Edge Davao 5 Issue 9

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES Yehey, we are

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

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IGaCos to probe e-user fee fraud

By Lorie A. Cascaro

C

ITY Administrator Cleto Gales Jr. of the Island Garden City of Samal said that he will ask barangays to investigate their employees assigned to collect the environmental user’s fee (EUF) for allegedly pocketing some of their collections instead of endorsing all them to the barangay

office.

Pursuant to a partial enforcement of the ordinance, an EUF of P5 is collected from every person upon entrance to a beach resort in IGaCoS. In exchange of the money, a receipt or ticket is issued. The EUF collections are turned over to the barangay office, which in turn remit the money to the city treasurer. The barangay received

40 percent of the collections as its share.

However, Gales received reports this week that some collectors collect the EUF but do not issue the correct number of receipt or ticket.

As example, Gales was told, a barangay collector only issues one ticket worth P5 to a group of 10 persons after collecting the appropriate amount

ticipants in the industry for transparency, so that the National Power Corporation (NPC) can declare on a daily basis the generating capacity.

Composed of 33 electric cooperatives, the group said that through transparency the issue on power shortage in Mindanao will be addressed. This includes transparency in dispatching pow-

er which is the role of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Dagooc said.

Recently, Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras said that the daily rotating brownouts in Mindanao were due primarily to the shortage of supply and the refusal of electric cooperatives to purchase available electricity from fuel-fired

DOE asked to police power players

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HE government through the Department of Energy (DOE) should police the players in the power industry, the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) said Tuesday in a press conference at Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City.

AMRECO President Sergio C. Dagooc said the DOE should meddle with the par-

FIGACOS,13

FDOE, 13

Sports Page 16

Follow us on NO SMOKING. A unique souvenir shirt, taking pride on the Anti-smoking Ordinance of the local government of Davao, is now up for grabs for P150 each at the

Pasalubong Center located beside the back of People’s Park. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

2 THE BIG NEWS LGUs urged to protect abandoned families A

multi-sectoral group has called on the local government of Davao City to look into the state of abandoned women and families of migrant workers, urging for a protection mechanism to be in place.

The group urged the Davao City Council to enact a local ordinance that would provide assistance and protection to women and families abandoned by their partner or parent Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Led by the Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions Inc. (MMCEAI), some 84 heads and representatives of various institutions from the civil society, non-government, local and national government agencies including barangay officials have pledged to push for this advocacy in the city.

The group would also want to lobby for the local government to hire more social workers who will facilitate psychosocial services, establish more medical facilities and functional family courts that are accessible to distressed families of OFWs. In a multi-sectoral forum held on March 7 in the city, the group signed a commitment to help in the campaign, including the call to review and amend provisions in several laws that would provide favorable

terms for the abandonment families.

MMCEAI executive director Inorisa Sialana-Elento raised the concern in the same forum the increasing cases of abandoned wives, husbands, children, grandparents and in-laws not only in the view of physical separation but also in the perspective of economic neglect.

“The center believes that the rapid increase in abandonment and disintegration of families of OFWs is greatly contributing to social problems, thus requires immediate action and remedy,” she stated.

Sialana-Elento said that the center has been catering to 27 cases of abandonment since 2008, with 162 individuals from ten communities in Davao City, namely Sto. Nino, Mintal, Los Amigos, Tugbok, Calinan, Talomo, Matina Proper, Matina Pangi, Bucana and 23-C. She said that the city government’s Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) has also documented 65 cases of abandoned families of the migrant workers.

She said only 12 cases were filed in court, mostly concerning charges on multiple marriages, economic abuse such as non-remittance of earnings and inter-

mittent support, and child custody.

The other forms of abandonment include noncommunication, loss of love and care and eventual disappearance.

Sialana-Elento said most of the cases handled by the center involved abandoning parties who work as seafarers and domestic helpers in countries such as United States of America, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, among others.

MMCEAI will take the lead in advocating for a local ordinance providing for the protection mechanism of the distressed families of OFWs, as well as the revisit and amendment of laws such as Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 and the New Family Code of the Philippines.

Other laws also deemed for review are RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, RA 8972 or Solo Parents Act of 2000, and other related laws.

“Making these laws favorable to abandoned women and families of OFWs is a triumph not only for Davaoenos, but also for all Filipinos in general,” Sialana-Elento stated. [PIA 11/

Organi Biong, chair of Davao Oriental Farmers and Farmworkers Alliance, said they wanted the CARPer finished under the Aquino administration.

“But to finish it does not mean to simply implement it.

The government should finish it with substance. Meaning, the government should also implement other components such as the social component and post-harvest facilities,” he stressed in an interview.

He added they also have members from Agusan provinces, Davao provinces, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato.

In a separate statement, Alarm-Mindanao cited that for the past two years the DAR has distributed 64,582 hectares of the 493,519-hectare target six regions of Mindanao.

The CARPer became a

law in 2009.

The group said the President was not serious in implementing the CARPer based on its allegedly slow progress in Mindanao.

It added that more time has been given to the anti-corruption campaign while the implementation of CARPer which it said is the aspiration of the majority of the farmers and agricultural workers has been neglected.

“Since the start of this year, we have not received nor heard anything from DAR if what would be their concrete actions to the pending cases and complaints we have filed before their office,” Biong said.

He cited their appeal for the removal of DAR-XI regional director Yusoph Mama, whom they accused of coddling the landlords in the region. [KEITH BACONGCO/MIN-

CARINA L. CAYON]

Farmers set march versus DAR ‘inaction’ on CARPer

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newly-formed alliance of farmers in Mindanao will hold a threekilometer march on Tuesday from Ulas to the regional office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Catalunan Pequeno to protest the alleged snail-paced implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension Reforms (CARPer).

The Alliance of Land Rights Movement-Mindanao (Alarm-Mindanao) also claimed that the DAR has no clear recommendations following the series of dialogues since last year and even the most recent ones in Manila with Task Force Mapalad (TFM).

TFM is among the convenors of Alarm-Mindanao, which is composed of nongovernment organizations and people’s organizations in the region.

It figures

17percent PROJECTED average growth each year of the Philippines’s gaming market in the next three years according to a study by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

$500million LOAN acquired by a consortium led by conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

(SMC) to help finance the acquisition of a controlling stake in the 36-kilometer South Luzon Expressway (Slex).

DANEWS]

13.6billion NUMBER of Filipinos at risk of being displaced by 2050 due to a rise in sea levels in the Philippines by 2050, according to the latest climate-change report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

POWER SHORTAGE. Sergio Dagooc, president of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives,

EDGEDAVAO

asserts that there is a 110-120 MW power shortage in Mindanao. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

PNoy asked to order transfer of barges from Panay to Mindanao

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RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has been urged to intervene in the impending power shortage in Mindanao by ordering to forgo the sale of three power barges presently stationed in Panay Island and temporarily transfer it to appropriate stations in Mindanao.

In asking Aquino to intervene, Nestor Degoma, president of the Power Alternative Agenda for Mindanao (Palag Mindanao), different sectors are now asking for drastic and decisive moves to help avert the impending power shortage in the island.

Degoma, however, said he was voicing a personal stand and that he will ask Palag Mindanao to pass a resolution asking the President to order the transfer.

He said several electric cooperatives around Mindanao are forced to buy power from Therma Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation.

TMI runs two power barges, M1 and M2, formerly known as power barges 117 and 118.

In Bukidnon, the Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative, short of six to seven megawatts, has implemented a daily two-hour rotational power curtailment scheme.

Consumers being served by the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (Fibeco), which has enough supply with its own local sources, have experienced no curtailment so far.

As of 11a.m.

Monday, Mindanao has a shortage of 150-megawatts during peak hours (from 6 to

P4billion

TOTAL concession fees that the House committee on good government and public accountability is urging the Toll Regulatory Board to compel the Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC) to pay to the national government.

8p.m.) quoting figures from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippine, Degoma said.

He said the NGCP cited the decrease in the water level of Lake Lanao as a cause of the reduction.

He said they got information that the Visayas grid has excess supply of power so the transfer of at least two of the three barges won’t make a dent for now.

Degoma is referring to power barges 101, 102, and 103, which the Department of Energy had announced in February 2011 would be transferred to Mindanao.

But he said it did not push true because it would make the National Power Corporation – Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) operate allegedly at heavy losses.

“But the situation now calls for such action. There is no much choice,” he said, adding the [power] situation was already critical.

He said another immediate solution is the operation of the 108-megawatt Iligan Diesel Power Plant, which has been stalled after

Quips

it was embargoed by the Iligan City government from the previous operator due to failure to pay taxes.

He said the city government must act by deferring the sale of the 18-engine plant. He said about two to three engines can run in three weeks to two months, just enough to help address the power shortage in the host-city.

Degoma said the Lanao Power Consumers Federation (Lapocof ) also wanted the rest of the turbines to become operational to eventually help address the shortage of the rest of Mindanao.

He said if the repairs on the plant can be done right away, about 60 megawatts can be made available in two to four months time.

He said the IDPP is a doable option because it was made operational up to May 31, 2010 for the elections.

Palag is a network of civil society organizations in Mindanao, which campaigned against the privatization of the Agus and Pulangi power complexes as provided for in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. [WALTER I. BALANE/MINDANEWS]

“It will take a closer look at his statement of assets and liabilities as well as his bank accounts because there’s a big gap between what he has declared in his SALN and what was actually revealed during the impeachment proceedings.”

--Akbayan Partylist Rep. Walden Bello on the filing of forfeiture case against Chief Justice Renato Corona that seeks for the confiscation of properties that are believed to be illgotten.

4.7percent The projected growth rate that the Philippine economy may post in the first quarter of the year on the back of improved government spending, according to the First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC)-University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Capital Market Research Center.

190,000metric tons THE total volume of rice that the government set for tender on March 19 according to the National Food Authority (NFA).

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Troops bring in lumads for ‘Lakbay Aral’

By Jade C. Zaldivar

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ILITARY troops in partnership with the Department of Education and the municipality of New Bataan organized an educational tour for indigent students whom they brought over to Davao City last March 10.

Lt. Col. Antonino Florendo, commander of the 66th IB, said personnel from the battalion accompanied the teachers and 170 students of Cagan National High School (CNHS) to educational institutions in the city as part of their Lakbay Aral.

The educational tour kickstarted with their visit to the Mindanao Science and Technology Centrum (MSTC) in Mintal, this city.

“They were able to observe and receieve instruction on various apparatuses and equipments used in modern science,” Florendo said through a press statement.

The Lakbay Aral at-

tendees also visited the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, in Calinan where they learned the importance of environmental preservation, Florendo said.

As part of the social awareness program, the tour also took the students to SM City Davao at Ecoland and were awed by what they saw.

“This is to provide awareness to them of other opportunities outside their comfort zones, their communities, making them developed and empowered youth,” he said.

The tour also made a stop at a beach where the students who lived all their young lives in the hinterlands enjoyed watching the scenery.

“The military is giving its all out support to the awareness of our lumad brothers and sisters.

The indigenous peoples should continuously be aware of their cultural, political, social and economic rights and fight injustices,” Florendo said.

HUDYAKAAN. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte leads the ribbon cutting ceremony to formally open this years Hudyakaan Sa Araw ng Dabaw along Roxas Avenue. Hudayakaan, which features local bands from 6pm

3

up to 2am everyday, will run up to the end of the month. [JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA]

Bill regulating the practice of geology gets House okay

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HE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill regulating the practice of geology to update and upgrade the geology profession as well as re-define and expand the scope of practice of the profession.

