Edge Davao 5 Issue 30 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.5 ISSUE 30 • APRIL 17, 2012

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Dumalag fish cages closed Special Report

By Jade C. Zaldivar

n Water sampling bares E. coli

HE P300 million fish cultivation industry in Punta Dumalag, this city, will have to stop operations, according to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

This after the mayor learned that said coastal area is ‘unfit for fish cultivation.’ In the process of declaring Punta

Dumalag as a Mariculture Park, several studies were made by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Davao region,through sampling of the water in fish cages and the milkfish produced thereat.

FDUMALAG, 13

SCIENCE\ENVIRONMENT Page 4 Sports Page 15

WASHED. Children play with a dead milkfish (bangus) which washed ashore in Punta Dumalag where some 200 fish cages have been ordered closed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on March 29 following Department of Science and Technology’s water analysis results showing presence of coliform and other pathogens. [JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

Husbands rise vs wives’ abuses T By Lorie A. Cascaro

HE Mr. GAD, a federation formed by 15 barangays in Davao City, including Barangays Toril Poblacion, Lizada, Sasa, Panacan, Buhangin, Tibungco, and San Antonio

of Agdao, will promote the protection of husbands from abuses committed by their wives.

Guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM City Davao yesterday, Agdao Brgy. Captain Rene Estorpe, president of the

federation, said in his barangay, there were two reported cases of abuses against husbands. “Kung sumahon nato ang rekord sa tibuok Pilipinas, daghan na pud diay

FHUSBANDS, 13

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

CTO collects P863 Million

By Jade C. Zaldivar

HE City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) has reported a total collection of P863,673,740.59 from January to February this year. CTO chief Rodrigo Riola last week said the sum is already 37 percent of the city’s target revenue collection this year‘,quite a feat considering we’re only two months into the year.’ In 2011 the CTO surpassed its annual target by 130 percent with a total of P4,525,267,675.00 revenue collection. With 37 percent already acquired out of the 2.3 billion targetted collection for 2012, Riola is optimistic the city would accomplish its target or even surpass it. The CTO head attributed the achievement to the intensified education and information campaign as well as to the increase in the number of business establishments in the city.

“The city may have relatively grown much in 2011, but without intensified efforts to inform the business establishments’ responsibility to pay their taxes, then wala rin,” Riola said. Of the P863,673,740.59 collected, 56 percent came from business taxes amounting to P482,012,567.97. Also a big contributor were fees and charges amounting to P279,000,000 while P113,810,000 was collected from the City Economic Enterprise. The city’s revenue is expected to increase even more after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio last month confirmed the city is gearing to increase taxes to make up for the decrease in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) from the national government, hence the city government is crafting a proposed plan in aid of legislation for the purpose.

US TROOPS OUT NOW. More than 5000 Mindanaoans led by Patriyotiko Mindanao will embark on a five-day Mindanao-wide caravan from Davao City to Zamboanga to protest against the alleged US intervention in the

mere 57.2 grams when hatched, the chick underwent an incubation period of 48 days at the PEF conservation breeding facility. “The fast diminishing forests and destruction of their habitats are still the biggest threats to their survival. We need everyone’s contribution to ensure that the Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle population will increase, especially in the wild,” Salvador said. The Pinsker’s HawkEagle, endemic to the Philippines, is a species of bird of prey in the Acciptridae family. The loss of its natural habitat, which is the subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, threatens

Philippines in time with the start of the joint US-Philippine joint military exercises on April 16. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Fish cage owners agree to stop their operations By Lorie A. Cascaro

PEF frets over survival of Pinsker’s Hawk-chick

HE Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) will carefully and constantly monitor the chick of the first bred Pinkser’s HawkEagle (Nisaetus pinskeri) hatched last April 2 through its breeding program. Although the PEF’s conservation breeding program has gained significant advances in the past 20 years, it considers the survival of the Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle in the wild as the real challenge. “Hopefully, it will survive and we will be able to improve our breeding techniques of this species through this experience,” said PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador. Coming from a natural pair, and weighing a

EDGEDAVAO

its extinction. This medium-sized eagle’s appearance is light brown on the upper part and its dark brown tail is striped with four to five darker, narrow bands. It has a barred brown, black and white belly. The head and under parts are reddish-brown with black streaks, while the throat is whitish. Its wings are broad and rounded and barred flight feathers can be seen in flight. The PEF’s conservation breeding program made a historic breakthrough with the birth of Pag-asa, the first Philippine Eagle bred and hatched in captivity in 1992. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

White and fluffy. The Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle chick at 10 days old is the first of its species bred and hatched by the Philippine Eagle Foundation’s Conservation Breeding Program.

ISH cultivation investors in Punta Dumalag, who were ordered by the city government to stop harvesting by August, are willing to fully cooperate, Davao City Agriculturist Office head Leo Avila III said yesterday. In fact, they are willing to donate public toilets to informal settlers along coastal areas. Out of 200 fish cages in coastal areas of Matina Aplaya, only 93 currently have fish stocks. Operators of these will then have to harvest their produce in August new fingerlings will no longer be replenished. The major points agreed upon during the dialogue between fish cage owners and the CAO in a meeting last April 11 were to look for alternative sites, conduct samplings. On April 24 stakeholders will again meet to create an interagency collaboration and will be attended by fish cage operators. The interagency collaboration will be a venue for planning how to address land-based pollution which will be participated in by barangays, the City Health Office, City Environmental and Natu-

ral Resources Office, City Agriculturist’s Office, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health among others. Avila said City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will also come up with an executive order creating the task force for this program. “It’s a priority kay himuon na ang Implementing Rules and Regulations sa Sewerage and Septic Management Ordinance of Davao City,” he said. He added that there has been no order to dismantle the fish cages, but only a notice to stop the harvest, adding that that they can move them somewhere else after conducting a series of tests. Noting the government’s concern for public health, Avila said relocations of fish cages would be within Davao City, unless the target areas remain positive for bacteria, in which case there is no reason to continue their operation. He said that while all operators are from the city, some of them already have similar investments in Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte among

others. “Namalhin na lang sila diha kay duol lang, but they can always go back,” he said, adding the stoppage will not affect fish supplies in the market. It was earlier discovered through studies conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that the coastal areas along Matina Aplaya are positive for bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli (E. coli) whose serious types can cause food poisoning; and fecal coliform from human and animal wastes. Mayor Duterte-Carpio on March 29 gave orders to halt operation in Punta Dumalag to prevent the health risks in consuming fish from waters declared by the DOST as unfit for fish cultivation. Riverbank survey Avila also said that the two rivers in Matina Aplaya and Talomo will be surveyed as there are piggeries located along the riverbanks. He added that some septic tanks of households are not properly redirecting wastes to the drainage.

“Ang kulang sa atin is disiplina – the discipline to strive harder,”he said in an interview. “When you look at other countries, we may have the same looks or height; have the same opportunities for education; we may even have more natural resources, but why is it they’re more

advanced? It’s because they work even harder,” he added. Binay said having compulsory military service like Singapore and South Korea would develop a more disciplined citizenry. “Males should serve one or two years of military training which in

Binay supports mandatory military service for males

ICE President Jejomar Binay supports mandatory military service for Filipino males, saying they will benefit from the discipline, among others. During his visit here last week, Binay said that, unlike in some other Asian countries, Filipino citizens ‘lack discipline.’

FBINAY, 13

EDGEDAVAO

FISHERMEN. Local fishermen work even on Sundays as they check their fish cages in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplya, Davao City. Mayor Sara z. Duterte has ordered the fish cage owners to stop their operations as the local government is trying to come up with mechanisms to mitigate the pollution, which reportedly caused a spike in e-coli bacteria in

Kidapawan bent on going to court to get power from geothermal plants

IDAPAWAN bent on going to court to get power from geothermal plants Members of the Kidapawan City Council are bent on going to court if the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and other subsidiary agencies of the Philippine government refuse to dispatch 25 percent of the total supply from the two geothermal plants located in Mount Apo to the local electric cooperative. Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista, who presides over the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said they would seek a court order to compel Napocor to supply the service areas of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) the needed megawatts of power. The city council is also seeking President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s intervention to immediately implement the provisions of Section 6(b) of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Section 5 (i) of Republic Act 7638 or the Department of Energy (DOE) Act of 1992. Section 5(i) of RA 7638 (Department of Energy Act of 1992) mandates the DOE to “devise ways and means of giving direct benefit to the province, city, or municipality, especially the community and people affected, and equitable preferential benefit to the region that hosts the energy resource and/or the energygenerating facility.” The law made sure though that “other provinces, cities, municipalities, or regions shall not be deprived of their energy requirements.” The DOE said in its IRR that “in times of energy shortage, the energy-gen-

erating facility shall prioritize up to 25 percent of its contracted or available capacity (whichever is lower) which shall be delivered to the appropriate electric utility for distribution to the official resettlement/ relocation sites of the community and people affected, and thereafter, to the relevant host LGU or host region….” The remaining 75 percent shall then “be dispatched to the grid so as not to unreasonably deprive other municipalities, cities, provinces, or regions of their energy requirements,” Section 6(b) of the DOE’s Energy Regulations No. 1-94 added. The council is already preparing petition for mandamus, a writ which commands an organization to perform a certain action, to which the agency is required, pursuant to a statute. Evangelista also cited a memorandum of agreement signed more than two decades ago that stated the host city and province where the geothermal power should be generated must have a direct line of electricity from the plant. The Mount Apo geothermal plants, which produce 104 megawatts of electricity, are located at Barangay Ilomavis within Kidapawan, some 30 minutes ride from the city proper. The Sanggunian said that Cotelco is thus entitled to have 26.25MW for dispatch to its service areas in the province of North Cotabato, including this capital city. The province needs at least 32 to 36 megawatts of power daily, according to Cotelco’s spokesman Vi-

cente Baguio. The Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), a government-owned and controlled corporation, used to own the Mount Apo geothermal power plants. But in 2008, it sold the facilities to the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) of the Lopez Group of Companies. The EDC plans to put up its third geothermal power plant inside the 701-hectare reservation area for geothermal production at the Mount Apo. The project, however, needs endorsement from the local government unit, including the provincial government of North Cotabato. Kidapawan City councilor Lauro Taynan, chair of the Committee on Energy of the Sanggunian, warned the Mount Apo Geothermal Power 3 project would not get a backing from them if the EDC rejects their demand to give a direct supply of power from the plant to the distribution lines of Cotelco. “This is non-negotiable. If the EDC won’t heed our demand to give us direct supply of power, then the project won’t get an endorsement from us,” said Taynan. It is so “unfortunate,” Taynan said, that the city is host to two renewable sources of energy yet it experiences two to four hours, or sometimes even up to six hours, of daily rotating blackouts. The EDC hopes to complete the project in 2014 and the commissioning of plant in 2015. The plant is expected to generate additional 50 megawatts of power. [MALU

ally “accepted for review” the proposals of different presenters and did not expressly commit any change of position. He said that based on PNoy’s statements, the summit did not address the problems that required immediate response, referring Mindanao’s power outages. Other officers of the Association of Mindanao Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) who joined him in the summit, Cortizano vows, shares the

same view. He said they are not sure if the President would heed their call to expedite the operation of the Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP), which was cited as a possible immediate source of power to mitigate the scheduled shutdown of Pulangi IV on April 17. The IDPP is embroiled in a legal problem with the Commission on Audit, Cortizano said. “It was not also clear if the President could seek

CADELIÑA MANAR / MINDANEWS]

PNoy disappoints electric coops

RESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III disappointed participants from electric cooperatives in the Mindanao Power Summit Friday when he did not commit to agree with their appeal to forego privatization of the Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric power complexes in Mindanao, a power official said. Rene Cortizano, general manager of the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, said the President gener-

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

FPNoy, 13

the waters in the area. The source of e-coli allegedly came from two rivers in Talomo and Matina and washed out into the fish cages in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Antonino wants probe on NPC’s P34-B income By Lorie A. Cascaro

INDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Luwalhati Antonino is asking for an investigation into the P34 billion income of the National Power Corporation (NPC) from the Agus-Pulangi Hydro Complex (APHC) in 11 years. She said instead of using the proceeds of the APHC to pay off the NPC’s debt, which according to President Benigno Aquino III was P1.24 trillion in 2003, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) is allocating the money to support the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG), which is a losing investment. “Napupunta sa island electrification na lugi. Isa sa sinusuportahan ng PSALM yan. Part ng ineearn ng Pulangi, nadun yan sa SPUG. Eh, paano yung utang?,” she told reporters. Originally, the NPC’s debt was P17 billion when the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) began, then it went up to P20 billion in 2004 when former President Gloria

Year

Arroyo did not adjust the prices. “For one year, they were running it at a loss. Ngayon balik na naman sa dati,” she added. The NPC-SPUG, also referred to as Missionary Electrification Plan 20092018, is mandated by law to undertake the electrification of the areas not connected to the transmission grid. A total of 68.33 MW will be needed to meet the increasing demand in SPUG areas for the period 2009 – 2018. The NPC and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) reduced the selling rate in the islands via a subsidy scheme both in the distribution and generation areas, following former President Corazon C. Aquino’s directive to set the ceiling selling rate to end-users at P2.50 per kWh. Shatter the myth Governor Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte, in his presentation, said people should “shatter the myth that the NPC and APHC are losing propositions.” He presented data of NPC’s income for nine years from 2003 to 2011

within the period of the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). (See table below.) There is an Operation Management Agreement (OMA) between the PSALM and NPC, whereby all gross receipts of NPC, including those coming from APHC, have to be remitted to the PSALM. “It’s time to rescind this contract and allow the NPC to run its own affairs, including rehabilitating the Agus-Pulangi plants according to their full capacity, using its internally generated revenues,” he said. Futher, Representative Maria Isabelle Climaco has a similar proposition to amend the existing structure of APHC, and by establishing a Mindanao Power Company to be owned and controlled by the government. Its governing body should be multi-sectoral, and its power and functions can be detailed after inputs from the relevant stakeholders. “The hydropower plants are profitable by nature, but there is no means for being self-sustaining under the current setup,” she said.

