, which for decades has been lost in a deflationary economic labyrinth. Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a bolt for growth. He announced a classic Keynesian $117 billion public spending stimulus and ordered the Bank of Japan to double its conservative inflation target, to 2 per cent. Abe expects his policies will increase real growth by 2 percent and create 600,000 new jobs a year. But that is only half of the story. Urged on by Japan’s squeezed exporters, Abe has also beenletting the yen slide against the dollar – 15 percent in the past two months – and despite urgent denials from the Japanese finance minister, it is widely assumed the slippage will be allowed to continue for some time. Devaluing the yen offers a lifeline to Japan’s technology sector, which for years has been out-priced by Korea and China. A similar tacit agreement to let its currency devalue has been taken in Britain, where in recent weeks the pound sterling has slid 3½ per cent against the dollar. Stuck in a double-dip recession, which on Friday is expected to become a triple-dip recession, the Cameron government’s experiment in austerity appears to have failed. Devaluing the pound is a desperate last throw. Both Abe and Mark Carney, the incoming governor of the Bank of England, are also considering following Ben Bernanke’s example at the Fed byswitching from using inflation alone as a guide to future central bank action and making employment an equally important policy goal. Devaluation is risky. In the short run, exporters gain by cheaper prices, while imports are choked off because they are more expensive. In manufacturing countries like Japan or Britain that have few natural resources, and thus rely on imports for raw materials from which to make goods, more expensive imports soon feed into higher prices all around. Not only do exports slowly become more expensive but import-led inflation chokes off demand. But desperate times demand desperate measures and, despite anxiety among European officials that devaluations, if widespread, would lead to a destructive currency war, Japan and Britain seem prepared to gamble to haul themselves out of stagnation. All this is bad news for America. As the keeper of the world’s reserve currency, used by investors and businesses as a safe haven from the uncertainties of other currencies, the dollar’s value is not merely a reflection of what traders feel about the American economy. America is therefore unable to devalue and is prevented from competing in the looming currency war. Nor, despite the death wish of some misguided congressmen, will America, the richest country in the world, default on its debts. But a high dollar is bad news for Americans as they watch the Japanese, the British and the Europeans manipulate their currencies to make wages cheaper and more competitive. In a race to the top, America is always well-placed to use its entrepreneurial ingenuity to great effect. In a race to the bottom, however, America can never win.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

Cameron’s backward-looking speech

O diplomats and statesmen, the location of the skeptics is cloud cuckoo land. They see the new “Little Britain” credo that “small is beautiful” as a betrayal of Britain’s historic role and a needless emasculation of the influence that had been won back so painfully after the Suez. As one very senior official said to me: “For the last few centuries, Britain has been in the cockpit of global affairs. For the next few we will need to get used to life on the margins.” At the end of November, former Prime Minister Tony Blair returned to the political scene to argue that pro-Europeans also need to radically recast the case for Europe to counter the false claims of the skeptics. “Sixty-six years ago when the [European] project began, the rationale was peace. Today it is power,” he said. Blair argued that as power shifts in the world, the only way for Britain to avoid irrelevance is to combine with other Europeans – uniting the world’s biggest market and the considerable political, diplomatic and military resources of Europe’s nations behind a common voice. This is in fact the best way – maybe the only way – to gain access to new markets and to have a voice in shaping the rules of engagement in the multi-polar world of the 21st century. Rather than contracting out the big decisions to Washington and Beijing, Europeans should unite in an attempt to build a G3 world.

TARK POLITICAL REALITY IN A PHILIPPINE SETTING – Since the 1950s Philippine elections is brimming with electoral violence. Several years later, viciousness has become prevalent to the country’s political exercises, which prompted the government to strictly impose a gun ban months before the holding of elections. The years that followed witnessed the emergence of politicians across the country who established their political and economic base that had been reinforced with armed personnel. The pattern goes on to this day and become even more mischievous. Starting January 13, 2013, an election gun ban has been fully enforced throughout the country in preparation for the May midterm elections. However, President Benigno Aquino III made clear his objection to the gun ban despite growing clamor from gun ban advocates who appreciate a gun-free society leading to violence-free elections. Meanwhile some concerned groups commended the directive and say that a total gun ban may be a welcome relief from the rash of killings, but others thought otherwise. Some quarters raised concern if the enforcement of a total gun ban would be the ultimate solution to avoid electoral violence. “Not by a long shot,” many gun enthusiasts like President PNoy say when voicing their opinion. A stark example of how the Comelec-steered directive has been grossly violated despite strict implementation of the order is the arrest of many hard-headed people who still carry unregistered firearms or licensed weapons but have no permit-to-carry outside residence. Law authorities probably could

( Conclusion )

OPINION By Mark Leonard Blair is banking on the fact that his compatriots – whose country at one point or another has controlled all but 14 of the 200 nations in the world – have not lost the will to power. In one of the more narcissistic and revealing passages in his memoir, A Journey, he writes: “I always reckoned that even the ones who didn’t like me (quite a few) or didn’t agree with me (a large proportion) still admired the fact I counted, was a big player, was a world and not just a national leader.” For the last 50 years, British foreign policy has been a two-legged affair, balancing the “special relationship with the United States” with membership in the European Union. Today, both these pillars are collapsing. President Barack Obama gives flesh to many European fantasies about American leadership, but he leads a country that is pivoting its energy and attention from the Atlantic to the Pacific. At the same time, Europe is recasting its institutions and projects. The two questions for Europe are whether the EU will integrate enough to put the euro on a sustainable footing – and whether this can be done in a way that does not destroy Europe’s three other political projects: the single market, pacification of the European neighborhood, and

