Edge Davao 5 Issue 60

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28 , 2012

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

After shootout

Indulge Page A1

Police arrest 3 gunrunners

By Jade C. Zaldivar

T

HREE male members of so-called Maglinte gunrunning syndicate were arrested last May 23 by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)

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police in Davao del Sur after a shootout with one of the suspects.

The suspects were caught in the act of selling one firearms and ammunition to a CIDG poseur buyer in an entrapment operation before noon at the Sta. Cruz Public Cemetery, Barangay Zone 4, Sta. Cruz, Davao del

Sur, said CIDG 11 regional chief SSupt. Albert Ignatius Ferro in an interview at the Grand Men Seng Hotel here last May 24.

Now facing charges are Joy Maglinte Federico, 46, identified leader of the Maglinte gun-running syndicate, and his relatives Jonathan Maglinte Cayamba, and Raul Maglinte

FAFTER, 13

AFFORDABLE VEGETABLES. Vendors sell affordable vegetables to passengers plying the Davao-Cagayan de Oro highway in Bukidnon. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Cops happy about 72 Taiwanese ouster

W

the Regional Trial Court’s junking of the case filed against the 72 Taiwanese online fraud suspects and their coming deportation, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) breathed a sigh of relief, saying “they’re happy with the ITH

n Raiding team to be sent to Taiwan

development.”

DCPO chief SSupt. Ronald dela Rosa said last May 24 their deportation is “good riddance,” adding that “it’s good the hearing of the case against the Taiwanese nationals will not be held here but in Taiwan

or Mainland China.”

“Wala mi masulti against ana ilang deportation kay mao pud na among gusto.

Mas maayo gyud nga sa gawas na dunggon ang kaso batok sa ila,” Dela Rosa told Edge Davao in a recent interviewl.

The Bureau of Immigration for the Davao region has set schedules for the de-

FCOPS, 13

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

Police chief vows to arrest cops smoking

FROM TRASH TO INCOME. Former Rep. Cynthia Villar visits Davao City to talk about the efforts of their community in converting trash and waterlilies into handicrafts that can boost the livelihood of residents. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Canon launches 19 new cameras on its 15th year

By Lorie A. Cascaro

O

NE of the top 25 companies with strongest reputations in the world, according to the Global Corporate Reputation Index, Canon celebrated last Friday its 15 years in the Philippine market with new products and technologies.

Bong F. Serevo, Jr., vice president and director of imaging communication products, Canon Marketing (Phils.) Inc., said the IXUS series allows users to transfer images and videos directly from camera to any portable Android and iOS-run devices.

He demonstrated how to transfer a photo from a point-and-shoot camera to his iPhone without using Bluetooth or wireless network during the anniversary program at SM City Davao last May 25.

“No need for a router or a network to transfer a photo wirelessly. There’s a sharing of technology between Canon and the Android and iOS that makes the transfer possible,” he said, citing that

the models are the Digital IXUS 510 HS and the IXUS 240 HS. Serevo also mentioned that it is the first venture of Canon into the film making industry with its first broadcast cinema camera.

The PowerShot range introduces seven new models, including the traveler-friendly PowerShot SX260 HS and the Powershot SX240 HS ideal for taking long-range zoom shots of distant subjects.

“Winners of indie films used these cameras that were launched in Holllywood last February.Now, we are tapping production houses and broadcast institutions to share the new technology,” Serevo said.

Canon also launched a series of business-oriented printers specially designed to address the unique needs of small and medium enterprise (SME) customers.

These are the new imageCLASS MF3010 with best in-class features, and imageCLASS MF5980dw designed for improved workflow productivity.

PIXMA also an-

nounced seven new inkjet printers, including the all-in-one photo printers, and the all-in-one printers with fax.

The new PIXMA MX897, Mx517 and MX437 printers are equipped with a wifi feature that allows users to print photos and documents wirelessly using smartphones and tablets.

International Data Corporation recognized Canon PIXMA printers as the number one total inkjet printer brand for 2011 based on unit sales.

Present in six major regions in the country and expanding, Canon Marketing (Phils.) has some 500 employee workforce, and more than 300 authorized service centers.

Also highlighting the anniversary was the Canon image nation, which, according to Serevo, encourages everyone to share photos to the world to show that Philippines is not that bad.

He added the Canon photo eskwela, Canon photo marathon, and a major corporate social responsibility project among other upcoming activities this year.

Together with the BOI, the region’s DTI continues its dialogue with chief executive officers of major companies to discuss with them possible business plans and expansions.

Through these dialogues, she added, the companies can recommend possible government interventions that they need.

“We formulated a series of industry road maps in the region so

that industry sectors will be supported,” she said, adding that the region is giving more focus on the cacao and banana industries this year.

Real property development remains tops in investments in the region, such as resorts, buildings, and malls that sprouted like mushrooms.

“We have provided the environment that entices investors to set up

DTI 11 hits 43% of 2012 target

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 has accomplished 43% of its target investments for this year as per record of the Bureau of Investments (BOI), a government official bared last Wednesday.

DTI 11 regional director Marizon S. Loreto said the target in the Davao region for this year was raised following a surplus of target investments last year.

EDGEDAVAO

FDTI, 13

By Jade C. Zaldivar

n City aspires for

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief SSupt. Ronald dela Rosa vowed last May 24 that police caught smoking within premises of government property face arrest and sanctions.

Dela Rosa has been receiving reports that some police officers had been seen smoking inside police precincts.

“Sa police precincts man or in government premises bawal manigarilyo. The fact na nakauniform ang police bawal yan actually manigarilyo,” he told Edge Davao in an interview at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

He added, “It would be ironic that policemen, who are supposed to observe the city’s AntiSmoking Ordinance, are themselves defying it.’

“They will be held liable if caught. They will be dealt with administratively,” he said.

The DCPO chief also said that all police personnel in the city are duty-bound to report a fellow officer caught smoking within government properties. That has yet to happen, though.

“I am reminding all station commanders and those under them to please follow the AntiSmoking Ordinance. Let us show the public that we are role models,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, chief of the

Anti-smoking Task Force (ASTF) said also on May 24 that she had recently met with Dela Rosa on the matter, saying there have been such violations committed by certain police officers.

Now on its 10th year, Villareiz said the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City is “still being strictly followed.”

“So far, 10,988 violators have arrested for having violated the ordinance, including 298 from January to April this year,” she said during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at the city hall.

“Perhaps our greatest achievement is that we’ve succeeded establishing certain areas in the city where smoking is allowed. We have prohibited smoking in private properties and establishments which is followed,” she added.

Villariez said City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio along with the ASTF will attend the Department of Health’s awarding ceremony on May 28 where the city is a contender for the Red Orchid Award.

“We have won the Red Orchid Award for the

Not anymore…

Red Orchid Award; n 10,988 violators arrested in 10 years

past two years. We’re receiving recognition for being an LGU that has succeeded in crafting an anti-smoking ordinance which the local government is implementing and creating discipline. In turn we have lowered incidence of smoking in the city,” she said.

“Ours is the only highly urbanized city in contention, the others are provincial cities and municipalities. Considering the size of Davao City and the population, the LGU has been recognized for having shown exemplary political will in implementing laws prohibiting smoking in public places,” she added.

Three consecutive time winners of the Red Orchid Award will be entitled to a P500,000 project grant on tobacco control.

The criteria are based on the comprehensive efforts to implement a 100% tobacco-free environment using the World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER initiative.

MPOWER is an acronym that stands for the six proven tobacco control policies namely: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn against the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and Raise taxes on tobacco.

PHL No. 7 banana exporter in the world in year 2010

T

HE Philippines was seventh among the world’s exporters of fresh banana in 2010, according the Situationer on Fresh Banana, presented by the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last May 5.

Of the $8,422 million total world exports, Ecuador had 23.77% share, Belgium 15.18%, Colombia 8.88%, Costa Rica 8.33%, USA 4.75%, Guatemala 4.57%, Germany 4.52%, Philippines 3.79%, Honduras 3%, and France 2.9%.

The DTI said most of these countries are not growing bananas but only trading, affecting the Philippines’ export markets such as Japan, which has waned since it started importing from Peru and Mexico.

In fact, ironically most of the exporting countries were also the world’s major importers of fresh banana in 2010.

Out of the $12,158 million total world imports, the USA took the lead among banana importers with 17.49%; followed by Belgium 12.96%, Germany 7.21%, Japan 6.94%, United Kingdom 6.23%, Russian Federation 5.79%, Italy 4.09%, France 3.25%, Iran 3.22%, and Canada 2.92%.

PHL top China’s exporter The Philippines was tops among China’s major supplying countries of fresh bananas in 2011 with $205.4 million or 83.2% of China’s total imports of $246.8 million in 2010.

Following the Philippines, Myanmar had a share of $24.4 million or

9.9% of China’s total imported value; Thailand had $5.8 million or 2.4%; Vietnam $4.6 million or 1.9%; and, Costa Rica $3.7 million or 1.5%.

China is tops among importing countries of fresh bananas with high growth rates in 2011, followed by Korea, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kuwait, Qatar, and Turkey.

China had 25-30% of the Philippines’ total exported fresh bananas to the world last year, according to Stephen A. Antig, president and executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association.

“Those were the days, my friend, we thought would never end…” remember the song?[LORIE A. CASCARO]

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

3

Forbidden City in Beijing

E

Santos Land conquers

ighteen individuals from the Santos Land Development Corporation, including awardees of the Annual Travel Incentive of the Year 2011, conquered China

last April 14-20.

Together with the 2011 sales producers, Myra Palmera, the top sales director and Elite Eagle awardee for the 2011, was with her hus-

China

band, Robert Palmera.

While in Shanghai, these top performing agents promised to increase sales in 2012 to fulfill a wish to see Australia as their next travel incentive.

Great Wall of China

A pose at the Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the center of Beijing.

The awardees of the Annual Travel Incentive for the Year 2011 posed for a souvenir picture with China’s “Manhattan” at the background.

A souvenir picture before climbing the famous and historical Great Wall in Beijing, China.

es Director and Myra Palmera, the Top Sal year 2011 and Elite Eagle awardee for the ra, inside the me her husband, Robert Pal in Shanghai. m seu Mu Chinese National

A pose beside the flowering cherry blossom tree inside the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Taking a rest on the steps of the Great Wall after a hard climb to the top.

2012 first quarter top agents recognized

S

antos Land Development Corporation recognized the top sales director, top sales division, and top sales executive during the first quarter recognition assembly for 2012 last April 30. Antonio Domingo, president of the company, gave recognition to Myra M. Palmera, one of the quota achievers for the first quarter, and to the Ocean Gypsy Division, which she headed.

us, e Joy E. Mahip us (L-R) Crizale nda E. Mahip Li ia ar M ipus, Jaleen E. Mah Mahipus. and Zaldy C.