House Bill 5640 otherwise known as the “Geology Profession Act of 2012” authored by Reps.

Victor Yu (1st District,

Zamboanga del Sur) and Mariano Piamonte Jr., (Party-list, A Teacher) aims to harmonize the law with mining and metallurgical laws and institute provisions which are consistent with the provisions of R. A. 8981 or the PRC Modernization Act of 2000.

The bill also aims to recognize the practice of geology as government service.

Yu said one of the key provisions of the measure is the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board of Geology which shall be under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Yu said the creation of the PRBG will empower the accredited professional organization and its role in the regulation of its professionals.

Piamonte said the bill requires applicants for registration of the practice to pass licensure examinations.

The bill provides opportunities for employment in government service and teaching of geology subjects in the practice of the profession as well as supervision of construction works requiring knowledge in geology.

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THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Singson: Bill doesn’t abolish water districts

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UBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson assured on Monday that the abolition of water districts is not part of Senate Bill Nos. 611 and 2641 seeking to create the Water Regulatory Commission. ”Abolition is not part of the proposal. This is not part of the bill,” Singson told the Philippine Association of Water Districts Inc. (PAWD) during a public hearing conducted by the Senate committee on public services chaired by Senator Edgardo Angara.

Singson explained that the purpose of the bill is to improve the level

of services of the water districts throughout the country.

The DPWH chief made the clarification after PAWD Chairman Gilbert Camaligan expressed apprehension that some 800 water districts will be abolished under the proposal.

Angara encouraged the PAWD to share concerns and ideas on how to come up with comprehensive water resources master plan even as he also allayed fears of the water districts. ”If you’re a performing water district, there is no reason to fear that you’ll be taken out of this

FSINGSON, 13

BEES-NESS. With a portion of a bees’ nest and several live bees, Garry Sanchez peddles honey in the streets of Davao which he sells for P120 per

bottle. He said that he personally gathers the honey in Calinan. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

House declares waling-waling Expert foresees decrease the country’s national flower in global rice consumption

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HE House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading the bill declaring the waling-waling orchid as another national flower of the Philippines.

Reps. Mylene Garcia-Albano (2nd District, Davao City) and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), authors of House Bill 5655, underscore the popularity of waling-waling orchids worldwide as an endemic Philippine flower that epitomizes the trait and character of Filipinos as a people.

Garcia-Albano

“We also want people to appreciate and behold the sense of pride and identity the waling-waling offers,” Garcia-Albano said, adding that the Walingwaling will have the same status as the Sampaguita which was declared the national flower of the Philippines by Governor Frank Murphy through Proclamation 652 in 1934.

Sampaguita is also known as Jasminum Sambac and one of the three national flowers of Indonesia.

It is believed that the flower was brought from the Himalayan areas to the Philippines in the 17th century.

Garcia-Albano said the waling-waling plant, which is the best orchid variety in the country, is scientifically known as Vanda Sanderiana and used to abound in the tropical forest of Mount Apo in Davao and Zamboanga del Sur. It is even touted as the queen of Philippine Flowers.

Garcia-Albano also cited the ornamental value of the waling-waling which has become popular in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Hawaii, which made waling-waling hybrids among the world’s multibillion dollar orchids and cutflower industries.

In approving the measure, Primicias-Agabas, chairperson of the Committee on Revision of Laws, gave consideration to the cultural importance of the Sampaguita, particularly the intangible cultural heritage of the Filipino people that remains relevant, valid and widely held among the current generation.

The bill mandates the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to promulgate rules and regulations that will protect, conserve and propagate the Waling-waling orchid together with the Sampaguita.

pitfalls of ill-advised tourism marketing plan is that their promotions target the wrong audience.

The Mindanao Tourism Council, a Davao Citybased private organization of major tourism players in Mindanao provides technical expertise to LGUs in making tourism masterplan.

“We provide the medium, the participants provide the content.” Says Perez, the building of tourism masterplan is itself a participative approach where the LGUs tell them what they want.

“We do not dictate to them what is to be done; we provide technical assistance to help them come up with a workable tourism master plan.”

Among LGUs who have seek MinTC assistance is the municipality of Glan in Sarangani Province, famed for its white sand beaches the town has drafted a 5-year tourism masterplan with the help of MinTC. The plan is in phase-2 under the implementation phase.

Under the masterplan Glan is promoted as a tropical beach paradise and is being packaged as a resort convention center.

Aside from beaches the town is promoting secondary tourism products such as its colonial houses and also the fourth landing site of Spanish explorer Miguel de Villalobos, famous for christening the country as The Philippines in the 16th century. [PIA 11/RG

LGUs urged to come up with workable tourism masterplan

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private sector-led tourism group has urged local government units in Mindanao to come up with viable tourism master plan in their localities.

“There are many LGUs that have really beautiful places but they lack technical knowhow on product development, marketing and promotions.” says Jonallier Perez, member of the board representing Davao Region for the Mindanao Tourism Council.

Perez cites an example, a breathtaking waterfalls is often marketed to retirees or elderly people. Their strategy should target young people who could go up mountains to experience those watefalls.”

He cites that among the

ALAMA]

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LOBAL rice consumption is on a decline, especially in Asia, in the next four decades, a foreign agriculture and economics expert said Tuesday.

Visiting Harvard University Professor Dr. Peter Timmer said the decline is attributed to rapid income growth in Asia, accompanied by a shift of labor from rural to urban areas.

“As countries become richer, there is smaller share of workforce in agriculture... Whenever somebody leaves the farm, rice consumption falls almost instantly by 30-40 percent,” Timmer said in a forum organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

He also noted that Asians are now shifting

to a more balanced diet which means less rice and more wheat.

Timmer cited data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which showed that caloric intake per capita in Asia peaked in the 1970s with 38.2 percent of the average Asian household’s calories coming from rice.

However, the share steadily declined, falling to 29.3 percent in 2007.

The data also showed that from 1990-2007, the share fell by one-percent as compared to .25 percent decline every year from 1961 to 1990.

“If Asian policymakers are worried about where their constituents get their daily food, over 70 percent is from the non-rice economy,” Tim-

mer said in his paper titled “The Dynamics of Food Security in Asia: Structural Transformation and the Changing Role of Rice.”

Among the Asian countries, South Korea posted a rapid decline in rice consumption from 49.8 percent in 1980 to 26.8 percent in 2007.

With the changing patterns of rice consumption, Timmer said the share of rice in agricultural output and in the overall economy is also falling rapidly.

He said with this scenario, government should not focus on increasing rice yield alone.

“Diversify agriculture production in other areas.

Don’t spend all your energy in rice intensification,” he said. [PNA]

Ignacia Village and Ipil-Ipil Alley at Madapo Hills and Davao Light’s Bajada offices.

Davao Light’s Ponciano office, 911 Call Center, Arellano extension near Bangko Sentral and those in some parts of Mabini St. will also be affected by these service interruptions.

Hospital lines will also be affected by these service disruptions such as Ricardo Limso Medical Center , Davao Doctors Hospital , Brokenshire Hospital and

Davao Medical Center .

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience of these service interruptions but it will exert all efforts to restore power as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

For more information on power interruption schedules, kindly visit our website at www. davaolight.com or add us on facebook.

Power interruption on March 18

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AVAO Light and Power Company will conduct a 10-minute power interruption on March 18, Sunday, from 7:00 AM to 7:10 AM, affecting the customers situated in the downtown areas of the electric utility’s franchise area.

Corporate Communications Officer Ross Luga said that the service interruption is necessary to conduct the normalization of loads which did not materialize last March 9, as scheduled, due to some technical problems experienced during the preventive maintenance servicing on its Bajada Power Plant 6-MVA Grounding Transformer.

Affected by the service interruption are the customers at the back of Bajada Power Plant, Davao City Water District in Fr. Selga St. together with Mo.

Quips

“I’m proud of this team.

This is not only fantastic, but a victory most deserved.”

--Azkals’ German coach Michael Weiss after Philippines moved on to the semifinals for the first time in the AFC Challenge Cup after beating Tajikistan, 2-1, at the Halchowk Stadium in Nepal.

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011 3.7% 4th Qtr 2011 USD 3,342 Million Nov 2011 USD 4,985 Million Nov 2011 USD -1,643 Million Nov 2011 USD -114 Million Dec 2011 P4,442,355 Million Nov 2011

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

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Tuna: What you need to know

By Jims Vincent T. Capuno

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BOUT twenty-one species of tuna have been recorded in the Philippine waters. “But only six species are commercially important,” says Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research Development.

Marine experts classify two types of tunas: small and big. Among the small tunas, which inhabit shallow waters, the most commercially important are the frigate tuna or “tulingan” (Auxis thazard), the eastern little tuna or “kawakawa” (Euthynnus affinis), and the bullet tuna (Auxis rochei). Most of these tunas are consumed locally.

The important species among the big tunas, which can collected from deep waters, are the yellowfin tuna or “albacora” (Thunnus albacores), the big-eye tuna or “tambakol”

(Thunnus obesus), and the skipjack or “gulyasan” (Katsuwonus petamis). These are caught using commercial fishing boats with purse seines and ring nets. Small fishermen catch these species using hook and line.

“Tunas are caught throughout Philippine waters,” says Dr. Guerrero, “but the most productive fishing grounds are the Sulu Sea, Moro Gulf and waters extending to the North Celebes Sea . Viable tuna fisheries also exist in waters off Western Negros, as well as Northwestern and Southern Luzon .”

General Santos City , touted to be the tuna capital of the Philippines , is noted for the powerful swimmer yellowfin tuna, which rarely ventures into dirty and murky water, making it one of the safest fishes to eat. This species has a bright red flesh with meaty flavor. It is so versatile that you can grill, bake, broil, or sauté it.

Sashimi-grade tuna are exported to Japan , Canada , United States , Hong Kong, and Korea . These are also sold to leading hotels in Metro Manila, Cebu and other parts of the country.

Commercially, tuna has been promoted as the “chicken of the sea” because of its commonness and popularity in people’s diet worldwide. Tuna sandwich, for instance, is a mainstay of many restaurants.

Tuna is very popular because it does not have a strong fishy flavor, and consumers who do not like fish will often eat tuna. Another thing: tuna is a good source of protein, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. Several studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids can lower the risk of heart disease, improve the immune system, cure varied inflammatory conditions, ease the pain caused by arthritis, and help normalize blood pressure and cholesterol lev-

In addition, tuna is a protein-packed health food. “Protein is the major building material for muscle, blood, skin, hair, nails and internal organs,” saysJennifer Wilmes, author of Crack the Fat-Loss Code: Outsmart Your Metabolism and Conquer the Diet Plateau. “Protein is also necessary for the formation of hormones, enzymes and antibodies.”

In addition, protein is essential in fueling a person’s metabolism, maintainingmuscle tone and helping the body burn fat. “Including tuna in your diet is a healthy and delicious way to stay fit and lose weight,” says health wellness expert Michele Borboa.

According to some researches, eating protein-rich foods like canned tuna can help with satiety and slow down digestion, keeping a person fuller longer and leaving him less likely to eat more calories at his next meal.

failed to build a sustainable energy infrastructure that makes Philippines less dependent on imported fossil fuel.

Had we approved the feed-in tariff, 300 megawatts of renewables would have been installed,” PSPA founding president Tetchi Capellan said.

