Edge Davao 5 Issue 32

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VOL.5 ISSUE 32 • APRIL 19, 2012

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78 Taiwanese nabbed for int’l money fraud

By Lorie A. Cascaro

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OGETHER with six Taiwanese police officers, operatives of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 11, Davao City Public Safety Company, and Technical Support platoon conducted yesterday simultane-

Science/Environment Page 4

Sports Page 15

quested the assistance of the city government and police for the operations. ous raids on three houses turned into illegally Taiwanese-operated call centers allegedly committing internation-

al financial fraud.

A total of 78 Taiwanese nationals, mostly young male and female, were subjected to individual and house search at Villa Josefina, Santan corner Ilang Ilang Streets, Brgy. 7A, Matina Crossing; PLDT Village, Velasco Highway in front of the Japanese Tunnel; and Ladislawa Village, Buhangin.

F78 TAIWANESE, 13

NABBED. Davao City police officers take into their custody Taiwanese nationals allegedly committing international financial fraud during simultaneous raids on three houses in Davao City yesterday. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

Roxas night vendors told to ‘pack up’

By Jade C. Zaldivar

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n Taiwanese government re-

V

ICE Mayor Rodrigo Duterte last Tuesday gave support to business establishments which petitioned for the removal of the night market along Roxas Avenue.

Duterte said it is “about time” that

vendors of mostly ukay-ukay goods moved out of the main thoroughfare as ‘they have been given too much leeway.’

“Tama na. Napagbigyan na sila. Ingna sila mao na akong sulti nga tama na daw, napagbigyan na mo,” he said in an interview at the City Council hall during a session recess.

“It think it’s time for them to pack up and go somewhere else. Human na ang Christmas. Panahon na, napagbigyan na sila sa city government,” Duterte added.

The vice mayor was referring to the extension granted by the city to the night market vendors.

The night market is composed of

FROXAS, 13

2

ON THE COVER

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DOST says

Dumalag fish are safe to eat if cooked well

By Jade C. Zaldivar

A

SSISTANT Regional Director Elsie Mae Solidum of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Davao region said fish cultivated in Punta Dumalag are safe to eat so long as they are prepared well.

She said media and the public should be wary of ‘giving prejudice to study results showing there is a presence of coliform, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), in the waters of Punta Dumalag.’

“I have no objection to the city mayor’s declaration to stop the operation of the fish cages in Punta Dumalag. It’s only that when you ask about safety in eating the fish then (my answer is) they are,” Solidum said in an intercview.

Last month Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered through the City Agriculture Office (CAO) the closure of some 200 fish cages in Punta Dumalag on the recommendation of recommendation of CAO officer in charge Leonardo Avila which was based on the results of water analysis conducted in Punta Dumalag.

Duterte-Carpio said fish cultivators should make their last harvest in August.

Avila also said the small investors were ad-

vised to transfer to an area where the exchange of sea and fresh waters are more thorough to ensure oxygenization, which is most ideal for fish cultivation.

The CAO head said fish cultivation investors have agreed to follow the mayor’s order even as several manifested their plan to transfer their fish cultivation business elsewhere.

Studies conducted by the DOST and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 11 showed a high level coliform present in Punta Dumalag, presumably from wastes.

“I do not contest the results of the study. I have also talked to the team who conducted water analysis in Punta Dumalag, and it was really way above the acceptable level of coliform presence. But again there’s no hazard on consuming the fish if hinugasan ito ng maayos if it is cleaned thoroughly and cooked and the E. coli ay mamamatay rin,” Solidun said.

“E. coli is found anywhere, they’re present in crabs, yung mga mussels or tahong and talaba since they are bottom feeders; what they feed on is yung waste. But when you cook them nawawala rin naman yung E.coli,” she added.

Most coliform bac-

teria do not cause illness but their presence in a water system poses the danger that disease-causing strains of bacteria, viruses and protozoa are also present.

High level exposure or contact to E.coli and other fecal coliform bacteria can produce skin irritation or rashes; and eye, ear or throat irritation. E. coli can also cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea.

The city in 2010 issued business permits to fish cultivators during the boom in the rearing of milkfish, a high-grade fish, in Punta Dumalag.

On November 24-26, 2010, a study was made by national agencies and the results released February of 2011 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.’ In June 2011, the CPDO thru the CAO funded another set of water sampling. The results released in July again showed high content of coliform and other pathogens.

followed by Talomo South.

The barangays of Buhangin, Agdao, Bunawan, Calinan, Marilog, and Paquibato were also mentioned.

“Nanawagan po tayo na wag ho nating isawalang bahala ito,” the DOH regional head said.

Dumama added that his office recently received an advisory from the national office informing the regions that dengue-carrying mosquitos aedes aegypti can now proliferate in unclear, murky, or dirty waters.

“May bagong advisory. Noong unang panahon ang pagkakaalam natin ang aedes aegypti ay nan-

gingitlog sa mga tubig na stagnant pero malinis.

Ngayon napagalamang, itoy nakakabahala, dahil kahit sa mga tubig na nasa septic tank at kahit sa mga canal ay kaya na nitong mabuhay,” Dumama said.

“Sa ngayon hindi lang sa malinis na tubig ito namamalagi, kundi pati na rin sa marumi,” he added.

The DOH regional head then advised the populace to always be in search of places where dengue-carrying mosquitoes might reproduce. “Wag po natin itong isawalang-bahala. I am advising the people to keep their communities clean,” he said.

Number of dengue cases surges

D

EPARTMENT of Health (DOH) 11 of Davao Region yesterday noted that there is high count of dengue in the city.

Regional Director Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr. said the January to April 14 dengue cases recorded in the city are higher than what was recorded last year in the same period.

“The records we have of dengue cases per barangay show these have increased and we find it very alarming,” Dumama said.

The barangays with the highest number of dengue cases, Dumama said, are Talomo North

FILIPINAS NOT FOR SALE. Gabriela slams the silence of President Aquino over the Marine Corps Times article narrating how US Marines prefer the Philippines for its

raunchy party atmosphere, alcohol, and scantily-clad women. The group said that Filipinas are treated as war booty by the US troops in the country. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

ALLOTTED. Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) yesterday said they have allotted P500 million from their budget this year for the installation of additional screening equipment in all 45 airports around the country, the Davao International Airport included. A speaker during the 1st Equator Asia Air Ac-

cess Forum and Airlines CEO Summit held at The Marco Polo Davao, Lotilla said the gathering was expected to open new routes between airports of Davao, Zamboanga, and Palawan and to close destinations in the BIMP-EAGA region such as Bali in Indonesia, cities in Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

CIDG 11 confiscate 7 guns from 2 suspects

By Lorie A. Cascaro

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PERATIVES of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 11 (CIDG) in Davao City arrested for gun running in entrapment operations one Brando Medillo Diaya, 30, last April 17, and Rolando Tura Macapagal, a.ka. Jhunix, 30, last April 12.

Confiscated from Diaya were two caliber .357 Magnum revolvers (Smith & Wesson) with no serial numbers; and two caliber /357 Magnum revolvers (Smith & Wesson) bearing serial numbers 441227 and 427757, according to CIDG 11 regional chief PSSUPT Albert Ignatius D. Ferro.

Confiscated from Macapagal were three caliber .45 pistols Norinco (SN635129), Colt (SN470361), and Taurus (SN328916), respectively.

Diaya, resident of Purok Caimito, Brgy. Balalan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, was arrested at around 5:10pm at the Sta. Cruz

Overland Terminal, National Road, Brgy. Lubo, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur after receiving two marked P500 bills bearing serial numbers HN974556 and WN 263166 used as payment for the firearms from a confidential agent.

Ferro said Diaya is a member of the Digoy Group, a gun-running syndicate operating within Davao City and nearby provinces.

He said this syndicate is included in the target list under the “Oplan Paglalansag Omega” of the CIDG 11.

A case for violation of RA 8249 has already been filed before the proper court against the suspect.

Macapagal, resident of

Quips

Purok 8, Brgy. Upper Lacson, Calinan, Davao City was arrested as a suspected member of a gun-running syndicate through a similar “dragnet” operation last April 12 along National Highway, Brgy.

Gredu, Panabo City.

Davao City Vice Mayor Rody Duterte said yesterday during a press conference of the CIDG, that he needs the help of law abiding citizens who are legitimate gun holders in maintaining peace and order in the city.

“Although there is a possibility that civilians may engage in gun fights, there is hope that they would be there to intervene or raise the alarm.

‘I’M not saying it’s good to privatize everything. I think there should be some portion of generation that government can keep for security purposes.’

--Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras, seeking the privatization of the 982-megawatt Agus-Pulangi hydro power plant. PDI

FCIDG, 13

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

Cacao info center in Davao proposed

By Lorie A. Cascaro

T

HE Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. has proposed to the ACDI/VOCA, an international non-government organization expert on agriculture, to put up a Cacao Information Development Center in Davao City.

Association chairperson, Charita Puentespina said they asked the help of ACDI/VOCA to provide them with seed money to put up their own office which will serve as a center of information for cacao farmers and those who are interested to plant cacao.

Eventually, this center will be giving trainings on agriculture modernization and transfer of technology such as post-harvest facilities that will add value to the products such as butter and liquor made from cacao to help augment farmers’ incomes.

Val Turtur, executive officer of the association, said they had observed cacao farmers working individually, that’s why there’s a lack of development in the industry.

“Cacao needs fermentation to come up with a quality chocolate, thus technology transfer is necessary,” he said.

The information development project will hasten the planting of the trees to answer the demand for 300,000 tons of dried beans by 2020, Puentespina said.

The idea of bringing back the industry or building up the industry again emanated from the huge number of investors interested in cacao.

“But we don’t have data base. We cannot tell them how many hectares are open for their investment,” she added.

A volunteer and one of the forerunners of cacao industry in Mindanao, she hopes that cacao farmers will have an executive office in order to continue the work in organizing the

farmers.

Puentespina volunteered her farm in Calinan, Davao City as a demonstration farm of Mars Cocoa where trainings are given to farmers for free as the center is funded by Mars Cocoa and ACDI/VOCA. Meanwhile, the ACDI/ VOCA has organized clusters of cacao farmers in different parts of Mindanao and trained them under its program dubbed Farmer Field School.

“The farmers are grouped so we can further assist,” Puentespina said.

As cacao trees need shade, they are ideally planted in between coconut trees or madre de cacao, among other shade trees.

Under coconut trees, 600 seedlinsg of cacao can be planted to a hectare of land, while 1,100 cacao trees can be planted to a hectare of an open land.

A well cared for cacao tree can yield 1.5 kilo of dried beans per year after two years of planting. A hectare of cacao trees can yield as much as 1.5 tons of dried beans a year.

Citing a family in San Isidro, Sawata of Davao Oriental, which had never cut fown their cacao trees since the time they were planted, Puentespina said the trees have been the family’s source of income and food.

“Cacao has been with us for how many centuries after being introduced to the Philippines by the Galleon trade. For that family in San Isidro, at least it’s a tree,” she added.

Turtur noted the high feasibility of cacao industry in the future as Filipinos are the only chocolate drinkers among cacao producing nations.