Annual Gross ACG X 1,000/ Generation MWHR X Gross (ACG in billion) Receipt (in billion) 2003 3,942,606 P11.8 2004 4,171,440 P12.5 2005 3,950,256 P11.8 2006 4,356,035 P13.0 2007 3,909,964 P11.7 2008 4,348,775 P13.0 2009 4,121,590 P12.3 2010 3,579,231 P10.7 2011 4,524,543 P13.5 AVERAGE 36,904,440 P12.3

Profit Margin (2/kwh, in billion) P7.8 P8.3 P7.8 P8.6 P7.8 P8.6 P8.2 P7.1 P9.0 P73.2

National Power Corporation 9-year Income as presented by Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Oceans crying out for help Text and Photos by Jims Vincent T. Capuno

“T

HE world’s oceans are in danger, and the enormity of the challenge is bigger than one country or organization,” said World Bank president Robert Zoellick during the World Oceans Summit held in Singapore recently. “We need coordinated global action to restore our oceans to health. Together we’ll build on the excellent work already being done to address the threats to oceans, identify workable solutions, and scale them up,” he added. The World Bank head proposed a coalition of governments, global organizations and other groups to protect the oceans. The coalition – which he called Global Partnership for Oceans – “will bring together countries, scientific centers, non-government organizations, international organizations, foundations and the private sector to pool knowledge, experience, expertise, and investment around a set of agreed upon goals.” Ninety-seven percent of the world’s water is ocean. It also comprises over two-thirds of the planet’s surface. “From afar, aliens might see the obvious: the sea is Earth’s life-support system,” wrote marine biologist Sylvia A. Earle, former chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. “The services provided are so fundamental that most of us who live here tend to take them for granted.” “The earth’s great sea is the heart of the hydrological cycle – nature’s solar-driven water pump,” explains Don Hinrichsen, an award-winning environmental journalist and author of Coastal Waters of the World. About 430,000 cubic kilometers of water evaporate from the oceans every year. “Of this amount, around 110,000 cubic kilometers fall as freshwater

Islands

precipitation over land, replenishing surface and ground waters and eventually completing the cycle by returning to the sea,” Hinrichsen reports. The ocean is also the engine that drives the world’s climate, storing huge quantities of solar energy in the process. “The ocean absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” says Hinrichsen. “Since this invisible gas is one of the main agents of climate change, the ocean is an important sink that helps to modify human impacts on global climate.” Ocean currents, the blue planet’s super highways, transfer enormous quantities of water and nutrients from one place to another. The Gulf Stream, for instance, pushes more water from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean across the Atlantic into northern Europe, than is carried by all the rivers on earth. “Once thought to be so vast and resilient that no level of human insult could damage them, the oceans are now crying out for attention,” noted a report released by the Washingtonbased Worldwatch Institute. “While the public eye is periodically turned to large disasters, it is routine assaults that most threaten the marine environment.” Burgeoning human numbers and growing consumption per capita are putting intense pressure on ocean coastal areas, over-consuming ocean resources, and undermining the health of the oceans themselves. “The world’s oceans are in danger,” Zoellick deplored. “Send out the S-O-S: We need to Save Our Seas.” Human populations have a tremendous impact on the quality of coastal and oceanic environments. A full two-thirds of the world’s population live within 400 kilometers of a seacoast. Just over half the world’s population occupy

Pristine waters a coastal strip 200 kilometers wide, representing only 10 per cent of the earth’s land surface. This is true in the case of the Philippines, which has about 7, 107 islands. “Every Filipino lives within 45 miles of the coast, and every day, more than 4,500 new residents are born,” wrote Joan Castro and Leona D’Agnes in a report circulated by the Washington, D.C.-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Rapid population growth and the increasing human pressure on coastal resources have resulted in the massive degradation of the coral reefs, touted to be the tropical rainforest of the sea. Robert Ginsburg, a specialist on coral reefs working with the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, said human beings have a lot to do with the rapid destruction of reefs. “In areas where people are using the

reefs or where there is a large population, there are significant declines in coral reefs,” he pointed out. Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, director of the Marine Sci-

the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, a line agency of the Department of Agriculture. Daily chemical and biological pollution – again

ly, but plastics are relatively non-biodegradable. “Plastics persist for up to 50 years and, because they are usually buoyant, they are widely distribut-

caused by human activities – is likewise damaging the oceans at a frightening rate, while ongoing coastal development – driven by tourism and economic boom – hamper their ability to recuperate. “Accidents at sea such as oil spills, chemical spills or operational discharges from ships are only a small percentage, and affect only limited areas,” noted marine biologist Stjepan Keckes. “They are far less serious than slow insidious pollution which people get used to because it is progressive. In warm waters, oil evaporates or degrades and is broken up very quickly by bacteria to harmless substances – carbon dioxide and water.” In recent years, growing amounts of litter have been found in the marine environment. Natural materials disintegrate quick-

ed by ocean currents and wind,” reports the World Resources Institute. Gone with pristine waters are futurists’ dreams of a world fed by the sea’s abundance. In their place is the reality of stagnant oceans; shrinking wetlands, coral reefs and mangroves; and falling fish catches that jeopardize a key source of protein for the world’s poor. According to Zoellick, one billion people – mostly from developing countries – depend on fish and seafood for their primary source of protein and over half a billion rely on fishing as a means of livelihood. “Unless we act soon, reversing the worsening conditions of our oceans will only become more difficult,” warns Nicholas Lenssen, author of the Worldwatch report.

Coastal areas ence Institute of the University of the Philippines at Diliman, agrees. “If asked what the major problem of coral reefs is, my reply would be ‘The pressure of human populations’,” he asserted. A visit to any fishing village near a reef will quickly confirm this, he pointed out. “There are just too many fishermen. They overfish the reefs, and even if the use non-destructive fishing gear, they still stress the coral reef ecosystem,” Dr. Gomez deplored. In the Philippines, an estimated 10-15 per cent of the total fisheries come from coral reefs. Fish provides more than half of the protein requirement of most Filipinos. “Unless we look for other sources of protein, the food intake of Filipinos will be greatly affected,” says an official of

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

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

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

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

BFAR allocates P24.5 M for ARMM T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) has provided P24.5 million in fishery and livelihood projects, benefiting thousands of fisherfolk families and their respective island-municipalities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “The DA-BFAR investment of P24.53 million was matched by almost the same amount by our ARMM local government units, either in the form of material or labor counterpart,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a statement. The DA-BFAR partnership with ARMM and its LGUs is providing sustainable livelihood and income to more than a thousand fisher-families, the Alcala said. For his part, DA-BFAR director Asis G. Perez said the amount included the provision of motor engines to 67 patrol boats for the ‘Bantay-Dagat’ program to protect ARMM municipal waters from illegal fishermen and poachers. Of the total P24.5 million, more than half or P12.9 million was used to procure 16

units of non-motorized banca, 15 motor engines, 10 fish driers, 2,500 fish pots, and 250 units of gill nets which were distributed to about a thousand fisher-families along the 288,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh, which is bounded by three provinces (Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat). Perez said the DA-BFAR plans to develop a portion of Liguasan Marsh into a center for freshwater fish biodiversity, said Director Perez. Tilapia is one of more than a dozen freshwater species found in Liguasan. It also supports endemic flora and fauna that include 92 species of birds, six species of reptiles, and five species of amphibians, among others. Another P8.8 million was allotted for an aquasilviculture program that included the establishment of five multi-species hatcheries (P6 million), mangrove rehabilitation (P1.4 million), and setting up of 20 aquasilviculture techno-demo farms (P1.36 million). To date, Perez said the DA-BFAR and ARMM LGUs have jointly planted 225,000

Investments in hydro energy pour in DavSur

HE construction of two hydropower plants which intends to provide an additional power capacity of 13.7 megawatts to the 42.5MW Hedcor Sibulan Hydropower Plant in this part of Southern Mindanao will start soon. The Hedcor Tudaya Hydroelectric Power Plant 1 and 2 will be put up in the upstream of Sibulan Hydro Plant A and downstream of Sibulan Hydro Plant B located at Barangay Sibulan in the municipality of Sta. Cruz. The plants will generate 76 GWh of renewable energy annually for Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO) and Davao Light and Power Company in Davao City starting in the first quarter of 2014. “Our team is processing to finalize all the necessary requirements and other documents,” said Engr. Bill Haboc, Hedcor assistant vice-president for Engineering and Development in Mindanao. Haboc said the company is set to construct the structures pending the RE contracts which the Department of Energy is currently processing.

“Our engineers are now polishing the design,” he added. The pre-construction development of the projects was made easier for Hedcor’s exploration team because the potential sites of the two plants, especially that Tudaya 1 became accessible after Hedcor opened and rehabilitated 49 kilometers of farmto-market roads and access road for the Sibulan plants. The exploration of the additional hydro power plants started in 2010 and the project design began last year. The Tudaya Hydroelectric Power is an expansion of the run-of-river Hedcor Sibulan Hydropower Plant which started operations in 2010. Hedcor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower Corporation, is the largest developer of run-of-river hydropower plants in the country with 19 hydropower plants in Benguet, Ilocos Sur, and Davao. The company plans of building more plants in Mindanao, aside from Tudaya 1 and 2 in Davao del Sur, another one in Davao City and two in Bukidnon.

mangrove propagules, worth P1.4 million. The agency also partnered with five state universities and colleges (SUCs) to jointly establish multi-species hatcheries. They include Basilan State College, and at four Mindanao State University (MSU) campuses in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, and Marawi City. Finally, about P2.8 million was allotted for two units of ice-maker equipment, 12 sets of seaweeds farm inputs, 200 kilos of seaweed seedlings, and other fishing paraphernalia (P2.175 million), and 2.4 million pieces of fingerlings. Perez said with the infusion of investment by the Aquino government through the DABFAR that is matched by beneficiary LGUs, the potential of further increasing ARMM’s fishery and aquaculture remains high. In 2011, the region produced 909,320 metric tons (MT) of fishery and aquaculture products, valued at P14.58 billion at current prices, according to the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). The volume represents 18.3 percent of the country’s total

production, at 4.98 million MT. The ARMM remains as the country’s top seaweed producer. Last year, it harvested 686,450 MT valued at P4.3B, which represents 37 percent of the country’s total seaweed output, at 1.84 million MT worth P11.39 billion, according to the BAS. Early this year, Perez said the DA-BFAR conducted a regional consultation in Zamboanga City on a proposed “Fish for Peace” program in Mindanao, attended by LGU officials who all agreed on the program’s concept. They included Governors Jum Akbar of Basilan, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, and Sadikul Sahali of TawiTawi, Sulu 2nd District Representative Nur-Ana Sahidula, and 32 municipal mayors of Sulu (15 chief executives), Basilan (11 chief executives), and Tawi-Tawi (six chief executives). The “Fish for Peace” program aims to effect sustainable fisheries development in Mindanao through the implementation of environmentfriendly livelihood projects, and fishery and marine conservation measures.