A happy pose of some of the 2011 Sales Producers at the Bund in Shanghai, China (L-R)Jojo Orense, Myra Palmera, Merilyn Luy, Betty Cuajotor and Ma. Linda Mahipus.

The company recognized the top Sales Division, the Ocean Gypsy Division, headed by Ms. Palmera (L-R) Mr. Tonyboy Domingo, Myra Palmera, Ma. Isidra Matucol, Perfecto Maata, Maritess Masinading, a representative of James Kendrick Lumosbog and Lenie Estanislao.

One of the producer sales division, the Hornijas realty represented by Hanna Joy Hornijas, Sonia Hornijas and Zoilo Hornijas, the Top Sales Executive for the 1st quarter of 2012.

Ms Myra M. Palmera (center), the Top Sales Director and one of the Quota Achievers for the first quarter poses with the company President Tonyboy Domingo and the company Finance Officer Ms. Lenie Estanislao.

4

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

PAWB eyes harmonizing PHL coral reef-saving initiatives T

he Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) aims harmonizing nationwide activities on rehabilitating and protecting the country’s coral reefs to boost the bid to save these marine natural resources from climate change and other threats.

Such harmonization is among the strategies in the proposed Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) memorandum circular covering guidelines for implementing the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Protection Program (CRRPP).

CRRPP targets covering from 2013 to 2016 nearly 890,000 hectares of coral reefs in 52 marine key biodiversity areas nationwide.

“We’re already coordinating with parties undertaking their respective rehabilitation and protection work for our coral reefs,” PAWBCoastal and Marine Management Office executive director Jacob Meimban Jr. said on the side of the mural painting activity the agency spearheaded Friday in Metro Manila to celebrate Ocean Month and International Day of Biological Diversity.

He raised urgency for harmonizing efforts on saving the reefs, noting that available data indicate only about five percent of these are still in excellent condition.

“That data is even from the 1990s so it’s unclear what our reefs’ actual state is at present,” he said.

Coral reefs are diverse underwater eco-

systems built from calcium carbonate secreted by corals which are marine animals belonging to phylum Cnidaria.

Species grouped under phylum Cnidaria include those inhabiting tropical oceans.

The proposed circular requires DENR to establish a database on coral reef rehabilitation, protection and management so fresh data can be available for use in improving ways to save these ma-

rine resources.

“We need updated data to better save our reefs,” Meimban said.

Reefs serve as foraging ground for various marine species, including commercially important fish.

Experts said reefs also act as a natural barrier for protecting shorelines.

Philippine reefs are falling prey to environmental degradation and unsustainable fishing, however, Meimban not-

ed.

Experts earlier warned elevated sea temperature and sea level rise - both linked to climate change - adversely affect reefs as well.

Elevated sea temperature can cause coral bleaching, they noted.

They also said coral reefs would be more submerged when sea level rises, making it difficult for sunlight to reach these resources.

“Concerted action is

needed to save our reefs,” Meimban said.

On Friday morning, Meimban as well as DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, PAWB director Theresa Mundita Lim and PAWB assistant director Nelson Devanadera led the volunteer men, women and children who painted the 1.08-kilometer fence of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City.

The activity transformed the fence into the

Wall of Nature, a mural showing various marine and terrestrial species nationwide.

DENR decided creating the mural to help further raise public awareness and action on conserving and protecting the country’s biodiversity.

Lim said the mural was so far the country’s longest biodiversity wall.

Over 100 people volunteered to create the mural. [PNA]

view but later recanted it.

He said the affidavit was not voluntary on his part.

Bacal, however, did not give credence to Balaon’s defense. She cited the affidavit and the video shown

by ABS-CBN reporter Lorenzo Luzon, a prosecution witness, who interviewed the accused, and corroborating statements from other witnesses as “sufficient evidence that convinced this court that clearly accused Bryan Bala-on committed the crime charged.”

The case was filed in 2008 after Balaon, a Higaonon from La Fortuna, Impasug-ong admitted to having shot the eagle named Kagsabua with an air gun and brought the

dead bird home where he cooked and ate it with friends. He also said he buried the electronic tracking device attached to the eagle by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

Luzon’s video of Balaon’s confession included a clip showing the accused reenacting how he shot the bird. Bacal said she gave weight to these accounts.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which filed the complaint, called it a test case for the country’s Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act 9147).

Felix Mirasol Jr., DENR-Bukidnon chief, who said Balaon’s case

was the first of its kind in the country, described the sentence as “unfair” for the wildlife conservation and protection efforts. He said he will file a motion for reconsideration before the court “to provide more time to explain until the judge can appreciate more the case.”

Dennis Joseph Salvador, PEF executive director told MindaNews Wednesday he was disappointed since “I expected the court could appreciate the value of what we lost here.” He said the “minimal fine” neither represented what the people lost in real terms nor matched Balaon’s “mockery of the law.”

He said the sentence

missed an opportunity even if he admitted that it was a “successful trial.”

“This does not augur well for the enforcement of the country’s wildlife laws,” he added.

Appeal Damasco told his client he will appeal Bacal’s decision to the Court of Appeals.

“We lost but don’t’ worry we will appeal this.

At least there is no imprisonment,” the lawyer told the Balaons, who appeared worried.

They refused to give a statement on the decision, except to say the accused has remained in their community as a farmer after he was released on bail.

FPIC Salvador meanwhile belied reports they did not obtain a free and prior informed consent (FPIC) from the Lumad communities where they released the eagle.

Manobo tribal leader Datu Ampuan Jeodoro Sulda gave a word of advice to the PEF in a meeting with the group’s representatives sometime in July 2010: secure an FPIC first before releasing an eagle.

Sulda was quoted as saying the PEF needs to undergo the FPIC process as spiritual and cultural consultation with the Lumads and their ancestors who live in the protected areas.

Man fined P100,000 for killing Philippine eagle in Bukidnon

T

HE man found guilty of killing a Philippine eagle in 2008 in a village in Impasugong town, Bukidnon was fined P100,000 by Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Josefina G. Bacal yesterday, a decision that an official of a conservation group called a “slap on the wrist” and a “lost opportunity.”

Bacal did not impose a prison term for Bryan Balaon, who was present when the sentence was read but betrayed no emotion. His lawyer, Alvy Damasco, said they will appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals.

Balaon initially admitted the crime in an affidavit and in a television inter-

[WALTER I. BALANE/MINDANEWS]

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

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

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

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

5

Banana group welcomes stringent inspection for Philippine bananas W

HILE the industry may have lost billions of pesos over the course of three months with the ban imposed by China on Philippine Cavendish bananas after some shipment were allegedly detected to have pests, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association welcomes the opportunity to further perfect the quality of bananas being exported out of the country.

Considered as one of the primary exports of the country, multinational firms and local Cavendish producers have cornered major

segments of the markets in Japan, Korea, China, and the Middle East.

“This is the perfect time for us to also improve on our standards and show the world that our Cavendish bananas are truly world class. We welcome the imposition of stricter protocols and standards, that I’m sure members of the industry can comply with,” Stephen Antig, PBGEA executive director, said.

The country’s banana industry, which is mostly based here in Mindanao, suffered another blow since March this year after

its most promising market, China, closed its ports to Philippine Cavendish bananas after pests were allegedly spotted in a shipment from the Philippines. China soon imposed stricter quarantine protocols, which exporters were not able to immediately comply with.

The banana industry reportedly suffered losses amounting to P174 million per week since China decided to close its doors to Philippine Cavendish bananas.

To maintain the world class quality of Philippine Cavendish bananas, companies have employed

several state of the art technologies, one of which is aerial spraying as a method of spraying fungicide to control Black Sigatoka fungus that attacks the banana leaves.

“It is the most efficient method of spraying as it will ensure that the plantations are properly covered and protected,” Antig said Several groups have called for the ban of aerial spraying as an agricultural method based on unfounded allegations that such have adverse effects on the environment and in neighboring communities.

Coal plant construction to start in Q3

T

HE actual construction of an Alcantara-led $450-million coal power station will commence this third quarter and is targeted to initially go on stream in 2015, a company executive said.

Oscar Benedict Contreras III, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, said that site development works for the 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant are underway.

“The detailed design and engineering of the power station will run through the third quarter of 2012, leading to the actual erection and installation works of the power plant,” he told MindaNews Wednesday.

In an earlier statement, Contreras said that the coal power plant in Barangay Kamanga in the town of Maasim, Sarangani is expected to be operational before the end of 2015.

Sarangani Energy Corp, a wholly owned company of the Alcantara Group, is pursuing the coal plant project, which acquired an environmental compliance certificate in 2009 from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Technical and administrative personnel of Sarangani Energy have been holding office in the on-site completed project development office, Contreras said.

Sarangani Energy has forged a power supply deal with the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II (Socoteco II), which serves this city, the entire Sarangani province and parts of South Cotabato.

The power sales agreement includes the provision of 70 MW to the electric cooperative, and is still up for review with the Energy Regulatory Commission.

“We expect a decision to be reached before the end of the month,” Contreras said.

Once on stream, the power generated by the plant, the proponent said, will help ease stabilize the supply in Mindanao, which experienced interruptions in the past few months due to the generation deficiency of power producers.

The project site sits near a world-class diving spot and is facing opposition from groups like the local Catholic Church and Greenpeace on concerns over the environment and human health.

It has been in the pipeline for about five years, with Tomas I. Alcantara, Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc chairman, announcing the plan to build the power plant during the 16th Mindanao Business Conference last September 2007.

Last November, Alcantara finally led the groundbreaking rites for the power plant.

“On completion, this plant will generate about 200 MW of power that will provide “safe,

reliable and affordable energy” to the people of SOCSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City) and the rest of Mindanao,” Alcantara said then.

He noted that at least 500 people will be employed during the construction period, and around 150 when the plant goes on stream, with preference on local residents.

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

Power barges up for re-bidding T

HE government, through the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) plans to re-bid four power barges owned by National Power Corp. (Napocor) in September, a company official said.

PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the agency “will try to target (bidding) by around mid-September this year.”

Earlier, PSALM had earlier declared as failure the bidding for the four power barges after only one of the seven qualified bidders submitted an offer for the assets.

The bidders had numerous concerns and apprehensions related to the power barges such as increase in generation charges that would make the operation of the barges viable, given the experience with Therma

Marine’s barges.

Another concern was the requirement for a winning bidder to shoulder the cost of transfer of the barges and repair of the mooring sites on top of operational costs.

The winning bidder find difficulties in immediately transferring the power barges to Mindanao because of the necessary works required.

This includes the repair/ expansion of mooring facilities, construction of transmission lines and the required government approvals and permits to transfer and operate the barges.

Some of the bidders were wary of indeterminate costs imposed by local governments and some were put off by the cost of repairs that were required to be shouldered by the winning bidder under the provisions of the sale contracts.

Only ACTA Power, a joint venture between the power companies of Ayala Corp.’s AC Energy Holdings and PHINMA’s Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., submitted the required bidding documents prior to the expiration of the bid submission deadline.

