Edge Davao 5 Issue 43 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5 , 2012

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Cops intercept 12 landmines By Jade C. Zaldivar

WELVE landmines each measuring 7.5 inches in diameter and suspected to be owned by the New People’s Army (NPA) were intercepted by military and police last May 2. With a “killing radius” of 50 meters,

n Each with ‘killing radius’ of 50 the joint checkpoint set by 71st Infantry

meters

the deadly landmines were being transported in a white Fuso dump truck along the National Highway Town site, Brgy. Kingking, Pantukan in Compostela Valley Province when it was stopped by

Battalion and Pantukan Police Station. Upon discovery of the explosives, authorities immediately apprehended truck driver Oliver Bolusan, 35, married, licensed professional driver and resident of Purok 5, Caramcam District, Mangagoy, Bislig City.

FCOPS, 13

Agritrends Page 12

Sports Page 14

DIRTY BUT FUN. Children use the rope of a ship carrying cements to dive into the dirty water of Sta. Ana wharf on Thursday. LEAN DAVAL, JR.

Alleged NPAs oppose general’s promotion

ORMER political prisoners, the ‘Morong 43’, health workers alleged to be New People’s Army members, are opposing the promotion of concurrent Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Major General Jorge Segovia against

whom they have filed a case. In April last year, the Morong 43 filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court a civil case against Segovia along with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other government, military, and police of-

ficials. The officials were accused of having violated the Civil Code’s Articles 27, 32, and 33 in their involvement ‘in the illegal arrest, torture and detention of the 43 health workers.’

FALLEGED, 13

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Davao jobs-skills mismatch worries DOLE By Lorie A. Cascaro

VISIT. Task Force Davao chief Col. Marcos Norman S. Flores, right, hands over a token of appreaciation to BGen Ariel B. Bernardo, commander of 10th Infantry Division, who visited the TFD headquarters, Sta. Ana wharf, Davao City last Thursday. LEAN DAVAL, JR.

Community work continues despite opposition to mining

By Al Dacumos CONTRIBUTOR

O R P O R AT E - L E D work designed to empower poor communities remain pervasive despite the obvious animosity towards the mining industry. During the recent observance of Earth Day, militants across the country held rallies and other forms of protest to denounce alleged collusion of government and large mining companies to deface the environment. Separate marches and mass actions were conducted by NGOs calling for a moratorium on mining in the country. However, mining companies, particularly those with solid track records in corporate social respon-

sibility, seem unfazed . In one report, OceanaGold, Inc. has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to hold a threemonth vocational and technical training for local residents. All 65 trainees in the areas of “plumbing and masonry, shield metal arc welding, electrical installation and maintenance will be given priority to work with us,” says the company, which operates a project in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. It has already hired some 100 locals to start building infrastructure, but besides that it has been implementing several social programs. These include scholarships, reforestation, road and school building construction, and

medical missions. Philex Mining Corp. and its subsidiary, Silangan Mindanao Mining Company, Inc., have partnered with the military’s 52nd Engineering Brigade to address the critical classroom shortage in Surigao del Norte before the start of classes in June. Currently in the works are the repairs of six classrooms in Barangay Anislagan, the construction of a two-classroom building in Barangay Boyongan and repair of five classrooms in Barangay Macalaya. Company president Eulalio Austin was quoted to have said that “education provides the opportunity for our children in Surigao del Norte to follow their dreams and rise above poverty. It is our

ments for her eventual repatriation back home are being taken care of in coordination with her employment agency,” the legislator said. Rep. Zamora-Apsay earlier endorsed Mejorada’s appeal for help to Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente Relacion, on the basis of the former’s complaint that she was being made to work as a domestic helper under constant verbal and emotional abuse, without pay, and even forced to serve the household of her sponsor’s brother.

“Now assured of her safety, I am hopeful that the concerned authorities at the Philippine consulate in Qatar will assist Glaiza in the resolution of her complaints against her employer,” the lawmaker said. “The well-being of our OFWs is paramount to us. We must remain vigilant in protecting our migrant workers, particularly those serving as household workers in the Middle East, because they are most vulnerable to abuse and subhuman working conditions,” she added.

FCOMMUNITY, 13

Rep. Zamora-Apsay helps rescue distressed OFW

EP. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay expressed relief that Glaiza Mejorada, her distressed OFW-constituent from New Visayas, Montevista, Compostela Valley province, is now under the custody of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in the Philippine Embassy in Doha, Qatar. “We have received comforting news from Labor Attaché Leopoldo B. de Jesus of the POLO in Doha, Qatar that Glaiza is now safely with them, away from the grasp of her abusive employer. The travel arrange-

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11 has created an association of guidance counselors in the Davao region to help in solving mismatching between the jobs available or needed by the industries, and the skills of potential workforce or college graduates. Joffrey M. Suyao, regional director of DOLE 11, said yesterday that with the help of the Davao Association of Guidance Counselors, his office has so far oriented and trained 135 guidance counselors of the Department of Education (DepEd). “Nakita nato nga mao ni sila ang naay dakong tabang nga makaguide ug makacoach og maayo sa atong mga estudyante og unsay mga future courses or career path na ilang adtuan. Of course, guided by all the signals nga ihatag sa mga industries. Mao kini ang usa sa atong nakita nga makatabang na makasolve ani nga problema,” he said. Organized last March, these guidance counselors belong to provincial or city associations, and are under one regional federation. Suyao said their presidents will be delegates to a career congress in Manila on May 24, which will be attended by different gov-

ernment agencies, such as DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), DOLE and Professional Regulation Commission. During the trainings, the guidance counselors were oriented on the jobs fit employment situation in the region and country; and, as professional guidance counselors, they were provided with modules on guiding students in their career path. “We are very hopeful nga kining career congress maging fruitful para masugdan na sa opening sa klase, makasugod na sila,” he said. The region’s labor office has already conducted career coaching to high school students, and labor education for graduating students in college before, however, it aims to strengthen its linkages with the DepEd to reach out to more students. “Dugay na ni siya nga programa sa DOLE, pero karon gi-firm up na gyud namo among linkage nga kinahanglan kay dili man namo makaya tanan, ipasulod namo ang DepEd through their guidance counselors,” Suyao said. “Nagahinaut kita nga makatabang sa atong problema sa mismatch,” he

added. Mismatch During the recent DOLE-initiated jobs fair (May 1), most employers complained about the applicants’ lack of skills which the industries needed, Suyao said. “All over the nation man kana (mismatch). The initial national figure, in Metro Manila alone, it was announced that there were 300,000 jobs available during the May 1 jobs fair. There were a total of 89,407 registrants nationwide, and 11,201 hired on the spots as of yesterday,” he said. Thus, DOLE 11 has been creating linkages with the DepEd and CHED in line with its Project Jobs Fit 2020 vision in 2009. “Gitawag nato ang mga industries ug nangutana kita unsa ilang panginahanglanon nga qualities, qualifications so that we could also communicate with DepEd and CHED nga i-prepare pud nila ang mga estudyante. Kay ang estudyante kung ing-ani iyang giskwelahan, ing-ani iyang nahibaw-an, pag gawas niya unya dili diay panginahanglanon sa industriya, wala pud siyay kasudlan, wala siyay trabaho,” he said. He pointed out the relevance of the TESDA in addressing the jobs and skills

asked local officials and residents to support the plan to develop some 10,000 hectares in KAMADI for palm oil production, saying this would bring a dramatic turnaround in the economy of upland communities. He assured to address some concerns of Barangay Camansa, to include the completion of their water system, rehabilitation of the farm-to-mar-

ket road in Sitio Bangkawan, as well as, new multi-purpose hall and covered court. According to the governor, the district will greatly benefit once the main road in the area is converted into a national road, thanks to 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario who is working for its conversion. [NOEL BAGUIO-PGO INFO

FDAVAO, 13

RDR ask folks: ‘use good roads’

AVAO del Norte Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario is urging residents of the KAMADI district to make good use of the well-maintained road network to improve their production, income and their lot. “Gamita ang maayong dalan para sa pag-usbaw sa inyong produksyon ug paglambu sa inyong panginabuhi,” del Rosario told KAMADI residents during the recent convergence outreach in Barangay Camansa, Asuncion town. Some 1,280 residents of the district benefitted from the medical, social and other services brought to them by the province, with the support of the military, police and the local government units. KAMADI is a special tribal administrative district comprised of the far-flung barangays of Sonlon, Buan, Binancian and Camansa, all in the municipality of Asuncion. Constituents of the district, which lies some 50 kilometers from the capital City of Tagum, predominantly belong to the Mangguangan and Dibabawon tribes. The governor also

DAVNOR]

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

SSS pensioners affected by closure of bank to get help By Jade C. Zaldivar

HE Social Security System (SSS) has assured that pensioners who receive their pension through the Export and Industry Bank (EIB) will continue to receive their pensions. However, with the closure of EIB, which is now under receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC), pensioners would have to make adjustments. In order to receive

their May 2012 regular pensions, pensioners will have to go to PDIC banks. “Remittance will be given through PDIC Banks. Pensioners are requested to coordinate with the PDIC. Your pension for May will be released there,” SSS public information officer for Southern Mindanao Mario Daray said in an interview yesterday. Daray said pensioners with EIB bank accounts, which is relative to the Mag-impok sa

Bangko Program/Pension Remittance thru Banks, should immediately open a new savings account at any SSS accredited bank. “Para walang delay for the release of the June regular pension, we are also requesting pensioners to open accounts in another bank to which the account number should be submitted to any SSS office nearest to them to avoid delays in remittance,” he said. “We are asking for your understanding.

said yesterday. The regional office planned to conduct these on June 12 for Independence Day; in October for graduates in this month; and in time for the DOLE’s anniversary, which will be either by the end of November or first week of December.

Noting that last year, there were 54 total jobs fairs initiated by the DOLE 11, Suyao said his office hoped to surpass the number this year with the help of its employment facilitation arm, the Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) in the region.

‘HEADLESS’ BUT NOT JOBLESS. A construction worker, whose head is hidden by an iron bar in the construction site where he works to support his family. Many are still

hunting for stable jobs in the country days after the massive jobs fairs launched here by the government. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

We all have to adjust for a while. After establishing a new bank account naman things will turn to the former way,” he added. The Export and Industry Bank was found to have liabilities that could not be covered by its assets.

The Monetary Board, through a statement on April 27, said it had placed EIB under receivership “on account of its inability to meet its obligations.” “They become…insufficient to meet their liabilities and inability to

continue business without involving probable losses to its depositors or creditors,” the board said. The Board said the decision to close the bank came after the EIB gave notice to the BSP that it intended to go on a bank holiday.