Not by a long shot closely monitor and regulate the carrying of guns by responsible and licensed owners, but how about the private armed groups and their loose firearms? Since the Marcos era, the country’s election-related carnage continued at accelerating rapidity. Elections remained violent even during the later years especially in violence-wracked provinces. Sad to say, the government effectually lost control over politicians, some so powerful and influential that they become known as ‘warlords.’ It came as no surprise, though, that many political pretenders hardly shied away from using brute force to win the electoral race often recruiting armed goons for the job. Nowadays, the prohibition to carry firearms is not just for the spate of killings involving the use of guns both registered or not, but because another election draws near. To the people’s bewilderment, aside from his objection to the total gun ban policy, President PNoy stated the government will find alternate solutions to the problem and considers imposing a gun ban as just a scheme trying to be cute. Is that so, Mr. President? Now it gives people the idea that being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, PNoy is exempted from the Comelec directive. Well, we find that idea as rather cute isn’t it? Aside from President PNoy, others exempted from the election-inspired gun ban

the projection of global power. For Blair, Britain cannot afford to sit out these big debates in a passive outer tier of the EU. Britain can attempt to help write the rules of the 21st century as an engaged and leading force in the European pole of an increasingly multipolar world. Or it can aspire to a future as a global financial center – a new Singapore – that seeks to take advantage of the openings in a global system run by others. Both prospects are viable, but they involve tough choices that go to the heart of Britain’s national character. The tragedy of Cameron’s Europe speech is that the British people will be denied the chance to choose between these options. Rather than joining with other members of the EU in a debate about our common future, he will launch a chimerical quest to renegotiate obscure powers. The uncertainty this will create for global business is troubling, but equally worrying is its effect on Britain’s standing in the world. As the rest of the continent grapples with questions about currencies, political union, and the global balance of power, the British political class will engage in a solipsistic debate about which aspects of the common fisheries policy or the working-time directive they should opt out of. Instead of offering a choice for a European future that Britain can play a role in shaping, Cameron is trying to renegotiate the past.

were Vice President Jejomar Binay, senators who are not seeking reelection and Cabinet secretaries. Regular officers, members and agents of government agencies performing law enforcement or security functions likewise are granted exemption. Indeed, politicians of all colors and stripes and of different persuasions, senators running for reelection in particular, will be expected to rush to the Comelec to apply for exemptions. And those not exempted will use all possible ways available in order for them to be granted their request. In the same vein, authorities and gun ban advocates noted that the biggest stumbling block to the election-imposed gun ban is the existence of private armed groups allegedly being maintained by crafty and callous politicians who are in cahoots with unscrupulous businessmen. It has always been said that private armed groups were being maintained in preparation for any scheduled elections. Still and all, the poll body had already passed a resolution reiterating that violence, intimidation and harassment with the use of firearms as ground for disqualification. It also made disqualification procedures summary and created the presumption that the act of a follower is the act of a leader for purposes of disqualification. With politicians surely to be granted gun exemption and private armed groups strutting around with their loose firearms, violence-free election this coming May and beyond are believed unlikely – a stark political reality in a Philippine setting. Unless the Comelec regains strength and political will, many candidates would be encouraged to take the electoral race one step too far.

ICT HUB

VANTAGE POINTS

Enrile: His old petulant self

EDNES-

DAY’S diatribes between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Minority Leader Peter Allan Cayetano make one wonder if the former has pushed his envelope too far after reinventing himself as an elderly statesman who redeemed his bloody past following the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Enrile conducted himself very well as presiding officer of the impeachment court, leading others to forget and forgive the biggest sin of his past – as the feared and powerful administrator of Ferdinand Marcos’ martial rule. Some media institutions even dignified his own version of history by publishing, then later promoting, a book that supposedly chronicled his memoirs, including a justification of his role in one of the darkest periods of our history. Not contented with his regained glory, Enrile even threatened to publish more, to the consternation of those who suffered the most during martial law. Old habits die hard, however. Wednesday, Enrile reverted back to his old petulant ways, dispensing favors as he pleases and getting them back when displeased. So when the Christmas Gift turned MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) exploded right on his face, he was back in his old element. A grumpy old man who resents questions on his authority. Enrile, however, got a determined challenge from Cayetano, who took an implied swipe on the Senate President’s extra marital affairs. Before the eyes and right in the living room of millions of Filipinos, Enrile exposed himself as a collector of dispensed and past political favors and financial debts. That deep in his recesses and beyond the statesman figure he likes to project is a mean and cantankerous autocrat who can get so low he will disrespect the memory of the dead. The smug and the smirk on his face when Cayetano delivered an unprecedented privilege speech and the reaction he [Enrile] unleashed revealed an unrepentant despot who survived several political upheavals [not only] because of his cunning but more on the reluctance of past presidents to go after those who engineered the killing, torture and disappearance of freedom loving Filipinos – communists or otherwise. Enrile may have survived them all. He may have his day of sunshine with all the books he intends to write. He can enjoy his revisionist folly. But down political and memory lane, history will be the better judge. History will not be written today. Certainly, not by him. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for MindaNews and www.asiancorrespondent.com

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

IMMEDIATE RELIEF. Villar Foundation through former congresswoman Cynthia Villar gives immediate relief to flooded areas of Davao City through food distribution last Sunday night, January 20, the day when the flooding occurred, and on the following Monday morning. Villar Foundation visited El Rio, Tigatto, DMMA where Jade Valley Subdivision evacuated and New Argao of Ba-

