Edge Davao 5 Issue 69

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

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24T vacancies in two jobs fair S

OME 24,000 jobs will be offered during the Kalayaan Jobs Fair on June 12, Independence Day, in Davao City.

The jobs fair will be simultaneously held in two large malls in the city, each sponsored by two major TV networks. The jobs fair at

the Abreeza Mall will be sponsored by GMA Network and the other event (NCCC Mall Matina) will be held in partnership with ABSCBN. According to Alan Baban, OIC head of the Technical Support and Services Division

Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 11, said there are 79 companies joining the event--52 local. and 27 overseas agencies.

Guesting at The Marco Polo Davao’s Club 888 media forum last June 6, Baban said

F24T, 13

STUDENTS SMOKING. Students from the Davao City National High School are spotted smoking inside a store only a few meters from the campus. Selling cigarettes to minors is strictly prohibited in the country. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Biting the bullet

Multi-million drainage plan eyed

By Jade C. Zaldivar

T

HE Davao City Planning ang Development Office (CPDO) bared yesterday the local government’s plan

to invest millions for a long-sustaining drainage system.

CPDO officer-in-charge Robert Alabado said the city government is looking over proposals that would add three main

canals to the city’s drainage system.

“We’re looking at a drainage system that would cost perhaps as much as P20 million per kilometer,” Alabado said during the I-Speak media forum.

FMULTI, 13

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THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

‘Kotong’ cops face charges

By Jade C. Zaldivar

n TMC chief to con-

INCE his appointment as chief of the Traffic Management Center (TMC) in 2010 retired colonel Desiderio Cloribel has fired four personnel for engaging in mulcting practice (kotong).

Aside from losing their jobs as public servants, Cloribel yesterday said the four former TMCs are also facing charges filed against them before the Regional Trial Court for Davao region.

“We have filed cases against them which are now being heard in court. Talagang pinakulong namin sila when we caught them. Naka-bail man sila, basta may kaso na against them and they have to attend them,” Cloribel said during the ISpeak media forum of the City Information Office.

Cloribel said personal challenges in life should not become acause for a person to engage in mulcting people or corrupt practices.

“Kami, we do do our part to discipline our personnel but it does not mean na mahirap ka kailangan ka nang kaawaan kung mahuli

kang nangongotong. Hindi,” he said “The law has no biases.

We have no biases. Ang pagkotong that’s a crime, not something nga maluoy ang tao. No one can be aboce the law. If you have a violation you pay for the consequences,” he said.

The TMC chief vowed to conduct more entrapments to catch dishonest TMC personnel.

“I carry marked money every day. We conduct a lot of entrapment operations and we will continue this to ensure na maayos ang disciplina ng mga tao natin,” he said.

Cloribel also called for the participation of the citizenry in reporting corrupt TMC personnel.

“Ako rin I am appealing to the people to immediately report TMC personnel nga naga-pangotong. We are encouraging everyone to be watchful of our personnel at kayo rin you should not support or patronize these kind of activities,” he added.

S

duct more entrapments

AWARD. Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte takes a closer look at the third Red Orchid Award recently bagged by Davao City. The award, annually bestowed by the Department of the Health on Local Government Units, Centers

for Health Development, Government Hospitals and Government Offices for advocating 100% Tobacco-free environments, placed Davao City in its Hall of Fame. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Probe of OFW’s death Sidewalks cleared of vendors in Singapore pushed T

By Lorie A. Cascaro

T

HE family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in Singapore last month pushed anew for an independent investigation after obtaining the autopsy result on the late Apple Gamale’s body.

Based on the findings of Danilo P. Ledesma, medicolegal officer IV, Gamale’s cause of death was a severe blunt head injury.

It was also found that the body had already ben autopsied in Singapore.

However, Gamale’s family has not received any

copy of the autopsy result from Singapore, not even the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 11, according to administrative officer Conegundo Fernandez.

As stated in the autopsy result, “Body previously embalmed, fairly well preserved; previously autopsied with a sutured autopsy incision running bilaterally from the vertex of the head extending down bilaterally at the post-auricular regions down to the neck joining at the supra-sternal region up to the supra-pubic region.”

“Internal organs including the brain, the lungs,

For students’ safety

the heart, the abdominal organs cut into small portions were put in a black bag placed in the chest and abdominal cavities,” the result said.

Meanwhile, the family, together with Migrante International, will send a formal letter to the region’s DFA and Department of Justice urging these agencies to conduct an independent investigation on Gamale’s death in Singapore.

Migrante Davao Chapter stated that the Asia Pacific Migrants Mission in Singapore, along with Lorena Mejos, Gamale’s relative,

FPROBE, 13

RAFFIC Management Center (TMC) chief Desidero Cloribel yesterday led the speedy action of clearing sidewalks fronting elementary schools for the safety of pupils.

Following Tuesday’s City Council resolution to address the problem, Cloribel said TMC personnel have cleared the sidewalks fronting schools on Magallanes and and Ponciano streets.

Other than this, the retired colonel also assured presence of TMC personnel in the area knowing school entrances are bound to get condensed before and after classes.

“Naa tay at least isa ka tao sa kada eskwelahan.

The same goes para sa Magallanes ug Kapitan Tomas.

Naay isa sa atubangan sa skwelahan ug naa puy isa nga naa sa dalan,” Cloribel

Zamora-Apsay co-sponsors bills on domestic workers, suicide

“T

HIS MEASURE will uplift the working condi-

tions of our domestic workers and restore dignity in their line of employment,” Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay said after signing as a co-author of House Bill No. 6144 or the so-called “Domestic Workers Act”.

The measure aims to in-

stitute regulatory policies for domestic work by establishing standards of protection to promote the welfare of domestic workers.

“If passed into law, this bill will set the salary rates for househelps, provide them

medical and social security coverage and other benefits such as 13th month pay.

It will change the way society treats domestic workers, consistent with State policy to protect and promote dignity in

FZAMORA, 13

said during the I-Speak media forum of the City Information Office.

The matter stemmed from a city council resolution passed June 5 (Tuesday) requesting for the removal of ambulant vendors outside public schools.

Councilor Pilar Braga, the proponent, cited several complaints she received that sidewalk vendors are causing danger to pedestrians outside public schools.

“Due to the sidewalk vendors, pedestrians, adults and school children alike can’t walk through the sidewalk but instead they have to walk or pass on the street,” she said.

“The area is busy with all kinds of vehicles passing through. This condition are hazards ond dangerous to pedestrians, especially our school children. The vendors

appropriating the sidewalks should be removed,” Braga said.

Meanwhile, Cloribel said the government still adheres to the directive of then mayor Rodrigo Duterte to allow vendors to occupy not more than 1/3 of a sidewalk’s width for their modest livelihood.

“Alam ng mga tao ang 1/3, 2/3 rule. It is not followed a hundred percent but a majority is respecting that,” Cloribel said. “But as traffic enforcers we are also given the mandate to clear the areas which are very busy at hindi talaga pwedeng merong sidewalk vendors that’s why we conduct these sweeps,” he added.

The city council also requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the TMC to repaint and enhance pedestrian lanes. [JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

Davao region consistent as No. 1 in ALS passers

T

HE number of passers in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency National Test in the Davao region was consistently the highest among all regions in the country, a government officer yesterday said.

Lorna E. Mapinogos, chief education supervisor of ALS division, Department of Education (DepEd) 11,

said since its inception, the ALS in the region has been very effective and has a great impact in the region.

Based on the latest data, in 2010, out of 5,867 takers of accreditation and equivalency national tests (both elementary and secondary) in the region, 2,771 passed the tests or 47.23%.

The results of the 2011

FDAVAO, 13

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

3

Love triangle eyed

Stabbing victim fears suspect may escape

By Jade C. Zaldivar ICTIM of stabbing Gabriel Roy Jose Santos, 29, a contractor, fears his attacker may escape punishment by migrating.

Santos was stabbed in the chest at about 2 a.m. last June 2 inside the Business Class Bar on Palma Gil Street, Barangay Obrero, Davao City by his close friend Carlos Miguel Lopez Gonzales, a resident of Phase 3, Ecoland Subdivision in Matina.

Both are are scions of influential Dabawenyo families, and Santos fears Gonzales’ family might send him abroad to avoid punishment.

The victim’s family has

filed attempted murder charges on June 6 against Gonzales before the Regional Trial Court 11.

“Ayaw ko siyang makita.

Gusto ko lang matapos itong lahat. [Makamit ang] justice,” the victim said in an interview at the Davao Doctor’s Hospital.

Santos suffered a deep stab wound in his chest and a lacerated left hand sustained while trying to ward off the attack.

The motive for the attack on Santos is believed to be jealousy.

Santos’ fiancé, Bianca Bautista, told this reporter that Gonzales suspects the victim of having an affair with

By Lorie A. Cascaro

n

HE first week of classes since the opening has run “smoothly” with the support of different sectors, including national agencies, Jenielito “Dodong” Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd) 11, said yesterday.

He added that the Philippine National Police (PNP) provided assistance during the opening of classes among other national agencies supported the region’s DepEd. “The first week of classes is the guinea pig for the entire school year.

The PNP’s presence had been a huge deterrent to criminality. It gave a strong message to criminal elements not to touch our children,” he said.

He also acknowledged the support of other agencies that provided people to aid the department such as for traffic safety.