SAMAL SIZZLES IN SUMMER. A colorful welcome arc greets visitors arriving in the Island Garden City of Samal in time for the island’s “Visit Samal”, a 4-month campaign packed with promos, parties and events.[PHOTO BY GLEN GERMINO]

as of august 2010

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

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

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 18:55 12:55 13:35

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Davao-Cebu-Singapore Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:35 13:25 14:05

Silk Air Thu/Sun Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri Philippine Airlines August Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippines Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun Cebu Pacific Daily Airphil Express Daily Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday Philippine Airlines Sunday

MI566 / MI566 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

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

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

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

Mindanao food processors reach global markets

PNoy heeds Mindanao leaders’ proposal to solve power shortage F By Noel Baguio

RESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III paid attention to the recommendations made by leading Mindanao leaders to solve the power crisis in the Island. The president heeded the call of the Mindanao Confederation of Mayors and Governors (Confed), as expressed by its chair, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, particularly to review the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and defer the privatization of the Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants. He assured the multisectoral participants during the recent Mindanao Power Summit in Davao City that Malacanang will study the proposal presented by Gov. del Rosario, saying it is time to reevaluate whether the EPIRA law has attained its purpose. Aquino took to heart the consensus of the Min-

danao leaders, asking the national government to discontinue its plan to privatize the hydroelectric power plants in Lanao and Bukidnon. “We ask you Mr. President to certify as urgent for Epira Law to be revisited and look into the privatization of the two government-owned power plants,” Gov. del Rosario said. The Confed Chair raised the big possibility for private power providers to have a cartel on power if these plants are privatized. Other policy recommendations presented by del Rosario also include the prohibition of cross ownership between and among the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors; reclassifying the power generating sectors as “utilities” defined under the Public Utilities Law to put a cap on profits; and, appointment of a Mindanao consumer group representa-

tive to sit in the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), in order to keep the interest of Mindanaoans protected. He also asked Congress to rescind the operational management agreement between Napocor and PSALM (Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management) Corp because the former has been earning billions but the money was not being spent for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the power plants. President Aquino assured the possibility of deferring the privatization of the Agus-Pulangi plants. However, he expressed his worries on the existing P928-billion debt of the Napocor that is presently being shouldered by the National Government. He said the government only has P400 billion to spend for all the needs of the country, making it impossible to address the power crisis in Mindanao at once.

He stressed the people of Mindanao must “put in (their) fair share” in solving the power shortage problem by paying “a little more.” Aside from the revision of the EPIRA law, Secretary Lualhati Antonino, Chair of the Mindanao Development Authority, further outlined other specific solutions drawn from the summit to directly address the power problem, that include the immediate tapping of existing or available facilities such as barges and imbedded generators, as well as, the upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing plant facilities, in order to fill in the current average power deficit of 150 to 200 megawatts in the island. She also pointed out the need to fast track processing of pending applications through a onestop shop processing center based in Mindanao and to encourage new power capacities, particularly renewable energy.

total benefits of P2.3 Billion (combing educational and pension plans that have matured), up significantly by 237% from the previous year’s P681 Million worth of claims paid. Sun Life Asia President Dikran Ohannesian commended the Philippines for its phenomenal achievements. “We are very happy with the record-breaking results of our Philippine operations. We have full confidence that Sun Life Philippines will continue to achieve further growth. Our Philippines operation has been led the way in many initiatives that focused on financial literacy, branding, operational efficiency and technology. These initiatives have been commended globally and continue to inspire us,” Ohanessian noted. Sun Life Financial global President & CEO Dean Connor likewise praised the Philippine Operations for its outstanding performance. “Our Philippine operation is one of the brightest spots within Sun Life Financial. One of our four key pillars in charting a course for the future of Sun Life is strengthening our competitive position in Asia, and Sun Life Philippines’ recent successes, particularly in attaining a number one position in the market and strengthening its agency force, will go a long way in helping us achieve this goal.” As to what will continue to push Sun Life to higher grounds in 2012, Mantaring commends the strength of the company’s traditionally-strong agency force. “We are so fortunate to have with us highly capable and talented advisors who are dedicated and professional. They have remained passionate with their noble intent to serve and help Filipinos achieve

financial freedom. And the best part is that their numbers are growing. The past two years have seen our agency force grow at over 20% each year, while maintaining the standards of quality for which they are known“ Mantaring said. Mantaring also expressed optimism about the recently sealed joint venture deal with the Yuchengco Group that allowed Sun Life to acquire 49% of Grepalife to form Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (SLGFI) that has an exclusive bancassurance alliance with the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation. This solidified Sun Life’s entry into the bancassurance business. “We hope to maximize the strengths of both partners in bringing our bancassurance business forward and achieving SLGFI’s vision of becoming a top-tier life company in the future.” She also noted that the company will continue to expand its geographic coverage. Last year, the company opened 28 Interbranch Sales Offices (ISOs) which, in addition to the 35 already existing New Business Offices, brings Sun Life’s national footprint to

63 sales offices. “Our pre-need business is stable. Our trust funds are well managed by our trustee banks. We maintain a disciplined approach to our policy of ensuring that our trust funds managed by each of our trustee banks are not only in compliance with reserve requirements, but far exceed these requirements set out by the Insurance Commission. In fact as of December 2011, our Trust Fund assets are about 29% higher than that required by IC,” says Mantaring. Mantaring also added that Sun Life’s pre-need product portfolio is limited to fixed benefits plans, meaning the plan pays a fixed amount in the future. “Because of this, we can better project the amount of funds we need to set aside to be able to pay the plan when it matures. We are well-capitalized and take pains to ensure we will always be able to meet our obligations. In fact, we conduct annual reviews to ensure our funds continue to earn the returns required to be able to pay future claims or maturities, and set aside additional funds if necessary,” Mantaring said.

Sun Life Philippines caps record year

HE first and longeststanding life insurance company in the Philippines, Sun Life Financial bucked global economic volatility and posted robust gains in all its core business lines in 2011. Based on unaudited financials, the company’s life insurance arm, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. or SLOCPI capped the year with Gross Premiums of P14 Billion or 31% higher than the previous year’s level, and Net Premiums of P13.9 Billion, up by 31% from last year’s, putting it in the top spot among life insurance companies. Total Assets were at P119 Billion, up by 16%. Total Benefits paid in 2011 amounted to P7.2 Billion. “2011 was a phenomenal year for Sun Life. Certainly, we realized significant gains in all our core lines. New products, aggressive branding campaigns, intensified agency recruitment, provincial expansion and heightened operational efficiency significantly helped in boosting sales. In addition to these activities, and perhaps most importantly, the continued trust of our clients and customers was key in Sun Life’s success in 2011,” enthused Sun Life Philippines President & CEO Riza Mantaring. The company’s mutual funds arm, Sun Life Asset Management Company, Inc or SLAMC posted 11% growth in assets under management to P21.46 Billion, while gross sales were up by 34%, totalling P11.9 Billion. SLAMC continues to place 2nd industry-wide in terms of AUM and gross sales. The pre-need business, through Sun Life Financial Plans, Inc or SLFPI, continues to remain stable. Total Assets stood at P8 .5 Billion. SLFPI last year paid

EDGEDAVAO

SUMMER HEAT. To beat the summer heat, a group of young kids jump in the cool waters of the fish cages in Punta Dumalag. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

OOD processing firms in Mindanao that comply with international food quality and safety requirements are helping to create more livelihood opportunities for the region’s growers as they can reach the more lucrative global markets. This has been the experience of several companies that have acquired HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control point) certification with assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). HACCP, a systematic, preventive approach to food safety and quality that limits potential physical, chemical and biological hazards in food production, is increasingly becoming a standard requirement for export markets. Food processors which are HACCP-certified generally see an increase in the number of interested buyers from other countries. To fill the growing demand for their products, these firms source additional raw materials from farmersuppliers. “The buyers, who at one time, would not even return my calls, are now buying products following our HACCP certification,” said Helen del Rosario of Soyuz Foods, a processor of native lime (calamansi)-based products that participated in the recent international trade show PhilFoodEx. Del Rosario said that she is expanding her company’s farmer-supplier base and meeting regularly with individual growers, farming cooperatives, and other groups in southern and northern Mindanao, to ensure a steady supply of the native limes for Soyuz. “We have to find more suppliers to meet increased demand,” said Marilou Fernandez of KF Nutri Foods International, which, through USAID assistance acquired HACCP certification in 2010. KF Nutri Foods, which exports processed banana chips, sources much of its fruit supply from conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. “The Cardaba banana from which we make our chips is not a plantation crop but is grown on small farms,” added Fernandez. “Farmers now have more options for sell-

ing,” said Isidro Ang, vice president of Martsons Food Corporation, which sells tropical fruit products such as dried mango, pineapple and papaya, as well as fruit juices and aseptic purees. Martsons is one of fifteen Mindanao firms, all small-to-medium enterprises, which have acquired HACCP certification through the assistance of USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). USAID helps companies to develop the systems and procedures needed for HACCP-compliance, which must be audited and certified by TUV-SUD, an internationally recognized quality management agency based in Germany. The companies shoulder part of the consultancy and certification fees involved, as well as the costs of developing or upgrading of their existing plant facilities as needed. Depending on the individual company, HACCP requirements may include building renovations, reconfiguring of assembly lines, training of workers, and introduction of monitoring and documentation systems. HACCP certification is a major undertaking but companies like Martsons, which already exports to Asian countries and North America, believe that the investment is worth it. “HACCP is demanded by our customers. This will allow us to enter new markets,” Ang said. “The growing competitiveness of Mindanao’s food processors has multiplier effects along the supply chain,” said Fernandez of KF Nutri Foods, who notes that even small produce traders are able to take advantage of the new market opportunities. Foreseeing increased demand and trying to create economies of scale, Del Rosario of Soyuz Foods has begun training some of her farmer-suppliers to semi-process native lime (calamansi). She is also experimenting with new uses for her products, and says, “There is nothing to prevent even small-scale entrepreneurs like us from engaging in research and development.”

A young boy skillfully paddles a small bangka from their fish cage to their seaside home in Punta Dumalag on Sunday morning.

EDGEDAVAO

23 ways to conserve energy at home

IGHT  Use natural lighting. Open curtains and shades during the day instead of using lighting. Consider skylights and solar tubes during remodeling or new construction design. This allows the maximum use of natural daylight.  Plan your lighting. Not every room needs the same amount of general light. Plan within a room to provide general background lighting and supplementary task lighting. A good lighting plan can reduce lighting costs and still provide all the light you need.  Use a single, high-watt bulb. Using one high-watt bulb instead of several low-watt bulbs saves energy. Do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended wattage for the fixture.  Control outdoor lighting. To assure only duskto-dawn operation of your outdoor lights, control your fixtures with a photocell or a timer.  Turn off lights. Turn off lights when not in use, even for short periods of time. Turning lights off and on uses less energy than if they are left on all the time.  Install a timer on indoor lights. Use timers to turn lights on and off to help regulate use.  Avoid long-life incandescent light bulbs. Long-life incandescent light bulbs are the least efficient of the incandescent bulbs.  Consider LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. LEDs are becoming more common for can, track, under-cabinet and holiday lighting. Initial cost is more, but the lights use 10 times less energy and last 50 times longer than incandescent lights. They use one-third the energy and last 5 times longer than compact fluorescent lights.  Position lights properly. Try to illuminate the entire activity area without creating distracting glares or shadows. To do this, position your light source closer to the area you want lit. This saves energy by not over-lighting an unused area.  Adjust light level. Higher light settings use more energy, so save energy by using dimmer controls, high/low switches or three-way bulbs to adjust the level of light to exactly what you need. Air conditioners  Purchase an Energy Star model. Energy Star room air conditioners cost at least 10 percent less to operate than conventional models.  Use a timer. Set the plug-in timer to turn off the air conditioner when you leave home and to turn it on just before you return.  Purchase a unit with varying fan speeds. Use a room air conditioner

PROPERTY

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

with fan speed control. This allows faster cooling when needed and quieter, more efficient operation at other times.  Keep the unit centrally located. To allow better air circulation, install your room air conditioner in the window or area of the wall that is nearest to the middle of the space being cooled.  Seal the unit. Once a room air conditioner is in place, seal the space around it with rope caulk or some other sealant to prevent warm outside air from leaking in.  Don’t set the thermostat at high initially. When you first turn on your room air conditioner, set the thermostat at normal or medium. Setting it any colder won’t cool the room any faster.  Keep the unit out of the sun. Locate your room air conditioner on the shady side of your home. It will operate more efficiently in a cooler location.  Close the fresh-air vent. Make sure the fresh-air vent is closed when the room air conditioner is operating so you aren’t cooling outside air. Open the vent when the outside air is cooler to let in fresh air.  Remove the unit at the end of the cooling season. Take your room air conditioner out of the window when the cooling season is over. If you must leave the unit in place, cover the outside of the unit with a weatherproof cover and fill any cracks around the unit with removable caulk. Fans  Use fans with your air conditioner. Fans help reduce energy costs by circulating the cool air from your air conditioner. This allows you to raise the temperature and still be comfortable. Use oscillating fans for greater circulation.  Use ceiling fans for air circulation. In hot weather, set the ceiling fan direction to blow air down. The air moving across your skin creates a cooling effect, allowing you to raise the temperature on your thermostat and still feel cool. In cold weather, set the fan to blow toward the ceiling. This pushes warm air away from the ceiling and evenly distributes heat in the room.  Use a whole-house fan. These fans are mounted in the attic and ventilate your entire home. Be sure to open some windows before turning on a whole-house fan. A qualified heating contractor can help you determine if you need a whole house fan.  Maintain your fan. Keep your fan in good working order. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for care and maintenance. This helps control the operating costs.