He said, “Ang atong local demand ay 55,000 tons of cacao beans a year. Walay problema na siya bisan magtanom tag daghan kay ang Pilipino kusog moinom og tsokolate ipares og suman.”

SHARPEN. Despite the glaring heat of the sun, a man carries his makeshift sharpening machine to knock on houses to have their knives and other bladed tools sharpened. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Power supply

Mindanao ‘out of the woods’ by 2015 M INDANAO will be “out of the woods” or will no longer have to cope with brownouts by 2015 because by then, a total of 354 megawatts (MW) shall have been added to the grid, according to Manuel Orig, Aboitiz Power (AP) vice president for Mindanao, in a press briefing prior to the Power Summit in Davao City last April 13.

The on-going power plant projects of AP will all be on the line by 2015.

These are the hydro plants in Davao del Sur, particularly in Tamugan with 12 MW and Tudaya 1 and 2 with a total of 14 MW; hydro plant in Sita Simod, Bukidnon with 28 MW; and two coalfired power plants in Davao City with 150 MW each under its subsid-

iary, Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI).

“If not delayed, these projects should deliver much needed power to the Mindanao grid by 2015,” the company said.

This is part of the long-term solution that AP is looking at for a stable energy supply in Mindanao, along with the rehabilitation of the Agus and Pulangi complex, and the connection of Mindanao to the Visayas and Luzon grids.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) 2012 grid profile indicates that Mindanao will be short by as much as 385 MW this month.

Orig pointed out that Mindanao has a shortfall of 73 MW since the total demand is 1,347 MW while the available ca-

pacity is only 1,274 MW. However, the effective shortage is actually 323 MW because there should be a reserve capacity of 250 MW, which is the capacity of the biggest power plant in the country, according to the National Grid Code of the Philippines.

“The challenge now is between 2012 and 2015,” Orig said.

By the end of April, he said, the 192 MW of AP’s subsidiary, TMI (two power barges bought from the National Power Corporation in 2010) will be fully contracted to 20 electric cooperatives (EC), one private distribution utility (DU), and one industrial company.

Another AP short term proposed solution to the power shortage

in Mindanao is to enforce compliance of the EC’s/DU’s to the load-tomaintain matrix to ensure fair and correct use of contracted capacity.

Orig said they went beyond their contracted load in the past because the NGCP had no capacity to cut them off yet.

AP has said that it is up to the private sector to invest on new energy sources as the government can no longer build power plants.

However, the company said it will be very difficult for private sector to come in as they cannot sell power at the actual cost of producing that power.

“To attract long term investment, Mindanao needs a competitive power supply market,” it said.[LORIE A. CASCARO]

tats,” the report quoted Daniel Ocampo, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia as having said.

“GMOs have never been proven safe, which is why they are highly regulated and even banned in many countries and regions. This report is but the latest addition to the growing body of scientific evidence which shows that GMOs are dangerous to our health and our environment, and pose significant threats to sustainable farming practices,” Ocampo added.

Greenpeace cited the results of 90-day lab tests conducted by GMO proponents on mice fed with Bt eggplant, which reportedly showed signs of toxicity in the liver and kidneys of the animals.[MINDANEWS]

By Jade C. Zaldivar

Summit which updated the state of the airlines and airports of member countries of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) and discussed policies in aid of new airway connections.

“The Philippine government should spend money, create attractions to entice passengers,” Awang said in an interview at The Marco Polo Davao where the summit was held.

“If the Philippines wants higher air traffic, if you want more people to come in, then the government should put in effort, provide incentives, make it easier for the two airlines to

connect,” he added.

Awang said he remains optimistic of the outcome of the summit and would be very supportive of the decisions for the benefit of the BIMP-EAGA region.

MASwings, a subsidiary of the major Malaysia Airlines, is the first Malaysian carrier to connect BIMP-EAGA entry points in following the memorandum of understanding for air route expansion to the sub-region signed by the four countries on Jan 12, 2007.

It may be said that MASwings is the most successful airline to have provided flights between countries within the BIMP-EAGA.

Greenpeace releases report on ‘dangers’ of Bt eggplant

G

REENPEACE released yesterday a report “confirming the dangers” of cultivating genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).

The report, which focuses on Bt eggplant, a GMO variety currently being field-tested in the Philippines, details how the spread of the genetically-modified Bt gene can cause eggplant to be an “aggressive and problematic weed, threatening to overpower similar varieties.”

In addition, Greenpeace maintains that GMOs grown in fields contaminate normal crops, threaten farmers’ livelihoods, and are dangerous to human health.

The report is posted in its website www.greenpeace.org.

The group called on

the Department of Agriculture to stop all field trials of GMOs in the country.

It warned that the government’s “loose and cavalier policy favoring the open cultivation of GMO crops is effectively transforming the Philippines into an unprotected test site for dangerous crops with far-reaching and irreversible ecological consequences.”

“GMO crops should not be cultivated outdoors anywhere in the world.

When they are grown in important areas of diversity, like the Philippines, the serious risks of widespread contamination are magnified. In the case of Bt talong, with its builtin insect-resistance gene, this poses risks of creating aggressive weeds that may wreak havoc on local agriculture and natural habi-

3

Malaysian airline CEO dares PHL to start pump-priming

M

ALAYSIAN airline MASwings Sdn. Berhad (MASwings) has expressed enthusiasm in expanding airway connections with this country, but stressed that ‘the Philippines should also do its part.’

MASwings chief executive officer (CEO) Dato’ Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang yesterday said that in order for the two countries’ future plans to succeed in airway expansion, both governments should ‘pour in pump priming investments.’

Awang attended the 1st Equator Asia Air Access Forum and Airlines CEO

4

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

New species boost biodiversity status

E

XPERTS discovered in Southern Leyte province two nonpoisonous frog species that are new to science, further reinforcing the Philippines’ standing as a world haven for biodiversity and bolstering calls for more efforts to conserve such natural resource.

The species are temporarily called “platymantis 1” and “platymantis 2” and were found in the province’s Mt. Nacolod during a biodiversity assessment there, reported Dir. Teresa Mundita Lim of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) which conducted the activity with nongovernment organization Fauna & Flora International (FFI).

“We keep on discovering new species in our country but that’s not enough -- we must conserve and protect what we have,” she said late Tuesday afternoon at the sidelines of the species’ unveiling at National Museum (NM) in Metro Manila.

PAWB earlier reported the Philippines is among the world’s 18 top mega-diverse nations and hosts about 70 percent to 80 percent of biodiversity on earth.

Aside from climate change, PAWB cited illegal logging, land conversion, overharvesting of resources, indiscriminate mining and infrastructure development as among threats to Philippine biodiversity.

The discovery in Southern Leyte further enhanced variety of the Philippines’ frog population.

Experts estimate such local population covers

about 180 frog species already.

“Several of the species are endemic to our country while others are invasive,” Lim noted.

She warned, however, onslaught of climate change raises urgency for conservation and protection efforts to help prevent such biodiversity and other still-undiscovered species from becoming extinct.

“Frogs have been particularly identified as being very vulnerable to climate change and we don’t want these to disappear even before being discovered,” she said.

Government will announce both frogs’ final names after publishing the discovery in a scientific journal, she continued.

Lim, Environment Undersecretary Annaliza Teh, NM Dir. Jeremy Barns, German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Ralph Timmermann, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit climate-relevant forest policy modernization principal advisor Dr. Bernd Markus Liss, FFI country director Dr. Neil Aldrin Mallari and Southern Leyte Gov. Dr. Damian Mercado were among those who attended the unveiling.

To help conserve and protect the newly discovered frogs, Mercado said he’ll undertake an information and education campaign on these species for his constituents in Southern Leyte.

“They must understand such frogs’ importance to the environment,” he said.

Lim said the frogs “help keep balance in the forest’s ecosystem.”

FNEW, 13

MORE DEADLY. Road pollution is more than twice as deadly as traffic accidents as pollution occurs much nearer to people’s homes than industrial emissions, according to a study which appears in Environmental Science and

T

He even said they already have draft memorandum of agreements for the purpose.

The geohazard map includes color-coded natural hazards like landslides, floods, and flashfloods which are superimposed on the topographic map of the Philippines and tells which hazards a town or barangay is vulnerable to.

Arreza said at present, they have just completed only 16 of the geohazard maps for the 16 towns here.

He said this is a more detailed

Technology, carried out by Steve Yim and Steven Barrett, pollution experts from MIT in Massachusetts. [BBC]

More mitigation measures eyed T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is identifying more countryside locations where a privately funded solar power program can be replicated to help improve rural socioeconomic conditions and to lessen local energy production that emits carbon dioxide (CO2) which experts identified as among greenhouse gases driving global warming and climate change.

DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio raised such possibility for further mitigating carbon emissions in the countryside, noting the country has abundant sunshine which can be tapped for the Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities (SPARC) energy production program this agency is promoting with its National Convergence Initiative (NCI) partners

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Agriculture.

“There are many other areas possible for this,” he said Tuesday when solar power production joint venture partners Sunconnex Capital BV (SC) and SPARC Corp. signed with ARBs from Bataan, Pampanga and Zambales provinces respective memoranda of agreement and lease contracts for the program’s implementation.

Such ARBs are from Bataan’s Bgy. Sabang, Pampanga’s Bgy. San Malino and Zambales’ Bgy. Sibol.

The program aims to establish, installing and operationalizing in landholdings of ARBs and ARB cooperatives concerned at least 50 solar power plants connected to national grids.

“We aim to sell electricity to the grids to help increase the country’s

map with a ratio of 1:10,000 from what they had completed with 1:50,000 ratio.

“With a detailed map to be produced, it becomes more difficult especially with the hard to reach areas where a geologist must do actual assessment,” he said.

And the observation is up to the purok level, he added.

Despite the lack of manpower to do the job, Arreza said they need to fast track the production and will make necessary adjustments. [PNA]

D

MGB Davao wants geology students to complete detailed geohazard maps

HE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in the Davao Region is eyeing universities and colleges to tap geology students and arrange with private companies to allow their geologists to assist them in the completion of the detailed geohazard maps for the region’s 47 towns and cities by 2014.

MGB regional director Engr. Edilberto Arreza said the students could perhaps undertake on-the-job training in the specific tasks.

EDGEDAVAO

power supply,” SPARC Corp. President J.J. Samuel Soriano said on the side of the signing ceremony at DAR’s headquarters in Metro Manila.

He said SC-SPARC Corp. is investing some USD15 million in each of the community-based power plant that are also called solar farms.

Each plant is expected to have a rated generating capacity of five to 10 megawatts of power per five to 10 hectares of landholdings belonging to the ARBs and ARB cooperatives.

Under the agreement, ARBs and ARB cooperatives concerned will receive payment from the SC-SPARC partners for use of respective landholdings during a 20year period.

The payment’s recipients will use such revenues to fund own livelihood activities.

DAR Executive Asst.

Jay Samson said such payment will cover some P80,000 per hectare per year for social funds and about P170,000 per hectare per year for lease of land.

DENR is backing such effort to produce renewable energy.

“This is the type of program we want - it produces clean energy and has no environmental hazards,” Ignacio said.