Brigada Eskwela (school clean-up drive), he said, was instrumental in fulfilling DepEd’s promise to start regular classes last Monday.

Citing that before the first implementation of Brigada Eskwela in 2002, regular classes started almost a month after the opening due to tedious cleaning up in school campus, whereas people now have high maturity in responding to clean-up drives.

“In the past, we had difficulty asking for support from parents, but, today even private and public groups were helped without having to be coerced,” he told Edge Davao.

He also mentioned that instead of doing minor repairs, Brigada Eskwela had turned out to be a major activity to the extent of constructing additional classrooms and the like, adding that this year,

there was quite a number of building construction sponsored by big corporations.

Varied reactions Atillo bared that DepEd 11 received varied reactions from parents on the enhanced K to 12 basic education program, which is implemented starting this school year.

For one, parents say that additional two years of basic education will worsen their financial crisis, he said, but, additional two years are not being implemented this school year yet, only the first phase of K to 12 in grades one to seven.

“We request them (parents) to deepen their understanding on the K to 12 program as this will transform their children into better individuals by learning holistically. And, after high school, they will be able to stand on their two feet by securing jobs without having a college degree,” he said.

Extended The enrolment for elementary education is still on until there the DepEd’s head office stops accepting students.

Atillo said usually enrolment extension takes two weeks, as there are still schools that have few students, while many are crowded in Central district schools.

“There are schools that lack enrollees up to now. Those in the Central district are crowded because of parents’ mentality that education there is far better than those in their local districts,” he said.

“It is not true that Central district schools are better than in other districts because we provide similar trainings to all teachers,” he added.

V

DepEd 11 classes opened ‘smoothly’

T

enrollment extended

his (Gonzales’) girlfriend.

The victim denied this saying Gonzales’ girlfriend might have started rumors.

“Kahit ako hindi ko alam eh. Baka may sinabi siya (Gonzales’ girlfriend),” Santos said.

The victim and suspect had two encounters before but none led to serious violence. However at one point, Bautista said, Gonzales punctured the tires of the car she and Santos were using.

In his affidavit, Santos said Gonzales threatened him through text message.

“Before niya ako sinaksak, I remember hindi na ako lasing noon. Nakatayo ako at lumapit siya with a bodyguard.

I know because may dalang

CLOSE PALS. Victim Gabriel Roy Jose Santos (2nd from right) has filed an attempted murder rap against friendturned-enemy Carlos Miguel Lopez Gonzales (left) after the latter allegedly stabbed him in the chest 2 a.m. last bag na siguro baril ang laman. Walang usapan. Basta na lang sinaksak niya ako. Pinagplanuhan niya talaga ito,” Santos said.

Bautista, whose also friends with Gonzales said the incident has led to them drifting apart.

“Magka-klase pa sila

June 2, Saturday. Photo taken in 2011 with Santos’ fiancé Bianca Bautista (right). Things turned murky between the former friends when Gonzales suspected Santos of having an affair with his girlfriend.

since grade school, sa high school. Sa college the two of them (victim and suspect) remained friends,” she said.

“We’re all very close. It’s also painful for us because we know we were all good friends before this happened. But sa ngayon ang gusto lang namin is harapin niya ang kaso. He

should take responsibility for his crime,” Bautista added.

Gonzales is the son of construction magnate Charlie Gonzales, while Santos is also from an influential family.

“We’re hoping for the best.

Walang areglo. We want him (the suspect) behind bars,” Bautista said.

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SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

Consumption threat to vulnerable species T

HE developed world’s insatiable appetite for products like coffeeand timber is threatening the survival of one in three vulnerableanimal species in poor countries, according to an Australian study.

Academics at the University of Sydney spent five years tracking the world economy, evaluating over five billion supply chainsconnecting consumers to over 15,000 commodities produced in 187 countries.

They particularly focused on the global trade of goods implicated inbiodiversity loss such as coffee, cocoa, and lumber, with the data cross-referenced with a global register of 25,000 vulnerable species.

The study, which was published in the scientific journal Nature, concluded that international trade chains can accelerate degradation in locations far removed from where the product is bought.

“Until now these relationships have only been poorly understood,” said lead author Manfred Lenzen, from the university’s IntegratedSustainability Analysis group.

“Our extraordinary number crunching, which took years of data collection and thousands of hours on a supercomputer to process, lets us see these global supply chains in amazing detail for the first time.”

The study showed that in countries like Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Honduras, 50 to 60 percent of biodiversity loss was linked to exports, mostly to meet demand from richer countries.

It cited the example of spider monkeys threatened by habitat loss because of strong demand for coffee and an increase in cocoa plantations in Mexico and Central America.

In Papua New Guinea, it said 171 species, including the black-spotted cuscus and eastern longbeaked echidna, were threatened by export industries including mining and timber to a few large trading partners, including Australia.

Sixty of these species alone in PNG were under threat from logging to satisfy Japanese residential construction, the authors said, adding that

agricultural exports from Indonesia affected 294 species, including tigers.

“There is increasing awareness that developed countries’ consumption of imported products can cause a biodiversity footprint that is larger abroad than at home,” the study said.

“The study shows how this is the case for many countries, including the US, Japan, and numerous European states.”

Co-author Barney Foran said he hoped the findings would help make labelling of products on supermarket shelves with sustainability ratings the norm, rather than the exception.

“We shouldn’t let retailers make sustainability labels a premium product,” he said.

“We should ask that they always stock products that are made responsibly, from the bottom shelf to the top shelf.”

On the production side, the study recommends companies be required to make foreign suppliers accountable to the same production standards they hold at home.

This file photo shows a spider monkey eating a watermelon at a zoo in northern Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The developed world’s insatiable appetite for products like

EDGEDAVAO

coffee and timber is threatening the survival of one in three vulnerable animal species in poor countries, according to an Australian study.

Marine reserves boost fish: Australian study

A

This file illustration photo shows fish swimming among coral reefs. Australian researchers tracking life on the Great Barrier Reef say they have proven

a long-debated theory that fish born in marine reserves boost overall ocean stocks by dispersing widely.

USTRALIAN researchers tracking life on the Great Barrier Reef said they have proven a longdebated theory that fish born in marine reserves boost overall ocean stocks by dispersing widely.

The team, from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, used DNA testing to track the spread of baby coral trout and stripey snappers from their spawning on the reef ’s Keppel Island marine reserve, where fishing is illegal.

“We found that the marine reserves, which cover about 28 percent of the 700 hectare (1,700 acre) reef area of the Keppels, had in fact generated half the baby fish, both inside and outside of the reserves,” said lead researcher Hugo Harrison.

“The study provides conclusive evidence that fish populations in areas open to fishing can be

replenished from populations within marine reserves.”

Published in the scientific journal Current Biology, the study is the first to prove the sometimes contested theory that setting aside marine reserves can help restock neighbouring fishing zones, added coauthor Garry Russ.

“This study in the Keppel Islands, for the first time, demonstrates that reserve networks can contribute substantially to the long-term sustainability of coral reef fisheries, and thus to food security and livelihoods in the region,” said Russ, from northern Australia’s James Cook University.

The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest in the world, comprising more than 3,000 individual reef systems and hundreds of tropical islands.

It is home to 1,500 fish species and 30 types of whale, dolphin and porpoise.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

THE ECONOMY

5

Villar pushes for bill against ‘unfair trade practices’ S House approves ENATOR Manny Villar on Wednesday pushed for the passage of the bill that seeks to protect consumers against unfair trade practices.

Villar said the Senate Bill 3098, or the Competition Act of 2011, would put an end to monopolies and cartels and make available quality goods and services at reasonable prices.

In his sponsorship speech, Villar said the measure seeks to prevent the concentration of economic power in few persons who threaten to control the production, distribution or trade to stifle competition, distort, manipulate or constrict the discipline of free markets and increase market prices.

“As we know, free and open markets are the foundation of a vibrant economy.

Competition among sellers in an open marketplace gives the

consumers the benefits of lower prices, high quality products and services, adequate supply, and a wider array of choices.

This also results to manufacturers trying to outdo each other in terms of product advancement and innovation which translates to goods with better value for money,” Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, said.

Under the proposed measure, it shall be unlawful for firms to engage in anti-competitive conduct or any conduct with the effect of unreasonably preventing, restricting or lessening substantially competition.

The bill penalizes abuse of dominance, which occurs when a firm abuses their market position by engaging in unfair competition with the purpose of preventing, restricting, or lessening competition. What constitutes this would be the

selling of goods or services below cost, unless for clearance, inventory, sale or any other valid purpose; imposing barriers to entry; or setting prices or other terms or conditions that differ or discriminate between the customers and sellers.

Also prohibited under the act are anti-competitive mergers. Firms engaged in commerce, trade or industry shall not acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock or other share capital, assets or voting rights of one or more firms engaged in any commerce, trade or industry where the object or effect of such conduct is to prevent, restrict or substantially lessen competition.

Villar noted that while competition law is not entirely new in the Philippines, existing laws have been proven inadequate and ineffective to inhibit anti-competitive structures and practices.

The bill also seeks the creation of an Office for Competition under the Department of Justice, which has the power to investigate any violation of the act. It also has the power to issue subpoena to require the production of books, record or other documents or to summon witnesses relevant to an investigation.

