Edge Davao 5 Issue 258 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

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Serving a seamless society

ROBIN HOODS. Davao del Sur’s Cobra Marlon Jumuad, Davao City Durians John Carlo Beltran and Mark Banguil compete in archery in the recent Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) meet. (DavNor PIO)

Indulge

Page A1 A4

CHICSER

CHED tightens policy On field trips, tours

Sports

Page 12

‘Reactive’ dili ‘Proactive’

Organizers told discuss the expenses, venue of the trip, insurance, waivers

By Che Palicte

Sweet repeat

HE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will impose a stricter policy in the conduct of field trips by different higher education programs in both private and public institutions following recent reported accidents on field trips, including the death of some students. Regional Director of CHED 11 Raul Alvarez said last Friday at the weekly Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA), that before conducting field trips and educational tours, col-

leges and universities should be oriented on the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) 17 Series of 2012. “The school conducting a field trip or educational tour is required to inform CHED at least one month before the scheduled trip,” Alvarez said, adding that the CMO 17 series of 2012 defines more specific guidelines on field trips and educational tours. “Before the field trip, the students and teachers should talk about the re-

FCHED TIGHTENS POLICY, 11

REFRESHING. A boy allows a burst of water from a drinking fountain hit his face at the fountain area of People’s Park at the junction of Palma Gil and Legaspi street, Davao City, Saturday night. Lean Daval Jr.

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

‘Pablo’ aftermath

Few Davao schools want tuition hike Only 29 private schools applied for fee increases now, compared to 45 last school year CHED 11 eyes impact of “Pablo” as factor

ELIEVE it or not, there is a sharp reduction in the number of private colleges and universities in the Davao Region seeking tuition and matriculation fee increases for the school year 2013-2014, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reported. Raul Alvarez, director of CHED 11, said only 29 out of 80 colleges and universities in the region submitted their corresponding proposals to increase school fees compared to 45 private colleges and universities last year. Alvarez surmised

many schools did not ask for an increase in cognizance of the impact of Typhoon Pablo on tens of thousands of families who lost their farms and other means of livelihood and would therefore have difficulty in raising money for the education of their children. Alvarez said that as of March 1, only a total of 26 private schools applied for increase in tuition and other fees, 19 of which are in Davao City, two in Davao del Sur, four in Davao del Norte and one in Compostela Valley. He also said that only one private college in

FPABLO, 11

Globe investments, expansion strengthen prospects forward

LOBE Telecom’s recent investments in infrastructure and network upgrades, as well as moves to acquire equity interest in Bayan Telecommunications Inc. (Bayantel) have positioned the company for a strong performance this year. “Our ongoing network transformation program, coupled with the Bayantel tender offer and our intention to bid for the 10MHz 3G frequency held

by CURE, give us more than enough prospects to remain a formidable player in an increasingly competitive environment,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. Globe is in the midst of a US$700 million network modernization program that is meant to increase network capacity and resiliency and to accommodate more voice, SMS, and data traffic. The first phase of the net-

FGLOBE, 11

INCONVENIENCE. An appliance repair shop uses part of a sidewalk as an extension, causing inconvenience to pedestrians at the junction of J.P. Laurel and E. Quirino Ave-

nues, Davao City yesterday. The local government imposed a 1/3-2/3 sidewalk policy last year but vendors tend to ignore it. Lean Daval Jr.

NEDA says

8% growth rate eyed for Region 11 in 2013 T

he National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Region 11 is expecting an 8-percent economic growth this year on the back of projected strong performances by the industry, services and construction sectors, NEDA-11 director Ma. Lourdes D. Lim said Friday. In last Friday’s Kapihan sa PIA, Lim expressed confidence widespread devastation brought out by super typhoon Pablo to agriculture and in-

frastructure facilities in the area last December. Lim said the services and industry sectors will likely remain to be the region’s main growth drivers for 2013. “The services sector will continue to sustain the economy, particularly trade, transportation, storage and communication; business on information and communication technology (ICT); real estate and property development; and tourism sector-related services,”

committed through the Board of Investments. There are other prospective investments for wholesale and retail trade such as shopping malls and electronics and steel manufacturing in the proposed economic zone in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, according to Lim. There is also the expansion of business process outsourcing or BPOs and expansion of the ICT sector to knowledge process outsourcing such as health

service. It introduced the concept of Whole Brain Learning and Thinking, enabling participants to understand how the brain works, through its neural pathways, for individuals to achieve their full potential. The Whole Brain Learning and Thinking was discussed by Prof. Cecilia B. Manikan, senior faculty of the Development Academy of the Philippines and adjunct professor of the Asian Institute of Management, Bayan Academy of ABS-CBN Foundation and the Ateneo de Manila University Center

for Entrepreneurship. Manikan introduced such topic with inputs from Dr. Eduardo A. Morato Jr. from whom she derived her thorough explanation on the workings of the four quadrants of the brain which carries logical, visual, conservative and interpersonal functions. Then she moved her discussion on to emotional quotient, human and divine nature of men, intuition, understanding dreams, adversity quotient, among other topics aimed at guiding participants to achieve their highest potential while learning

‘Whole brain leaders’

FNEDA SAYS, 11

Tagum Coop trains officers, management team members

LONG DAY OF FISHING. Young boys in Barangay Lasang, Davao City, bail out sea water from their fisherman father’s small motorized boat that had just arrived from a long day of fishing in the Davao Gulf recently. Lean Daval Jr.

the top NEDA official said. In 2012, the economic growth target for Region 11 was 6.8 percent. The NEDA regional office has yet to compile the data with the actual achievement expected to come out in June. This year, Lim said they are expecting the regional economy to be also spurred by projects like the P3.5 billion steel manufacturing, a 186-room hotel worth P824.5 million and a low-cost mass housing worth P501 million in the area. These projects were

AGUM CITY. To build the capacity of officers and members of its expanded management team, Tagum Cooperative recently conducted a seminar on “Becoming Whole Brain Leaders,” bringing an expert in the field of transformation and educational leadership and management. The seminar sought to develop leadership skills and competence of the officers and the management team to create a harmonious group of people ready to deliver their best for Tagum Cooperative to achieve excellence in

FTAGUM COOP, 11

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

COMPETITIVE EDGE 3

Fund Managers Association of the Philippines holds th its 6 Annual Convention at Pearl Farm Beach Resort

INDANAO welcomed the Fund Managers Association of the Philippines or FMAP members for the anticipated annual gathering of the country’s first rate fund managers. They experienced the unique charm of Davao in a 3-day convention from March 1 – 3, 2013, held in the world renowned Pearl Farm Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal. FMAP, is an organization of local equity and fixed income fund managers. Their roster of membership includes the country’s leading financial groups and key government institutions, currently composed of 42 institutions each administering, at least P100million worth of funds with a total AUM of P2.0T. Since its establishment in April 1997, FMAP membership has grown steadily carrying on their mission of fostering the development of the capital and financial markets, in particular, the fund management industry. The special guest speaker of the 6th FMAP Annual Convention was, no less the Treasurer of the Philippines, Honorable Rosalia V. de Leon. She was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III in November 2012, succeeding Roberto Tan

who now serves as an executive director of World Bank. De Leon served as Undersecretary for the International Finance Group since 2010, where she represented the department in multilateral and regional financial forums and cooperation. Pearl Farm Beach Resort, the premiere island destination in Mindanao, was chosen as venue for the FMAP 2013 Convention. The main plenary was done at the Pavilion of Malipano Island, with a special screen set-up of Bloomberg for real-time and historic price data, financial data, and trading updates. On some lighter activities, the fund managers were treated with a special dinner at the resort’s Al Fresco restaurant and fabulous beachfront cocktails at Mandaya Beach. A special performance by Kalumon, Davao’s pride on cultural presentations, completed the “Mindanao Night”. The second evening proved to be an equally memorable “Luau” inspired event at the sprawling white sand beachfront of the Pavilion at the Malipano Island. The group enjoyed an exciting island party with some feet-stomping drumbeaters, awesome fire dancers, and party/ dance music from the Music Authority band.

4 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

Team MADSEI goes to GenSan

HE Mindanao Association of Dance Sport Educators, Inc. (MADSEI) Davao and Tagum Teams joined the 15th Kalilangan and 3rd Visayas-Mindanao Open Dance Sport Competition last January 25, 2013 at Gaisano Mall,

EDGEDAVAO

General Santos City. Prior the competition, over 60 competitors from different cities participated a one day workshop conducted by multi-awarded, international trainers- Jojit Cabuenas, Louie Tan and Ednah Ledesma.