The DOLE 11 encourages and monitors school- and barangaybased jobs fairs, such that this month, there will be one in Buhangin, and another in the University of Mindanao in Davao City, he said. Suyao mentioned that while the labor office

may encourage employers to hire applicants on the day of jobs fair, it is the employers’ prerogative to decide how many and who to hire. He told employers before May 1 jobs fair, “Kung wala moy hiring, dili na lang sa mo mo-join

sa jobs fair. Kung mo-join mo, naa gyud pag-asa nga naa gyud mahire anang adlawa.” Improved This year’s Labor Day jobs fair is an improvement from the ones in the past years, said Suyao. “We are very happy

3 more major jobs fairs in 2012: DOLE

By Lorie A. Cascaro

HREE more major jobs fairs will be held this year in the Davao region, following the recent one last Labor Day, Joffrey M. Suyao, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11

F3 MORE, 13

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Saving our disappearing biodiversity By Jims Vincent T. Capuno

HE 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity has been called “the most important initiative ever taken to set the world on a course towards environmentally sustainable development.” Its three key objectives are to ensure: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of this diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefit arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Concern about declining biodiversity came to a head in the late 1980s; awareness was growing that the protection of biodiversity provided under existing conventions was inadequate, and failed to address the global crisis. In 1991, an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee started formal negotiations on a Convention on Biological Diversity, and in May 1992, agreed the “Final Act,” which contains the Convention’s text. This was signed at the Earth Summit a month later by 156 countries. Biodiversity conservation of Philippine natural resources gained prominence when Republic Act No. 7586 was signed into law in 1992. Called the NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) Act, it mandates that sites identified by the Department of Environment and

‘Biodiversity conservation of Philippine natural resources gained prominence when Republic Act No. 7586 was signed into law in 1992. ‘ Natural Resources (DENR) as protected areas be managed by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). The board, composed of members of the locality representing different sectors, is tasked to act as the governing body in all aspects concerning the protected areas. Protected areas are those portions of land and water determined by the DENR to be rich in biodiversity, have unique physical and biological significance, and need to be defended against destructive human exploitation. These include heritage areas, outstanding landscapes and seascapes, wildlife sanctuaries, strict nature reserves, marine reserves, natural parks, natural biotic areas and other similar reserves. In the past, the World Bank financed the biodiversity conservation of ten model sites identified by the NIPAS Act: the Batanes Islands, Northern Sierra Madre (Palanan Wilderness Area), Siargao Island, Mt. Kanlaon National Park, Turtle Islands, Subic Bataan Protected Area, Mt. Kitanglad National Park, Agusan

Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Mt. Apo National Park, and the Apo Reef. The European Community also supported biodiversity sites in Mt. Pulog National Park , Mt. Iglit Baco National Park , Sibuyan Island , Coron Island , El Nido, Malampaya Sound, and Mt. Matindang National Park . The Danish-funded sites are the Northern Sierra Madre, Mt. Kitanglad , and Subic Bataan National Park . Despite being identified as protected areas, they are still being threatened. “Some of these protected areas are being targetted for mining activities, energy plants or telecommunications lines,” commented an officer of DENR’s Biodiversity Management Division. For their part, some non-governmental organizations are likewise helping save the country’s wildlife species. The Philippine Eagle Conservation Project has been set up in Davao to save the national bird from extinction. Another is the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. in Bohol , whose objectives include determining the population

distribution and status of tarsiers in the wild; identifying the remaining habitat of the species; and establishing sanctuaries for the protected fauna. There are also programs and projects monitoring protected species like crocodiles, marine turtles and dugong, tamaraw, and Philippine flying lemur. Delegates to the first global agreement to address all aspects of biodiversity urged for a stronger cooperation to preserve the world’s biodiversity resources. “Our life support system is at stake, and we cannot afford for each of us to tackle the challenge in isolation,” Dr. Klaus Topfer,

Pointing out that social stability depended on a healthy environment, Topfer called on all organizations and governments to link their biodiversity programs and activities, pursue closer partnerships with the private sector, and raise more funding. “Unless we maintain a rich natural environment and use our natural resources sustainably, political and social stresses are destined to accumulate,” he maintained. “Competition over dwindling biological resources threaten to become a major source of national and international strife in the decades ahead.” Michael Meacher, who

then executive director of the UN Environment Program, told the participants. “We have to join forces if we are to secure the basic human needs of adequate food, clean water, sufficient energy, safe shelter, and a healthier environment.”

was the British Environment Minister at that time, agreed. “The loss of species and habitats, such as tigers, seahorses and woodlands on an unprecedented scale, remains one of the greatest threats to a sustainable future,” he said. “The re-

‘In a related development, farming communities reportedly hold the key to genetic conservation. About 3 billion farming people also hold the key to the use of agricultural biodiversity, and to food security for millions of the world’s poor.’

cent tropical forest fires, for example, provide graphic evidence of what the damage can cause to his environment.” In a related development, farming communities reportedly hold the key to genetic conservation. About 3 billion farming people also hold the key to the use of agricultural biodiversity, and to food security for millions of the world’s poor. “In the long run, the conservation of plant genetic diversity depends not so much on a small number of institutional plant breeders in the formal sector, but on the vast number of poor farmers who select, improve and use crop diversity, especially in marginal farming environments,” writes Hope Shand in Human Nature: Agricultural Biodiversity and Farm-Based Food Security. But Shand cautions that neither institutional breeders nor farmer breeders can succeed alone. “Success depends on integrated approaches that combine the best of traditional knowledge and institutional technologies,” she said, adding that the challenge for the community is to link conservation and development by enabling farm communities to assume a major role in managing and benefiting from the genetic resources on which their livelihood depend.

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

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

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

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

THE ECONOMY 5

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

Mindanao grid lacks 350 MW By Carlo P. Mallo

INDANAO continues to struggle in darkness as the energy grid in the island continues to have a shortage of power supply, especially now that the Agus-Pulangi hydro power plant is out of service for a much needed maintenance. According to the National Grid Corporation, the curtailment level in Mindanao yesterday was at 350 megawatts, which caused severe power outages in several areas in Mindanao except for the key cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Despite the power outages, environmental groups and other sectors have been strongly opposing the construction of coal-fired power plants. Several years ago, groups have also opposed the construction of the hydro power plants of Hedcor, Inc. Meanwhile, the Board of Investments (BOI) approved

last week the registration of two power projects, namely the P12.878B project of South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation and the P49.45B expansion project of Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. “The two projects will help address the country’s energy supply requirements. The BOI’s goal is to also ensure that approved investment projects contribute to long-term inclusive economic growth,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. said, despite the fact that the various islands of the country have their own power grids, which are not connected to each other. Data from the Department of Energy show that electricity demand is expected to grow at an average of 4.5% annually, or up to 12,005 MW capacity by 2014. The Luzon grid alone will require an ad-

ditional 1,050 MW capacity by 2014. The South Luzon Thermal Energy project will be located in Calaca, Batangas, and will use a modern clean coal technology. The project includes a 135 MW coal-fired power plant and will start commercial operations on August 2014. Their clients include electric cooperatives, industries, and wholesale electricity spot market or WESM composed of power-producing companies and buyers. Meanwhile, the expansion project of Masinloc Power Partners includes the construction of two 300 MW units meant to boost the plant’s total capacity to 1200 MW. The plant is part of AES Corporation based in Delaware, United States and has presence in 27 countries in Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. The proposed Masinloc

project will use environmentfriendly technologies and a wastewater treatment plant meet the country’s environmental standards. The Masinloc project will start on June 2017. The company already has two existing 300MW coal-fired power plants in Zambales. Their clients include electric cooperatives, utilities, and economic zones. The two power projects are aligned with the 2011 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) of the government meant to attract investments in key industries to achieve inclusive growth. DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo has earlier said that the industries listed in the IPP were based on nationwide public and inter-agency consultations and are examined in terms of value for incentives, including their contribution to industry development and other social goals.

Mining firm vows sustainable operations

IANT mining firm Sagittarius Mines, Inc promised a more sustainable operation, which, according to company manager Mark Williams, shall “engage with all our stakeholders in an open, transparent and culturally sensitive manner.” The company’s operations cover nearly four towns in three provinces here in Mindanao. “We maintain active, transparent and culturally appropriate engagement with them through various channels including consultations regarding our detailed plans for the project,” Williams said. Adding that the company has reached out to the stakeholders through update presentation, site visits and its mobile information system and its information center. He also said that Sagittarius Mines, Inc has been trying to push its transparency about its project that its environmental impact assessment was a result of a two-and-a-half year consultation process that involved “17,511 individuals in 102 private and public consultation activities.” These activities have continued as the company, last year engaged about 9,000 stakeholders during a 12-week disclosure period on the assessment for the project. “This was one of the most extensive stakeholder consul-

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

tation program of its kind ever undertaken in the Philippines and exceeded all regulatory requirements,” Williams said, explaining that those issues that the stakeholders have pushed for were incorporated in the planning of the project. The mining area of the project is in Tampakan, South Cotabato but among those that will get affected by its implementation will be the towns of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, Kiblawan and Malita in Davao del Sur. Williams added that the mining firm has also been looking for ways “to mitigate the potential impacts of the project and used this information in developing our design plans as reflected” in its mine project feasibility study. An example of this process, he added, is the preservation of water quality and

quantity as the project “plans have to designed to ensure the proposed mine does not impact on water flow and quality downstream farmers.” “We have planned to capture excess water and release it during dry periods to ensure downstream users of a reliable water supply – unlike their current water supply, which is seasonally affected,” Williams said. The company has also dismissed the claim of some groups that it would “hazardous reagents” in extracting the metals as, Williams said, it would “produce copper-gold concentrate from the rock or ore through a process involving grinding and flotation.” This process will only use water and a combination of lime, potassium anyl zanthate and methyl iso butyl carbonol and that this does not “involve

as of august 2010

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

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

any of the toxic chemicals that are often used by illegal smallscale miners to extract gold, such as mercury. SMI’s process takes place in a controlled environment using non-toxic chemicals.” The company has been facing massive protests from some Catholic church-backed organizations and progressive groups that have been calling that the project be halted first so that risks that can be evaluated. The provincial government has not also lifted its law banning the open pit mining process, which the company will use in its project. As a result, the Environment department has not approved its application for environmental compliance certificate even when the company presented an extensive study showing all aspects of the project. The company has asked the government to reconsider its action on its application, pointing out that under the Constitution and other national laws, the open pit mining process is not banned. Among those supporting the projects are mayors of those municipalities within the project and Jesuit priest Emeterio J. Barcelon who said that in the present setting, big mining companies have been known to comply with all the requirements imposed on them by their host countries.