“Too much attention on the small increase in prices drove us the country away from the inevitable,” Capellan said.

PSPA is pushing for the passage of the feed-in tariff, which provides for the cost of electricity for each renewable energy source. The feed-in tariff rates is still pending with the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Section 8 of the draft bill further states that registered enterprise shall be entitled to fiscal incentives only for export of sales of goods and export of sales of services.

“Conversely, registered enterprises are not entitled to the aforesaid incentives if the said activity or project they seek to register does not involve export sales of goods and export sales of services even though they are located

in the freeport or ecozones.

Income derived from such other activity or project shall thus be subject to appropriate taxes,” it said.

The draft bill also restructures the Board of Investments, which was vested the authority as the principal investments promotion agency of the country. BOI’s functions under Executive Order 226 regarding the registration of enterprises and the administration of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives was transferred to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Under the proposed bill, however, the Senate said registered export enterprises can still avail of 100 percent exemption from taxes and

duties on imported capital equipment and raw material provided that the equipment will be used exclusively in the registered activity of the export enterprise unless prior approval of PEZA is secured.

The draft bill also repealed certain provisions of the Renewable Energy Law of 2008, namely Chapter VII, Section 15, 19, 21, 22 and 23.

Chapter VII, Sec. 15. states that developers of renewable energy facilities, including hybrid systems shall be entitled to 7-year income tax holiday, duty-free importation of renewable energy machinery, special realty tax rates on equipment and machinery, zero percent Value-Added Tax Rate, among others. (PNA)

els.

Developers oppose removal of perks in new Senate Bill T

HE Renewable Energy Developers Caucus and the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) have expressed concern over the removal of incentives under the Renewable Energy Law if the proposed Senate Bill on the Rationalization of Incentives is approved by the Senate.

Peregrino Fernandez, Convenor of the RE Developers Caucus expressed sadness over the government’s move especially in light of rising oil prices. “’We have repeatedly said that renewable energy is an investment to the future, a hedge on expensive fossil fuel.

The longer we wait, the more burden that the economy carries on its back,” Fernandez said.

Copy of the draft of the proposed Senate Bill showed that the bill shall be known as the Consolidated Investments Incentives Code of the Philippines. The draft bill proposes that only export-oriented companies will be given incentives.

“Consumers have little to look forward to because we

Quips

‘WITH the new tramlines, the tribal communities engaged in vegetable farming in the three localities now have a stronger link with their markets because the tramlines make it more efficient for them for them to transport their vegetables to the trading posts.’

--Executive Director Ricardo Cachuela of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Centter for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

No oil price hike this week –DOE T

HE Energy Department is hoping oil firms will not raise pump prices this week due to the minimal increase in world oil prices last week, a government official said.

“We hope no movement in local prices with less than a dollar increase in the Mean of Platts Singapore weekly price average,” Energy director Zenaida Monsada told re-

porters Tuesday.

Oil importers and refiners use the MOPS as the pricing benchmark for the weekly computation of domestic pump prices.

An industry source said a P0.10 per liter increase in pump prices is possible for this week, however, he said the oil firms may opt not to increase prices.

Diesel currently sells from P45.70 to P48.70

CEB bares all-domestic seat sale as low as P88

T

HE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) begins its promotions for June to August travel with a seat sale as low as P88. The months of June to August are traditionally considered lean travel months in the Philippines.

The seat sale is from March 14 to 16, 2012 or until seats last, for travel from June 1 to August 31, 2012.

Passengers can buy seats to any of CEB’s 33 domestic destinations for as low as P88. This is particularly available on select flights such as early morning or late night flights, or for TuesdayWednesday travel. Fares on other flights range from P188 (for within Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao) to P688 (from Luzon to Mindanao).

The airline’s domestic destinations are: Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Busuanga (Coron), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Catarman, Cauayan (Isabela), Cebu, Clark, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legaspi, Laoag, Manila, Naga, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose (Mindoro), Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tawi-Tawi, Tuguegarao, Virac and Zamboanga.

“Passengers can get the best deals when booking flights or even hotels during lean season. The P88 seat sale is for our off-peak flights such as early morning or late night, or for midweek travel, so we encourage those with flexible travel plans to book their flights now for maximum travel savings,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

“This seat sale also allows our passengers to connect from various destinations in the Philippines to popular international destinations via

hubs in Cebu or Clark.

Aside from our trademark lowest fares, CEB continues to offer the most extensive network in the country for the benefit of our travelers,” Iyog added.

For travel from May to July 31, 2012, passengers can also buy P688 seats from Clark to Hong Kong or Macau; or, P1,088 seats from Clark to Bangkok, from Cebu to Hong Kong, and from Kalibo to Hong Kong. CEB will launch its KaliboHong Kong service on March 23, 2012, providing direct tourism opportunities for both destinations.

CEB also offers P1,488 seats from Cebu or Clark to Singapore, and P2,488 seats from Cebu to Busan or Incheon.

Iyog added that guests can also book hotel deals through its partnership with agoda. com, leading Asia-based online hotel reservations company that specializes in the lowest discount hotel prices. Its network includes more than 160,000 hotels worldwide.

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair. com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020888 or (032) 230-8888.

The latest seat sales and promos can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 20 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 38 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 22 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders, and 2 Airbus A320 aircraft on operating lease agreements.

per liter while gasoline sells from P54.60 to P61.27 per liter.

Pump prices vary depending on the brand, location of the station and market forces.

Last week, the oil firms raised pump prices

by P0.85 per liter for regular gasoline, P0.60 per liter for unleaded gasoline, P0.30 per liter for premium gasoline, P0.20 per liter for diesel and P0.30

per liter for kerosene.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, meanwhile, said the Department of Energy continues to reload the Pantawid Pasada cards to mitigate the impact of the continued rise in world oil prices to the transport sector.

DOE said cardholders whose jeepneys’ plate numbers end with “1” and “2” may now be able to use their cards in participating

DAVAO’S PRETTIEST. Mutya ng Dabaw finalist join the opening of the 75th Araw ng Dabaw Festival Monday night at Rizal Park, Davao City. The

gas stations nationwide.

Jeepneys with plate numbers ending in “0” have been initially reloaded last Feb 29.

The reloading is in line with President Aquino’s announcement last February.

It is a response to the unabated fuel price hikes stemming from the continued tensions in the Middle East, coupled with increasing demand of ma-

jor oil consuming countries which also serves to cushion the impact of high fuel prices, particularly to the public utility jeepneys.

Dubai crude hit its two and a half year ago level of US$ 122 per barrel while gasoline and diesel reached their nine-monthago levels of US$ 136 per barrel and US$ 137 per barrel during the Feb. 27 to March 2 trading days.

(PNA)

Mutya finalist are (L-R) Jazzel Therese Gomez, Dorothy Maruel Ibanez, Maria theresa Tan, Jhoanna Myles Te and Marianne Mae Te. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Ungab, Ilagan, 7 other solons want mining free zones declared

E

XPRESSING concern over the destructive effects of unabated mining on the environment and indigenous communities in various parts of the country, Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento and several other lawmakers expressed their opposition to unhampered mining operations.

Reps.

Sarmiento, Carlos Padilla, Teddy Baguilat, Raymond Palatino, and Luz Ilagan called for a review of the 1995 Mining Act three days before its 17th anniversary. The five legislators have filed measures to protect their respective district from environmental plunder due to mining operations. “We need to protect our environment, protect our people and put a stop to destructive mining,” the legislators said.

Reps.

Deogracias Ramos, Isidro Ungab, Cesar Sarmiento, Eleandro Madrona, and Ru-

fus Rodriguez also expressed their support.

All five solons have filed various measures in the House of Representatives declaring their respective districts as Mining Free Zone.

“Over the years, we have seen the destruction of natural resources and communities.

Landslides in various mining areas including those in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, and Paracale, Camarines Norte are recent evidence of how mining activities destroy our biodiversity and endanger the lives of our people. Clearly, the existing mining policy works to the disadvantage of our people, allowing mining multinationals to amass huge profits at our expense.”

Sarmiento filed House Resolution 1117 which directs the committee on ecology to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the implementation of RA

7942 otherwise known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995” particularly on the adverse effects of mining on the environment.

In December 2010, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development which implements the policy direction of the Strategic Plan for Palawan endorsed the operation of two large scale mining companies in a contentious area immediately adjacent to the Mt. by the Matalinghan Protected Landscape that is a protected area covering 33 watersheds

Quips

where mining is specifically banned by the Strategic environmental Plan for Palawan Act, the Philippine Mining Act, and other Envi Laws.

“There is a need to determine whether the economic benefits of mining operations outweigh the environmental degradation on the affected areas. Moreover, there is a need to determine whether mining operations are consistent with the provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and other environmental laws”

‘ASIDE from strengthening our operations and systems, we are ensuring that our team has the capability, passion, and determination to excel and bring our company forward.’

--Phoenix president and CEO Dennis Uy.

EDGEDAVAO

GAME CHANGERS

7

Back to Basics VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

By Carlo P. Mallo

C

ONSIDERED as one of Davao’s premier partyphile, Bryan Lim has the Midas touch when it comes to organizing parties here in the city. From his first venture in 1994 to the opening of Pop Resto Bar again late last year, Bryan has come a full 360 degree turn in the bar scene.

A quaint bar named Caution was the first bar that Bryan opened in 1994, fresh out from college. “I wanted a bar that had no GRO’s, and minus one. Just a place where people can meet up and have a good time with good food and music,” Bryan said.

But just a year later, Bryan closed down Caution and moved to the next block where he took over his mother’s restaurant, Bryan’s Steak House.

“Caution was really small at only 60 square meters. So, I moved to my mother’s steak house, which wasn’t doing very well at that time. It was big enough at 180 square meters,” Bryan said.

Thus, Pop’s Resto Bar was born.

“We opened from lunch until the wee hours of the morning. It was the only bar that was open at lunch,” Bryan said.

While Pops was not the only bar on the scene, Bryan made sure that he was hands on with the bar operations to make sure that it gives the service and quality he wants.

“One thing about the original Pops was that it was easier to maintain as there were no live bands and GROs, but at the same time, it offered good quality of food and music,” Bryan said.

Pops along Ilustre St., became the most happening watering hole in the city, with all of Davao’s urbanites gathering almost everyday of the week, swigging down bottles of beer, Jack, or vodka. On most nights, there are so many people

Quips

that the crowd will spill onto the curb and even the streets.

In 2004, Bryan decided not only to move Pops but also to give it a whole new look. A two-story building along Wheels ‘n More Drive became the new home of Pops, which is now a super club complete with VIP section and a dance floor.

For the next five years, Pops became the unsurpassed place to be in the city – it was the only place acceptable to be in some state of insobriety in public.

After being in the party scene for some time, Bryan decided to shift into another business – a legal poker club. But the bar scene seems to continuously follow Bryan.

An irregularly shaped section of the space where Metro Poker Room was to be set up, had Bryan thinking of turning it into a bar lounge. But the 2 a.m. liquor ban in the city proved to be a challenge for the bar operations of Bryan Lim, who closed down the lounge in 2010.

As the saying goes, “you can take out a New Yorker out of New York, but you can’t take New York out of her,” is the same with Bryan. You may take him out of bar scene, but you can’t take the bar scene out of him.

There is no other person in Davao City, at least for my generation, who can claim to have the same achievements as Bryan does.

“It is a business that need a personal touch.