PSALM is privatizing Power Barge Nos. 101 to 104, the first power asset to be privatized under the Aquino administration.

Power barges 101 and 102, currently stationed at Bo. Obrero in Iloilo City were commissioned in 1981.

Power barges 103 and 104, which began operation in 1985, were moored in Botongon, Estancia, Iloilo, and at the Holcim Compound, Ilang, Davao City, respectively.

Each power barge has an installed capacity of 32 megawatts. (PNA)

million in March 2011.

Similarly, on a monthly basis, it also grew by 53.4 percent from $ 1.006 billion recorded in February 2012.

Imports of transport equipment valued at $ 327.85 million, up by 26.8 percent from previous year level of $ 258.64 million.

Industrial machinery and equipment recorded a total import bill of $ 252.76 million, higher than the 3.6 percent compared to last year’s $ 243.91 million.

Rounding up the list of the top 10 imports for March were plastics in primary and non-primary forms registered $ 140.95 million; cereals and cereal preparations valued at $ 126.37 million; iron and steel amounting to $ 117.47 million; telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery, $ 106.37 million; and medicinal and pharmaceu-

tical products, $ 84.79 million.

Aggregate payment for the country’s top 10 imports for March 2012 reached $ 4.104 billion or 76.4 percent of the total import bill.

Japan remained the country’s biggest source of imports for March with total import bill amounting to $ 583.43 million, higher by 1.3 percent from $ 576.12 million in March 2011.

This was followed

by People’s Republic of China with total import bill of $ 562.49 million; Saudi Arabia, $ 507.85 million; United States, $ 489.94 million, and Singapore, $ 363.54 million.

Other major sources of imports for the month of March were Republic of Korea, $ 341.78 million; Taiwan, $ 314.69 million; Thailand, $ 263.89 million; Qatar, $ 223.21 million; and Indonesia $ 217.55 million.

Imports hit P5.7-B in March

T

HE country’s merchandise imports in March rose by 7.5 percent to $ 5.37 billion from the previous month’s level of $ 4.99 billion, according to the National Statistics Office.

Year-on-year, imports contracted by 3.3 percent.

In the first three months, imports fell by 1.5 percent to $ 15.501 billion from $ 15.732 billion value in the first three-month period in 2011.

Electronic products, which accounted for 23.4 percent share of the total import bill, dropped 38.7 percent to $ 1.26 billion in March from $ 2.054 billion in the same period last year.

Sales of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, which accounted for 28.7 percent of the total bill, grew by 74.4 percent to $ 1.543 billion from $ 884.45

It figures

$371.95 million

FIRST quarter revenue of AirAsia Berhad, Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier, showing an increase of 11 percent over the $333.809-revenue recorded last year, due to a 12-percent increase in passenger volume and higher capacity.

4.1 million

NUMBER of Filipinos who have joined the ranks of the jobless between December 2011 and March 2012. The unemployment rate is now 34.4 percent or an estimated 13.8 million individuals, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations.

255 percent

SURGE of investments registered with the Board of Investments in April to P133.18 billion from only P37.56 billion a year ago.The jumps in investment commitments in April was reportedly driven largely by two power project by BOI during the month—the P21.78billion project of South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. and the P49.45-billion expansion of the 600-megawatt Masinloc coal facility.

EDGEDAVAO

DAVAO-BUSAN. Executives of Air Busan, a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines, visited Davao City recently for a meeting with officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Department of Tourism Xl,and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in preparation for possible direct charter flights from Korea to Davao as part of their immediate expansion in the Philippines. (DOT XL)

Money from waste: Women earn from durian husk

By Bui Tran Nhu Phuong/for MindaNews

W

ASTE doesn’t have to be wasted away. This an NGO for the development of women has proved with a project on making paper out of durian husk. It is women empowerment and environment protection at work. Sounds ambitious, but a women’s group has made it come true.

Katakus, Inc. or the Kababayen-an Alang sa Teknolohiya nga Haum sa Kina-iyahan ug Kauswagan is an offshoot of the Women and Appropriate Technology Program of the Women Development & Technology Institute (WDTI) National Office in Davao. After the program ran out of funds and folded up, Katakus was officially established to continue the development program supporting the local women in 1996.

To this day, the group is running several projects such as sustainable agriculture and technology, organizing, capacity building of women, and the latest one, social enterprises.

The original idea was to help the women in Davao increase their income aside from their farming work. Then they saw that there were raw materials in the community that could be made into products. Fortunately, another NGO from Davao, which was running a program on handmade papers approached them and offered to teach them the technology and skills of paper-making.

The women in the communities were later provided a capital of 5000

pesos to start the handmade paper production.

That was in 2005 when the durian fibers started to be developed. And it is said that Katakus was the first to discover that durian husks can be made into paper.

Now, the group is playing the role of organizing, developing the products of the communities, and marketing them.

Husbands join trainings At present, there are two communities where the women are employed in the handmade paper production, one in Barangay Katipunan, seven kilometers from Panabo City and another one in Toril, Davao City.

According to Malba Omboy-Relon, product development officer of Katakus, each woman can earn an average of 700 – 1000 pesos per week if there are regular orders from clients. They work six days per week and eight hours per day.

As soon as the women are employed, they are invited to a two-week training accompanied by their husbands. During the training, they are familiarized with the manufacturing process, formulas and types of chemicals they will be using as well as effective time management.

From the start, there were reactions from the husbands since their wives would not be able to take care of the household the whole time anymore and the husbands themselves have to help with those duties.

However, involving the

124 percent

P1.13 billion

PROFIT GROWTH of Emperador Distillers Inc. in the first three months to P1.03 billion compared to a year ago.

The first-quarter profit can be attributed to huinger consumer spending coupled with the increase patronage of the firm’s products.

NET INCOME of state-owned Philippine Ports Authority during the first three months this year as a result of higher revenues from vessels and cargoes and also the lower operating expenses.

This shows an increase of 6 percent over last year’s profit of P1.07 billion.

husbands in these seminars and trainings make them informed and prepared. Little by little, they come to share the same understanding that household chores are not only the women’s duty but also the husbands’ and children’s.

Environment friendly The process of handmade paper production is quite time consuming because it is almost manual.

The women collect durian husk from fruit stands in Magsaysay Park and bring them to the paper factory in Panabo. Durian husk is chopped into small pieces and fed into the chopping machine in which they are chopped into smaller pieces to be cooked in a drum before the fibers are formed.

After that, the fibers are washed, drained, bleached and then fed into the beater for easy sheet forming. A mold and deckle are used to mold or form the sheet. The excess water later on is extracted manually with a sponge or any absorbent material.

Then the papers are dyed as required by clients. The fibers can be used for designing unique and original craft products such as lamp shades, scrap books, cards and boxes.

Betty More, one of the founders of Katakus, proudly believes that the nature of this production activity is recycling and maximizing the use of waste. And the paper they are producing is also environment friendly because the materials are obviously not from trees.

200 MW

POWER supply shortfall seen in Mindanao in 2013, according to Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras’ Almendras power supply in Mindanao will depend on rainfall.

EDGEDAVAO

MOTORING

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

7

Thai-made Honda Jazz back in the market Y

The new Honda Jazz made in Thailand.

Filipino drivers are Asia’s best fuel savers

F

ILIPINO drivers are Asia’s top fuel savers, according to Shell Fuel Save Index study by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

(PSPC).

“Being Asian continent’s top fuel saver instead of a mean gas guzzler is quite a feat and an honor to the Philippines,” said PSPC vice president for communications Roberto Kanapi.

The Filipinos, aside from being smart drivers have become adept in observing

E

RNESTO and Jean Christi Rivera had hoped their only son Joel Roy Rivera will add the letters R.N. to his name a few months after his nursing graduation from San Pedro College last April.

Today, their son’s name will have the letters R.I.P. connected to it.

Reason?

An ongoing road construction in Mati City, Davao Oriental left a steel construction plate lying on the repaired concrete road without any road safety devices and signs and lights either.

At night, this very dark curved section is a virtual death avenue.

The death of Roy is not only the first recorded in this season of road constructions. There are quite a few incidents, reported and unreported, where lives are lost or injuries sustained because road constructions are tolerated to be made without safety devices.

This is very common in Davao Region. Davao Oriental in particular.

Roy is not strange to me. He is my godson and my nephew. I drove to Mati last Sunday night to catch his wake. I reached the repaired road section where the tragic death happened three days back and it still stood the same—pitch dark and no warning devices.

Monday night, a family of four hit the ditch of that same road section and fell off their motorcycle. Luckily for them, they only sustained injuries.

A doctor-friend in Mati told

petrol or gas saving techniques while on the road.

For instance, in 2011, only 12 percent of the 1,200 respondents said they were unable to save gas as much as they wanted because they did not know what to do.

But, this year, 18 percent of the interviewees said they had already saved fuel while driving -- which was two percent above the Asian average.

With constant change in oil prices as dictated by

the world market, Filipinos have become wise and creative in finding opportunities to lessen their daily gas allowance while maintaining their cars in the best possible way.

According to the study, 94 percent of the respondents said they saw fuel efficiency as a way of increasing savings that’s why they were willing to change driving habits.

Better still, 85 percent of those surveyed have ac-

me the following night, he just attended to a patient with a fractured skull after hitting the same repaired section.

I will show you some photos I took a week after the tragic death of my nephew. There is still nothing done here. It’s so insanely disappointing there is nothing the DPWH is doing with this situation.

I asked for an investigation report from the police and the city government. I am sad that all we got was a poorly written police blotter—a narrative of events as told by a supposed eyewitness.

No findings as to the safety regulations were noted. Nevertheless, mandamus will lie that the incident, not entirely unique in itself because of the several other past occurrences, should not be ignored albeit treated so coldly.

I have indicated that the City Administrator has sent me a text message that an investigation has been conducted and their findings reportedly sent to the Mayor and the DPWH. The Mayor’s Office, however, promised to check on the whereabouts of this vital document by Monday.

We are clinging on the hope that there exists this document.

What is the responsibility of road construction contractors?

Primarily, road construction must be made with observance of the rules on road safety.

Basic requirements include road warning signs installed at a distance prior to the actual repaired section, flashing lights, reflectorized signs, pictograms, and barricades. In construction sites where traffic needed redirection, a personnel must man the site.

Road construction sites are

blocked-off and traffic is redirected. The sites and vehicles are protected by signs and barricades. However, sometimes even these signs and barricades can be a hazard to vehicle traffic. For example, improperly designed barricades can cause cars that strike them to roll over or even be thrown into the air. Even a simple safety sign can penetrate the windshield or roof of a car if hit from certain angles.

If the contractor fails to comply with the requirements of safety, then it clearly violates the terms of its construction contract and contractor’s license.

What is the responsibility of the DPWH? The City Government?

The DPWH is the agency responsible for the award of contracts. Hence, they are responsible to ensure that contractors abide by the terms of their contract and the requirements of safety required of licensed contractors.