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

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

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

ADB: Asia Pacific needs more inclusive growth T

HE president of the Asian Development Bank said yesterday that the Asia and Pacific region’s economic prospects for 2012 remain positive, but there is need to address the issue of rising inequality by pursuing inclusive growth. In a press conference statement, ADB President Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda said that gross domestic product of developing countries in the region will grow by 6.9 percent in 2012, and 7.3 percent in 2013. “However, the region still faces significant longterm challenges. High among these is the issue of rising inequality,” Kuroda said. “Unfortunately, while the region has made remarkable progress in

Sarangani town wants more power

reducing poverty, the benefits of growth have yet to reach several hundreds of millions of Asians who continue to struggle on less than $1.25 a day.” He added the “drivers of Asia’s economic success” such as new technology, globalization and market-oriented reforms have also served to create and increase disparities in Asian economies. Kuroda said that inclusive growth may be achieved through investments in education to reduce inequality in human capital, investment in infrastructure to reduce unequal access to services and opportunities; and measures to make growth more employment friendly. He noted that inclu-

sive growth is among the key focus of this year’s Annual Meeting and lauded the Philippines for choosing “inclusive growth through better governance and partnerships” as the theme for the meeting. “This reflects the host government’s current efforts to reform governance and the business environment in the Philippines,” Kuroda said. The Philippine Development Program, the country’s socio-economic blueprint for 2011-2016, is premised on inclusive growth. Among its flagship programs are conditional cash transfer (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), which promotes education and livelihood among beneficiaries, and infrastructure develop-

ment thru public-private partnership model. Kuroda also said that the ADB has secured more than $12 billion to help Asia’s poorest nations. “ADF (Asian Development Fund) borrowers face significant development challenges, and have fewer resources of their own to address them,” Kuroda said. “The replenished ADF will help borrowing countries promote inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth through investment in infrastructure, education, social safety nets, and clean and renewable energy, among others.” The 45th annual meeting of the ABD Board of Governors is being held in Manila from May 2 to 5, 2012.

HE German government has allotted P170 million in support of what it described as a “climatesmart development” green growth program of the Philippines, via the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ or Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). This was relayed by Gudrun Kopp, the German Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), during a meeting on Wednesday with National Economic and Planning Agency (NEDA) Secretary Cayetano Paderanga. They exchanged views on how greater efficiency

with resources will enhance competitiveness and how “green products” can open new markets, according to the German embassy in Manila. Green Economy as a way of advancing economic and social development through sustainable use of natural resources is an emerging concept in the Philippines. In the framework of “inclusive growth”, it is seen as the overriding concern of the Philippine Development Plan (2011--2016) of the Aquino government. GIZ funds the “Green Economy” project to be implemented in 2013 onwards. The aid agency supports the implementation of Aquino’s Five-Year Development Plan via assistance to small and me-

dium-sized enterprises so that they can cope with climate change and mitigate requirements while still remaining competitive. The German embassy observed that about 98 per cent of registered business establishments here are micro, small and medium enterprises. Thus they play a crucial role in the greening of industries and services, and since they provide many employment opportunities, they have a major role to play in alleviating poverty. The new program can build on the established links between Germanythrough GIZ-and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It will be noted that

the Philippine Climate Change Commission, with German support, has drawn up the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) to serve as a road map in addressing the causes and effects of climate change, including its impact on the economy. The plan makes “Climate-Smart Industries and Services” a strategic priority, the embassy said. Kopp is in Manila for the Governors Meeting of the Asian Development Bank. He is slated to give a talk, entitled “Climate Policy Cooperation: Germany’s Engagement in Asia,” as a side event of the ADB on Thursday afternoon, May 3,at the Philippine International Convention Center. (PNA)

BM Philippines will unveil a new family of systems and software that represent the first big steps toward the next era of computing on May 10, 2012 at the IBM Technology Conference & Expo

2012 event, taking place at Shangri-La Hotel Makati. At this annual event, which gathers customers, business partners, independent software vendors (ISVs) and technology experts, IBM will launch the

new PureSystems expert integrated systems offerings to the local market. The IBM PureSystems series is a new category of system that comes outof-the-box with integrated expertise, offering cus-

tomers the flexibility of a general-purpose computer with the simplicity of an appliance. The result of US$2billion in R&D and acquisitions over four years, the IBM PureSystems series come pre-loaded with

EDGEDAVAO

Germany allots P170 M for green initiatives

HE municipal council of Alabel on Tuesday asked the Department of Energy (DoE) to order the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to give it priority in the dispatch of the electricity generated by the 55-megawatt Southern Philippine Power Corporation (SPPC) in the light of continuing power supply load curtailment being implemented by South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II). The Alcantara-built and operated bunkerfired SPPC is located in Baluntay village in Alabel, Sarangani. SPPC went on commercial stream in 1998 under the build-operateown (BOO) scheme but all power supply it is generating is already contracted to Napocor. Its supply contratc with Napocor will end in 2016. In a resolution unanimously approved by the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council), the local legislative body cited Section 5(i) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7638 otherwise known as Department of Energy Act of 1992 which allows the host town to get 25 percent of the available capacity generated by SPPC in times of energy shortage. Alabel and the rest of Sarangani, along with General santos City and the south Cotabato towns of Tupi and Polomolok, are under the distribution franchise of Socotecto II. Councilor Joel Aton said Alabel, capitol town of Sarangani, has an average monthly consumption of 1,953,500 kilowatt hour. Aton said DoE has sent word it will dispatch personnel for technical evaluation.

Socoteco II resorted into daily rotational brownouts of up to four hours following advice of reduced supply from Napocor. Socoteco II manager for institutional service department Geronimo Desesto said supply from Napocor went further down from 75 MW to 45 MW in April prompting the cooperative to purchase a total of 30 MW additional power supply from Therma Marine Inc. Alabel is one of the growing numbers of local government units who are demanding preferential treatment from power plants located in their areas. Last month, Kidapawan threatened to launch protest actions if their demand for power supply from the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation is not met. Kidapawan, which is experiencing brownouts of up to eight hours daily, is host to the 110 MW Mt. Apo Geothermal Plant. Last month, President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino graced the Mindanao Power Summit in Davao City, which tackled the worsening power crisis in the island. The president however told Mindanao residents they will have to pay more for steady power supply. Mindanao’s actual and available capacity is now down to less than 1,200 MW or some 170 MW less than the peak demand of 1,350 MW. The deficit in power supply has been blamed on antiquated and poorly maintain hydro-electric power plants and the sale of other Napocor generating assets that included the two power barges to Therma Marine. Power Barges 117 and 118 have a combined capacity of 200 MW.

application patterns that give businesses the knowledge of thousands of IBM deployments and millions of hours of expertise. As a result, organizations can be up and running with IBM PureSystems in as lit-

tle as four hours. The IBM Technology Conference & Expo 2012 will explore and answer current technology questions around simplifying the complexity of IT, including:

New computer systems to be unveiled by IBM I It figures

P60billion

AMOUNT of tax money uncollected by the government annually due to technical smuggling to Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon during a press conference in Davao City last week.

$150million

AMOUNT ports operations giant International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) may spend in acquiring Pakistan International Container Terminal Ltd. in line with its ongoing expansion efforts in merging markets around the globe.

$500million

MONEY Ayala Corp. is allotting for power projects in the next five years in a bid to build a power capacity of around 1,000 megawatts.

NUMBER of representatives installed by San Miguel Corp. to the board of PAL Holdings Inc. as SMC’s Ramon Ang replaced Jaime Bautista as new president. The changes came after SMC acquired 40 percent of ownership of Philippine Airlines and 49 percent of Air Philippines.

$158million P12.5billion

NET inflow of “hot money” or foreign investments in stocks, government securities and peso-denominated assets in March, a turnaround from the $305 million net outflow in February but lower than the $245 million net inflow recorded a year ago.

NET income target of BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) for 2012, or 19-percent higher than the P10.5 billion income it earned in 2011. Coincidentally, the bank’s net income growth rate was also 19 percent last year and in 2010.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Floyd to eat his words

EDITORIAL

Government to the rescue

OT a few workers in the government and those in private firms were elated to know that the government has set aside more than P11 billion to be used in extending educational loan assistance to them. To be benefited by the government bonanza are members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) who are workers in government and those of the Social Security System (SSS) who are workers in private companies. It is like Christmas in May. Though relatively small, granting the educational loans is timely since it will be enrolment time in a few days. Detailed guidelines of the loan assistance programs of both agencies still have to be publicized, however, according to available preliminary data, GSIS members can borrow as much as P4,000 per member per se-

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mester, while an SSS member can borrow a little more. Of course, an SSS or GSIS member would wish the loan was a lot bigger, considering the skyrocketing of prices of almost everything, including, and especially, school fees and supplies. The educational loan fund was sourced from the remittances of government-owned and-controlled corporations whose profligacy and wastefulness in terms of fat allowances and bloated corporate expenses became the subject of scrutiny by the Senate early in the Aquino administration. It is hoped that this kind gesture of the government, in addition to the much-ballyhooed Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), will have an appreciable impact on cash-strapped families who strongly desire to provide education for their children. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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lamboyant American boxing star but prison-bound Floyd Mayweather Jr. used to taunt arch rival Manny Pacquiao for feasting on his (Mayweather’s) ‘leftovers’. Pacquiao, after all, fought three boxers who all suffered defeats to Mayweather before bowing to the Filipino boxing icon. While Pacquiao and Mayweather both emerged victorious against them, the two scored contrasting victories against the same opponents. Pacquiao’s win over Ricky Hatton, Oscar de la Hoya and Shane Mosley were more emphatic and decisive than Mayweather’s victories over them. Pacquiao quickly sent Hatton to dreamland in two rounds while it took Mayweather 10 rounds to inflict the first defeat in the Briton’s colorful but already ‘over’ career. Pacquiao, in addition, sent Hatton to retirement after knocking him out. Pacquiao also made de la Hoya quit, something that cannot be said of Mayweather who eked out a disputed split decision victory against the former Golden Boy of boxing. Not a few, in fact, said de la Hoya deserved the win. Like Hatton, de la Hoya also quit boxing after his humiliating loss to Pacquiao. Against Shane Mosley, Pacquiao and Mayweather were forced to go the distance. The difference, however, was that Mosley, after going down in Round 3, rode on his bicycle throughout the fight leaving the Filipino very frustrated in victory. Mayweather, on the other hand, almost went down in Round 2 against Mosley. While he eventually toyed with Mosley, Mayweather was not able to intimidate his opponent into retreating. The tables, however, have now changed. It is now Mayweather picking up the pieces left behind by Pacquiao by going after Miguel Cotto after the latter had already tasted two devastating stoppage defeats – against Antonio Margarito and Pacquiao. Although Cotto is much younger than Mayweather, one wonders if those two debacles did not render him a damaged good. Cotto is the second Pacquiao victim chosen by Mayweather to fight. The other one was Juan Manuel Marquez, who Mayweather tricked into agreeing to a catch weight limit only for the latter to come in two pounds over the agreed weight. Mayweather indeed taught Marquez a neat boxing lesson but style was the more contributing factor as the smaller Mexican was forced to be the aggressor rather than the counterpuncher that he really is. Pacquiao will no longer be picking up a fight with somebody who has lost to Mayweather. Mayweather has not fought a new face in the welterweight division in the last five years. Besides, Father Time is not on his side with prison awaiting him after his Cotto fight. Mayweather may again fight late this year and he may choose from among the following – Antonio Margarito, Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander or Amir Khan – when he gets out of jail. Of the four, Margarito and Bradley loom as the next Pacquiao leftover for Mayweather. Pacquiao, on the other hand will always have the luxury of giving Mayweather his comeuppance. After all, he fought three of the boxers that should have mattered most in the American’s undefeated record. Where Pacquiao bravely fought the bigger Cotto, Margarito and Mosley, Mayweather avoided them when he should have taken those fights five or seven years ago – the way he is avoiding the Filipino pound for pound king today. On May 5 (May 6, Sunday in the Philippines), Mayweather will be having for ‘dinner’ his own words as he goes up against Cotto. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for www.asiancorrespondent.com]

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

Fast and easy loans? Istoryaheeeeee!