Community-driven dev’t program ok’d P

RESIDENT Benigno C. Aguino III approves the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP). The NEDA Board which he chairs gives its nod to the NCDDP during a meeting on January 18. Five other projects, including the construction of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) and the connection road of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) were given a green light by the Board. The NCDDP is the scaling up of the Kapit-Bisig Laban saKahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), one of the national government’s flagship anti-poverty programs being implemented through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). NCDDP will use the community-driven development (CDD) approach to address poverty. Using this strategy, it will empower ordinary citizens to actively and directly

participate in local governance by identifying their own community needs, planning, implementing, and monitoring projects to address local poverty issues collectively.Kalahi-CIDSS currently covers 367 of the poorest municipalities in 12 regions. This number will increase to 900 in 16 regions within the year, DSWD announced that a similar programfor the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is being worked out. An additional 118 municipalities are expected to be covered in ARMM. While DSWD will remain as the lead implementing agency of NCDDP, it will work with other agencies such as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Education (Dep Ed), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), N Department

of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Efforts to harmonize these departments’ processes for community mobilization are currently underway in order to ensure the success of NCDDP. Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman is grateful for the approval of NCDDP. However, she recognizes that much work needs to be done. She said, “It will take time for people to acquaint themselves with the demands of the NCDD program, but we are confident that this approach will be able to alleviate poverty in the Philippines. It is a huge and meaningful step to make CDD finally become a national strategy.” [DSWD/ KC/Melanie Sison]

KIWANIANS TO THE RESCUE. Dabawenyos belonging to the Kiwanis Int’l Bidlisiw Dabaw Division 7 braved the rains and long hazardous trip to visit faraway Boston, one of the towns of Davao Oriental badly hit by Typhoon Pablo. The Kiwanians brought relief goods to more than 300 needy students of barangay Sibahay and Carabatuan. It was the second time, the Davao City-bssed civic

EDGEDAVAO

ranggay Ma-a. Right photo shows senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar entertains queries from the local media before delivering her speech during the 17th Karancho National Convention at the Rizal Memorial College Gym on Lopez Jaena corner F. Torres Streets, Davao City Friday night. [Contributed photo and Lean Daval Jr.]

PHL, humanitarian partners call for additional $48 million for Pablo-devastated communities

HE United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Luiza Carvalho, and the Philippines Social Welfare and Development Secretary, Ms. Corazon Juliano-Soliman, launched yesterday the “Revised Typhoon Bopha/Pablo Response – An Action Plan for Recovery.” The revised action plan seeks US$76 million to help families affected by Typhoon Bopha (known locally as Pablo), which swept through the island of Mindanao between 4 to 7 December 2012, causing massive destruction to houses, public infrastructure and agricultural lands. The amount represents a 17 per cent increase from the $65 million requested on 10 December at the onset of the disaster. To date, $27 million has been contributed towards the appeal, leaving a funding gap of $48 million. Emphasizing the immense destruction caused by Pablo, and the enormous humanitarian needs, at the launch today in Manila, Ms. Carvalho said: “Typhoon Bablo was the most deadly storm

globally in 2012, and reportedly the most powerful storm to hit southern Mindanao in more than 100 years.” More than one month after Pablo made landfall as a Category Five Super Typhoon, over 6.2 million people have been affected and close to 850,000 remain displaced. More than 210,000 houses, vital public infrastructure and vast areas of agricultural land has been severely damaged or destroyed. More than 1,060 lives were lost, and over 800 others are still missing. The need for support in the coming months is critical. Speaking at the event, Secretary Soliman emphasized the importance of implementing disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities at the community level. She also expressed her thanks to the international community on behalf of the Filipino people. “The Philippine Government welcomes the solidarity of the global community through the support given in the Typhoon Bo-

pha/Pablo Action Plan.” Humanitarian Coordinator Carvalho also thanked donors for their generous support, but stressed that, “the funding and resources we have at present are not commensurate with the needs that we must meet.” The revised response plan outlines how the humanitarian community, in support of Government response efforts, will continue to provide life-saving assistance and recovery support to more than 920,000 people in Mindanao, over the coming six months. Major humanitarian needs include shelter, early recovery and livelihoods, food security and agriculture, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Members of the international community have also expressed the need for greater support. During a recent mission by donors to some of the affected areas, Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell, expressed that his country would consider additional assistance to address remaining humanitarian needs.

leaders went to the area to distribute goodies. The Kiwanians are Mario Reta, Sonny Legario, Boy Aquino, Boy Rallos, Boy Lim, Bong Lagallo, Capt. Bebot Matro, Kari Reta, Orpiano Oria, Conchiuta Gabucan, Eleonor Madiclum, Joan Sumalinog and Girlie Hernandez. Above are some of the pictures taken during the event.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

DSWD yearend report

COA... FFROM 1 ate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Minority Floor Leader Senator Alan Peter Cayetano involving the Senate’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE). In the aftermath of the Enrile-Cayetano debate, Escudero says he is in favor of a general audit of the funds of the Senate and not merely on the controversial MOOE as earlier proposed. “Why not do it on everything and open all books, because if you are not hiding something you will not be afraid of anything?” the Bicol senator suggested. He also clarified that the MOOE funds Enrile gave them are public funds which can only be used for public purposes and is subjected for COA auditing and accounting. Amidst the controver-

POEA...

sy, Escudero thinks the recent debates have sunk the Senate to the gutter. “I am really sad that the second youngest senator (Senator Cayetano) and the oldest senator (Senate President Enrile) are quarrelling about money,” he said. The debates on the floor last Wednesday turned very personal. Enrile’s chief of staff Atty. Jessica Reyes also joined the fray saying that “the Senate stinks” after calling Cayetano and three other senators “hypocrites.” She later made a public apology. Escudero said the debates should not have swooped down to the personal level “which also brings the Senate to its lowest level and they should already move on

and get over it because there are still a lot of things yet to do in the Senate.” Escudero nevertheless defended the Senate and maintains the performance of the Senate has not gone down. “When it comes to the debate on the MOOE, the Senate is at its lowest level, but not when it comes to its performance,” he said. Escudero held a press conference with fellow senatorial candidate Grace Poe Llamanzares, daughter of movie icons Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces at the Probinsiya restaurant in Davao City Saturday noon. A third senatorial candidate, former senator Migz Zubiri, also held a brief presscon minutes after Chiz and Grace left the place.