The DPWH should conduct its own investigation to find the culpability of the contractor in this case.

For its part, the City Government should ensure that the requirements of safety is followed within its territory and in case of incidents such as this one, it is incumbent upon them to seriously investigate and not merely do a reprisal of a lousy police blotter.

If it can prioritize itself in a buying spree of new vehicles, it should also prioritize the safety of its roads, not only to its own new fleet of cars but to its constituents, majority of which are riding on their most affordable means of transportation—motorcycles.

tually changed their driving habit to reduce the amount of their fuel consumption.

The fact is Filipinos have been consistently increasing their fuel reduction throughout the years.

When it comes to techniques, Filipino drivers rank first in the Top 5 fuel saving tips such as (1) Avoiding over-revving where they rated 79 per cent, (2) Reducing speed at 56 per cent, and (3) Driving smoothly at 53 percent.

Road construction crimes

OU all know that Honda ran into a world of problems when its manufacturing facility in Thailand was submerged in floodwater last year. Chief of those problems was the cessation of supply for the Japanese carmaker’s distributors in the ASEAN region--including the Philippines, obviously.

This prompted Honda Cars Philippines to begin importing units from Japan, which wasn’t really a sustainable proposition as the units were significantly more expensive to source.

Among the cars shipped from Japan was the Jazz. But good news just got mailed to us as HCPI announces that the Thailand-made 1.3-liter Jazz S variant is now available once again at its nationwide dealerships.

“Honda Cars Philippines resumes sales of the Jazz 1.3-liter S variant starting May 18, 2012, following the recovery of supply from Honda’s manufacturing plant in Thailand, which again started production of automobiles on March 26, 2012,” the company said in a state-

ment.

So, the big question is: How much is the Thai-made 1.3-liter Jazz S variant now? Honda has priced it P752,000 for the manual and P792,000 for the automatic. The specs list? Check out the bullet points below.

Exterior: * Multi-reflector halogen headlights * LED taillamps * Micro-type roofmounted antenna Interior: * ULT (Utility/Tall/ Long modes) seats * Integrated audio system with CD/MP3 player * USB connectivity and auxiliary port * Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel * Dual glove box * Black and dark blue fabric interior Safety: * G-Force Control collision safety technology * Dual front airbags * Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution Exterior colors: * Taffeta White * Crystal Black *Alabaster Silver So...are you buying it?

HIGHWAY OF DEATH. This portion of the repaired road section in Mati City is a picture of lack of regard for safety. A loose steel construction bar lies on the concrete. There are no flashing lights and safety warning signs on the approaches to both ends of this road section where a tragic incident occurred last week.

8

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

I

EDITORIAL

Highways of death

I

t’s the season for road repairs and road construction. A year before the elections, this country goes into a frenzy of infrastructure building, much of it presumably in aid of reelection. It’s no secret why this is going on these days.

This is the time the budget for repairs are released and apportioned among the country’s political districts. Mega-million contracts abound during the pre-election season.

Political analysts often refer to these projects as “planting” season for next year’s elections. “Harvest” time comes on E-Day itself. These projects have been traditionally used as political vehicles to advance the agenda of politicians and to augment the bank accounts iof the corrupt.

While we are impressed with the construction work for road widening, road concreting and road repairs, there is something very important that’s getting sidetracked in the midst of this construction season—road safety.

Last week, a young man, a fresh nursing graduate from San Pedro College of Davao, died in Mati City, Davao Oriental when the motorcycle he was driving hit a steel construction plate that was left lying dangerously on the concrete road. No early warning device, no road warning signs, no blinkers and no lights.

No wonder the accident happened.

This road death was not the first recorded in Davao Oriental or elsewhere in the region where road repairs work are often times done without the required safety devices contractors of the Depart-

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ment of Public Works and Highways are required to comply with. There have been several deaths and injuries—mostly unreported and undocumented that happened on these dangerous highways.

Seven days after the tragic incident in Mati, the road still remained without safety devices, except for one solitary blinker on the spot to indicate where the young man died.

The DPWH must act on this with urgency. Being the grantor of contracts, the DPWH has the responsibility to ensure that contractors follow to the letter the requisites for road safety. It is not easy to teach these contractors. In Davao Oriental, you can count with your fingers who the contactors are.

In this case, the contractor has been hogging construction projects of the DPWH nDavao Oriental and grown so used to road deaths in his projects that it doesn’t bother him anymore as long as he gets his money’s worth when the project is done and over with.

It is a common sight in this country where infra projects road are marked with huge signs bearing the name and image of politicians who made the projects possible, as if such billboards are more important than safety signs.

With the ages-old culture of paybacks and political agenda disguised in road projects, the daang matuwid of President Aquino is still stricken with the old virus of corruption and utter disregard for public safety while contractors feast on public funds for profit and politicians revel in road projects for their election bids.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

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

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EDGEDAVAO

A fair call for Fair Trade

don’t think a lot of people here know about Fair Trade, but a group of women in Davao know it by heart, and they celebrated the World Fair Trade Day last May 12. Had it not been for an invitation they sent by text, I would have forgotten the commemoration.

I came to know about Fair Trade when I made the website content of a women organization selling handmade paper products. The paper was made by peasant women in Panabo City and turned into all sorts of artistic and useful crafts, from stationery, to decorative boxes, lamp shades, and many more ingenious items that are sold locally and exported to other countries.

As a fair trader, this women organization is committed to provide opportunities to the peasant women to overcome their position of vulnerability and become economically selfsufficient by engaging them in an enterprise that not only educates and empowers them, but also contributes to sustainable development.

The peasant women are paid fair wages for properly valued work, and their workplace is safe, healthy, and free from forced labor and child labor. The raw materials, equipment, and processes employed are women-friendly and environmentally sound.

The peasant women also gain knowledge, increase self-confidence and enhance their leadership, management, and technical skills through training, use of and access to technology, and taking on organizational responsibilities.

It was enlightening to understand how much impact Fair Trade can have on small producers, especially those coming from marginalized sectors. In this case, the plight of the peasant women is alleviated. The women organization also benefits when it competes in the world market for paper products. They are recognized globally as a Fair Trader, giving their business an edge.

While the principles of Fair Trade are noble, it is sad to note that not many people know or even totally understand it. A global network of fair trade groups called the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) exists and yet only a few locally follow its cause. Although the words ‘fair trade’ give us an off-hand understanding of what it is, it has far deeper meaning and impact, especially to those at the receiving end of its principle.

Fair Trade wants to change the world; it wants a fair world. As women are still exploited in many parts of the globe, it is one of the aims of Fair Trade to change the life of disadvantaged women. On a larger scale, it aims to create change in the life of future generations.

But how can it achieve these lofty goals? Fair Trade identifies standards that will create ripples of change to change the world. While there are many, let me cite a few (lifted from worldfairtrade.com) that struck me the most.

“Fair Trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations.” This standard promotes gender equity, and this alone can have lasting impact on the conditions of disadvantaged women.

Let’s say we apply this locally, in our personal life. The question that comes to bear is this: have we been treating women around us fairly and equally? Do you pay your women farmers the same as men? Are women workers given fair wages for properly valued work?

“Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers.” Humane working conditions in all aspects, for anyone involved in production - men, women, even children. For women, it means working in a healthy and safe workplace, using technology that is appropriate to their capability as women. While technology may improve production, if it’s not appropriate for women, then it’s not appropriate technology.

Child labor is appalling, and we don’t even have to look at other countries to see this.

Whether it’s in the field, factory, or even just in the community, there’s a big chance of finding a child who is forced to do labor, working in a dangerous job, deprived of the right to education, unable to play and enjoy childhood.

“Fair Trade is paying a fair price that has been agreed through dialogue and participation.” In our setting, a fair price can be a contentious issue between two parties. More often than not, the field of negotiation is not even; the one who has the power wins.

World Fair Trade Day is a global call to consumers to patronize Fair Trade products to contribute to real changes in the poorest communities of the world. Fair trade aims to make a real difference in the world of trade, not just in the business side of it, but more in the human aspect of business. It is a pioneering change maker.

You too can make a difference. By being just, rational, and fair in what you do and in the decisions you make, you too can be a change maker.

Remember, the smallest pebble can create a tiny ripple in the water. If we all throw our pebbles, the ripples are tiny no more.

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

9

How will the senator-judges vote?

Guilty or not guilty?

O

N Tuesday at the latest, 23 senators sitting as judges in the Impeachment Court will hand down their verdict on whether Chief Justice Renato C. Corona of the Supreme Court is fit to continue as head of the

Highest Tribunal of the country.

The Impeachment Court, headed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, is composed of 23 senators (Benigno Simeon Aquino III, the 24th, was elected President in

2010).

Of the 23 senator-judges, 11 are lawyers –Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Peter Alan Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Mirian Defensor-Santiago, Enrile, Francis Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III,

Francis Pangilinan and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. The rest of the 12 are non-lawyers –“Jinggoy” Ejercito-Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ferdinant R.

Corona Marcos Jr., Sergio Osmena III, Ralph Recto, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Antonio Trillanes IV and Manuel Villar.

Will the Impeachment Court find Corona guilty of at least one of the three remaining articles of impeachment – Articles 2, 3 and 7?

To get a guilty verdict, at least 16 votes are needed. To be exonerated, only eight “not guilty” votes will suffice. The penalty is removal from office.

Just how the 23 senators will vote next week.

Will their public statements give away their votes? Maybe, for some senators; may be not for the others. Anyway, let’s review the statements of 10 senators as culled mainly from those published from the Philippine Daily Inquirer last week.

‘HE virtually hanged himself with that walked out. It’s practically suicide.

Or he’s killing himself slowly.’

--Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada ‘MY INTERPRETATION is that really it was

Enrile

Escudero

Estrada

Honasan

Angara

Cayetano

Cayetano

Recto

Drilon

Arroyo

Trillanes

Pangilinan

Pimentel

Lapid

Legarda

Marcos Jr.

Osmeña

Villar

Revilla

Lacson

Santiago

Guingona

Monkey Business

a walkout without a doubt in my mind. I think it had a big effect because first of all you have to remember that we gave him the utmost leniency in narrating –I do not even know if the rules of court allow a narration of fact, so we give all of that to him.’

--Senator Pia ‘THERE maybe some leanings but for all you know, the closing arguments may he compelling.

It’s not over till the fat lady sings.’

--Senator Tito Sotto ‘WHETHER it’s in a normal court proceedings or the impeachment trial, I can not imagine a situation where a witness imposes a condition on the judge and the prosecution.’

--Senator Gringo Honasan ‘THAT’s why during our caucus yesterday, I asked that we hand down the verdict on Tuesday, not Monday, to give us at least one day to weigh all the pieces of evidence even if capsulized in final arguments.’