Space saving tips for compact living L

IVING in compact spaces is one the things you have to deal with in an urban setting. Either there is too little space to accommodate mansion-like houses complete with sprawling gardens, or the price of land is just too high. With living spaces in the city ranging from 40 square meters for condominium dwellers, and between 80 and 180 square meters for subdivision dwellers, here are some tips on how you can maximize your space. Aim high: The higher you can go with ceilings, the better. Turn on a light show: Natural light is key to giving the illusion of space, so maximize the available light and an architect will help optimize the light and manipulate the space. • Keep walls as

bright and light as possible: Splashes of color can be introduced through kitchen units and accessories; rather than relying on a central fixture, spread lots of different lamps around to create atmosphere. • Less is more: Simplicity is key in a small space. Keep materials to a bare minimum for a streamlined effect. Have just one type of timber everywhere and be restrained about the palette. • Get smart about stowaway storage: Corridors are great places for built-in storage for vacuum cleaners, coats and shoes. If you design inadequate storage, you can keep an open-plan area and small rooms uncluttered. Go for spraypainted white storage for a barely-there effect that’s wallet friendly.

• Use it or lose it: Plan a function for every space. If a spare bedroom is used only occasionally, think of turning it into an office or extending a living area into it. If you have a room over the main living space that is redundant, consider transforming it into a double-height space. • Don’t go for a top-heavy look in kitchens: Overhead presses can make a space seem smaller and usually end up with the biscuit tin sitting on top. Instead, build appliances into tall units. Express the kitchen in shapes/blocks that don’t give an overly fitted look. • Pay attention to detail: Splash out on things you touch and feel, such as the worktop, taps and handles. I would rather go without a countertop for a couple of years than settle for a cheap, laminate

finish. Because the surfaces you’re dealing with are restricted, splurge on high-spec materials, such as a natural stone or hardwood flooring -- try iroko or walnut -- and set against white walls. • There’s no need to get into a tight spot with furniture: Avoid big, thick arms and backs on furniture. Sofas with legs and glass-topped tables will make a room seem larger, while mirrors will double the glamour factor and sense of space. • Blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors: If you’ve any kind of a garden, use it and open up the house to it. Even if you can just squeeze in a table and chairs or simply a few pot plants -- and even if it doesn’t benefit from sunlight -- it can provide another room, no matter how space starved.

CAMELLA PLAZA. A 3-hectare property along the Davao-Bukidnon highway will be the newest commercial hub in Davao City by 2013. Dubbed as Camella Plaza, the project will be the first commercial development of the real estate giant in Davao City. The project is set to be launched within the latter part of the year.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

South China Sea 101 SPECIAL FEATURE BY GLORIA JANE BAYLON

EDITORIAL

PNoy must listen to Mindanao

HE Mindanao Power Summit held at the Waterfront Hotel here last week was supposed to address the worsening electric power service crisis in the island region. Adding to the feeling of urgency to the whole proceedings, was the fact that no less than President Benigno Aquino himself was in attendance, ostensibly to listen to what the leaders of Mindanao had to say about the problem and see the problem as they see it with their own eyes and from their own perspective. Gathered under one roof for the first time were the region’s top government officials and political leaders, with each speaker taking his/her turn to add to the dialogue which, hopefully, would somehow lead to a consensus or a meeting of the minds on what is really behind the crisis and what concrete steps to take to mitigate the power situation, first on the short term, and eventually on the long term. If the President came to sincerely listen to what Mindanao’s leaders had to say, and on the basis of what they said would act accordingly, perhaps the summit shall have accomplished something tangible enough for Mindanaoans to be able to glimpse a bit of silver lining behind the dark clouds of looming power outages hovering over Mindanao. First things first. President Aquino should heed the call to investigate what Mindanao leaders claim is the existence of a cartel among big players in the power sector who are responsible for what they suspect is artificial power shortage in the island region. Then there is the alleged cross-ownership in the power industry that results in the jacking up of

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powere rates. Mindanao leaders also want the EPIRA Law to be reviewed, claiming that after eleven years of implementation it has not worked to the advantage of Mindanao even as they speak in one voice against the government’s plan to privatize the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric power complex, saying that electricity rates will increase with the complex in private hands. They also call for the government to retain ownership of the power barges run by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) as ‘spare tires’ to augment electric supply in Mindanao. Above all, the President should continue to listen to Mindanao’s leaders who know whereof they speak, like Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario who warns against cross-ownership between and among the generation, transmission and distribution sectors as result of the EPIRA. Then there’s General Santos Mayor Darlene Custodio who told the President that there is a “feeling of non-transparency” where government agencies involved fail to present data during committee hearings. Secretary Luwalhati Antonino of the Mindanao Development Authority (MindDA also hit the non-transparency of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM). Whatever the Summit will eventually accomplish, and that remains to be seen, at the end of the day, it behooves President Benigno Aquino III to keep looking towards the South for the rest of his term and keep tabs of the brewing power crisis over here. It has the potential of becoming worse than sporadic armed conflicts.

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(Conclusion)

CCORDING to the primer, Beijing cannot agree to settlement of their conflict via multilateral or thirdparty channels such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Also, some provisions of the UNCLOS do not entirely negate the Chinese position of historical sovereignty and exclusive economic zones, Ambassador Ma asserted at a press conference recently. The primer says that UNCLOS has been abused and misinterpreted by claimants. Even the much-vaunted 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties between ASEAN and China is not a legal document for settling disputes in the South China Sea (SCS), but is a mere political agreement to maintain stability and enhance mutual trust, the primer said. Question No. 9 of the primer asserts that the SCS issue is a dispute between China and some coastal countries in the SEA, not between China and ASEAN so the latter “obviously cannot make territorial and maritime jurisdiction claims or participate in negotiation as a party concerned.” The Philippines, for that matter in the 21st ASEAN Summit Meeting in Cambodia recently, has repeatedly asserted that the ASEAN — whose four members are claimants -- be drawn into mediating toward resolving the dispute. To this move, China’s response: that is “incompatible with international practice.” ”The issue is complicated and sensitive, direct negotiations is the best way of settling it.” Involving non-parties to the dispute, it says without mentioning the U.S, for example, even as referees, “would only turn this region into an international wrestling ground, create more obstacles and affect peace and stability.” This apparently refers to fears raised that the South China Sea issue is a flashpoint for conflict and gatekeepers like America are needed in the region. In fact, the South China Sea is peaceful, “its shipping lines are open,” there is “unimpeded access to international shipping lanes” and “all countries enjoy freedom of navigation and over flight for vessels and airplanes,” the primer asserts. China takes seriously the security of and unimpeded access to international shipping lines in the Sea. ”The fact is that the South China Sea issue only involves disputes between coastal countries (Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan — the latter being Beijing’s own province and territory) concerning sovereignty over islands and reefs and maritime jurisdiction,” it says. The disputes do not affect freedom of navigation, it continues, and stresses that “there has not been any case of freedom of navigation being affected because of such disputes.” Maintaining freedom of navigation and ensuring maritime security there is in the interest of all coastal countries and of any country for that matter, so why would China be indifferent to those concerns! The primer prides that after 26 years of negotiation, China has settled its claims with Vietnam in 2000 “on the basis of international law and in an equitable manner, the delimitation of territorial sea, EEZ and continental shelf.” This was followed by arrangements for fishery cooperation. Of all the claims on the South China Sea, that between China and Vietnam is considered the worst yet. In 1974, a military engagement in the so-called Battle of the Paracels (Xisha in Chinese) resulted in more than a hundred dead and injured on both sides; China effectively controlled the uninhabited island. However, residues of the claim are still causing some irritants between the two allies. The Philippines asserts that Bajo de Masinloc was possessed by virtue of the old international law known as “terra nullius,” (territory not under the sovereignty of any state). But in its primer, China also asserts that the Spratlys “are not terra nullius”; they have been part of China since ancient times. The first questions in the primer relate to the history of China’s claims, how its territories came to be welded’ with the Spratlys discovered as early as the 2nd century B.C. (Han Dynasty). Official maps and documents, local chronicles are filled with detail of such territories and sovereignty. China concedes that as marine resources in the South China Sea began to be discovered, various parties have started claims, occupied some areas, even sent troops and civilians. [PNA FEATURES]

EDGEDAVAO

WO years ago, it would have been unthinkable for a sitting president not to recognize or acknowledge the presence of Rep. Manny Pacquiao in a huge public event. In fact, during the heyday of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Pacquiao was a preferred guest and attraction, not only for his immense popularity but also as a convenient cover-up for then Malacañang’s many and grave shortcomings. On Friday, members of the Philippine press noted the apparent snub he got from President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino during the Mindanao Energy Summit. Pacquiao came as an elected member of the House of Representatives representing one of the poorer provinces in Mindanao. He was there perfectly for and with a reason. While Aquino failed to recognize him, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras broke protocol by recognizing Pacquiao’s presence ahead of the president’s speech. There is no doubt the cold shoulder treatment Pacquiao got from the president stemmed from the boxing champion’s past association with Arroyo. And because both Pacquiao and Aquino have long memories, the animosity between

MPERATIVE: The only key to permanent peace is social justice: “The possibility of making peace permanent can only exist if we put in the necessities of achieving social justice within all our communities.” Social justice can be achieved through practicability and sacrifice: “To do this, we have to acknowledge what is real, what is practicable under the circumstances; hence to build foundations within present grounds inspired with our most passionate ideals. To do this, we also have to acknowledge that the courage and ability to sacrifice to bring about social justice is now not only a monopoly of a few.” ARMM Agenda: Leonen focuses on the Aquino government’s ARMM reform agenda as the way to bring social justice to the Moros – obviously, reiterating the invitation to MILF to be a partner in reforming ARMM under the “3 for 1” formula. The President is cleansing “government of past sins of corruption and misadministration” which now he does in ARMM to give it “the kind of leadership that assures that the resources of government will go where it should even within the legal structure that it has inherited”. The President’s gambit is working under OIC Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman. “Already, within less than one hundred days after his appointment as officer in charge,” he and “those who now serve with him, have made necessary enemies of those who should be the enemies of government--ghost employees, corrupt former politicians and their conniving contractors and many others. We have

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

Winds of change have already blown them during the 2010 election, when the boxing champ coalesced with defeated presidential candidate Manny Villar, was still apparently in the air. Pacquiao reportedly has set his sight at joining the Roxas wing of the Liberal Party early on when he was elected congressman. But in a political party where one’s loyalty to the leadership is a premium, his past association with former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza doomed his attempt to be in the good graces of the Liberal Party. (Pacquiao was amember of the Atienza wing of the Liberal Party that was ousted from the national leadership.) Pacquiao, too, had political enmity with the Antoninos, who are closely allied with former senator Mar Roxas, president of the Liberal Party. One of Roxas’ trusted aides happens to be Liza Antonino, younger sister of General Santos City Mayor Darlene AntoninoCustodio who defeated him in the 2007 congressional race in the city. Pacquiao’s brother Rogelio (Roel), is reportedly running for congress representing the first district of South Cotabato (which includes General Santos), making the Pacquiaos political rivals again with the Antoninos who are again fielding longtime ally Rep. Pedro ‘Jun’ Acharon Jr. Friday’s episode at the Waterfront Insular Hotel was therefore no ordinary lapse in protocol. Now, Pacquiao is reportedly joining Vice President Jejomar Binay’s PDP-

Laban. Pacquiao himself has issues with Binay who took several swipes against him in 2007 when the former endorsed Lito Lapid against Teddy Boy Locsin for the race in one of Makati’s congressional districts. There are several factors, however, that favor Manny’s eventual entry into Binay’s party. First, Binay wants to get all the powerhouse and influential figures he could get to form a strong and full slate in the mid-term elections next year in order to build a political machinery for his 2016 presidential bid. Second, Pacquiao’s congressional chief of staff and personal lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr is a long time PDP-Laban and a consistent political rival of the Antoninos. Third, Manny is still a valuable political commodity even if he will run for governor of Sarangani next year. Pacquiao is virtually unbeatable at the moment. He could spend most of the campaign period campaigning for Binay’s senatorial slate. For the first time since joining politics, Manny will be aligning himself with what is shaping up as an opposition to the administration. The tables have now turned in as far as he is in the spectrum of national politics. How he will influence the 2013 senatorial elections will ultimately decide his fate in the 2016 senatorial race. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for www.asiancorrespondent.com]

COMMENT

minding MILF that in keeping peace in its controlled areas it must coordinate with Government through agreed mechanisms, Leonen proposes to “focus once more on the substantive issues and explore common grounds”; acknowledges “that the issues that we tackle now are the more difficult ones”; and expresses optimism “we can find mutually viable solutions” and “conclude these negotiations in the soonest possible time” – emphasizing: “The sooner, the better.” Changed Focus On issuing its “3 for 1 Proposal”, Government changed the focus of the negotiation. As shown above, it has firmed up this change. In his opening statement at the 26th formal exploratory talks, Leonen declares this focus as the “Welfare of our People”, supplanting without stating “How to Solve the Bangsamoro Problem” agreed in 1997. “Our People” should be understood as the Filipinos in general but particularly the MNLF and Moros other than the MILF, the Lumads and the migrants or settlers. Government offers as political settlement a reformed ARMM, the autonomous regional government within a unitary system. The reform is in progress. MILF is being invited to participate in reforming and governing ARMM in partnership with Moro traditional leaders now in ARMM and government and MNLF. Some provisions of the MILF peace draft proposal will be taken as part of the ARMM reform agenda – not to supplant the “3 for 1 Formula”. Government is urging MILF to reconsider its position to avert a stalemate.