MADSEI competitors together with their Head Coach Aldrin Jardinel and Asst. Coach Farrah Alfaro were glad having qualified and awarded in the different categories: Latin and Modern Standard Disciplines. In Latin Discipline: Juve-

nile I & II Semifinalists - Lance Roy J. Laude & Kienth Niza Kondo and Christian Bernal & Vanessa Madelo; Juvenile I 6th placer & Juvenile II 4th placer - Ritzcel Limsan & Irlich Christian Edullantes; Junior C 6th placer Dave V. Torres &

Lois Joy J. Laude. They were also victorious in Modern Standard Discipline: Juvenile 6th placer - Christian Bernal & Mikhyla Thea Bonita; Juvenile 3rd placer - Dave V. Torres & Roshua Adela J. Daclan (SPED-Bangkal); Special Event 5th

placer - Raymond Kit Barco & Jossete Guillano; Special Event 2nd placer - Patrick Kyle D. Jardinel & Patricia Louise D. Jardinel (UIC-HS). It was another successful journey for Team MADSEI. Congratulations!

Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City before assuming the new post last Wednesday. The reshuffling came amid the observance of the poll period for the May 13 midterm national and local elections. Under Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 9385, transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service, which include the military, are prohibited from January 13, 2013 to June 12, 2013. But Col. Dickson Hermoso, 6th ID spokesman, said

the reassignment of the two officers have been cleared with the Comelec main office in Manila. He said the “request for the reshuffling has been made and granted before the ban on transfer had taken effect.” Hermoso’s claim could not be immediately confirmed with Comelec officials in Manila. AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, who initiated the change of command, challenged Gapuz to continue the military’s peace efforts in the region and to ensure the conduct of

peaceful and orderly May 13 elections in the area. Ordoyo told a press briefing that though his four-month stint was short, it was “colorful and that he would treasure the experience.” He particularly cited the peace caravans, fluvial parade, the security for the historical visit of President Benigno Aquino III at camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the boodle fights between soldiers and MILF fighters, and the “Sports for Peace” as among his cherished moments. “ I hope the Sports for Peace will intro-

duce more meaningful programs. We want to make sure that while we are at peace, they (MILF) would not think of other things. An idle mind [would likely] house evil thoughts, so its very important if we can provide diversions,” Ordoyo stressed. Gapuz vowed to continue what his predecessors have done but stressed that new operational procedures would also be introduced. A new comer in Southwestern Mindanao, he said he will be resilient to learn the dynamics to build confidence measures with

the MILF. He also admitted that the May 13 election would be a big challenge for him. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “ Toto” Mangudadatu, who attended the turnover of command, expressed optimism that Gapuz will continue what his predecessors have started, especially in promoting the culture of peace in the area. “ I am confident he could be of good service in securing the coming elections because he is not from here,” the governor also said. [Ferdinandh Cabrera/ MindaNews]

education. The State College is currently assisting the Department of Trade and Industry-DTI Davao Oriental Provincial Office in conducting consumer education seminars for consumer welfare and protection. Recently a consumer education seminar was given to 200 participants from Barangay Dahican, City of Mati, composing of students, purok, and barangay officials, and was held at the Nursing building of the DOSCST. The next consumer

education seminar was held at the Mati National Comprehensive High School, and another is scheduled on March 2 at the Mati School of Arts and Trade, and on March 9 at the Matiao National High School. The consumer education program is done in collaboration with the Department of Education, with the support of the local government unit of Mati. Among the discussions in the seminar are the existing fair trade laws in the country. (Neela G. Duallo, Davao Oriental]

Ali, Solayman Macaindeg, Musa Bacuna, and nursing students Sittie Haymiyah Ibrahim, Umayrah Abutazil, Potri Sauya Mansa, and Judy Uy. All the slain passengers were reportedly on board the Toyota Hi-Ace van bound for Davao City. Witnesses said the van was overtaking in high speed at a blind curve when the accident happened in the boundary of Aleosan and Pikit towns at around 12:10 p.m. Friday. “Maybe the driver failed to realize there are vehicles from the other side of the road that, just like his van, are also ne-

gotiating on the curve,” said Maribojo. The van first hit a passenger Lawin jeepney and later smashed a military truck. Both vehicles were on their way to Cotabato City. Maribojo stressed the collision was very strong that the van was “halved” after it hit the two vehicles. Four of the van passengers died on the spot while the three expired while being treated at the hospital. Some of the injured victims were reportedly still in critical condition. [Malu Cadelina-Manar/ MindaNews]

Gapuz assumes as 6th ID chief W

ITH less than three months before the May 13 polls, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reshuffled the leadership at the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division in Camp Siongco, Maguindanao with Brig. Gen. Romeo Gapuz taking over Maj. Gen. Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo. Ordoyo, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1980, was reassigned as chief of the Southern Luzon Command. Gapuz, a member of PMA Class 1981, was the assistant division commander of the 4th

Consumer education now part of DavOr state college curriculum

ONSUMER education has now become a part of the extension activities of the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology through its Social Science and Humanities Department. The initiative was born in its pursuit to educate the school communities on the rights and interests of consumers in the province. This, according to Onesimo Sungahid of the DOSCST who is one of the facilitators in the conduct of consumer

NorthCot accident: Van ‘overtaking very fast’ in a blind curve, death toll now 7, injuries 17

HE death toll in the three-vehicle vehicle smashup involving a speeding passenger van climbed to seven with 17 others injured, police said Saturday. Chief Insp. Jordine Maribojo, Pikit police chief, said four of the dead victims were nursing students of the Saint Benedict College in Parang, Maguindanao, who were bound to the Cruzado Hospital in Pikit town for their internship duties. Maribojo identified those killed in the vehicular accident as van driver Mohamed Samil

THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

Working inmates to get SSS protection even imprisoned T

MAKESHIFT SHOP. This raffia broom maker makes the sidewalk his makeshift shop where he cleans and assembles his products, along Quezon Boulevard, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

HE Social Security System (SSS) has expanded the reach of its microsavings scheme called “AlkanSSSya” to include jail inmates earning a living from making handicrafts while inside a correctional facility. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said an initial batch of 80 female inmates will benefit from the AlkanSSSya unit launched by SSS inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Quezon City Female Dormitory on February 26. “Inmates have proven that they can still be productive despite incarceration by creating bags, rags and other handicrafts. With the AlkanSSSya program, they can now save even when in prison and look forward to getting social protection from SSS in the future,” he added. SSS Assistant Vice President for NCR Central Division Alberto Alburo, SSS Diliman Branch Officer-in-Charge Leonora Nuque and QC

Female Dormitory Officer-in-Charge J/CInsp. Elena Rocamora signed the AlkanSSSya agreement. Aside from inmates who are newly-covered SSS members, the AlkanSSSya participants also include those who stopped contributing to SSS after entering the correctional facility. There are currently about 500 female inmates with pending cases who are housed in the QC Female Dormitory and who could potentially join the AlkanSSSya program. The AlkanSSSya, which derives its concept from a piggy bank, is a large cabinet with secure individual compartments in which members can put their savings for monthly SSS contributions. Each AlkanSSSya unit can store the SSS savings of up to 160 members. “AlkanSSSya members can contribute a minimum of P312 per month, which translates to just a little over P10 a day. We are heartened that the program continues to gather support from informal sector workers

nationwide because it really makes saving for SSS membership more convenient and affordable for them,” de Quiros noted. The QC Female Dormitory’s participation came about after SSS’ presentation on the AlkanSSSya program to various heads and representatives of Quezon City agencies during an Executive Committee meeting headed by City Mayor Herbert Bautista last November 7, 2012. Hundreds of garbage pickers from the Payatas dumpsite joined the AlkanSSSya program last December 3, 2012 as a result of the same meeting, which was also attended by Col. Jameel RM Jaymalin, Director of the Payatas Poverty Alleviation Foundation Inc. (PPAFI). “We are thankful to the Quezon City government for their support for the AlkanSSSya program. Hopefully, AlkanSSSya will be adopted by more prisons and correctional facilities around the country to give hope to inmates, both male and female,” de Quiros said.

first time for the region, and stable inflation rate of 2.5 percent, lower than the national coverage. The employment rate in Davao region maintained high at 95.2 percent with underemployment reduced to 16.1 percent. Investments also showed impressive growth with total public investments on major infrastructure projects at P4.6 billion. Meanwhile, Lim confirmed that the agriculture sector suffered a setback as major crops such as banana and coffee productions were reduced by 1.8% and 7.4%, respectively due to the initial impact of typhoon

“Pablo” and also due to crop shifting. But, she said growth improvement was achieved in staple crops such as rice and corn at 7.7 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively. NEDA 11 however has yet to come up with a report on the total growth of Davao region for 2012 in terms of growth domestic product (GDP). The region’s GDP in 2011 grew at 4.1 percent lower than the 5 percent in 2010. Lim said services and industry sector remained as the major contributors of the 2011 growth performance reaching the P116.1-billion mark. [PNA]

Davao region biggest economy in Mindanao

HE National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 11 has described 2012 as a banner year for the Davao region for having showed stronger growth primarily driven by services and industry sectors. NEDA regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said investments from private building construction surged to P14 billion, up by 44 percent. Lim said export earnings also hit the US-billion mark after banana exports, the region’s top export market, rebounded and grew at 46%. She said the volume of tourist arrivals peaked at one million with P12.9-billion receipts,

IT Figures

3rd

Rank of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in the 2012 Market Highlights report of the World Federation of Exchanges’ list of the world’s top performing markets. The local bourse posted a 38.9% surge in its market capitalization last year, outpaced only by the stock exchanges in Turkey and Thailand.