--Senator Ping Lacson ‘Considering the prosecution has expressed willingness to waive cross-examining him and no less than that Chief Justice himself has said that the defense can rest its case shouldthere be no waiver on the part of the 189 members of Congress, then his appearance on Friday can actually be dispensed with.’

--Senator Pangilinan ‘IF THAT is his interpretation of the law, does it mean anyone can steal from the government coffers, covert the loot into dollars and deposit the cash in banks and these would not be opened? I don’t think that’s proper.’

--Senator Drilon ‘HAS he betrayed public trust? Is he fit to be our highest (judicial) official?

Has he conducted himself in a manner that has earned for his position, the high court and the entire judicial system, the admiration, respect and confidence of the Filipino people.?’

--Senator Serge Osmena ‘I am ready (to vote).

To be swayed at this point by the closing arguments would be a very long shot.’

--Senator Sonny Trillanes ‘THAT kind of scenario is almost like toying and playing with the process of the impeachment court.’

--Senator Angara

10

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Davao women readies for observance of Int’l Day of Action on Women’s Health W

OMEN leaders and advocates here would once again converge in another yearly gathering to put across their various issues on health and the environment that greatly affect the women sector.

The Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) of the Davao City local government unit will be among the major organizations to head the women leaders and stakeholders from various groups in the city to celebrate this year’s International Day of Action on Women’s Health on May 28.

IGDD Officer-inCharge Lorna Mandin said the event would

highlight a symposium entitled “Forging on Towards Women’s Health and Reproductive Justice: Collective Efforts to Climate Change” which will be held at 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on the same day, at the J301 Room, Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City.

IGDD, under the City Mayor’s Office, will conduct the symposium in partnership with the Office of City Councilor Leah Librado, the Reproductive Health (RH) Network Davao and Ateneo Public Interest Legal Advocacy (APILA).

“The organizers aim to raise the consciousness of the Dabawenyos on women’s health and its correlation with cli-

mate change and thereby propel groups and individuals alike to collectively take action,” Mandin stated.

“With the world celebrating the International Day of Action on Women’s Health on May 28, it’s a good time to listen to the voices of Davao City’s women,” she said.

The celebration also urges the public to “reflect on just how vulnerable their (women) health are to the effects of climate change, and what stakeholders can do to mitigate and/or address the same,” she added.

Among the highlights of the forum would dwell on discussions on Making Environment Gender Friendly; Gender Re-

convergence team has been getting from the residents as we bring the services of the Capitol right at their doorstep,” he beamed.

To date, over 22,000 indigents have already benefitted from the variety of services provided by the Davao del Norte Convergence for Peace and Development since last year.

These include free medical check up and medicines, minor surgery, circumcision, cancer screening, laboratory, dental care, legal consultation, agri services and animal care, among others.

Del Rosario said the program, which intends to visit 30 disadvantaged barangays this year, supports President Aquino’s agenda, especially on

peace and human development.

Public roads leading to the venues are also being repaired and improved as part of the convergence activity.

After availing medicines for her month-old granddaughter, Felicidad Banquil, 54, said she was more delighted to see the bumpy road of the mountainous Barangay of Pinamuno, some 60 kilometers away from the Capital City of Tagum, was maintained well by the province.

“Nalipay mi ug dako nga gawas sa serbisyong medical ug uban pa, gipanindot pa jud sa probinsya ang among dalan (We are happy that aside from the medical services the province also assured the upkeep of our road),” she said.

Warm reception of convergence inspires Guv

D

AVAO del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario is happy with the warm reception that the Team Convergence is getting as the caravan of medical and social services continues to visit far-flung and depressed villages of the province.

After the convergence mission made its 12th stop in Pinamuno, San Isidro town on Friday, the governor expressed satisfaction with the manner residents of the recipient barangays have welcomed the provincial officials and the frontline personnel of the Capitol, together with the elements from the army and the police, as well as, the staff of the local government units.

“I am happy with the warm reception that our

sponsive Natural Disasters: Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation; Environment Regulation from a Gender Lens; as well as a gender-sensitive city zoning plan, among others.

Mandin said “close to 200 participants, both men and women gender equality advocates from various sectors” will join the celebration “to unify their stand on issues concerning women’s welfare and rights.”

She said the effects of climate change around the world are being felt more strongly by women and children in daily life as well as during disasters.

“But by giving women a greater voice in

climate-change and decision-making they are also the most capable of creating change and adaptation within their communities,” she stated.

Mandin said the forum is expected to gather key women leaders such as Mayor Sara Duterte who will convey a message of support, Lyda J. Canson of the RH Network, and Dr. Jean Lindo of Gabriela who will discuss on climate change and women’s health.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod Committee on Health, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), non-government organi-

zation Talikala, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-XI) are also expected to grace the event to present women’s health issues and how climate change has adversely affected the said sector in many ways.

According to RH Network Davao primer, women’s reproductive health is affected by climate change, citing global studies that stated 85 percent of people today who die as a result of climate-induced natural disasters are women.

The studies further showed that 75% of environmental refugees are women, RH Network Davao said. (PIA-11/CARINA L. CAYON)

Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario explains the convergence program at the medical outreach in Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte.

Health workers check the vital signs of recipients at the convergence outreach in Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte.

DOT woos last-minute summer bakasyonistas

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Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario leads the distribution of slippers to pre-schoolers at the convergence outreach in Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte.

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region XI is still wooing tourists or “bakasyonistas” going on their last-minute summer holidays.

“May panahon pa naman (There is still time),” says Art Boncato, regional director of DOT-XI, urging people to visit varied tourism destinations in the region as the month of May comes to an end.

“Meron pa tayong twoweeks bago mag-opening ang classes in June (We still have two-weeks before classes open in June),” Boncato said adding that it would be a perfect time for last-minute travels.

The DOT-XI is in its last phase of “One Summer Fun” regional tourism program.

According to Boncato, various summer presentations of the provinces began last April with the Davao Oriental showcase as its last.

Boncato said that the province of Davao Oriental, which held a summer tourism presentation at the Abreeza Mall in Davao City last Wednesday (May 23), is an ideal last-minute destination for summer.

“Davao Oriental best exemplifies our positioning as an island-to-highland destination,” Boncato said.

He adds that a large part of the province faces the Pacific Ocean which provides a variety of ecoadventure activities for tourists like surfing and skimboarding.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

COMMUNITY SENSE 11 ‘Summer Babad’ culminates with battle of the bands finals

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

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

17,940

P2,500

3,831

P1,500

41,408

P800

7,056

P1,200

27,411

P1,000

LOCATION

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

Villa Josefina Resort Village, Dumoy Toril, Davao City

Minimum of 240 sq.m.

P5,985

St. Joseph Homes, Sirawan, Toril,Davao City

Minimum of 150 sq.m.

P3,600

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

F

OLLOWING nine consecutive Fridays, San Miguel Pale Pilsen has wrapped up this year’s Sarap Mag Babad series of summer events recently with the Battle of the Bands finals simultaneously held in seven destinations nationwide.

The Battle of the Bands, which the iconic beer brand has revived this year, spiced up the culmination of this year’s San Miguel Pale Pilsen Sarap Mag Babad “Taste of Summer” campaign conducted at Tiendesitas in Pasig City; Valdez Center in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; Manokan Country in Bacolod City; Ormoc Food Park in Ormoc City; Tagbilaran Port in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Tagum Trade Center in Tagum, Davao del Norte; and Bogsers’s by the Sea in Davao

City.

Winners in this year’s San Miguel Pale Pilsen Battle of the Bands are: Dagta (Pasig), Racel & the Bees (Ilocos Norte), Dungeonz (Bacolod), Lover Boys (Bohol), Green Republic (Ormoc), Raggadub (Davao City), and Edgestock (Tagum, Davao del Norte.

While there is usually one grand winner in band competitions, the Brand Team has opted to provide a refreshing twist for this year’s San Miguel Pale Pilsen Battle of the Bands by proclaiming one champion for each area.

The move, according to an SMB official, is meant to inspire all seven winning bands to begin their career on a good footing.

“Our company continues to support our local artists through friendly competitions organized

by some of our brands like the San Miguel Pale Pilsen Battle of the Bands, and it is our hope that we inspire the winners to pursue their dream of making it big in the local music scene. ,” said SMB president Roberto N. Huang.

Apart from the relaxing acoustic, reggae, and pop music performances from the finalists, the last leg of the 2012 Sarap Mag Babad is also seen by the company as “the perfect way to conclude the summer season in the company of good friends over ice-cold bottles of San Miguel Pale Pilsen which can be best enjoyed with the best pulutan in town.”

For more of the season’s closing of San Miguel Pale Pilsen Sarap Mag Babad, visitwww. sanmiguelpalepilsen.com. ph.

private sector through its Certified Establishments’ Adopt-A-School program to complement DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela.

“DTI periodically certifies business establishments, such as hardwares and grocery stores, to promote compliance to the consumer welfare and protection standards. As part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, they are taking part in this activity,” he said.

O2 Builders, a Bagwis Awards Silver Awardee, supported the cause with their donation of P 10,000 worth of painting materials to three schools in Nabunturan. Engr. Oliver Ocampo of O2 Builders provided paints and brushes to Manat National High School, Pangutosan Elementary School

and Nabunturan Central Elementary School.

A consumer organization, Konsumo Nabunturan, also participated in the event.

Principal III of MNHS Ritchel Cruz, who steered the activity expressed his thanks to DTI Comval as well as other participating offices for making the event successful.

Apart from its volunteer work in Brigada Eskwela, DTI Comval also intends to provide school supplies to some school children.

The Department of Education (DepEd) launched Brigada Eskwela 2012 to encourage the public to join its campaign to clean public schools’ classrooms and other facilities in preparation for school opening on June 4.

DTI XI joins Brigada Eskwela 2012

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HE Department of Trade and Industry in Compostela Valley (DTI-CV) joined the Brigada Eskwela 2012 at the Manat National High School in Nabunturan, early this week.

“This is just little help but definitely rewarding for us,” said DTI-CV officer-in-charge Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque.

DTI Comval, together with other national government agencies and the private sector volunteered in sprucing up the said high school by painting of school benches and chairs.

The activity also drew support from various sectors, including the Provincial Government with Governor Arturo T. Uy, taking part in enhancing the school.

DTI also tapped the

PRICE P4.8 M

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

Luiji Escano, operations manager of Abreeza Mall, promotes ‘Whirlwind Rush to School Sale’ on May 31 to June 3, 2012 during Kapihan sa PIA on Friday at Abreeza Mall, Davao City. [LEAN DAVAL, JR.]

12

NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS

S

Invoked

AYING it will violate her right to be presumed innocent, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has refused to divulge her defense witnesses in pretrial briefs in the graft case stemming from the botched $330-million national broadband network (NBN) deal.

In a 13-page manifestation with motion filed with the Sandiganbayan Fourth division, Arroyo informed the court that she will not submit a pretrial brief because she is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

P

Offered

RESIDENt Benigno S. Aquino III Thursday offered to donate his salary to efforts to repair public schools in case the government funds run dry.