No sign of signing BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ

(Conclusion)

seen his resolve to continue towards this direction”. Accepable to All: Obviously, Leonen is hammering on the need of an agreement acceptable to all. That agreement should acknowledge “those groups and individuals who also desire the same ends as those who belong to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – Moros … in government and in civil society that are willing to do what is necessary to bring about social justice in all our communities.” Subtly, he reminds MILF “to recognize that there are many other leaders that it can work with”. This is the imperative: “Working with other leaders representing constituents within the Bangsamoro thus requires [1] sitting down to define goals, [2] articulate interests and agree on common courses of action. To a certain extent, this is what we do in this negotiating table.” [Numbers in bracket inserted] Unite with MNLF: But more than this imperative must be done. While being negotiated is “an agreement to be signed only between the GPH and the MILF” it is hoped “that the MILF can go beyond its initial meetings with leaders of various groups within the MNLF” and “can actually see the current proposals of the MNLF and find common grounds with them”. Conclude Negotiations: After re-

The shooter SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS BY MARCOS C. MORDENO

O the dismay of many, the Mindanao Power Summit, held on Friday in Davao City, did not live up to its billing as a venue where stakeholders may propose alternatives to the supposed power shortage plaguing parts of the island since early this year. On the contrary, as feared by some sectors, the event simply sought to legitimize the flawed energy development framework that has caused the present power situation in Mindanao, which may also affect Luzon and the Visayas in the near future. To paraphrase former US vice president Al Gore, the government refused to accept the “inconvenient truth.” President Benigno S. Aquino III quickly dismissed the recommendation of Mindanao stakeholders to stop the full privatization of the power industry, including the generation function. It was like saying, “You can tell me what you think, but this is what I want.” An executive decision had been made to make the people “bite the bullet” even before he boarded the plane for Davao. Based on what transpired in the summit, as aired on ANC, the participants were quite unanimous in attributing the problem to the ten-year old Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira). Even the electric distributors that conveniently call themselves “cooperatives” wanted a review of the law’s provisions on privatization. Mindanao lawmakers floated the idea of creating the Mindanao Power Corporation that would run the Agus and Pulangi hydropower complexes. Aquino, however, as if to show his own way of biting the bullet, reached deep into his pocket of arguments in defense of this law. He maintained that privatization, the core substance of Epira, remains the only way to solve the looming power crisis. He was blackmailing the people of Mindanao into choosing between higher electricity rates and darkness. What has happened to the National Renewable Energy Program launched last year by the Department of Energy? With his spirited defense of privatization, Aquino could well be the proverbial gunman himself who wants Mindanao to bite the bullet called higher electricity rates. Before the summit, I was hoping – vainly it seems – that he would at least feign openness to the solutions the island’s stakeholders were going to propose, and keep his finger away from the trigger. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, who attended the summit, gave a description of the President’s obvious lawyering for private capital that fits his “bite the bullet” metaphor: “He was intent on *shooting* down the proposals and insisting that Mindanaoans pay for higher rates from private power companies.” [underscoring mine] Indeed, Aquino’s gunslinging for privatization effectively sidelined alternatives, which could avert not only power shortage but also higher electricity rates caused by increased dependence on dirty power sources like diesel and coal, the primary investments being pushed by private power firms in Mindanao. Mindanao consumers are being dragged into a shotgun wedding with an energy regime controlled by private firms. The shooter keeps a watchful eye in a dark corner. [MindaNews/H. Marcos C. Mordeno writes mainly on the environment, human rights and politics. He can be reached at hmcmordeno@ gmail.com.]

10 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

Water filters introduced in CDO evacuation sites T

HE ceramics water filter is being introduced by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as part of its assistance to tropical storm Sendong survivors. A demonstration/field testing was recently conducted at Calaanan Tent City and Lumbia Resettlement Area, Cagayan de Oro City. The demonstration was headed by DOST-10 assistant director Jacinto Taran, Sr. and facilitated by Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) Representatives Josefina Celorico and Edmar Casa. The technology ap-

plies a water purification system (WPS) by using ceramic filters developed by the ITDI, an agency of the DOST. The system was first tested in Muntinlupa City last year in collaboration with the National Housing Authority and was found to be effective in preventing water-borne diseases brought by the micro-organism E.coli bacteria that causes diarrhea. The ceramic water filter is primarily developed for the people in remote areas that have problems with safe drinking water. One unit of the ceramic water filter costs P400

and lasts for about three years, which is therefore affordable for the target consumers. “It is also an easy-touse water filter shaped like a pot and placed at the top of a water container. It is made of red clay which is covered with nano-colloidal silver which acts as the anti-microbial agent that helps prevent water-borne diseases,” said DOST-10 regional director Alfonso Alamban. Several clay samples from the region were tested and one in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro city has been found to be appro-

priate for the production of the clay water filters. Interested individuals and entrepreneurs are being encouraged to adopt the technology and to mass-produce the clay water filters, Alamban stressed. “The purpose of this demonstration is to provide a safe source of drinking water to the victims of Sendong. Since there are problems in water sources, and some have high contamination, providing this type of cheap filtration system, therefore, is a big help to them,” said ARD Taran.

excellence in the practice of organic agriculture. The Category 2 award for this year was conferred to two outstanding Panaboans namely, Dhjoane Canilon Aguilar and Dr. Roberto Bagsarsa Corcino. Aguilar is an elementary teacher at the Panabo Central Elementary School. She’s the first Panaboan to be conferred with a Gold Medallion by President Benigno Aquino III for the 2011 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers Award. Corcino, meanwhile, was cited in the field of science particularly mathematics. He is the first in the Philippines to study enu-

merative combinatories, treating formulation enumeration and properties of partition, variations, combinations and permutations of a finite number of elements under various considerations. Corcino was awarded with the 2004 Outstanding Scientific Paper Award for his paper entitled “Counting Restricted Functions and Its Relations to Generalized Stirling Number.” He was also bestowed of the 2008 Outstanding Young Scientist Award of the National Academy of Science and Technology, for his outstanding research contribution in the field of mathematics. Mayor Jose L. Silvosa,

Sr. together with Second District Representative Antonio F. Lagdameo of Davao del Norte led the awarding of the three outstanding Panaboans on March 31, 2012 at the Panabo Gym. The awardees are hoped to serve as models and inspiration to all other Panaboans in living the values of hard work, perseverance and determination. Meanwhile, a special recognition was awarded to Atty. Chervin Paculanang from City Legal Office for passing the 2011 Bar Examination, and Cadet 1CL Mark Anthony Tito, a Panaboan who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy.

Center; Neil B. Larino of Compostela, BS in Agriculture major in Crop Enterprise Management at USEP Compostela; and Maria Elvina Jean S. Samontina of Mawab, BSBA major in Financial Mgt. at St. Mary’s College. The other honorees were Shiela S. Santos of Maco, Jordan C. Cataylo of Mabini and Jessa G. Callora of Maragusan who completed BSA at UM Tagum College, while Cristine P.

Malanog of Nabunturan finished BSEd major in Mathematics, also at UM Tagum College. With the full support and commitment of Governor Arturo T. Uy, CVSP has been helping deserving students coming from poor families to acquire college and vocational education. The program has been producing cum laude graduates every year. For the next school year, there will be new

scholar-entrants to fill in the 132 slots for the TVET (Technical Vocational Education) courses, and 114 for the Baccalaureate, fouryear courses. Applicants for the scholarship program will undergo an orientation and contract signing with the provincial government on April 11 and 12, 2012 at the Capitol. The new scholars will add to the current list of scholars under CVSP.

EDGEDAVAO

LGU recognizes outstanding Panaboans

HE provincial government here has recently recognized three Panaboans for their outstanding performance and achievements in their respective fields of expertise. One of the awardees is Dr. Francisco Paradero dela Peña who was cited for Category 1 from the field of agriculture. Dela Peña established the ACES Polytechnic College in Panabo City and founded the Natural Farming Institute. He was given “Outstanding Philippine Organic Agriculturist Award” by the Rotary Club of Cubao East, the First award extended to Filipinos nationwide for manifesting

Comval produce magna cum laude scholars

HE scholarship program of the provincial government here has yielded another batch of beneficiaries who graduated with high honors at their respective schools this year. Two of the 12 recipients of the Compostela Valley Scholarship Program (CVSP) graduated as magna cum laude, namely Laude Lovely Mie V. Martinez of Maragusan and Kim P. Baloca of Compostela, who both finished a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at UM Tagum College. The other ten scholars got cum laude honors in their respective courses to include Anna Marie A. Algodon of Maco who finished Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) major in Mathematics at USEP Tagum- Mabini Campus, and Julius M. Costoy of Mawab, with BS in Business Administration (BSBA) major in Financial Management at ACES Tagum College. Cum Laude Mary Love P. Bangahon and Lewen Jean A. Labor were both from Monkayo and BSBA major in Financial Mgt. graduates at BSU-Monkayo

4Ps for the IP. A Talaingod IP beneficiary speaks up during the monthly-held Family Development Session (FDS) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. (DSWD/SHERYLL JANE B. SANICO)

Confed Chair Governor Rodolfo del Rosario presents the consensus of the Mindanao leaders, asking the national government to revisit the EPIRA law and discontinue its plan to privatize its hydroelectric power plants in Lanao and Bukidnon, among other policy recommendations. [NOEL BAGUIO/DAVNOR PIO]

Lagdameo spearheads cultural, arts, music fair

N support of the Visit Samal Island 2012 Campaign of the Department of Tourism Region (DoT)-XI and the City Government of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), the office of Congressman Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr. in cooperation with FABC President Vicente «Enteng» Floirendo and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Michaelle Kirsten T. Ferrazzini will be spearheading a three (3) day environmental, culture, arts and music fair dubbed as «Pigkaysan sa Samal». This will be held from May 4-6, 2012 at the Peñaplata Elementary School Ground, Brgy. Peñaplata, Samal District, IGaCoS. Various activities are slated during the 3-day affair which would include tribal house displays, daily cultural presentations, art contests focusing on culture, a four-hour show featuring tribal culture and music to be participated in by Mebuyan - a music group based in Davao City that weaves Filipino folk and indigenous music traditions and as finale, a closing ceremony that will highlight the unity or “pigkaysan» of the people of Samal. Pigkaysan is the Sama tribe›s term for unity. The tribe is one of the earliest indigenous groups who inhabited the scenic island long before the arrival of Spanish conquis-

tadors. Their culture and traditions will be highlighted in the various cultural presentations of the fair along with the Tausugs, Kalagans and other cultural minorities. Cong. Lagdameo›s Chief of Staff Ms. Generose Tecson said that «the «Pigkaysan sa Samal» emphasizes the rich culture of the tribes of Samal which will effectively complement the packaging of the island as a major tourism hub and eco-adventure haven in the country. The fair will also reflect the oneness of the people of IGaCoS in warmly welcoming its tourists and in pursuing greater progress down to the grassroots level.» She added that the organizers will also be involving the participation of major tourist industry players in the island to help by way of participating in the private sector display category. Some individual and corporate sponsors have also signified their intention to support the activity and this include Davao Light & Power Company, Davao Packaging Corporation, Merco, and Board Member Ely Dacalus of Davao del Norte. Samal Island is the leading tourist destination in Davao Region and the summer months up to July has long been considered as the peak season of arrivals. (PR by Edwin C. Lagumbay, Jr.)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

DAVCO plants 1,500 Mohogany seedlings W

ITH the company’s thrust to strengthen its corporate social responsibility, Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (DAVCO) planted Mohogany seedlings in the vicinity of Brgy. Cawayan, Calinan, Davao City. Dubbed as “Save the Planet, Plant a tree”, the activity joined the forces of more than 100 volunteers who worked cooperatively in planting 1,500 Mohogany seedlings on April 02, 2012. DAVCO, a producer

and exporter of pineapple in the global market, continuously delivers activities beyond the sphere of its main business to contribute to the development of the locality to help uplift the lives of the people. Consequently, tree planting is just one of these activities that the company earnestly fulfills especially for the benefit of its host communities. Congruent to this, DAVCO has already planted more than 4,500 trees of different classes early

this year. These trees planted and nurtured by DAVCO will complement the 10,000 forest and fruit bearing trees the company has targeted to plant this year. The tree planting activity gained the support and participation of the Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Foundation, volunteers from Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Bayer CropScience, City Agriculture Office, and Guardians Brotherhood.