T’S SO EASY for lenders and financing firms to shout “fast loans!”, “easy loans!”, “quick loans!” until you find out that it takes so long, it’s so difficult and it’s so slow for these idiots to process your application for a small loan that eventually ends in a frustrating rejection. A lot of borrowers usually need a small start-up capital to start a new business. Since they have no business to speak of, naturally there’s no income yet. But lenders, especially banks that boast of giving out “small business loans” to help this struggling country boost the growth of small-medium enterprises, will demand as requirement, an ITR or “income tax return”. One borrower told me: “That’s precisely why I’m trying to get a small loan to start a business to produce income! How can I file and submit an ITR when I don’t have an income? And why do they give loans to people who already have income? If I already have an income, I don’t need a loan! Personally, I know of at least nine borrowers who have solid collaterals to show--- land, buildings, trucks, equipment, etc--- with a good cash flow, yet their loan applications were rejected

by lenders due to many stupid reasons. These lenders usually have big tarpaulin streamers ‘shouting’ in large letters: FAST, EASY LOANS WITH NO COLLATERALS!” These are the same financing firms and small lenders that charge you gargantuan interest rates of 5% to 7% per month and requiring from you : ITR, DTI registration, business permit, and collaterals in the form of land titles, vehicle ownership certificates, etc. That means they’re robbing from you 60% to 84% a year, practically grabbing away from you everything you’ll earn in a year. If that’s not called “highway robbery” I don’t know what is. This thing they call “NO COLLATERAL” is a deceit, a big stupid lie by lenders and financing firms to “hostage” your ATM, credit card, SSS loan, OFW salary, bank account, etc so that you’re forced to cough up huge interest charges for their loans. If you’re borrowing only to pay off an old debt, it’s the same thing as hanging yourself with a rope. All these lenders, financing firms and even banks are around us in Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Iloilo, Bacolod, etc, etc. You can easily detect them by their ‘loud’ ad promos in tarpaulin streamers displayed outside their offices. I can express all these thoughts with

confidence because I once worked as a broker for one of these lending firms based in Cebu. These lending firms make sure they lend money only to those welloff, with big salaries and the very rich who need cold cash once in a while to continue their night clubbing, vacations, foreign travels, casino playing, etc. No, they don’t help the poor, believe me. To them, the poor must remain poorer, the rich should become richer. Even my friends at a government agency that promotes small business and trade, all high officials, share the same frustrations of trying to help small business get no-collateral financing. They also want to help people who just want to start a small business and need a start-up capital with absolutely no collateral requirement. Even if you’re someone with a business idea that can generate profits of 40% to 60% every three months with only a track record to show it, you still cannot qualify for a P200T loan that charges 20% interest annually if you don’t have those required documents from BIR, from DTI and from City Hall. Simply put, lenders and banks only lend money to those who already have money, or if you’re already rich. If you’re broke and dirt poor, these idiots will NEVER lend you a single centavo. (Comments? Email me: tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

Monkey Business

across-the-board salary hike demanded by labor leaders. An increase of P30 to P60 probably might have been acceptable. The three government representatives to the RTWPB supposedly are the swing vote between the three labor and three management members. What’s more is that whoever is in power could have instructed the DOLE to take the side of labor in the deliberations. But sadly, of course, that has not been the case. Nonetheless, President PNoy should now concentrate fully on the economy, employment, food security and stamp out unabated corruption which is the thrust of his leadership. Together with peace and order and criminality, these will be the deciding issues in the 2013 mid-term elections. oooOooo SMALL CHANGE – Trade union activists in the Davao region have decried the newest minimum wage rate adjustment approved by the RTWPB. One can just hear the howls of protest raised by different workers’ groups during the Labor Day affair. Over-politicized leaders of labor groups claim that what they want is the implementation of the P125 legislated wage hike instead of just “small change” decided upon by the wage body. The new minimum wage rates under Wage Order No. RB 11-17 in the Davao region took effect on Labor Day. The workers’ groups probably feel that the new wage order is too unreasonable citing the basic wage in the non-agricultural sector where a laborer has to be content with taking home pay amounting to P301 representing P 286 basic wage plus P15 cost of living allowance (COLA). Why would anyone think that the

workers have to always stage protest-rallies every time a new wage order takes effect? It’s precisely because it doesn’t meet the workers’ and in particular, their leaders’ expectations. You see, workers in the agricultural sector will receive a meager P291 under the new wage order representing P276 basic wage and P15 COLA. Imagine? Well, it is not just the workers in the non-agricultural and agricultural sectors who have difficulty in dealing with the new wage rates but the retail services as well. A worker of a retail company employing more than 10 will only receive P301 representing P286 basic wage and P15 COLA while a similar retail servicing outlet employing less than 10 pays a laborer P270 representing P255 basic wage and P15 COLA. Goodness gracious! If you want to examine closely the rates under the new wage order, it will be evident that workers in the Davao region will only receive “peanuts” compared to the workers in Metro Manila and its adjacent areas. But despite the strong workers’ clamor for government to act posthaste for the immediate passage of the P125 across-the-board salary hike, the latter still has warned against violation of the new wage order. Violators will be penalized with a fine of not less than P25,000 nor more than P100,000, or imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than four years, or both. Persons convicted shall not be entitled to the benefits provided for under the probation law. Violators shall also pay an amount equivalent to double the unpaid benefits due to the employees (R.A. 6727, as amended by R.A. 8188 or the double indemnity pay).

TWPB- THE S W I N G VOTE – The large number of people mainly from the labor, transport and urban poor sectors who braved the scorching heat, crowd-pressure and joined the nationwide simultaneous protest-rallies confirms recent surveys showing increased disaffection with the Aquino administration. While President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is noted to be hardworking and straightforward, it is perceived that he has not squarely faced the root causes of the country’s interlocking problems - unemployment, poverty, and the suffering of the masses from insufficient income and skyrocketing prices of basic commodities. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) admits that roughly 2.5% of the population or about 3 million Filipinos are unemployed or underemployed, but skeptics say it’s a dubious estimate. Likewise for some, notably President PNoy’s political adversaries and rabid critics from the transport sector, he did not exert maximum effort to hold the line on diesel fuel and gasoline prices which he could have easily done by the simple expedient of ordering government-controlled Petron not to go along with big oil players Shell and Caltex, and even the minor competitors in the price race. Then again, the main issue raised during the Labor Day celebrations is the wage adjustment approved by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB). The P8 to P10 wage increase is a pittance compared to the P125/day

Signs of disaffection

May Day

S many may have expected but hoped against, President Benigno S. Aquino III thumbed down organized labor’s demand for a legislated P125 wage increase. His reason for ruling out such an increase was the same as that of all his predecessors starting from his own president-mother – it will hurt the economy. By his own calculations, granting the increase would cost P1.43 trillion a year, an amount that he said was bad for an economy that was worth P8 to P9 trillion. Obviously worried for the business sector but insensitive to the plight of wage earners the real value of whose salaries have greatly diminished over the years due to inflation, Aquino raised the specter of businesses closing down and retrenchment of over half a million workers. “How can the businessmen recover this? Isn’t it that they’re going to raise the price of goods and services? Aren’t they going to cut costs by laying off employees? Has anybody explained that there are 527,000 Filipinos who could lose jobs this year and next year if this is implemented?” Aquino said in his Labor Day speech delivered in Filipino. At the very least, we expect our leaders to work out a reasonable compromise between capital and labor. Aquino, however, not only rejected the demand; he added insult to injury by implying that the workers were being stupid for not studying the supposed implications of a wage hike. Having said that, the President consigned the demand to the regional wage boards, which have only granted negligible increases over long periodic intervals. Aquino was out of touch with reality when he directly linked price increases to salary hike. The prices of goods and services are bound to increase with or without wage hikes as they always have. This has always been the line of the business sector that government officials including the president love to echo every time the workers demand a wage hike. I have yet to hear a president talking from the side of the workers. Why, no administration has ever solved, for example, the widespread problem of non-remittance of social security and health care premiums, and the practice of many employers of making their employees sign two payrolls, one indicating the legally mandated wage and the other the actual salary received. But since the workers – mostly contractual – are afraid to lose their jobs, they won’t mind this setup. In other words, aside from denying the benefits due to their employees many business owners are following the prescribed minimum wage only on paper. If the government cannot stop these practices, how can we expect it to feel empathy for the worsening economic condition of the working class? Or perhaps, Aquino was still trying to cope with the loss of the family-owned Hacienda Luisita to its workers. So, Mr. Palace Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Sir, where’s the good news? [H. Marcos C. Mordeno mainly writes on the environment, human rights and politics. He can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com]

10 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

Cong. del Rosario launches K AGR-KNOWS program

ComVal fine-tunes DSWD program for local implementation

Davao del Norte 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario awards scholarship grant to 186 incoming high school freshmen at the launch of his AGRKNOWS program. [NOEL BAGUIO/DAVNOR PIO]

avao del Norte, May 2, 2012 - 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario launched his educational program, known as AGRKNOWS, in support of the P.E.O.P.L.E. development agenda of his father, Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario. AGR-KNOWS, which stands for Knowledge and Numerous Opportunities With Schooling, is providing scholarship assistance to some 186 incoming high school freshmen, who graduated the elementary level as valedictorian and/or president of the student body. Students under the unusual program will receive P1,000 per year for four years starting this School Year 2012-2013, after enrolling in public secondary schools. Cong. del Rosario said the amount will cover the school fees and other miscellaneous obligations of the students. However, they must stay in school in the next four years to continuously enjoy the assistance.