the country but it is your willingness to help the people,” Poe said. She cited four reasons that prompted her to take a shot at the Senate. “First is that I believe in democracy that people will decide who they want to win, second I am the daughter of FPJ and I want to continue his advocacy, third is, I have worked in different agencies in United States and I believe that helped me a lot in terms of service and lastly I have served the country as an MTRCB chairwoman and I have proven my full dedication to that task” Poe said. Despite downplaying her experience in government service, Poe said she has the tools to become a Senator after serving as chair of the Movie

and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for two years. Poe’s campaign agenda is centered on poverty alleviation and vowed to propel government into taking a more proactive role in combating poverty. Among those she will be giving priority are universal feeding program in public schools, agricultural modernization, enrolment of farmers to the Philippine Crop Insurance System, expansion of the conditional cash program for livelihood training and job matching programs. Poe also vowed to support the framework agreement in Mindanao and ensure the allocation of budget in pursuit of the provisions of the agreement.

“I don’t believe that they are moving out of the area, banana plantations can’t be transferred, they will just expand towards the south, in Maguindanao because typhoon is hitting from Baganga to Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro to Agusan.” He cited example, saying, “Example, Sumifru I think they are maintaining 3000 to 4000 hectares and they are committed to rehabilitate, but there are certain areas in Compostella Valley (ComVal), especially along the river ways who are affected by

the disease, but they can use it for other crops such as palm oil, rubber and coffee.” He added, “2,000 to 3,000 hectares are affected in ComVal and are can’t be used for banana production anymore, because of the Panama Disease.” He encouraged planters that, “this is area is just 10 to 20 percent of the 15,000 hectares of banana plantations in the ComVal; also, they can grow other crops in that area which will not be affected by the Panama Disease as this only affects bananas.”

FFROM 1

the issue, you will be able to know the real friends that stays with you even if you lose or win” Poe told media in a press conference yesterday. She added that there is no problem running as an independent candidate. While she maintains she is an independent candidate, she is listed as guest candidate of both the opposition UNA and the administration Liberal Party Senatorial slates. Regarded by political observers as a neophyte with not much of an experience, Poe stressed that it is the desire to serve, not experience that counts. “The senate is represented by different people in our country and I believe that running for the Senate is not based on the years you have served

Banana...

FFROM 2

there.” He pointed out other examples such as, “Del Monte will be setting up a 3,000 hectare farm in ARMM, Unifruti will be heading to the Ampatuan Area, International Del Monte is going to Parang.” “Actually, there are a lot of interested investors especially in maguindadnao,” Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Chairperson of MinDA, said. Del Rosario made it clear that the banana industry is not moving out of the north, but will be expanding south, saying,

By Che Palicte

HE story of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s journey is rooted in their core values: respect for human dignity, integrity and service excellence. That, according to Elizabeth Degorio, Planning Unit head of DSWD 11 who presented the accomplishments and plans of the agency during the two-day Partners Forum at the Apo View Hotel last January 23-24. “We need to develop, implement and coordinate social protection and poverty reduction solutions for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged, so that by 2030, DSWD will be the world’s standard for the delivery of coordinated social services and social protection for poverty reduction,” she added. She bared the following accomplishments of DSWD for the year 2012: The Pantawid Pamilya Program which catered to 341,523 children beneficiaries being provided with cash grant that resulted to an increase in number of beneficiaries and improved quality intake of nutritious foods and health among families. That 267,299 children complied to 85% attendance in school which increased literacy and decreased the number of out-of school children, both in primary and secondary levels. A total of 154,685 grantees complied with monthly Family Development Sessions which enhanced skills of parents on parenting and

3 more...

nurturing the growth & development of children.

In the Social Pension Program, 9,724 of older persons were provided with their financial and medical needs.

Over 90,372 children complied with health conditions which resulted to the decreased rate of malnourished zero to five years old children. In Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social ServiceProgram (KALAHI-CIDSS), a total of 88 barangays in the Davao region were provided with sub-projects amounting to P58,822,277.07 that resulted to an increase in the access of basic services in conflict-affected areas and increased rubber production. The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan program (KALAHI CIDSS-PAMANA), provided10 barangays in the municipality of Compostela with 10 subprojects under PAMANA worth P3,000,000.00 which includes pregnant women to avail health care services related to pre-natal, during and post natal and reduced rate of maternal deaths. The Supplementary Feeding Program catered to 83,294 to children three to five years old in Day Care Centers throughsupplementary feeding that resulted to increase in enrollment rate in Day Care Centers and improved the quality intake of nutritious foods among children which resulted to the decrease of number of malnourished kids.

A total of 4,580 benefited from the Sustainable Livelihood Program that resulted to a growth of financial needs and increase in productivity and accountability among the beneficiaries and the Employment Facilitation Program hired a total of 116 beneficiaries. According to Degorio, their plan in 2013 will be focused on 23 local government units (LGUs), 47 Project Proposals that includes 21 from Davao del Sur, 12 from Davao Oriental, two from Compostela Valley and 12 from Davao del Norte. The plan also includes 179,510 household benefeciaries for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, 75 sub-projects for KALAHI-CIDSS,73 sub-projects for KALAHI -CIDSS PAMANA, 138 associations for Sustainable Livelihood Program, 12,871 for Social Pension and 84,091 benefeciaries for Supplementary Food program. “We are just waiting for the department circular to be released, then LGU consultations will be done to prepare the LGUs in proposal making, as well as other other requirements needed. If the LGUs still have pending unliquidated cash advances, DSWD will implement the program, if none, agreements can be reached, like downloading the funds to LGUs,”Degorio explained.