COMPETITIVE EDGE

LOCATION Matina, Davao City Matina(Diversion) Davao City Bunawan, Davao City Indangan, Davao City Bincungan, Tagum City

(CYRIELLE P. NAIG)

AREA (sq.m.) PRICE/sq.m. 17,940

P2,500

3,831

P1,500

41,408

P800

7,056

P1,200

27,411

P1,000

LOCATION Nokia.com.ph recognized as best gadget website – Nokia Philippines’ website, nokia.com.ph, won the best website award in the gadget category in the recently held DigitalFilipino – Search Profile Index Web Awards, which aims to promote the use of Internet and e-Commerce for business development. DigitalFilipino.com and Search Profile Index worked together and scanned several local websites to come up with a list of winners

AREA (sq.m.) PRICE/sq.m.

Villa Josefina Resort Village, Dumoy Toril, Davao City

Minimum of 240 sq.m.

P5,985

St. Joseph Homes, Sirawan, Toril,Davao City

Minimum of 150 sq.m.

P3,600

in more than 50 categories. The winning sites were chosen based on their search engine and social media visibility, website traffic and stickiness, and technical performance. Photo shows (L-R) Search Profile Index owner Bernardo Mitra, Wunderman Interactive Manager EJ Mangahas and DigitalFilipino.com owner and founder Janette Toral.

LOCATION Lot Area Flr. Area Blk. 4, Lot 10 Villa Josefina Resort Village 240 sq.m. 177.31 sq.m Dumoy, Toril, Davao City

For Inquiries: Nokia Care Center opens in SM Southmall. Strengthening its commitment to connect people, Nokia, the global leader in mobile communications opened its latest Nokia Care branch at the 3rd Level, Cyberzone SM South Mall. Nokia’s latest endeavor allows South Luzon residents to have easier and more convenient access to Nokia after-sales services. The new Nokia Care Center is

managed by MorganTech Care Services. Present during the store opening were (from left) Nokia Philippines general manager and head of sales Dharmesh Goshalia; President of MorganTech, Jeremy Tan; Congressman Joe Duavit, 1st District, Province of Rizal; General Manager of MorganTech, Eric Yu; and Nokia Care channel manager Bryan Lee.

Please Call : PRYCE CORPORATION c/o SONNY MOLE Contact No. : 0922-‐879-‐0036 / (082) 224-‐2686 Email ADD : sonitomole1223@yahoo.com

PRICE P4.8 M

NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS

Deployed

HE Northern Luzon Command on Monday said that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed another ship, the BRP EDSA DOS (SAR-002), to keep watch over the two Chinese surveillance vessels still anchored off Scarborough Shoal. Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, Northern Luzon Command chief, said BRP EDSA DOS arrived at the disputed territory around 7am Monday. He added that the PCG ship was send from its Manila South Harbor base to relieve BRP Pampanga (SAR-003) as the latter ship is in need of provisioning having been on patrol for three days.

Balikatan

SIDE from boosting the country’s security and improving its interoperability with the US military, this year’s “Balikatan” exercises will also boost rural development in Palawan, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa said on Monday. “As we speak, five classrooms are being built in Palawan by Philippine and American military engineers. Civic action programs in engineering, medical, dental and veterinary in 10 barangays in Puerto Princesa are in different stages of preparation and implementation,” Dellosa said in his speech opening the “Balikatan 2012”.

Uneven

ROUGH low pressure areas (LPA) may bring rains in parts of Mindanao, while Luzon including Metro Manila will experience 35-degree summer heat on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. Weather forecaster Ben Oris said ridge of high pressure area which brings warm weather is extending over Luzon, while rains from trough of LPA are affecting Southern Mindanao.

Training

ORLD Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has declared himself ready for a tough eight-week grind to prime himself up for his June 9 fight against undefeated American Timothy Bradley with his 147-pound crown at stake. The fighting Sarangani congressman, in a telephone conversation with this writer on Saturday, said an almost two-week prelude he had undergone in Laguna and General Santos City made him ready for what chief trainer Freddie Roach has lined up starting Tuesday in Baguio City.

Biotech

The Philippines should take advantage of its pioneering role in Asia for the development and commercialization of biotech crops, Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo Serrano urges. Serrano assured that modern biotechnology has already taken root in the country and this edge must be exploited to the hilt.

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

First UN observers land in Syria as clashes warm up A

WORLD TODAY

HE first international observers tasked with monitoring a shaky UN-backed ceasefire arrived Sunday in Syria, where regime forces pounded a rebel city and killed five civilians. “They’ve arrived and they will start work tomorrow morning,” said Kieran Dwyer, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping department announcing that six observers were now in Syria. Earlier forces loyal to President Bashar alAssad killed five civilians in shelling of rebel areas in the flashpoint central city of Homs and clashes with gunmen. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was “very much concerned” at the renewed killings and urged the government to ensure that the ceasefire does not collapse. State-run news agency SANA said Syria “welcomes” the observer mission, and hoped the monitors will see for themselves the “crimes” committed by “armed terrorist groups.” SANA also reported that Foreign Minister

First speech

DESTRUCTION. A handout picture released by Shaam News Network shows the destruction of buildings and vehicles in the restive city of Homs on April 14. The first

international observers tasked with monitoring a shaky UN-backed ceasefire in Syria have arrived in Damascus, a United Nations spokesman said.

Walid Muallem will visit ally China to discuss the mission of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan who designed the ceasefire. Regime forces subjected the Khaldiyeh and Bayada neighbourhoods of Homs to their fiercest bombardment since the truce came into force at

dawn on Thursday, monitors said. “The bombardment of Khaldiyeh intensified this morning with an average of three shells a minute,” the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP. Three civilians were killed in Homs city, in-

cluding one in Khaldiyeh, he said, while a fourth was shot dead in central Hama province and the fifth died in the Damascsus suburb of Douma. With clashes warming up and both sides blaming each other for the violence, Syria insisted that its sovereignty must be respected.

Philippine contingent. “We had long planned for this and the focus would be on improving security, counter terrorism and humanitarian and disaster response.” Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in a statement the government hoped China would not be be alarmed by the exercises.

“We are hoping that this will not result in provocation,” Valte said. She said that while Manila maintained jurisdiction over the shoal, it remained committed to resolving the issue in a diplomatic manner. The Scarborough Shoal dispute started on April 8 when the Philippines found

the eight Chinese fishing boats in the area, which the Philippines claims as its territory. A Philippine navy warship was deployed there to arrest the Chinese fishermen for illegal poaching, but China sent three civilian surveillance vessels and took turns blocking the ship.

Stalemate remains in Scarborough

HE Philippines said Sunday it remained locked in a stalemate with China over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The statement came a day after the Philippine side reported that two Chinese vessels remained in Scarborough Shoal, just as the week-old standoff appeared to have eased. Eight Chinese fishing vessels which sparked the standoff however had already left the area. “The stalemate remains. Both sides are in touch with each other,” Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a brief statement. He said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario left Sunday for a week-long trip to the United States, and negotiations would be taken over by one of his top aides. On Monday, the Philippines and the United States are due to begin joint annual war games to boost its military alliance amid fears of China’s growing power in the region. Local military officials said some of the manoeuvres would take place off the southwestern island of Palawan close to the disputed South China Waters, but sought to downplay fears they could further add to the Scarborough tension. “The Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) exercises is in no way related to an event like that of the Scarborough Shoal,” said Major Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman for the

Unhappy

USTRALIAN Olympic chief John Coates has described Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision not to attend the London Games as “a disappointment to the team,” according to a report. “I thought London would be an absolute must for Julia, so I’m disappointed,” Coates told The Sunday Age.

ORTH Korea’s new leader Kim JongUn delivered his first public speech Sunday and vowed to push for a stronger military as his country unveiled an apparently new missile. Kim addressed cheering troops and citizens waving flowers at a major military parade marking the centenary of the birth of his grandfather and the nation’s founder Kim IlSung.

Trade friction

HINA and the United States will experience more trade friction in the high-end manufacturing sector, as Washington protects its domestic industries, officials said on Sunday. Friction will “surely increase” as China and the US both focus on highend and emerging industries, including new energy and materials, Zhang Xiangchen, director for trade policy research at the Ministry of Commerce, said.

DISPUTED. Graphic on disputed boundaries in the South China Sea. The Philippines said it remained locked in a stalemate with China over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

Extra steps

TATE weapons manufacturer PT Pindad has to take extra steps to keep company secrets from being extracted to foreign nationals wanting a peek into the country’s defence industry. As Indonesia’s economy soars at an impressive rate and with the defence budget expanding aggressively, several state companies and government agencies have increasingly become targets of espionage.

For lifting

USTRALIA said it will lift sanctions against Myanmar’s president and more than 200 others who are currently under travel and financial bans, after a series of reforms in the past year. However, some 130 names will remain on the restricted list, including senior members of the military and others suspected of human rights abuses, Foreign Minister Bob Carr told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

EDGEDAVAO

Dumalag...

Husbands...

FFROM 1

Results showed that the water in fish cages has a “high content of coliform and other pathogens, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) from animal and human waste.” While most coliform bacteria do not cause illness, however their presence in a water system poses the danger that disease-causing strains of bacteria, viruses and protozoa are also present. E. coli can cause flulike symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea. It can also cause intestinal illness and, in very rare cases, a serious kidney condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome. High level exposure or contact to E.coli and other fecal coliform bacteria can also produce skin irritation or rashes; and eye, ear or throat irritation. Mayor Duterte-Carpio directed City Agriculturist Office head Leonardo Avila II to notify cultivators of fish cages in the area to harvest the fish in August, after which they will all be shut down on the basis of water samplings made and the fact that the cultivators have no business permit. Fish cultivation in Dumalag started in 2003 and grew to a P300 million industry by 2011 with 43 investors’ 200 fish cages occupying two hectares out of the 200-hectare coastal area of Dumalag 1, 2, and 3, in Barangay Matina Aplaya. Stopping the operations will affect more than 30,000 people-investors, caretakers, feed providers, fish buyers, and their families. Avila, who had recommended the closure to the mayor, said Punta Dumalag has been the victim of indiscriminate solid and liquid waste disposal. “The fish cages, although the size and depth were feasible for fish culture, their proximity to houses and other business facilities is a major limitation for commercial mariculture operations,” Avila told Edge Davao last week. “Most of the residents along the coastal area do not have proper drainage. As a result their waste water and even human waste are directly thrown into the water,” he said. CAO chief of extension services division Jovencio Umagung also said that Punta Dumalag’s waters are ‘an end point of waste waters thus it is unfit for raising fish.’ “Remember na kung ano mang galing sa highlands, pag-umuulan ay bababa at bababa rin yan to the lowlands. Waters from the Matina Pangi and Talomo River connects to

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

Punta Dumalag, which is a bay area,” Umagung said in an interview. “So, if waste water is released to the rivers, pati na ang community along rivers, then all forms of waste end up sa coastline, including human waste,” Umagung added. Early in 2010, 960 metric tons of fish was harvested out of 96 fish cages, a big boost to the dwindling fish catch caught from the open seas. Barangay Matina Aplaya and the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) recognized that the fisherfolk would greatly benefit once the city, through the City Council, supports the barangay by declaring Punta Dumalag as a Mariculture Park. Unclean waters The city in 2010 issued business permits to fish cultivators during the boom in rearing of milkfish, a high-grade fish, in Punta Dumalag. City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Robert Alabado in 2010, however, said the issuance of permits should be put on hold as there is a need for biochemical analysis in the area to ensure the safety of the produce which is consumed by locals as well as the sustainability of the project. The CAO in turn requested the assistance of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Science and Technology to conduct an analysis. The baseline study was made November 2426 in 2010 and the results were released February of 2011. The results showed that 50% of the water samples contained coliform counts that are ‘beyond the allowable limit of Fishery Water Class 2 and that 7 out of 8 water samples analyzed for fecal coliform contained counts beyond the 5000 MPN (most probable number) limit allowed by the DENR.’ Results of the analysis also showed counts of pseudonmonas aeruginosa, a bacteria ‘that can cause disease in susceptible individuals’ as it can produce toxin proteins which is not only the cause of tissue damage but also interfere with the human immune system’s defense mechanisms.’ “Based on the analysis results of the DOST 11, the waters of the coastal areas of Matina would not be suitable for fish culture if we consider that it can possibly cause negative