6,721.45

Closing of the stock market index on Thursday, February 28, 2013. This marks the 22nd record close for 2013 and the 83rd all-time high during the Aquino administration.

P9.89 billion The net income of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in 2012, which is 89% higher than last year’s net income of P5.24 billion. The EDC is the geothermal arm of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

P148 million Amount the Social Security System (SSS) has released for educational loans last year. The amount went to more than 12,000 college and vocational-technical students across the country.

6 PROPERTY

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Alsons launches Northtown By EJ Dominic Fernandez

ELEBRATING their golden anniversary, Alsons Development & Investment Corporation (ALSONS DEV), one of the leading real estate firms in Davao City, launched their newest development project called Northtown last Friday at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang. Northtown will be a sustainable residential township which aims to bring nature and modern comfort to its residents through partnering with world-renowned architectural firm, Palafox, and MANA architecture interior design. This sustainable township will sprawl across a 116 hectare land between Tigatto and Cabantian, Buhangin to strategically give the residents a more environmental friendly community that has two entrances to provide easy access to different parts of the city. Dubbed “the new suburban haven in Davao,” it has a 2.5 hectare clubhouse which is the first of its kind in Davao that spreads this big. This clubhouse will give various opportunities for families to relax, play and bond. Northcrest is the eighth real estate project of AL-

SONS DEV, Las Terrazas, Woodridge Park and Ladislawa Garden Village, Northcrest, and Woodlane subdivisions are some of the successful real estate projects of ALSONS DEV. Just last week, ALSONS DEV celebrated the centennial anniversary of the founder and the patriarch of the company, the late Conrado C. Alcantara, one of Davao’s most prominent pioneers. In his closing remarks, Tomas Alcantara, chairman of the Alcantara Group, said, “My father was a visionary who came to Davao City from Illigan and developed the company out of nothing (which was all that he had) into what it is today.” During the event, Tomas also announced that ALSONS DEV was able to build a classroom for the Pillar P. Rodriguez Elementary School in barangay Tigatto and also donated computers, audio/visual equipment and a collection of books for the city’s second mobile library. This gift was then turned over to the city through Engr. Jaime G. Adalin, representing Mayor Sara Duterte, and lawyer Melchor Quitain, representing Vice Mayor Rody Duterte.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

E-SEASON

Dev’t efforts find a home at Villar SIPAG Center Aims to be a hub of advocacies, activities and actions to help poor Filipinos

O raise Filipinos out of poverty has always been the main advocacy of the Villar Foundation and the couple behind it—Senator Manny Villar and Former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, chairman and managing director, respectively. The Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance or SIPAG Center will serve as home of all their efforts and endeavors to fulfill their advocacies. “We have been in public service, both in personal and political capacities, for decades. We have implemented numerous programs and projects that helped Filipinos better their lives. Through the Villar SIPAG Center, we will step up our efforts to reach out to even more people who need guidance, training, information, inspiration and skills to rise out of poverty,” said Cynthia Villar, who is now popularly called as Misis Hanep Buhay because of her untiring efforts to provide She added that Villar SIPAG Center is more

than a showcase of the Villars’ past, present and future efforts to lift Filipinos out of poverty. It will be a working hub and a proactive center. Its name alone highlights and promotes the value of hard work as a tool in overcoming poverty. “We are serious about our goal to end poverty. It is not just a catchphrase for us, it is a serious campaign and this structure is a solid evidence of that. This will be a hub of our activities and actions for our impoverished countrymen. Our goal is that this center will also be instrumental in bringing about positive changes in people’s lives and the country as well,” cited Senator Manny Villar, who is also known as Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga, in reference to how he personally overcame poverty through hard work and persistence. Villar SIPAG Center will feature among others: Poverty Alleviation Museum , SIPAG Poverty Knowledge Management Center , Nacionalista Party Museum , Villar Hall, MiniTheater, Offices, Archives

Nacionalista Party Museum exhibits memorabilia, photos, documents, among others, of the oldest political party of the country.

and Training Rooms. SIPAG Poverty Knowledge Management Center will serve as a library or resource center to collect, preserve, and make accessible to the public an array of reading and reference materials on poverty reduction, generation of livelihood, and entrepreneurship. It aims to cater to students of all ages, scholars, policymakers, journalists etc.

The Training Rooms will offer seminars, briefings and trainings on livelihood opportunities, entrepreneurial strategies, and other relevant and related topics for the womenfolk, the youth, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other marginalized sectors of the society. The Villar Hall will feature the memorabilia of Senator Manny and Cynthia Villar as

well as other relevant exhibits on occasions. The Nacionalista Party Museum will exhibit memorabilia, photos, documents, among others, of the oldest political party of the country. The Mini Theater will be the venue of conferences, symposia, and screening of video or performances tackling the issues of and related to poverty reduction. It will also be made available for

use as venue of private gatherings. The Villar Foundation, through its various livelihood-generation and skills training initiatives, has played an active role in poverty alleviation for 20 years already. Its barangay-based livelihood enterprises now provide income to over 500 families and other parts of the country, where it has established more than 50 pilot projects.

OLLOWING reports of a clash between supporters of the Sultan of Sulu and Malaysian police, Senator Loren Legarda yesterday said that there is an urgent need to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Sabah, stressing that the government should seek for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, also called on the Malaysian government to allow Philippine officials to help Filipinos affected in the situation. “We call on the government of Malaysia to ensure the safe passage back to the Philippines of Filipinos who want to return following the standoff in Sabah. The Philippine Embassy should be given access to Filipinos involved in the standoff and those requiring medical attention should be provided one without

fear of retribution or arrest,” she said. Legarda made the statement in reaction to the reported clash between a group of Malaysian police and the supporters of the Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III, following a three-week stand-off in Lahad Datu town in Sabah. The Senator said that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should ensure that collateral damage among Filipinos in Sabah is minimized. “The incident is symptomatic of an issue that has remained unresolved. It is important that the Philippines and Malaysia discuss the issues and work towards a durable and lasting solution to the problem. The Department of Foreign Affairs needs to bring this issue from the back burner into the negotiating table,” Legarda concluded.

calls for safety Casiño slams gov’t for telling Legarda of Filipinos in Sabah nurses to seek other jobs F M Urges government to create plantilla positions instead

AKABAYAN senatorial bet Teddy Casiño hit as “insensitive and outright de-skilling” the advice of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for newly-licensed and unemployed nurses to seek alternative employment rather than wait for job openings in medical facilities. “We are de-skilling our professional nurses in our very own land when many of our countrymen are in dire need of medical attention,” the threeterm congressman said, pointing out the shortage of medical professionals in far-flung areas and government hospitals. “Sa government hospitals pa nga lang, sa dami ng pasyente, kitang-kita

na kulang ang mga kama at mga medical practitioners. Imbes na bigyan natin ng trabaho dito sa bansa, sinasayang natin ang skills ng ating nurses. Nandito nga sila sa Pilipinas, hindi nga sila caregiver sa abroad pero wala naman sila sa lugar kung saan kailangang-kailangan sila. We should be putting a stop to that practice by providing adequate plantilla positions and remuneration for nurses,” said Casiño. The Phillipine Nursing Act of 2002 (RA 9173) explicitly states that it is the government’s responsibility to protect and improve the nursing profession by instituting measures including humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence

for local nurses. “Nadedegrade na ang ating mga nars sa nararanasang kontraktwalisasyon, mababang sahod, kulang na benepisyo, at sobra-sobrang patient load sa mga pampublikong ospital, samantalang dapat itinataas ang sweldo nila at binibigyan ng mandated benefits. Ngayon, itutulak pa sila ng DOLE sa trabahong labas sa kanilang tungkulin kagaya ng medical transcriptionist, billers and health care secretaries,” explained Casiño. Casiño said that the perceived “oversupply of nurses” is relative to the inadequate existing plantilla positions, and does not reflect the actual needs of the people. He cited the data from

the Alliance of Health Workers that while DOH recommends 1 nurse to 12 patients in regular wards, actual patient load of a nurse in a public hospital is 20-30 patients, and even up to 50-100 patients in some district (local) hospitals. Casiño authored various bills and resolutions for nurses including House Bill 5230 upgrading the salaries of government nurses from salary grade 11 to 15, House Resolution (HR) 2312 inquiry on Subsistence and laundy allowances and hazard pay of public health workers, HR 2820 inquiry on dismissal of 46 Taguig Nurses, and HR 2926 inquiry on the conditions of nurses under the RNHEALS project.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Culture of disaster strikes again THE VOICE BY AVEEN ACUÑA-GULO