He projects the program to also help reduce deforestation which DENR continues seeking to curb for being environmentally degrading and for derailing sequestration of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

“Increasing available energy will help lower need to source wood for fuel,” he noted.

Ignacio assured DENR’s action on facilitating release of this agency’s permits for the program.[PNA]

pollution.

He said they will also form an interagency collaboration starting April 26, which will be comprised of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), City Health Office (CHO) and City Agriculturist Office (CAO) to find a permanent solution to the problem.

He said 60 percent of the operators are from Davao City, while 40 percent are coming from neighboring areas. Opera-

tors set up cages here because the area is protected from strong winds and it’s nearer the market.

He assured, however, that the city will not run out of fish supply after last harvest in August this year because the area supplies only a small portion of the city’s supply.

Avila said during a public hearing conducted recently with the fish cage operators, many of them are willing to cooperate in whatever solution there is that government has for them. [PNA]

City gov’t takes 2 steps to solve fish growers’ pollution problem

avao City is eyeing two steps to resolve seawater contamination in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya where 34 fish cage operators set up.

City Agriculturist Leonardo R. Avila III said the city government will have to relocate the fish cages and to form an inter-agency collaboration.

He said an option for fish cages to be relocated to other areas cropped up after water samples showed high concentration of Escherichia coli or fecal coliform.

Avila said they are yet to identify where these fish cages can be relocated because they still have to assess and conduct another water analysis. The test was first conducted July of 2011 where organic enrichment of the water because of feeds for the fish, contributed to the water

Quips

‘STEADY growth and adequate liquidity are seen to support the domestic economy in the midst of uncertain global economic prospects.’

--Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Amando Tetangco

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 32• APRIL 19, 2012

Malaybalay issues moratorium on expansion of plantations T

HE Malaybalay city council has passed a resolution imposing a moratorium on the expansion of agricultural plantations citing environmental and agricultural concerns.

City Councilor Anthony Canuto Barroso, chair of the committees on agriculture and environmental protection, told MindaNews via telephone Monday the resolution was in response to complaints from barangay councils against the fast conversion of farms into plantations and its effects on the environment and agricultural practices.

The resolution was unanimously approved last week after City Councilor Medardo Estaniel, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), gave a privileged speech that echoed the questions raised by the ABC on the unregulated

expansion of pineapple and banana plantations.

The city council noted the expansion of plantations in barangays Bangcud, Cabangahan, Casisang, Imbayao, Laguitas, Magsaysay, Mapayag, and San Jose.

Barroso said the fruit companies would deal directly with the land owners without bothering to obtain the prior consent of the barangay councils and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

He said the resolution came after the committee hearings on the impact of the expansion on the environment and agriculture.

He noted that barangays Mapayag and Imbayao in particular have complained about the expansion.

Barroso said the fruit com-

panies employed land development practices that tend to damage the environment, such as flattening of slopes to maximize plantation areas.

He added that the City ENRO has received complaints that the fruit companies allegedly practice a form of cloud dispersal that drives away rain from a certain area affecting local farmers.

“They have yet to convince us also about their flood control and damage control systems,” Barroso said, adding the City ENRO is yet to form a technical working group to study the actual impact.

City Councilor Roland Deticio, who filed a similar resolution, argued that the resolution must be imposed already while the study is being conducted to stop the fast rate of

This development, Galvez said, will surely give a boost to the group’s sales as this will mean additional production capacity that will enable them to meet their clients’ volume requirements. Further, this will also mean improved products (chocolate tablets).

Aside from this development, the EPP has likewise encouraged the Davao del Norte provincial government, through its Investment and Promotion Center, to allocate a budget of P735,000 for the establishment of the provincial pasalubong center (souvenir shop) in Tagum City.

Meanwhile, two cooperatives from the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) were able to avail of the coco coir twining machines from Regwill Industries, the trainer of the basic skills training on coco coir twining under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of DTIDN. Further, a marketing agreement with Regwill Industries was made during the training.

Such agreement has enabled the cooperative to sell their coco coir to the company at an agreed price.

“This is just the initial major accomplishments for the first two month of this year. We can expect that more will be done and achieved in the coming months,” Galvez said. DTI11/JenMendoza 3051462

LL businesses want to succeed yet not everyone makes it. Some fall immediately by the wayside, while others succeed only for a couple of years then eventually fold up.

But there are companies like Manila-based Reliance Surety & Insurance Company, which have withstood the test of time and continue to be successful even after nearly six decades of existence.

What’s their secret?

“Trust,” says Andrew Co, the youthful president of Reliance.

“Trust is the key to our longevity. The trust of shareholders, employees and customers alike is the reason behind our endurance. Trust is the cornerstone of our company’s mission of assuring a safer tomorrow which applies to all stakeholders,” he added.

Reliance will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in August with a simple yet elegant party at the Manila Hotel. This early, the company is busy gathering memorabilia that would make the event truly meaningful.

Everybody in the company feels special because, despite the hard times being faced by the industry, the company has chosen to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Recently, the company even hosted a reunion of its former employees who have retired or moved on to other endeavours after their stint with Reliance. Many of these former employees started their careers with Reliance in the ‘60s and ‘70s and they are proud to see that the company that has given them their first “big break” has grown so well.

“Some who attended came

DTI highlights success of export program

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry in Davao del Norte (DTI-DN) has underscored the February 2012 performance of the Export Pathways Program (EPP) in the province.

Citing the office’s report, DTI-DN officer-in-charge Engr.

Vedastito C. Galvez said DTI-DN was able to corner a number of good business prospects for the period covered as a result of its EPP interventions.

The EPP is an initiative started in 2006 which is aimed at providing the necessary and tailorfit interventions to the would-be exporters and exporting local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). With the program’s success in the region, it has already been adopted by all DTI regional offices throughout the country.

As of February 2012, DTIDN has 56 EPP-enrolled SMEs. Galvez said one of the program’s major accomplishments is the granting of PUM Netherlands the amount of P240,000 (Euro4,000) to the Chokolate de San Isidro, Inc. for the various improvements in its factory which will include the roasting equipment, transformer (for power stability), and some other necessary machines for product improvement. This is through the initiative of the office.

CSI is also expecting a loan of US$120,000 from its European client for its fermentation facilities.

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

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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

expansion that endangers the city’s flood control system and food security.

Barroso clarified that they are open to dialogue with the fruit companies. He cited a fruit company, which has scheduled an audience with the city council.

“We will hear their position. They have to convince us about what their protection systems are (for the environment and agriculture),” he added.

He noted that they may lift the moratorium if they obtain the prior informed consent of the barangays, and “if they convince us about their mechanisms.”

“But if they can’t, the moratorium will stay for a long time,” he said. (WALTER I. BALANE/MINDANEWS)

3 traits of business longevity

A

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

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

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

all the way from the United States,” said Nanette Sia of the company’s human resources department.

“The balikbayans, the old-timers and current officers were so happy to participate in this memorable event.”

Sia noted that unlike other companies that suffer from quick employee turnover, Reliance enjoys loyalty among its staff.

Apart from trust, however, Reliance also has the following notso-secret “secrets” to thank for its longevity: Word of honor Reliance president Andrew Co said that insurance is not only a piece of paper but a “promise” to protect a customer from a certain risk should such risk happen. “You have to honor that promise no matter what,” he said.

To honor this promise, one of Reliance’s most senior employees who oversee the claims department sees to it that all legitimate claims are settled as promptly as possible.

“We pay claims immediately after all authentic documents have been submitted to us,” she said.

“That applies to all, regardless of the amount.”

Prudence The second thing that has made Reliance survive through tough times is prudence.

Co explained that insurance premiums are not earnings of the insurance company. They are funds that customers entrust to the insurance company for proper management so that in case a loss happens they have something to help them get back on their feet.

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

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6 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO Coming home to my easel

S

EDITORIAL

N

Unfolding horror story

ONCHALLANCE seems to be the prevailing attitude of government and the public on the unfolding horror story such as the rising number of persons contacting the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus.

Let’s consider the numbers. From 1984 to February this year, a total of 8,850 Filipinos have been afflicted with the virus. Of these, 985 have developed into AIDS. While worldwide the number of new infections has gone down by more than 20 percent since 1997, the Philippines is still among the seven countries reporting an upward trend in HIV/AIDS cases, according to one news account. We are in the “league” of Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The statistics in Davao City is even more unsettling—23 persons with AIDs have died out of the 189 cases listed in the AIDS registry from 1993 to September 2011.

So far, HIV/AIDS has been identified as “highly prevalent” in Davao and 71 other cities and municipalities across the country.

According to Dr. Jordana P. Ramiterre, the physician in charge of the problem in the City Heath Department, and Connie Actub of the Alliance Against AIDS in Mindanao (Alagad-Mindanao), persons with AIDS are getting younger.

“The victims are really young,” Ms Actub said, adding that “62 cases involve victims aged

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from 15 to 24 years.”

She said Alagad-Mindanao even handled one case of a 10-year old who already had AIDS that was sexually-transmitted. Of those registered as afflicted, 173 are men and only 16 are women.

Today, people who show symptoms of the dreaded disease may avail themselves of free AIDS testing at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, the only government facility in Mindanao that offers such valuable service.

Recent findings reveal that a majority of those who contracted and eventually died of complications arising from AIDS are men who had engaged in sex with other men (MSM). Suffice it to say, the trend as indicated by the statistics is alarming. Some 85 percent of the Davao region’s cases were in Davao City.

Government and private sector action on this worsening problem should be intensified.

We call on the leaders of the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual and Tranvestites) community to act fast on this rapidly worsening situation by organizing their constituents and marshall their resources to help educate their ranks.

This is a big challenge for the government, especially since it cannot seem to mount a strong campaign for safe sex through the use of condoms. Government should finally have the political will to hurdle the opposition of the church, not only against condom use but also other forms of contraception.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

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

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

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

RICHARD C. EBONA IMELDA P. LEE Advertising Specialists

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

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

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

OMEWHERE out there near the rice paddies and thr farm village of Bala, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, is an old artist’s easel, dusty and weathered by sun and rain, resting quietly under a very old house, waiting for its owner---the artist--- to come back home, back to his next canvas, oil colors and sable brushes.

This abandoned wooden easel was home to the roosters and chickens straying under that old house where I spent one summer, many moons ago, painting one canvas after another, and carried them, sometimes on foot, to Bansalan, about 13 kilometers away, thence delivered them to Gallery J, the art gallery in the Juna subdivision, Davao City which had been keeping all my paintings all these years, and me still yearning that some brave souls would part with their cash to claim a part of my soul.

While working on my 24 x 36 canvas “The Forest Cathedral” it was raining hard and muddy water had started flowing into my little “studio” space made of small river pebbles, covering the dirt floor. I was seated on a small stool there five years ago, holding my rectangular palette filled with oil colors, mostly deep green, yellow ochre, burnt sienna and titanium white, still figuring out the highlights and the dark shadow areas of my canvas, while the rain fell in torrents just an arm’s length away from me.

Coming home last weekend to my little artist “studio” under that old house, I found the easel gone, gone forever, turned into ashes after it was converted into firewood because it was the only thing old, wooden and dry at the height of a torrential rain last year. Usually, there was a pile of firewood beside the dirty kitchen ready for use, but they were all wet and the old farmer’s wife had nothing to use for firewood to cook dinner with. My old wooden artist easel was dismantled and axed to little pieces and fed to the fire to cook rice and chicken tinola.