The representative bared his office has allotted about P3 million for the scholarship assistance of deserving high school, college and technical-vocational students in his district, as part of his pet program. Aside from the grant to high school students, he is also giving away five full and five half scholarship grants to deserving college students to be enrolled at the University of Southeastern Philippines – Tagum City Campus. While, another ten full and ten half-scholarship grants are also available to meritorious students enrolling in the technicalvocational courses. He has likewise allotted funds to support the Brigada Eskwela school improvement program this month of May. In support of the program, Gov. del Rosario assured to provide provincial scholarship grant to students who will finish high school under the AGR-KNOWS program. Joining the del Rosarios at the launch of the

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario expresses support to the AGR-KNOWS program of his son 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario, which awarded scholarship grant

EDGEDAVAO

Davao del Norte 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario explains his AGR-KNOWS program during its launch at the Bulwagan. Noel Baguio/ DavNor PIO program were Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr., Board Members Shirley Belen Aala, Atty. Joey Millan, Antonio Lagunsad and Vicente Eliot, Sr., along with Davao del Norte Asst. Schools Di-

to 186 incoming high school freshmen, who graduated the elementary level as valedictorian and/or president of the student body. [NOEL BAGUIO/DAVNOR PIO]

vision Superintendent Cristy Epe and Tagum City Division Administrative Officer V Arlene Baldonado. Jesus Aniedes of Barangay Apokon in Tagum City was so grateful to Congressman del Rosario for including his daughter Jesilin in the program. Jesilin, who is the middle child in the brood of six, said she aims to study civil engineering after completing her secondary at the Tagum City National High School. “Makatabang jud ni ug dako alang sa mga bayronon sa eskwelahan (this is really a big help in paying her school fees),” said Aniedes, who tends the family’s 1-hectare farm in neighboring town of Maco in Compostela Valley Province.

NOWN for adopting the KALAHICIDSS concept, Compostela Valley Governor Arturo T. Uy vowed to find ways to perfect the concept so that it will suit its implementation at the provincial level. KALAHI-CIDSS or Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan –Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services is a community-driven development (CDD) project of the government where decision-making resides in the community. Gov. Uy has emulated the concept through his ATU-PEACE (Assistance Towards Unity for Progress thru Empowerment, Accountability, Cooperation and Efficiency) program. In a briefing for the visiting team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the governor said that at present, his administration has started going through the ATUPEACE program and how it can improve its implementation. “If we have technical people coming from DSWD or other agencies to help us with the innovations to make it (ATUPEACE) more perfect, more like the KALAHICIDSS program or a twin KALAHI-CIDSS program, then it would be better,” the governor said. He said KALAHICIDSS concept is one of the best programs of the national government through DSWD because this has provided assistance to those who really need help. “The system community-driven development or CDD is so rigid and it involves the community. Ibig sabihin it is not only what the barangay officials or what the barangay captains need or want. Kasi there are barangays where the officials or the captains are the only ones who choose the project like farm-to-my-house roads,” he added. When he assumed as governor in 2007, Gov. Uy found that not all barangays were able to get a share out of the 20% provincial development fund. So that when he attended one of the KALAHI-CIDSS activities, he asked officials of the department, including Assistant Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon, about the nitty-gritty of the project. An Extra Mile The governor said that as a rule of thumb, he can set aside even beyond the 50% provincial development to the communitydriven development approach. “I think the most fair way of giving them

projects is adopting the KALAHI-CIDSS program,” he said, adding that the concept removes the hold of politicians in the project implementation and allows the community to identify its priority. The provincial government has even set up a 50-person Community Affairs Office whose members are assigned to the 11 municipalities of the province to help in facilitating barangay assemblies with the end view of empowering communities. He said he liked KALAHI-CIDSS as a project because it involves the whole community. “If it is the whole community that decides the project, it must be the priority of that community. That’s why I adopted the KALAHI-CIDSS concept,” Uy added. Under the ATU-PEACE program, the governor set asides P300,000 to each barangay for its priority project, but the amount can be increased dependent on the priority of the barangay. The program is now on its third year of implementation and has disbursed a total to P75 million. Engaging PLGUs In explaining the need to involve the local government units, Joel Mangahas, ADB team leader, explained that the mission wanted to look at the involvement of the provincial government units (PLGUs) because the national government is scaling up the CDD approach of KALAHI-CIDSS into a national anti-poverty strategy for all government agencies. “In the scaled up implementation it is envisaged that there will be a more active and direct engagement of the provincial local government units not only in providing counterpart funding but also in fulfilling the service mandates of the PLGUs, namely, and among others, to promote area-wide and integrated development within the province, addressing some of the inter-jurisdictional gaps and issues of development, a provincewide targeting of poverty,” Mangahas said. Mangahas added the visit will help the Bank process and document “the good practices of PLGU engagement.” In singling out Compostela Valley, Mangahas said the province “has demonstrated a strong commitment and support to the CDD initiatives and it has not only provided the required local counterpart to KALAHI-CIDSS but it has also even top-up the funds and also follow the KALAHI processes.”

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

COMPETITIVE EDGE

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

The technical staff of the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Ports Authority tour Samal Island to help boost the tourism industry.

PPA teams up with DOT on cruise tourism P

ARTNERSHIP between the Department of Tourism (DOT)–XI and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is underway in prepping up the Davao Port here as an international hub for cruise liners. Davao is among the eight ports identified as Tourism Gateways by the DOT including Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa, Subic, and Zamboanga. It forms part of the nation’s major nautical cruise arteries. Following the successful maiden voyage to the country of MV Princess Danae, a Portuguese luxury cruise ship which first docked in Davao Port on March 29, 2012 said two offices vowed to pursue more aggressive moves to capture foreign nationals on tour in the Southern Mindanao (SoMin) areas. “Tourism is a complementary sector to the maritime industry which certainly puts us on the map and PPA will always be an active ally in terms of infrastructure support,” PPA Port District Office-Southern Mindanao Engineering Services Division Manager Engr. Asterio Gallardo, Jr. assured. During the recent meeting between representatives from both agencies held on April 12, 2012 at the PPA Port Management Office (PMO)-Davao, DOTXI Regional Director Art Boncato, Jr. expressed optimism that the Davao Port will be able to handle prospective influx of foreign guests via cruise ships.

RD Boncato cited the strict adherence to safety and security procedures of the Davao Port and the organized conduct of local tour operators to guests as hallmarks in ensuring a snowball effect on tourism. MV Princess Danae will surely not be the last of the many luxury ships to come and to prove that truly the It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign is true in every way, he added. The DOT-PPA tandem will form part of a Technical Working Group (TWG) that will prepare a masterplan which aims to invite cruise lines over to the Davao Region. The TWG also includes the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a holistic approach on tourism packages, particularly addressing road access to inland attractions. DOT Central Office Supervising Tourism Operations Officer assigned in the Officer of Product Research and Development Ma. Valle A. Congzon who also attended the said meeting shared that she will be campaigning for the Royal Caribbean International, the world’s second largest cruise line to include Davao City as a port of call in its 2013 destinations. The real challenge, according to Congzon is how to tailor-fit the port according to the specific needs of the cruise ship and to sustain the positive impressions particularly in providing outstanding passenger comfort, safety, security, and sightseeing and shopping opportunities given the

limited time of docking. To jumpstart the action plans, the team also conducted ocular inspections of the neighboring ports such as the Km. 11 Sasa Boat Landing Facility, Mae Wess Ferry Terminal in Km. 10, Barangay Sasa and the Sta. Ana Wharf in the downtown area – the three major conduits from Davao City mainland going to the Island Garden City of Samal which is already part of Davao del Norte Province. Likewise, site visits were done to the receiving ports in Samal Island like the Babak Wharf in Barangay Villarica which is facing Sasa, Davao City, the Mae Wess Ferry Terminal also in Babak District, and the Tagpopongan Roll-On RollOff (RoRo) Port on the southern part opposite of the Pantukan RoRo Port in Compostela Valley Province. Except for Tagpopongan, these said are the most heavily used by current and prospective tourists – both foreign and local who wish to explore the countryside sites, sun, sand, and sea combined. DOT-XI Chief Tourism Officer Eden David conveyed that cruise tourism in not only about arrivals but an integrated experience of sights, sounds and senses that add up to the whole picture of satisfaction. Hence, part of the roadmaps of cruise tourism is to truly create tour packages embodying the best of the islands with the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” concept, David stressed.

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AGRITRENDS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Cacao making a comeback Text and Photos by Jims Vincent T. Capuno

N 1670, Spanish mariner Pedro Bravo de Lagunas planted the first cacao in San Jose , Batangas. After that, cacao growing flourished in various parts of the country – until pod rot wiped out plantations of it. In the 1950’s, the imposition of Import Control Law resulted in efforts to revive the industry by intergovernmental agencies and by private sector for selfsufficiency and export. By the time the industry was blooming, pod borer infestation surfaced. Control of the disease was quite expensive. As a result, established plantations were again wiped out; others were abandoned. This was particularly in Mindanao , where most of the cacao crops were grown. In 1990, about 18,388 hectares were planted to cacao, with most of the crops growing in Davao , Zamboanga peninsula, Western Visayas, North Mindanao , Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Caraga, according to the Department of Agriculture. By 2006, the area declined to less than 10,000 hectares. During this period, production fell from 9,900 tons to about 5,400 tons, with two-thirds of the production coming from Davao region alone. Today, cacao is staging a comeback. Thanks to the demand of cocoa – the primary product of cacao – here and abroad. The Philippines imports about 30,000 tons cocoa products (beans, powder, butter, and liquor) are imported every year. The reason for this importation: Filipino farmers can only produce about 6,000 tons of cocoa every year. “The problem of the market is there’s not enough beans,” deplores Dr. Nicolas K. Richards, the chief of party of Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), an economic development organization that specializes in food security, agribusiness, community development, financial services, and enter-

prise development. “This is really a fantastic situation,” Richards continues. “It’s getting worse and worse. The world needs more and more (cocoa) beans. Productions (in the Philippines ) can’t keep up with (increasing) demand.” Recent studies have shown the world market needs 3.6 million tons of cocoa every year. The demand is growing annually by 90,000 tons. Currently, most of the productions come from Africa (which supplies 68 percent of the global production). South America provides 14 percent of the total production; the Philippines manages to contribute a measly 0.16 percent. The country’s contribution is lamentable since the Philippines is ideal for cacao growing. Mindanao , for instance, is best for cacao production – except those areas 1,400 meters above sea level like the higher places in Bukidnon. Mindanao does not have typhoons and has good rainfall and good soil, Richards explains on why he singled out the country’s second largest island. “But cacao would grow anywhere in the Philippines ,” he adds. (For trivia fans: The Philippines was the first in Asia to plant cacao and prepare chocolate drinks from cocoa beans.) By 2020, Richards believes the Philippines can produce 100,000 tons of cocoa. This means that in the next ten years, some 500 million more cacao trees are growing in about 150,000 to 200,000 hectares of land. “Cacao is highly suitable to intercropping and mixed farming systems, and can add more than US$1,500 per hectare of income from 500 mature trees per year,” Richards says. “It is a proven crop in the Philippines , ready for resurrection.” In Davao City , former councilor Leo Avila is encouraging farmers and entrepreneurs to plant cacao. “I urge farmers and agribusiness sectors to invest in cacao because it’s a wonderful opportunity,” says Avila , now the chief of the city agri-