The President, however, acknowledged that school authorities should not expect a large donation because his salary as the country’s highest official is actually low.

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Needed

AWYER? Physician?

Pilot or Priest? The Philippine National Police (PNP) needs you.

Senior Supt. Generoso Cerbo, PNP spokesman, said those professions are among those needed to fill up the 75 vacancies for professionals who wish to join the PNP Officer Corps as Police Commissioned Officers.

Iran, big powers agree to hold more nuclear talks in June I

SP. PROC. NO. 11, 912-12 RITCHEL A. ROILES, Petitioner x---------------------------x ORDER This is a verified petition for Recognition of the Foreign Divorce between Tsuyoshi Kamata and Ritchel A. Roiles, filed by Ritchel A. Roiles, assisted by counsel, praying that upon due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered judicially confirming and recognizing the Divorce obtained in Japan involving the Petitioner Ritchel A. Roiles and Tsuyoshi Kamata.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the hearing of this petition on June 7, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.

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

Petitioner is further directed to furnish the office of the Solicitor General a copy of this petition.

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

Any person interested or who seeks to oppose the instant petition may appear to state why the petition should not be granted.

SO ORDERED. Davao City, Philippines, April 17, 2012.

Concern

N T E R NAT I O NA L Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said that Japan’s wavering power supply is a concern for hosting the 2020 Games.

“We know that the disaster of Fukushima has had an effect on the power supply, because nuclear power has been shut down and so in times of peak consumption there might be a shortage of power,” Rogge said.

I

RAN and world powers agreed to meet again in Moscow next month for more talks to try to end the long-running dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme, but there was scant progress to resolve the main sticking points between the two sides.

At the heart of the dispute is Iran’s insistence that it has the right to enrich uranium and that economic sanctions should be lifted before it stops activities that could lead to its achieving the capability to make nuclear weapons.

Western powers insist Tehran must first shut down enrichment activities before sanctions can be eased.

But both sides have powerful reasons not to abandon diplomacy. The powers want to avert the danger of a new Middle East war raised by Israeli threats to bomb Iran, while Tehran also wants to avoid a looming Western ban on its oil exports.

After discussions in Baghdad extended late into an unscheduled second day on Thursday between envoys from Iran and the six powers, European Union foreign policy

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE FOREIGN DIVORCE BETWEEN TSUYOSHI KAMATA AND RITCHEL A. ROILES

(EDGE 5/14,21,28)

EDGEDAVAO

WORLD TODAY

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION Branch 12 Davao City

(sgd) PELAGIO S. PAGUICAN JUDGE

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

AGREED. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (L) chats with Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili as they pose for the media before their meeting in Baghdad May 23, 2012. chief Catherine Ashton said it was clear both sides wanted progress and had some common ground, but significant differences remained.

“We will maintain intensive contacts with our Iranian counterparts to prepare a further meeting in Moscow,” she told a news conference in Baghdad.

The next meeting, the third in the latest round of talks that began in Istanbul last month, will be held in Moscow on June 18-19.

Ashton leads the ne-

gotiations for the sixcountry group made up of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - which together with Germany is known as the P5+1.

“Talks were intensive and long,” said Iranian chief negotiator Saeed Jalili. “They were detailed, but are left unfinished.”

“The atmosphere of these talks was positive for the two sides to talk about their issues in a clear way. We believe the result of these talks

was that we were able to get to know each other’s views better and more.”

While there was little if any concrete progress, the fact that the two sides agreed to continue talks was a sign of progress in itself, after more than a year of not meeting at all before the latest round of negotiations began in April.

“The two sides’ commitment to diplomacy in the absence of any clear agreement is a positive sign,” said Ali Vaez, Iran expert at the International Crisis Group think-tank.

Marawi Al-Islamia Foundation, and Qualisi International School were also in attendance.

Dean Talib Benito, head of the King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies at the Mindanao State University, cited the importance of the consultations by the government.

“This consultation is important because it determines the valid opinions of the Ulama in Marawi with regard to the current GPHMILF negotiations. We all hope for the speedy signing of a peace agreement between the two parties before the 2013 elections,” he said.

OPAPP said Barra provided pertinent information to the forum participants, particularly on the recent developments in the GPH-MILF talks wherein both parties signed the Decision Points on Principles in Kuala Lumpur last April 24.

The document contains 10 mutually identified standpoints that will guide the succeeding round of negotiations toward a final peace pact.

Aleem Abdul Salam Disomimba urged other Usrah members to get involved in the peace pro-

cess.

“As Islamic educators, each of us should share our views with respect to the negotiations between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. We know that our contribution is not limited,” he said. “What then can we suggest to the GPH and MILF panels?”

In response to this call, Judge Aboali Cali of the Regional Trial Court Shari’ah suggested the creation of a national and local contact group which will raise valid concerns and suggestions of the Bangsamoro groups in the area to the GPH and MILF panels.

He said he hopes for the panels to accommodate his proposal but stressed that he “recognizes the effort and help being provided (to the negotiations) by the International Contact Group (ICG) and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).”

The ICG, which is composed of members from international government and non-government groups, is mandated to exert the necessary leverage and assistance towards sustaining the trust and confidence of both sides at the negotiating table.

Islamic scholars assured of gov’t sincerity in MILF peace talks

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HE government has assured the Ulama or Islamic scholars of its sincerity in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said on Saturday that Dr. Hamid A. Barra, a member of the government peace panel, made the assurance during a consultation with the Philippine Usrah Foundation Inc. (Usrah) in Marawi City last Tuesday.

“Sincerity is out of the question because the GPH (Government of the Philippines) has always been sincere in the negotiations,” Barra said.

The consultation was made ahead of the next round of the GPH-MILF formal exploratory talks in Malaysia next week.

Barra is an aleem, a scholar on Islamic history, laws, and ways of life.

Ulama is the plural form of aleem.

The forum was attended by Ulama from the municipalities of Ramain, Maranto, Masiw and Bacolod in Lanao del Sur. Islamic educators from Mindanao State UniversityMarawi (MSU), Jamiatu

B

Vowed

LIND activist Chen Guangcheng has vowed to keep speaking out against rights abuses in China as he settles into a new life in New York following his dramatic escape from illegal detention.

In his first US television interview, Chen told CNN Thursday that he had “no regrets” about his activism despite years of incarceration. “My nature wouldn’t allow me to sit by and disregard what was going on,” the 40-year-old said.

T

‘Massacre’

HE opposition Syrian National Council has urged the UN Security Council to act urgently after regime forces “massacred” what it said was more than 110 people in the town of Houla.

The latest flare-up of violence came as Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria who brokered a repeatedly violated ceasefire last month, finalised plans to return to Damascus.

A

Intensify

L-Qaeda-linked Somali militants vowed Saturday to intensify the war against government and African Union troops, despite the fall of their key stronghold of Afgoye, the latest in a string of military losses.

“God willing we will continue the war and we will win the battle without doubt,” said Sheik Abdiaziz Abu Musab, spokesman for the hardline Shebab, a day after AU and Somali troops entered Afgoye, a former strategic rebel base.

C

Cancelled

HINA’S top legislator cancelled a visit to Britain in anger over a meeting between British Prime Minister David Cameron and the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, a source said.

Wu Bangguo, the head of China’s parliament and nominally number two in the political system, was to have travelled to Britain this month, but the Dalai Lama meeting put an end to those plans, according to the source.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

Official seeks pooling PDAF After... for more tech-voc training

DTI...

FFROM 1

A

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) official is proposing that all House of Representatives lawmakers set aside part of their respective priority development assistance funds (PDAF) and pool the money into a fund for enhancing the agency’s operations which aim to develop a Philippine workforce with world-class technical-vocational (techvoc) competence and positive work values. ”I propose that each legislator set aside for such purpose about P5 million from his or her annual PDAF,” TESDA Deputy Director-General for Field Operations Teodoro Pascua said during Saturday’s Forum at Annabel’s in Quezon City.

He said TESDA must further enhance its operations so the agency can increasingly help school dropouts, the unemployed and other people develop tech-voc skills that are in demand worldwide.

Citing results of the March 10-13, 2012 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported this week, Pascua said the country’s unemployed consisted of people who either resigned or voluntarily left their jobs (15 percent), suffered retrenchment (13

percent) or were first-time job seekers (six percent).

SWS also reported the survey “found adult unemployment at a new recordhigh 34.4 percent, or an estimated 13.8 million, surpassing the previous record-high of 34.2 percent in February 2009.”

By setting aside part of PDAF money, Pascua estimates some P1.5 billion from nearly 300 House members can be pooled within a year. ”With that amount, we can set up a fully equipped manpower training center each in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.

He said pooled funds for the following year can be allotted for training that the centers will offer. ”I hope policymakers can address the issue very well,” he said.

TESDA continues urging local government units (LGUs) nationwide to establish their respective manpower training centers where tech-voc courses can

Quips

be taught.

Pascua said TESDA is increasingly partnering with LGUs since the agency lacks funds to establish the centers.

He said TESDA also lacks personnel who’ll train people enrolling to acquire the work skills. ”Many of our personnel are being pirated by employers abroad – we can’t stop them from leaving,” he said.

TESDA assured technical assistance for LGUs that’ll establish their respective manpower training centers.

Pascua said such assistance includes guidance on how to set up the centers and on what equipment to install there. ”We can also teach personnel who’ll be the centers’ trainors,” he added.

Aside from partnering with LGUs, Pascua said TESDA continues linking with the private sector to be updated on its manpower demands.

‘WE are not like banana leaves that sway where the win blows. The Lakas party is a strong and sturdy tree with deep roots being proGod, pro-people, pro-Philippines and pro-environment.’

--Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.

Cops...

FFROM 1

portation of the suspects to Taiwan starting this week.

The 72 Taiwanese nationals, 36 of whom are women, were arrested last April 18 during simultaneous raids on their 24-hour fake call center headquarters in Ladislawa Village, Buhangin, Villa Josefina Village in Matina; and Valgoson’s Building in Talomo.

Two weeks previous, the City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) dismissed the DCPO’s and the Taiwan police’s international financial fraud complaint against the 72 Taiwanese for lack of evidence.

Prosecutor Marte Melchor Velasco penned the resolution which was approved by City Prosecutor Raul Bendigo, that “the complainant failed to show that the properties seized by virtue of search warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court of Davao City have been actually used/resorted to by the respondents in order to commit prohibited acts enumerated in Section 9 of Republic Act 8484.”

Dela Rosa agreeds,

saying “prosecution of the Taiwanese suspects would be stronger abroad as their organization is physically present in Taiwan and in Mainland China.”

“Naa man pud didto ang mga biktima nila who can testify on their activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DCPO chief said there are other spots in the Philippines where Taiwanese police are looking into as dens of the online fraud international syndicate.