Villar noted that despite the ideal scenario of a perfect competition in the market, consolidations and mergers still occur which brings entire industries under the influence of a few people.

“When this happens, it opens the possibility of dominance over business drivers like price and supply by these chosen few. In effect, these so-called monopolies and cartels pose undue advantage over our micro-, small, and medium enterprises thereby making it easier to drive out these smaller players from the industry,” he said.

new sin tax bill

T

HE House of Representatives on Wednesday evening approved a proposed measure seeking to impose higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol products.

In a 210-21 vote with five abstentions, the House passed on third and final reading House Bill 5727, otherwise known as the “sin tax” bill

Quips

authored by Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya.

The final approval of the bill was passed by the Lower Chamber on second reading via viva voce votes.

The measure is expected to boost additional revenues of P60 billion for the government, which will be used for the country’s health care program.

‘GUSTO unta nako nga walay utang ang city. (I want the city to be free of loans).’

--Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in reporting that the city government is still indebted to banks to the tune of P2.3 billion.

6

THE ECONOMY

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

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Shell launches high performing fuel in Davao

T

HE increasing demand of consumers for high performing fuel will be met following the launching Wednesday here by Shell of the unique gasoline and diesel fuels designed to improve performance and to act instantly on engines.

Fuel scientist of Shell Global Solutions Mae Ascan said Shell recognized the evolving needs of customers on their driving experience with the Shell V-Power Nitro+Premium Fuels.

She said using this product is cost effective as it will provide high performance as well as maintain the engine well. It has stronger cleaning power as it contains more of the detergent designed and cleans up deposits that can affect engine performance.

Ascan said the new formu-

lation also contains a higher level of Friction Modifier technology. It is designed to instantly reduce friction in critical engine areas and thereby help the engine to deliver more power to the wheels.

“The new formulation is designed to restore and maintain engine power through active engine protection,” she said.

On the other hand, Ascan said they see to it that product formulation is clean and environment friendly.

She said it underwent the process and pass the “No Harm’s Testing” and has no effect to the environment.

Product brand manager Pia Que-ang said the fuel was developed to meet the changing needs of their customers.

She said based on what they gathered there is an in-

Local inventors pitch technology for hospital wastes

A

group of Dabawenyo inventors pitched their locally developed pyro-clave technology to the Davao City government.

They are proposing to build an infectious medical waste processing facility in the New Carmen sanitary landfill.

Pyro-clave is a non-burn waste processing technology where infectious wastes from hospitals and medical facilities are converted into charcoal.

The proponents named RAD Green Solutions won acclaim when their pyro clave project was named as one of the top two Philippine finalists in the ON3 Pitching Competitions in 2011.

The ON3 Pitching Competitions is a business plan competition for start-up companies involved in I.T. (Information Technology) and green technology.

Under their proposal, they are planning to build an P8 million pyro-clave facility where they would handle hospital wastes and charge their clients P20 a kilo or P25-kilo if the wastes will be converted into charcoal.

The proposal is currently being deliberated by the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) of Davao City as an ordinance which authorizes the City Mayor Sara Duterte to sign a Memorandum of Agreement which permits RAD Green to lease about 200 square meters in the landfill in which the facility will be built.

Ricky Dayot co-founder of RAD Green solutions said that during their presentation to the hospital owners they were excited as disposing hospital wastes has been a problem with the enactment of the Clean Air Act which prohibits the operation of incinerators.

Also imported Auto-Clave technology would cost around P30 million to P50 million, an amount many hospitals could not afford or a budget they would opt to spend for medical equipment like XRays and CT Scans that could generate additional profits. Auto-claves would just entail additional operating expenses.

According to Dayot, the city produces 300 to 500 kilos per day of infectious pathological wastes. These hospital wastes if improperly disposed could pose serious health hazards Dayot said.

creasing numbers of drivers who were looking for a fuel which could help their cars perform to their potential.

She said the product was out in the market on June 1 and based on feedback private car owners are satisfied of its performance.

Drivers of public utility vehicles like multi-cabs also expressed the same feedback, she said.

The new product, she said has a more powerful detergent technology for faster and more effective clean-up injection systems.

Que-Ang said the product was launched in Davao City, being one of the island’s main trading centers, because Mindanao is a significant market for Shell.

“Doing this activity here is a testament of our support to Mindanao,” she said.

She said Mindanao is a strong market and with its

vast area, people travelling by land is an advantage that is why they wanted to support them (travelers) on their needs based on efficiency and reliability with this kind of fuel being responsive to their demand.

Shell general manager Oying Yan said with a team of experts they constantly work to create the most advanced fuels and it has played a role in the development of high quality fuels designed to enable customers to get more miles out of their tanks and better performance out of their engines.

He said Shell-branded stations are in more than 80 countries across the globe.

But he said they consider Philippines as a significant country that they can invest.

He said they want to provide the country with their complete line of save fuel products.

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

EDGEDAVAO

AGRITRENDS

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Gov’t implements measures to stop unsustainable fishing A

CKNOWLEDGING that the greatest threat to the country’s coral reefs is unsustainable fishing, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the Philippine government has implemented several measures to put a stop to this practice.

In a message read for him by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Asis Perez at the Forum on Coral Triangle Initiative on Tuesday held at Sofitel Hotel, Alcala said the current initiatives at the Department of Agriculture (DA), specifically BFAR, include interventions centered on resource rehabilitation, strengthening of law enforcement and in the adoption of environment-friendly livelihood programs taking into account the principle of ecosystem approach to fisheries management or the EAFM. He said much of the country’s mangrove areas -- an intermediary ecosystem for a healthy coral reef -- had been decimated to only 10 percent of its original

195,000-hectare area in the 1950s with the expansion in aquaculture activities. ”Although there had been many initiatives by other government agencies, NGOs and other partners for mangrove reforestation, the BFAR’s program on Aquasilviculture provides fisherfolk families the opportunity to produce various food fish and shellfish within a mangrove area that they themselves would plant.

The program targets 100 million mangrove trees in three years,” he said.

Alcala said livelihood projects for marginal fishermen are likewise hinged on environmentsafety concerns as well as on partnerships.

Some of the important livelihoods being pushed forth include seaweed farming, deployment of “payao” for hand line fishing and the fish cage farming of low-trophic level fishes.

Seaweed farming, according to the DA chief, is promoted in on-traditional areas and with seaweed farmers provided farm implements

by the bureau. The local governments take care of the seaweed propagules.

This system of collaboration is found more effective than a mere dole-out system used in the past. ”Shallow-water fish aggregating device known as ‘payao’ are being deployed in select

municipal waters to provide marginal fishermen a specific area for fishing. The system cuts their fuel cost by as much as 25-30 percent; and because only line fishing is allowed, the issue on sustainability will somehow be addressed,” Alcala explained.

Meanwhile, the DA chief said law enforcement is also an area that is very much wanting in Philippine fisheries.

“With 7,107 islands and a shoreline that is greater than that of the United States, it is very sad that the government

agency mandated to protect and conserve its fisheries and resources have barely four personnel to attend to such a huge mandate,” he said. ”Hence, we are currently strengthening our capability on this through the creation of Fishery Law Enforcement Quick Response Teams nationwide. In addition, we are also strengthening our collaboration and partnerships with the local governments as well as the law enforcement agencies in the country,” he said. ”There are indeed a

lot of things that must be done in order to nurse our coral reefs back to its pristine state that would eventually bring economic and social benefits to local communities and the country as well,” he stressed.

And to do that, Alcala said, knowledge sharing, partnerships and collaboration with neighboring countries is becoming more and more important as coral reefs of Southeast Asia, the Philippines in particular, and that of the Great Barrier of Australia, is not by any means disconnected. [PNA]

influence of tri-media to inform stakeholders on important activities of the department.

Antiga said the 45 participants underwent training on news and feature writing, including preparation of project proposals and technical writeshops in the seminar held at the Crown Regency Hotel on Cabaguio Avenue in this city. The activity started on June 4 and ends on June 6, he said.

“We would like to reach out more to the public and be heard in any way we can,” Antiga said, adding there are a lot of inspiring stories that are happening to our farmer-beneficiaries, and success stories

that are begging to be told.

He said there are also projects implemented that helped improved agriculture production and these are the stories we want to be heard by the public.

Among the resource speakers is Ed Fernandez, book author, journalist, educator and development worker, who emphasized the use of simple, accurate and precise words to write news or feature stories, Antiga said.

“You don’t have to use unfamiliar words to brag about your stories.

What is important is for you to be easily understood,” Fernandez said.

DAR hones writing skills of personnel in DavSur

S

OME 45 employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DA, most of them development facilitators in seven municipal offices of Davao del Sur, participated in a three-day seminar-training to acquaint and enable them to acquire more knowledge in journalism and communications.

DAR Davao del Sur provincial officer Wilson Antiga said the activity is geared towards increasing public awareness on the implememntation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the province through public relations, information, and social marketing strategy that utilize the

[PNA]

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VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

EDGEDAVAO Europe needs a central bank OPINION

BY MAREK BELKA

P

EDITORIAL

Lousy preachers

B

ORING homilies in Catholic Churches make the churchgoers not only sleepy, but even fall asleep. Or haven’t you noticed?. No less than Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani made the criticism in a widely-publicized statement.