Cacao and its products culture office. “It’s a suitable crop in diversifying the existing tree crops and in making more money. And there is already a ready market.” Cacao is included in the so-called CoCoPal (cocoa, coconut, and the palayamanan) program of ACDI/ VOCA. “We are working on projects to help farmers to look at low cost inputs to help them get better return. We help in aspects like pest and disease control, organic fertilizers, and many others,” Richards says. Davao farmers have a good market for their crop: Mars, Inc., the world’s largest confectioner, which manufactures popular chocolate brands like M&M, Mars, Twix and Snickers, among others. In 1988, Mars Inc. asked Charita Puentespina to act as a consolidator for the company. “We consolidate the cacao beans from individual farmers and from cooperatives, ferment and dry them in the sun,” says Puentespina, who is known

as the lady who successfully propagate the waling-waling orchid. According to Puenstepina, Mars, Inc. will need up to 100 metric tons of cocoa annually in the next five years. “Mars has a very big demand and no single plantation can meet the demand at the moment, hence the cacao products are consolidated,” said Puentespina, whose 17 hectares of her farm is planted to cacao. Cacao was first cultivated by the Mayas around the 7th century A.D. They carried the seed north from the tropical Amazon forests to what is now Mexico . In the 16th century, the Spanish planted cacao across South America, into Central America, and onto the Caribbean Islands . In the 17th century, the Dutch transported the cacao to other places around the globe like Java, Sumatra , Sri Lanka , New Guinea , and the Philippines . Cacao is highly prized because of its beans which are processed into cocoa

products such as butter, powder, paste/liquor and chocolate confectionery. In the Philippines , most of the beans produced by small holders are mostly made into tablea, a native chocolate confection. Cocoa powder and cocoa butter are widely used in food products; cocoa butter is also used as a base for moisturizers, cosmetics, and suppositories. Cocoa seed and cocoa seed coat are used to treat intestinal conditions; diarrhea; liver, bladder and renal disease; diabetes; and others. Studies have shown that cacao contains 0.5% to 2.7% theobromine, 0.25% caffeine, and other methylxanthine alkaloids. Cocoa contains the antioxidant catechin. Theobromine has weaker stimulant effects than caffeine but is a more potent diuretic, cardiovascular stimulant, and coronary dilator. There are three varieties of cacao grown in the country: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. The Spaniards brought Criollo to the Philippines

in the 18th century. It is very susceptible to most pests and diseases of cacao. However, it is the most sought-after and expensive variety of cacao because of its quality and rarity. The variety, which can be found only in Ecuador and the Philippines , is also known as “porcelana cacao” because of its seed’s white color. When provided the proper attention and care, it can yield an average of 1.5 to two kilograms per tree under Davao conditions. Forastero was introduced to the country in the early 1990s by the Americans. This variety is known for its sturdiness and wide adaptation. It shows varying degrees of reactions to the pests and diseases of cacao, ranging from highly susceptible to resistant. Trinitario reportedly comes from Trinidad , credited for hybridization between Criollo and Forastero plants. Many Trinitario selections produce high quality beans (from the Criollo parents) and possess the resistance and vigor of the Forastero parent.

EDGEDAVAO

Cops... FFROM 1

Lt. Col. Jerry Borja, Commander of the 71st Infantry Battalion, said that “based on the kind and make of those landmines, there is no doubt that they are owned by the Organized Crime Group-New People’s Army (OCG-NPA).” “A piece of these landmines has a killing radius of 50 meters, if three are combined, anyone within five meters can be killed by its blast alone even without the shrapnel,” Borja said in a statement. The 71st IB commander said that the landmines´”are bigger than the ones used in the Libay-libay, Maco Landmine Massacre.” “If not seized, these landmines might have injured or killed many people,” he said. Borja added that is all 12 landmines were used simultaneously; it can “easily collapse a two-storey building.” Brig. Gen. Ariel B.

Bernardo, Commander of Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, commended the soldiers and the Pantukan police for being vigilant and prompt in doing their jobs and cited that the use of landmines by the NPAs are in violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the Philippines (CARHRIHL). “The use of landmines is a violation of the provisions of CARHRIHL specifically Part III, Article 2, Paragraph 15. We condemn to the highest degree the NPA’s continued use of these banned landmines,” Bernardo said. The confiscated items has been brought to Pantukan Police Station for proper handling and disposition, said Information officer Cpt. Jan Sangacala of the 71st Infantry Batallion.

Community... FFROM 2 responsibility to ensure that happens, and we start by addressing the basic problem of classroom shortage.” Fighting poverty alongside the community apparently isn’t new for Philex, which between 2006-2010, poured more than P1 billion to livelihood and reforestation programs in its Silangan

Alleged...

Davao...

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“A public servant who has a case against him or her should not be promoted. That’s the law,” said Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez through a statement. “We were alarmed upon learning of the recent appointment of Segovia as well as Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad. Col. Jaime Abawag, whom we’ve also filed our case against, has not yet been promoted but we are noting him for future reference. They should not be promoted they being perpetrators of gross human rights violations,” she added. This week, activist human rights group Karapatan and the Council for Health and Development (CHD) formally wrote a letter to Commission on Appointments (CA) secretary Arturo Tiu expressing their objection to the promotion of Segovia. Segovia was for-

project site, eventually enabling the initiative to exceed government’s compliance rate. For its part, Sagittarius Mines, Inc., which runs the Tampakan CopperGold Project within the boundaries of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur, has introduced programs that “provided real

and long-term benefits to our host communities,” according to a report. In 2010 alone, the company spent P135 million for education, health, livelihood and enterprisebuilding programs. The initiatives ultimately benefited some 12,000 community members and 19,000 students. (AL DACUMOS)

Applicants considered as near-hire or for final interview were 2,093, with 1,414 for local employment and 812 for overseas. Suyao considered the limitation of DOLE to provide a more sufficient budget for the jobs fair so that it will have a longer period and bigger spaces to accommodate more ap-

plicants. “So maybe isa sa among assessment ang unsaon pa nato next time nga mas daghan motambong. Kay kung mas daghan motambong, mas daghang opportunity nga makakitag trabaho,” he said, citing their efforts to connect to media, online social networking and websites.

3 More... FFROM 3 for the turnout. If we compare the data last labor day, naay improvement because sa support sa media ug sa different sectors. Naa tay nakalap nga employers nga 30,000, compared to last year, 13,000 lang. Pati ang turnout sa applicants daghan compared last year,” he added. Based on the consolidated final report on the jobs fair last Labor Day at Gaisano Mall of Davao and SM City Davao, including the second day at Gaisano (May 2), there were 9,404 total registered applicants, and 5,475 qualified job applicants referred (4,167 for local employment and 1,308 for overseas). The total job applicants interviewed were 3,113, while there were 712 hired on-the-spot (512 for local and 200 for overseas).

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

merly the chief of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division before he replaced Lieutenant General Arthur I. Tabaquero who retired. Also cited in the Morong 43 case were former National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, Gen. DelfinBangit, Lt. Col. Victorino Zaragoza, Maj. Manuel Tabion, Supt. Marion Balolong, Supt. Allan Nubleza, and other military and police officials. Plaintiffs are Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Dr. Alexis Montes, and health workers Gary Liberal, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, Reynaldo Makabenta and Mercy Castro among others. Enriquez said the group has also filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights on February of 2010 against Segovia and Baladad. The health workers were arrested in February 2009 in Morong,

Rizal under the military OplanBantay-Laya campaign of the Arroyo regime. On December 2010, the Morong 43 wereordered released by President Benigno Aquino, after being imprisoned for ten months. “Pres. Noynoy Aquino said it himself, that the arrest and detention of the health workers are ‘fruits of the poisonous tree.’ It is, however, lamentable that instead of immediately prosecuting those responsible for their illegal arrests and incarceration, the promotion of these military and police officers are being effected,” Tanggol Bayi convenor Cristina Palabay said. “It is déjà vu, similar to the period of former Pres. Arroyo, when Maj. Gen. JovitoPalparan Jr. who, despite many cases filed against him, was heaped upon with promotions and accolades,” she added. [JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

mismatch, saying “Katong gitawag nato na mga wala pay skills, nga kinahanglan nato i-connect para ma-absorb sila sa mga industries nato, naa ang TESDA para mohatag ana nga training.” During the May 1 jobs fair, local call centers had the highest number of hired applicants, followed by companies hiring office clerks, technical support, accounting staff, sales personnel, barista, cook, and engineers. For overseas employment, there were 68 hired as welders, the highest number of hired applicants in one category on Labor Day jobs fair. “Ang welder dili na ni kinahanglan og kurso. Ang kinahanglanon lang ani, usually, if you’re going abroad, is a certification from TESDA sa mga trainings nila,” he said, adding that “If you are actually certified by TESDA, naay posibilidad nga mahire. Siyempre, naa pud ang mga domestic helpers, electricians, carpenters ug mga engineers. Daghan kaayo sa construction industry. Naa pud mga waitress, manicurista, receptionists, and service crew.”

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

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MEDVIL DFA. Davao’s Under-23 squad, represented by Medvil FC, is shown here before their match against DNFA in the Suzuki U23 National Cup at the Tionko Field.

Pacquiao ends Baguio training

ORLD Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao officially ended on Thursday the first leg of his preparation here for his coming title fight against undefeated American Timothy Bradley next month. A six-round give-andtake engagements with Russians Ruslan Provodnikov and Rustam Nugaev completed the 20-round sparring portion of the training at the Shape Up Boxing Gym at the Cooyeesan Hotel along the zigzagging Naguilian Road. Pacquiao, who is staking his 147-pound title against world junior-welterweight titlist Bradley on June 9, and members of his coaching staff, headed by Freddie Roach, assessed the results of the three-week camp as satisfactory.