The small river pebbles covering the dried mud flooring were also gone, swept into a circular bed of pebbles outside where rushing rain water from the roof splashed all around these little round, smooth stones in different hues of grey, black, white, dark grayish-blue and greenish black. I spent many summers here in Bala under this old house, seated on a stool in front of the old artist easel, dubbing thick oil colors on the canvas in front of me, all in bold impasto strokes with a palette knife, instead of brush.

Once in a while, a wooden cart pulled by a carabao mounted by a rice farmer would pass by the old house on its way to the river, hardly noticing an artist trying hard to capture him and other farm scenes on canvas. In this cyber age, I know these things hardly matter anymore to many people, no matter how hard they try to pretend that they do appreciate art and paintings.

Even when I was still in my early 20’s in college, I already loved conservative, realistic paintings and famous artists I’ve always looked up to, had always been Fernando Amorsolo, Fabian dela Rosa and Juan Luna. That’s why it isn’t surprising that most of my works at Gallery J are attempts to emulate Amorsolo or Luna, even if I failed to capture even just a whiff of essence from any of their paintings. I must admit that one of my greatest joys is to be able to create something ‘alive’ in full color on a piece of mounted canvas.

Very few people in Davao know my passion for Amorsolo, but one of them, Vice-President for Academic Affairs Pedro “Pete” San Jose, was probably so proud of one of my “Amorsolos” that he had it framed in glass and displayed in his executive office at the University of Mindanao, Bolton street. I can’t even believe I did that painting in water color---without using water--- but Pete kept insisting I did that painting when I was still in high school at UM Tagum and signed it as “Fernando Amorsolo” because I just copied it from the famous Filipino artist work titled “Coming Home” on a calendar.

Riding on a habal-habal motorbike on my way back to Bansalan for my bus trip home last weekend, I saw two farmers with wide-brimmed buri hats, riding on two carabaos as they made their way thru the muddy rice paddies in Bala, which was being plowed for the next rice planting the following week. It looked like a picture right out of an Amorsolo painting...

(Comments? Email me at : tradingpost_davao@yahoo.com)

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

FaceOff

Mindanao power crisis “THE Mindanao Summit is showing the right way to go about developing the power sector, which is to ensure that state-run plants provide cheap and abundant renewable energy while regulating the industry to avoid monopoly and abuse of market power. Pres.Aquino should especially heed the call of the governors of Mindanao who passed a resolution opposing the planned privatization of the Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants.

The governors are also seeking the revision of the EPIRA that would stop the further privatization of public power facilities, prohibit cross-ownership, and de-

“THE President resisted the temptation to strike a populist tone just to score pogi points at the power summit. Instead, he laid out a rational and realistic plan to resolve the power problem in Mindanao.

That’s what being a leader is about. It’s not always doing what is popular; it’s saying the truth. It’s not pleasant, and I think the situation in Mindanao is the result of people trying to do what is politically popular over the short

I

’M not directly involved in the power issue but I’ve been following it closely because it has a significant impact on the economy and on the daily lives of people in Mindanao.

Indeed, government has had a very poor record in providing power not only to Mindanao but to the entire country, principally because of the usual bureaucratic lethargy and, of course, corruption.

Those opposed to privation, how-

Monkey Business

clare power plants as public utilities subject to the Public Utilities Act. We in Congress support their calls.”

“Instead of listening and keeping an open mind to the sound and logical proposals to stop the privatization of Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants to keep power rates low, revise EPIRA and further develop the island’s rich renewable energy sources, he was intent on shooting down the proposals and insisting that Mindanaoans pay higher rates for private power companies.”

--Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño

term without thinking of the long-term consequences.” “(Casiño) is entitled to his opinion…what is important is that the President has offered a concrete and realistic road map for ending the power problems in Mindanao.”

--Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang.

The power summit

ever, claim that the people of Mindanao would be subjected to merciless profiteering and high power cost should the power supply be handed over to private companies.It seems, therefore, that we here in Mindanao are caught between a rock and a hard place. Not so if we, Mindanaoans can think out of the box.

I’ve once been invited to a meeting of a non-government organization involved in the power issue. I pointed out in that meeting that expecting government to provide efficient and reliable power supply is an illusion at best.

But establishing quantifiable cost and performance standards for private power suppliers at the risk of contract

abrogation and re-awarding to competing suppliers for non-performance is more viable.

Cost and performance standards encourage private power supply contractors to be more efficient to improve profits which can then be shared 50-50 with power consumers by way of lower rates.

This way, both parties win. Surprisingly this option has never been on the table in the ongoing debate on power supply options for Mindanao and for the country as a whole. [Enrico “Gico” G. Dayanghirang served as member of the House of Representatives, 1987 - 1991, -Editor]

7

A toast to change SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS

BY MARCOS C. MORDENO

T

HE past few months have seen boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao strutting himself around as a changed man. Tucking a Bible and quoting from it whenever it suits him, Pacquiao avers to having shed off his vices –drinking, gambling and, God knows what else.

Many were about to believe he is sincere in his intentions. Until he endorsed a popular, expensive brand of cognac.

The liquor ad, uploaded last week on Youtube, showed Pacquiao’s rise from being an ordinary country lad to a world boxing champion. It ended with the quote ‘’Fighting the fights that really matter. That’s my ‘Wild Rabbit.’ - Congressman Manny Pacquiao.’’

For some, the endorsement can be dismissed as just a moneymaking venture, one that does not necessarily reveal Pacquiao’s character as a supposedly changed man. Trabaho lang, walang personalan, (It’s just a job, nothing personal) so they say.

They could be right. After all, we did know that those models who figured in cigarette ads of yore did not actually smoke in real life.

But that’s exactly where the question lies: Is it all right for one to say he has dropped a certain vice and endorse it at the same time? On the part of Pacquiao, is it all right for him to say he has stopped drinking and encourage it at the same time by endorsing a liquor brand?

The issue is no longer whether the boxing champ still drinks or not but the lack of consistency between his word and action. Endorsing a liquor brand is as good as enticing people into drinking regardless of what we think about Pacquiao’s behavior in real life. For advertisement is essentially an attempt to make the consumers identify themselves with the endorser, normally a person with celebrity status.

This isn’t the first time that Pacquiao showed inconsistency between his word and action. Remember his avowed opposition to the adoption of artificial family planning methods and his wife Jinkee’s admission that they have been using contraceptives?

I can’t exactly remember if Pacquiao said he didn’t know Jinkee was using contraceptives without his knowledge.

If that’s what he said, it’s like hearing another politician say he was the beneficiary of electoral sabotage but did not know about the plan to rig the vote.

That’s simply crap.

Pacquiao and that politician are in the same boat now. I just don’t know if the vessel is big enough for their bloated egos.

But if Pacquiao has really changed for the better, let’s drink to that. By the way, I prefer brandy. And fill the glass to the rim. [MindaNews/H. Marcos C. Mordeno writes mainly on the environment, human rights and politics. He can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com]

Quips ‘PEOPLE are no longer dumb, especially the masses. They see things, they observe.

They know who’s working and who’s not. They can’t be fooled anymore.’

--Senator goy” Estrada

“Jing-

8

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

9

10 SUBURBIA

Gensan mayor distributes computer sets in schools

M

AYOR Darlene Antonino-Custodio distributed on Monday 145 new computer sets to nine public high schools here in a move to strengthen students’ competitive advantage in preparation for their domestic and global engagements.

The said activity was part of the SHEEP-Computer Literacy Program (CLP) of the local government, designed to improve the quality of education in public schools of the city to make them at par with other private teaching institutions.

According to SHEEPCLP head Percival Pasuelo, the mayor handed over 20 units of computer each to Labangal National High School, New Society National High School, General Santos City National High School, Fatima National High School, Bula National School of Fisheries, and GSC National Secondary School of Arts and Trade.

Tinagacan National High School and AG Busano National High School each received 10 units of computer while Irineo National High School of Metro

Dadiangas got an additional five units for its Computer-Speech Laboratory in addition to the 20 units that were turned over by the city mayor during Valentine’s Day, two months ago.

Earlier, Mayor Custodio disclosed that the goal of the program is to make sure that public school students in GenSan will not be left out in terms of information technology.

She said the purchase of the additional 500 units for the remaining schools is already on process and set to be delivered within the year.

Meanwhile, Pasuelo expressed optimism that with the new computer sets and the series of levelup trainings conducted by the SHEEP-CLP to public schools in the city, students and teachers will continue imparting the knowledge they have learned to move forward.

“The city government has provided them the necessary tools which they can use to bridge the gap from the traditional classroom teaching to computer-aided instructions for them to become globally competitive,” he said.

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

DC Maharlika Lions Club adopts watershed area M

EMBERS of Davao City Maharlika Lions Club planted 300 Lawaan seedlings at Sitio Baracayo, Barangay Daliaon Plantation in Toril last April 14. Participating were 32 members from DC Maharlika Lions Club, staff and crew of the local television show Mag

TV na, Sadya ta and employees from Davao City Water District.

Said tree planting is among the stipulated agreements in the MoA signed by DCWD and DC Maharlika Lions Club last April 3 making the latter the 74th adopter of DCWD’s Adopt-a-Site

RTU underscores huge success in butcher training program

C

iting that his peoplecentered government programs are taking unprecedented success, City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy on Monday, April 16, 2012 presented before city hall employees on their regular Monday flag-raising rites the new batch of butchers trained by the City Government of Tagum who were hired by Tey’s Bro Meat Company based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

(30) Thirty butchers trained by Tagum who passed the trade test held in Pampanga are set to fly in the land down under anytime this month.

The local chief executive stressed that the preference of Australian meat companies to hire butchers from Tagum is due to the fact that the local government is serious in equipping committed Tagumeños with the necessary training more than enough for them to be qualified for work in Australia.

Under the Community Skills Training Program jointly undertaken by the City Mayor’s OfficeSpecial Operations Unit under Mr. Javier Balaba and the City Veterinarian Office under Dr. Jesus G. Edullantes, Tagumeños who enroll in the program undergo in a six-month hands-on training at the Tagum City’s Slaughter-

house in Barangay East in this city.

Mayor Uy also shared that the Local Government of Tagum is perhaps the only (LGU) Local Government Unit in the country that is very serious in training potential butchers free of charge for them to be ready for deployment abroad.

Aside from the actual training, the local government has partnered with the University of Mindananao-Tagum College to give butchers an additional competitive edge via the (SWEEP) Skilled Workers English Enhancement Program where graduates of the city’s various communitybased skills training are to undergo module-based lectures on basic English to help improve their listening, speaking and writing abilities before their deployment abroad.

This will later prepare them to hurdle the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, one of the requirements needed to work abroad.

Dedicated to continue this landmark program, Mayor Uy challenged all those who are set to work in Australia to “do you job with all dedication, sincerity, honesty and hardwork,” so that Australian companies will still hired Tagum-trained butchers in the months ahead. [LOUIE LAPAT OF CIO TAGUM]

EDGEDAVAO

project inside the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed. Also in said agreement, the Maharlika Lions Club pledged to donate six thousand pesos every year for five years to help subsidize the rehabilitation efforts in the watershed area.

Present in said signing were DC Maharlika Lions Club president Chona D. Ongkingko and chairpersons Jericho E. Santos for environmental special project, Rhodalie A. Apaap for public information committee and Jessica Jane Ongkingko for health and wellness committee.

Joining them were DCWD acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado and official spokesperson Imelda T. Magsuci.

Regalado lauded the initiative of the club and thanked them for supporting DCWD’s Adopt-aSite project. He explained that said project uses the united efforts of concerned groups and individuals to help protect the major water supply sources of Davao City as watershed protection is everybody’s concern. “It is through this way that

we can ensure water resource sustainability for the future generations.”

President Ongkingko expressed the great desire of their club to help as they see the great importance of protecting the environment. She said that donating six thousand pesos every year is just a small amount to pay if it means it could help save the environment.

Magsuci also explained the great importance of this cause citing a famous Indian proverb, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

DCWD encourages individuals, public and private sectors, companies and organizations to heed the call for watershed protection and rehabilitation by becoming adopters of its Adopt-aSite project. Aside from the Adopt-a-Site project, the water utility also uses other strategies including community organizing; information, education, communication and advocacy campaigns; and, linkaging and coordination. (JOVANA T. DUHAYLUNGSOD)

DC Maharlika Lions Club adopts watershed site. Club members plant 300 Lawaan seedlings at Sitio Baracayo barangay Daliaon Plantation in Toril last April 14 as part of DCWD’s Adopt-a-Site project inside Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed.

NEW BATCH OF BUTCHERS TO FLY ABROAD. City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy (7th from left) pose with some of the 30 qualified butchers trained by Tagum City for six months at the Tagum City’s Slaughterhouse in Barangay East. They passed the trade test held in Pampanga last March 2012 and are set to fly to Australia anytime this

month. They will work in Tey’s Bro Meat Company based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. Also in the photo are Councilors De Carlo “Oyo” L. Uy, Nicandro “Nickel” Suaybaguio, Frank Remitar and Joedel Caasi. [LEO TIMOGAN OF CIO TAGUM]

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

COMMUNITY SENSE

ANFLOCOR Run for Hope to benefit cancer patients W

ITH the increasing trend in health and fitness promotion, the ANFLOCOR Group of Companies is set to hold its 1st charity fun run to highlight the significance of healthy lifestyle and bring to the public the awareness of the need for medical and financial assistance of the people with serious or complicated conditions.

Dubbed as “Run for Hope”, the proceeds of the event will benefit pediatric oncology patients of House of Hope in Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The fun run will be held on May 19 and will jump-start at Market Bas-

ket Parking Area, Lanang, Davao City.

Interested participants and running enthusiasts may join the 3k, 5k, and 10k race categories. A registration fee of P200 for 3k, P300 for 5k and P400 for 10k will be collected from the participants. The fee is inclusive of singlet, race bib, and snacks.

The event will challenge runners with its various award categories to go the extra mile and win.

Cash and medals are up for grabs for the top winners of the different races and all participants will be given finisher’s certificate.

The Anflo Run for Hope is in partnership with Joc-

anima Corporation, Davao Zircon Parts & Services Corp., Leads Agricultural Products Corporation., Zetryl Chem Philippines, Inc., Davao Golden Hardware, Inc., International Veterinary & Agrochemical, Inc. and Sagrex Corporation.

Other sponsors are Top Agro Products Co., LS Diesel Starter Parts & Services, Mindanao Electrical Services, JAS Machine Shop & Engineering Works, Glowing Motors Corp., TLV Agro Sales Corp., and Davao Cathy Parts & Hardware, Inc. For confirmation and inquiries please call 2352146 local 308 or 256, or email jdvales@anflocor.

ment Bank, RCBC, Robinsons Bank, Security Bank, Union Bank, UCPB and more.

Over-the counter transactions can be also made through accredited payment centers like Bayad Centers, Robinson’s Department Store Business Centers, 7-11 Branches, SM Department Store Business Centers, SM Hypermart, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall Business Centers, Western Union Ebiz branches, Isetann Department store business centers, EC Pay outlets, BDO Financial services, as well as selected branches of LBC Payment Centers, Mini Stop Outlets, SM Supermarkets, Shopwise branches, Waltermart Stores, and Western UnionRCPI outlets.

ATM payments are also accepted in Bancnet, Megalink, BPI Express Teller, and Union Bank ATM Machines.

Phone and Online banking are also made available via Bancnet on line, BDO Phone and Internet Banking, BPI Express Teller/Express Phone/

Express On lne, EastWest Bank Net Access/Mobile Bankng/ATM Access, and Union Bank phone and online payments.

“Payments made at banks and other accredited payment centers may take a couple of days to be credited to customer’s accounts due to processing requirements but rest assured we do get these payments and apply them as soon as we can. Still, because of the availability of these alternate payment centers and given their proximity to our subscribers’ homes, places of work, and leisure activities, it is still a more convenient way to pay their Sun or Digitel bills.”

Pagan added.

For a hassle-free payment experience, Sun Cellular is encouraging its subscribers to enroll their credit cards in Sun’s autodebit facility. Enrollment forms are available in The Sun Shop outlets.

Recently, Sun Cellular Bills can also be paid using SMART Money.

Sun Cellular is a member of the PLDT Group.

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

Sun offers more payment channels for subscribers

S

UN Cellular is making available more payment channels for their postpaid subscribers.

Reuben Pangan, Sun Cellular’s Vice-President for Customer Relationship Management says they want their subscribers to experience maximum after-sales convenience.

“Our relationship with our customers does not end after we have successfully encouraged them to subscribe to our services. We would like to offer them convenience as well for their after-sales transactions such as paying their monthly bills, be it for Sun Cellular or even for Digitel products and services such as DSL or landline payments.” Pangan explains.

Instead of going to and waiting in line at Sun Shop outlets or Digitel Business centers, customers can make over-the-counter payments in 12 accredited banks including major institutions such as BDO, BPI, Allied Bank, Eastwest Bank, Philippine National Bank, Planters Develop-

S

by the Motorkada sa Isla Float Parade, to be participated by resorts and various private businesses; and the field drumbeats, fire dance and live band performances.

The Visit Samal 2012 will also showcase the following events during its 4-month run: Nightly Cultural Presentations (April 23- April 27, 30- May 3 and May 7- May 11 at the Peñaplata Central Elementary School (PCES); Visit Samal Island Palaro (April 28); Skydiving (April 29); the Pigkayasan Festival, the Environment, Arts, and Music Festival (May 4- May 6 at PCES); Line Fishing and Kayaking

Competitions (May 19); Kabasan Weekend, which will showcase the Bangkalakasan, cross-channel swimming, motocross and big-time derby, and mural painting (May 25-31 at Babak); White Nights, which will showcase a fair and exhibit, culinary festival, and sand-sculpture, beach volleyball, Frisbee and mountain biking tourneys (June 15- 18 at Kaputian); Davao Region International Film Festival (June 26-30); Araw ng Davao Del Norte Off-Road (July 1); Araw ng Samal (July 6-8); IGaCoS Regatta (July 9-13); and the Miss Body Beautiful 2012 and Hudyaka sa Isla (July 14-15).

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

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

300 PMA cadets to grace Visit Samal opening

INCE launching its “Visit Samal” campaign last year, the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) has drawn higher number of visitors who enjoyed the island’s sun, sand, and sea attractions during the summer months.

On its official opening salvo this coming Saturday, April 21, Penaplata, the city’s capital, will play host to a number of activities. This is highlighted by the attendance of 300 Philippine Military Academy cadets who will perform a Silent Drill during the opening ceremonies.

The highly anticipated silent drill will be followed

11

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: 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

12

NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS Deployed HE Philippine

T

National Police (PNP) announced on Wednesday they have deployed 3,000 motorcycle riding police officers nationwide in an effort to eliminate or at least reduce the number of riding-in-tandem syndicates in the country.

PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said these operatives are under the PNP’s Motorized Anti-Street Crimes Unit which was specifically formed to go after street criminals.

Confident ITH workers’ wel-

W

fare and safety as a paramount priority, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz expressed confidence that the 13th Coordinating Board Meeting (CBM) of the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN-OSHNET) shall effect beneficial cooperation among ASEAN member states towards greater synergy of OSH standards and guidelines to safeguard workers in the ASEAN region.

“It is a privilege for the DOLE to host this event as we continue to strengthen our ties with local and international partners in our bid to create conditions conducive to economic growth and competitiveness,” Baldoz said in her keynote message at the ASEAN-OSHNET’s 13th Coordinating Board Meeting at the Mandarin Oriental.

T

Reaffirmed

HE highest officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have pledged anew their commitment to the country’s national interests via the foreign policy roadmap of the Philippines and signed what is known as the “DFA Strategic Plan for 2012 to 2016” during an out-oftown workshop.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario reminded the participants that “the Philippines needs our help —our line of work moves forward our ability to help our country.”

S

Postponed

ENATOR Serge Osmena III announced on Tuesday the postponement of the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) public hearing on the Mindanao power crisis that is supposed to be held on Thursday due to lack of quorum. ”I have postponed the hearing because we will not have a quorum,” Osmena said saying that House panel members Rep. Henedina Abad of Batanes is out of town while Zamboanga City Rep. Maria Isabelle ‘Beng’ Climaco is sick.

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

PHL, China trade barbs over new incursions A

WORLD TODAY

T

HE Philippines and China traded fresh accusations Tuesday of illegal incursions in a disputed area of the South China Sea, while refusing to compromise on their territorial claims.

The Philippines said it had lodged a new diplomatic protest, accusing Chinese vessels of harassing a Filipino-flagged archaeological research ship at Scarborough Shoal.

The shoal is the same area where Chinese vessels last week blocked a Filipino warship from arresting the crews of eight Chinese fishing boats.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the M/Y Saranggani was “harassed by Chinese ships and aircraft” at Scarborough, which is about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the Philippines’ main island of Luzon.

“We lodged the protest yesterday afternoon. The harassment of the vessel is part of the continued intrusion and illegal activities being done by China in our area,” Hernandez told AFP. Philippine National Museum director Jeremy Barns said the vessel was conducting a preliminary survey of potential ancient shipwrecks, and was manned by Filipino and French scientists, including nine French archaeologists.

“We’re looking for the wrecks of Western as well as Asian vessels -- Vietnamese, Thai, and also Chinese.

This is a project of the National Museum,” Barns told AFP. He described the area around the shoal as an im-

T

PROTEST. Activists are seen protesting in front of the Chinese Consular Office in Manila, on April 16, demanding the Chinese government to immediately pull out from Scarborough Shoal. China currently claims all portant maritime passageway for foreign vessels that conducted trade with the Philippine islands, possibly even prior to their colonisation by Spain in the 16th Century.

Filipino officials would not say when the scientific vessel specifically arrived in the area, but Hernandez said the boat was still there.

“It is doing research, which is well within our rights,” he said.

But the spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Manila, Zhang Hua, insisted China owned Scarborough, and accused the Saranggani of intrusion.

“We urge the archaeological vessel leave the area immediately,” Chang said in a statement.

of the South China Sea as its own on historical grounds, even waters approaching the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

China claims all of the South China Sea as its own on historical grounds, even waters approaching the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

The nearest Chinese land mass from Scarborough Shoal is Hainan province, 1,200 kilometres, (750 miles) to the northwest, according to Philippine naval maps given to the media.

The rival claims have been a source of regional tensions for decades, and the Philippines as well as Vietnam have accused China over the past year of becoming increasingly aggressive in asserting its position.

The latest flare-up occurred on April 8 when

the Philippines found the eight Chinese fishing boats at Scarborough Shoal, and sent its warship to arrest the crew.

China quickly deployed three civilian maritime vessels that took turns in blocking the warship.

In a bid to calm the situation, the Philippines pulled back its warship and replaced it with a coast guard vessel late last week, and the fishing vessels sailed away over the weekend.

Hernandez said a lone Philippine coast guard boat now remained in the area on Tuesday, facing off against two Chinese civilian ships.

“As of now, we are still in a stalemate or a stand off,” Hernandez said.

SC refers to IBP disbarment raps vs De Lima, Lacierda T

HE

Usually, when a disbarment complaint is filed with the SC, it was either referred to the Office of the Bar Confidant or the IBP, said SC Spokesman and Court Administrator Atty. Jose Midas Marquez.

But in this case, Marquez said, it was referred to the IBP “so that it can conduct an impartial assessment or evaluation and then give its recom-

Missile

S widely expected, North Korea unveiled an advanced long-range ballistic missile on Sunday, confirming that it has continued developing its warhead delivery capabilities at the expense of its starving people.

During the ceremony marking the centenary of the birth of the communist state’s founding father Kim Il-sung, it revealed an intercontinental ballistic missile that measures 18 metres in length and two metres in diameter.

Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday referred to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) the disbarment complaint against Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila De Lima and Deny Presidential SpokesHE Philippine Long Distance Telephone man Edwin Lacierda.

Co. (PLDT) has maintained that it never violated the constitutional provision that limits foreign ownership of public utilities to only 40 percent.

PLDT legal counsel Victor Lazatin reiterated this position during the oral arguments about PLDT’s petition for reversal of Supreme Court’s (SC) June 28, 2011 ruling, which redefined the term “capital” in Section 11, Article 12 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that puts a cap on foreign ownership of domestic public utilities

EDGEDAVAO

De Lima

Lacierda

mendation to the Supreme Court.”

Private lawyer Agustin Sundiam has asked the SC to take disciplinary action against De Lima and Lacierda for their alleged utterances and remarks on national television

where they called Chief Justice Renato Corona a lawless “tyrant”.

Sundiam said that the two secretaries were required as a lawyer to “observe and maintain the respect and dignity due to the courts of justice and

judicial officers.”

De Lima, in an earlier statement said, Corona was “a tyrant who holds himself above justice and accountability.”

“There is no gainsaying that the subject remarks were calculated precisely to degrade or tend to degrade the administration of justice and erode and undermine the people’s confidence in this Honorable Supreme Court and the judicial officers,” Sundiam said.

Normally, Marquez said, the investigation conducted by the IBP is usually 30 days but there are instances when it asks for an extension.

Marquez said that the IBP’s Committee on Bar Discipline would conduct the investigation and give its recommendation. [PNA]

Downfall

C

HINESE politician Bo Xilai initially agreed to a police probe of his wife’s role in the murder of a British businessman before abruptly reversing course and demoting his police chief, causing upheavals that led to the downfall of both men, sources said.

The sources’ account gives new details of the dramatic breakdown in relations between Bo, an ambitious leader who cast himself as the crime-fighting boss of Chongqing, China’s biggest municipality, and his once trusted police chief, Wang Lijun.

More troops

A

United Nations mission to oversee an end to violence in Syria may need to bring in its own aircraft and deploy more troops to ensure that a firm ceasefire takes hold throughout the country, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.

A six-day-old truce has held in some parts of Syria since President Bashar al-Assad pledged to enforce it last week. But in strong opposition areas such as Homs, Hama, Idlib and Deraa the army continues to attack and battle rebels, using heavy weapons in violation of the pledge by Damascus to pull back.

T

Oldest book

HE British Library has paid 9 million pounds (US$14.3 million) to acquire the St. Cuthbert Gospel, a remarkably well-preserved survivor of seventh-century Britain described by the library as the oldest European book to survive fully intact.

The palm-sized book, a manuscript copy of the Gospel of John in Latin, was bought from the British branch of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), the library said Tuesday.

Refugee envoy

T

HE U.N. refugee agency says U.S. actress Angelina Jolie has been appointed as a special envoy for the organization.

A spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says Jolie will focus on complex crises that result in mass displacement of people such as Afghanistan and Somalia

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VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

78 Taiwanese...

FFROM 1

“The Taiwanese police are here because these illegally operated centers are used for extortion and kidnapping purposes,” said Vice Mayor Rody Duterte, who was present during the raid on one house at Brgy. Matina Crossing owned by a certain Dela Cruz.

The Taiwanese government and its criminal investigation bureau requested the assistance of the city government and police for the operations.

Based on the search warrant issued by Judge Isaac G. Robillo, Jr., a violation of RA 8484 has been committed by Chen Chun Chih and Chen Chung Tsun, Taiwanese nationals.

In violation of the law, the respondents were in possession and control of various laptops, telephones, cellphones communication devices, modems, routers, switch hubs, hand held radios, fax phones, USB devices, flash drives, external hard drives,

CIDG...

memory cards and voice over internet protocol (VOIP), and other devices which were used by the respondents and cohorts in swindling other Chinese/Taiwanese nationals of their money through the internet.

The Taiwanese intentionally destroyed some of the electronic devices such as internet modems, laptops, mobile phones and telephones by pouring water on them before the search group was able to enter the house.

DCPO chief Ronald Dela Rosa said these Taiwanese were serving a big time syndicate which has been operating in the city for two months.

“Millions of dollars ang nasapi nila. Pupunta ba yang Taiwanese police diri kung dili big time,” he said.

The DCPO will still investigate for other probable violations of the Philippine Constitution, such as possession of illegal drugs which were discovered in the house at Ladislawa village.

“Diri lang sila nag operate. Nagpatabang lang ang Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau nga makuha ang mga ebisdensiya aning mga tawhana ug madeport ning mga tawhana,” he said.

The arrested Taiwanese had been victimizing Chinese and Taiwanese in mainland China and Taiwan.

Their modus operandi was to pretend to be policemen calling retired Chinese/Taiwanese and hacking into their accounts through trickery.

The DCPO will have to check with Bureau of Immigration and Deportation on the legality of the suspects’ stay in the country, and to clarify if there are minors involved.

Duterte told the Taiwanese police team, “I don’t know anything about your operation, we are just cooperating.”

Meanwhile, the foreigners are under police custody.

P5,000 to P6,000 each, which Duterte said shows how easy it is for for criminals to access weapons.

“Hulihin na ninyo ang lahat na humahawak ng mga ito,” he said, adding that he lacks policemen considering the size of the city that’s why he needs civilians’ cooperation.

“I’m asking the law abiding civilians to help, masyadong mura, maraming nakakabili nito, kulang ako sa pulis,” he said.

The vice mayor said he want to destroy the confiscated guns wirh a road roller in public to send a message.

san del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur provinces.

NewCAPP covers the 2010-2015 period and is backed by nearly US$ 10 million grant from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to expand and strengthen the country’s terrestrial protected area (PA) system.

The project seeks to develop new PA models and build individual, systemic and institutional capacities for the system’s effective management.

“We have NewCAPP not to establish more national PAs but to look at governance that’ll help protect our biodiversity,” Lim said.

She noted richness of the Philippines’ biodiversity can be further

gleaned from discovery of 36 new herpetofauna species in the country during the past 10 years alone.

“That’s a lot compared to rate of specie discovery in other countries,” she said.

Citing a recent report she received, Lim said the cloud rat was sighted in Dinagat Island.

“Such specie was first seen in the 1970s then this year -- we’re rediscovering species thought extinct already,” she said.

PAWB previously reported the Philippines “harbors more diverse life forms than any other country on earth on a per hectare basis.”

The country has over 52,177 described species and over half of these are found nowhere else on earth. [PNA]

FFROM 2

Basta may baril ka malakas ang loob mo, maskin magpaputok ka lang,” he said.

The CIDG acknowledged community volunteers who are helping in the neutralization of notorious organized crime groups by providing valuable information.

Guns are sold at

New...

FFROM 4

Mt. Nacolod is among 10 pilot sites of the New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP) PAWB is implementing.

The other pilot sites are the Zambales Mountains in Zambales, Tarlac and Pangasinan provinces; Mt. Iglit Baco National Park in Mindoro Oriental and Occidental provinces; Mts. Nug-as and Lantoy in Cebu province; Tawi-tawi Island in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon province; Banao Watershed in Kalinga province and Mountain Province; Mts. Irid-Anglo and Binuang in Rizal, Bulacan and Quezon provinces; Polillo Group of Islands in Quezon province and Mt. Hilong-hilong in Agusan del Norte, Agu-

13 Solons rap DENR exec on illegal logging issue

A

N official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) drew the ire of lawmakers when he denied that illegal logging caused the massive flooding in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City during Typhoon Sendong.

Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources, who were present in its recent hearing, dismissed the explanation of DENR As-

Roxas...

FFROM 1

transient ukay-ukay or second-hand clothing and food stalls which were supposed to stay only until the end of December last year as this was part of the city’s Pasko Fiesta Christmas celebration.

The vendors were positioned along the inner lane of Roxas Avenue going to Quezon Boulevard, operating from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. the following day.

However, following their request to extend their stay, the city allowed them to operate only up

sistant Secretary Daniel Nicer that illegal logging was not the main cause of massive flooding in the affected areas.

Appearing before the House panel, Nicer said the DENR investigating team sent to the disaster area was still in the process of completing its data, but went on to report its initial findings during the inquiry.

Nicer showed the picture of a house still standing in the aftermath of

the typhoon, adding that, “the cut logs did not cause damage but were simply washed ashore.”

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), one of those who sought an inquiry into the flooding in his district, chided Nicer for his “unacceptable explanation” during the hearing which was attended by other lawmakers whose districts were also damaged by the typhoon last December.

to February this year.

With the extension deadline over, Duterte said he wants the vendors to move out in order to avoid conflict with legitimate establishments thereat.

“Dili ko gusto magkaguliyang ug magkagubot. Tama na to,” he said.

Petition Seven establishments addressed a letter to the vice mayor dated March 30, 2012, pointing out their objection to the con-

tinued operation of the night market vendors.

Owners of businesses petitioned for the cessation of the night market as it was affecting the areas’ sanitation situation.

Among the establishments behind the petition were the Association of Labor Union (ULA) which has its own building there, Chicco di Caffe, which occupies the ground floor of ULA, Sotil Inn, Quattro Tactical Source Inc., and Caution Bar.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Masters

V

DC NETTERS. Shown in picture are the elementary players who trained under the DATEC TAF and PTA Coaches. extreme left isEmmanuel “Boy” Manulat and DepEd Elementary Tennis Team Coach Nympha Ong (5th from extreme right).

7 DC netters to Palaro

By Neil Bravo

S

EVEN junior tennis players from Davao City have advanced to the Palarong Pambansa set May 6-12 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The junior netters who are all under the Davao Association of Tennis Clubs, Inc. Tennis Academy Foundation (DATEC-TAF) and the PHILTA Region XI-B are Daniela Mariella Abad and Clarizza Leah Caorte (Girls Doubles Champion, Elementary), Jenni Celine Dizon and Anne Renee Castillo (Girls, Doubles Champion, Secondary Level), John Jeric Accion- (Boys, Secondary, Singles Champion), and Emer Cariga and Joel Cabusas (Boys Secondary Doubles Champion).

Philta XI-B regional

vice president Carol Angel said the seven players will be representing the Davao Region to the Palarong Pambansa after winning the gold medals in the recent Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in Compostela Valley.

“True to our commitment to actively pursue tennis development to our young tennis players, Datec TAF and Philta-XI B have once again supported Davao City tennis team to the Davraa and the Palaro,” Angel told EDGE Davao.

Since 2008, in preparation for the Davao Regions Athletic Association Meet and the Palarong Pambansa , the DATEC TAF team has been providing special conditioning

Pacquiao opens camp in Baguio

B

AGUIO CITY-World boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao Wednesday started his eight-week training in this city for his June 6 title defense American challenger Timothy Bradley.

Buboy Fernandez of the “Team Pacquiao” said the team is still determining how long the champion will stay in this mountain resort 250 kilometers from Manila for his high-altitude workouts.

Pacquiao had his early morning jogging at the five-hectare Burnham Park at the heart of the city with

a bevy of boxing fans keeping company and close look at their idol.

He was able to finish five rounds around the lagoon at a fast-paced cadence.

It was in this city with a temperature range of 14 to 25 degrees celsius where Pacquiao had started his training when he had strong challengers like Oscar de la Joya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton and others.

Amir Khan, a regular sparring partner of Pacquiao, was also seen in the group and expected to be in the training activities. (PNA)

exercises and drills to the players.

This year, it provided not only the usual drills and exercises, but for the first time, DATEC TAF Chairman, Alex Bernan decided to send trainor Emmanuel “Boy”Manulat to act as the coaching consultant of the kids during the games held in New Bataan.

Abad, Caorte and Dizon are standouts under the Philippine Tennis Academy program which has the elite seven junior players of Davao under its fold.

Other Davao netters who suited up in the Davraa were Abdul Hanan Cariga and Lordrens Pacheco (Boys, Doubles Runner-up, Elementary) and Hakeem Cariga (Boys, Secondary, Singles Runner-

Up).

The younger Cariga is another PTA trained player while Pacheco will be joining the team soon.

In a related development, tennis players competing in the Palarong Pambansa will now enjoy PHILTA credit points. This was adopted beginning last year’s Palarong Pambansa when Angel lobbied for the breakthrough revision with PHILTA President, Cong. Edwin Olivarez that Palarong Pambansa should have PHILTA sanction to encourage tennis players to play and compete in the event.

Previous experience has it that players chose to compete in private tournaments over the national games because of these credit points.

ANTAGE Sports has once again proved its mettle in local sports organizing.

Now on its fourth year, Vantage Sports celebrated its birthday with Sunday’s Run with the Masters and everyone who came to take part in the run sure had the time of their lives.

Save for some minor glitches, the RWTM was a bug success considering it was the first project of Vantage under its own initiative. Previous projects of the outfit had it merely as the technical management team for local running events and a host of other sports events.

This time, Vantage died its hand full time ion organizing this race.

I am sure someone up there smiled last Sunday.

Kenneth Sai’s late father Vic, a revered sportsman whose legacy has pushed Vantage to its existence today, must have been grinning from ear to ear. I can still imagine him when he smiles. Those eyes lost shut like a mere slit stitched with surgical precision.

Vic must be a proud Dad wherever he is.

For good measure, Kenneth, ably assisted by his lifetime partner Honey, has come of age as an organizer. He was hands on. Running like a colloid from one end to another.

Making sure every bit of detail is spun with precision.

The race’s hosts Skipo Jack and Melanie Sam (Sugar Baby) were a delight on the mic.

Me? I had a great time even if I missed my gun-

start to attend to Kenneth’s AVP and the race’s coverage on Mindanao Travel Channel.

I would not miss the moment I had this memorable interview with the “Barefoot Brothers” Manuel and Bonifacio Vismanos. Manuel, 65, and Bonifacio, 62, are not your ordinary road warriors. They are extraordinary warriors apart from their age.

The brothers run on bare foot all throughout as they have been doing for three decades now. Manuel is almost as old as the oldest race in this country. He has not missed a Milo regional race in 33 years. Ahh, their times? Whew, a little over an hour for a 21-kilometer race.

Manuel showed me his sole during my interview and boy, no shoe brand can invent this technology. Better than your Nike Airs, Reebok Z-Techs,or Adidas Climacools. Not even the barefoot Vibrams can come close to the real deal.

Run with the Masters will go down history as one for the masters— from the legend, to the organizers, to the masters on barefoot.

Joel Calderon of Mail and More and Baler Ravina of GO21 won the first and second places, respectively, during the final stage of 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya to Baguio City. NONOY LACZA

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 32 • APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Ohayo! Cafe Marco The Cafe Marco Team in their Japanese costumes.

THE season of the cherry blossoms is upon us! This is the perfect time to drink sake and have great conversations while enjoying the sights under the cherry trees. Sounds perfect, except I’m stuck here in Durianburg.

One crazy modern sushi roll.

Good thing Cafe Marco is turning Japanese.

From April 11 to May 12, one can have their fill of modern interpretation of classic selections such as chicken and beef teriyaki, tempura, sukiyaki, ramen, sushi, sashimi, and more many thanks to the masterful cooking of Chef Mark Anthony “Violon” Tulbanos, whose culinary skills were shaped in specialty restaurants in Japan from the year 2001.

Gracing the opening night was Mr. Kenichiro Takayama of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, Consul Kuzuhiko Anzai of the Japanese Consulate in Davao and his wife Kikuno. Consul Anazai also gave everyone present a small introduction to the nuances of Japanese cuisine and its philosophy of balancing taste, texture, appearance, and color.

And the evening was truly a feast for the senses with delicious sushi as far as the eye can see and as much as your belly can consume. I had a go at the ramen, soba, and sukiyaki station where I had my fill of my own version of everyone’s favorite noodles. There is also a fry station where crispy tempura is stacked up high. My personal favorite though would be the evening’s ice cream tempura that was served with a light raspberry sauce.

Too bad really that Japan is geographically far away, but thanks to the Marco Polo Davao, everyone can have a small piece of Japan to taste. Itadakimasu!

From the noodle station.

Heaps of Japanese ingredients.

Marco Polo Davao Director of Food and Beverage Danilo Herrera, Cafe Marco Manager Potcholo Mercado offers Sake to Consul Anzai

Marco Polo Davao Director of Sales and Marketing Emelyn Mauhay, Consul Anzai and General Manager Bruno Simeoni.

The chefs at Cafe Marco’s show kitchen.

Sushi as far as the eye can see.

Ice cream tempura.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 32 • APRIL 19, 2012

MOTHERHOOD

Off to the beach “IS this with tax?” asked this mathematically challenged mom.

Sun, sand, and sea would usually call on for the power of sunblock. This new bottle I got, for example, says SPF 75++ in bold characters. Nauseated after much contemplation, I shrugged off curiosity that might lead to a sheet of exasperated computation. For me, sun protection can be, at times, difficult as math logic.

For instance, the deal with “eat figures” which is a daydream back to my old (meaning 6 years ago) 34-24-34 shape, in between calorie counts. Honestly, aside from it being a getaway for a brief R&R, a beach trip to me would translate to a flicker fest for added profile photos on Facebook and Twitter.

Laugh if you want but don’t you think everyone attempts a bikini model pose, too? You gotta give it to mothers who worked a good sweat in the gym just to bring sexy back, in time for summer.

Then there’s the issue of waking up early. Common ground with equally skin conscious cousins requires us to be up and ready for the beach by dawn, no less than 5.30am on the dot. This comes as a shocker for beach loving friends who prefer brunch along the seashore instead. I might sound off a bit too vain, being a worrywart on getting over tanned, but we have to admit the heat now is overbearing. The UV ray seeps through our skin so harshly, posing a threat to skin irritation, heat stroke, and, worse, diseases like the Big C. But hey, who can resist the lure of fresh wind and soothing sound of the water. I’d say, ME! Kidding.

I’d give in to my daughter’s puppy dog eyes begging me for a brief sun, sand, and sea experience. After all, swimming and sand castles are part of everyone’s childhood.

Why deny her of that?

With much prodding, in between interrupted zzz’s, the good Samaritan in me would give up Me Time and gather up beach essentials for an early water wade.

More than the sunblock,

towels, water bottle, first aid kit, toys, shampoo, soap, lip balm, and trusty brush and comb, beach essentials to us also include a bit of accessorizing and reading. My daughter and I are in love with the nautical summer look, thus the evidence blue, red, white, and black possessions are always on tote.

A Girl Scout trained mom is always armed and ready with a reliable camera to capture the colorful scenes, whether off-shore or in action, waddling through waves. I’d always keep a mental note to charge the battery, so we won’t end up with low-resolution photos via mobile uploads. We’re supposed to be techie moms, too, right? Well, I try and learn to keep the right gadgets both working and within reach (I once lost the key to the cabinet where I hid our camera).

I’m hungry!” Oh, that’s just my daughter calling me. To avoid constant ordeals and agonizing demands for readily available food, I make sure there are chips in the bag and a few cans or bottles of water, soda, or juices to keep the thirst away. Of course we’d order in food from the restaurants in the vicinity, but we can’t take snacking away from kids and the kids at heart. I am guilty of taking pleasure in kiddie food such as Iced Gems, Airheads, Skittles, Twix, and Cheese Curls. We even bring a pack of Goldilocks polvoron, one childhood love that brings my daughter and me closer with every bite.

Daughter in water, I’d stay off base for a good read and shade. Of course, I’d keep a watchful eye to

check on the nanny and my kid, as well as the possessions we have on the table. It also pays off whenever supportive boyfriend is in town to add extra fun to my daughter’s sand and water adventure.

Tick-tock, tick-tock. Is it almost noon? When are we going back to the city?

High noon. Flashing a tempting smile, I’d call out to my little mermaid to bid Nemo and Flounder goodbye. Of course she’d bargain

for more time but the sun gets hotter by the hour, and she needs to get refreshed. We have our own version of the Tug of War, a verbal dispute between non-consenting minds. This seasonal battle between health and addiction to the sea wrings out tears and sweat to our faces until Mommy wins.

Sweat, stickiness, salt, and sarcasm aside, we’d journey back to the city to return to a less heated environment, both physically and

emotionally. Bathed in cool water, we’d set our air conditioner set in full swing, with a good pillow as my ticket back to peaceful sleep.

Aaaaah. There is really no place like home.

Now, how do I turn that mute button again to silence the “I wanna go back to the beach tomorrow, Mommy” radio recording?

Maybe next week again, baby.

Mom’s gonna drift off to sleep first.

VOL.5 ISSUE 32 • APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Brangelina ties the knot!

ENTERTAINMENT

Wedding to take place in southern France FOR Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the path to holy matrimony may start right outside their front door.

Their front door in the village of Brignol in the Var in the south of France, that is.

Not only does their 1,000-acre spread have room for a wedding of any conscionable size, but there’s a chapel on the grounds—and it’s no stranger to weddings!

Tom Bove, who owned Chateau Miraval from 1992 to 2011 (Jolie and Pitt started leasing the property in 2008 before buying it from him) and now lives about 30 minutes away and continues to distribute the wine produced at their vineyard, painted an exclusive picture for E! News of what the Alisters’ nuptials could look like.

Let’s just say, it sounds like a perfect place to put an aisle...

“Miraval is absolutely incredible,” says Bove, a friend of the couple who calls Jolie “such a beautiful person” and Pitt “down to earth” and “very smart.”

“It is 2 kilometers from the road to the home and then another 2 kilometers to the other end of the property,” he describes the property. “So it’s very remote and beautiful.

And it has a very special smell—when you are there the air is filled with the smell of winter jasmine, thyme and rosemary.”

But though the JoliePitt family could probably host the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys all at once on their estate, only a select few will be privy to their vow swap if they choose to do it in the on-site chapel.

Bove, whose son got married there, says the intimate French-gothicstyle chapel—dating

back to the 1200s and rebuilt in 1880—only has standing room for about 20 people. (Fun fact: As tends to be the protocol with Americans getting married in foreign countries, Bove’s son had a civil service in the U.S. to make things legal, then a religious ceremony at Chateau Miraval.)

“The grounds have actually improved since [Jolie and Pitt] took it over,” Bove says. “They have thinned some of the forest and renovated parts of it. Miraval has 20 sets of terraces in the grounds, each one is half a mile long, they are huge and date back to Roman times, and Brad has started rebuilding them. The property is being very well-lookedafter. It’s a big place and takes a lot of energy, and I am happy it has been passed to people who are going to keep it in good repair.”

And, what do you know, sales of the wine produced by Miraval’s vineyard have gone up too.

“One of the wines they have is called Pink Floyd,” Bove says. “I named it after the band because they recorded The Wall in the record-

ing studio at Miraval.

For a music award in Sweden, I was asked to write a letter to the band to celebrate the 30th anniversary for the

Chateau Miraval

recording and I decided to name the rosé wine after them.”

One question: Does Roger Waters play weddings?

A4 INdulge!

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 32 • APRIL 19, 2012

One quick dish

By Leebay Sinsuat

WITH today’s busy lifestyle, cooking a great tasting meal can get to be a daunting task but with easy yet tasty dishes like Sautéed chicken liver in coconut, palapa and saffron, you can have a delectable and sophisticated dish in mere minutes. No one will guess how simple it is to make.

Sautéed chicken liver in coconut, palapa and saffron is a marriage of flavors in one bite. Heavily influenced by Mediterranean flavors, it now intertwines with Asian and Spanish flavors. An explosion in the palate that is perfect to prepare on busy --or lazy-days.

Sautéed chicken liver in coconut, palapa and saffron Ingredients 500 g chicken liver, cleaned, cubed 10 pcs ripe tomatoes, deseeded and cubed 5 pieces garlic, minced 1 cup coconut cream 3 tbsp brandy 1/2 tsp all spice powder 1 tbsp garlic powder 2 tbsp palapa (heat oil in a pan. Sauté julianned ginger, sliced red onions, grated coconut and whole red chillies. Stir constantly until coconut flakes turn brown. Transfer mixture in a mortar and pestle. Mash mixture until it turns powder-like. Season to taste.

Store in airtight container) 3 tbsp cinnamon powder 1 tsp saffron powder Canola Oil 1 knob butter Cayenne pepper Salt and pepper to taste Procedure 1 Heat oil and butter in a pan.

2 Sauté minced garlic for a minute and add in cubed tomatoes. Stir constantly.

Simmer for at least 5 minutes or until tomatoes thoroughly wilt but not burnt.

3 Add the chicken liver.

Stir.

4 Season with all spice powder, garlic powder, palapa

and cinnamon powder.

5 Pour the brandy and flambé the chicken liver.

6 Pour in coconut cream.

Mix in saffron powder and stir. Add cayenne pepper and season to taste.

7 Simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve with rice or as appetizer.

EDGEDAVAO

INTENSITY. Not even Jackson Vroman’s defensive intensity (left photo) and Jayjay Helterbrand’s sticky defense (right) can bail Ginebra our of trouble in Game 4 of their semifinals series against B MEG. The Llamados won to advance to the Finals of the PBA Commissioners Cup.

Spurs drub Lakers in big season windup

L

OS ANGELES (AP) -- While last week’s blowout loss to the Lakers still stings the San Antonio Spurs, they found a way to feel better while moving into prime position to win the West.

Tony Parker had 29 points and 13 assists, Tim Duncan had 19 points and eight rebounds, and the Spurs handed Los Angeles its worst loss of the season, 112-91 on Tuesday night.

Just six days after the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers jumped to a 26-point lead during a comfortable victory at San Antonio, the Spurs answered by scoring 18 consecutive points during an impressive second-quarter spree.

The Spurs snapped Los Angeles’ four-game winning streak while dominating a meeting of division leaders - albeit with Bryant sitting out his sixth straight game to rest his bruised shin.

Manu Ginobili scored 15 points as the Spurs (44-16) improved their position atop the Western Conference with their fourth straight win, moving a half-game clear of Oklahoma City

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

(44-17) for the No. 1 playoff seed. Popovich didn’t sit his stars in the second game of a threein-three-nights stretch, with Duncan playing 35 minutes and Parker 30.

San Antonio, which had lost three straight to the Lakers, stretched its lead to 23 points in the third quarter - making 30 of 43 shots in the middle quarters - and hung on comfortably for its 15th win in 17 games.

Parker particularly decimated Los Angeles’ defense, going 14 of 20 against point guards Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake.

The two perennial West powers will meet yet again for a rubber match Friday in San Antonio.

Andrew Bynum had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, whose Pacific Division lead over the Clippers dwindled to a half-game, although the Lakers hold the tiebreaker. Matt Barnes and Pau Gasol scored 16 points apiece, but with Bryant watching from the bench in a sharp suit, Los Angeles couldn’t match the depth of the Spurs, who got at least four points from 10 players.

15

It’s B-MEG in Finals T

HE B-MEG Llamados are in the finals of the PBA Commissioners Cup, its first with new coach Tim Cone.

The Purefoods franchise will be in the finals for the nd 22 time. Curiously, Cone has been in the finals two times more than the franchise itself with 24 appearances.

After a slow start, the B-MEG Llamados turned things around with a strong seven-minute stretch in the second period wherein they held the Barangay Ginebra Kings without a field goal.

That set the tone for BMEG’s impressive 108-84 triumph Tuesday night at the packed SMART-Araneta Coliseum to barge their way

into the finals against the winner of the Talk N TextBarako Bull series.

Denzel Bowles bounced back with a strong game in Game Four while Marc Pingris anchored the Llamados’ defense as B-MEG finished the semifinals with their most decisive win of the series.

“It’s good to be back in

Tim Duncan (21) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks on Josh McRoberts (6 ) of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-91 Spurs win at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

the finals,” said Cone. He gave his players all the credit for the win. “It wasn’t my coaching that get us there.

The players did it on their own. They just kept on playing.”

After Jayjay Helterbrand hit a three-pointer at the 7:28 mark of the second period, the Llamados’ defense worked double time, not allowing the Gin Kings a single shot from the field.

That allowed B-MEG to make a blistering 21-4 run to turn a 42-37 deficit to a 58-46 halftime advantage.

It was an all Llamados show from there, with James Yap joining in the scoring fray in the third quarter, wherein he score 9 of his 16 points. His three-pointer at the 4:02 mark of the quarter gave the Llamados a 78-59 lead..

The closest the Gin Kings could come was 13 points on a basket by Mike Cortez early in the fourth quarter, but Ginebra couldn’t sustain its rally, especially with import Jackson Vroman in foul trouble.

The end came for Vroman and the Gin Kings when the import picked up his sixth and final foul with 5:56 left on a loose ball scramble against Pingris.

Bowles, who had a measly 11-point output in Game 3’s loss, bounced back with a 34-point, 14-rebound performance.

Joe Devance added 18 points while Peter June Simon chipped in 11.

The scores: B-MEG (108) – Bowles 34, Devance 18, Yap 16, Simon 11, Pingris 7, Barroca 5, Intal 5, Villanueva 5, De Ocampo 4, Reavis 2, Urbiztondo 1, Acuna 0, Gaco 0.

Ginebra (84) – Ababou 17, Vroman 14, Cortez 13, Canaleta 12, Helterbrand 10, Hatfield 8, Raymundo 5, Labagala 3, Mamaril 2, Wilson 0, Villanueva 0.

Quarters: 24-31; 58-46; 86-71; 108-84

16 N

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 32• APRIL 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRIPLE TROUBLE

Anthony has triple-double as Knicks rout Celtics

EW YORK (AP) As the Celtics staggered to the locker room after getting hit by an NBA record-tying 3-point assault, the halftime musical selection perfectly summed up how they must have felt.

It was ‘’You Dropped a Bomb on Me’’ - and Carmelo Anthony and two sharpshooting subs sure did.

Anthony had 35 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double, and the New York Knicks made 19 3-pointers to keep alive their Atlantic Division title hopes with a 118-110 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.

JR Smith and Steve Novak both scored 25 points for the Knicks, who overcame a seasonhigh 43 points from Paul Pierce and moved into sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference while trimming Boston’s division lead to 3 1/2 games.

Novak hit eight 3s in the highest-scoring game of his career. Smith made all seven of his 3s in the first half, equaling a team record. ‘’Our bench was great tonight,’’ Anthony said. ‘’Novak and JR, them guys combined for 50 points

Carmelo Anthony (7) of the New York Knicks drives against Sasha Pavlovic (11) of the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

off the bench. When they get hot like that, it’s hard to deal with.’’

The Celtics would have wrapped up their fifth straight Atlantic title with a victory. Instead, the Knicks stunned them with a record-tying 14

3-pointers in a 72-point first half and equaled their season high by finishing 19 of 32 behind the arc. They improved to 14-5 under interim coach Mike Woodson.

Tyson Chandler had 20 points on 9-of-10

shooting for the Knicks, who finished one short of their franchise record for 3s, set last season. ‘’We didn’t defend the 3 at all tonight,’’ Pierce said. ‘’We dug ourselves a huge hole that we couldn’t climb out of.’’

Kevin Garnett scored 20 points for the Celtics, who fell out of a threeway tie for fourth in the East with Atlanta and Orlando. Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 13 assists.

The Celtics watched

Anthony score 42 points in a losing effort against Miami on Sunday and apparently overreacted to it, trying so hard to get the ball out of his hands that they didn’t pay enough attention to his supporting cast.