It is not something that you can just let live on its own. It’s both passion and dedication,” Bryan said, adding that not being as young as he was is also another factor why he reverted Pops into the original restobar that it was.

While a number of bars have opened and closed, Davao’s party scene will never be the same without Pops – be it a club, a superclub, or a restobar.

YES, it is necessary.

While marami ang tao, it would also give people a peace of mind. Kailangan pantay-pantay, walang magdadala ng baril.’

--Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

Bryan Lim

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Green building 101

I

EDITORIAL

“

Diamond jubilee challenges

THE best way to mark a grand occasion like the Araw ng Dabaw signifying the 75th founding anniversary of Davao City is to count our blessings as a people.”

The above-quoted paragraph comes from the “Araw” message of Mylene Garcia-Albano, a young lady lawyer who’s in her first term as elected member of the House of Representatives for the city’s 2nd District. Mylene is a true-blue Dabawenya who comes from a long line of public servants starting from her great grandfathers Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. and Pablo Suazo during the Spanish era.

Indeed, we have come a long way from the time we became a chartered city in the mid-thirties. Shortly thereafter, we suffered death and devastation during the Second World War and, then tremendous loss of lives and security in our homes and places of work in the insurgency and crime wave in the seventies and early eighties. Fortunately, they were not enough to dampen the spirit of the indomitable Dabawenyo.

Today, on the occasion of its diamond jubilee celebration, the city’s great

EDGEDAVAO Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing

Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc.

OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

strides are evident everywhere. Its physical transformation greets our eyes everyday. Its lure to tourists, attraction to investors, and enviable qualities as place of abode are well-documented in the awards and accolades it had received and continues to receive from prestigious national and international awards bodies.

There is little doubt then the city has become the business, educational, and tourism center of Southern Philippines. We agree with Rep. Garcia-Albano that “the successes the city had notched in almost all facets of human endeavor have radiated to neighboring cities and provinces in the region.”

However, we hasten to add that instead of sitting on our laurels, we should face the hurdles in the next level of our never-ending march to progress. These include security, poverty, unemployment, and specially climate change mitigation to name a few.

By the grace of God, strong resolve and foresight of our chosen leaders and true grit of the citizenry, there is no doubt we shall overcome these and coming challenges.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

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

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

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

RICHARD C. EBONA IMELDA P. LEE Advertising Specialists

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

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

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

have always been fascinated with architecture. For the past few decades, I reveled at how the layout and aesthetic structures unwittingly reflected the dominant psyche of a society, how the presence of architectural elements defined the culture and pride of a people, and how forward thinkers defined a path to the future with design light-years ahead of their time. Classical, art deco, rococo, baroque, gothic, modern, indigenous, avant-garde or post-modern buildings have a way of transforming us back into the era when they were created, lending glimpses into the minds of the geniuses who thought them up and the craftsmen who made them into reality.

But there has been no other architectural movement that has resonated with my own personal values more than sustainable building.

Sustainable building or green construction champions energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and even demolition of structures where human beings live, work and play. What began in the US as a response to the 1970 fossil fuel crisis has now become the new global buzzword - and it has successfully transcended boundaries.

It doesn’t matter whether one is from a developed or developing nation, if one is an aspiring trendsetter with the intention of living in a showcase of the “next big thing in homes” or an ordinary homeowner with just a few hundred thousand for renovation or construction -- building and living green has crept into the consciousness of almost every person who has thought of the state of his abode in the past year. This is testament to its strong market appeal, reinforced by noble intentions and spurred by an urge to contribute something in light of climate change or a personal concern for the environment.

But what exactly does it mean to build green?

We can break it down into three basic elements: materials, the structure itself and the way the structure is used.

The materials used to build green must satisfy the following criteria: they must be renewable, sustainable, recycled or recyclable and locally available. This ensures that the resources put into the structure do not compromise ecological balance, and the transport and actual use of the materials do not leave a significant carbon footprint in the process of construction.

The structure itself must be designed in such a way that maximizes and blends into what nature has to offer. Windows should allow for the natural circulation of air. Roofs should be slanted to facilitate rainwater harvesting, and may even play host to gardens that allow grass, plants or even food to grow.

Cleverly placed eaves and other similar elements help direct sunlight to what would otherwise be dark corners that require lighting and therefore additional electricity, but with the rays not providing a straight hit that results to prolonged air-conditioning.

But what good is a green structure if the practices of its users remain unsustainable?

Even the selection of simple fixtures can determine if a homeowner did his green homework. For example, LED lights, dual flush toilets and inverter aircons have steadily increased in popularity because of their green sensibilities. Some new commercial buildings have even installed escalators equipped with sensors that enable them to automatically turn off in the absence of passengers, or lights that do the same. At the end of the day, it is the little routines and choices that home or building owners make every day that spell the difference between a white elephant and a green one.

However, the popularity of sustainable construction and the lack of standards to define what makes a structure a green building means that every Tom, Dick and Harry who cares to present himself as an advocate of the movement can do so freely. If the nation wants to move forward sustainably and protect the green movement as it manifests itself into the places where we live, work and play, then government and advocates should begin to identify these standards - lest they be compromised. Compromised standards will uproot the seeds sowed by the best thing that ever happened to architecture - and that will make me see red.

Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.

EDGEDAVAO

W

E FIND IT a little that a wall of silence is better and far bit funny, forgive more powerful than a slap or punch me, that women during a man-woman confrontation. are still up in We’re siding with women, of arms fighting for course, who are fighting to tear down “women’s rights” a “patriarchal” world that seems to opwhen they seem press and persecute them, which is true to have an EXin many highly-religious countries--CESS of rights but we don’t agree with women who that they’ve been don’t want to pray “Our Father, who turning many men off.

We’re not like other insecure guys art in heaven” because they want to reout there that like to beat up women place “Our Father” with “Our Mother”.

Women are now occupying top who throw, not just painful words, but positions things like p l a t e s , Women are now occupying top positions in indus- in industry, in pans, cups or even try, in government, in media, in military, etc. with g o v e r n ment, in b o o k s d u r i n g many of them doing a much better job than men. media, in m i l i t a r y, a quaretc. with rel.

It’s Some of the world’s most powerful individuals in m a n y not worth of them our time to fight a recent history are women and they are increasing d o i n g a much woman better job in numbers.

Even the Philippines has its share of because than men. there are S o m e more impowerful women. of the portant w o r l d ’s things to worry about. No one can ever beat most powerful individuals in recent a women’s tongue. Certain men think history are women and they are in-

C

A N D I D SHOTS – Elective officials should lead by example.

They must be advocates of decency and morality.

They should lead a life strictly adhering to a code of moral values, and possessed of a sense of discipline and delicadeza and committed to help those in dire needs.

BIT AND PIECES – Political analysts noted that the ongoing Corona impeachment trial is a perfect star-studded kick-off to the congressmen-prosecutors’ reelection or senatorial bid in 2013, and some senator-judges’ reelection bid or presidential or presidential bids in 2016.

These publicityconscious people benefited from the glitz of showbiz glamor – a cheap political gimmickry, grandstanding and self-aggrandizement.

It’s a woman’s world, Gabriela

the year 2012 will be the country’s most difficult time since the 70’s oil crisis-spawned economic recession. The oil crisis is knocking louder than expected these days, and it is beginning to edge its foot into our doors.

And the bad news keeps coming; we

creasing in numbers. Even the Philippines has its share of powerful women.

We had two Presidents in recent times.

It’s just a matter of time when we will have a woman for Senate President or a House Speaker. So, why are they still fighting for their rights here in the Philippines ?

If they’re fighting to change laws on women, we have an excess of “fighting” lady lawmakers in Congress and the Senate who have the power to update the laws on women to make them more relevant to the times. There’re just so many laws to protect women, I wonder no one seems to care about making laws to protect men from women’s monthly erratic behavior.

Women have the freedom to do whatever they want with their lives today. They can choose any career they want. They can choose to go anywhere they want. They can choose any guy they want. They can marry or not marry anytime they want. They can choose to dump (and swap) any guy they want. Etcetera, etcetera,etcetera…..

It’s a woman’s world, Gabriela, enjoy it!

(Comments? Email : tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

Avoiding a bleak scenario

are hurting from skyrocketing oil prices.

Oil prices are expected to rise as high as P60 per liter. Government has for months been resigned to the fact that prices of gasoline and other refined petroleum products will increase because of the escalating prices in the world market. Even if our economic experts and captains of trade and industry would consider that the economy remained stable, we are already beginning to feel the pain in many ways.

In the last few weeks, a consensus has been growing that more workers are losing jobs. Unemployment is rising at an accelerating pace. Consumers are refraining from spending, particularly on big-ticket items. The country’s capital g o o d s destined largely for export are also suffering a drop, and the toughest p ro b l e m relates to the very nature of the manufacturing base. Exports, which were supposed to go up as currency went down, have not met expectations.

The reversals must be exasperating to our top-level officials and economic managers.

While government economic managers insist that their 5- 6% growth target for the year is doable even after an underachieving 3.5 to 4% last year. Government critics forecast zero growth this year as they alleged that domestic demand slows down and oooOooo RESTRAINING trade conditions continue to deterioREALITY – Some independent econorate. mists predict that

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Still, the country’s economy still looks good on the surface. But closer scrunity, we what is really happening – due to economic meltdown at the start of 2012, the country’s level of exports hardly changed, while imports statistics is falling, a demonstration of weak domestic demand.

Economists likewise think interest rates will remain high, the currency weak and the economy vulnerable to paleness among Asian neighbors. If local exporters do not get back on their feet soon largely due to rising cost of fuel, the country’s export machine will grind to a halt.

Continuing rise in oil price will deliver a crippling blow to the country’s tourism industry. That tourism, another key economic driver, is hurting can be gleaned from the falling statistics on tourist arrivals during the first two months of the year.

While government economic managers insist that their 5- 6% growth target for the year is doable even after an underachieving 3.5 to 4% last year. Government critics forecast zero growth this year as they alleged that domestic demand slows down and trade conditions continue to deteriorate.

All these make the Philippines one of the economic laggards in Asia. To reverse the bleak scenario, government needs to achieve at least 6 to 7% growth rate this year.

Happily the negative indicators have seemingly failed to dampen the optimism of top government officials and economic managers. They think the economy will bottom up by mid-year, though recovery will be slow. They also believe there are still many bright spots in the country’s economy. Good luck to them and us.

9

Obama Ceding Middle East and South Asia to China COMMENTARY

By Omri Ceren

I

N his influential NightWatch security newsletter, analyst John McCreary notes the impetus behind the new Chinese/UAE strategic partnership: China has maintained a strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia since before the first Gulf War. The closer relationship with the UAE signifies that China intends to be consequential in both Sunni Arab states as well as Shiite Iran. A recent analysis concluded that Arab states friendly to the U.S. now perceive that the will to use U.S. influence in the Middle East is waning and thus have begun looking for other partners to help ensure their long term security.

China is the obvious candidate and is showing that it is prepared to fill any power vacuum the U.S. chooses to leave.

The shifting calculus in the Middle East is a repeat of what’s already happened in the South China Sea. Jitters over American intentions had led allies to dismiss the U.S.’s commitment to checking Chinese expansionism. Their worries were confirmed when the Obama administration began responding to provocative PLAN deployments with weird combinations of timidness and snideness.