We congratulate Bishop Bacani for beating us to the draw, because that, too, has been our complaint about our Catholic priests.

Homilies should not be boring because they reflect the teachings of Christ. We believe the fault lies in the way homilies are being composed and organized and the uninspiring way they are delivered by some priests who are clueless about public speaking, aside from lacking in writing skill. After listening to a fumbling, stuttering, roundabout, humorless homily, one wonders whether the seminaries ever hone the writing and speaking skills of seminarians before they graduate to become priests.

Bishop Bacani said priests ought to “put more passion in their delivery of God’s word, just like preachers and leaders of charismatic movements.” The good bishop

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could not have put it more succinctly.

There is another practice that does not sit well with communication. Priests who come from Luzon and other areas are allowed to deliver homilies in the local dialect even without being sufficiently trained. The result is hilarious, if not occasionally disastrous.

The situation is not helpless though. There is still time for priests to improve the delivery of homilies. There is a surfeit of organizations and agencies that can be tapped to sharpen the elocution capability of priests.

We are sure organizations like Toastmasters International and the speech clinics of local universities would only be too happy to tie up with the local archdiocese for a continuing training.

Priests who are lousy speakers should not despair, much less think they’re hopless. They can be no worse than some of the lawyers and senator-judges in the recent Impeachment Trial conducted by the Philippine Senate. Despite the nature of their jobs, they were not exactly outstanding in the craft of public speaking. Agree?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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(Conclusion)

ROPOSALs aimed at moving the EU closer to fiscal union are often supported by drawing an analogy between the current EU situation and the American fiscal crisis of the 1780s, when theUnited States moved to a federal system as one way of coping with the Revolutionary War debts of the states.

In «The Federalist Papers,» Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison persuaded public opinion and the members of the state legislatures to agree to the transfer of some fiscal powers from the state level to the federal one, even though that required a new constitution.

The new Constitution created a fiscal union even before the US became a full-fledged monetary union.

By contrast, most of the current proposals for greater European integration may be – and often are – perceived as a transfer of national parliamentary responsibilities to the European Commission appointed by the governments and to the intergovernmentalCouncil of Europe. The only democratically elected institution in the EU is the European Parliament. Yet voter turnout for its elections is rather low. Further, theParliament’s power in the legislative process is quite limited. The European Parliament cannot initiate legislation and shares powers with the Commission and the Council in adopting new legal rules.

Clearly, the existence of the European Parliament in its current form is not enough to compensate for the deficit of democracy of the whole EU institutional framework.

Closing that deficit would require more ties between national parliaments and European institutions. There are many ideas worth considering about how this might be done.

One is the suggestion by the philosopherJurgen Habermas that members of the European Parliament can simultaneously hold seats in their respective national parliaments.

An obvious way to solve the problem of legitimacy in the EU is for the direct selection of executives for EU institutions by popular elections. That would give all citizens a chance to participate in political communication and influence decision-making processes. For this, a pan-European public opinion – a European demos – is necessary.

Only from such a demos can a pan-European agenda be developed that defines the interests that can unify people from different countries.

Politicians running for “European” government posts (president, ministers, commissioners, etc.) would have to look for support of the people, excite them with a vision, and tell them what exactly they will do for them.

Does this smell like populism? Hopefully not, in its worst sense. But it is not possible to imagine the emergence of a legitimate political union in Europe without a less technocratic approach than the one we have today.

Conceived by statesmen and intellectuals, the main features of European integration have been designed with rationality and responsibility in mind. But politics is not a mechanism. It is an organism that involves emotions and egoism.

If Europe is going be a shield against the negative effects of globalization, and a bridge to its opportunities, it needs legitimate government to manage the process. In democratic societies, the vision of statesmen only goes as far as the citizens will allow.

[Marek Belka, a former prime minister of Poland, is governor of the National Bank of Poland.]

Quips ‘THE LAW has to be specific. For example, among the professionals sector, when you allow security guards, then you have to allow other professions (to be represented).’

--Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes in seeking amendments to the Party-list Systems Act.

EDGEDAVAO

A

week after the final vote, we glance back and see the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona as a drama with the plot of the tragedy – Corona the tragic hero not dying but only going down by his “tragic faults”. However, as the impeachment trial ends in Corona’s ironic conviction, the trial of the Aquino III government begins: What for really was Corona’s impeachment?

In his obsession to acquit himself, Chief Justice Renato C. Corona bungled his chances and got convicted. That’s the irony, the contradiction; the paradox, the unbelievable but true. This Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding judge of the Impeachment Court, portrayed when he explained his “Guilty Vote”.

The prosecution’s closing arguments focused on this irony and paradox, not on their own weak evidence.

The fatal blunders were as much those of the defense as of Corona. Until the Defense revived the dead issue on Corona’s ill-gotten wealth and introduced evidence purportedly to deny the charge, Corona was on the way to acquittal.

Even in this charge the prosecution evidence was weak. And weaker still was its evidence for Articles II and VII. At this point, as Enrile revealed during an ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) interview last May 30, three senator-judges were inclined to acquit Corona; nine to convict; and nine [obviously, not including himself and another] still undecided –the potential swing votes.

Blunder But the Defense and Corona misjudged their case. While the Court had

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VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

Corona’s ironic conviction COMMENT

BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ already “killed” the issue of ill-gotten wealth – in fact, Enrile had reiterated a number of times on record that “Corona does not stand accused of having amassed any ill-gotten wealth before this Impeachment Court” – they revived it.

Perhaps they were rattled by the persistence of the charge in media, the court of public opinion. The latest and the most serious were the reports of the case pending before the Ombudsman charging Corona of having $10 million in the banks. The issue that the Court had killed had remained alive in the media to hound Corona and his defense team; they could not ignore this.

Yet, the imponderable was this: Presenting at the Impeachment Court evidence to prove Corona had no ill-gotten wealth had become irrelevant – fueling rather than quenching the fire in media and feeding two birds rather than killing them at the same time. How could lawyers so brilliant err?

The strategy of the Defense must have been this: Kill the ill-gotten wealth charge in the media by exposing its main root at the Impeachment Court.

So, the Defense presented the Ombudsman as its hostile witness. That was the turning point – a winning case tumbling down to disaster.

Backfired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, a newly retired justice of the Supreme Court, had with her the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council

showing Corona’s 82 dollar accounts in different banks with $10 to $12 million “transactional” balance from 2004 to early 2012. The weighty evidence brought down the roof on the Defense and Corona.

As observed by many, the Defense gambled on their belief that the Ombudsman had no solid evidence yet that early of her investigation of the three complaints filed against Corona. Senator Edgardo Angara surmised that the defense “lawyers wanted Morales to disprove the news reports – that she did not have evidence on the Chief Justices’s $10M bank deposits”. Her testimony would acquit Corona both at the Impeachment Court and the court of public opinion.

But this was not to be so. Of Morales’ evidence, Enrile said: She “presented a report based on documents so detailed – a myriads of details. No mind, even Einstein’s, can invent the details covered by those transactions. A legal mind or a financial mind could not concoct or invent the contents of those documents and the numbers and the transactions that happened over a period of eight years”.

As required by law, banks reported Corona’s and similarly circumstanced other bank transactions to AMLC; on request, AMLC furnished the Ombudsman the report which the Commission on Audit analyzed to arrive at the “transactional” balance which is different from actual balance. The evidence withstood arguments of technicality [The report was not authenticated.] or of illegality [The report was obtained without court order.] Only Corona could refute it.

Betwixt and between: Facebook’s act of desperation

N Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook is considering lowering the minimum membership age to include tweens. It raised eyebrows and kindled a new discussion about privacy and the propriety of inviting youngsters into what the company aspires to make the world’s biggest salesroom.

But I have a different concern: Soliciting children would be pretty strong evidence that Facebook needs a big boost to its already staggering 900 million membership to justify its valuation and business model. Having courted every early, middle and late adopter possible, there isn’t much low-hanging fruit for Facebook anymore. But courting tweens would inevitably invite scrutiny and regulation, since the prospect of cyberstalking is even more toxic that cyberbullying.

In other words, the potential rule change looks like an act of desperation. Coming off a miserable stock market debut, both the merits and atmospherics of this notion are decidedly bad.

It’s easy to see why this would be on the table. Facebook has to prove that it can sell things on a massive scale, that it is the 21st century’s answer to television. All of that seemed possible before it went public on May 18, as the company’s valuation was pushed up steadily for months in thin trade on private exchanges among well-heeled insiders. But the question of just how good an advertising medium Facebook can be has been pressed by a steady decline in its share

Monkey Business

ANALISYS

BY JOHN C ABELL price during 12 days of trading – to about 60 percent of its historical high. Until Facebook can prove its business model, it’s a good idea to keep bulking up so that a leveling off of membership, or even a decline, doesn’t turn the story really ugly.

For Facebook greater, and growing, numbers are essential. Like panning for gold, you need a lot of water to come up with a few grains. So to achieve gold-rush growth, Facebook has to mine the young end of the spectrum.

That’s partly because there isn’t much else to mine. The size of Facebook’s user base is mature – and the fastest growing demographic is already of the mature: middleaged people and above account for 46 percent of the membership. Age 24 and younger are a mere 14 percent. The youngest age group is ripe for the picking, but the risks are high: It is most vulnerable, immature and incapable of coping with the sort of challenges even adults have trouble dealing with on social networks. So why ask for a world of hurt – unless you have to?