EDITORIAL

Build and they will come

EN years of dreaming has finally come to a reality for Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario. That Governor Del Rosario’s dream is what he would consider as his legacy project—a modern sports complex for the province. That dream has come into fruition. Last week, some 5,000 athletes and officials were the ones who personally experienced this dream project. Some of these kids have just come from a horrendous trauma left by devastating typhoon Pablo. For five days, they forgot about their worries and instead showcased man’s innate indomitable spirit. Governor Del Rosario and his son Congressman Anthony del Rosario held on to this dream despite the odds. Some dreams, afterall, are worth keeping. In those ten years, a lot of things happened. The Asian crisis shelved the first launch of the

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project and Cong. Anthony battled for his life. The father-son team later revised the plan to a more practical and affordable one, and devised a scheme where the provincial government need not spend a single centavo in the construction of the project until its turnover. It’s called “Build and Transfer” scheme. And so, we were all witness last week when the province of Davao del Norte hosted the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) meet and showcased its worldclass sports stadium. The ambitious project of Davao del Norte follows that baseball maxim: “build and they will come.” Indeed, Davao del Norte has built an oasis where other LGUs like Davao City have not been successful at doing. Already, Davao del Norte has lined up major sports national events. Proof that if you will build the facility, people will come. Some just don’t believe in that. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing

NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography

EJ DOMINIC FERNANDEZ • CHE D. PALICTE Reporters

ANTHONY S. ALLADA • AQUILES Z. ZONIO Staff Writers

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

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

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

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

ANS plying the Cotabato-Davao route are not fast-moving vehicles…they are low-flying coffins. Nobody’s really given a damn about it. Until now. Accounts abound as to how the vehicular accident involving a passenger van in Pikit, North Cotabato just this Friday really happened. But that’s already the end of the story. The real story lies in the series of events that led to this man-made disaster, another manifestation of the culture of disaster. The following is just a short list. Please feel free to add: 1) Passenger vans have proliferated in the Cotabato-Davao route in the last five years. This privately operated business compensates for the lack of a government public transport system. 2) Operating passenger vans is a lucrative business. With vague government regulations on van fares, operators are relatively free to dictate through their own cartels on how much the public should be paying. 3) Because nobody checks on the carrying capacity of passenger vans, four people are squeezed in a row designed for three, plus extension seats are added. 4) The hazy distinction between passenger vans and vans-for-hire complicate the competition for passengers and space on the road. 5) The lucrative nature of this unregulated business also provides a lucrative source of income for anybody who can provide space for van terminals that are also unregulated. 6) This lucrative nature also extends to traffic enforcers who instead of checking operators’ licenses, road safety, speed and the number of passengers inside the van, are establishing rapport with operators and drivers with pansigarilyo (for cigarette) and other forms of bribery. 7) Drug tests for van drivers are non-existent with the unregulated nature of the business; thus providing a free flow of the drug route. (Editor’s note: Drug tests for drivers are mandatory only during renewal or application for driver’s permit.) 8) With media so engrossed with the peace process and politics (election season notwithstanding), little space is left for road safety and other seemingly irrelevant issues which if summed up occupies a much bigger space than the first two P’s. 9) What’s with field trips that pump people’s adrenaline up? An eyewitness related that the young people inside this particular van were jeering and giving their thumbs up sign after overtaking other vehicles. Shouldn’t schools also give safety briefings to the drivers and the students before letting them go on and risk their lives with great abandon? 10) Where are the parents? I know we are all at the height of grieving and say it’s not a time to blame. Forgive me this early. Again some sense has to be knocked into our comfort zones for us to wake up. Have we as parents really inculcated in the minds of our children how to stay safe on the road? The concepts of Yin-Yang? How too much excitement and euphoria usually brings in the equivalent intensity of negative energies? That they too, have the right to tell the driver to drive carefully? Previous vehicular accidents should have already pierced the collective consciousness of the public. I still wonder if this Pikit incident would really wake us all up. But the culture of disaster continues. (We are not yet talking about the devil drivers plying the squeaking new concrete highway from Cotabato to Lebak. Accounts say that recent vehicular accident-related deaths in the area were just negotiated by the operators). It is enraging to think that while government is so inept in addressing this issue, we citizens have not done enough as well. [MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Aveen Acuña-Gulo wrote an editorial column “The Voice” for the Mindanao Cross from 1991-2006. She likes to challenge stereotypes. “Don’t worry about my opinions,” she says. “It won’t make a dent to the conventional.”]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

Strategic and reliable trade control

AKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION -Looking at long-term demand may mean accepting shortterm pain. What to do? The World Bank (WB) still insists that even if the economics aren’t really crushing the Philippines still needs additional assets to beef up its capability to take advantage of new growth opportunities. Still, while the big economic picture has impressed somewhat, the corporate outlook seemed sound, but not really good enough. The WB stressed that the country together with few developing economies in the Asian region has to invest in technology, projects and programs that will boost domestic productivity and to remain at par with the rest of world. Within this framework, the WB is highly confident that higher productivity would in turn help the country service the growing needs for various goods of other well-developed countries. However, that is a lot easier said than done. While it is widely believed that higher productivity spurs increased consumption and likewise requires increased production, and more jobs, labor productivity has drastically declined due to lack of job opportunities. Mindful that the uncertainties raise the possibility of continued post lackluster growth in the US and Europe in the wake of the previous global recession, the WB expects that the Philippines and its neighbors in the Asian region can boost growth by intensifying regional trading activities. Nevertheless, another important step following the post economic meltdown in the US and European economies, the country according to the WB

must take advantage of the situation by shifting from being export oriented to boosting income through domestic sources. Such a move by few countries in the region could at least be considered by the Philippines as a growth opportunity, the WB said in its economic report. Some of our neighboring nations are seen to require more imported goods needed to boost their domestic production and the country should take advantage of the situation by selling more intermediate goods to them including the well-developed nations. Although the country’s export industries have slowly redefined competitiveness and economic advantage worldwide, its far-larger domestic sector- agriculture, has languished. One glaring example is the recent banning of world-class Cavendish bananas produced in the Philippines to China due to strict phyto-quarantine requirements and other stringent barriers to the detriment of our local producers and exporters. Adding more agony to the problem confronting the agriculture sector is the successive typhoons that devastated billion-worth of crops and properties in many parts of Mindanao. The situation has spurred a never-ending cycle of depressed and low growth.

Now let’s go back to the tax hike suggested by WB. Is increasing taxes through the dictation of the WB a quick solution and advantage of the so-called new growth of opportunities? Can the Philippines still be regarded as a haven for investors with a looming tax hike? From a point of view of an investor looking for safe haven, raising taxes on WB’s terms certainly signals that considerable amount would be set aside for additional taxes, thus their earnings will be greatly affected as well. It will be expected – but not certain – that the taxpaying public notably the business sector will accept the WB tax hike scheme. Sure, the government will be on shakier ground when it realizes the implication of the WB proposed tax increase. It has genuine economic concerns and few in the business sector thinks a new round of tax hike will do much good. If the government wants to attract entrepreneurs to invest in high technology projects as desired by the WB to boost domestic productivity, then the most important thing for government to do to be able to establish that is to have a well-educated workforce and to make sure our strategic trade controls are reliable. Perhaps inevitably at this stage there’s more emphasis on providing the basic needs of the people and less emphasis on tax increases. The Philippines has been going through socio-economic and political crunch and a new tax hike, probably the World Bank’s own “modest way” to help the country, is either part of the solution or part of the problem and on such situation that the government prefers the latter.

The political clout of the superrich

OUIS D. Brandeis, the American jurist, famously warned: “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” Brandeis’s cri de coeur was inspired by an indignant observation of the shenanigans of America’s robber barons during the Gilded Age. Today, we live in a data-driven age, and some careful students of the connection between money and politics have now amassed a powerful body of evidence to support Brandeis’s moral claim. A lot of it is assembled in a report by the progressive research organization Demos, published this week. One of the most striking findings is the extent to which economic power translates into political power. Institutionally, this is an era of unprecedented democracy – one of the triumphs of the 20th century has been the extension of voting rights to all adults in a lot of the world. But even in the United States, the country that thinks of itself as being the world’s leading democracy, it turns out that those rights do not translate into much actual political power. David Callahan, co-author of “Stacked Deck,” the Demos report, describes the super-rich as “supercitizens, with an outsized footprint in the public square.”