FFROM 1 health impacts on the possible consumers of fish and aquatic products coming from the area,” Avila said. “The presence of fecal coliform in acquatic environments may indicate that the water has been contaminated with fecal materials of humans or other animals,” he added. With these results, the city cancelled all the business permits of fish cultivators earlier released. In June 2011, the CPDO thru the CAO, funded another set of water sampling. The results were released in July and the waters again showed high content of coliform and other pathogens. However the fish cultivators continued operations to this year. S o c i a l transformation Avila said social transformation is needed in order for fish cultivation to be allowed in Punta Dumalag. “There should be a continuing campaign against indiscriminate solid and liquid waste disposal, especially in barangays alongside rivers emptying into Talomo Bay,” Avila said. He added that the City Health Office should include in its education campaign the proper way of preparing and cooking food, particularly fish. With the city mayor’s order to cancel operations of fish cultivation, Avila admitted that this would affect their livelihood. “However, what’s at risk is the greater populace who consumes the food. The investors themselves are put into danger when their fish would not bought because of health hazards and eventually constitute a threat to their investment,” he said. Avila said a meeting was held April 11 this year between the CAO, the investors, and the conductors of the study in order to explain the results of water analysis and to relay the order of the city mayor. “The investors have agreed to stop their operation by August, which will be their last harvest. Some of them were aware of the conditions of the water because they expressed they too conducted their own water sampling and produce inspection,” he said. He added that the fish cage operators should actively participate in the campaign for proper solid and liquid waste disposal along the coastal waters of Punta Dumalag.

nadeprive sa ilang katungod nga nakita nako nga dili lang kababaihan ang giabuso kung dili duna pud diay kalalakihan nga naghilom lang kay dili gusto mahibal-an that they were abused by their wife,” he said. The federation will conduct trainings, advocacy programs, symposiums and meetings with their constituents to promote gender equality. During seminars, men will also be taught how to preserve women’s rights while protecting their own. “We believe nga kining paningkamot sa 15

Binay...

barangays, it is the first in the whole Philippines nga naglantaw pud sa gender equality diri sa atong nasud,” he said. Mr. Gad has women members who are sensitive of men’s rights, especially within marriage. Cited are cases in barangays where husbands reported physical and verbal abuses and asked for barangay protection against their wives. “Amo nakita nga there are times ang mga lalaki pud nagapakita og ebidensya nga siya giabusohan pud sa asawa. Naa pud, siya pa ang gikamras, siya pa ang gika-

suhan ubos sa Violence Against Women and Children Act,” he said. Although he did not say that it is about time to enact a law protecting men from violence against women, he advocates equal rights between men and women, especially in the household. Out of some 7,000 male constituents in the 15 barangays, he said, most abused or battered husbands were decent types. “Tungod naa man gud family secrecy, naandan nga basta family trouble we try to be silent about it,” he said.

authority which we lack,” he added. The Vice President said he envisions the Philippines to become an advanced country. “Look at South Korea, noong 1950’s after the civil war ano ba sila, pero ngayon talagang advanced na sila technology and in all industries without having to ruin their natural resources. Talagang ang ganda, na-preserve nila ang ganda ng rural areas nila. At saka ang

mga tao roon have respect for their elders and family,” he said. “Nauna na ang Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, baka maunahan pa tayo ng Myanmar. I hope to see a Philippines that thrives economically. Talagang yan ang vision ko para sa Pilipinas,” he added. Binay is the president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines which instills to the male youth the value of service to country.

ready implementing short term solutions to the power shortage. He said Mindanao’s energy production capacity is at 1,280 megawatts, including the 200 megawatts from the barges. He added that the peak demand is pegged at 1,300 megawatts, so there is a shortage of 20mw more just to meet peak demand and an additional 150mw for reserve margin for a total of 170mw more needed “immediately.” He said repairing Pulangi IV will give additional 100mw and 74 megawatts “can be run by embedded generation units”. “Therefore, the 170mw need can now be met with your resources, because you have 174 that potentially can be tapped,” he added. The President said it is important to save the National Power Corporation from debts and to free budget for other services of the government. He cited that Mindanao had an exemption to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). He said Mindanao then got oversupply of power, more than adequate then for the needs, and cheaper than what anyone else had. But he said the equation on cheap power in Mindanao has changed and that to have more power Mindanawons might have to pay more to get it. “The simple truth is: we

can have a lot more energy, but we have to provide the incentives for businesses to come here to put up those plants. Therefore, there will be a change in what we have to pay. We will have to pay, perhaps, a bit more,” he said in his speech at the summit held in Davao’s Waterfront Hotel Friday. Aquino said in his speech, a copy of which was posted on the government’s website, that “the old assumptions that allowed all of us to rely on hydroelectric power simply aren’t there anymore.” “The status quo could be maintained, if – and I have to emphasize – if things didn’t change. But things have indeed changed: increasing population means increasing demand; increasing opportunities means increasing need for more power,” he added. He said the old setup assumed abundant water. “But the watersheds are vanishing, which results in the sedimentation of waterways, not to mention the effects of global climate change, which has drastically changed the amounts and frequency of rainfall,” he added. Aquino announced the release of P2.6 billion for the large-scale rehabilitation of Units 1 and 2 of Agus 6 in Iligan City, “which have been neglected for the past 59 years.”

FFROM 2

other countries serves as a rite of passage into manhood, kumbaga. In Singapore males as young as high school age serve one year of training while in South Korea its two years mandatory. I think we too should have that,” he said. “Hindi lang yung ROTC (Philippine Reserve Officer Training Corps) kundi talagang military training. Through military training, male Filipinos will be taught the value of discipline and respect for

PNoy...

FFROM 3

Congress support to allow the temporary transfer of power barges presently stationed in Panay to Mindanao,” he added. The three power barges, like the hydro plants, are for privatization. Cortizano said the President also did not show any commitment to the Bukidnon Power Commission’s lobby that in the case that privatization becomes inevitable, the Pulangi IV should be ran by local stakeholders, not by big corporations from outside the province. “He just told us to submit our proposal,” he added. Cortizano rated the power summit 50-50 in addressing their expectations. He said they were glad, however, that Mr. Aquino at least committed to put up a onestop shop in Mindanao to process the permits to put up power generation projects like hydropower and biomass. The President announced that they are studying the formation of a Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee, to be chaired by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), with representatives from the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and others from civil society, electric cooperatives, and the business sector. In his speech, Aquino said the government is al-

[JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Davraa insensitivity

The Women’s Open champion DDS of Davao City pose after their triumphant stint in the Governor Cagas Cup Football Tournament held recently in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

Hooligans , DDS top Gov Cup football

U LT I - T I T L E D Hooligans FC bagged the men’s title while the veteran-laden Team DDS took home the women’s crown as the Davao City squads dominated the recent Governor Douglas Cagas Cup Football Tournament in Digos City, Davao del Sur. Hooligans FC beat USEP Davao XI in the finals while DDS triumphed over another Davao squad Davao United FC. Panabo

gan, Emerson Demegillo, Patrick Asoque, Roelfred Napuran, Marlon Demapanag, Rocky Custodio, Roland Manabit and Roger Ubas. DDS, which went home with the top P5,000 kitty, finished the tournament with 3 wins, a draw and no loss. The Red Ladies were composed of Analou Ingles, Ching delos Reyes, Kharla Sol Cruz, Ness Celestial, Beth Villa-Abrille, Lorena Mongao, Kristel

Dureza, Alyn Ravanes, Tets Concordo, Wowie Satorre, Joan Mortillero, Kitoy Canton and Reynalyn Ravanes. The Mintal UnitedA, which got P5,000, are composed of Ceasar Ian Adan, Noel Capuyan, Ace Joaquin, Ashley Jud Lucero, Joven Amihan, John Mark Nalla, Raymund Casona, Cloyd Robinson dela Cruz, and Julius Ponpon. The team is coached by Danny Boy Fernandez and John Conde. [NEIL BRAVO]

Sparks the hard-earned victory in the intense match, which saw nine yellow cards and one red card issued. Pasargad, which sits near the bottom of the table, almost came away with the draw before Loyola ratcheted up in the final minute, peppering several shots at the goal in hopes of coming away with the win. The victory gave the Sparks its spot at the top of the table with 22 points over nine games, one point better than erstwhile leader Global FC. Meanwhile, in the second game, Kaya FC began its post-Juan Cutillas era with a 1-0 victory over Philippine Army Fritz & Macziol. Cutillas, a former national coach, resigned from his post two weeks ago after a Intense UFL action during the Loyola-Meralco versus Pasargad FC won by the Sparks.

disagreement with team management. Erstwhile assistant Kale Alvarez, who took over head coaching duties in the interim, made his debut in the match. Nate Burkey scored the lone goal for Kaya at the 40th minute of the game. Kaya defender Anton del Rosario suffered a broken nose at the 27th minute after a collision with an Army defender.

City took third place in the Men’s Open while Davao Sur United finished third in the Women’s Open. Mintal United-A beat WFS Digos for the boys Under-12 title while Mintal United-B settled for third. The Hooligans, which also took home P10,000 for their triumph, are composed of Jason Mortillero, Clemens Lademora, Allan Ray Fernandez, Roeder Ignacio, Jayric Ili-

Loyola edges Pasargad, Kaya FC nips Army XI

HE Loyola Meralco Sparks had to wait until the very last minute to score the lone goal of the match, before defeating

Pasargad FC in a thrilling encounter Saturday at University of Makati. Mark Hartmann’s goal in the 94th minute gave the

could only squirm in horror as I looked at the photo showing the football field high school players had to play, or to be apt about it—forced to play—in the recent Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in Compostela Valley. The photo, taken by my good friend and football fanatic Dapoy Diamante, was taken during the rain-drenched Davraa Meet in Compostela Valley particularly at the Compostela Central School where the Secondary Football matches were played. If you carefully take a look at the photo, you would not know if it was a football field save for the net-less goal at the endline and the tiny flaglets stuck on a stick serving as corner flags. You can find the photo somewhere in this page. As I look at it, scenes of past sporting crimes committed during the Davraa meets of the past flashed back again. They never learn. I thought things like this will never happen again after years have gone by since I last remembered covering a Davraa meet. In fairness to Deped, my judgment is based on the photographs I have seen and this does not mean only this one I am showing here. I have seen in another daily how players splash in mud while playing. They honestly looked like young carabaos grazed in the muddy fields. But my assessment of the field through the photographs and the personal comments of some football officials, my eyes will not fool me when I say the pitch does not look like a football field to me. Deplorable. Despica-

ble. Disheartening. Discouraging. I will throw all my adjectives of disgust. Okay, to be fair with Deped, I don’t know exactly why they had to force the issue. If the pitch is not playable, the Match Commissioner decides to stop the match. Postpone it until another pitch is available or if the conditions improve. But heck, I do not know if the Davraa has a Match Commissioner. I know for one the games were ran by tournament managers— all Deped personnel supposedly trained to be sports managers. Pray tell me, to be fair with you sirs and madams, why did you allow the games to push through? Again, why did they not stop the tournament when the field is unplayable. Why do they have to risk the lives and limbs of players just to comply with the directives that the tournament has to be held “rain or shine.” There is not even a provision for force majeure or acts of God in their rule book. In a pitch like this, you cannot expect the players to play to their fullest potential and skills level. Worse, you endanger them. Whoever let the tournament push through should be held liable for gross negligence. May we have your explanation, please.

IS THIS A FOOTBALL FIELD? Parents and sports officials have asked organizers why they forced the football tournament to be played in a muddy pitch rendered almost unplayable by heavy rains during the recent Davraa Meet in Compostela Valley. (PHOTO BY DAPOY DIAMANTE)

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 30 • APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

long weekend or a holiday in the middle of the week, boys, or men for that matter, the most that they’ll plan about is where to get booze for the next few days and staying in a hotel with their friends or barkada is the last thing on their minds.

It’s easy to imagine what girls can do inside a hotel room when they decide to check-in and throw a slumber party. Could anything be easier than dressing up in their pajamas, sharing gossip, while getting their manis and pedis done? It’s not the same with boys who’d rather be out playing basketball and getting rowdy with their teammates. But an experiment on four of the city’s hottest boys proved otherwise. Boys can do ‘hotelcations,’ too and have fun. Tons of fun, if you must. For locals, the hotel is the last

thing on their minds to head to whenever there is a long weekend or a holiday in the middle of the week. Other would even drive hundreds of kilometers just to spend half day at the beach or waterfalls, and spend the other half just getting there. So, we looked at our options and discovered that the city’s premier hotel, Marco Polo Hotel Davao, has some of the amenities that boys can also indulge in. One of the best ways to start your stay at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao is by taking a dip in its pool as the afternoon sun sets in

Boys can do ‘hotelcations,’ too and have fun. Tons of fun, if you must.

the horizon. What could be better than lounging at the poolside, basking in the sun, an ice-cold bottle of beer in hand, and pretty girls milling around? The pool-

side is the best place to show off those abs and biceps, and whatever muscle groups you have been sweating out at the gym for the past few years.

Sittings editor: Carlo P. Mallo Photographs by Ghea Jabile Clothes by Bauhaus Style and Layout by Kenneth Ong Grooming by Buddy Congson Hair by Hairs and Nails Models: Ken, Patrick, Lou, and Bryan of Glam Model House

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 30 • APRIL 17, 2012

The poolside is the best place to show off those abs and biceps, and whatever muscle groups you have been sweating out at the gym for the past few years.