multiple partners. Lastimoso said they will further intensify their campaign for voluntary HIV testing this year in a bid to detect more suspected infections. “If we can find all these HIV cases and subject the patients to treatment, we might eventually stop the HIV transmission or infection here,” she said. Lastimoso reiterated that HIV patients may avail of antiretroviral drugs, which are being offered free by the DOH, for treatment. In some countries, she said the use of antiretroviral drugs has effectively helped lower the incidence of HIV infection to about one

percent, and eventually stabilized the detected cases. The CIHSO earlier stepped up its campaign for voluntary HIV testing among residents as part of their efforts to help curb the spread of the disease. The city government has been offering HIV/ AIDS screening, which are done for free and strictly confidential, through the social hygiene clinic. The screened blood samples are then sent to the Department of Health’s (DOH) STD (sexually-transmitted diseases)/ AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory in Manila for confirmatory tests. [Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]

FFROM 2 (AIDS) -- have already reached 55. Last year alone, a total of 27 HIV cases were confirmed by the CIHSO through its free screening or testing program. Lastimoso earlier said 15 of the area’s HIV cases have already developed into “fullblown AIDS,” while eight patients have died due to the disease’s complications. Most of the confirmed HIV/AIDS cases in the city were found among male professionals in the 22 to 25 age bracket who were engaged in “risky sexual behaviors.” They include gays, bisexuals, men who have sex with men or MSMs and others who engage in unprotected sex and with

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VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

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South Osmeña, General Santos City Cell No. 09999923588 Tel. No. (083) 552-3297 Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service

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EVELYN A. LAUDE, Petitioner Case No.2007-XI-00521 x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: CIRCULATION ROUTE 4 with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on November 26, 2012. In the petition filed on November 6, 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.

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NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 11, 2013 at 09:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 7th day of November 2012 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

Realty FOR SALE:

1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/sq m, along National Highway, facing east, beside NCCC Panacan, davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/sq m, along Matina diversion road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina diversion road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at P800/sq m along the National Highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/ residential lot along indangan road, Buhangin district. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/industrial lot along the National Highway in Bincungan, Tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/office condo units in Bajada, davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/ sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town Center, along the national Highway, dumoy, Toril. 9) Ready-for-Occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in dumoy, Toril.; 3Br 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, diversion road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, obrero, davao City. 11) For ASSUME (RUSH): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. Note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, inhouse or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

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

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 736-12

GINA G. APATAN married to Rey G. Apatan Mortgagor/s.

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-ibig Fund against GINA G. APATAN married to Rey G. Apatan with postal address at Lot 5 Blk. 7 Elenita Garden Villas, Catalunan Grande, Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of September 14, 2012 amounts to ( Php 1,139.012.99) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on February 7, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 428657 “ A parcel of land xxx (Lot 5, Blk. 7,xxx) , situated in Barangay Catalunan Grande, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (150) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on March 07, 2013 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, December 17, 2012

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) ROBERT M. MEDIALDEA Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 01/13,20,27)

CLASSIFIEDS ADS 13

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11th Judicial Region BRANCH 12 Davao City

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE FOREIGN DIVORCE BETWEEN KATSUHIRO OKAHARA AND GRESILDA MANUBAY ORTILLA SP PROC. NO.: 12,359-12

GRESILDA MANUBAY ORTILLA, Petitioner x----------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER

This is a verified Petition for Recognition of the Foreign Divorce between Katsuhiro Okahara and Gresilda Manubay Ortilla, praying that upon due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered judicially confirming and recognizing the Divorce obtained in Japan involving the Petitioner Gresilda Manubay Ortilla and Katsuhiro Okahara. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the hearing of this petition on March 7, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.

WHEREFORE, Petitioner is hereby directed to cause the publication of this Order at her expense, in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and (3) provinces of Davao, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks. Petitioner is further directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General a copy of this petition.

Likewise, let a copy of this Order be furnished the Local Civil Registrar, Davao City.

Any person interested or who seeks to oppose the instant petition may appear to state why the petition should not be granted. SO ORDERED Davao City, Philippines, January 3, 2013 (EDGE 1/21/28,2/4)

(SGD) PELAGIO S. PAGUICAN JUDGE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND, or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee -versus-

EFAMIL P. BATHAN, Mortgagor

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 899-12

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

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

ANNA LORRAINE E. LIM Mortgagor/s.

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 963-13

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Pag-ibig against ANNA LORRAINE E. LIM with postal address at Lot 11 Blk. 12 Deca Homes Cabantian, Buhangin , Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 19, 2012 amounts to Php 548,064.74, Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public a March 21, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 446169 “ A parcel of land (Lot 11, Blk. 12, xxx) situated in the Barangay of Cabantian, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY TWO (132) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on April 11, 2013 without further notice.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD.) JAY C. ESPERANZA Sheriff IV

Noted by:

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 01/28, 2/4,11)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND, or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee -versus-

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 962-13

GILBERT S. ROLLON married to Mylyn Rollon, Mortgagor

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Pag-ibig against EFAMIL P. BATHAN with postal address at Lot 12 Blk.24 Rosalina Village 3 , Dumoy, Toril, Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of November 18, 2011 amounts to Php 220,165.00 Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public a February 21, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 270402 “ A parcel of land xxx (Lot 12, Blk. 24, xxx) situated in the Barangay of Cabantian, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED (100) SQUARE METERS, more or less”

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Pag-ibig against GILBERT S. ROLLON married to Mylyn Rollon with postal address at Lot 8 Blk. 14 Deca Homes Cabantian, Buhangin , Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 3, 2012 amounts to Php 413,545.73 Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public a March 21, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 430581 “ A parcel of land (Lot 8, Blk. 14, xxx) situated in the Barangay of Cabantian, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of EIGHTY ONE (81) SQUARE METERS, more or less”

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on March 21, 2013 without further notice.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on April 11, 2013 without further notice.

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, January 2, 2012

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) ROBERTO C. ESGUERRA Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 01/28, 2/4,11)

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) JAY C. ESPERANZA Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 01/28, 2/4,11)

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Woods on top at Torrey S

Tiger Woods looks set to bounce back after a missed cut in Abu Dhabi last week to start his year.AP

AN DIEGO — Tiger Woods made it look easy on a dreary day at Torrey Pines and wound up in a place he hasn’t been in five years. He had the 36-hole lead by himself at one of his favorite PGA Tour stops. Woods didn’t miss a shot during a four-hole stretch around the turn on the North Course that included a 5-iron to five feet for eagle and a wedge that one-hopped off the pin to set up birdie. It carried him to a 7-under 65 on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) and gave him a two-shot lead in the Farmers Insurance Open. “I feel good right now,” Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

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

LIZA N. BULAWAN, Petitioner Case No.2000-XI-00817 x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x NOTICE HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: ECOLAND SUBDIVISION (SM CITY OF DAVAO) ROUTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on December 31, 2012. In the petition filed on October 25, 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 FEBRUARY 4, 2013 at 09:50 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

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 29th day of October 2012 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

Woods said. “I’m leading the tournament.” Woods was at 11-under 133 and had a two-shot lead over Billy Horschel, with six other players two shots behind. Already a favorite with seven wins as a pro at Torrey Pines, Woods had even more in his favor going into the weekend. He had a 74-0 edge in PGA Tour wins against the next seven players behind him. Horschel, who had to go back to Q-school to get his card last year, had a 69 on the South Course to get into the final group. Woods caught a break in the draw by playing the easier North — it’s about 600 yards shorter — on a day of light rain, a late breeze and soft conditions. But he kept the ball in play off the tee, and he only got in trouble once. That was on the par-4 eighth hole when he drove into a tough lie in the bunker, and it led to his only bogey. There’s a simple formula for playing the North — make birdie on the par 5s and pick up a few more on the short par 4s. And that’s just what he did. Woods missed birdie putts inside eight feet on the opening two holes and was taking baby steps until he took off. It started with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th. He followed with the 5-iron that landed just left of the pin on the 18th, a two-putt birdie on the par-5 first hole, and his wedge that took one hop, struck the flag and settled four feet away.

M’bala goes to La Salle

OUTHWESTERN University star Ben Mbala has moved to the De La Salle University in the UAAP in a development expected to drastically change the landscape of Cebu’s collegiate basketball scene. University of Visayas coach Felix Belano said Mbala’s decision to move to Manila to join De La Salle is a “big loss” to the league, adding the Cameroonian slotman has become the benchmark for all big men in the league who aspire to improve their skills. “It is not a good thing for Cebu basketball ang pag-transfer ni Mbala sa La Salle because siya na ang naging sukatan ng mga big men dito sa Cesafi,” the former PBA player from Davao said. “Kaya ang players, pursigido to work harder to compete with him and improve on their skills as well.”

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

EVENTS

SM Lanang highlights Dabawenyo culture

To appreciate the present, one must look into the past the same holds true for every city. That is the main reason why SM Supermalls launched its My City, My SM campaign. Geared towards the promotion of every SM Supermall’s host city, My City, My SM aims to create awareness and buzz, highlighting the uniqueness of every host city’s culture and cuisine. FSM, A4

Past ternos used for the Hijos de Davao Ball.

SM AVP for Marketing-Mindanao Russel Alaba, SM AVP for Mindanao Operations Debby Go, SM VP for Marketing and Communications Millie Dizon, Davaoeno filmmaker and Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Morales with mom Maria Victoria Yap-Morales, DOT XI’s Eden David, SM Lanang Premier mall manager Engr. Therese Lapena-Manalo and SM Lanang Premier assistant mall manager Jerome Yeo.

SM AVP for Mindanao Operation Debby Go, SM VP for Marketing and Communications Millie Dizon, Atty, Rose Cabaguio, Jackie Dizon, Bebot Estanislao, DOT XI’s Eden David and SM AVP for Marketing- Mindanao Russel Alaba at SM Lanang Premier’s My City, My SM campaign launch.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT

More exciting tenants now open at SM City GenSan

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

STYLE

SM Accessories’ pre-Summer soiree

SM City General Santos now offers more and more exciting tenants for its valued shoppers, not just for Generals but also with the rest of Southern Mindanao.

The ever-growing casual dining industry today, Pancake House Inc., is now open at the Ground Level of the mall near the entrance 2. Pancake House continued to blaze new trails and steadily developed its house of brands to appeal to varying palates and age groups having built its base as the first and only restaurant that offered pancakes and waffles to a market accustomed mostly to rice-based food. Pancake House Inc. has truly become more than just great pancakes. Have a taste of great Japanese cuisine at Teriyaki Boy. Now opening its doors to the public located at the Ground level of SM City General Santos near mall entrance 1. Teriyaki Boy was borne out of an avid attraction to the rich culinary heritage of Japan. Not surprisingly, Teriyaki Boy is the market leader in the Japanese casual dining category today. The leading authentic Chinese food chain in the Philippines, Hap Chan, is also now open at SM City General Santos 2nd level, Al Fresco. Beef with Broccoli Flower, Patatim with Cuapao, Hap Chan special hot pot, and Shark’s Fin Dumpling are just some of their famous and signature dishes. Hurry! Visit Hap Chan today for a superior food quality and friendly neighborhood service. Movie goers get to enjoy Potato Corner, the first and the original flavored French Fries, before watching their favorite movie. Potato Corner now opens along SM Cinema hallway. While shopping for the newest trends in bags, shoes, and clothes, SM City General Santos now brings the second Gensan branch of Celine at the Ground level of the mall. More choices for apparel with the opening of F&X, Claire’s and Candies in the coming months. For more mall updates and events, call SM City General Santos at (083) 878 0667 or like us on Facebook, SM City General Santos (Official).

Over the past holiday season, strong, bold, and fierce were the standout trends. The stylish and sophisticated set were spotted donning eclectic prints, sleek and classy pieces,

items with sophisticated elegance, and exquisite pieces with a regal touch – all by SM Accessories.

With the introduction of Xian Lim, Georgina Wilson, richard Gutierrez, and Anne Curtis as its newest ambassadors, SM Accessories established itself as the Philippines’ Fashion Accessories Authority. After the glitz and glamour of last season’s festivities, SM Accessories prepares for the delightful tropical season through its newest collection. From strong jewel colors, spring accessories take on a lighter shade with dainty details, pastels, nudes and neutrals. Soft, feminine hues shine through in the Ladies’ Blush Collection, while cream, beige and other natural colors lend an earthy feel to the Men’s Country Glam Collection. SM Accessories’ new collection lends a fresh, laidback vibe – the perfect way to cool down one’s look after the holiday festivities and warm up for the summer season. Only from SM Accessories, the Fashion Accessories Authority. To receive the latest news and updates about SM Accessories, like the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ StyleMe.SMAccessories and follow @SMAccessories on Twitter.

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Crooner Richard Poon sings at SM Lanang Premier, Feb 2 THE country’s most celebrated “Big Band” Crooner Richard Poon is set to sweep ladies off their feet on February 2 at SM Lanang Premier’s 3 Day Sale. This certified multiPlatinum recording artist’s unique style of music and cool, soothing voice has made Poon stand out in a crowded sea of pop male balladeers. Making waves away from the “pop” and rather mainstream music genre, Richard sings the “Standards” popularized by Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Matt Monro, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Engelbert Humperdinck and the like. His passion to bridge the gap between young and old, blurrs the generational lines by his masterful re-interpretation of well-loved tunes of old

while giving it both a younger vibe and a fresh twist. Fall in love with Richard Poon at SM Lanang Premier Mall Atrium, February 2, 6 PM. SM Lanang Premier opens doors to their first-ever Great 3 Day Sale on February 1, 2 and 3. Spoil yourself and avail of up to 70% discount mall-wide and shop ‘til midnight on February 1 and 2! Plus, SMACardholders may avail of additional 10% discount from SM affiliate stores on Friday, from 10AM to 12 NN.

For inquiries, call 285.0943. Like SM Lanang Premier on Facebook or follow @smlanangpremier on Twitter for event and promo updates.

Kristen Stewart, Nicole Kidman and Marion Cotillard pose without makeup for W Magazine WHAT do Kristen Stewart, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Chastain have in common? They’re among the elite group of A-list actors who are the best performers in Hollywood today, according to W Magazine. W’s annual Best Performances February issue features a slew of Tinsel Town’s top talent—from Marion Cotillard to Nicole Kidman to K.Stew—and the stunning stars are photographed by Juergen Teller, sans make-up, in their natural state, reflecting this year’s cinematic shift away from typical Hollywood glamour. Each talented star shares a tidbit about his or her performance in the issue, as they are all nominated for a specific role (Kristen for On the Road, not Twilight, in case you were concerned). In addition to the performances feature, the W website also has a slide show where today’s top stars reveal their own cinematic crush. A few of our favorites? Ben Affleck, who confesses to worshiping Brad

Pitt, calling him “the perfect man and actor.” K.Stew, who admits she has a “total crush” on Amy Adams, and Rebel Wilson who provides the best answer of them all: “Channing Tatum. See I’m too nervous to even say it because what if he sees this and he’s like ‘Oh my god Rebel Wilson is my celebrity crush. Yeah, let me get divorced from my wife and come and find out where she lives.’” Talented, sassy and spectacular, indeed! Head over to W Magazine for all the interviews with 33 of this year’s brightest stars. And then hit the comments to tell us if you agree with the iconic list.

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge! EVENTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

SM... FFROM A1

SM Lanang Premier recently its own My City, My SM launch last January 20 with simple ceremonies the Atrium of SM Lanang Premier. Featured as ambassadors for SM Lanang Premier’s campaign is the Hijos de Davao, led by Hijos de Davao secretary Atty. rose Cabaguio, Hijos de Davao vice-president Jackie Dizon and Hijos de Davao president Bebot estranislao, and the artistic director of Ballet Philippines, Paul Morales. Performances by the royeca School of Ballet and by singer Juliet Bahala wowed the crowd as an exhibit highlighting the many ternos used during the annual Hijos de Davao Ball and the muses

Dancers from the Royeca School of Ballet.

of the past and present was also unveiled. Another wall featuring the Campos Family and the many achievements of

Paul Morales and Ballet Philippines was also unveiled. Truly, one can say that SM looks out for the com-

munities they are located and the campaign highlights their unwavering partnership with the people they serve.

Hijos de Davao secretary Atty. Rose Cabaguio, SM Vice President for Rochelle del Rosario, Rose Cabaguio, Baby Montemeyor, and Ruben Marketing and Communications Millie Dizon, Hijos de Davao vice president Jackie Dizon and president Bebot Estranislao. Bangayan.

Micheal Dakudao, Malouchi Gahol, me and Marissa Tionko.

SM Lanang Premier assistant mall manager Jerome Yeo, Sm AVP for Mindanao Operations Debby Go, VP for Marketing and Communications Millie Dizon, Davao’s Jackie Dizon, Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Morales, DOT’s Eden David, SM Lanang Premier mall manager Engr. Therese Lapena-Manalo and SM AVP for Marketing-Mindanao Russel Alaba. Marijac Pamintuan.

Serving

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Vic Secuya, Paul Morales and his mom, Maria Victoria Yap-Morales.

Davao

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 27-28, 2013

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

SPORTS 15

Djoko-Murray in Finals The Australian Open men’s finals pit Novak Djokovic (left) and Andy Murray (right)

ELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -Novak Djokovic remembers when he was about 11 and meeting a boy his age named Andy Murray. The young Murray from Dunblane, Scotland, was ‘’quite pale,’’ recalled the Serbian, known as ‘’The Joker’’ for his wisecracks. Back then, they were playing on the juniors’ circuit ‘’just trying to play tennis and enjoy the game,’’ Djokovic said. Little did either know that later in life they would keep running into each other on tennis’ biggest stages. On Sunday, Djokovic and Murray meet for

their third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. It is the latest rematch in a rivalry that Djokovic describes as unique because they’ve known each other since childhood. ‘’It’s nice to see somebody that you grew up with doing so well,’’ the 25-year-old Serbian player said Saturday. ‘’We know each other since we were 11, 12 years old. I guess that adds something special to our rivalry.’’ Djokovic rose to stardom first, winning the 2008 Australian Open at the age of 20. Now, the No. 1-ranked player owns five Grand Slam trophies and is aiming to be the

first man in the Open era to win three in a row at Melbourne. The third-ranked Murray is the latest addition to the so-called Big Four of men’s tennis, which also includes No. 2 Roger Federer and 11time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal. The group has combined to win 33 of the last 34 Grand Slams. Murray is striving for his second Grand Slam title after winning at the U.S. Open, where he beat Djokovic in the final to end a 76-year drought for British men at the majors. Murray’s road to the final in Melbourne included one of the tournament’s highlights - a five-set win in the

semifinals over Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner. It was Murray’s first victory against Federer at a Grand Slam event and so physically draining that Murray was too exhausted afterward to crack a smile. ‘’It (was) a long, long match. It’s a very late finish. I’m tired,’’ said Murray, when asked why he seemed so subdued. During the intensely tactical and physical match, Murray served a stunning 21 aces against the Swiss star. ‘’I don’t want to be wasting any energy, because I’ll need all of it if I want to win against Novak on Saturday,’’ he said, adding that despite

his lack of emotion he was pleased. ‘’Obviously, I was happy. It was a tough match.’’ Murray reached the Australian Open semifinals last year, losing to Djokovic. He has made the Melbourne finals on two previous occasions, losing to Federer in 2010 and Djokovic in 2011. Before arriving in Melbourne last year, Murray teamed up with tennis great Ivan Lendl whose coaching has helped produce a new aggressiveness in Murray and a willingness to take chances on court. It was under Lendl’s tutelage that Murray made his breakthrough,

winning a careerchanging gold medal for singles at the London Olympics and then riding a wave of confidence to win his first major at the U.S. Open. He expects a long, tough fight from Djokovic, who soundly beat No. 4-seeded David Ferrer in a Thursday semifinal, which gave the Serbian an extra day to rest and recover for the final. ‘’Every time we play each other it’s normally a very physical match,’’ Murray said. ‘’I’ll need to be ready for the pain. I hope it’s a painful match - that’ll mean it’s a good one.’’ Djokovic agreed.

Az wins Oz

Azarenka rallies past injured Li in finals

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus kisses her trophy after winning the women’s final against China’s Li Na at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.

M E LB O U R NE , Australia (AP) -- Victoria Azarenka has won her second straight Australian Open title, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a dramatic final that included a break for fireworks and two medical timeouts. Li tumbled twice to the court after twisting her left ankle. She had the ankle taped after falling in the fifth game of the second set. On the first point after a 10-minute pause in the third set while fireworks crackled overhead from nearby Australia Day celebrations, Li fell over again and slammed the back of her head on the court. The 2011 French

Open champion was treated immediately and had another time out before being allowed to resume the match. Azarenka won five of the next six games to claim her second major title and retain the No. 1 ranking. Li suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time. Li had dominated the first set on Saturday but Azarenka raced out to a 3-1 lead in the second before Li slipped and twisted her left ankle. She had it strapped but had problems pivoting

and Azarenka won the set 6-4. The Chinese sixth seed, who won the French Open title in 2011, had taken a 2-1 lead in the decider before a fireworks display delayed play for about 10 minutes and she immediately went over her ankle again when they returned and hit her head. A smiling Li returned to court but Azarenka managed to break in the fifth game, then hold serve to jump to a 4-2 lead and she sealed the title, which ensured she retained the number one ranking, when she broke Li in the ninth game.

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Lakers stop skid L

OS ANGELES – With superstar Kobe Bryant doing his utmost to get his teammates involved, the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game NBA losing streak with a 10284 victory over the Utah Jazz. Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace scored 17 points apiece while Bryant, the NBA’s secondleading scorer, handed out 14 assists to go with 14 points and nine rebounds in the much-needed win. Pau Gasol and Steve Nash scored 15 points each while Howard also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for a Lakers team that had endured a rocky three-game road trip this week. Last Sunday, Howard was ejected from a loss to the Raptors in Toronto after receiving two technical fouls. Howard then complained he wasn’t involved enough on the offensive end after a disappointing eight-point outing in a Monday loss at Chicago. A team meeting on Wednesday morning aimed at clearing the air was reportedly tense, and was followed by defeat to the Grizzlies in Memphis. Head coach Mike D’Antoni was delighted to see his star-studded

roster playing like a team against the Jazz. “I thought that the energy was great, the sharing of the ball, the rhythm that we had on offense. But the defense was solid all night,” D’Antoni said. “You could tell there was a better feeling out there.” Bryant said his aim from the opening tip-off was to get his teammates involved. “I was just trying to make a real concerted effort to try to force the game upon my teammates a little bit,” he said “Just have them play with confidence — even if the shots aren’t going in, just try to push on a little bit.” The Lakers started strong, scoring 12 of the first 14 points of the contest. They led 47-37 at halftime and took a ninepoint lead into the fourth quarter. Los Angeles made their first seven attempts of the fourth to extend their advantage. Bryant’s steal and dunk gave the Lakers a 92-74 lead and the Jazz couldn’t make significant inroads from there. The 18-25 Lakers remain mired in 11th place in the Western Conference, well adrift in the race for the eighth and final playoff berth.