“Naa daw isa sa Olonggapo. Nabulabog lagi daw pagkahibalo nga naay raid diri sa Davao. Continue gihapon ang monitoring,” he said.

Open court DCPO chief dela Rosa said the Taiwan police will be requesting that the 72 Taiwanese suspects be heard in open court wherein evidence from Davao City would be used.

“Mag-continue gihapon mi ug tabang sa ilaha. Kita man pud diri ang nag-lead sa raid ug diri pud sila nadakpan so dunggon ang atong side sa investigation,” he said.

Dela Rosa also said that representatives from the DCPO and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for Davao region, who also contributed in the investigation, will be sent abroad for the hearings on the case.

“Katong mga nag-participate sa raid ipa-dala para sa kaso,” he said.

The DCPO were contacted by Taiwanese police early last March, for help to monitor the presence of Taiwanese nationals in the city.

The modus operandi of the online fraud syndicate, Dela Rosa said earlier, is to target their countrymen in Taiwan or those in mainland China.

“They threaten persons online, forcing them to pay their charges. If the victims in mainland China or Taiwan do not pay up, their syndicate members in mainland China or Taiwan will harass them, even through physical means,” he said.

The money involved is in the millions of dollars.

[JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

Alang, all residents of Barangay Sinuron, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Found in the possession of Joy Maglinte Federico were one unit of HM .357 revolver without serial number, loaded with three live bullets and two empty shells.

Also in his possession were three live ammunition for a .45 calliber gun.

Raul Maglinte Alang had in his possession one unit of HM .357 revolver without serial number, loaded with five rounds of ammunition while Jonathan Maglinte Cayamba had one unit of .45 pistol bearing serial number 362701 with one empty. Also in his possession were two five hundred peso bills bearing the initials NPH which are among the marked money used by the CIDG in the entrapment.

Entrapment and arrest The CIDG said that early this month they received information on the Maglinte Group engaging in the illegal sale of firearms and ammunition within Davao del Sur. SInsp. Francis Sonza’s men monitored the Maglinte group’s movements leading to the eventual arrest.

The CIDG poseur buyer contacted through mobile phone the syndicate group during which delivery of the guns and ammo was confirmed including the selling

price.

However, on May 23, upon arriving at the agreed place of transaction, the Maglinte group only brought one .45 caliber pistol.

“They assured, even boasted to the poseur buyer to just contact them to check if stocks are already available,” Ferro said.

After the exchange of marked money and the .45 pistol, the CIDG operatives along with Sta.Cruz Police moved in for the arrest. One of the suspects was able to run and immediately chased after by the operatives “that resulted to a running gun battle.”

“After a few minutes of exchange of fire, the escapee was cornered and eventually arrested,” said the CIDG statement which failed to specify who among the suspects tried to escape.

A case for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 was filed against all three Maglinte suspects with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Hall of Justice, Digos City in Davao del Sur. Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lauded the CIDG for arrests when he met Ferro at a press conference in the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

The vice mayor said the illegal trade in firearms has a connection to gun-for-hire syndicates.

13

FFROM 2 in Davao, including the readiness of the place, human resources and support of local government units,” she said.

Aside from property, some major investments are in agri-business while the big ticket is in power supply.

Loreto mentioned that the local BOI is actively networking with existing project proposals on power supply, along with a list of investors who need partners in priority investment areas.

In the second week of September, the DTI will host the Davao investors conference to emphasize on the expansion of agricultural products like cacao, coco coir, and coco peat among others.

She noted the significant role of the DTI’s business permit and licensing system, which ideally takes only 12 minutes to ease the burden of investors and entice more prospective investors to put up businesses in the region.[LORIE A. CASCARO]

14

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VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO Barcelona wins Copa del Rey

M

ADRID – Barcelona gave coach Pep Guardiola the perfect send off Friday, beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Madrid to win the Spanish Cup in the coach’s last match in charge after a memorable four seasons in the Catalan hot seat.

Lionel Messi, with his 73rd goal of the season, and a Pedro Rodriguez double finished off the Basque side inside the first half an hour and delivered Guardiola his 14th and final trophy at the club.

Guardiola leaves the side he once played for with three Spanish leagues, two Champions Leagues, two FIFA World Club Cups, two UEFA Supercups, three Spanish Supercups and two Spanish Cup victories as coach.

The win was a repeat of Guardiola’s first title in the 2008-09 final when the Catalans ran out 4-1 victors over Bilbao.

Guardiola has never lost to Athletic in his four seasons, winning ten out of 15 clashes between the two sides who boast the most Spanish Cup victories, Barca making it 26 with this win to Bilbao’s 23 titles.

Afterwards the 41 year-old from the small town of Santpedor, 70 kilometres (40 miles) outside the Catalan capital, was happy with the win and spoke of the role Messi has played during his time at the club.

“Fourteen titles in 4 years is a very high standard so I am very happy to leave the club in a good position, and tonight we played great for the first 35 minutes, we’ve had a good year with 4 titles so I leave very satisfied,” he said.

“From Messi I have learned to be even more competitive than I ever was, without him we would not have won the number of titles we have and I’m very priviledged to have coached who for me is the best player I have ever seen.”

Marcelo Bielsa, the Argentinian veteran in charge of Bilbao was philosophical in defeat.

“I put out a team I thought could win tonight, but we were not able to live up to the expectations of our fans,” he said.

With Dani Alves and Carles Puyol injured, Guardiola had decided to start with a four-man defence including the youngster Martin Montoya at right-back.

He also made the decision to give Pedro a final chance to play himself into the Spanish squad for Euro 2012 and the forward grabbed it with both feet.

INdulge!

FOOD

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Demystifying Arabian cuisine

FIGS, pistachio, honey, quail, chickpeas, parsley, savory yoghurt, and mint jelly are ingredients that may sound unfamiliar to some and are uncommon in regular Filipino fare. In fact, ask most normal Juans and Marias out on the street what they know about Middle Eastern cuisine and the most common answer would be “shawarma” and summing the rich cuisines of the Arab word in just one dish that would be like saying pandit canton is THE Chinese dish-dujour.

Serving the Fatayer -Triangular Meat Pies

Sambousek - Meat and Onion filled Half-Moon Shaped Pie and Falafel - Deep Fried Chick Pea Balls

Dolmas - Grape leaves roll stuffed with rice

Good thing Cafe Marco at the Marco Polo Hotel recently launched its Arabian Nights food festival featuring a kaleidoscope of gastronomic halal delights with foods coming from Egypt, north to Turkey, and east towards the Arabian peninsula and around the Persian Gulf.

On the mouth watering menu are fresh vegetarian delights from fresh salads to light Persian borani-e khiar (yoghurt-drizzled cucumber and walnut) to the heftier potato and parsley Lebanese salatit el bataata and fattoush (pita bread with mint, olives, romaine, and feta), among others.

Meat lovers on-the-

other-hand will love the finely spiced tender meat entrees, among them roast leg of lamb, ordek firinda (roast wild duck with honey, thyme and almonds), hearty kebabs and beef and chicken shawarmas.

Seafood aficionados will savor garides me saltsa (shrimps drenched in tomato, wine and feta cheese sauce), bakaliaro tighanito (deep-fried cod), and uskumru polmasi (baked mackerel filled with the goodness of pine nuts, currants, and herbs), and other expertly prepared gifts from the ocean.

And for only Php990 net per person, this virtual middle eastern journey is well within reach, but you better hurry since this culinary magic carpet ride is only available for dinner until June 16, 2012 only.

Follow me on twitter @ kennethkingong for more foodie finds, travel misadventures, and happenings in and around the Davao.

Lamb Kofta and Butterflied Marinated Grilled Quail over couscous.

Mackerel Pilaki

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EVENTS

Callum’s Heatstroke

YOU are in the middle of the dance floor.

You forget everything else that is going on and start to move your feet to the beat. You for-

get that everyone else can see you; that everyone else has an opinion about you; and you simply stop everything and dance. You forget that you have work the next day, that you have a family to come home to, or a Twitter account to update.

You let it all out and give in to the seduction of sound.

You jump, you scream, you laugh, and you even wink at that cutie. Suddenly, you are caught in a state of party.

You don’t consider anybody else. Heck, you do not even consider yourself. In fact, you consider nothing. Think about nothing. Analyze nothing. Being in a state of party means that your brain has stopped, and that your feet have taken over. And as you jump up and down while you raise your arms in the air; you start to understand that THIS is what partying feels like.

And for most partyphiles I know, this realization happened last May 19, 2012 at DC Fahrenheit for Poshbox Event Solutions’ first party ever: Heatstroke featuring Manila’s ‘it’ boy, DJ Callum David a.k.a. Vinimal. Heatstroke was, dare I say, the hottest party of the season.

And no, this is not a biased opinion even though I hosted the event. I seriously think that the organizers were successful in executing everything that they intended to.

Although we are all aware that Fahrenheit isn’t exactly what comes to mind when talking about chichi events, which was a cause of concern for me, Poshbox managed to bling out the otherwise ho-hum interiors of the club enough to make me forget where I was. The interiors were classy, exciting, young, and fresh. It was very streamlined and refined; nothing over the top or too tongue-in-cheek. With a few yards of cloth and a whole lot of lights, DC Fahrenheit was transformed into Partyphile Paradise for a night.

And that was only fitting as the crème de la crème of

young Davao society were in attendance.

The program followed a simple, streamlined plan as well. One of the resident DJs for Fahrenheit started the ball rolling followed by one of the best DJs I’ve heard recently, DJ Ryan, whom I have never seen in action until this party.

He was joined by the Tagahabi Drumbeaters as they pounded their percussions to the beat of the tracks that DJ Ryan spewed out. The idea was novel; the music it made was kitschy but very entertaining. All in all, it was a little added extra oomph before the main event.

Prior to the main act, I hosted several quick games to get the crowd pumped.

Prizes were given away by Globe Telecom, Pyesta KTV, Hairs and Nails, Envy Me, and other sponsors. Once we got the crowd’s interest we then welcomed the man of the night: DJ Callum.

The model/socialite/DJ was impressive; he actually played his whole set without a monitor, laptop, or any of those fancy stuff that makes DJ-ing easier. He did it the

Callum David aka DJ Vinimal is Manila’s newest IT boy and the DJ du jour

old school way: with just his CDs, (audio) monitor, and the sound controls. This back-to-basics approach was rather interesting for a guy who made a name for himself through glamorous modelling. He dished out some of the hottest current favorites alongside old school tracks and even threw in some obscurities in the mix. The result: a hard hitting set that stretched for three long hours; an hour longer than agreed upon by the DJ and organizers. This was testament to how much Callum enjoyed the Davao crowd. And if you aren’t convinced that this noted Manila DJ actually appreciated the local crowd, he even tweeted “Ok, seriously I think that was the crazi-

Young Davao Society girls Chiche Alejandre and Kitty Marfori

est gig of my life. I love you Davao!” the next day. So maybe finally, our Northern counterparts are realizing how vivacious the local Partyphile crowd is.