( 1st of two parts )

ANALYSIS BY CHRYSTIA FREELAND “I think most Americans believe in the idea of political equality,” Callahan told me. “That idea is obviously corrupted when in 2012, one guy, Sheldon Adelson, can make more political donations than the residents of 12 states put together.” The Demos study draws in part on the quantitative research of Martin Gilens, a professor of politics at Princeton University and author of “Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America.” Gilens, who focused on the divide between the top 10 percent and everyone else, found a high degree of what he calls political inequality. “I looked at lots of survey data that indicated what people at different income levels wanted the government to do, and then I looked at what the government did,” Gilens explained. “For people at the top 10 percent, you could predict what the government would do based on their preferences,” he said. “But when the preferences of people at lower income levels diverged from the affluent, that had no impact at all on the policies that were adopted. That was true not only for the poor but for the middle class as well.”

Gilens is a social scientist who is careful to stick to his data. But he told me he was “definitely surprised by the extent of the inequality.” “If you value democracy, if you value the ability of people at all levels of income to shape government, which is what it means to be a democracy, then, yes, you should be very worried,” he said. One reason this “political inequality” is significant is that it turns out the rich and the rest have different political preferences. These do not split easily along traditional partisan lines – in fact, one of Gilens’s findings is that political inequality persists whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge. And in certain areas, like defense policy, there is no class divide. But on an important set of economic issues – deficit reduction, the minimum wage, free trade, regulation and progressive taxation – the affluent are more conservative than everyone else. “None of this might matter if the wealthy and the rest of the public had the same public policy preferences,” Callahan said. “But as we document, the wealthy do have very different policy preferences, particularly in the sphere of economic and fiscal policy and on trade and globalization. You see this on issues like taxation, or the minimum wage, or the general role of the government in society.”

VANTAGE POINTS

Can diplomacy prevail with Iran? ( 1st of two parts )

COMMENTARY BY MICHAEL ADLER

EW talks with Iran ended Wednesday with a surprising forward spin. More meetings are planned in the now decade-long American-led effort to ensure the Islamic Republic does not get nuclear weapons. Iran must now accept or reject a proposal that offers some sanctions relief in return for Tehran’s reducing its stockpile of uranium enriched close to weapon-grade. This hopeful note – Tehran’s reaction was positive – comes as a showdown looms, because Iran continues to inch ever closer to being able to make a nuclear weapon. In a diplomatic process where expectations are low, the talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday and Wednesday were considered a success. The United States and its negotiating partners – Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia – got what they wanted. A senior U.S. official said Washington was “not expecting a breakthrough in Almaty.” It was enough, the official said, that the six major powers had the “opportunity to put a new and promising proposal on the table.” Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, called the new proposal “more realistic” and, according to one Western diplomat, even carried out a “charm offensive.” Said Jalili, “They tried to bring proximity in some points between the viewpoints of Iran and their own, which we believe is positive, despite the fact that we have a long way to reach the optimum point.” He was also less confrontational during the closing press conference. He did not, for example, present pictures of Iranian scientists allegedly assassinated by a U.S.-Israel covert operation, as he had before. Western diplomats were cautious, however. The Iranian nuclear crisis has been characterized by rounds of talks that have raised hopes only to end in deadlock, since Iranian and U.S.-led positions fundamentally contradict. Washington wants Iran to show its good faith by stopping the enrichment of uranium to near 20 percent — a giant leap toward making weapon-grade uranium of more than 90 percent enriched for the U-235 isotope, which favors chain reactions. This so-called confidence-building measure would be followed by talks about Iran’s main stockpile of enriched uranium, which is refined to 5 percent, the level needed for power reactors. If an agreement were reached about this stockpile — which, if enriched further, is currently enough for five nuclear bombs — the West would begin lifting the sanctions that are now crippling Iran’s ability to sell oil and do international business. But Iran is insisting that sanctions be lifted as a first step, and its right to enrich recognized – before it makes concessions. The United Nations has indeed called on Iran to suspend enrichment, due to fears that Iran seeks the bomb. Iran insists its program is a peaceful effort to generate electricity and that it has the right to enrich under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

10 NATION/WORLD

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

China defense spending seen rising as territorial rows deepen

series of territorial disputes with its neighbors will ensure China boosts defence spending when it reveals this year’s military budget ahead of the annual parliamentary sitting next week, security experts say. After almost three decades of sharply increased military outlays, an increasingly assertive China now has the firepower to challenge rivals claiming strategically important and resource-rich territory in the East China and South China seas. The Chinese navy, now second in size only to the U.S. fleet in terms of raw numbers, has become a genuine blue-water force and is conducting almost continuous patrols and exercises in these contested waters. Over the past six months, China’s stand-off with Japan over a series of rocky islands in the East China Sea known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China has become more acrimonious. Beijing is also in dispute with the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia, over territory in the South China Sea.

To pay for these deployments and new hardware in the pipeline, most analysts expect that this year’s budget will continue the long-term trend of double-digit percentage increases in annual spending. “Estimates are still for steady growth,” said Ni Lexiong, a military expert at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. “With China’s current attitude, it’s not going to let itself get bullied by anyone.” Alongside missions to assert sovereignty over disputed territory, the Chinese navy is also deploying naval flotillas to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia as part of its contribution to UN-authorised anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. Beijing last month announced the departure of the 14th of these missions since December 2008. These high-tempo operations are a sharp departure for a military that was largely confined to exercises and training within China’s land borders and coastal waters until recent years. But they impose a new burden on a budget that

Soldiers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attend a farewell ceremony for veterans near Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, November 30, 2012. [REUTERS]

had largely been devoted to the rapid modernisation of military hardware including big orders for new warships, submarines, strike aircraft and missiles. Beijing last year announced a 11.2 per cent increase in military spending to $106 billion. However foreign military analysts say much of China’s military spending is not included in the pub-

lished budget. The Pentagon last year estimated that Beijing’s real outlays for 2012 would be between $120 billion and $180 billion. China’s spending is now second only to the United States although the Pentagon is bracing for a sharp drop in outlays as part of government-wide budget cuts, known as a sequester, starting from March 1.

However, China has its own budget woes as senior political and military officials complain of rampant corruption and waste in its 2.3 billion-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA headquarters has issued new rules to tighten spending across a range of areas including construction, procurement, conferences and receptions in

a bid to curb waste and corruption, the official Xinhua news agency reported this week. The new rules, approved by Xi Jinping, China’s Communist party leader and chairman of the Central Military Commission, were also intended to redirect spending toward combat readiness, high-technology weaponry and training, Xinhua said. [Reuters]

word war broke out between two of the countries telecommunication giants Friday, with Globe Telecommunications hinting that rival Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) tampered with its lines in northern Luzon. The heated exchange began Tuesday when Globe issued an advisory saying that local interconnection with PLDT in Bulacan was out of service, due to problems in the PLDT line. But PLDT, which also operates Smart, called the Globe statement “erroneous,” adding that its interconnection facilities serving Northern Luzon were normally operating. Other carriers, such as Bayantel and Digitel, PLDT said, did not experience problems in the interconnection gateway facility used by Globe. “This indicates that the interconnection problems being experienced by Globe in Northern Luzon are caused by problems in Globe’s network and transmission facilities,” PLDT said Thursday. Globe was quick to reply: “Since 2012, the POIs

(point of interconnections) with PLDT always experienced problems on the signaling link at PLDT side which necessitates them to perform a reset of the said signaling links.” A separate statement issued by PLDT on Friday, meanwhile, said Globe engineers admitted to their PLDT counterparts that fiber optic transmission backbone in Metro Manila could have caused the problems. “[T]his belated admission by Globe personnel confirmed that Globe’s earlier claims that its network problems had been caused by outages in PLDT’s interconnection links were actually baseless,” PLDT spokesperson Ramon Isberto said. Isberto added that Globe’s advisory blaming PLDT for problems in its network was “uncalled for” and “presumptuous”. “It’s a ridiculous and irresponsible statement,” he added. “For the sake of its subscribers, Globe should stop trying to pass the buck and focus instead on fixing its continuing network problems,” Isberto said. [Yahoo!]

Two Pinays named among top Asian businesswomen A

WO Filipino-Chinese businesswomen landed in Forbes Asia magazine’s latest list of Asia’s top women achievers in business. Teresita Sy-Coson and Lourdes Josephine Gotianun-Yap were included in “Asia’s 50 Businesswomen In The Mix.” Forbes said the Pinays who are both daughters of local business tycoons stood out from “hundreds of other notable executives,

investors and owners.” Sy-Coson, 62, the daughter of Forbes’ richest in the Philippines Henry Sy Sr., made it to the list for the second straight year. The Sy family is popularly known for malls managed by SM Prime Holdings, though its business influence has spread through SM Investments Corp. The family also owns BDO Unibank, which is

considered the biggest bank in the country in terms of assets. Also making it to this year’s list is Gotianun-Yap, 57, president and chief executive of property developer Filinvest Development Corp., which was founded by her father Andrew Gotianun, Sr. Gotianun ranked 17th in Forbes’ list of “Richest in the Philippines.” While highlighting the role of Asian women in

business, Forbes, noted that “women remain underrepresented in boardrooms in Asia-Pacific.” “Japan is a case in point, where only about 1.5 percent of board members at top companies are women,” Forbes said. The magazine also put out “a watch list of 12 women who have the energy, ideas, brains, charisma and clout” to make it to the top 50 list next year. [Yahoo!]