Wrap the weekend with an appointment at the Lazuli Spa where boys can enjoy the athlete’s massage.

Chow on steaks, grilled seafood and a wide array of no-frills food at the Polo Bistro. If the heavens are on your side, you can dine al fresco under the stars, but there’s always the option of indoor dining. Now that dinner’s done, what else should men do inside a hotel? Why, party, of course! If getting intoxicated is what you have in mind, forget going to the al fresco no frills drinking places that you have frequented since you were studying in the university. Bring it a notch higher and be the man you think you are by getting a glass of scotch or a bottle of good old beer at Eagle’s Bar. With its subdued lighting, stuffed animal heads, and a great selection of spirits, Eagle’s Bar is one place you wouldn’t have to fret about if anyone sees you there. It’s a good place to hang out with friends; it’s an even better place to be seen by your boss. You don’t have to wear a suit to go there, and you don’t have to break the bank, too. Sleep with no worries in one of the newly renovated cabana suites or lounge and watch the latest in sports, or you can just enjoy the view from your room at the veranda. Wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread or brewing coffee at Café Marco. Choose or eat all you want from regular breakfast staples like bacon, butter, omelets, cereals, and a wide array on the buffet table. There’s no better way of treating a hangover than by feeding yourself. Work out at the gym just before

lunch and sweat out all the booze and calories you have ingested the night before. You can also turn it into a competition amongst yourselves as to who can lift the heaviest weight, or who can run the longest distance on the treadmill.

Wrap the weekend with an appointment at the Lazuli Spa where boys can enjoy the athlete’s massage. It gives your body just the perfect amount of relaxation that will allow you to drive home and have a deep slumber that will prepare you to face a new week.

VOL.5 ISSUE 30 • APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart reunite for Breaking Dawn reshoots TWIHARDS, rejoice. There might be 150 days until Breaking Dawn Part 2 hits theaters, but director Bill Condon has delivered a little treat.

“Our Part Two puzzle is finally coming into full view, and in a few weeks we’ll be heading back north to pick up some additional shots—the last tiny missing pieces,” the Breaking Dawn director revealed in a letter today. Paps, get your cameras ready, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are heading back to Vancouver. But that’s not all Bill Condon had to reveal… “I’m excited to report that before too long we’ll have another trailer for you to decode,” Condon wrote in a letter penned to the flick’s loyal fanbase. “And wait until you see the first posters—they’re unlike any Twilight images you’ve seen before.” We’re certainly looking forward to more—the first trailer gave us a short sneak peek of the gorgeous Kristen Stewart as vampire Bella, along with a swoon-worthy shot of Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner’s reaction to a bloodsucking K.Stew. Condon reassured fans he’s excited to reunite

with the Twi-crew and revealed Rob and Kristen will indeed be on set: “I am really looking forward to being back on set with some of the friends I’ve made on my Twilight journey, like the great Guillermo Navarro, our cinematographer, and his crew,” Condon writes. “And yes, Rob and Kristen will be there too, to pop in those gold contacts one last time...”

Here’s hoping for a few on-set shots of those sparkly eyes! So, while we’re gearing up for the second trailer, can we expect any major changes after this round of filming? “We’re not shooting any new scenes or dialogue, just some technical work with some of our cast and stunt actors,” Condon explained. Leave it to the Twilight powers to always keep us

coming back for more, and Bill ends his letter with a special reminder while we wait for the final release: “And then November 16th will be upon us and the final film will be yours! Until then, have a very happy spring, and I’ll check back in with you soon.” Sooner, rather than later, we’d prefer. You can’t leave us hanging after dishing so much Twilight goodness.

LGBT community cheers on Brangelina engagement! YESTERDAY, we heard the glorious news that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are finally engaged.

After seven years and six kids, the gorgeous couple is taking the plunge despite their original vow to wait for marriage equality. “I’ve said that we would not be getting married until everyone in this country had the right to get married,” Pitt told Ellen DeGeneres in September. So, how is the gay community handling the engagement? Any hard feelings now that the twosome’s ready to say “I do”? Nope! Turns out, everyone is just as excited about Brangelina’s engage-

ment as we are. Even Equality California, an LGBT advocacy organization, publicly expressed their support for the union: “Marriage is special and unique,” Rebekah Orr, Communications Director for Equality California told E! News. “Marriage says ‘we are a family’ in a way that no other word can. It appears that even Brad and Angelina’s children understand the meaning of that special vow,” Orr said. “We would never want any committed couple to deny themselves and their families the happiness and security that marriage brings.” Brad and Angie have worked hard to raise awareness for marriage equality, so it’s no surprise

the LGBT community is behind the couple’s “promise for the future.” Not only did Equality California give Hollywood’s hottest their blessing, but they also seem confident that the globe-trotting twosome will continue their fight for equality as husband and wife: “Brad and Angelina have clearly demonstrated that they are supporters of equality,” Orr explained. “Their marriage just provides one more opportunity to remind all of us why marriage matters to all loving couples and why the exclusion of same-sex couples from the freedom to marry is so hurtful to families.” Excellent point—we’re sure Brad and Angie would agree.

A4 INdulge! STYLE

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 30 â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 17, 2012

Wear what where

FOR staycations, here are the favorite pieces of INdulge! from edgy retail brand, Bauhaus, which is located at the second floor of Abreeza Mall.

Clockwise from top left: On Ken: scarf, shirt, and shorts, by Tough Jeans, bag by Twisted Mind On Patrick: woven shirt by Tough Jeans, shirt by Super Dry, and bag by 80/20 On Bryan: woven shirt by Tough Jeans, short-sleeved polo by 80/20, pants by Tough Jeans, and bag by Super Dry On Lou: shirt by Super Dry, short-sleeved polo by Super Dry, shorts by Tough Jeans, and bag by Super Dry. All available at Bauhaus, 2F Abreeza Mall.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

SPORTS

No Kobe, no problem L

OS ANGELES (AP) Sure, Pau Gasol and the Los Angeles Lakers are well aware a regular-season sweep means nothing compared to a playoff sweep. The Lakers are still pleased they’re controlling this rivalry with theDallas Mavericks heading to another postseason in which they just might meet again and they even did it without Kobe Bryant. Andrew Bynum had 23 points and 16 rebounds, Gasol made back-to-back 3-pointers in overtime, and the Lakers won their fourth straight game without the NBA’s leading scorer, 112108 over theDallas Mavericks on Sunday. Ramon Sessions scored 22 points, and Gasol had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles rallied from a fourthquarter deficit before finishing off a four-game season sweep of the defending champion Mavericks, who swept the two-time champion Lakers out of last season’s playoffs. ‘’This team eliminated us last year, and they’re the champs right now,’’ said Gasol, who buried his sixth and seventh 3-pointers of the season in OT. ‘’If we face them again, I don’t know

TAKEOFF. Barako Bull import Gabe Freeman breaks away for a solo jam in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis. The Bulls lead Talk N Text in the series.

if this 4-0 in the regular season will be worth a whole lot. We’ll have to start over and make sure we play as hard as we’ve been playing lately.’’ Coach Mike Brown thought the Lakers put together a remarkable team effort in Bryant’s absence, with everybody on the floor in overtime contributing a key play. Matt Barnes’ cagey defense capped the OT ef-

fort against Jason Terry, who missed what should have been an easy tying layup with 5 seconds left. With the Lakers holding the No. 3 spot in the West playoff picture and the Mavs at No. 6, both teams realize they could meet again in two weeks. The Lakers boosted their lead over the Clippers atop the Pacific Division to 1 1/2 games with six to play. The Lakers also have the tiebreaker edge on their next-door rivals.

‘’We’re excited about the playoffs, but we’re still going to have that bitter taste in our mouths until then,’’ Barnes said. Barnes had 11 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and Los Angeles’ key defensive play, and Metta World Peace scored 18 points for the Lakers, who are 4-1 while Bryant rests his bruised shin. Bryant is still contributing to the Lakers by shouting out instruction and encouragement from the bench, but his teammates are figuring out how to win when they can’t count on Kobe to take the big shot. Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points on 9-of-28 shooting and 14 rebounds for the Mavericks, whose three-game winning streak ended. Delonte West scored 20 points, and Terry had 21 before overthinking his drive and jamming a layup into the underside of the rim while trying to avoid Barnes’ defense. Gasol added two free throws with 0.5 seconds left in the Lakers’ fifth straight regular-season win over Dallas. Both teams had chances to win near the regulation buzzer, but Sessions missed an awkward shot with 1.5 seconds to play, and Nowitzki clanged a 3-point attempt off the back rim.

LEVELAND (AP) Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says he’s preparing to play the rest of the regular season and playoffs without injured star Dwight Howard. Howard will miss his fourth straight game with a back injury Sunday against the Cavaliers. He was diagnosed with a herniated disk last week. Howard will rest the injury for 10 days and then be re-evaluated. Van Gundy said before Sunday’s game that he would consider it a bonus if Howard or forward Hedo Turkoglu, who is sidelined with a facial fracture, return at some point this season. The playoffs begin April 28. ‘’We’re approaching it that the 13 (healthy) guys we have now are who we’re going to have the rest of the season and in the playoffs,’’ Van Gundy said. Howard joined his teammates in Cleveland,

but a team spokesman said he would remain at the Magic’s hotel during the game. He will accompany the team back to Orlando, where the Magic host Philadelphia on Friday. Orlando, which is sixth in the Eastern Conference, can clinch a playoff spot with a win Sunday. The Magic were 1-4 without their standout center going into the game. Howard has missed six games overall with the injury. The team initially said he had back spasms. He hasn’t played since scoring 20 points and grabbing 22 rebounds on April 7 against Philadelphia. Howard was diagnosed with the herniated disk on Friday in Los Angeles. Before this season, Howard had only missed two games in his career because of injury. Howard is averaging 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds.

No Howard the rest of the way for Magic C

Andrew Bynum (17) of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates as the Lakers survived the defending champion Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won in double overtime.

SPORTS

Masterful win

VOL.5 ISSUE 30• APRIL 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Bartolo, Miranda top Vantage-Castrol RWTM By Neil Bravo

LMER Bartolo was looking forward to another race he had in mind and Judelyn Miranda was all focused on winning. The two were the big winners on Sunday in the Vantage-Castrol Run With The Masters. The gutsy Bartolo used the rolling terrain as his tune-up for an international race late this month and proved he is the master of this type of course in winning the premier 21-kilometer men’s title in a relatively paced 1 hour 17 minutes and 18 seconds. Bartolo, gearing up for the Mt. Apo International Boulder Face Challenge where he will carry the colors of Vantage Sports, took over with five kilometres left and barely breasted ahead of Gilbert Maluyo who shadowed him all throughout in finishing second in 1:17:21. Ronald Dagaang finished third in 1:25:13. The race went through the rolling highway at Diversion Road Maa to Buhangin and Dacudao. The sloping course made the race extra challenging for the 1,300 runners who answered the gun start at the Davao Crocodile Park inside the vast Riverfront Corporate City.

In the distaff side, the veteran Miranda rekindled the old firepower she is known for to win the 21-k women’s title by the skin of her teeth. Miranda strode with favoured Cynthia Jaro and Estela Mamac-Diaz before making her move in the final 100 meters. She sprinted home a breath ahead of Diaz and Jaro in one hour, 48 minutes and 40 seconds. Jaro, the recent winner of the Araw ng Davao Phoenix Marathon, finished third in 1:48:44 while Diaz was second with 1:48:43 although the latter was officially declared winner of her age category (30-39). Jaro would be officially second in the women’s 18-29. James Castillo and Monalisa Ambasa ruled the men’s and women’s 15-kilometer division while Sonny Wagdos and Criselyn Jaro topped the men’s and women’s 10-kilometer division. Organized by Vantage Sports in celebration of its fourth anniversary, the Run With The Masters was presented by Castrol Philippines with support from Ceelin, Unilab, and Adidas. “We are happy with

the turnout. This is the first race we solely organize and we are glad we made it with the help of our friends, sponsors and the running community of Davao,” said Vantage president Kenneth Sai. The race was also dedicated to the late sportsman Vic Sai, Kenneth’s father who was known in the sports community as an organizer, sports journalist and leader.

RUN WITH THE MASTERS. (Top photo) Barefoot brothers Manuel and Bonifacio Vismanos, aged 65 and 62, respectively, are interviewed by race by this writer for the cable television coveror Mindanao Travel Channel Sports after they showed why they are the ‘real masters’ of local running. The barefoot-running brothers finished

1-2 in the 60-above category for the men’s 21-kilometer division. Lower photo shows women’s 30-39 champion Estela Mamac-Diaz (left) and men’s 21-K champion Elmer Bartolo receiving their prizes from Castrol Philippine country manager Mars Sota. (PHOTOS BY BIBOY NGOJO)