The Navy knows China is going to make a play for shipping lanes, and Beijing will launch cyberattacks against American assets in the Pacific (on a smaller scale, Chinese hackers recently cracked U.S. military access cards and raided Army, Navy, and Air Force infrastructure). But instead of pursuing a military buildup that could check Chinese ascendency – something Max Boot called for last summer – the president has vowed to veto any attempt by Congress to circumvent the militarily-devastating sequestration tied to the Super Committee’s failure.

The administration has been insisting defense cuts will be reversible if the U.S. goes to war, but that’s politicallydriven incoherence. Even assuming that periphery industries won’t shut down as demand shrivels – which has already happened in America’s solid fuel rocket industry, and which will inevitably result from the 1.5 million jobs sequestration will destroy – it just takes too much time to build new ships and planes. As of last month the Pentagon was still literally in denial.

Meanwhile, the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program – critical to fighting China’s still-predominantly green water navy – remains woeful. Nextgeneration jets, which are minimally necessary given the very real possibility that Chinese technology has deeply eroded the U.S.’s stealth advantage, will be delayed by cuts. Two hundred existing planes will be taken offline.

U.S. allies are already responding to what they perceive as voluntary American withdrawal, and they’re adjusting their relationships with China accordingly. That can still be reversed with enough diplomatic and political will, which is why regional actors are still hedging their bets (Mitt Romney, for instance, has made a point of focusing on the need for American naval power).

But let Obama’s military cuts go too deep for too long, and American decline will become inevitable and undeniable.

The rest of the world will make its calculations accordingly.

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

I will if you will campaign for Earth Hour 2012!

T

HE World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) again kickstarted Earth Hour - the world’s largest environmental event - through its ‘I Will if You Will’ campaign which shows how each of us can make the world a better place.

Earth Hour 2011 inspired more than a billion people worldwide and over 18 million Filipinos to switch of their lights for the planet. Now Earth Hour 2012 is taking a bigger step by organizing three simultaneous official switch-off ceremonies, to be held at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Plaza Independencia in Cebu, and SM City Davao on March 31, 2012.

March to the venue nearest you and join the program to learn more about WWF, the Earth Hour campaign, and what each one of us can do to make a difference for the planet! You can also watch all sorts of live performances with your friends and family. The program starts at 7:00pm and the

switch-off is slated from 8:30 to 9:30pm.

You have two options: you can march to your preferred venues and join the celebration or you can stay at home and celebrate the switch-off in a low-carbon manner.

Be part of the ‘I Will if You Will’ campaign and dare your friends to save the planet! The campaign uses social media platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter to empower people to share a personal dare with the world by asking everyone, “What are you willing to do to save the planet?”

These simple dares can range from recycling, to switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, using power strips for appliances or signing up for paperless banking.

Get more involved by checking wwf.org.ph/ earthhour or http://www. facebook.com/WWF.Philippines for more details!

Switch off your lights on March 31, 2012. WWF and the country dare you to make the world a better a place.

Globe Telecom opens Libreng Tawag facilities for kin of Syria-based OFWs

G

LOBE Telecom, in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Telecommunications Commission, has set-up Libreng Tawag facilities at the OWWA Center, F.B. Harrison corner 7th Streets, Pasay City, to give families of overseas Filipino Workers based in Syria the opportunity to communicate with their loved-ones working in areas affected by the political unrest in that country.

Three-minute calls may be made to Syria for free at the OWWA office from 8 to 5 p.m. daily via Globe tipIDD cards.

The service will initially be made available from March 9 to 16.

“We fully support the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the OWWA in ensuring the safety of our Pinoy OFWs in the conflict areas of Syria. We hope that the Libreng Tawag service will help ease the anxiety of their relatives in the Philippines,” said Rob Nazal, Head for Corporate Social Responsibility of Globe Telecom.

Close to 9,000 OFWs

still remain in Syria. The government has also asked families of OFWs in conflict-wracked Syria to provide information on the whereabouts of their relatives. OFW families may also contact the OWWA Hotlines: (landline) 5511560 and 5516641; and (text) 09178986992.

Through partnerships with over 600 telecommunications companies worldwide, Globe Telecom has the widest international coverage among all Philippine telecommunication firms, allowing the company to

offer the most affordable international call and text rates to and from the Philippines. The tipIDD card for example, which comes in denominations of P25, P100, and P200, offer rates as low as P2.50 per minute to US, Canada and Hong Kong; P5 per minute to Singapore, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan; P8 per minute to Italy, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and Thailand; P10 per minute to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates; and $0.40 per minute to all other countries.

SAVE MORE. Allan Flores, operations manager of Save More, said that their newest branch in Bangkal, which will operate starting today, is their 70th branch nationwide. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA 11

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Safe water makes ‘people of the lake’ more productive M

ARANAOS are known as ‘the people of the lake’ but clean and accessible water is a scarce commodity in some com-

munities.

Rohaida Salip, the 35year old mother of two, said having no safe water puts all of her family at risk.

VICE MAYOR CUTAN IS NOW MAASIM MAYOR. Supporters surround Vice Mayor Utto Salem Cutan as he performs his duties as mayor Tuesday, March 13.

Cutan, on Monday (March 12), assumed as mayor when the Department of Interior and Local Government implemented the order for Zamorro to vacate the

“From the time I was born, Lake Lanao is our only source of drinking water for which we’re never sure of its safety,” she said.

position of Municipal Mayor of Maasim and to cease and desist from performing the functions thereof as his proclamation as Maasim mayor had been nullified due to acknowledged errors in the results of the May 10, 2010 elections in the area. [Russel Delvo/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE]

Known as the deepest freshwater lake and the second largest lake in the Philippines, Lake Lanao plays vital role in the economic activities of the area and in the entire Mindanao Island. Aside from being the source of various livelihoods it is also the source of water for the hydroelectric power supplying the Maria Cristina Falls.

Rohaida said every morning either she or her husband has to bring water containers in the cleaner part of the lake’s shoreline to fetch water for drinking and cooking.

But at times when driftwoods and garbage gather in the shoreline, they have to put out into the deeper part of the lake using a banca or canoe.

“It becomes more difficult. We have to use the banca and consume a lot of time fetching our daily ration of water not to mention the risk of tipping over during strong and rough tides,” she said.

She added their community has recorded a number of water-borne ailments. But for the longest time they were left with no options.

But their plight was about to change when the local government unit of Balindong and the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) partnered to address the long clamor of the communities to have potable water nearby.

MRDP is a long term poverty alleviation initia-

tive catering 225 municipalities mostly the poorest of the poor towns in the six regions of Mindanao.

A fourth class town, Balindong is one of 38 municipalities comprising the Province of Lanao del Sur. It lies on the western part of the province.

The town is 16 kilometer to Marawi City, and 53 kilometers from the nearest seaport of Iligan City.

The town received a total of P2.5 million under the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component.

CFAD utilizes community demand-driven scheme where the beneficiaries themselves identify their priority project. Aside from the various agri-livelihoods, three peoples’ organizations have benefited from the project including Lalabuan Friendship Association in Brgy. Lumbayao where Rohaida is the chairwoman; the Poblacion Neighborhood Association in Brgy Poblacion and the Paigoay Vendors Association in Brgy. Paigoay.

These associations received P125,000.00 each to fund their respective small scale potable water system.

After series of tests it was found out that their ground water can be a safe source of potable water. So their money was spent to purchase water pump, reservoir, pipes of various sizes and faucets.

Now with the installation of the potable water

USER FEE. Despite the question now lodged before the Court of Appeals, the Island Garden City of Samal

system around their community, Rohaida said they don’t risk water safety anymore and have more time tending her store and other livelihoods.

“The accessible, adequate and clean water has helped us made our household activities a lot easier and simpler.” Rohaida said, adding “I can spend more time tending to this small grocery store, attend to the concern of our association and my husband can devote more time fishing.” “the newly installed water system helps us to be more productive,” she said.

For the Lalabuan association, there are at least 12 tapstands that served not just the 25 members of the organization but also the rest of the residents in the barangay which they require to pay a very minimum monthly contribution to raise funds for maintenance and other activities.

True to their association’s name, Rohaida said the project has promoted friendship and better relationship among them and their neighboring barangay.

“Aside from us (direct beneficiaries), our neighbors from the other barangay which is not anymore part of Balindong town has benefited from the project. They too don’t have to fetch from their usual source in the lake but prefer to fetch here where it is much safer,” she said. (SHERWIN B. MANUAL/DAMRDP)

continues to enforce the environment user fee, according to IGACOS city administrator Cleto Galez Jr.

12

WORLD/NATION

NATION BRIEFS

T

Exports

HE country’s merchandise exports grew in January after recording declines of eight consecutive months, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). Data from the NSO showed that merchandise exports grew by 3 percent to $ 4.12 billion in January from $ 4 billion in the same period last year.

On a monthly basis, exports went up by 21 percent from $ 3.407 billion posted in December 2011.

Veggies

I

N an effort to help boost the local economy, the Department of Social Welfare and DevelopmentCordillera Administration Region (DSWD-CAR) has partnered with Benguet Vegetable Processing Center of the Benguet State University (BSU) to initially purchase 6,384 pouches of veggie noodles amounting to P60,000 for its stockpile of goods.

According to DSWD, the vegetable-enriched instant noodles produced by the BSU are more nutritious and have longer shelf life than the instant noodles in the market.

T

Intensified

HE Philippine government is exerting all-out efforts in waging a campaign against child labor, a senior government official said on Monday.

“As we did last year, we are sustaining our presence in the countryside in an effort to stamp out child labor in villages with high incidences of child labor. For 2012, we target 80 villages to become child-labor free,” Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.

T

Irrigation

HE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will build P5.13 billion worth of small reservoir projects in 11 provinces nationwide in the next five six years.

The projects are meant to help supply irrigation water and enhance flood control in these areas in an effort to boost the rice production’s resiliency to climate change.

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

China lauds Russia, T Arab plan on Syria

WORLD TODAY Human rights

HAILAND’S laws do not uphold human rights, and fail to bridge the country’s socio-economic and political divides, according to participants in a symposium organised by the government’s Legal Reform Committee.

NATIONAL Human Rights commissioner Nirand Pitakwatchara saidcitizens ought to play a greater role in passing legislation to ensure their rights are truly protected and that they benefit from the law.

C

HINA has welcomed a Russian and Arab League joint plan for ending the deadly violence in Syria as “positive”, and renewed its call for a “political settlement” to the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Arab counterparts on Saturday issued a fivepoint statement after holding talks in Cairo, calling for “unhindered humanitarian access” in Syria as well as an end to the violence.

They also agreed on setting up a mechanism for “objective monitoring” in the country and agreed on no foreign intervention, according to a statement read out by Lavrov and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani.

“We believe that the five-point plan reached between Russia and the Arab League is of relevant and positive significance to the political resolution of the Syrian issue,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters.

“We hope the international community will continue to make positive efforts for the fair, peace-

S

SETTLEMENT. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) gives a press conference with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani after a meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. China

ful and proper solution of the Syrian issue.”

Earlier this month China unveiled its own six-point plan, calling for an immediate end to the conflict and for dialogue between President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opposition.

Beijing’s proposal also rejected foreign

has welcomed a Russian and Arab League joint plan for ending the deadly violence in Syria as “positive”, and renewed its call for a “political settlement” to the conflict.

interference or “external action for regime change” in Syria but supported the role of the UN Security Council “in strict accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN charter.”

The West and the Arab world have been piling pressure on Assad’s regime to prevent a year-

old uprising from spiralling into all-out civil war.

Beijing and Moscow have drawn heavy criticism for using their veto powers as permanent members of the UN Security Council to block resolutions condemning the crackdown, because they singled out Assad for blame.

Deles lauds reforms in PH security sector P

RESIDENTIAL Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on Tuesday lauded reforms and transformations in the Philippine security sector achieved through “partnership, dialogue, and multi -stakeholder approach” with civil society groups.

“The innovations and

institutional reform efforts in the security sector that we are seeing today is something we must take notice of, truly affirm, and support,” Deles conveyed in her message during the launch of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) handbook entitled “Transformation” held at the Oakwood Premier Joy –Nostalg Center in Orti-

gas Center, Pasig City.

The handbook is a compilation of results of the series of SSR study sessions convened by the International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov), a civil society group which Deles joined in 2006.

While she was in the

civil society sector in 2007, Deles convened a study group to orient and develop the capacity of civil society and related sectors to engage in the public discourse on the broad SSR framework focused on the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces. The initiative was supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).

T

HE state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority in partnership with the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. will develop and rehabilitate the little known Fort Bonifacio War Tunnel into a heritage site.

BCDA President Arnel Paciano Casanova said the project aims to contribute to the people’s understanding and appreciation of the history of the former military camp.

OUTH Korea today confirmed an outbreak of a low pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus that is less damaging, both to birds and humans, than a highly pathogenic strain.

The outbreak was confirmed at a poultry farm in South Chungcheong Province, where some 100 chickens were showing symptoms of AI, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

A

COPING WITH HIGHER OIL PRICES. A man ties sacks of charcoal onto a cart to deliver them for sale at a nearby market, in Manila March 2, 2012. Local consumers mostly use charcoal as an alternative for liquified

petroleum gas (LPG) due to LPG’s increasing prices in the world market.

An 11 kg (24 lbs) tank of LPG costs about 800 pesos and a sack of coal costs about 320 pesos.

Rare

rowdy band of bloodsuckers, gunslingers, wily wise guys, jaded private eyes, hard-boiled reporters and good girls gone bad, stuck in an attic together for 80 years, is going its separate ways.

Nearly three dozen movie theater posters from the Golden Age of Hollywood found in a Pennsylvania attic are expected to fetch $250,000 at auction in Texas this month.

T

Boycott

HOUSANDS of students at an all-female university in Saudi Arabia boycotted classes on Saturday, protesting against poor services, witnesses said, in a rare display of dissent from women in the conservative Islamic kingdom.

It was the second protest at King Khalid university in the southern town of Abha in a week security forces broke up a demonstration there on Wednesday, leaving dozens injured, students told Reuters.

J

Rehabilitate

Outbreak

Approved

APAN said on Tuesday it had won approval from Beijing to buyChinese government bonds for the first time, in a move aimed at binding Asia’s two biggest economies and traditional rivals closer together.

China does not allow investors to freely purchase its debt, requiring official approval instead.

Analysts said it appeared to be the first time an industrialised nation had bought government bonds directly from Beijing.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Igacos...

Doe...

FFROM 1 of P50.

A former staff member of a resort said that collectors does the same gimmick to bigger number of people, usually telling them that he has run out of tickets and offer them one ticket writing on it the total amount paid.

Gales told Edge Davao that such practice is anomalous.

An organizer of island tours (who refused to be identified) in Samal and Talicud islands told Edge Davao that a collector at a beach resort on Talicud island used to release only one ticket to every group of tourists who sometimes reach 30 persons in number.

If a group of, say Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ Ordinary Regular Service.

LUDIVITA S. FRAYLON, Petitioner Case No.2003-XI-00060

x- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ Ordinary Regular service on the route: MATINA ROUTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on October 20, 2012. In the petition filed on January 24, 2012, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same units previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 26, 2012 at 10:00 a. m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 24th day of January 2012 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer /hoc Copy furnished: Petitioner, Ludivita S. Fraylon, San Francisco, Lower, ABS-CBN, Matina, Davao City Counsel, Atty. Eduardo T. Manzano, New Borgaily Bldg., San Pedro St., Davao City NOTE: Affidavit of Publication and newspaper where notice was published must be submitted three (3) days before the scheduled hearing.

13

FFROM 1 50 tourists, paid P250 to a EUF collector, the group would receive only one ticket for all of them. When remitted to the barangay treasurer it would be recorded as coming from only one tourist’s P5 ticket. Meaning, the P245 goes into the collector’s pocket.

Noting that a barangay gets a 40% share from the EUF, Gales said fraudulent collectors are not helping their barangays, but themselves.

The guilty will be punished, he said.

The collectors are appointed by the barangay and their number depends on the number of resorts located in the area. They remit EUF collections usually ev-

power facilities.

“It is not accurate to say that we are worsening the issue because we did not enter into any contract with the power barges,” Dagooc said. “There are already 13 electric cooperatives that have contracts with the two newlyprivatized power barges (PB117 and PB 118), availing of 89 MW out of 200MW total capacity,” he added.

The DOE should “act swiftly and come to Mindanao,” Julie B. Real of AMRECO Grid Management Committee said, adding that it is not true that the electric cooperatives should be blamed for the power outages.

Noting the need for a memorandum of agreement on the dispatching of power between participants of the industry, Dagooc said the group will cooperate as long as there is transparency. The DOE should not push cooperatives to contract with the power barges, especially that they have more expensive electricity, he added.

As reported, Almendras said “the DOE will soon issue an order mandating electric coop-

ery two weeks or until they run out of tickets.

The EUF collections in IGaCoS reached P19,600 in the month of January this year. The figures are posted in the official website of the city. Barangay Caliclic has the highest record of collection at P10,200; Adecor has P2,600; Aundanao P400; Catagman P1,000; Cawag P4,000; Poblacion Kaputian P1,000; and, San Remegio P400.

There is no record yet in January 2012 for Barangays Balet, Camudmud, Cogon-Kaputian, Dadatan, Kinawitnon, Limao, Pangubatan, Penaplata, San Antonio, Tagpopongan and Tambo.

However, these barangays had remitted their collection for last year.

Last year, the to-

tal EUF collection was P297,807.75; Brgy Caliclic had the highest collection which was P97,163, followed by Cawag with P77,514.00; and, Adecor with P41,374. Brgy San Antonio had the lowest record of collection at P64, which was remitted to the barangay only once in July last year.

Implemented under City Ordinance 156 series of 2009, the EUF “is a sustainable revenuegenerating mechanism for local governments which effectively allocates the responsibility for managing, developing, and protecting the environment by charging fee to tourists and visitors for their use and enjoyment of the area,” according to Igacos Mayor Aniano Antalan.

world. What we should do is share our thoughts and ideas on how to improve the water sources in the country,” Angara said. ”Saying that 800 water districts will be abolished is a sweeping generalization. The condition of the water system is too bad that needs new major

changes,” he added.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to come up with solution on how to bring down the cost of water consumption in the provinces. ”The cost of your water is too expensive.

We have to come up with large-scale approach,” Enrile said.

Several groups attended the public hearing, expressing their full support to the creation of the Water Regulatory Commission as well as Senate Bill No. 2997 or Water Sector Reform Act

By Lorie A. Cascaro

official tours in Davao City to include the Pasalubong Center in the itinerary.

Presently it occupied by more than 20 exhibitors; although the facility can accommodate 80 to 100 more as the floor layout is subject to revision as the need arises. “Iaccommodate gyud namo tanan,” Ferrer said, adding that later this year the second floor will be opened for furniture display and artworks exhibit.

Spaces for rent have an average size of two square meters, with rentals based on the city’s revenue code while a specific ordinance for the center’s operation is still being drafted.

Based on the revenue code which pegs rental for each square meter at P25 per day, the city economic enterprise eyes an income of P4,292.815 income per day, assuming that all 76 available spaces are occupied. This is not including the coffee shop which rents for P40,000 a month, excluding water and electricity.

Only Davao-made The Pasalubong Center is exclusive for products made only in Davao City, thus, batik and malong products will not be on display, as well as ukay-ukay (second hand items) and ready-to-wear retail goods.

CULTURE. A customer checks out the traditional garments of the indigenous peoples of Davao being

Singson...

FFROM 4

of 2011.

Due to lack of time, Angara set another hearing to get more inputs and

eratives to contract and purchase the necessary capacities within their respective areas to ensure adequate and steady electricity supply.”

Dispatching The problem in Mindanao power is not the “generating power itself”, but the “use of power,” Almendras was quoted by reporters during the recent Philippine Economic Briefing. However, he continued, the problem is with the dispatching.

Dagooc noted that dispatching is the role of NGCP, saying “Sila magbuot asa ilabay (they decide where to dispatch).”

Meanwhile, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino earlier raised a question to NGCP about the daily brownouts in most areas in the Socsksargen region, saying that the hydropower plants have untapped 65 MW. She said the NGCP is zeroing in on the people in General Santos City, Tampakan, Sarangani, among others, due to the refusal of SOCOTECO 1 to contract with a coal-fired power plant of the Conal Holdings, Inc. [LORIE A. CASCARO] ideas as he instructed all the stakeholders to submit their suggestions to his committee. [PNA]

Pasalubong Center beside opens today T

HE Pasalubong Center located along J. Palma Gil, Street beside People’s Park, will have its grand opening today headed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in time with the annual Araw ng Dabaw celebration.

The Center will serve as the city’s official showroom for original Davao products.

A one-stop souvenir shop for tourists and visitors of Davao, Pasalubong Center is designed to help market the products of Davao’s small and medium entrepreneurs, Teolulo T. Pasawa, director of Department of Trade and Industry 11, Davao City Field Office said.

A project of the City Tourism Office, it will be operated by the City Economic Enterprise and assisted by the DTI in crafting policies in the operation, promotion, quality assurance, and monitoring of products.

“This is the government’s help to market their products by attracting visitors,” Letecia D. Ferrer, officer-in-charge, said, adding that an ordinance is being crafted which will mandate all tour operators and travel agencies having

Yesterday, the screening committee evaluated the products displayed in the center, removing items do not represent the uniqueness of Davao City.

Pasawa noted that only entrepreneurs having business permits issued in Davao City are allowed to display in the center. “They can outsource raw materials of their products, but the production should be done in the city,” he said.

In the same manner, the space for coffee shop will only be rented out to a Dabawenyo entrepreneur who offers beverages and

sold at the new Pasalubong Center in Davao City on Wednesday. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

pastries accented with a Davao character, such as durian coffee, durian pastries, and the like. Ferrer said a number of applications have already been received for the coffee shop, and the selection process is underway.

Near the entrance is a showcase of all the products exhibited in the Pasalubong Center. There is also another showcase of products belonging to members of the Davao Branding System. Other exhibitors are from the Food Processors Association of Davao, Magnegosyo ta Day! (City’s live-

lihood project for women), and local tribes like Matigsalog, Clata and T’boli.

Among the other exhibitors are those who are promoting their products for the first time, like Mommy Babes Food Products, whose production of pies made from buko, durian, pineapple, etc. is done only at home. Also, the PLAUTAever Flute Phil. displays Davao-made flutes patented by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, and holds recitals in various schools every year. [Lorie A. Cascaro]

14

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Velociraptor’s last meal revealed T

HE bone of a large flying reptile has been found in the gut of a Velociraptor, sparking fresh discussion among palaeontologists.

Velociraptors have previously been described as “hyper predators”.

However, scientists suggest this pterosaur was too large to be the Velociraptor’s intended prey but could have been scavenged.

The findings are published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, and Palaeoecology.

An international team of scientists revealed the drama of 75 million years ago with a detailed analysis of the skeleton found in the Gobi desert, Mongolia.

“It would be difficult and probably even dangerous for the small theropod dinosaur to target a pterosaur with a wingspan of 2 metres or more, unless the pterosaur was already ill or injured,” said co-author of the study Dr David Hone, from the University College Dublin, Ireland.

“So the pterosaur bone we’ve identified in the gut of the Velociraptor was most likely scavenged from a carcass rather than the

result of a predatory kill.”

Velociraptors were not much taller than domestic turkeys but were thought to be voracious predators.

A famous fossil unearthed in 1971 known as the “fighting dinosaurs” shows a Velociraptor and larger Protoceratops apparently locked in combat.

But evidence of feeding by theropod dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor orTyrannosaurus rex, are

scarce in the fossil record.

Final feast The 75mm-long pterosaur bone shard was found within the rib cage where theVelociraptor’s gut would have been.

According to Dr Hone the contents of dinosaur›s stomachs often elude scientists as they are rarely preserved.

«Gut contents are pretty rare and pterosaur bones are rather fragile

and don›t preserve well, so it is an unusual find.»

In addition to proving that velociraptors took advantage of ailing animals, Dr Hone suggests that the evidence provides a further revelation: that small dinosaurs ate relatively large bones.

By analysing the bones, researchers also found out that the Velociraptor died shortly after feeding on the pterosaur.

New type of dinosaur sported fearsome claws

F

OSSILS of a new type of dinosaur, which looks like a beefy version of the predatory Velociraptor, have been unearthed in Romania.

The stocky dinosaur lived some 70 million years ago; higher sea levels at this time would have made the region an island archipelago.

The animal is also notable for the two large and sharp claws on each foot; Velociraptor had just one.

It may have used these to rip apart its prey scientists believe.

The find is reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

It has been given the scientific name Balaur bondoc, which means “stocky dragon”.

“Balaur might be one of the largest predators in this ecosystem,” said coauthor Zoltan Csiki from the University of Bucharest, Romania.

He said that while the 1.8m-2.1m (6-7ft) -long creature is extremely unusual, it is closely related to animals like Velociraptor and feathered dinosaurs uncovered in China.

The new Balaur fossil is a partial skeleton that includes leg, hip, backbone, arms, hand, rib, and tail bones.

It had a big toe with a large claw that it was able to extend - presumably used to slash prey - as well as a large claw on the second toe.

Balaur had short and stocky feet and legs, and the pelvis had enormous muscle attachment areas, indicating that it was adapted for strength rather than speed.

Some bones in the animal’s hand are fused, features that would have made grasping difficult.

Stephen Brusatte, a graduate student at Columbia University in Palisades, US, said: “Compared to Velociraptor, [this dinosaur]

EDGEDAVAO

That Velociraptors were made famous in the film Jurassic Park although in reality they measured 50cm tall and recent research found they were at least partially covered in feathers?

That Velociraptor means swift seizer and may have been capable of reaching speeds of 24mph?

That They were effective predators with an enlarged sickleshaped claw on each hindfoot and rows of sharp teeth?

That Velociraptors would have existed around 71 million years ago during the Upper Cretaceous period?

That fossils from two species of velociraptor are known; one was discovered in Mongolia and the other in China?

WORLD TODAY

You can now buy your favorite Business Paper from any of these establishments still at Php 15.

Davao SERVING A SEAMLESS SOCIETY

The dinosaur had two large claws on its feet

was probably more of a kickboxer than a sprinter, and it might have been able to take down larger animals than itself, as many

carnivores do today.”

However, researchers stressed that it was difficult to tell how it hunted or what the animal ate.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Primo-donna O

PENING a restaurant is no joking matter, and to be given just 90 days to conceptualize, construct, and finally operate a fun dining restaurant is never a piece of cake. Much like an episode of Top Chef, Primo Steaks and Grill was born out of a brainstorm among Jondi Lacson, Alex Uy, and friends.

Right after the launch of the Ducati-KTM showroom located next door, which was opened in a record 60 days, the groundworks for Primo was born.

Located at the corner of Camus and General Luna streets and conceptualized as a place where friends can get together, have fun and hang out while having good food, Primo is easily accessible to everyone who has ever been do Davao.

“We want Primo to be within reach of everyone, be it the place and also the food,” beams Jondi Lacson “we really wanted a sports bar feel but with-

out the high prices. Of course affordability does not sacrifice quality as we do most of our prep-work in-house.” Primo gets the freshest Angus steaks from Bukidnon, and even grows its own herbs in the restaurants own herb garden adds Jondi.

The restaurant exudes a clean industrial feel mixed with high definition LCD TVs showing everything about sports and motoring. “We will feature the upcoming Olympic games and we will have promos and events that are associated with sports happenings and even F1 and motor racing,” says Jondi “we want give sports and food enthusiasts a place to chill out and watch sporting events together.”

The restaurant also has an alfresco area for people who want to enjoy the evening breezes.

Primo is a place to check out in Davao’s changing downtown scene.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

HOT or NOT

ENTERTAINMENT

THE KARDASHIAN sisters posed for the new lingerie ad of Sears department store. Is it hot or not?

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

Bobbi Kristina dating ‘adopted bro’ Nick I

F you’re wondering who’s keeping Bobbi Kristina warm at night throughout all this mayhem following her mother Whitney Houston’s death, we’ll tell you (and it might surprise you).

E! News Online reported that the 19year-old and her “big brudder” Nick Gordon have confirmed that the two of them are dating via Twitter.

But before you get all judgmental, know the facts...

Bobbi Kristina’s and her “other half” are not blood-related.

A source close to Houston’s daughter tells E! News that the two of them met when they were younger, and Nick was going to enlist in the Army after high school to escape his family problems. According to our source, Bobbi Kristina told Whitney about Nick’s plans and expressed that she didn’t want him to go, so Whitney agreed to take Nick in as her own.

The source also described Nick as a very great person and a great friend. He is very laid back, smart, and very supportive. He was the “man” of the house since Bobby Brown was never around.

As expected, some people found Bobbi and Nick’s relationship controversial, so Gordon made sure to set the record straight and show that people’s opinions don’t faze them or their desire to be together.

“Yea we got a little closer and what!!!…

All the haters that dont know us or th real story can’t un follow me. I don’t give a f--k,” he tweeted. “I’ve proved my loyalty to her and the Houston family. I don’t owe any of you anything. Ha I don’t even know y’all haters….Some ppl have no lives so they gotta be in ours,” he said.

He went on to tweet, “For the stupid ppl out there she gave birth to 1 child. And she trusted me with EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!…

She called me her me “ God Son” I swear some ppl in this world act like they don’t have a brain…”

BOOKS

ZAHARA AND SHILOH JOLIE-PITT IN LOS ANGELES. Also, it must be fun to be a Jolie-Pitt kid, because they let you wear punkrock tees and camo and walk dogs that are in the same weight class as you.

BRAD PITT IN LOS ANGELES. Brad knows the ultimate accessory is a motorcycle.

UNSCRIPTED

By Sarah Meier, Vicky Herrera Meier, Sarah / Herrera, Vicky The Dollhouse conversations, featuring interviews with Lourd de Veyra, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Masta Plann, Kuya Germs, Imelda Marcos, Jeffrey Cariaso, Raimund Marasigan, Rico Hizon, Boyet Sison, Jim Paredes, Jeannie Goulbourn, Ryan Cayabyab, Carlos Celdran, Gang Badoy, Kate Torralba.

BE THE MIRACLE Regina Brett To be a miracle doesn’t necessarily mean tackling problems across the globe. It means making a difference, believing change is possible, even in your own living room, cubicle, neighborhood, or family. Through a collection of inspirational essays, Regina shares lessons that will help people make a difference in the world around them.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL 1: GOLDEN DAWN DELUXE EDITION

By David Finch Delving into the more supernatural and esoteric areas of Gotham City, the 6-part storyline explores the horrific murder of one ofBruce Wayne’s childhood friends...and the terrible ramifications the brutal crime has on Batman’s life.

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

TRAVEL

Waterfront Insular Hotel: Davao City’s grand iconic hotel

T

HEY say you are not truly Davaoeño if you have not checked in or even just pass through the hallowed halls of the Insular. It is considered as one of the Durian City’s most iconic landmarks.

Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao was originally built in the 60’s and was later acquired by the wholly Filipino-owned Waterfront group. This culturally rich property is the site of many a Davaoeños fondest memories, tracing all sorts of hallmarks in their history.

On the 75th Araw ng Dabaw, walk down memory lane and experience heartwarming nostalgia at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. Breathe in the sea breeze, stroll down the expansive garden, feel right at home in the heart of Davao City’s grandest and most historical hotel. Dine on Davaoeño favorites from March 16-17 at Café Uno Restaurant and reminisce with our chefs who are more than happy to share their stories.

For inquiries and reservations, please call (082) 233-2881 local 8700.

Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao was originally built in the 60’s and was later acquired by the wholly Filipino-owned Waterfront group.

A4 INdulge!

Fierce factor M

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EVENTS

O S T events in this city are thrown to celebrate an occasion or to coincide with some big-spending holiday. Most events follow a specific theme and concept to fit the occasion. Most events make sense, and most events succeed because of careful planning by the events organizers. Unfortunately, I am not like most events organizers.

I do not celebrate common holidays, I do not have a specific theme or stylized motif, I do not plan my events carefully, and most of my events make no sense at all. This is especially true for my last event, Fierce Factor, which happened last March 2, 2012 at Marco Polo Davao’s Eagles Bar. Like Black Out or Get Out and Drunk Love, the point of Fierce Factor was for all the party’s attendees to get wasted. That was the concept: serving fierce cocktails to be consumed by the best alcohol-predators in the city.

Here is what went down: Ambience: The interiors of Eagles Bar worked well for Fierce Factor as it had a pub/cabin vibe to it with stuffed bovine heads all around the place. The accommodating Eagles Bar staff filled the place with lights, lasers, and gorgeous drapery to give the place a little more panache.

Music: As with every Confessions of a Partyphile Party, we had DJ Gary on board. And as with every single party, he asks me what I wish for him to play. I always tell him to play what he feels like playing by checking the pulse of the dance floor. In the end, every party seems to have a different musical repertoire.

For this party, the musical mix was just off the hook.

DJ Gary’s turntables ran the gamut of 70s, 80s, 90s, all the way to the current

hits. This made the party unexpectedly fun and gyrate-inspiring for the dancing crowd.

Food: Seriously? Almost nobody eats during Confessions of a Partyphile Parties. Everybody drinks. That’s it.

Games: Alright. So the event is called Fierce Factor for a reason. The drinking games are supposed to be as fierce as possible to weed out the real heavy drinkers from the wannabes. The good news: Confessions of a Partyphile History was made when we played the signature game “Black Out or Get Out” which requires the contestants to take a shot whenever the host (me) would ring the bell. The contestants could quit anytime they wished to but they could not request for bathroom breaks in between shots.

So what’s the history – making part? The contest ended on the 21st shot.

The highest number of shots before Fierce Factor was 16, won by Doy Bijis for the Black Out or Get Out Party mid-2011.

Traditionally though, we play Black Out or Get Out with a regular shot glass and a hard liquor (usually pure Rum). For the Fierce Factor version, however, we served the AK47 (a cocktail that is a mix of 11 spirits and a little pineapple juice) on extra-large shot glasses that was actually equivalent to 1.5 shots. So technically, the game ended with 31.5 shots (that’s 21 shots times 1.5 –because of the extra large shot glasses). Who won? Raymund Libre, who now remains to be the title holder for Confessions of a Partyphile drinking

games.

Unfortunately, one of Raymund’s competitors for the game ended up in the ICU for a couple of days (I’m not even joking), making the night epic for him, his friends, and everyone present in the event.

All in all, Fierce Factor was a laid-back party that was perfect for people who simply wanted to drink and dance on a Friday night. Was it the most exciting party? Not really, but the drinking

game made the night.

Listen to Confessions of a Partyphile (the radio show) on 105.9 Mix FM

every Wednesday nights from 6 to 9. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from

this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter. com/zhaun

EDGEDAVAO

Sports

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

15

Philippine Volcanoes here Seamless sports for Celebrity Adventure Race I

By Neil Bravo

C

HRIS Everingham of the Philippine Volcanoes national rugby team will lead the cast of sports celebrities taking part in today’s Araw ng Dabaw Celebrity Adventure Race.

The 27-year old Everingham, left out of the Asian Rugby Union due to injury, will instead be in town to play in the exciting race which will highlight the celebration of the 75th founding anniversary of Davao City.

Everingham is a standout of the Newcastle Knights in the Premier League.

Joining Everingham are Lady Volcanoes Cassie Umali, Rosemarie dela Cruz, Manila Santos, Kaye Honoras, Nikki Lira, Madille Salinas and Aiumi Ono. Umali is a part-time model and courtside reporter in the NCAA and took part in the Biggest Show in Asia.

Dela Cruz is a standout of the Volcanoes squad in the Asian Women’s 15s Division II Championship last November in Laos.

She also participated in the Bostik PRFU 10s Rug-

Warriors to trade Ellis

T

HE Golden State Warriors have agreed in principle to trade guard Monta Ellis and two players to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson, league sources told Yahoo!

Sports.

The Warriors will send forward Ekpe Udoh and injured center Kwame Brown to the Bucks as part of a package for Bogut, one of the NBA’s most talented – but also often-injured – centers.

The deal will be officially completed later Tuesday night, one executive involved in the trade said.

For the Orlando Magic, who had hoped to acquire Ellis to bolster the supporting cast surrounding All-Star center Dwight Howard, the trade could turn out to be a blow in their hopes of keeping Howard.

(TOP) EVERINGHAM, UMALI, DELA CRUZ, (BOTTOM)SANTOS, LIRA, SALINAS

by tournament this January to March 2012.

Santos, who plays prop in 7s and inside center in 15s is a freelance magazine writer and entertainment correspondent for ABS-CBN.com.

She has been a member of

the Philippine Volcanoes Ladies team since it first started in May 2010 after just playing the sport for one month prior to national team tryouts.

She competed in the ARFU 7s tournament in Guangzhou, China in July

2010 where the team won the B division finishing undefeated in four games while scoring a total of over 110 points.

Lara is another veteran player with two MVP trophies in the PRFU Sevens.

Pitted in the two championship bouts are Elpher Paganpan of Davao against Robert Liparanon of Upi, Maguindanao and Jog Alim of Malita, Davao del Sur against Ruben Santillanosa of Bislig, Surigao.

Paganpan of Yolly Alfante Stable and Liparanon of Frank Palamaoo Stable will fight for the vacant featherweight title (125 lbs.) while Alim of VJA Stable and Santillanosa also of FP Stable will vie for the vacant junior featherweight crown (122 lbs.), both under Minproba.

“All our boxers are aiming to win by knockouts,” said Adriano, a veteran trainer and manager.

His ward Alim, 20, previously won by a 7th round knockout against Ar-Jay Anoos in Glan, Sa-

rangani Province.

The 29-year old Paganpan, on the other hand, has won 13 fights and has fought four times abroad.

He previously had a technical draw with Ronald Fontillas due to headbutt in Manila.

Eight-division world champion Rep. Manny Pacquiao of Sarangani Province is sponsoring the card together with former Korean amateur wrestling champion-turned boxing supporter Jung Wan Hwa and the city government of Davao.

“We have invited Manny to watch the fights since he will also be giving the golden belts,” said Sumalinog, a member of Team Pacquiao and former coach of Pacquiao in the Davao del Sur amateur boxing team.

Araw ng Dabaw boxing set

E

VERYTHING is set for the exciting Araw ng Dabaw Boxing Showdown at the Rizal Park slated on Saturday.

“This is a double championship fight boxing card that is free to the public. We want to bring back boxing alive in Davao again,” said lady boxing promoter Yolly Alfante.

Alfante, a Dabawenya who is based in Manila, graced the weekly public sports forum on Tuesday, together with co-promoters Vic Adriano and former Philippine bantamweight champion Mario Sumalinog, Mindanao Professional Boxing Association (Minproba) secretary-general Rey Buenaventura and USbased boxing trainer Ben Delgado.

PTA. Andrew Maglipon (extreme left), coach of the Philippine Tennis Academy program, conducts his clinic with members of the regional Philta-B coaching staff headed by regional director Carlo Angel (fourth from left) and members of the regional age group

Donaire better as featherweight

M training pool at the Eco 2 Tennis Club last weekend.

The PTA is a nationwide program aimed at searching for future tennis stars in the country. It is funded privately by a group of tennis godfathers.

ANILA, Philippines – Veteran boxing commentator Larry Merchant said “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire Jr. should make his way soon to the featherweight ranks where the real money comes in.

Merchant said Donaire, who currently battles as a super bantamweight, will get more attention when he fights the best featherweights of his era.

“Nonito is in his prime,” Merchant said. “I think he’s got to get into the featherweight mix as soon as it’s reasonable, to see if he has the strength and ability to deal with the best featherweights.”

F sports were a lady, she would be surrounded by several suitors.

If sports were politics, it would be multi-partisan.

That’s exactly how it is in sports. Where people consider it the universal language, it also has several dialects.

That is why in the recent 1st Mayor Sara Duterte-VM Rody Duterte Sports Recognition Night, some sports were divided in Group A or Group B or X Faction and Y Faction.

To name a few, Karatedo has two groups—the AAK group of Rommel Tan and the PKF Group of the Tacays.

Judo has the Barayuga Faction and the Tancontian Faction. There could be more although some of the “others’ were not around like the case of Tennis, Chess and the Mixed Martial Arts.

The beauty of it all is that for one night, everyone got their due recognition whether or not one is the legitimate National Sports Association (NSA) or the ‘outsider.’

I commend the City Government through the City Sports Development Office for making no distinctions in the choice of giving recognition. This is no time to debate whether one is the legitimate or not for as long as you have given the city honor in the field of sports.

For years, we have been debating who is legitimate or not. The Davao City Sports Council, which has recognized the supposed legitimate, is in fact a community of mixed sports associations—some are legit, some are not.

This is no longer an issue of legitimacy. This is an issue of performance.

Many are said to be legitimate but they do not perform.

Some are illegit but they produce.

In short, this is the time for a seamless sports community. No barriers. This is what “Sports for all” is all about.

With this development, we open the gates for sports

to thrive in an environment of co-existence and not rivalry and crab mentality. Sports associations are encouraged to perform and implement development-oriented programs. Above all, they must also do the basic function of informing the city government, media and sports hierarchy of their programs and accomplishments. I know that there are some performing associations missed out in the Recognition Night but that was no fault of the city government. They simply failed to make their own recommendations when told to do so.

The challenge is for sports leaders not to sleep on their functions. I know of an association whose accomplishments are so lowly but still came out proud to inform people about it, no matter how small their accomplishments. I also know of some whose accomplishments are so high, but live like arrogant kings in their own kingdom, never to mix up with the rest.

With the field even and the barriers gone in a seamless sports community, it will now depend on one’s commitment and desire to advance their chosen sport.

Do not complain that you have rivals within your sport.

Do not whine when you need to co-exist with an equally dashing debonair. Do not complain when you have to battle over the attention and support.

If sports were a lady, you got to court her.

Marry her even.

RECOGNITION. SK chair Jashera Gonzales (extreme left) presents the plaque of recognition for the newly-crownd National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC) champion Jose Maria College. Receiving the plaque are JMC sports coordinator Mark Alemania, assistant coach Dindo Pastor, head coach Dodong Cagampang, assistant coach Nick Serafica and Dr. Ildefonso Bitania. (Boy Lim)

Knicks: From Fantastic Feb to March meltdown

T

HE Knicks’ fantastic February is forgotten, replaced by a March meltdown.

They are back to playing the way they were in January, before Jeremy Lin’s emergence. New York has lost six in a row for the second time this season and is in danger of missing the playoffs.

Even if they regroup and make the postseason, history indicates they won’t be a threat to advance. Ac-

cording to STATS, LLC, only one team in the past 36 years, Indiana in 2005, has won a playoff series after having two losing streaks of six games or longer during the regular season.

Lin’s numbers have dropped, Carmelo Anthony’s and Amare Stoudemire’s are below normal, and the defense is struggling with 24 games left.

“Our backs are against the wall right now,” Anthony says.

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SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 9 • MARCH 15, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Lions Slayer

Azkals make history, nail AFC semis

T

HE Philippines fairy tale run in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup continued on Tuesday when they defeated a former champion for the second time, with their 2-1 victory over Tajikistan sending the Azkals through to the semi-finals.

The Azkals and the Persian Lions last met back in May, 2008 in the qualifying tournament for the second edition of the AFC Challenge Cup and, with home advantage, the Philippines held the eventual finalists to a goalless draw.

But on the neutral venue of Kathmandu’s Halchowk Stadium with a place in the semi-finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at stake it was the South East Asians on top with a thoroughly deserved victory.

Defender Alexey Negmatov gave the Tajiks the lead in stoppage-time of a first-half dominated by the Philippines, who levelled the contest nine minutes after the interval when Phil Younghusband scored his third of the tournament.

And with ten minutes left to play Angel Guirado, who set up Younghusband’s equaliser, scored the goal the made Challenge Cup history for the Philippines.

Three minutes after Tajikistan kicked-off the Philippines crafted the first chance of the match when Ray Jonsson whipped a cross in from the left that narrowly missed the head of Phil Younghusband, who

scored both goals in the Philippines’ 2-0 win over 2008 champions India, before being safely gathered

by Tajik keeper Alisher Tuychiev.

Three minutes later it was the Tajiks turn to threaten with Dzhakongir Dzhalilov racing onto a long ball over the top of the Philippines defence only for keeper Neil Etherdidge to sprint sharply out of his area to clear the danger.

In the tenth minute it was Tuychiev’s turn to keep the scoreline blank after the Istikol keeper stood strong to block a power angled drive from Phil Younghusband after being set up by a wellplaced pass from his older brother James.

Tajikistan defender Sohib Savankulov misjudged a speculative long ball towards the Tajik goal giving Phil Younghusband another opportunity but the ball didn’t run kindly for the former Chelsea reserve and the 32nd minute chance went begging.

The Philippines had the upper-hand and just as it was looking like the sides would go into the break level Fatkhulo Fatkhuloev’s stoppage-time corner was headed goalward by Negmatov and while the Azkals claimed skipper Emelio Caligdong had cleared the danger the assistant referee consulted match official Ryuji Sato to say the ball had crossed the line and the Tajiks went 1-0 up against the run of play.