“I’m not yet 100 percent, but I believe we’ve done what we’re trying to achieve here in Baguio,” Pacquiao told this writer before the start of the final day here. “We’ve gained 50 percent of what our target at the day of the fight,” he assessed. “Nakuha na nain ang kalahati ng dapat makuha in all aspects of preparations; when the day of the fight comes, 100 percent na.” “Yun naman ang purpose of scheduling the training calendar step-by-step,” he explained. “You get something in the earlier stage, then advance a level higher in the next.” Roach agreed, saying, “We always had a good start and here is no difference. This is only the beginning. We gained a little of everything here, then figure out the projected total results when we get to Los Ange-

les.” As in last Tuesday’s session, the routine roadwork held in the morning was cancelled in order to give the eight-division belt-owner a respite in preparation for the next stop of the buildup program ar the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. “The past week was tough for Manny. He came back from a long layoff, but he’s been getting better and better as days gone by,” Roach said. “I need to give him rest. He needs good sleep because we’re travelling long to Manila tonight. Training and workout resume tomorrow at Manny’s place (MP Gym in Sampaloc),” the five-time ‘Trainer of the Year’ said. “Sparring resumes Saturday afternoon at the same place, then we fly to the U.S. that same night,” he said.

He cited the 1987 Constitution, particularly Article 2, Section 17, which provides that “The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.” The proposed “Boxers’ Welfare Act of 2012” would provide for compulsory insurance coverage to all Filipino international boxers who shall automatically be enrolled and may thereafter avail of health services under the National Health Insurance Act.

Under the bill, professional boxers shall become members of the Social Security System (SSS) and the Pag-IBIG Fund, subject to existing laws. Likewise, promoters of professional boxers shall also insure their boxers against accidents or other risks before any bout or event shall take place. Furthermore, the bill also provides for scholarship grants to children of international boxing champions or medalists in the Olympics, coverage shall extend to the tertiary level of education until the completion of the entitled child even if he reaches the age of majority. (PNA)

(PNA)

Bill passed for welfare of boxers

bill establishing a welfare mechanism for Filipino boxers “for consistently giving honor to the country” was recently passed in Congress. Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing said House Bill No. 5793 seeks to institute a system of welfare protection for professional boxers, including athletes in the Olympics participating in boxing sports. “This measure is in acknowledgement and gratitude for all the efforts our boxers have made in giving honor to the country,” said Bagatsing, chairman of the House committee on games and amusement.

German Dustin Brown returns the ball against Cypriote Marcos Baghdatis during their ATP tennis BMW Open last sixteen round match in Munich, southern Germany, on Thursday.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Like a walk through London Marks & Spencer’s brilliant 2012 Spring-Summer collection MUCH like a warm summer breeze blowing through London’s iconic Hyde Park, Marks & Spencer unveiled its 2012 Spring Summer collection at the recent opening of its 1,000 square meter store at the Abreeza Mall.

The fashion show featured M&S’ popular clothing lines like Autograph – Luxurious, chic and sophisticated, the range embodies understated, international style. Stylish, dependable but still inspiring, M&S Woman and M&S Man brings you the great value clothes you love Women on the go will love M&S’ Indigo Collection that is composed of soft, pretty and coordinated casualwear. The collection is perfect for women who need easy style for a busy life. Those who love long weekends with also love North Coast that takes a relaxed approach to life with a casual, authentic and laid back style. Fashionable men will love Blue Harbour, the clean, masculine range offers men considered style, where casual can still be smart. Many thanks also to Enrico Gavino & Morris Uy for these fabulous photos.

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A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

Ready, set, download!

12 season-finales you shouldn’t miss this May

WITH over 50 season and series-enders coming at your faces all month, we’ve picked through the long list of finales to highlight 12 that are seriously can’t-miss. They include series-ending tear-jerkers, episodes full o’ death and graduation goodbyes. Ready? Get out a piece of paper and mark these finales down as “Do Not Miss!”.

Castle (May 7, ABC): Will they or won’t they? We’ve only been waiting four years for Castle and Beckett to get their Nikki Heat on, so we’re hoping for a, um, satisfying conclusion in the season ender. Desperate Housewives (May 13, ABC): Wisteria Lane is closing! What more incentive do you need to tune in to the final episode of DH ever? Not only will we get a flash-forward to find out how everyone ends up, but we’ll more than likely get all the answers we’ve been looking for concerning Mary Alice Young’s suicide. Fringe (May 11, Fox): It’s not the end of series, but it might be the end of the world—as we know it, anyway. While William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) might be resurrected, Olivia could (gulp) die! Do the Fringe writers really hate her— and us—so much? We’ll find out next Friday. Glee (May 22, Fox): With so many storylines jam-packed into the next three episodes (a dinosaur prom, alternate universes and a last chance at nationals) we are going to discover even more about McKinley High’s least favorite club. But the finale is going to be the grand tear-filled event for all of our graduating seniors and the juniors they are leaving behind. New York? L.A.? Lima? Break-up? Make it work? Get married? There are endless possibilities for each of our favorite gleeks and we just can’t wait to learn them all! Grey’s Anatomy (May 17, ABC): We have a few short weeks to plan our summer-long mourning outfits because

a death is coming to Seattle. Death plus filming in Big Bear means it has to be a life ending cougar attack, right? Maybe that’s too obvious, but Grey’s star Sarah Drew promises a “huge” and “intense” finale that had the whole cast bawling into their scripts. Add tissues to our finale supplies list. House (May 21, Fox): Maybe it will finally be lupus. Another long-running series ends this month, and now that we know the core couple of the show, House and Wilson, are facing an uphill battle with Wilson’s cancer diagnosis, the last episode will surely be a sobfest. And since Robert Sean Leonard dubbed the finale as “apt,” you know you can expect lots of shocks and storyline twists, as well as plenty of soulsearching from our title character. Can’t House (Hugh Laurie) and Wilson just ride off into the sunset together? We at least can expect the gang to be back together, since Jennifer Morrison is set to reprise her role as Dr. Cameron. How I Met Your Mother (May 14, CBS): This show is a plethora of puzzling questions and ‘neener-neener’ teases that will drive you absolutely crazy if you speculate for too long. For the love of Beercules, who is the mother? When is the next slap? And just how on earth did that pineapple end up on the night stand?! But there is one thing that we know for sure: in the seasonseven finale we will, without a doubt, learn the identity of Barney’s (Neil Patrick Harris) bride. Whether or not the wedding happens is still up in the air, but for our sanity it’s nice to know that there will be one less question left unanswered. Parks and Recreation (May 10, NBC): Vote Knope! Well, hopefully the town of Pawnee did because we want to see Leslie (Amy Poehler) get everything she’s worked toward. But even if she loses the election, we can count on something big happening in her life. Maybe a ring from adorable boyfriend Ben (Adam Scott)? Or something involving Bobby Newport (Paul

Rudd)? Who knew a small town could bring such big drama? At the very least, we’ll find out which ending the writers picked, since they shot two of them to avoid leaks and spoilers. Once Upon a Time (May 13, ABC): We don’t really like using the term game changer, but Once Upon a Time’s May 13 finale is just that. It’s so mind blowing it’ll leave you wondering what the show will look like in season two. Consulting producer Jane Espenson warns viewers to expect everything, even an action packed showdown that’ll make even the biggest skeptic a true believer. Sounds like magic. Revenge (May 23, ABC): You know what they say about a show that starts with a bang...it ends with one, too. The ABC hit will wrap up its insane-in-themembrane first season on Wednesday, May 23 and viewers can expect another death, some would call it a “major” one, to rock the Hamptons before the credits roll. Smash (May 14, NBC): Will Bombshell bomb? Thus far, it seems like the only way that musical is going is down... and hard. Can the team pull it together while opening night looms? And there’s of course the relationship drama that’ll only get more sinful: Dev and Karen? Ivy and Derek? Ellis and hopefully a speeding truck? All we know is that the finale will definitely bring some killer musical numbers, and that alone makes it a can’t-miss. The Vampire Diaries (May 10, CW): One of our heroes has become the big bad and he is not messing around. Alaric (Matt Davis) is, in executive producer Julie Plec’s words, “a hardcore” villain” and “no one is safe” from his wrath. “The Departed,” which airs May 10, will also feature flashbacks to Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) life, pre-vampires, which includes meeting her parents (RIP!) and the return of Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning). Candice Accola calls the hour “an emotional roller-coaster.” Which finale are you most excited for, TV lovers? (e!online)

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ENTERTAINMENT

INdulge! A3

Working with Scar Jo was tremendously awful for Jeremy Renner? JUST as he did in The Avengers, Jeremy Renner had Scarlett Johansson’s back today. And he used that position to tickle her ribs!

“Working with her was tremendous... ly awful,” Renner cracked as Johansson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her accomplishments in film. “For six months, she continuously threw me around, beat me, stepped on me and wiped the floor with my dignity and selfrespect every day—all with a smile on her face.” “Now, finally,”he concluded, “I get to step on you, sweetheart.” Black Widow kept the wisecracks to a minimum, meanwhile, instead thanking Renner for being her “knight in shining armor.” Also present were Johansson’s mom and grandmother, whom the New York-bred actress thanked for “inspiring me to be a strong, modern, independent woman.” “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t feel like the luckiest person in the world to have the job that I love,” she added. And that was before Jeremy Renner was saying adorable things about her in public! But the pair probably won’t have much time to hang out for any non-Avengers-related business. Johansson told E! News after the ceremony that, “with the exception of a nice three-day weekend,” she’s going to be working all summer.

Move over superheroes, Call of Duty: Black Ops II is here

SURE, folks might be gearing up for the huge summer season by endlessly watching all the trailers for some of the biggest films set to hit the multiplexes.

But can the likes of say, The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man, compete with the anticipation that is already building for a clip that isn’t even for a movie? Maybe not. We’re talking about Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the

upcoming video game whose first official trailer was released on Tuesday. The clip has already attracted 1.4 million YouTube views—and counting! Of course, that doesn’t exactly come as a complete surprise seeing how we’re talking about the sequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops, which became one of the best-selling games ever when it was released in November 2010 and earned $650 million in its first five days of availability.

What’s more, the next title in the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 3, set a first-day sales record of $400 million upon its release a year later before going on to gross $1 billion worldwide...in just 16 days! Luckily for Spidey, the Caped Crusader and Iron Man and Co., Call of Duty: Black Ops II won’t be released until Nov. 13, so fans will obviously have to bide their time until then. You know, like maybe catching one of their flicks. (e!online)

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge! ART & CULTURE

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

A record ‘Scream’

ONE of the art world’s most recognizable images — Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” — sold Wednesday for a record $119,922,500 at auction in New York City, beating the previous record for an artwork sold at auction, Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust.”