Facebook has flirted with the idea for a while, of course. The Journal reminds us that CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself floated the idea a year ago: “That will be a fight we take on at some point,” he told Fortune in May 2011.

It’s no secret that plenty of underage people are already on Facebook. My own daughter joined during middle school. So part of any outrage about this would have to be of the feigned “shocked, shocked” variety.

Facebook could spin this as an opportunity to help parents by making special rules about interacting and pitching to tweens, imposing technical fixes that sort of rope them off until, say, their 16th birthday. It can’t do that now, since these tween accounts technically don’t exist. Facebook can’t be expected to protect people it’s obligated to keep out or kick off.

But that’s the spin. Underlying it is the commercial imperative. Admitting tweens would continue a long-term expansion strategy that created the biggest tech IPO in U.S. history from a college dorm project.

It would be only the latest example of Facebook moving further away from its roots as an ad-free, exclusive network for Harvard students. The irony is that Facebook only found fame and fortune by admitting anyone – over 13, that is.

This time opening the door wider feels very different. Lowering the age of consent would be an admission by Facebook that even a billion (members) isn’t cool. And that’s not cool.

[John writes about tech, business and politics. Most recently he was Wired’s Opinion Editor and New York Bureau Chief.]

9

Maintaining a balance amid trials and triumphs SPECIAL FEATURE

R

BY JELLY F. MUSICO

ECOGNIZING that the second regular session has so far been the most challenging period in the 15th Congress, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile thanked on Wednesday night the hundreds of Senate employees for working tirelessly to ensure that the smooth flow of legislative work continued despite the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“With candor, I will admit that this Second Regular Session has been the most challenging that I have had to lead, and mostly in part because of the impeachment trial,” id Enrile said.

“I would like to acknowledge the commendable work of the men and women in the Senate Secretariat and the Senate Proper who helped the Impeachment Court and rendered extended hours of service throughout the trial,” he stressed.

“In the exercise of our Constitutional obligation to try and decide the impeachment case against the Chief Justice, we kept our resolve to give due respect to individuals, observing processes that adhered to our Bill of Rights. We maintained the delicate balance of the separation of powers and staved off the specter of a Constitutional crisis,” Enrile added.

Enrile also acknowledged that the trial had put a strain not just on the Senate’s legislative work with major bills and resolutions having to be set aside, but also on the whole nation who, he said, expects the best from those they had elected into office.

“The impeachment trial has not left us unscathed. The primacy of the constitutional process may have invigorated our sense of nationhood, but the bitter fissures in the trial’s aftermath threaten the work that lies ahead,” Enrile said.

“The events that transpired in the past few months should not deter us from doing our duty as protector of the rights of the people. Lest we let our guards down, we must take to heart the hard lessons that we learned and make sure that our nation’s needs will be met this coming 3rd Regular Session,” he added.

Despite legislative work being delayed due to the 44-day impeachment trial of the chief magistrate, the Senate managed to pass bills considered as priority by Malacañang.

A total of 13 bills, including six House bills, were passed on third reading, including SB 3009 amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2011 and SB 3127 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, which were certified as urgent by President Benigno S. Aquino III. Other priority bills passed on third reading were SB 3164, amending the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, and the Cybercrime bill.

The third regular session will resume on July 23 in time for the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) of President Aquino.

[PNA]

Quips ‘THE MALAYSIAN business community, to use their own words, is very excited about the Philippines.

They are attracted by the broad business opportunities and a business environment that encourages growth.’

--Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.PDI

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EDGEDAVAO

DCWD sets various activities in celebration of Environment Month and Independence Day

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Londoners applaud PH ‘More Fun’ campaign

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HE country’s new tourism slogan, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” continues to draw attention and take its place on the global stage.

The campaign was recently welcomed with warm reception and overwhelming support in London during its roll-out via double-decker buses, taxi cabs, and underground stations. Twenty-five (25) double-decker buses and fifty (50) iconic black cabs sporting a uniform design of the slogan, logo, and different faces of the Philippines are now spotted around the bustling streets of London. Images of the worldfamous Ifugao Rice Terraces and the Puerto Princesa Underground River, both proclaimed as World Heritage Sites, are also found at the subway stations.

“I’ve seen the bus advertisements a couple of times, as well as the one in the underground, which made me stop and do a double take, as I hadn’t seen a Philippine ad in the tube before. I hope that it succeeds in attracting more people to the country,” shares John Oates, contributor to Rough Guides to the Philippines and member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. Mr. Oates looks forward to writing about the Philippines again and plans to visit in June.

With London’s population of about 7.5 million and 15 million international visitors every year, the Philippines is certainly generating awareness not only among the British population, but also among visitors to the United Kingdom (UK). People from various walks of life

have expressed their excitement and confidence in the campaign.

“We really love your advertising campaign and we believe it would work fantastically well through our channels. We will be looking out for your advertising campaign in town – on buses, taxis, and in the underground,” exclaimed Weronika Abramowicz, Business Development Head of Fulham Football Club, the oldest established football team of the English Premier League.

Simon Beck, director of Orbital Communications, an integrated sales, marketing, and PR solutions provider to travel brands in the UK, finds the bus ads a really good idea that was executed very well. “I wish you every success with the new campaign. I think it’s so creative...and was telling the Ambassador the same. It’s exciting times ahead for you and I hope I can help support you on this exciting journey,” Mr. Beck enthused.

The Philippine Department of Tourism is the very first national tourism organization to advertise through the taxis’ digital platform owned by Verifone Media.

The London cabs come with a 30-minute digital ad which features the 30-seconder “It’s more fun in the Philippines” TVC and 15-seconder tarsier TVC recently launched worldwide via network giant CNN. Filipinos based in London, who caught a glimpse of the ads, expressed their optimism and full support for DOT’s new campaign. “Absolutely Brilliant! I rode the cab and saw the digital advertisement. It’s very witty, great tag line, and good visuals. It cap-

tures the audience because you’re just sitting in there and you will really watch it. Really good marketing campaign.

Not just for foreigners, but for Filipinos as well. It reminded me of home,” shares Innah Viray-Lim, a Filipino currently in London as consultant for Shell. After seeing the launch last May, many Filipinos living in the UK also tweeted that they want to have a photo opportunity with the bus and taxi cabs.

Media hype through the London cabs will continue to run until early next year, with the opportunity to capture the millions of visitors and household viewers of the

Queen’s Jubilee, the London 2012 Olympics, and the season 2012-2013 of the Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League.

“The world will now start to see that ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ is not just a bunch of words on a streamer. It is a competitive argument for choosing the Philippines as one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Philippine tourism is poised to surge forward as we launch more aggressive initiatives to reinvigorate the industry and work towards achieving our 10M target by 2016,” beamed Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

Nationalistic-anyone? During yesteryears, Filipinos commemorate Independence Day anniversaries with pride by displaying a miniature Philippine flag in their cars. These days, the young generation hardly exhibits the same

Green Brigade Environmental Summit will be conducted by the Davao City Water District on June 9 in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources XI (DENR-XI), Watershed Management Coordinating Council, Watershed Management Youth Council and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

This summit will be held at DENR XI Gym in Lanang and will be participated by SK leaders from 180 barangays in Davao City.

DCWD acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado said the activity aims to mobilize the youth as catalyst for environmental protection in which they can apply their learnings to their respective homes and communities.

Participants will be taught of their roles in green, brown and blue environmental programs. The green program covers the watershed rehabilitation and water conservation; brown for solid waste management and blue

for coastal resource management.

Part of the activity is the presentation of success stories in various environmental protection endeavors. These includes the implementation of DCWD’s Integrated Watershed Rehabilitation Program, Best Solid Waste Management and Coastal Resource Management. In addition, there will be Battle of the Bands or “Recyclaband” competition wherein participants will be using recycled materials as musical instruments.

In another development, DCWD will also conduct an employees’ fun-run and tree planting dubbed as Takbo para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan at Kalayaan on June 9. The 5K run will start from DCWD Matina Office and will end at Matina Pangi, afterwhich employees will plant trees at Matina Pangi riverside. The activity is part of the utility’s celebration of the environment month and commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day. (SYLVIA MAY L. VOSOTROS)T

six-hour water service interruption is scheduled by Davao City Water District on June 9 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Said water cut will affect entire area of S.I.R. Matina Phase 2 and streets of Acacia, Atis, Aguho and Luisa in Juna Subd.

DCWD acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado said the water cut is needed to allow the tapping of newly repiped 6-inch diameter mainline at Patnubay St. corner Acacia St., S.I.R. Phase 2 in Matina as part of the utility’s mainline replacement project to help reduce non-revenue water.

Would be affected customers are advised to store enough water prior to the scheduled water service interruption as water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise. The general public may call the DCWD trunk line at 221-9400 and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to the latest daily water updates, or contact its call center through the 24-hour hotline 221-9412 or 09277988966 for updates, complaints, queries and other matters pertaining to DCWD services. (SYLVIA

Water service interruption June 9

A

MAY L. VOSOTROS)

act of reverence. Uniquely, Davao Light, an Aboitiz company, carries the flag in all of its service vehicles everyday since 2007. Unnoticeably, its corporate logo has similar colors with that of the national flag.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 69 • JUNE 08 - 09, 2012

Jessica Soho and Vic Sotto chosen as the most trusted tv host presenters in the Reader’s Digest trusted brand consumer survey 2012

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WO of the most prominent media and showbiz personalities in the country were chosen by a Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand consumer survey to be the Most Trusted TV Host Presenters in the field of News and Entertainment.