Teresita Sy-Coson and Lourdes Josephine Gotianun-Yap were included in Forbes Asia Magazine’s “Asia’s 50 Businesswomen In The Mix.” [Photo from Forbes Asia website)]

Globe, Smart in word war over interconnection issues

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

CHED tightens policy... FFROM 1

quirements. The teachers should make sure that the trip or the tour is educational and related to the students’ course,” he explained. He added that if a field trip or educational tour is requested for, the organizers together with CHED officials should discuss the expenses, venue of the trip, insurance, waivers and the officer who is responsible. With the guidelines, field trips and educational tours will be for “the facilitation of knowledge and learning among students, and

NEDA says...

is not a scheme to make profits for schools, teachers, and employees.” “If they cannot comply with the requirements, it means that their trip is illegal,” Alvarez said, adding that autonomous institutions are not exempted from the CMO. “That’s an order, it does not say that if you’re autonomous you will be exempt,” he added. Alvarez said sanctions will be applied if CHED finds out that there are institutions violating the CMO. These are: first offense, a written warning;

second offense, suspension from conducting field trips and educational tours for a period of time as determined by CHED; and third offense, disapproval of school fee increases, administrative and criminal charges against the responsible officers under existing law and, lastly, imposition of penalties such as revocation of permits, downgrading of status, phaseout and such other penalties as may be validly imposed by the Commission on the concerned higher education institutions.

to guide the business and private sector to achieve sustainable development.” Reforms in the mining sector will also open opportunities this year for the Davao region, she said. The Overseas Development Assistance projects for road improvements and landslide risk mitigation will be implemented this year, Lim said. She bared government appropriations this year for the region amounted to P24.5 billion, with projects for the human development sector getting the bulk of P13.7 billion. But in order to attain its growth target not just for 2013 but in forthcoming years, Lim said it is important that the impact of typhoon Pablo on agriculture, insufficient and unstable

power supply in Mindanao, and the region’s increasing vulnerability to climate change must be addressed. In an interview, Lim said that agricultural assistance has been extended to Pablo-hit areas such as providing seeds, credit assistance, and collateral loans through the Land Bank of the Philippines. She admitted that due to the devastation wrought by Pablo, the agricultural growth “slightly” slowed down. In order to raise the productivity level of the agricultural sector, Lim said there should be appropriate technologies as well as provision of more farm-tomarket roads and pre- and post-harvest facilities especially to small farmers. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/ MindaNews]

sidiary RCPI as part of its efforts to acquire a significant share in the Lopez-owned company. Globe also announced that it had commenced separate discussions with controlling shareholders of Bayantel which includes Globe’s plans to potentially acquire an equity interest in Bayantel. On its own, Bayantel continued to improve its financial bottom line as it recently disclosed an 8 percent rise in core revenues to P5.22 billion in 2012. This was a result of a substantial growth in its data and voice businesses. Globe also plans to join the bid for CURE’s 3G spectrum, which PLDT was ordered to surrender in compliance with the NTC’s conditions when it approved the PLDT-Digitel merger in 2011. NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba recently an-

nounced that they had already finished the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the CURE bid, and are in the process of determining the Cost Recovery Amount (CRA) through independent auditors. “These investments and plans are all made with the customer in mind,” said Cu. “We’re well on our way to future-proofing our network in anticipation of the further growth of mobile data use, he said further. Globe recently announced that it closed 2012 with consolidated service revenues at an all-time high of P82.7 billion, 6% higher than the previous year. This was achieved despite the escalating competitive environment. Revenue expansion was supported by an overall increase in subscriber base as well as improvements across key product segments.

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IT, bank office processes, engineering and design, it added. Lim also said the public-private partnership or PPP ordinance in Davao City will open more opportunities for private sector participation in priority development projects in the city. She said the emerging role of the city as a convention, investment, and tourism destination in the Southern Philippines is another opportunity for the region, citing that the city will host the National Advertising Congress and the Asia Pacific Economic Conference Ministers and Senior Officials in 2015. Lim also pointed out the completion of the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan that will “provide spatial development directions

Globe... FFROM 2

work upgrade is on track with 88% completion in various cell sites all over the country. “Significant quality improvements are already being realized across all regions as well as business districts,” said Cu. “We’re working to deliver a superior customer experience to our subscribers,” he added. As a strategic initiative to ensure long-term business competitiveness, Globe and Bayantel also obtained approval from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for joint-use of the frequencies in the 1800 MHz band assigned to Bayantel. This would help Globe address the increasing demand for voice, short message and mobile data services. Last December, Globe successfully completed a tender offer acquiring over 96% of all existing and outstanding debt of Bayantel and its sub-

Catholic prelates say voting of new pope is sacred

ATHOLIC prelates said that the voting of the new pope is a sacred process and should not be used to make money. “The conclave is a sacred rite. It’s improper to trivialize it by betting,” Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said in an interview. Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros also explained that the election of the new head of the Catholic Church involves the Holy Spirit. “The election of the next pope is an act of religion which involves the Holy Spirit. It should therefore not be subjected to human frivolity,” he said. The prelates were re-

acting to reports that the public can place their bets on who will be the next pope on online betting sites. In one site, the only cardinal elector from the Philippines, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is included as among the papabile. On the other hand, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo urged the public to pray for the members of the conclave, who will elect the successor of Pope Benedict XVI instead of supporting the online betting. “Pray for all the cardinal-electors so that the best among them may come out to lead the Church,” he said.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco asked the people to pray for the conclave to be successful, noting that there is nothing wrong to make projections. For his part, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said that betting is bad, and should just leave to God the result of the voting. “Betting is always bad. Praying is the best thing. God has to be in charge,” he said. Cardinals all over the world are expected to convene Papal conclave of 2013 this month to elect a new pontiff. The Vatican position has been declared “Sede Vacante” after Pope Benedict XVI officially resigned last February 28. [PNA]

approved on Feb. 27, 2013, Morales said “complainants’ theory fails as it indirectly assails the wisdom of respondent’s admission by the DOJ to the Witness Protection Program.” The resolution said complainants cannot question respondent’s qualification as a state witness. It said the Supreme Court had vested in the DOJ “the power to deter-

mine who can qualify as a witness in the program and who shall be granted immunity from prosecution.” The case arose from complaints filed by Arturo Besana, a Resident Auditor of the Commission on Audit assigned at the AFP General Headquarters from Dec. 1, 1994 to June 29, 1995, and Maj. Ernesto Angulo. [PNA]

leaders. In her talk during the closing ceremony, Tagum Cooperative Chairperson Norma Pereyras expressed her expectation for members of the expanded management team to become more “competent and responsible.” “The ball is in your

hands; we have given you all. We want you to gain new awareness in life, new attitude and new perspective,” she said as she explained that Tagum Cooperative considers not just money but the spiritual dimension of its officers, management and even its general membership.

ic amount of increase. “The students and school administrations must meet and agree on the specific value of the tuition fee increase. Then, they present the result to the CHED which will either approve or disapprove the proposal,” Alvarez said. He underscored the importance of consultation between school authorities and students, alumni, faculty and the non-teaching personnel. Alvarez said it is often private institutions

which seek tuition fee increase. He said it is also important that private schools pay good salaries to their faculty members who have high qualification like master’s and doctorate degrees. Alvarez said under the law, 70 percent of any tuition fee increase must go to the salaries and benefits of teachers, 20 percent goes to upgrading of school facilities, and only 10 percent goes to the owners as return of investments (ROI). [RGA/JSD/PIA 11]

Plunder, graft raps vs. Rabusa dropped O

MBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales has dismissed the plunder and graft charges filed against retired Col. George Rabusa for the alleged conversion of funds in the Armed Forces of the Philippines because of the immunity granted him under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program. In a 13-page resolution

Tagum Coop...

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lessons from various life experiences. Manikan also used self-test, case discussion, video and movie clips, physical exercises, meditation and reflection sessions as strategies of instilling lessons to participants for them to grasp the essence of becoming transformed

Pablo...