The 1895 artwork — a modern symbol of human anxiety — was sold at Sotheby’s. Neither the buyer’s name nor any details about the buyer was released. Munch’s image of a man holding his head and screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky is one of four versions by the Norwegian expressionist painter. The auctioned piece at Sotheby’s is the only one left in private hands. The image has become part of pop culture, “used by everyone from Warhol to Hollywood to cartoons to teacups and T-shirts,” said Michael Frahm of the London-based art advisory service firm Frahm Ltd. “Together with the Mona Lisa, it’s the most famous and recognized image in art history.” Sotheby’s said the pastelon-board version of “The Scream” is the most colorful and vibrant of the four and the only version whose frame was hand-painted by the artist to include his poem, detailing the work’s inspiration. In the poem, Munch described himself “shivering with anxiety” and said he felt “the great scream in nature.” Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, whose father was a friend and patron of the artist, said he sold the piece through Sotheby’s because he felt “the moment has come to offer the rest of the world the chance to own

and appreciate this remarkable work.” “I have lived with this work all my life, and its power and energy have only increased with time,” Olsen said. Proceeds from the sale will go toward the establishment of a new museum, art center and hotel in Hvitsten, Norway, where Olsen’s father and Munch were neighbors. Olsen said he was pleased with the auction sale and hoped publicity surround-

ing it would increase public interest in Munch’s work. Frahm had predicted the sale would break a record. He said it will show that great quality artworks can still come up for sale; that the top end of the market is driving further away from the rest of the market and that it’s a global market now where Asia and the Middle East are playing a more significant role than Europe and America.

A total of nine works now have sold for $80 million or more at auction, according to Sotheby’s. Besides “The Scream” and Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust,” only two other works have sold for more than $100 million at auction. Those are Picasso’s “Boy With a Pipe (The Young Apprentice)” for $104.1 million in 2004 and Alberto Giacometti’s “Walking Man I” for $104.3 million in 2010.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

TNT’s Larry Fonacier and B MEG’s Marc Pingris will be playing crucial roles for their teams in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. Middle photo shows B MEG’s James Yap spraying off win no. 3 of the series.

ETER June Simon was all smiles, and there was no trace of grief on his face a day after BMEG’s 100-85 loss to Talk ‘N Text the previous night. Simon had a miserable performance, scoring just five points. The gunner from Makilala, Cotabato found his touches limited by the Tropang Texters defense — he shot the ball just five times all game — and didn’t score a field goal until late in the fourth quarter with the game already decided. “Ganyan ang laging sinasabi sa amin ni Coach Tim [Cone]. Pag nananalo, not too high. Ngayon namang natalo, not too low,” said Simon. He acknowledged that Talk ‘N Text did a good job

B MEG relaxed after Game 5 win

FACEOFF

defending him and denying him the ball, and he said he’s learned not to force the issue. “Decoy na lang muna,” he said, adding that he expects Cone to come up with adjustments to allow the Llamados better looks at the basket. Point guard Josh Urbiztondo, who was in the middle of a bizarre sequence of plays to end Game Four, said the Llamados have put that debacle behind them. “Coach Tim’s been telling us to look at the big pic-

ture — keep our eyes on the prize,” said Urbiztondo, who was hit by Talk ‘N Text guard Pamboy Raymundo with an elbow late in Game Four in the incident that started a scuffle. “We don’t even think about what happened anymore. After all, they just tied the series.” Top gun James Yap, who shot a miserable 1-of-9 from three-point line in the previous game, chalked up the loss to Talk ‘N Text’s good start. “Medyo naunahan lang

CHOT REYES

Grizzlies even series 1-1 M

EMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) O.J. Mayo felt so responsible for how Memphis blew a 27-point lead in the series opener with the Clippers that he had barely slept since that loss. He made sure all the Grizzlies can sleep well

now. Mayo scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and Memphis bounced back to beat Los Angeles 105-98 on Wednesday night in Game 2. ‘’We’ll get some good

rest tonight and go to L.A. for two more games,’’ Mayo said. The Grizzlies collapsed Sunday night, letting the Clippers grab home-court advantage in the best-ofseven, first-round Western Conference series. Down

21 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Clippers tied the NBA playoff record for largest final-period comeback. The schedule meant the Grizzlies had two days between games to simmer over what went wrong.

Guard Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic hits the ground against the Indiana Pacers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Amway Center on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida. The Pacers defeated the Magic 97-74.

kami,” he said. The Tropang Texters took a 47-35 lead at halftime, which it never relinquished in Game Four. “Ganyan talaga ang basketball eh, minsan malas. Tulad ni PJ, ang ganda ng laro

nung Game One, tapos kagabi medyo minalas. Pero kami, support lang kami sa kanya,” he said. “Basta ang importante, sabi ko nga, kailangan hindi kami ma-discourage.”

Finals Summary Game 5: B-MEG 82, Talk ‘N Text 66 Game 4: Talk ‘N Text 100, B-MEG 85 Game 3: B-MEG 91, Talk ‘N Text 87 Game 2: Talk ‘N Text 104, B-MEG 102 Game 1: B-MEG 88,

Talk ‘N Text 82 Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes had the look of a defeated man when he walked into the pressroom moments after his team’s 82-66 defeat to B-MEG in Game Five of the Commissioner’s Cup finals.

Chot: TNT may have no fight left

Spurs take 2-0 lead

AN ANTONIO (AP) Tony Parker shooed away the NBA coach of the year. The San Antonio Spurs were ahead 36 points and he didn’t want Gregg Popovich to end his night just yet. ‘’To stay in shape,’’ Parker said. That’s how bad it got for the Utah Jazz. It was the third quarter of a playoff game, and Parker by then was practically treating it as just another workout. Pummeling the Jazz in a fashion not seen since Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls humiliated them in the 1998 NBA Finals, San Antonio handed Utah its second-worst playoff loss, winning 114-83 on Wednesday night to take 2-0 lead in the first-round series. Parker scored 18 points, while Popovich a day after receiving the NBA’s highest coaching honor - could practically put the Spurs on autopilot after a 20-0 run in the second quarter. Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin had admitted to being unusually jittery before losing Game 1, but this time, it was center Al Jefferson summing up how this shiner felt. ‘’Embarrassing,’’ he said. The only bigger embarrassment for the Jazz in the playoffs was that 42-point loss to Jordan’s Bulls in 1998. Game 3 is Saturday

night in Salt Lake City. It’s the first time the Spurs have led a series 2-0 since opening the 2008 playoffs against Phoenix. San Antonio won that series in five, and unless the Jazz can shake this off, this one will be over just as quick. If not sooner. ‘’I can’t explain it. I couldn’t explain it the other night,’’ Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. ‘’They came out and just whipped us.’’ It was a total collapse by the Jazz in spite of flying back to Salt Lake City after Game 1 and regrouping with two days of practice back home. There they had talked about adjustments and maybe giving Parker ‘’a hard foul or two’’ to get him thinking twice about driving, but Parker didn’t seem to have a dent on him before taking the entire fourth quarter off. Jefferson and Millsap weren’t any more imposing on offense than they were defensively. Jefferson scored 10 points, and Millsap had nine. Popovich chalked the blowout more to the Jazz having a bad night they shot 23 percent in the first half - than the Spurs dominating. Parker played 28 minutes and Popovich said the decision on when to take his star out was a struggle between keeping him in condition and not risking injury.

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

PLAYING BIG Javi scores two as Little Azkals win in Italy VOL.5 ISSUE 43 • MAY 4 - 5, 2012

By Neil Bravo

AVI Romero-Salas knocked in t w o goals

a s t h e Philippines Little Azkals dealt Panormus 98 a 6-1 drubbing in Palermo, Italy. JAVI ROMERO-SALAS(left) and JED DIAMANTE (right)

Romero-Salas, a standout of the Ateneo de Davao University, and one of two Davao boys in the team,

found the net twice in the friendly match as he carried the Little Azkals past the Italians. Teammate Troy Limbo also scored two markers while Jhenry Hamdan and Marco Casambre added a goal each to complete the scoreline. Jed Diamante is the other Davao player in the Little Azkals lineup. Meantime, a report from the team’s media representative said the team is learning to incorporate Italian football into their regular regimen as

they enter the final week of their training camp in Palermo Italy. The report also added that the training camp, hosted by the Italian football school A.S.D SportVillage Tommaso Natale Scuola Calcio Giacomo Tedesco, will end on May 9. The Little Azkals return to the Philippines the next day. The rest of the press dispatch reads: Head coach Oliver “Bingbing” Colina said he has seen improvement in the team, who was in Italy since April 20. Aside from learning

new tricks in attacking and goalkeeping from the Italian football coaches, the team’s mentality and understanding of the game have also improved. And this is evidenced by how they won their last two games in Reggio Calabria. “They have good teams here. Their training might be advanced but our boys, at this level, can also cope with them,” Colina said. Colina said the field was a factor in their last two wins because it was of good quality. He said that his boys got daunted by the field in their second and third games because it had a hard surface, made of compact sand and had no grass. Richard Montayre, the Little Azkals team manager, said the team is also

learning l o t

from former Serie A coach Ignazio Arcoleo, who is said to have a hand in developing Italian football standout Marco Materazzi. “That’s the reason why we are scoring more goals now,” Montayre said. He added that Arcoleo have taught the team various team plays and individual skills. Upon their arrival, the team’s assessment was different in team plays and aggressiveness, set plays and team organization.

Summerfest football festival May 12-13

IXTEEN champions will emerge in what could be that biggest football event in Davao this year when the 2012 Davao Summerfest Football Festival kicks off on May 12-13 at the Davao Crocodile Park. The event is one of the sporting highlights of the Davao Summerfest which formally opened last week. There will be 16 categories up for grabs in the two-day bootfest which is expected to draw teams from Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato City and the neighboring Davao provinces. Up for grabs are titles in Players 6 , Players 7, Players 8, Players 9, and Players 10 which are open for mixed players; Boys 11, Boys 12, Boys 13, Girls 13, Boys 14, Girls 14, Boys 15, Girls 15, Boys 18, Women’s and Men’s Open. Players 6 and 7 are 5-aside events while the rest are 7-a-side. Cash prizes and trophies are up for grabs in the tournament that offer a total cash pot of P284,000. Four teams from Cagayan de Oro have confirmed participation, two from Cebu City and one from Cotabato City. Cagayan de Oro’s PN Roa

Tabudogs will take part in the boys 18 and players 10, Mapre FC in boys 12 and boys 11, Cebu’s Don Bosco in Boys 12 and Boys 11, and Cotabato FC in Men’s Open. The top 3 winners in the premier Men’s and Women’s division will take home P15,000, P10,000 and P5,000, respectively. For Boys/Girls 13 to Boys 18 category, the winners will receive P10,000, P7,000, and P5,000, respectively. For Players 6 to Boys 12, the winners will get P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000, respectively. “It’s the biggest festival tournament this year and we are expecting more teams from outside Davao to confirm in the next few days,” said Neil Bravo, project head for Davao Summerfest sports events. 12 football fields will be used in the tournament sanctioned by the Davao Football Association (DFA) through President Edward “Chaya” Lam. Interested teams may register through Christian Ea (09237280441) and Rachelle “Ching” delos Reyes (09266508203). Cutoff date for registration is on May 8, 2012.