Broadcast journalist Jessica Soho and actor Vic Sotto are the recipients of this prestigious, annual award based on a recent survey by the iconic magazine.

Soho who received the same award in 2011 is known for her incisive news reports and riveting documentaries.

The broadcast journalist has won numerous awards for her work which include the New

York Film Festival for Coverage of a Breaking Story, and the George Peabody Award.

She is kept busy by her highly rated, magazine style show on GMA-7 called “Kapuso Mo, Jessica” and the “State of the Nation.”

Sotto rose to showbiz fame as part of the wacky trio Tito, Vic and Joey.

He is also a producer of more than a dozen films with the “Enteng Kabisote” franchise as the most successful under his own M Zet Productions.

Vic is presently one of the hosts of the popular, long-running noontime show “Eat Bulaga” on GMA-7 where he is known by the moniker

PRO11 Regional Director PCSUPT JAIME H MORENTE facilitates the formal turn-over of five (5) explosive detection dogs (EDDs) from Camp Crame to their respective handlers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams (EODTs) of PRO 11 Regional Headquarters, Davao City Police Office, Davao Sur and Davao Norte Provincial Police

“Bossing.”

The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand, now on its 14th consecutive year in the Asia Pacific region, is a marketing institution which serves as a barometer in identifying consumer preferences and brand appeal of products in various categories.

The annual consumer survey coverage in Asia includes not only the Philippines but China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and India.

With a total of 8,000 respondents coming from eight Asian markets, Ipsos, Reader’s Digest research partner, managed the phone and postal survey in October 2011.

Offices. The handlers and the EDDs were jointly trained for six (6) months at Exponents Training Institute in Alfonso, Cavite. Present also during the turn-over were Davao Norte Police Provincial Director, PSSUPT EDGARDO G WYCOCO and PRO 11 Regional Chief Directorial Staff, PSSUPT PIERRE R BUCSIT.

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NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS

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Factored

EWLY established United States-Philippines Society said President Benigno S. Aquino III’s platform of good governance factored in their decision to invite him as their guest of honor and speaker during the organization’s official launch to be held on Friday in Washington.

Speaking to Radio-TV Malacañang in a recent interview, US-Philippines Society president and retired diplomat John Maisto said they want to take advantage of this opportunity because, just like their organization, President Aquino “represents something generationally new.”

T

Security

O ensure that the Philippines’ 114th Independence Day will be celebrated without any untoward incident, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Thursday that it will be deploying security teams and bomb sniffing dogs to areas where commemoration activities will be held on June 12.

“The participation of the military during the celebration is our simple way of remembering our hard-fought achievement of independence for our beloved country. This also serves as a reminder of our undying perseverance to protect our people, uphold sovereignty, and achieve a just and lasting peace as embodied in our Internal Peace Security Program ‘Bayanihan’,” AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Jessie D. Dellosa said.

P

Friendship

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III cited the deep and strong bond between the peoples of the Philippines and the United Kingdom, which he said will only grow stronger as time goes on.

He attributed this strengthening friendship to the “decades of interaction amongst our officials and people.” This interaction, the President said, include the exchange of commerce and services between the two countries.

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WORLD TODAY

P

RO-REGIME militiamen armed with guns and knives swept through a village in central Syria slaughtering dozens including women and children, a watchdog said Thursday in allegations denied by Damascus.

Reports of the massacre in the village of AlKubeir came as the United States demanded a full transfer of power in Syria, setting the stage for a renewed diplomatic stand-off after Russia and China said they were strongly against intervention and regime change.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of villagers killed in Wednesday’s assault at 87 after the exiled opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) had given an initial estimate of 100 dead.

Both groups said shabiha militiamen loyal to President Bashar alAssad’s regime had carried out the mass killings in Al-Kubeir, in the central province of Hama.

If the reports prove accurate, the massacre

DESTROYED. Image from the Syrian opposition’s Shaam News Network shows Syrians inspecting a destroyed army tank in the town of Ariha on June 5. AFP is using

pictures from alternative sources as it was not authorised to cover this event and is not responsible for any alterations that cannot be independently verified. [AFP PHOTO]

will rank among the worst atrocities in the 15-month uprising against Assad’s regime.

The Syrian government on Thursday denied responsibility, saying in a televised statement: “What a few media have reported on what happened in Al-Kubeir, in the Hama region, is complete-

ly false.”

“A terrorist group committed a heinous crime in the Hama region which claimed nine victims. The reports by the media are contributing to spilling the blood of Syrians,” the statement said.

The Britain-based Observatory said in a statement that the shabiha had

carried out the “new massacre” after shelling by regular troops.

“What is certain is that dozens of people died, including women and children,” the watchdog’s Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. His group later gave a toll of 87 dead, while the SNC revised it toll downwards to around 80.

plans for troop withdrawals.

Panetta said an insurgent assault on Wednesday “was much more organized than we’ve seen before”, with a suicide bomber on a motorcycle and a suicide bomber on foot striking a vehicle park outside a NATO base.

Panetta, who flew to Kabul from New Delhi, said he wanted “to get a

sense of just exactly what are the Taliban doing”.

“There’s been an increase in the attacks,” he said, adding that the overall level of violence in the country was still down compared to previous years.

The Pentagon chief said he would confer with the top commander of NATO-led forces, General John Allen, to hear how

he planned to maintain security despite Taliban attempts to undermine a gradual transfer of authority from alliance troops to Afghan government forces.

In a brief visit of several hours, he was also due to meet US ambassador to Kabul, Ryan Crocker, before speaking to American troops and holding talks with his Afghan counterpart, Abdul Rahim Wardak, officials said.

Wednesday’s attack on a car park crammed with vehicles supplying the largest NATO base in southern Afghanistan left 23 dead and 50 others wounded.

A suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck first and as a crowd gathered to help the victims a second bomber walked into their midst and set off explosives strapped to his body, Kandahar provincial police chief General Abdul Raziq said.

Panetta’s trip also came amid fresh allegations of a NATO air strike gone wrong, as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) investigated reports that civilians were killed in an air raid on a home in Logar province, south of Kabul.

Local police said 18 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the coalition air raid.

US defence chief visits Kabul U S Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in the Afghan capital on an unannounced trip Thursday, a day after a suicide bombing attack and an alleged errant NATO air strike.

Before his arrival, Panetta told reporters that he wanted to hear an assessment from commanders about a recent rise in insurgent attacks and

Union

ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday she would work towards a political union in Europe with willing partner countries even if that meant a two-speed approach.

“We need more Europe...a budget union... and we we need a political union first and foremost,” Merkel told German public television.

“We must step by step cede responsibilities to Europe.”

Illegal

T

HE surge in illegal migrants across the porous border between Greece and Turkey may prompt European Union ministers to call for drastic changes to Europe’s visa-free Schengen area on Thursday.

Under proposals being mulled by home affairs ministers meeting in Luxembourg, the 26 countries in the travelfree Schengen area may be allowed to restore border controls for up to a year under “exceptional circumstances”.

Handouts

M

ALAYSIA is planning a fresh round of cash handouts to poorer families in August, government sources said, as Prime Minister Najib Razak likely delays elections until late this year to shore up support among undecided voters.

Two senior officials told Reuters the government is considering giving out payments to 5.2 million low-income households ahead of a Muslim festival in August.

Najib would then present a generous election budget in September before announcing an election date, they said.

D

Joined

EMOCRATIC and Republican intelligence experts in Congress are joining forces to condemn a series of jaw-dropping intelligence leaks which some Republicans charge are timed to boost President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

But castigating leakers and questioning their motives may be a lot easier than coming up with remedies that might make leaking more difficult and risky.

Washed up

A

huge dock unmoored during last year’s Japanese tsunami washed up on an Oregon beach this week and authorities are debating how to remove it.

“This is the first object that has washed up that was unique enough to confirm that it was, indeed, from the tsunami,” Chris Havel, spokesman for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, said on Wednesday.

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Multi..

FFROM 1

most of the work will come from the service sector, particularly the call center industry while a significant percentage of the jobs will come from the industrial sector. He said overseas jobs are mostly blue-collar work in Middle Eastern countries.

Jobseekers are advised to preregister for the jobs fair, either thru the internet by accessing the site PhilJobs.Net or by going to the pre-registration booths set up in the malls. This is to minimize the long queues during the jobs fair itself.

Baban said the Region 11 job market is more on mining and agriculture sector and accountancy in the services sector. He said there are job mismatches in the labor market as many have enrolled in courses

Probe..

FFROM 2

is helping to follow-up the investigation by urging the Philippine Embassy there.

The group also said it is a policy of the Singaporean government to investigate the body only during court hearings which would take six months to one year.

Initial reports from Singaporean police and the

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FFROM 1 which are not needed by the industry; a fact being remedied by the DOLE’s efforts thru career guidance network among students.

“Know yourself,” Baban advises jobseekers before they go to the jobs fair. During the event, while shopping around for vacancies, they have to know if they have the right educational background and experience for the job they want to apply for. They also have to look at their emotional quotient as companies, particularly in the service sector, are looking at a person’s emotional quotient, particularly in interpersonal and people’s skills.

Also important is the person’s capability to be multi-skilled or capable of multi-tasking. Baban said.

“We’re not looking at this as if we’re only going to use this once. These drainage canals are going to be kumbaga the main highways ng ating drainage system. They’re going to be huge. This is going to serve the present and the next generation so gagastos talaga tayo. The city is going to have to bite the bullet,” he added.

Alabado said the areas eyed for the construction of the main drainage canals are in barangays Lasang in Bunawan, Buhangin, and Toril.

However, the area proposed cuts across both public and private lands,

Philippine Embassy stated that Gamale jumped from the condominium unit where she worked.

However, her family opposed the government’s statement, saying she may have been abused, hence they initiated the autopsy with the support of Migrante Davao and local government units of Davao Oriental and Davao City.

Gamale, 23 years old

from Lupon, Davao Oriental, is the first OFW from Mindanao who mysteriously died this year.

Migrante reported more than 20 cases of mysterious deaths of OFWs from different countries as of 2010.

Truckloads of friends, relatives and sympathizers attended Gamale’s burial last month in San Isidro, Davao Oriental.

[PIA 11/RG ALAMA]

thus Alabado said lands would still have to be bought from people.

“We would still have to procure these lands. This is according to the present proposal we’re looking at,” he said, adding that the city government is also planning to buy small backhoes in aid of its anti-flooding operations in residential areas.

He did not specify the cost of these equipment but emphasized the backhoes would enter communities and small roads.

“We have our food for work program wherein people are hired for us to clean the streets. This is

Zamora...

FFROM 2

labor,” the ComVal lawmaker said.

The bill, principally authored by Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara of Aurora Province, was passed by the House of Representatives on Second Reading last May 30.

Rep. Zamora-Apsay also signed as co-sponsor of House Bill No. 4446 entitled, “An Act to Provide Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention”, principally sponsored by Rep. Ma. Georgina de Venecia of Pangasinan.

“Though not as prevalent as those in other countries such as Japan, we must recognize that teen suicide is a scourge that must be addressed in today’s society. It is imperative that we find ways to intervene and prevent it, hence, the need for this measure’s passage,” Rep. Zamora-Apsay said.

In other legislation-related news, the young lawmaker hailed the approval on third reading of House Bill No. 6048 providing universal health care services to all Filipinos through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth). Rep. Zamora-Apsay, one of the co-authors, said that this development is a “huge step towards the protection and promotion of our people’s health and wellbeing.”

The House of Representatives passed the bill on final reading and transmitted the same to the Senate last May 21. BT

being continued and in addition we are thinking of acquiring mini-backhoes.

Barangays can use these to de-clog their canals,” Alabado said.

The private sector should do its part in keeping drainage canals less condensed by following the city’s provisions that food establishments should have their own grease trapped.

Together with the Davao City Health Officer, Alabado said the DPCO is conducting random inspections of the city’s 200,000 registered food establishments.

“Having a grease trap

Davao..

FFROM 2

national tests, alongside other related data, are still being collated by the Bureau of ALS as of press time.

The accreditation and equivalency program is a certification of learning for out-of-school youth (OSY) and adults aged 15 years and above who are unable to avail of the formal school system, or who have dropped out of formal elementary or secondary education.

In 2010, the DepEd 11 had served a total of 6,410 learners with the Basic Literacy Program (BLP) under ALS, which is an intensive community-based training for illiterate OSY and adults, who are willing to learn basic literacy skills.

Between 2000 and 2010, BLP had a total enrollees of 67,707, and 64,158 completers in all nine divisions namely Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, cities of Davao, Digos, Panabo, Tagum and Island Garden City of Samal.

In the same period, a total of 50,221 ALS learners took the national tests, with a total of 15,533 passers.

Quips

is one of the requirements for having their business permit renewed but regularly following this is the concern. Another problem is yung mga maliliit na food vendors like kwek-kwek na itinatapon lang rin yung oil nila directly sa drainage,” Alabado said.

“The problem is that oil hardens inside the drainage and kapag may ulan the waste inside gets trapped kaya nagkakaroon ng flooding. That’s why we’re appealing to food establishments to have their own grease trap to lessen the disposal of oil into our drainage system,” he added.

Aside from BLP, another delivery mode of ALS is the radio-based instruction (RBI) program that utilizes DepEd’s accreditation and equivalency program through the use of radio broadcast signals.

The RBIP sites are located in Maragusan district of Compostela Valley, Mintal district of Davao City, San Isidro district of Davao del Norte, Malita district of Davao del Sur, Bansalan district of Davao del Sur, Cateel district of Davao Oriental and Tagum City.

To sustain the literacy gains of the ALS learners after the implementation of the ALS programs using various delivery modes, seven ALS mobile libraries are assigned in four divisions in the region.

As of 2010, the region had 94 district ALS coordinators, 91 mobile teachers, and nine education program supervisor.

Mapinogos said the region has a very unique approach to ALS and all its implementers are using modules that are interactive, allowing an individual to be accepted in the program anytime of the year. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

‘UNFORTUNATELY for her, she may not be qualified because she has a pending disbarment case, and I heard from inside sources at the Supreme Court that if you have a pending case, you are automatically disqualified.’

--Senator Panfilo Lacson on Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s possible nomination for Supreme Court Chief Justice.

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What Lebron still lacks

EBRON James is the most dangerous ballplayer when he has the ball all 47 minutes of a basketball match.

He can do damage from both ends of the court. He is almost unstoppable when he has the leather. And that is why he was named MVP of the 2012 season.

But wait. Why did I say all 47 minutes when a game of basketball in the NBA is played 48 minutes?

Yes, that’s right. I say all 47 minutes. One minute less than regulation.

Y’know why?

I am not a Lebron hater but this guy, all of his MVP accolades and his individual achievements, has made a reputation for himself to choke when the game is on the line.

In last year’s NBA East Finals against Chicago, Lebron was criticized for blinking in the final seconds in one match, passing off to a teammate when he could have taken the final shot.

In Game 4, it happened again. With seconds ticking away and the game tied at 89-all, Lebron had the ball

and the chance to take the potential winner. In games played at home, the home team always gambles to win it in regulation than take the risk of going to overtime.

James, the league’s MVP this season, passed off to a wrong-footed Udonis Haslem in the process losing the ball and throwing away the chance to possibly snatch the game in regulation. It proved to be a costly failure on the part of James as the Heat went on to lose Game 4 in overtime.

James’ hesitation to bail his team out when the game is on the line casts doubt on his mantle of greatness. The greatest ballplayers in history are those who are not gun shy to take the last shot.

I have a standard for that and it’s best exemplified by Michael Jordan. He said: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Lebron has not elevated

himself to the level of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant who are not afraid to put the game on their hands. Win or lose, they live with the fact that it is what great players are made of.

Undoubtedly, Lebron is the key to the campaign of Miami. No longer Wade.

Wade will get his work done but Lebron needs to have the heart every night to complement Wade. Without a heart, Lebron will remain the great player who could not win himself a title.

To be a champion, you got to have the heart. Lebron will have to learn to play with a big heart to be a champ.

And in the NBA, you cannot buy a heart.

Sharapova reaches semis P

ARIS -- Whether she’s enjoying a cafe lunch, shopping on the Champs-Elysees or notching another victory on the soft red clay, Maria Sharapova sure enjoys these trips to the French Open. ‘’What girl doesn’t love Paris?’’ she said.

Two more wins and she’ll love it even more.

Sharapova moved another step closer to filling in the last piece of the career Grand Slam, defeating Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros.

Second-seeded Sharapova rolled through her 23rd-seeded opponent in 74 minutes, a much different scene than the threeset win over Klara Zakopalova in the fourth round that took more than three hours. ‘’I’m happy with the way I improved in this match,’’ Sharapova said.

Her next opponent will be fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion who ended 142nd-ranked qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova’s upsetfilled run with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory. Sharapova leads their all-time series 3-2, including a win on clay earlier this year in Stuttgart.

Later Wednesday, in the men’s quarterfinals, No. 2 Rafael Nadal played No. 12 Nicolas Almagro and No. 4 Andy Murray faced No. 6 David Ferrer.

In the women’s draw, Kvitova reached the semifinals for the third time over the past four Grand Slams.

Sharapova, meanwhile, made the semifinals at Roland Garros for the third time. She lost at that stage last year and in 2007. ‘’I love coming back here, love challenging myself to get further every year and I hope this is this year,’’ she said.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after scoring a point during his Men’s Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium.

If she wins the tournament, she’ll add the French Open title to her championships at Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. If she makes the final, she is projected to move to No. 1 in the rankings.

Either way, Sharapova will always have a soft spot in her heart for Paris - a city where she figures she could easily fit in. ‘’Who wouldn’t want that lifestyle? It’s great to me. I could eat at L’Avenue every single day, have the escargot and the little strawberries they have for dessert, gain like 20 pounds,’’ she said. ‘’But that’s all right. They walk everywhere and they bike. That would help.’’

Sharapova is 15-1 on clay this season with two championships, in Stuttgart and Rome.

Sliding around on the saturated clay in Paris, she looked very comfortable against Kanepi, who made her fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal but never found her groove in this matchup. ‘’It was tough to get any rhythm today because balls were flying so hard from her side,’’ Kanepi said. ‘’It’s unfortunate that I didn’t stay that long on the court. I enjoyed being there.’’

Shvedova came into Wednesday having already won the seven matches it takes to earn the title at Roland Garros. But three of hers came during qualifying. She was trying to become the first French Open qualifier to reach the semifinals and after breaking Kvitova twice to capture the first set, it looked doable.

But Kvitova turned more aggressive in the second and third sets, hitting 20 winners from the baseline to only nine for Svedova, and that helped turn the match. ‘’It wasn’t easy,’’ said Kvitova, who finished with five aces. ‘’My serve helped me and I played my aggressive game.’’

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All serene in Pacquiao camp as Bradley bout looms F

ILIPINO fight icon Manny Pacquiao has sorted out tension in his camp and will have strength coach Alex Ariza in his corner with trainer Freddie Roach when he fights Timothy Bradley on Sunday.

“The corner will be me, Miguel Diaz, and Buboy (Fernandez) and Alex Ariza,” Roach said Wednesday, shortly before Pacquiao and Bradley took the stage at the MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater for the final press conference to promote their Saturday duel for Pacquaio’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title.

Pacquiao’s renewed spirituality has been a theme leading up to the bout, with the 33-year-old fighter saying he was happier and calmer as he prepared thanks to Bible study and a renewed relationship with God. However, tension between Roach and Ariza had arisen and been aired publicly on the HBO reality television series “24/7: Pacquiao vs Bradley”, a programme that has followed each boxer in the build-up to the fight.

On Wednesday, however, Roach said he wouldn’t characterize the situation as a “rift” between himself and Ariza.

The respected trainer -- who is to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday in Canastota, New York -- said he disapproved of Ariza’s decision to leave Pacquaio’s camp last month.

“It wasn’t a rift. I just said I disagreed with his choice of leaving training camp ... I thought it was bad timing to leave a fighter two weeks without a replace-

ment, like if you have an assistant or somebody like that.

“I thought it was a bad choice.”

Pacquiao said last week that he expected the situation to be resolved, and Roach said that he asked the fighter who he wanted in his corner.

“He said let’s let Alex work the corner and I’ll sit Alex and Miguel down and we’ll tell them what their jobs are and everyone’s just going to do their job,” Roach said, adding that while he’ll be the only trainer instructing Pacquiao, he might still call on Ariza to relay his directions because Ariza can be heard better over the noise of the crowd.

“That won’t change,” Roach said.

Pacquiao, who has won world titles in eight divisions and built a record of 54-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, is favored against Bradley, the WBO light welterweight champ.

But he admits his narrow majority decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in November may have left some with “doubts” that he retains the same devastating speed and power of his prime.

Against the unbeaten Bradley, a 28-year-old who brings a record of 28-0 with 12 knockouts to the fight, Pacquiao said he wants to “get back the trust” of fans.

To do it, he said, he knows he’ll have to stop a young and hungry fighter who will be on boxing’s biggest stage for the first time.

“I know what Timothy is feeling right now,” Pacquiao said of the drive to earn a place among boxing’s elite.

“That’s why I train hard -because I know what he’s feeling.”

Former champ Wright retires after third loss

Boxers Manny Pacquiao (L) and Timothy Bradley pose during the final news conference for their bout at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

R

ONALD “Winky” Wright, a former undisputed lightmiddleweight world boxing champion, announced his retirement after a 22year pro career that concluded with three losses in a row.

“Part of being a boxer is knowing when to call it quits,” Wright said. “It’s time for me.”

The 40-year-old southpaw finished 51-6 with one draw and 25 knockouts after losing his final bout last Saturday, dropping a unanimous 10-round decision to fel-

low American Peter Quillin.

“I did what I set out to do and that was to be great and become a world champion, Wright said. “I have a lot of great memories from my career and will still support this great sport.”

Wright had not fought for more than three years when he lost in what he hoped would be the launch of a comeback after unanimous 12-round decision losses to Paul Williams in 2009 and Bernard Hopkins in 2007.

Wright’s final world

title bout came in 2006 when he fought Jermain Taylor to a 12-round draw in a fight for the World Boxing Council middleweight crown. His last victory came over Ghana’s Ike Quartey in 2006, ending Quartey’s career.

“Winky Wright is a class act in and out of the ring and if you wanted to see what true skill was, you watched him fight,” said promoter Oscar de la Hoya.

After winning his first 25 pro fights, Wright lost his first world title bout to Argentine southpaw Julio

Cesar Vasquez in 1994.

In 2001, Wright won the International Boxing Federation light-middleweight crown and in 2004 he became the undisputed world champion after taking a unanimous 12-round decision over fellow American Shane Mosley.

Wright won a rematch with Mosley by majority decision later in 2004 and in 2005 kept his crown by defeating Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad in 2006, only the second career loss of Trinidad’s fabled career.

brook added 25 points as the Thunder rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to stun the Spurs and capture the Western Conference title.

“This is the toughest game I have played since I have been here,” Durant said. “I am glad we got this for Oklahoma City.”

For much of the contest it appeared the series was headed to a game seven with San Antonio looking poised and controlling the play.

“We didn’t want to go back to San Antonio. (At halftime) we told our team to leave everything out on the floor,” Durant said.

San Antonio were undefeated since April 11 before losing game three in Oklahoma City. That defeat snapped a 20-game San Antonio win streak and began a momentum shift.

James Harden came off the bench to score 16 points and Serge Ibaka had 10 for the Thunder, who will meet the winner of the Boston and Miami

series for the NBA championship.

The Celtics lead that series 3-2 and can wrap it up with a win Thursday at home. “(An) amazing moment for him to play like this in this moment, in this setting. I wasn’t going to take him out,” Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks said of Durant.

Oklahoma City advances to their first NBA finals since 1996 when they were based in Seattle and called the SuperSonics.

It proved to be too tall an order for the Spurs to try and come back against a younger and more athletic Thunder team.

“In many ways this group may have even overachieved. I couldn’t be more satisfied with their effort and what they have done this season,”

said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.

Tony Parker, of France, finished with a team-high 29 points with 12 assists and Tim Duncan added 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs who just a week ago looked unbeatable and hadn’t lost in 50 days. It marks the first time all season long San Antonio had lost four straight.

Parker had the hot hand in the first half but made just four-of-13 shots in the second half.

“It is very disappointing,” Parker said. “We are all sad. Right now I am just thinking about the game. It is going to take some time to process it.”

Stephen Jackson compiled 23 points with six three-pointers for the Spurs, who were the first team to lose a home game in the series.

Thunder roll over Spurs to reach final T

HE Oklahoma City Thunder won their fourth straight game over a seven-day stretch Wednesday to reach the NBA finals

with a come-from-behind 107-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Kevin Durant finished with 34 points and 14 rebounds and Russell West-

Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder talks with teammates Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Kendrick Perkins #5 against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six

of the Western Conference Finals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Formula One Montreal a big test for Ferrari C

HAMPIONSHIP leader Fernando Alonso believes this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix will reveal Ferrari’s potential to sustain their fight for world championship glory.

The Italian team struggled during winter testing and were a long way off the pace at the seasonopening race in Montreal.

In spite of this and in conjunction with this season’s memorable start to the season -- in which six different drivers have won the opening six races -double-champion Alonso picked up a win in Malaysia and podiums in Spain and Monaco.

The Spaniard now holds a three-point lead over Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Australian Mark Webber.

The 30-year-old admitted the Montreal track will be Ferrari’s biggest test since the start of the season, but believes they have done enough to stay competitive.

“I think we have improved the car in these areas since the beginning of the season and Canada

will be a good test in this respect,” he said.

“Hopefully this weekend we will see a competitive Ferrari and that will be very important for us, not just for this race but also for the rest of the season.

“It’s hard to say in advance, as this season has been so unpredictable with ups and downs for everyone over the course of six races.

“However, I don’t see any reason why Ferrari should not be competitive in Canada, fighting for the top places come the end of the race.”

Despite leading the title race, Alonso believes Ferrari still have a lot of catching up to do.

He said: “Leading the championship is only the beginning, it’s a starting point, because the ultimate target is leading the championship after the final race in Brazil in November.

“It’s a long championship and the first six races brought us enough points to be in the lead, but we are well aware that we have to improve.

Kazkhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova reacts after a point against Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova during their women’s quarterfinal tennis match of the French Open.

“We need to make the car faster, working hard, while making no mistakes and finding consistency, which is not the easiest thing to do in this championship.”

In contrast his teammate, Brazilian Felipe Massa, has had a difficult time in the other Ferrari, only managing two top ten finishes.

The 30-year-old insisted he was feeling more positive after a stronger performance in Monaco two weeks ago and hopes he can carry the momentum to the Montreal track.

However, Massa did admit that he was not happy with his start to

the season and insisted he would be doing everything he could to improve his performance.

“I definitely feel more confident now,” he said.

“I feel stronger as well and it’s also true that if Monaco was a good race, I was not that happy because, after the work I had done right from first practice, I had expected to be fighting for a podium finish.

“It was very good compared to the start of the season, but we cannot be satisfied and now I want us to work hard to get something more. If we find the right direction, I know what I can do.”

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Maria Sharapova celebrates a point during her quarterfinals match.