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Davao City applied solely for “tuition fee” hike. while two each in Davao City and Davao del Sur applied for increase in “other fees.” “The rest of the institutions which did not submit any proposal are presumed not to be increasing their fees,” Alvarez said. He said schools which submitted requests for tuition fee hike have until April 1 to conduct their consultations with students and their parents, adding that the parties must agree on the specif-

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Sweet repeat 66th PAL MEN’S INTERCLUB

Cebu CC finishes with aplomb, nails second straight PAL title By Neil Bravo

EBU CITY – Marko Sarmiento’s son Lucas ran from the gallery to the triumphant arms of his dad a few moments after he holed the last putt that capped Cebu Country Club’s second straight Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub title. The Cebuanos thus completed a wire-towire triumph yesterday and achieved a club milestone by repeating as Men’s Regular champion yesterday to the delight of the home turf gallery which waited in anticipation of a grand celebration in the 18th hole. Ramontito Garcia, CCC’s captain, said his club’s win ushers in a new era in the 66-year old PAL Interclub. “This is very sweet – back-to-back for the first time,” Garcia said. “This is a new era in PAL golf.” The unofficial national team golf championship has been dominated in the past by bitter rivals Canlubang and Luisita. Canlubang was the last team which recorded a repeat—twice from 2000 to 2003 and from 2006 to 2010. Lusita repeated in 1997 and 1998. Mark Dy fired a twounder-par 70 worth 38 points and the next three scorers all chipped in 30

or more in a closing 132 that gave the Cebuanos a 16-point victory over young Alabang with their 507 total. Sarmiento backed up Dy with 33 points, Garcia accounted for 31 and Eric Deen assembled 30 to complete scoring for Cebu CC, which finished with a flourish that it threw out the 28 of Japanese teenager Gen Nagai. Del Monte returned 121 points built around Lawrence Cubillo’s 34 and was third another six points behind Alabang, which clearly stood out as the surprise package of the tournament, especially with Keanu Jahns cracking par for the second straight round at tough Cebu Country Club here. Jahns, a 17-year-old half-German, fired a 40 and Jama Reyes contributed with 31 points as the Muntinlupa-based squad shot 125 points for 491 overall that announced its coming as a legitimate force in the country’s unofficial team championship. Sta. Elena drew 37 points from Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia but had dismal contributions from the others to check in with a fourth round 105 and finish fourth at 383. Cebu CC broke away

from a tight tournament on the third day, when LJ Go, a 17-year-old awaiting a golf scholarship at Seton Hall in the United States, led a thorough taming of Mactan Island Golf Club on Friday that opened up a nine-point lead. The eventual repeat champs actually had a tough start, shooting just 120 points on Wednesday – one of the lowest, if not lowest, rounds by any leader in the history of the tournament – at Mactan. The PAL Interclub is being sponsored by the Department of Tourism, 105.1 Crossover, Solar Sports, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, 92.3 FM Radyo 5, Araneta Coliseum and AXN. Major sponsors are Airbus, Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine Broadcasting Network, People Asia, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC). Corporate sponsors include Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La Resort & Spa, Boeing, Inquirer Golf Magazine, Philippines Graphic and Manila Bulletin.

VICTORY RIDE AND HUG. Final day hero Mark Dy is carried by his Cebu Country Club teammates after they defended their Men’s title in the 66th PAL Interclub. Marko Sarmiento gives his son Lucas a hug after sinking the final putt. (Lean Daval, Jr.)

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

SAN PEDRO COLLEGE

IS IN NEED OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL FOR ITS ULAS CAMPUS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014

PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS (3) TEACHER AIDE (2) ELEMENTARY TEACHERS (7) (Generalist, Science, Math, English) HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS (7) (Christian Living, Chemistry, Math, Filipino, English, History/Araling Panlipunan, HE/TLE) Submit the following requirements on or before March 30, 2013 to the HRD Office of San Pedro College at 12 C. Guzman Street, Davao City: Application Letter Transcript of Records LET Result Curriculum Vitae

For inquiries, call or visit the Human Resource and Development Office 2nd floor PL Bldg., 12 C. Guzman St., Davao City Telephone Numbers: (082) 221-0257 / 224-1481 / 226-4187 local 32 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION (NHMFC) Mortgagee, -versusEJF-REM CASE NO. 14,045-13 ALFREDO G. LIM, married to MYRALUNA S. LIM Mortgagor/s.

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

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation against ALFREDO G. LIM, married to MYRALUNA S. LIM with postal address at EMI-VILL SUBD. Lot 18 Blk. 5 Sasa, Davao City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of December 31, 2012 amounts to Php 896, 107.56 Philippine Currency, plus other legal expenses incident to foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; the undersigned will sell at public auction on 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-165916 “ A parcel of land (Lot 18, Blk. 5, of the consolidation and subdivision project Pcs-11-000545,xxx situated in the Barrio of Sasa City of Davao, Island of Mindanao xxx. Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) SQUARE METERS, more or less xxx.” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. That in the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 25, 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, February 12, 2013

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) EFREN M. PINEDA Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 2/18,25 3/4)

SPORTS 13

DC athletes rule Davraa T HE Davao City Durians threw its full might in almost all fronts to renew its stronghold of the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) meet which formally dropped the curtains of a week-long spectacle of sporting talent. An elaborate and colorful spectacle marked the close of this year’s edition of the DAVRAA which revived an otherwise sagging spirit of a region recently hit by typhoon and floods. The week-long sports conclave staged mainly at the Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center stood witness to the dramatic rise and fall of courageous players, who battle it out hoping to take a shot at representing the region in the coming PalaroPambansa games this April. “We witnessed humility in victory and pride in defeat – the true virtues of sportsmanship,” said Governor Rodolfo del Rosario.

As expected, reigning champ Durians defended their title with smashing victory in the biggest and most prestigious regional games. They secured 863 points in the overall point standing, way farther than second best Davao del Sur Cobras, which garnered a total of 280 points.Second runner up Panabo City Banana Magnates followed with 282 points. Main host Davao del Norte Pioneers pulled off242 points to land in the fourth spot. While, the Compostela Valley Golds, who were worst affected by Super Typhoon Pablo three months back, settled the 5th place with 238points. In a true spirit of sportsmanship, the players, who, just hours before fought tooth and nail pitting against each other to

in four games. Arnold Garces top scored for GSO with 18 points. Ronnel Bantilan and Patara Pangilinan had 17 points each. Go, who averaged league’s best 45.3 points per game in the SP’s last three outings marked with 58 points explosion in a win against Central 911, once again displayed his superb shooting prowess in another great performance. The sweet-shooting executive assistant of Vice Mayor Rody Duterte scored 37 in their 107 – 87 rout of City Administrator’s Office going to this game. City Civil Registrars, undefeated in four starts, is atop of the race followed by City Environment and Natural Resources (30) and City Treasurers Office (3 – 1). SP bowed down to CTO few weeks back in the tournament sanctioned by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Region XI.

PALOS PRIDE. Vincent Gumapac reads his line of putt in the final round of the 66th PAL Men’s Interclub at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City yesterday. Gumapac played for Rancho Palos Verdes. (Lean Daval, Jr.)

win the trophy, exchanged souvenirs as a token of goodwill and new-found friendship. Del Rosario reiterated his mantra, which has become the second motto of the competitions: “Storms may have shattered our lives, but never our will to rise.” “Thank you for making this event a big success,” he told everyone who took part in the games. He revealed the world-class sports complex will remain open to the public after the DAVRAA. He also offered the facility as training venue for the winning athletes in their preparation for the PalarongPambansa in Dumaguete City. “Our doors remain open to help you attain more medals for the Davao region” he declared. A rave party at the modern track and field oval, courtesy of the GMA Kapuso TV network, capped the closing ceremonies.

SP wins three in a row, down GSO

ANGGUNIANG Panlungsod (SP) trounced General Services Office (GSO), 92 – 74, to finally get back in the winning ways in the 76th Araw ng Dabaw – DACHEA Basketball Tournament (Category A) last week at the Davao City Recreation Center Alemendras Gym. Hotshot Christopher “Bong” Go, the league’s scoring leader, torched the hoops for 41 points as SP extends its winning streak to three games. Greggy Delica, Roy Bangkas and Dindo Pastor helped the cause for SP which now placed fourth at the standing with 4 – 2 win-loss record. GSO tried to put up a gallant stand against SP in the early going of the game staying within the striking distance. But the GSO side was in a state at the second half turning the ball over several times that caused them their second loss

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VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

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VOL.5 ISSUE 258 â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY - MOTORING, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

HAPPENINGS

Happiness can come from a cup at Happy Lemon KNOWN for unique milk tea drinks, Happy Lemon formally opens the doors of their first store in Davao City aiming to change the way Dabawenyos enjoy their drinks. Happy Lemon provides refreshing and innovative drinks that infuse coffee, tea leaves, cocoa, and lemon- without artificial additives or preservatives. The place concentrates on delivering drinks, which are consistent in quality and taste, and fast service. A brand under the Yummy Town Group, Happy Lemon has approximately over 200 outlets in nearly 30 cities such as Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney and now Davao. In the Philippines, the franchise was brought to Manila on November 2010 by a group of friends who were graduates of Xavier and Ateneo. The partners always enjoyed drinking bubble tea whenever they were abroad. Believing the Philippine market was

ready to appreciate teabased drinks. They chose Happy Lemon because of its superior quality and variety of drinks, and they saw the long queues and packed stores in China, which attested to its popularity. Since then, there was no turning back with Happy Lemon opening fifteen branches all over the Philippines with the latest branch located at The Peak of Gaisano Mall of Davao and two more store opening this year at SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT

Maja Salvador renews contract with Sun Cellular

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

MOVIES

‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ at your nearest SM Cinema

IN THE PHOTO: Maja Salvador with Sun Cellular Vice President for Prepaid Marketing Joel Lumanlan and Assistant Vice President for Prepaid Marketing Ina Pineda at the contract signing

AWARD-WINNING actress, dancer and model Maja Salvador has renewed her contract with mobile telecommunications Sun Cellular to continue as one of the telco’s endorsers, together with college basketball star Kiefer Ravena, singer-actor Sam Concepcion and multiawarded actress-host Judy Ann Santos.

This year marks Maja’s 7th year as Sun Cellular’s endorser, a testament to the company’s trust and belief in the young actress to represent the pioneer of unlimited calls and texts in the market. “Sobrang happy ako na yung trust nila (Sun Cellular) hindi nawawala. Magse-seven years na ko sa kanila, I feel really blessed and thankful,” said the award-winning actress. Maja likened her career to Sun Cellular, from the time she started in the entertainment industry to where she is today. She shared, “Nung nagsimula ako, ang dami ko pang kailangang matutunan. And yearly, nagle-level-up ako, at nag-go-grow yung passion ko sa trabaho.” She added that like her, Sun Cellular grew to be one of the leading network providers today and continues its commitment to give subscribers only the best-value products and services. “That’s why, I know I really made a good choice with Sun Cellular.” Maja is the face behind Sun Call & Text Combo 50 which gives subscribers 200 texts to other networks, 200 Sun texts and 70 minutes of Sun calls all valid for 5 days for only P50. Just recently, the young actress appeared in the network’s new TV commercial featuring the first-in-the-market Sun Name Ur Number SIM, a prepaid SIM which allows subscribers to choose their own number for free. Visit www.suncellular.com.ph or Facebook page www.facebook.com/suncellprepaid. Follow @suncelldeals on Twitter.

GLOBE TELECOM LEVELS UP CUSTOMIZATION WITH ‘GOSAKTO’ SERVICE. Globe Telecom unveils another game-changing innovation that lets prepaid customers create and customize their own prepaid promo based on their needs, budget, and lifestyle. With Globe GoSakto, subscribers can make their own prepaid promo from scratch and choose the type and number of calls, texts and data they need for the day, week, or month. The first of its kind the world, GoSakto recognizes that customers have different needs when it comes to telco services, thus empowering them to create the perfect prepaid promo that fits exactly their needs. Subscribers can create their GoSakto promo via the self-service menu *143#, the Globe website at www.globe.com.ph/gosakto, or the GoSakto Facebook App at apps.facebook.com/gosakto. GoSakto even allows subscribers to name their promo, as well as let their Facebook friends register to the same promo, creating a community of GoSakto users online. Launching Globe GoSakto at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu is Globe Prepaid Head Kristelle Dizon.

WALT DISNEY Pictures’ fantasy adventure flick based on of 1900 novel by L. Frank Baun The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will be screening at SM Cinemas on March 7.

Oz the Great and Powerful directed by Sam Raimi pictures the origins of the novel character Wizard of Oz. Boasting of stellar cast top billing Academy Award nominee James Franco as the young wizard, Golden Globe nominee Mila Kunis as witch Theodora, Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz as Evanora and two-time Oscar-nominated Michelle Williams as Glinda, this exciting movie promises a “fantastical” experience for the movie-goers. The story begins when Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus

magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. Diggs thinks he’s hit the jackpot until he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora and Glinda, who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well. The yellow brick road leads to SM Cinemas this March 7! Catch The Wonderful Wizard of Oz at SM City Davao and on IMAX at SM Lanang Premier.

Purchase tickets in advance or book online and get a chance at taking home SM Cinema and IMAX goodies! For inquiries, call 297.6998 (SM City Davao) or 285.2356 (SM Lanang Premier-Cinema). Like SM City Davao and

SM Lanang Premier on Facebook or follow @ smcitydavao and @smlanangpremier on Twitter for event and promo updates. You may also visit www.smcinema.com for movie schedules. All SM Cinemas use digital technology.

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MOTORING, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth breakup rumors shot down FANS of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth can finally breathe a muchneeded sign of relief.

Rumors began that the twosome were headed for splitsville after the 20-year-old singer brought her mother Tish to Elton John’s annual AIDS Foundation Oscar viewing party, while Liam attended the Grey Goose Pre-Oscar bash at the Chateau Marmont and was snapped leaving with January Jones. So, is the engaged duo (who recently returned from a romantic Costa Rica vacation) calling it quits?! Nope! A source tells E! News the couple is still going strong, and any breakup speculation over the pair’s Oscar night separation is entirely false. “They are totally together,” say the source.

An insider explains there is “no drama” over the couple being apart on Oscar night, and in fact, the reason why the former Disney star went to Elton’s party without him was because Miley’s mom had never been to the annual Academy bash and

wanted to go. So Miley took her instead. The source further insists the duo’s engagement is very much on. What a relief to hear the couple of more than three years is still going strong! We absolutely adore Miley and her man.

Katie Holmes all smiles at Knicks basketball game with agent Adam Schweitzer LOOKING good, Katie Holmes!

Suri’s stunning mother was all smiles at the New York Knicks game Wednesday at Madison Square Gardens in NYC, where she watched the basketball game with her new agent, Adam Schweitzer. New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz and Katharine McPhee were also in attendance, and the entire crew sat courtside and cheered as the Knicks beat the Golden State Warriors. Katie was rocking her signature simple and chic style for the occasion. She looked comfortable and content in trendy ripped jeans, a basic button down shirt and bright coral pointedtoe kitten heels. Rumors of a new romance for Holmes began swirling after some tabloids reported she attended the game with a “mystery man,” but Katie’s courtside companion is simply her new ICM agent (who is hap-

pily married with children). Holmes recently switched agents and agencies, leaving CAA for ICM. Meanwhile, Katie’s ex-

husband Tom Cruise is currently in London filming his upcoming flick, where he reunited for a “lovely” five days with 7-year-old Suri.

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EVENTS

CHICSER invades SM City Davao TEENERS started to troop to SM City Davao Annex at 2 PM for a 6 PM show Feb 15. It was like young girls were under a spell! The trendiest young heartthrobs Ullyses Basa, Clarence Villafuerte, Biboy Cabigon, Owy Posadas, Oliver Posadas and Ranz Viniel captured the hearts of the audience with their every move. When the internet’s hottest male dance group in the country stepped on stage, girls giggled, screamed and cried. Davao, no doubt, caught the Chicser Fever. The group which gained much following on Youtube and microblogging

site Twitter since 2012 is now a sensation not only in Luzon but also in Davao City. Bringing only the hippest, last year, SM City

Davao also brought in the city Youtube stars Jamich, and TV heartthrobs Enrique Gil and Daniel Padilla. Who might invade SM

Davao next? For inquiries, call 297.6998 local 126. Like SM City Davao on Facebook or follow @ smcitydavao on Twitter for event and promo updates.

CLASSIFIEDS ADS15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 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, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment with Dropping and Substitution of Unit to operate a PUJ Ordinary Regular service CREZTIE R. LEGASPI, Petitioner-Vendor

Case No.2013-XI-00077 (2009-XI-00525)

JENALYN CHARMAN, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by CREZTIE R. LEGASPI in favor of JENALYN CHARMAN of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ ORDINARY REGULAR service on the route: CAMP CATITIPAN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE ROUTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to February 19, 2015. In the same petition filed on February 06, 2013, petitioners likewise to DROP the authorized unit and to SUBSTITUTE the same with another unit bearing Chassis No. DC51T-301552 to operate along the same route previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 18, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at this office at the above address. At least, TEN (10) 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 6th day of February 2013 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

EDGEDavao

Serving a seamless society

Account Executives (2) -

Male / Female, not more than 30 years old Candidate must posses a Bachelor/ College Degree in any Business field. Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate A team player With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission

For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 258 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO Cebu nails second Interclub title

see story on page 12

DSA-PHOENIX GOLFERS. Davao’s golfing sportswriters Neil Bravo (left) of Edge Davao and Jon Develos (right) of Mindanao Times with Alta Vista Gen. Manager Nimrod Quinones (middle) during the PAL Media Golf Tournament at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Cebu City. The DSA golfers were backed up by Phoenix Petroleum.