All in all, the event was a success. DJ Callum was amazing, his opening acts were equally impressive, the interiors were sophisticated, and the crowd was banging.

Here’s to hoping we get even more events from Poshbox.

Catch Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mix1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to confessionsofapartyphile.blogspot. com or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Party staples Doy Bijis, Micah Frasco, and Paolo Zurita

The people behind Poshbox Event Solutions and Rezzulier Photography

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Where on earth is John Travolta?

How has the actor managed to be under our radar?

EVER since the wave of lawsuits and allegations against him, John Travolta has been flying under the radar.

Figuratively and literally.

While he was seen in Florida recently and is said to now be in the Bahamas, the actor has essentially remained out of the spotlight—aside from his attorney’s denials.

But how, in this day and age, is someone as high-profile as Travolta so hard to track down?

As most folks know, Travolta is a licensed pilot.

However, when E! News tried to track the tail numbers attached to two private jets Travolta has used or owns, both numbers were blocked by request of the owner, and blocked aircraft can-

not be tracked by the general public.

“Congress enabled a program to allow peo-

Will Men in Black 3 topple the Avengers?

THE boys are back in time, but do Agents J and K have the right stuff to neutralize a bunch of superheroes at the box office?

Based on the $1.5 million that Men in Black 3 grossed from midnight screenings last night, the oftplagued threequel doesn’t come anywhere close to the $18 million The Avengers tallied from its midnight showings a few weeks ago.

But there is some good news.

While fanboys weren’t exactly crying out for a follow-up after the critical and commercial letdown that was Men in Black II, MIB3 has generated enough buzz to have a good shot at toppling the Marvel blockbuster from its perch as the No. 1 film these past three weeks.

That’s because, per Deadline, industry analysts feel confident the Will SmithTommy Lee Jones-Josh Brolin vehicle will end up raking in upwards of $90 million thanks to the long Memorial Day weekend.

And the only other competition that may give Men in Black 3 a run for its money this weekend is

the controversial horror thriller Chernobyl Diaries, which nabbed $525,000 in midnight screenings.

By contrast, The Avengers is expected to earn less than that amount after last weekend’s solid haul of $55 million in ticket sales, when it fended off an invasion of flicks in the form of Battleship, The Dictator and What to Expect When You’re Expecting to up its domestic total to a whopping $457 million.

No doubt after the many re-

writes and shooting delays, Columbia Pictures execs are hoping Men in Black 3’s mostly positive reviews (it scored a 65 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes) will give the sci-fi comedy franchise a much-needed jolt and help erase the bad memories that still linger from its predecessor. When it was released in 2002, Men in Black II grossed $441 million worldwide, a big dropoff from the $589 million global take of 1997’s original Men in Black. (E! Online)

ple to opt out of having their flights tracked in

real time over the Internet for broadcast to

anyone anywhere in the world who has an Internet connection because Congress realized that there are valid security concerns when that happens,” Dan Hubbard, Senior Vice President for the National Business Aviation Association told E! News.

Hubbard said it is his understanding that anyone requesting his or her tail number blocked can simply email the FAA showing they are owners of the aircraft and the valid security reason why they are requesting the block.

Security and law enforcement agencies such as FAA, police, DHS, traffic control TSA, however, can still see the aircraft.

“Everyone who needs to see it, can see it,” Hubbard said.

Ah, that explains it. (E! Online)

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT

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VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

Fly all over the country for free with Nokia Lumia

HAS it always been your dream to explore the Philippines’ beautiful sceneries but you’re restricted by costly airplane fares?

Thanks to Nokia, Microsoft and Philippine Airlines, you can now explore the country as much as you want, without having to worry about spending so much on airfare. All you need is a Nokia Lumia smartphone to get a

chance to win unlimited PAL flights.

To join, you must simply be an owner of any model of Nokia Lumia smartphone. If you don’t have one yet, then you can buy one from May 18 to June 15, 2012 at participating select Nokia, Globe, Smart Stores and retail outlets nationwide.

Once you have your Lumia, retrieve its IMEI number by typing *#06# on

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You can now buy your weekly paper fill of in-depth business news and features from any of these establishments still at Php 15.

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HELPING YOU MAKE INFORMED BUSINESS DECISIONS.

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your homescreen. Then, text I CAN LUMIA <Full Name>/<Address>/<IMEI> and send to 2960 for Globe and Smart subscribers.

This will serve as your entry to the grand electronic raffle draw on June 17, 2012, where 100 lucky Nokia Lumia users will win unlimited roundtrip PAL flights. Winners will be able to travel to top local destinations such as Legaspi, Kalibo, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Davao and Puerto Princesa for one month from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013*.

Don’t be a stranger in your own country! Join the Nokia Lumia – PAL promo and travel to the Philippines’ hottest tourist destinations as much as you want.

If you want to know more about this promo and the Nokia Lumia smartphones, you may visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nokia.com. ph” www.nokia.com.ph or “http://www.facebook. com/nokiaphilippines” www.facebook.com/nokiaphilippines.

The Nokia Lumia 610 and Nokia Lumia 800 are both available at select Nokia Stores and retail outlets nationwide. SRP for the Nokia Lumia 610 is Php 10,980 and Php 23,500 for the Nokia Lumia 800. The Lumia 800 is also available to Globe subscribers, free at Unli Surf Plan 1799. The Nokia Lumia 710 is exclusively available from Smart at postpaid data plan 1000.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

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150 karatekas in AAK Davao Cup today T

HE country’s most promising karatekas take centerstage today as the 2012 AAK Davao Karate Cup reels off at the SM City Davao Annex.

“The future of karatedo in te Philippines are here and it will surely be a joy to watch them play,” said organizer Rommel Tan of the host Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao.

Among those who have hit town are AAK clubs coming from Manila, Davao, SM Mega Mall, La Salle University Taft, Ateneo de Manila and Jose Rizal University.

The other participants are from the Shoreikan Karate Club of Bukidon, Shutokai Karate Club of Mati and Comatcom Davao.

AAK chairman Manuel “Pocholo” Veguillas III will be today’s guest of honor, while World Karatedo Federation (WKF) licensed referee-

judge Ricky Lim is the head of the officiating committee.

The categories in the senior division are the Men and Women’s Open Kata, -65 kg. Men’s Kumite and Open weight, Women’s -53 kg. and Open weight kumite, while in the age-group division for the boys and girls are 6 to 7, 8-9, 1011, 12-13, 14-15 and 1617.

The event, one of the accredited events under the 2012 Davao Summerfest’s Davao Summer Games, is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Genbukai Karatedo Canada, SM City Davao, AAK Davao Parents, Alex Lao, Archt.

Benjamin Lim, LCI Inc., Ricks Car Wash, Regency Inn and Beefit Gym and Aerobics.

Tan added that a cash prize will also be awarded to the best kumite player courtesy of the Genbukai Karatedo Canada.

James, Bryant lead All-NBA team

N

EW YORK -- LeBron James was the leading votegetter for the All-NBA team, while Kobe Bryant earned his 10th firstteam selection, tied for second on the career list.

Bryant, a first-team pick for the seventh straight season, joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit, and Jerry West with 10 selections to the first team. Karl Malone is the leader with 11.

James, who won his

third MVP award, received 118 of a possible 120 first-team votes Thursday from a panel of writers and broadcasters. Joining him on the first team were scoring champion Kevin Durant, Clippers point guard Chris Paul and Magic center Dwight Howard.

Guards Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook were selected the second team along with forwards Kevin Love and Blake Griffin and center Andrew Bynum.

Arum: Bradley in great shape

AAK DAVAO. Organizer Rommel Tan of AAK Davao poses with his protégés who will be carrying the colors of Davao in today’s AAK Davao Karate Cup at the SM City Davao Annex.

all.

Bob Arum has seen them

But the Top Rank chief swore he was in for a surprise when he saw Timothy Bradley strut his stuff during an open workout in Indio, California, last Thursday.

“Bradley is in great, great shape,” Arum told his longdistance caller from Manila moments after eavesdropping on Bradley’s buildup with a little over two weeks remaining before his June 9

clash with Manny Pacquiao.

What made Arum’s jaw drop was the sight of Bradley’s imposing appearance.

“He is ripped,” said Arum, who has promoted many of the biggest fights in boxing stretching back to the days of Muhammad Ali in the 1960s.

Arum stressed that Bradley is indeed a real threat to Pacquiao that Top Rank has looked at the possibility of holding a rematch in case the Filipinos gets upset by

the 28-year-old American puncher.

“We put that on the contract (of Pacquiao),” said Arum.

Arum said Bradley was called in to face Pacquiao because of his youth and his style and the level of competitiveness that he has.

“He is not a pushover,” added Arum.

Next week, two open workouts are scheduled in Los Angeles with Bradley fac-

ing the press again at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles on May 29 and Pacquiao staging his own at the Wild Card in Hollywood on May 30.

Pacquiao will train at the Wild Card until June 4 and shortly after will head to Las Vegas.

The formal arrival rites for the two fighters takes place on June 5, followed by the press conference on June 6 and the official weighin on June 8.

Garcia said the sports agency has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia and part of the understanding is they will invite them to compete in the PNG. “Maybe in athletics, swimming and in some sports,” said Garcia. “This will increase the level of competition.”

The PNG is an open tryout for all Filipinos who wish to be part of the national team. Garcia stressed it will remain that way, adding that attracting foreign

participants will only boost the level of competition in the annual event.

The second edition of the PNG is being held here with 24 sports calendared in the province of Negros Oriental while 14 are being played in satellite venues namely Laguna, Paranaque, Pasig, Manila and Marikina.

Garcia said the PNG is an integral part of their sports programs it provides a venue for other athletes who wish be part of the national team and at the same time keep our PHL athletes on their toes.

“Kahit members na sila ng national team, huwag silang kampante baka masilat sila ng mga taga-probinsya,” said Garcia, adding that in the first PNG held in Bacolod City, they discovered athletes in cycling and beach volleyball that became part of the Philippine team.

Meanwhile, Gomez said wushu and futsal athletes will conduct an outreach program on Friday in Tayasan, a town in Negros Oriental that was severely hit by a strong earthquake early this year.

Foreign athletes to compete in next PNG

D

UMAGUETE CITY – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will add foreign flavor in the next staging of the POC-PSC Philippine National Games.

PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez said Friday that they will invite participants in the Southeast Asian region in selected sports to compete in the third PNG next year.

“The future of the PNG is we will open this to our SEA Games rivals to make it more attractive,” said Gomez. “Next year, the PNG will have a foreign participation.”

PSC chairman Richie

RONDA PILIPINAS. A cyclst crosses the finish (left) in the recent LBCC Ronda Pilipinas Tour in front of Davao’s landmark Rizal Park.

At right, the winners of the Gen. Santos City-Davao stage pose with their replica checks. (JOHN TOMESA)

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VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO