Edge Davao 6 Issue 236

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE ELECTIONS

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE ELECTIONS How Facebook and Twitter will play in the 2016 national polls

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

W

ITH the onset of the national elections, there is no other way for the Philippines to go but into a social transformation keyed by a new platform that has taken the electoral process to another level.

Call it the social media revolution.

With a population of over 100 million and an electorate of over half that number, any electoral exercise in the Philippines resembles a fiesta.

From the time of filing of candidacy, we are already treated to a comic exercise.

Imagine this: 130 people applied as candidates for the presidency. Eventually, only six made it, and the number was further cut down to five with the untimely death of Rep. Roy Señeres.

From the get-go, this election had all the trappings of creating a new battlefield, and this platform is already exploding with the elections over two months to go.

The social media revolution was practically on real time mode as updates went out on social media every minute to apprise netizens in the goings on in the political front.

No thanks to the multi-platform internet, posts on social media come in various languages, forms, images, and tones. From simple newsfeeds to photos—Photoshopped or otherwise—to videos and surveys.

It’s a totally different ballgame and one has to understand that the social media is a great equalizer for politicians and political parties with less machinery and moollah to fund a na-

tionwide campaign.

According to a report on techinasia.com, “campaigning in the Philippines used to be simple: pay for thousands of dollars’ worth of ad spaces, then follow the age-old tradition of developing a catchy campaign jingle.”

The use of jingles have been around in past elections and it has elected actors, newscasters, and worse, wannabes into public office.

The report described Philippine elections as “the epitome of personality politics, devoid of detailed platforms and voter engagement, filled instead with embellished personal anecdotes and song. All this even though we have long demanded for the contrary. We have long insisted for our politicians to speak to us with intelligence, engage us with the rigor that we deserve, and affect real, tangible change. Prior to the advent of social media, they obstinately dismissed our protests and demands. Now, there is no escape.”

Times, indeed, have changed. A lot of that because of the social media explosion.

Some interesting cases in the impact of social media include Manny Villar’s campaign jingle using poverty as his background elicited heaps of objections and contradicting data on social me-

exposure still remains with a lot of loopholes and escape routes.

dia.

T h e re s u l t was disastrous even for the well-oiled Villar machinery.

Then there was senatorial bet Francis Tolentino, booted out of Liberal Party’s Senatorial slate andd out of the MMDA after a video went viral on social media, showing scantily clad women performing sexually suggestive dance moves on male members of the audience – Tolentino’s gift to a fellow Liberal Party member.

And of late, there’s Manny Pacquiao’s slur remarks on gay relationships. The iconic eight-time world boxing champion was knocked off his sponsorship agreement with sports apparel Nike and is the subject of a no-vote campaign putting his senatorial bid in disarray.

Manny will have to resort to his legion of fans and perhaps pay for a Crisis PR management campaign. All that trouble began when the

video was uploaded on internet.

Which brings us to the question of whether social media has taken over from where the other platforms have failed.

Social media users, according to techinasia.com, forced into the news cycle a story that would have been otherwise ignored by established media outlets. The implications of this on political accountability are far and wide.

In the past, we were at the mercy of television networks, print media, and radio stations to set the national agenda.

In this country, all three mediums are often owned by the same elite family related to someone running for office somewhere. In the provinces, rich politicians own radio franchises and pay their own commentators. Circumventing the election laws on media airtime

DUTERTE, CAYETANO LEAD FACEBOOK ENGAGEMENTS How social media affects this elections is by far exemplified by the Rodrigo Duterte-Alan Peter Cayetano tandem.

The Duterte-Cayetano tandem may not be leading in the surveys, but according to a Facebook report, people are talking about them more than anyone else.

Elizabeth Hernandez, head of Facebook APAC Public Policy, said in a report that since November 2015, 8.2 million Filipinos on Facebook have joined in on discussions about the elections.

“Candidates are using Facebook to reach citizens directly and personally. They are having unfiltered conversations about important public policy issues and getting honest feedback from voters,” Hernandez said.

The Facebook report said that the Duterte-Cayetano team is beating its rivals when it comes to social engagements on the social media network, garnering 59 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

According to the report, Facebook reckoned the election-related conversations of 49 million monthly active users in the Philippines from November 30, 2015 to February 15, 2016.

Facebook said that during that period, 8.2 million people ( 1 6 . 7 percent) generated 45 million election-related interactions.

“Election-related conversation” is defined

by Facebook as “posts

that contain highly-specific and targeted keywords related to the election, candidates, parties, or specific topics.”

Lagging behind Duterte is rival former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas III who recorded 42 percent, followed

by Senator Grace Poe with 31 percent. Vice-President Jejomar Binay is at fourth place with 20 percent, while Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago wound up at the rear with 13 percent.

In the surveys, however, Binay led the most recent survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS), while Poe was on top in the last Pulse Asia pre-election survey.

In the engagements among vice presidentiables, Cayetano emerged on top, followed closely by Senator Bongbong Marcos with 37 percent. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo is at third with 30 percent, and Senator Chiz Escudero has 14 percent.

Senator Gringo Honasan has only 2 percent to show.

So how do we expect the coming political engagements will capitalize on the social media revolution?

According to Facebook, they expect more engagements to happen in the run up to the upcoming debates.

On top of the possible subjects of engagements are transparency (64 percent), economy (34 percent), education (25 percent), social welfare (21 percent), defense and foreign policy (21 percent) and health (16 percent). Infrastructure (7 percent), environment (2 percent), and trafficking (1 percent) are said to be at the lower end of election-related conversations.

The way the Duterte-Cayetano tandem has been topping the engagements on social media shows the innovative strategies used by the team as, unlike the Roxas-Robredo and Binay or Poe campaigns, it lack the machinery to mount a nationwide competitive campaign.

The social media revolution also tells us that this new battlefield is the most significant change to the country’s traditional politics—one that’s characterized by guns, goons, and gold.

The new terms are viral and trending. █

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

3

EDGEDAVAO

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF CITY VICE-MAYOR PAOLO “PULONG” Z. DUTERTE February 18, 2016 Davao City

At first I felt that there was no need for me to defend my person given that I am a public official where criticisms, constructive or otherwise, are but a daily part of my job. However, a good number of the members of the City Council grew concern by saying that the statement of a member of the council does not only mean to discredit me as a Presiding Officer but also it undermines the plenary powers of the Council as a collegial body. Hence, this statement.

The 17th City Council of Davao City is a council that hears, it never condemns. It is a council that is faithful to the people. It is a council governed by rules which everyone adhere to. It does not suppress and oppress. It frowns upon abuse of its own members and stands by decision made by the body as an institution. It shall remain and has always been a bastion of what is true, fair, and for the common good.

First and foremost, I would like to strongly manifest that the City Council is a pro-environment council in the sense that it has long been an advocate of pro-environment legislations. As far as policy-making is concerned, the City Council has passed a number of green ordinances that areprimarilyfortheprotectionandpreservationofourenvironment.Lestweforgetourordinances on anti-mining, fortification of aquifers, solid waste management, revised zoning, so on and so forth.

I would like to urge the constituents of Davao City, specifically the civic groups, environmentalists and other stakeholders, that the amendment of Section 13, Article XI of Ordinance No. 0546-13, Series of 2013 should not be viewed as an “anti-environment” ordinance. I would like to emphasize that the 10% green space in the City Land Use Plan (CLUP) was never scrapped or removed. It was actually incorporated to the 30% open spaces. By incorporating the green space to the open spaces, we are in actuality utilizing the said existing open spaces in a more beneficial and valuable way. Thus, the measure taken by the City Council did not undermine any environmental considerations, but has in fact made to ensure that open spaces are utilized in a more positive and pro-active greening purposes thus striking a balance between sustainable development and environmental protection.

I am very much distraught by the impression of some stakeholders that the aforesaid incorporation is a bad policy decision-making and that we at the City Council are in effect “polluting and/or destroying” Davao City. I beg to defer to that impression. It must be understood that only 6.31% of the total land area of the City was allotted for residential areas. 84.88% of our total land mass is considered green zone containing agricultural, agroindustrial, forest and conservation areas. Reducing the 10% green space does not necessarily mean that the City Council is compromising the environment just to accommodate the interests of land developers. Such notion is very misleading. The impact of reducing the open space (as the green space is incorporated into it) in subdivisions does not necessarily mean that we are in a way destroying our environment. We should bear in our minds that a big part of Davao City’s land mass is actually very green due to our legislations that preserves our agricultural and protected areas, and the big budget allocated for environmental programs of the City.

Going now to the issue of the passing of Ordinance No. 0487-16, Series of 2016, I would like to lay emphasis on the fact that this one is already a closed book. Procedurally speaking, the said ordinance has already reached the third and final reading. Therefore, whatever questions and/ or objections with regard to this are no longer within the jurisdiction of the City Council. The item is already presented to the Office of the City Mayor for its signing and approval.

Let me remind the members of the City Council that we, as a collegial body, follow certain rules and regulations. We ought to know our duties and obligations as legislators under the Revised Rules of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City of 2006, as Amended, and follow the same dutifully and in good faith. We should not make excuses that we are not aware of this and that no due process was exercised as to the passing of the subject ordinance because of failure to receive notices, invitations, and the like; and that views and voices of stakeholders were not given the equal chance to participate in the legislative process. In the first place, before an item becomes an ordinance, it must pass three readings. During the first reading, all proposed ordinances and resolutions are reported to the City Council during sessions. Under Section 67 of Rule XIII: “Section 67. FIRST READING– The Secretary to the Sanggunian shall report all proposed ordinances and resolutions to the Sanggunian for first reading within three days from receipt thereof (sic) copy furnished the Committee on Rules, Privileges, Laws & Ordinances. x x x”

In the case of the subject matter, members of the City Council were apprised about the proposed amendment during the first reading held last May 2015. They were given copies of the proposed amendment thus no councilor could feign that she did not receive a copy of the proposal. In fact, this matter is very sensitive that when this item was presented for first reading in the Council last May 2015, it immediately became news headline. Everyone was apprised about the proposed amendment, more so the members of the City Council. As a councilor, absent or not during the session, she ought to know about all the proposed ordinances and resolutions presented to the Sanggunian.

Failing to receive any invitation regarding the item for being not a member of a Committee is a very flimsy defense. It must be noted that committee hearings are scheduled accordingly by the Committee Heads and notices are posted on the bulletin board for the public to know. Thus, members of the City Council were presumed to have been notified of the hearings and meetings that were made pertaining to the item.

Moving on, in Section 77 of the same Rule:

“SECTION 77. SECOND READING AND DEBATE – On second reading of a proposed ordinance it shall be read in full with the amendments proposed by the committee, if any, unless copies thereof are distributed and such reading is dispensed with.

Thereafter, the proposed ordinance shall be subject to debate and pertinent motions.”

During the second reading held last December 04, 2015, again, notices and copies of the measure were distributed to all members of the City Council. Before December 04, 2015, the

committee report was already given to the members of the City Council for their review and reference. During the second reading, the Council is converted into a Committee as a whole given that there was an objection. Even though a councilor is not a member of the Committee of Rules and Privileges and the Committee on Housing, it is still incumbent upon her to look into matters that could affect her constituents. Her job as a councilor is defined by law, not by the committee she handles. It is her obligation to raise objections during the second reading, and not during the third and final reading. Failure to do so on her part is tantamount to a failure of her function.

As the Presiding Officer of the Sanggunian, it is my duty to preserve order and decorum during the sessions and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the Session Hall, it is my duty to take such measures, as I may deem fit and advisable under the circumstances. This is clearly stated under Section 7 (b) of Rule III. Thus: “SECTION 7. DUTIES AND POWERS – The duties and powers of the Presiding Officer shall be: xxx b.To preserve order and decorum during the sessions and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the Session Hall, take such measures as he/she may deem advisable or as the Sanggunian may direct;”

When a member of the Council asked for the deferment of the herein subject item, when in fact the same has already been passed on the third and final reading, I have to step up and admonish such action. It is very clear under the Revised Rules of the Sanggunian, as stated in Section 82 of Rule XIII that: “SECTION 82. THIRD READING – xxx No proposed ordinance shall become a law unless it passes three readings on separate days x x x On the third reading of proposed ordinance, no amendment thereto shall be allowed. The vote thereon shall be taken immediately, and the votes of in favor and opposedenteredintheJournal”.(emphasisandunderscoringsupplied.)

Being the Presiding Officer, I must uphold the House Rules of the Sanggunian. Bending the rules just to favor one councilor should never be countenanced. Let me be clear about this: I was merely doing my job. Admonishing an erring member of the Council should not be perceived as “bullying” and a display of “hot-headed outburst”.

With regard to the presence of Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, before everything is taken against me and the City Council, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that I warmly welcomed his presence in the City Council. He was even allowed to stand in the podium to raise their position against the amendment even though the item was no longer within the jurisdiction of the Council and over the objection of other council members. During the session held last February 16, 2015, he was invited in the City Council as a resource speaker by one of the members of the City Council to speak against the decision of the Body in passing the proposed amendment. Fr. Tabora, during the said session, spoke about the position of Ateneo de Davao University regarding the legislation. The City Council, at first, questioned the purpose of one councilor in putting this matter again on the floor by inviting Fr. Tabora where in fact the Council has already made a decision wherein 22 councilors have voted in the affirmative and the proposed ordinance is now in the Executive Department for final approval. Nevertheless, the City Council, despite the existing Rules of the Sanggunian, allowed Fr. Tabora to speak during the Privilege Hour. Also, during the courtesy call and private meeting, Fr. Tabora gave me insights on how to protect the environment and advised me about good governance in general. I openly listened to these insights, as I find the same to be very constructive and helpful to which I am truly grateful for. In the same meeting, I courteously told Fr. Tabora regarding the House Rules of the Sanggunian. With that, he became aware that the item could no longer be tackled or questioned under the Sanggunian level, much more be deferred because the voting has already been done during the third and final reading last week. In short, there was nothing to be deferred.

From the forgoing, we cannot help but think that a member of the Sanggunian is using the issue to put the City Council in bad light and project herself as a so-called “champion for environment”. If indeed her intention was purely out of what she personally believes in, she should not have used the sentiments of the civic groups and environmentalists to maneuver the matter in her favor and cast doubt as to the integrity and capability of the City Council in the eyes of the stakeholders. Being a legislator, a member of the Sanggunian should know the basics of the legislative process – that,it is already too late to question the subject amendment in the halls of the City Council because the item is no longer in the hands of the Council.Simply put, a proposed ordinance could no longer be questioned during and after the third and final reading. That is simply in violation of the Rules. Being a legislator, she can always and openly craft ordinances that may further protect the environment. She, on this proposition, has the council’s support. However, stirring this all up for whatever reason that she only may know is very futile and detrimental.

In sum, the City Council act as one collegial body comprising 26 councilors who make decisions on behalf of the people they represent. All ordinances that are passed were voted upon and not just decided by one person. We respect the decision of one member of the City Council voting in the negative, but we must also respect the decision of the 22 councilors who supported for the approval of the amendment. Thus, a member of the City Council should stop using and abusing this “green space issue” just to advance her glaring political motives. I personally think that the people of this City deserves a Council which is obedient to the timehonored rules and orders of the House.

To end, a member of the City Council cannot cry that she has not been heard. She should have known the intricacies of the issue considering the numerous instances she had been informed through notices, agenda of the session, and several others but she chose to stay silent. She knows well that the Rules of the House disallows her from bringing this matter up before the Council at this particular time where the proposed ordinance is now with the Executive for approval. The Rules, not the members of this most august body, puts her out of order.

4 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

INTERLUDE. A visually challenged person sings a ballad to entertain bystanders before soliciting loose coins at an alley along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao city yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cop denies involvement S with slain drug suspect

After Maguindanao, BIFF attacks North Cotabato Cafgu detachment

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

abf@edgedavao.net

MEMBER of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) denied that he is involved in the activities of an alleged illegal drug suspect who was killed in drug buybust operation in Bankerohan on Thursday night.

In an interview on Friday morning, Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Allan Lascuña denied his involvement with Rogelio Guaynon, 43, who was killed in a shootout after he allegedly resisted arrest by operatives of Sta. Ana Police Station and San Pedro Police Station.

Lascuña is assigned as driver of deputy city police director for administration Senior Superintendent Manuel Marvin P. Pepino.

According to the police report, Guaynon was facing a

murder case before Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

Lascuña’s name was dragged into the case when two of his uniforms was found inside the rented room of Guaynon in Father Selga Street, Barangay 8-A. Lascuña said he does not know why his uniforms were inside the room of the suspect during the raid.

He said he had sent his uniforms to the laundry shop of a certain John Fuentes, who he said is also the owner of the dormitory about a month ago.

“Mao na ang wala namo mahibaw-i kung kinsa ang nagsulod didto (That’s what I do not know, how my uniforms got in there),” he said.

Lascuña said he only knew Guaynon by face because he

always saw him every time he went to the laundry shop.

“Ako gani gi-istoyahan si Kuya John, giingnan nako na kuya naa man diay toy warrant of arrest (I told John why he allowed the suspect to inside dormitory even though he had a warrant of arrest),” Lascuña said.

He said even Fuentes did not know about the background of Guaynon.

Lascuña said he has already undergone an initial drug test with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 and according to him he was found negative of the use of illegal drugs.

Reporters tried to get the result of his drug test but the PDEA personnel said it was confidential and only

DCPO director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. can divulge it.

During the operation, Danao ordered that Lascuña be placed on restrictive custody with the Investigation and Detection Management Branch.

A team that included Police Officer (PO)3 Vivencio Jumawan was implementing the arrest on Guaynon when the suspect allegedly fired his gun at the team.

Jumawan was hit in the left leg and returned fire, resulting in the death of Guaynon.

Investigators also recovered from the accused a .38 caliber revolver and 12 sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

N a strong display of diplomacy and statesmanship, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has called for calm and sobriety in Bangsamoro communities amid growing resentment over the failure of Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“The MILF calls upon the Bangsamoro people and the other people in the area to remain patient. We urge you to become the beacons of hope in the advocacy for peace with

justice,” MILF chief Murad Ebrahim said in a statement issued Thursday.

“This impasse should not lead anyone of us astray and be swayed by elements unreasonably instigating for radicalism. Let us always make reason and wisdom prevail over emotion,” he added.

This is the first time Murad came out with an official statement after the 16th Congress adjourned last Feb. 3 for the election campaign without putting the BBL to a vote.

Congress resumes session on May 23 to June 10 to act as the national board of canvassers for the May 9 presidential and vice presidential elections.

Murad said that “as a gesture of good faith and sincerity, the MILF has done its part by faithfully complying with all its obligations and responsibilities under the signed agreements.”

He pointed out that the rebel group “has entrusted the passage of the BBL to the

government since the process was entirely internal to the latter, and all its concerned structures had the obligation to deliver the law that could have truly implemented the terms of the agreements in letter and spirit.”

After enactment and ratification by the affected population, the BBL would have set into motion the major portions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which the MILF

Let reason prevail, MILF tells Moro people I

F LET, 11

USPECTED members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have brought the war zone to North Cotabato, particularly in Aleosan town, police said.

Senior Inspector Jun Napat, Aleosan town police chief, said the attack on a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) detachment in Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan happened around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday.

He said it could be a diversionary tactic by the rebel group to mislead pursuing government forces.

“They attacked the detach-

ment with rocket propelled grenades and Barrett sniper fires for about 10 minutes, then fled back to the marshland,” Napat told reporters.

At 7 a.m. on Friday, Cafgu members conducted clearing operations and found an improvised bomb some 50 meters away from the detachment believed to have been left by the attackers.

Napat said a two-way hand held radio was attached to it, but they have yet to determine its components.

Army bomb experts came to defuse the bomb. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)

DLPC yet to receive city gov’t proposal to shift to LED lights

D

AVAO Light and Power Company (DLPC) has not yet received any proposal on the plan of the Davao City government to replace the existing sodium lights of the ciyt’s street lamps to LED lights.

This was bared by DLPC assistant vice president for reputation enhancement Rossano C. Luga last Thursday.

“To my knowledge, I have not yet received any formal offering yet,” Luga said.

He said the DLPC would accommodate all proposals of any private company to be the supplier of the LED lights.

He said the DLPC is working with the city in creating measures to reduce the latter’s electric bill, especially on the street lights.

“Of course, the city will look for measures to make

the cost go down so that funds can be used for other purposes such as social services, for example,” he said.

Luga said if the city can save money by using LED lights, it could use the savings to install more light posts in interior areas.

He said the DLPC could also install lamp posts in areas considered crime-prone.

Earlier, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte said he will be inviting investors to talk to DLPC regarding changing the street lights to LED. He said the proposal aims to reduce the monthly electric bill of the city. Paolo said the city pays P2,000 every month for each light post.

He said the city will not spend on the lights because DLPC and the private company will shoulder the expense.

F DLPC, 11

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

5

EDGEDAVAO

6 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

MinDA to launch Mindanao Collective Trademark soon

T

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) targets to launch the Mindanao Collective Trademark (MCT) in June in a bid to give Mindanao agricultural products a premium in the export market.

“We’re targeting to complete the terms of reference (TOR)and protocols on voluntary standards for the MCT soon,” Romeo Montenegro, MinDA’s director for Investment Promotion and Public Affairs, told reporters in a press conference at MinDA’s office last Friday.

Montenegro said the MCT is a special form of trademark that distinguishes the product based on its geographical origin, material, mode of manufacture, or other common characteristics of goods and services.

It is also is a voluntary standard that is seen to strengthen the enterprises and industries of Mindanao by ensuring compliance with the demands of the world market.

The panel working on the MCT is composed of representatives from the academe, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, MinDA, industry players, private organizations, and consultants contracted by the Europen Union.

The panel initially identified the following priority industries for the special trademark: cacao, coffee, sardines, rubber, seaweeds, and poultry.

European Union-funded Trade Related Technical Assistance Project 3 (EUTRTA3) expert Peter Damary said the panel, through public consultations, also identified five dominant voluntary stan-

dards that will increase the competitiveness of Mindanao producers and exporters in the international market.

“We identified five dominant voluntary standards during the three public consultations, namely, Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Organic International, Marine Stewardship Council, Forest Stewardship Council and halal certification,” Damary said.

He said the final list of voluntary standards will be finalized before the launching June.

Damary said instead of financial assistance, experts from academe and different government agencies will provide technical assistance to ensure the compliance of applicants.

Damary said a Knowledge Center will also be launched in June apart from the trademark. The center will be housed by the MinDA. The collective mark, registered last February 2015 in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), “comes as a symbol that embodies four essential factors- scale, quality, delivery and traceability.”

The Mindanao Collective Mark, funded by the EU- TRTA3, is “designed to provide a platform for a comprehensive program leading to a distinct good quality and increased competitiveness of Mindanao’s product.”

Montenegro said the trademark will represent the intent of Mindanao’s industries to thrive in the local and international market and will become Mindanao’s trademark “worthy of the trust and confidence of the market.”

CHENEEN R. CAPON

Don’t buy LPG-refilled butane canisters: DTI

T

HE Department of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded the public, particularly those who are using butane stoves, on the danger of using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-refilled butane canisters for household consumption.

The agency pointed out that butane canisters are used only once and must never be refilled since use of refilled butane canister may cause accidents such as explosion and fire.

DTI-Davao Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi emphasized that only welded steel cylinders are covered with Philippine National Standard for gas containers designed for storage, transport and distribution of LPG for domestic consumption.”

It can be noted that the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Department Circular DC2014-01-0001 covers the rules and regulations of LPG

industry including refiners, importers, re-fillers, marketers, and even haulers.

The said mandate states that illegal or “backyard refilling” of butane canisters is strictly prohibited under the department’s rules and regulations.

Ambi encouraged everyone to report any information relative to “backyard refilling” to the nearest fire station in the locality or DOE Mindanao Field Office through telephone number (082) 221-0778.

“With everyone’s concern and vigilance, we can surely help save lives,” she said.

Meanwhile, inquiries can be addressed to DTI-Davao Region at 4F Mintrade Realty Building, corner Monteverde and Sales Streets, Davao City.

They can also be reached through landline number (082) 224-0511, local 417 and 420 (Consumer Protection Services Division). (DTI11/WDG/JMM)

BOOMING BUSINESS. Manicure and pedicure services are becoming an emerging industry in Davao City’s public parks, benefiting unemployed women who want to earn a living to help their families. Lean Daval Jr.

Diversify invesments, OFWs encouraged

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

O

crc@edgedavao.net

VERSEAS Filipino Workers (OFWs) are encouraged to diversify their investments in order to get higher returns.

Speaking to reporters at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Friday, Philam Life zone head for Visayas and Mindanao Rolan H. Enriquez said a study commissioned by the company revealed that 97 percent of OFWs still put their investment traditional institutions like banks through a savings account.

He said investments in banks through time deposit have a small return rate of less tha 2 percent annually.

Enriquez said the study was conducted last year surveying 300 OFWs in a bid to study the OFW segment of the market as well as the level of their financial literacy.

The study revealed that one in every 10 Filipinos works abroad on an average of six years with the aim of establishing their own busi-

ness, owning a house, and supporting the education of their children.

However, the study revealed that six years’ stay abroad do not provide them with the ideal savings amounting to P3 million before they can go home and stay here for good.

With an average of almost P14,000 monthly savings, a single OFW would need to 217 months to reach the ideal saving.

Enriquez said as much as working abroad increases the ability of an OFW to raise a family because of higher wage, more than 18 years of being away has a negative effect on family relations.

“We would like our OFWs to lessen that period by providing other financial products that has a higher return,” he said.

Philam Life offers the BalikBayani pasalubong package which offers a complete menu of financial

solutions to address protection, education, retirement, health, and investment needs.

The BalikBayani is a program of the 89-year old firm which started in 1998 in Hong Kong in a bid to educate OFWs on financial literacy and the importance of long-term financial planning to achieve financial independence in the future.

Philam Life director of agencies Cary Casipit said the program was able to give seminars to 300,000 attendees targeting not only the OFWs but their relatives left in the Philippines.

“The program is designed to help OFWs secure their financial requirement,” Casipit said, adding this will be the formal launching of the program.

Education also allows OFWs to protect themselves from investment scams.

Casipit said it is necessary to attend to the needs of

the OFW segment because of its huge contribution to the economic growth.

Philam Life chief agency officer Ana Jay Ledesma said the remittances of OFWs grew from P17.35 billion in 2009 to P 25.35 billion in 2014 despite global economic problems.

The Philippines deployed a total of 1.42 million OFWs in 2009 and reached to 2.23 million in 2014 with an average annual deployment growth of 10.4 percent.

“We cannot deny the contribution of our modern day heroes to our economy,” Ledesma said, adding remittances of the OFWs accounts for about 8 to 10 percent of the country’s gross national product.

The Philam Life identified the OFW as one of the fastest growing market segment, accounting for 10 percent of its served clients totaling to more than 600,000.

“Pagkatapos naman po ng summit, tumungo tayo sa Los Angeles. Doon, nakapulong natin ang mga pinuno ng ilang mga kumpanya sa larangan ng creative services, high technology manufacturing, at imprastruktura. Kinilala po nila ang talento ng Pilipino sa mga larangang ito, na tumataas sa tinatawag na value chain,”Aquino said.

Aquino said the chairman of Walt Disney plans to visit the Philippines this year and expressed his interest to boost the creative industry in the country.

“Bilang sagisag ng interes ng mga kumpanya, nakaplano pong bumisita sa Pilipinas ang chairman ng Walt Disney ngayong taon, at nagpahayag din po sila ng

kagustuhang tumulong sa lalo pang pagpapalakas ng ating creative industry,” he said.

Aquino said Western Digital has also expressed its intention to widen their operations here in the country, and the possible capacity-building partnership of AECOM for the country’s infrastructure.

(PRC/OPTPIA)

PNoy: Walt Disney exec sees investment opportunity in Phl P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III, in his arrival statement from his trip in the United States, said he has met with business leaders in the creative services, high technology, and infrastructure sectors.

He said the business leaders recognized the Filipino talent and their increasing value chain in these fields.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY 7

NADECOR gets NCIP nod in King-King

By LEAN DAVAL JR.

T

HE National Development Corporation (NADECOR) was granted a Certification of Precondition of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), allowing the company to start its mining operation in King-King, Pantukan in Compostela Valley

Province.

The certification was issued by NCIP to NADECOR on January 14, 2016 through an en Banc Resolution. The certificate is a precondition to the King-King Gold Copper project undertaken by NADECOR. Its operation is subject to

the terms and conditions embodied in the resolution and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into by NADECOR, the Mansaka Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC)/IPs of Pantukan, and the NCIP. NADECOR, a joint-ven-

ture partner of St. Augustine Gold and Copper Limited, has a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the Philippine government over an area located in barangays King-King, Tagdangua, Magnaga, and Napnapan in Patukan, Compostela Valley.

“The issuance of the certificate signifies the agency’s appreciation to NADECOR’s satisfactory compliance with the procedure and process of completing requirements and the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC),” said NCIP chair lawyer Leonor Oral-

de-Quintayo.

FPIC will be a guarantee of local communities, especially the IPs, of their participation in making decision of issues that will arise that will affect them, including natural resource management, economic de-

FNADECOR, 11

Aquino signs EO on gov’t pay hike B

UDGET Secretary Butch Abad announced Friday that President Aquino has signed the DBM-proposed Executive Order modifying the salary schedule and authorizing the grant of additional benefits for both civilian and military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

“This action by the President leverages the benefits package in order to increase the take-home pay of government employees as stipulated in the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) bills,” Abad said.

The EO effects compensation adjustments for this year as an interim measure to implement Tranche 1 of the proposed SSL, the full year requirement for which has already been provided in the National Budget.

“For civilian government

personnel, the EO effects the adoption of the same proposals in House Bill 6268 and Senate Bill 2671 for salary increase, the grant of the mid-year bonus equivalent to one month’s basic salary, and the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) at P 5,000.

GOCCs not covered by the Governance Commission for GOCCs may implement the aforementioned compensation adjustments charged to their corporate funds.

LGUs may implement the compensation adjustments subject to the Personnel Services limitation under the law.

As for MUP, the EO effects the increase of Hazard Pay, and the grant of a substantial Provisional Allowance and an Officers’ Allowance in lieu of Base Pay increase.

FAQUINO, 11

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDITORIAL Of bullies and opportunists

T

HE furor over the gay slur remarks of 8-time boxing world champion and now senatoriable Manny Pacquiao has been explosive on social media the past two days.

The topic has been trending with new characters and twists surfacing every minute.

Poor Manny. His statement, which was uploaded on the internet, elicited a howl of protests and angry comments from the LGBT quarters. A lot has been said, opinions shared, and issues editorialized on this matter.

The issue reared its ugly head with the emergence of bullies and opportunists masquerading as moralists and experts in social science. From one personality to another, the man once called people’s champ and Pambansang Kamao (national first) was practically pushed to a corner, disrobed of his once invincible championship cloak. It’s like the real-life version of the Superman versus Batman movie, a hero thumbed down by the very people he once out under his arms.

What has emerged from the issue are people practicing the classic Filipino crab mentality. Manny ended up losing a sponsorship from an apparel brand that for a time flashed the Filipino colors on its designs worldwide. A hate campaign also has been mounted to ensure Manny is not elected to the Senate.

Which leads us to the question of whether or not there is an overkill here or there are just people who thrive in this situation of putting others

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down.

In the eyes of the world who also idolized Manny Paccquiao for his ring exploits and his rags-to-riches, boxer-to-legislator success story, we are crucifying a man who has given us a lot of pride and glory. Not in this generation or in the near horizon are we seeing a Filipino whose global impact would be as colossal as Manny’s.

Manny, with all his shortcomings, is not a genius or an expert theologian. Like any of us, he is prone to mistakes and is in fact a favorite butt of jokes for his travails with the English language and his shots at becoming a respected politician.

At the end of the day, we are ridiculing ourselves to the rest of the world for being a people and country torn between marrying the state and church or separating them. We allowed ourselves to be mired in this web—the affairs of the state influenced by the church and a church perpetrated by politics.

Manny spoke of his beliefs, influenced by his new found intimacy with the Scriptures. His was an opinion, an expression of his freedom, albeit the result has fired up a particular sector who themselves are fighting for an identity and embracing their own beliefs as to how freely they wish to engage in relationships with the same sex.

Poor Manny had to be the sacrificial lamb in this ambiguous interpretation of propriety and morality we have sorrily allowed ourselves into.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

10 things you didn’t know about ASEAN 1. ASEAN will be 50 years old in 2017 when the Philippines will have the chairmanship of ASEAN. It started with five founding member countries in 1967 – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.

2. ASEAN did not have a secretariat until1976, nine years after its creation. It is based in the Jakarta and is headed by a Secretary General. There are about 300 employees in the secretariat.

3. The ASEAN Charter entered into force in 2008. The Charter gave ASEAN, after more than 40 years of existence, a legal personality and profiled it as a rules-based organization.

4. Each ASEAN member state has appointed a Permanent Representative to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta. All of them collectively constitute the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR).

The CPR supports the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, coordinates with the

O

ASEAN EUROPE BIZ National Secretariats, liaises w i t h the Secretary General on all subjects relevant to its Henry J. Schumacher w o r k and facilitates ASEAN cooperation with external partners.

5. 83 non-ASEAN countries have appointed ambassadors to ASEAN 6. ASEAN has 10 Dialogue Partners. These are Australia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US. ASEAN has also established a Comprehensive Partnership with the United Nations.

7. If ASEAN were a single country, it would be

the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh largest in the world by GDP. At current trends, it is projected to be the world’s fourth largest economy by 2050.

8. The ASEAN Chair – and host of annual ASEAN summits and meetings – rotates yearly among member states. As mentioned above, the Philippines will chair ASEAN in 2017, during its 50th Founding Anniversary.

9. The 8th of August is observed as ASEAN Day, marking the day of its creation through the ASEAN Declaration in 1967. Various activities are held to mark it at the national and regional levels.

10. ASEAN is keeping the momentum of regional integration and community-building through the next 10 years, after the launch of the ASEAN Community in December 2015. ASEAN’s Vision 2025 is a bold, visionary, progressive and forward-looking document to reflect the aspirations of the next generation of ASEAN nationals. It will realize a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, and a truly people-oriented, people-centred and rulesbased ASEAN.

between are those THINK ON THESE! who are seemingly quite nonchalant or even bored.

“They are all having exactly the same experience – the roller coaster ride – but they’re reacting to it very differently: bad stress, good stress, and no stress,” Dr. Henrylito D. Tacio henrytacio@gmail.com Rosch says.

In short, changing the way you think – viewing a difficult assignment at work as a chance to improve your skills, for example – can change a life of stress and discomfort to a life of challenge and excitement.

Think about something else. “Anything that will help you shift your perspective instantly is useful when you’re under the gun,” says Dr. Emmett Miller, medical director of the Cancer Support and Education Center. “You want to distract yourself – to break whatever chain of thought is producing the stress. And thinking about almost anything else will do that.”

Think positive. “Thinking about a success or a past achievement is excellent when you’re feeling uncertain – before a presentation, or instance, or a meeting with your boss,” Dr. Miller says. “You’re instantly reminded that you’ve achieved before, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t achieve this time.”

Look away. “If you look through a window at a far-distant view for a moment – away from the problem that’s producing the stress – the eyes relax, and if the eyes relax, the tendency is for you to do the same,” says Dr. Roland Nathan, associate professor in the departments of Family Practice and Psychiatry at Albany Medical College in New York. “Take a pot off the burner and it quits boiling.”

Get up and leave. “Leaving the scene can do the same as looking away,” says Dr. Nathan.

Take out troubles. The old adage “a trouble shared is a troubled solved” has a lot of truth in it. Gloomy, angry, unkind and selfish thoughts bottled up in your mind results in exhaustion, depression, aches and pains, and upset stomachs. On the other hand, a calmed mind restores health and relaxation.

Get plenty of sleep. Sufficient sleep is vital for nervous stability. “The amount required varies, but you will know if you are getting enough by the way you wake up in the mornings,” writes Martin Bell in his article which appeared in Health and Home. A simple tip is: go to bed regularly at the same time and not too late. Sleep

is one of nature’s most effective restorers. It sweeps away mental and physical fatigue.

Exercise with care. But sleep is denied in most people with stress because of insomnia.

This too could be due to the build-up of adrenaline in the system, and a little regular exercise, which stresses the big muscles, could be the answer. Choose an exercise or sport that you enjoy and can continue in good or bad weather Get away from it all. If you recognize that you are a stress sufferer, one of the best things you can do is take a complete break from normal. Be sure to plan your annual holidays ahead of time so that you can return refreshed.

Eat foods that fight stress. Actually, there is no dietary “magic bullet,” but you can help curb the effects of stress by getting the necessary nutrients your body needs for optimal health. The editors of Reader’s Digest advise to pay special attention to these foods: • Whole-grain breads help speed the amino acid tryptophan to the brain. There, tryptophan increases levels of the “neurotransmitter serotonin,” thought to act as a sedative.

• Oranges are full of potassium, an electrolyte that conducts nerve impulses and helps keep the brain’s neurotransmitters working properly. Other good sources of potassium include poultry, milk, cheese, whole grains, nuts and legumes.

• Fish is rich in B vitamins, as are avocado, potatoes and beef. Anxiety, irritability and mood swings have been associated with insufficient quantities of these vitamins.

• Rice is rich in thiamine (vitamin B-1). Some researchers have linked deficiency in thiamine to mental illness, including depression.

You can also find the thiamine you need in pork, fish, beans, sunflower seeds, enriched breads and cereals.

• Artichokes and other green vegetables such as malunggay are loaded with magnesium, crucial to the body’s general defense against stress. Wheat germ is another excellent source of magnesium, along with soybeans, bananas and peanuts.

By the way, too much stress can directly threaten your health. Dr. Rosch says that any of the following stress-related symptoms may indicate that you should see medical help promptly: dizzy spells or blackouts; rectal bleeding (may indicate an ulcer); a racing pulse that won’t stop; sweaty palms; chronic back and neck pain; chronic or severe headaches; trembling; hives; overwhelming anxiety; and insomnia.

“The basic rule is this: You should see a doctor if the symptoms you’re experiencing are new and have no obvious cause, especially if they interfere with your quality of life,” Dr. Rosch points out.

Handling stress like a pro

N your way to the shops or to work tomorrow morning, look at the people around you. How many of them look tense and drawn? How many over the age of 25 are smiling and really happy? Most of them will have developed symptoms of so-called USU – an Unnecessary Sense of Urgency. Many rush around when they could walk, and drive as if on a racetrack when, in fact, they need be in no particular hurry. Our lives were never meant to be lived in the constant state of tension that is so common today.

We have rocked into a fabulous world of glass and steel, computers, credit cards and supersonic jets. We are surrounded by man-made marvels. Ninety percent of all the scientists who ever lived are alive now, but with all the multiplied blessings of our civilized, westernized, urbanized living comes stress, and almost everyone suffers from it.

“Adults, children, and apparently even pets are susceptible,” writes Megan Othersen Gorman in an article which appeared in Reader’s Digest. “No one is immune to the ill effects of stress – not even scientists schooled in how to prevent it.”

According to Gorman, stress results when our bodies react to a challenge – mental or physical – by increasing metabolism, elevating blood pressure, boosting heart and breathing rates, and pumping three to four times more blood to the muscles than normal. “This fight-or-flight response works fine when we do just that – fight or flee. But most often, we do neither. And that’s what gets us into trouble,” Gorman writes.

Dr. Paul Rosch, president of the American Institute of Stress, says you should do something to beat stress. “Stress is not only something you can beat but a force you can turn to your advantage,” he explains. “You don’t have to run from it, and you don’t have to go to a special stress-management seminar to find out how to manage it.”

The following doctor-tested tips culled from various sources – mostly from the Doctors Book of Home Remedies – show you how to combat stress – and win. For instant relief when the world has you in a headblock, read on.

Work on your attitude. “I think the single most important point you can make about stress is that in most cases it’s not what’s out there that’s the problem, it’s how you react to it,” says Dr. Rosch. And how you react is determined by how you perceive a particular stress.

“Watch people on a roller coaster ride,” Dr. Rosch explains. “Some sit in the back, eyes shut, jaws clenched. They can’t wait for the ordeal in the torture chamber to end and to get back on solid ground. Up front are the wide-eyed thrill seekers who relish every steep plunge and can’t wait to get on the very next ride. And in

VANTAGE POINTS

9

What do we do with our OFWs?

T

IME and MY TWO CENTS’ again over the last 40 years we have never stopped hearing government call our Overseas Filipino workJohn Tria ers (OFWs) our ecisouth@gmail.com “modern day unsung heroes.”

A visit to the Malacañang of the North on the shores of Lake Paoay in Ilocos Norte will make you walk through an exhibit of Marcos memorabilia organized in the different rooms of the summer palace. Apart from the usual pictures of infrastructure projects, one of the rooms houses the display of the OFW phenomenon, which Marcos claims to be his lasting legacy and gift to the Filipinos. Samples of luggage, cassette recordings of love notes and letters containing the sweet nothings, along with hopes, dreams, and longings to bring us back to the time when our uncles, aunts, and parents first ventured to work in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states as construction workers and professional staff, and to Hong Kong and Singapore to work as domestic helpers.

It will be remembered that one of the economic forces that led to the need to export labor was the steady fall of the Philippine Peso against foreign currencies and the continued slide of our economy as Martial Law Philippines entered the late seventies and early 1980s. In contrast, oil rich arab economies were at their strongest as their precious commodity was sold at record high prices, creating vital leverage for these states.

As FOUR decades have passed, a generation of OFws and their progeny has progressed, with sons following after their fathers, and daughters seeking the same opportunities their mothers obtained years before, in the same Middle East and Asian countries that have become familiar to us in popular culture. Today’s OFW income that reaches the country is valued at about US$26 billion, making up 8 or so percent of our Gross Domestic Product.

Yet, the same time passing has created new realities against which the backdrop of this economic and social phenomenon will be viewed. For one, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector has produced more income than OFWs for the first time last year.

The army of call center workers, medical transcriptionists, and outsourcing staff all living in the Philippines has provided slightly more dollars to Philippine GDP than OFW income.

Secondly, the low oil prices have forced many middle eastern companies to scale down their expansion plans and forego hiring, or lay off workers. Apart from this, the threat of large scale war has already created fears among OFWs, with some getting lower wages in recent weeks. This does not bode well for the future of working in the Middle East, which, collectively, gives us high income figures.

Thus, we need to ask hard questions that can help answer the fears of the 1.6 million OFWs and their families concerned over the uncertainty wrought by the realities of a globalized economy. Only government can muster the strengths of a nation to deal with such a fundamental challenge to our economic well being. Economic solutions will be needed to cushion the pain that losing our OFWS will bring us as an economy, and the displacement caused by a father suddenly losing his job, a mother forced to come home, or a brother whose job contract is suddenly cancelled as the hiring company is forced to close shop.

Its time for the best and the brightest to come forward, and for all of us to come together.

10 PROPERTY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

Vista Residences’ Northpoint, Davao’s Hidden Masterpiece of a Home

C

RADLED within a sloping, low-rise hill carpeted with thick grass and dotted with aged Acacias and pine trees, is a world-class vertical village that never ceases to amaze those who lay eyes on it, whether for the first time, or for countless times.

Northpoint, the British colonial themed condominium development of Vista Residences (VRI) in Davao City, is located at the junction of Buhangin Road and JP Laurel Avenue, ensconced within a gently sloping terrain filled with Caribbean pine trees growing tall among the majestic condominium buildings.

Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s biggest homebuilder, Vista Land. In the decade or so that the group has been in existence, it has managed to raise condominium living in the Philippines to a level found in the top cities of the world, often combining commercial and business tenants with their residences allowing their individual towers to be virtually self-contained. This focus on convenience has also guaranteed that the company has found some of the best locations in the city, discovering real estate very close to transport hubs and key centers of

our CBD’s, while being entirely safe and beautifully environed.

Northpoint: A lush environment at the heart of the city The seamless melding of these modern structures with the refreshing evergreens is a sight to behold, always eliciting awe from visitors and those who call it home. This is because Northpoint is the only vertical village in the region that is enveloped within a lush environment at the heart of the city.

Upon entering Northpoint’s outer gates, one will be greeted with a vista of preserved ancient trees, colorful plant life, and well-manicured landscape. Past the main guarded entryway is the inner vertical village, a mix of medium and high-rise towers that stand proud among pine trees.

The calming sight of flora in abundance; the scent of fresh pines; and the nippy breeze afforded by nature make coming home a daily treat for residents. Shielded from the prying eyes of the public and the din of city traffic by its sloping terrain and thick foliage, Northpoint is the most desirable urban home within the rustic charm of nature. Its verdant environment gives it

an added sense of privacy and exclusivity, making it a quiet, sheltered home at the center of the city’s hustle and bustle.

Northpoint is undeniably Davao’s treasure of a home, secluded yet just a stone’s throw away from all the modern conveniences of city life. It is a masterpiece confined within nature’s bounty, a home that is the pride and joy of its homeowners.

The “Prime” Series: Gems in VRI’s property portfolio Northpoint is part of Vista Residences’ “Prime Series,” a collection of exquisitely designed towers. Today, there are nine beautiful vertical villages in the Prime Series, two of which are in Mindanao’s gateways – Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City.

These are the gems in VRI’s property portfolio. The word “prime” is defined as “something of the best quality, of excellence.”

The Vista Residences’ “Prime Series” is a listing of skilfully engineered and beautifully de-

signed towers – often serving as both residential homes and business headquarters – within the country’s central business districts. Created by top architectural firms and built with leading edge technology, these vertical villages are outfitted with facilities and amenities that take the residents’ lives a notch beyond expectations.

Vista Residences: Thoughtful and Sustainable Design

At Vista Residences, every suite and studio is a place where dreams will be dreamt and lived, and lives created and evolved. Whatever the cost, every room, every space is designed with creative and practical space planning. It is something Vista Residences and its mother company, Vista Land, is known for.

Whether the property is themed, elegant or sensibly practical; wherever possible, the rooms are designed with space to breathe, the designs

are stylish and the amenities first-rate. Function, design and the building of dwellings that families can truly call a “home” is central to the Vista Residences philosophy.

Northpoint is a landmark Prime condominium development of Vista Residences in Davao City. Call us to learn more at (+6382) 226-3100 local 8020. Visit www.vistaresidences.com.ph.

Follow vistaresidencesofficial & northpointdavao on Facebook and vistaresidencesinc on Instagram. █

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

DLPC... FROM 4

The vice mayor said once the street lights are changed to LED, the city’s electric bill will decrease in half in a span

of eight years.

Paolo said DLPC also proposed to change the light posts into high-tech posts

that have rainfall gauges and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

FREE RANGE. A police trainee shares his snack with a buck, one of herd goats roaming freely inside Camp Leonor Domingo. Lean Daval Jr. Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

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

Case No. 2013-XI-00297 JOSEPH O. CASIO, Petitioner

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: CIRCULATION ROUTE 4 with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on March 18, 2017. In the petition filed on February 10, 2016 petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 7, 2016 at 09:20 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 11th day of February 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication 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 DUAL Ordinary Regular Service

Case No. 2001-XI-00794 TESSIE S. BRIONES, Petitioner

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service on the route: PANACAN VIA BUHANGIN/ILUSTRE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on June 29, 2016. In the petition filed on February 12, 2016 petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 8, 2016 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 15th day of February 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

NEWS 11

EDGEDAVAO

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of Unit with Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. 2016-XI-00212 (2001-XI-00536) SALVADOR L. MARQUEZ, Petitioner-Vendor MELANIE Q. LINO, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by SALVADOR L. MARQUEZ in favor of MELANIE Q. LINO of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: MARAHAN and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on June 5, 2017.In the same petition filed on February 12, 2016, petitioners likewise request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 14, 2016 at 09:40 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 15th day of February 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Let... FROM 4

forged with the government last March 27, 2014 after 17 years of negotiations.

Murad said the entire membership of the MILF felt “deep disappointment and grave dismay” over the failure of Congress to pass the BBL. He added that a similar sentiment “is mirrored by the tangible frustration of the great majority of the Bangsamoro people, the peace loving populace not only in Mindanao but also in the entire country, and even those in other nations who have been closely following and keenly observing the unfolding of the more than 17 years of (the) peace process.”

But Murad remains hopeful the BBL will still see light and eventually be enacted by Congress.

“It is at moments like these that we call upon all our Bangsamoro brethren and all peace loving people to join hands, consolidate and vigorously rally behind the cause to pursue with persistence the passage of the BBL and the full implementation of the CAB, be it in the present government or the upcoming administration,” he said.

He called on those sympathetic to the peacemaking effort in Mindanao “to continue and intensify their efforts in supporting the advancement of the peace process and use their influence to ensure that the next Philippine government will uphold and faith-

fully implement the CAB in accordance with the agreed roadmap.”

He particularly addressed the call to the Malaysian government, which is facilitating the political negotiations, the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other countries and international organizations supporting the peace process in Mindanao in various capacities and involvements.

Murad gave assurance the MILF “will continue to uphold the peace process and ensure that all the gains will be preserved.”

“Towards this end, the MILF will endeavor to sustain the relevant infrastructure of the peace process and our military forces will, at all times, maintain its defensive posture. It will remain as a revolutionary organization until it officially joins the government in accordance with the agreed road map in the implementation process of the CAB,” he explained.

Based on the peace accord, the establishment of the Bangsamoro, through the BBL, would have kicked off the full decommissioning of MILF combatants and their firearms, and its transition from a revolutionary organization to a social movement pursuing political goals through democratic means like elections.

Murad said the MILF’s military and political leaders “are tasked to uphold the

primary of the peace process while maintaining their vigilance and perseverance as they continue the consolidation and capability building programs of the organization.”

In the statement, he enjoined “all officers, commanders and members of the MILF political wing and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF)” to “strictly follow and abide by the instructions and guidelines of the MILF central committee.”

Former government negotiator Camilo Montesa, now country head of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, said he is confident the MILF leadership is capable enough to handle the recent situation facing the peace process and its Moro constituency.

“They have acquired sufficient political wisdom from the lessons of history and the experience of the Moro revolution,” Montesa said.

The recent impasse with the BBL is not the first that the peace agreement between government and Moro rebels hit a snag.

Montesa pointed to three previous instances starting with the neglect of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front; the disregard of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement; and the thrashing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain in 2008.

(Ryan Rosauro/MindaNews)

velopment, use of traditional knowledge, genetic resources, health care, and education.

Having the FPIC means the company got the signatures and consent to operate from the chairman of each barangay in the four impact areas namely King-King, Tagdaunga, Magnaga, and Napnapan.

NADECOR president Conrado T. Calalang said the certificate is “a genuine manifestation of NADECOR’s earnest and respectful relationship with the Mansakas, Kagans, and other Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities.”

NADECOR operations manager Pete Cancino said the company has already complied with the three major requirements: the FPIC, the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), and the Declaration

of Mine Project Feasibility (DMPF). It could start its operation next year, he added.

undertaken in compliance with the provisions of the Philippine Mining Law,” Cancino said.

He said NADECOR has been granting scholarship programs for the Mansaka tribe through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The program already benefited 53 scholars where 37 are Mansakas.

He also said the company has spent P63 million for its community assistance and also been an active partner of the local government of Pantukan in its Nutrition and health, tourism, sports development, and educational assistance programs. Its Community Livelihood Initiative Program (CLIP) has helped the Mansaka women for their weaving, beadworking and food processing. █

The implementation of these compensation adjustments provided in the EO shall be effective January 1, 2016 with respect to all civilian and MUP personnel. With respect to regular members of the Cabinet,

the effectivity is on July 1, 2016.

For the President, Vice-President, and Members of Congress, the compensation adjustments shall take effect only after the expiration of the respective terms of the incumbents.

The budget department hopes that the SSL, which is to bring the compensation of all government workers to at least 70 percent of the market rate. will be passed in Congress.

(DBM)

cessor of President Aquino will continue the programs of the Davao River WAQMA. Monitoring stations of the EMB 11 are found in eight barangays along Davao River.

Engineer Metudio Turbella, director of the Environment Management Bureau

11, called for the meeting and urged partner line-government agencies, environmental advocacy group, the Davao City Water District, private firms, and non-government organizations to work together in improving the water quality of the city’s biggest

waterway.

He gave assurance that the EMB 11 will support all efforts spearheaded by the Davao River Water Quality Management Area in order to attain its objective in preserving the river. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

NADECOR... FROM 7

Aquino... FROM 7

NADECOR, which holds a mineral production and sharing agreement (MPSA) in the King-King mine which the second largest copper and gold deposit in the country, has submitted the DMPF to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

“Although NADECOR is scheduled to renew its MPSA next year for the company to start the development, it has decided to comply early with the permit as a show of goodwill and respect to the Mansaka Tribe as it holds ancestral domain title over the mining area, and are the beneficiaries of the community programs

Stakeholders... FROM 13

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT Serving a seamless society

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO STYLE

HOT PAIR, HOT SHOES AND BAGS

SHE IS SOPHISTICATED, CLASSY, AND CHARMING; standing out from her contemporaries by being well rounded and approachable – fact that endears her to many of her followers. He is young, edgy, and fun; a Filipino-Australian who rose to fame after his success in a local reality show, where fans got the opportunity to know the real person behind the actor.

Rider lacedTogether, Nadine Lustre and up leather James Reid, known as Jadine, are mid boots. two of the freshest faces in local show business. And the hottest love team recently collaborated with Parisian Shoes and Bags and Milanos to launch the hottest shoes and bags of 2016.

In this perfect pairing, the SM Store’s biggest shoes and bags brands – Parisian and Milanos – welcomed James and Nadine to represent their latest collection during launch ceremonies at SM Makati. From casual to trendy

Nadine’s top picks in the Parisian Shoes Spring 2016 collection show how she loves to play its up when it comes to her personal style. shoes and bags, the collection includes a reboot of styles, chic inspiration, and sports motifs.

These are designed for today’s generation of young and sophisticated shoppers, who are as passionate about their sense of style, as well

HOT PAIRS A4

Step into the wild side with green snakeskin Yancy heels.

James transcends from boy-nextdoor to ultimate heartthrob with casual Milanos styles in blues and browns.

The Leah laced up heels with tassel details.

Young, edgy, and fun, James Reid is the perfect Milanos man.

Cool, laidback Rico textured leather loafers.

Nadine pairs black heels with a magenta colored bag.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

ARTS AND CULTURE

50 Shades! The Musical Parody rouses good laughs WHEN YOU’RE IN MANILA and you’re up for a night of laughter with friends, check out 50 Shades! The Musical Parody showing on Wednesdays and weekends until March 1, 2016 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater of RCBC Plaza Makati. Produced by Vivre Fort Entertainment and 9 Works Theatrical, the play features a stellar group of talents --- a mix of foreign actors and brilliant local artists, including Dabawenya pianist Daphne Jocson.

Inspired by the romance novel “Fifty Shades of Grey,” written by E.L. James, which topped international bestseller lists and sold over 125 million copies worldwide, 50 SHADES! is a largerthan-life comical depiction of the book. First performed in 2014, the show has sold over one million tickets globally. The show is full of dance numbers, 11 original songs and a live band backing the performance. Original songs include “How Much Can I Take?”, “I Don’t Make Love”, and “There’s a Hole Inside of Me”.

The musical opens with a ladies book club deciding to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Through their interpretation of the novel, the audience is led on a hilarious roller coaster ride of

this unlikely bestseller.

“I think Pinoys are going to love 50 Shades! It is such a crazy and hilarious show,” said Albert Samuels, the show’s co-writer and director. “50 Shades! is so funny and so sexy at the same time. It will be an incredible night out for Filipino audiences, whether or not you’ve read the original novel or seen film. Come to the show, and get ready to

Inspired by the romance novel “Fifty Shades of Grey,” written by E.L. James, 50 SHADES! is a larger-than-life comical depiction of the international best-selling book.

laugh your heads off.”

From New York to Vegas and now Manila, 50 Shades! The Musical Parody has had audiences laughing, raving, and craving from curtain rise to curtain fall.

Like the book series, 50 Shades! The Musical Parody is not for those under

the age of 18, but does not cross boundaries that would make general audiences squirm.

Tickets are available at SM Tickets, Ticketworld and Ticketnet outlets. For more information about the show, visit www.50shadesmanila. com or call (02) 470 6956.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

EVENT

A ROYAL VALENTINE CELEBRATION

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO THE ROYAL MANDAYA HOTEL treated its guests with another royale celebration on Valentines’ Day last February 14.

Known for its unique special events, The Royal Mandaya Hotel put up a Valentine’s Day show headlined by local talents Daniela Diva a.k.a Vice Ganda and sidekick Teklang Kabayo, and crooner Gio Rañesis.

The Showtime Kalokalike Season 2 Grand Champion Daniela Diva and Teklang Kabayo alternated in providing hilarious entertainment that threw the crowd off their seat in laughters. Ranesis regaled the lovers in the crowd with his genre of love songs.

The show lasted more than two hours and was well-attended by loyal clients of TRMH, walk-in guests, as well as hotel guests.

The Royal Mandaya Hotel is a premier hotel located at the heart of downtown Davao in Palma Gil Street.

For inquiries, please log on to www. theroyalmandayahotel.com or call 2258888.

Daniela Diva

Gio Rañesis

A4 INdulge!

STYLE Walk the fashion jungle with snakeskin Wan heels.

EDGEDAVAO HOT PAIRS A4

as comfort and money.

Nadine’s fashion choices are as wide and varied as the characters she plays. From updated classics to trendy street looks, her top picks in this year’s Parisian Shoes Spring 2016 show how she loves to play it up when it comes to her personal style.

For bags, Nadine opts for small handbags, which she can carry from day to night to hold her essentials. When she wants things more laid back and casual, she goes for bags accented with fringes for an instant Boho-chic.

James, on the other hand, represents the new generation of young gentlemen – sincere, cool, with an overall great personality that matches his great looks. Ever the cool dude, James loves the casual styles and comfortable fit of Milanos shoes. He transcends from boy-next door to ultimate heartthrob with casual styles in blues and browns.

Parisian Shoes and Bags and Milanos Shoes are available at the Shoes and Bags Department of all SM Stores nationwide.

Get connected with Parisian Shoes and Bags and Milanos Shoes through Parisian Shoes and Bags and Milanos Shoes on Facebook and @SMParisian and @SMMilanosShoes on Twitter and Instagram.

Ever the cool dude, James Reid loves the casual styles and comfortable fit of Milanos.

For bags, Nadine opts for small handbags to hold her essentials, which she can carry from day to night, like this clutch paired with Parisian’s pointed-toe heels.

Pete laced-up suede ankle boots, for casual dressing.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

Stakeholders assess action plan for Davao River rehab S

TAKEHOLDERS of the Davao River Water Quality Management Area (WAQMA) convened at the Grand Regal Hotel last week to push for the rehabilitation and preservation of the Davao river.

Engineer Nestor Patnugot, chief of the Environment

Management Education Division of the Environment Management Bureau 11, said the plans of the stakeholders who stand as members of the standing committees will be used in the agenda of the Watershed Governing Board for its meetings.

The stakeholders’ com-

mittees are capacity development, information-education campaign committee, mobilization planning and research development, and monitoring.

Patnugot said transparency and accountability will be measured here especially since the Commission on Audit will look closely at the

impact of the program to the ordinary people.

“Six years of the Philippine Development Plan under the Aquino Administration will be evaluated by looking through how we protect our rivers,” Patnugot said.

He said he hopes the suc-

health Sponsored Program coverage until December 31, 2016.

This was the directive to

Regional Offices nationwide to ensure that beneficiaries will continue to enjoy the benefits.

They were likewise mandated to update, print, and release the beneficiaries’ member data records (MDRs) through the Bangsamoro Development Authority focal persons.

The Bangsamoro beneficiaries include those who have been identified through the peace process program of the national government.

Their premium contribution will be charged to the Socio Economic Fund for Normalization lodged under the Department of Budget unprogrammed funds.

In the event that any beneficiary would require health care services during the renewal period, the concerned PRO will issue a Certificate of Eligibility (CE1) based on the member’s qualification upon presentation of the member’s PhilHealth Number Card and / or 2015 Member Data Record. █

F STAKEHOLDERS, 11

PhilHealth renews Bangsamoro Beneficiaries’coverage for 2016

A

TOTAL of 22,709 Bangsamoro beneficiaries were automatically renewed for their Phil-

14 CULTURE &EDGE DAVAO ARTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

So you eat street food?

Isaw

Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

S

TREET food runs the gamut from snack to full meal, simple to sophisticated. Nuts and fruits, tea and soda pop are available almost everywhere in most of the developing countries.

In the Philippines, selling street food is becoming an important economic activity as it feeds hungry millions and provides employment and income to 80-90 percent of the country’s urban poor, according to a study done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

“There’s nothing like the street food business: small capital, convenient location, no space rentals and sometimes no power or water bills to pay for,” wrote Ronald M. Henson in article which appeared in “The S&T Post,” a publication of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

There are many types of food sold in the street and among the favorites are: “kwek-kwek” (made of quail eggs covered in orange dough and deep fried), “isaw” (chicken intestine put on a stick and grilled), fish balls (minced fish rolled into balls), “balut” (prehatched duck egg), “betamax” (a cubed, curdled blood of a chicken), “adidas” (the marinated grilled chicken’s feet), “atay” (marinated and barbequed liver of chicken), and helmet (the grilled head of a chicken).

Other fillers of hungry stomachs are: “maruya” (a combination of bananas and flour, deep fried until golden brown), “kikiam” (made of ground pork and vegetables wrapped in bean curd sheets then deep-fried until golden), “calamares” (deep-fried battered squid rings), “mais” (corn on a cob, but it could also be salted boiled corn),

and green mango with “bagoong” (unripe mango on a stick with a salty, fermented sauce or paste made from small shrimps or fish).

For drinks, the following are common: buko juice (coconut juice that can be drunk directly from the buko itself), “iskrambol” (a simple shake with artificial flavors), and sago and “gulaman” (a refreshingly cold drink made out of tapioca and jelly).

There are restaurants and there are malls. In most provinces, people cook their own food at home. But how did street food come into the picture? In the olden days, street food was known as “peasant foods” or eaten only by poor people.

Paul John Vesagas, currently taking a doctor of science in sociology at the Xavier University, gives us this glimpse from the past: “Although the exact origin of street food remains undocumented and no consensus exists among researchers and experts alike, some sociologists suggest that in the Philippines, the practice of eating the so-called ‘peasant food’ started during the Spanish colonial era.

“At the peak of the darkest period of Spanish colonization, Filipinos were not only stripped of their dignity and morals but also were deprived of their basic physiologic commodity – a decent meal,” Vesagas wrote in his article which appeared in Sun Star Cagayan de Oro. There were some historical notes that said Filipinos, who were enslaved by the abusive colonizers, were fed with leftovers – internal organs of dressed chicken or pork – as the edible meat went to the masters.

Now, going back to the

Maruya

present time. According to Henson, the rapid increase of urban population in the country created a huge market for street food. This is especially true among the low-income groups which have no time to cook their own meals.

In some instances, working housewives would resort to buying street food as most of them lack proper cooking facilities. “And with increasing cost of fuel, the only immediate option is to turn to street foods,” noted Henson.

Recent studies have shown that sometimes even the rich and middle class Filipinos also take to street food for a special and popular type of meal prepared by a particular vendor (“suki”).

As well as being cheap, street food can be nutritious. A

study in Calcutta, India found that an average meal contained about 30 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat, and 180 grams of carbohydrates.

As population surges and the economy booms, street food becomes a familiar thing.

“Commonly associated with rapid urbanization, the street foods are a phenomenon in a busy world, operating in areas where commercial activity is bullish, and pedestrian traffic is heaviest,” observed Henson.

Local authorities, international organizations, and consumer associations are increasingly aware of the socioeconomic importance of street food but also of their associated risks. “With the increasing pace of globalization and tourism,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said

in a statement, “the safety of street food has become one of the major concerns of public health, and a focus for governments and scientists to raise public awareness.”

A recent study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) discovered that most of the samples taken from the street food sold in four urban centers – in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Laguna and University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City – did not pass quality standards.

It must be recalled that the 1990 cholera outbreak in Metro Manila was caused by “pansit” (rice noodles) and mussel soup bought from street vendors. The outbreak of hepatitis A in Masangkay Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila in 1993 was attributed to eating “bola-bola” (fish balls) sold by street vendors.

Studies conducted by FNRI showed that microorganism contamination of street food are mainly due to poor handling and unhygienic practices of both vendors and consumers.

Microbiological findings indicated the presence of coliforms such as “Escherichia coli,” “Enterobacterae aerogenes,” and “E. cloacae” in both barbecued and deep-fried animal by-products. This means that the bacteria load of the selected food samples was rather high, ranging from 240 to 2,400 per gram of food.

A study done by the USbased Equity Policy Center found out that the largest single problem of the street food industry in most of the de-

veloping countries is the lack of access to clean water for washing utensils and hands.

“Where clean water is hard to obtain, a single bucket of untreated water might serve throughout the day, a banana leaf floating on top to hide the filth,” the study noted.

Even water is not safe to drink. This has been confirmed by a study made by the Department of Health. The typhoid fever outbreak in 1992 somewhere in Metro Manila was traced to “palamig” (iced juice) and mango with “bagoong”). Typhoid victims, the study said, were two times more likely to have drunk water bought from vendors rather than safe potable water.

“Are street foods boon or bane?” asked Henson. While they are boon to vendors, street foods are also a bane among consumers. Because of this, concerned sectors – especially those selling near school campuses – are compelled to observe proper sanitation and cleanliness with stringent measures to discourage roadside food vendors from selling unsanitary and junk foods to students.

Quoting FNRI, Henson said that “any potential health hazards from street foods can be prevented if we only take the challenges of food quality and safety.”

“The risk of serious food poisoning outbreaks linked to street foods remains a threat in many parts of the world,” FAO said. “A lack of knowledge among street food vendors about the causes of foodborne disease is a major risk factor.”

VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016

EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

NO BIG DEAL T

Pacquiao didn’t take a hit with Nike’s exit: manager

HE local business manager of Manny Pacquiao said on Friday the boxing star’s endorsement deal with sports apparel giant Nike expired two years ago.

This means Pacquiao didn’t take a big hit when Nike cut its ties with the fighting congressman over the furor caused by the boxer’s comment on gay relationships, said Arnold Vegafria in a radio interview.

“Ang Nike endorsement agreement n’ya ay nag-expire na ‘yan noong 2014. Ang relationship na lang sa Nike ni Manny Pacquiao ay ang sponsorship sa pagbibigay ng mga apparel na sinusuot n’ya,” Vegafria said.

Vegafria, who handles Pacquiao’s dealings with his endorsers, said that prior to the same-sex-marriage controversy, the remaining sponsorship Nike has been giving Pacquiao is the Nike apparel the boxer wears.

“Minementain na lang namin ang relationship niya sa Nike sa pagsponsor ng kanyang mga apparel, dahil itong ating People’s Champ ay masyadong loyal sa kanyang mga endorsement n’ya,” he said.

“Ang natatanggap niya ay ang pagbibigay sa kanya ng mga sports apparel, sapatos.

Hindi lang sa pang-araw araw niya, may makukuha siyang supply,” said Vegafria. “Pero walang monetary involvement ‘yung Nike sponsorship kay Manny Pacquiao.”

Nike announced early

Thursday morning that it had dropped Pacquiao as an endorser following the boxing champion’s derogatory comments on same-sex marriage, where he described gays as “worse than animals.”

Pacquiao has since apologized, but qualified that he is still against same-sex marriage. He also said he respects the decision of Nike to cut its ties with him.

Now that Pacquiao and Nike have split ways, Vegafria said the boxer is now open to endorsement deals with other companies.

“Ngayon, it opens the door na pwede na kong mag-deal sa bagong sports apparel na pwede nyang maendorse bago mag-fight,” said Vegafria.

“Maraming mga interesadong sports apparel na kumakausap sa akin. Depende na rin yan kung ito ay akma sa mga requirements namin.”

The business manager also thanked local companies who have endorsement deals with Pacquiao for staying with the boxer despite the controversy.

“Sa ngayon, nagpapasalamat ako sa mga local endorsements ni Manny na nandyan pa din sa amin na sumusuporta,” he said.

Among the local products and companies being endorsed by Pacquiao are PLDT, Bench, Robust, East West Bank, Kia Motors, LBC, Rexona, Motolite, Datu Puti, Organo Gold, Sting Energy Drink, cell-

Manny Pacquiao, wearing his Nike gear, during his training session at a gym in General Santos. Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images phone brand ZH&K, Pizza Hut, Ricoa, Cafe Puro and Alaxan.

‘HELPING CONSTITUENTS’ Vegafria also said the earnings the boxer gets from his endorsements do not only benefit Pacquiao. He said the fighting congressman uses the

money to fund his foundation and his projects for his constituency in Sarangani province.

“Ang kanyang endorsements ay inilalabas niya rin sa pagtulong sa kanyang constituents at sa mga taong humihingi ng tulong sa kanya,” said Vegafria. “Alam nila(endorse-

the Bulls’ record than about their challenge of repeating as champions. While it may be a hot topic, forward Draymond Green says the Warriors don’t talk to each other much about chasing history.

“In today’s day and age, it’s all over your Twitter and your Instagram, so it’s hard to even get away from it,” Green said.

“But it is what it is. I mean, that’s the life we live. We just try to handle it as best you can.”

The Warriors are 48-4, which is the best mark in league history though 52 games. Golden State won 11 straight games entering the

All-Star break and has not lost a game in more than a month.

As well as they have done, the Warriors still need 25 more regular-season wins to top Michael Jordan’s Bulls.

“It will be a great feat, just because growing up as a sports fan, that’s one of those records you doubt you’ll touch,” guard Klay Thompson said. “So just being in the conversation with it is really special. That means we’re reaching great heights, and especially for this organization. Obviously, it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t win the ring, but if we can do both of those things, it’s got to be one of the most special seasons in sports history. It will be such a privilege to be a part of.”

Pushing the Warriors in their challenge are the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs (45-9) are in second place in the Western Conference and four games behind the Warriors. The Thunder (40-14) are nine games behind the Warriors, good for third in the West.

Landing the conference’s top seed likely guarantees homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. The Warriors keeping the top seed could prevent them from facing the Spurs or the Thunder until the West finals, assuming the two lower seeds meet in the semifinals. The Warriors play the Spurs three more times this season and the Thunder twice. █

ments) ‘yan na ang pera niya ay hindi dumidiretso sa bulsa niya. Dumidiretso ‘yan sa foundation niya at sa mga tulong na ibinibigay niya sa constituents niya.”

“Tahimik lang si Congressman Manny, pero maraming humihingi ng tulong. ‘Di lang sa

constituents niya. Nakita n’yo namang ilang libong bahay ang ibinigay niya sa constituents niya sa Sarangani, hindi lang sa Sarangani, sa iba pang probinsya.”

As of now, Pacquiao still uses his Nike apparel during training. █

Don’t take Manny’s Can Warriors break the Bulls’72-win record? Donaire: ‘kill gays’Bible verse literally

Stephen Curry is ready to get back to the business of basketball. (AP)

S

TEPHEN Curry enjoyed a helicopter ride with his wife, took a picture with Kobe Bryant’s excited daughters (that was snapped by their retiring dad) and played loosely in the NBA All-Star Game. Knowing the pressures that are returning soon in a quest to repeat as NBA champions and chase a historic record, the All-Star took pleasure in every moment of his time away from the spotlight of his dominant Golden State Warriors.

“We try to do our best of just enjoying the moment and not bring any other drama or competition outside of just the

accomplishment and excitement about being an All-Star and what that means,” Curry said. “The more you come here [to All-Star weekend], the easier it is to kind of just enjoy it. It’s such a high-stress environment everywhere we go and when we play every regular-season game.”

As much as Curry tried to take his mind off his Warriors world, one thing he couldn’t escape were the media questions about whether Golden State could top the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ regular-season record of 72 wins. In fact, the Warriors’ All-Stars faced more questions about breaking

N

ONITO “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. has defended Manny Pacquiao’s use of Bible verses in explaining his belief about same-sex marriage.

Pacquiao earlier posted on Instagram a verse from the Book of Leviticus that said: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

The Instagram post, which showed a photo of the boxer-politician with his wife Jinkee, was online for two hours before

it was deleted at around 3 a.m. on Thursday.

Donaire believes that Pacquiao only used Leviticus 20:13 from the Old Testament to explain where his belief is coming from.

He added that people should not take the verse literally.

“I humbly pray that nobody takes the Bible verse Pacquiao posted about ‘put to death gays’ LITERALLY. You don’t need to accept their lifestyle but i’d rather not see it turned into actual action. Crazy people may use it as an encouragement to do so just like how others say rap music made them violent,” he said. █

AFAEL Nadal advanced to the semifinals of the Rio Open on Friday without hitting a shot.

The top seed moved on after his quarterfinal opponent Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine withdrew before the clay-court match with a shoulder injury.

Tournament organizers said Dolgopolov hurt his shoulder in a doubles match on Thursday.

Nadal’s semifinal opponent will be Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, who defeated Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-4, 7-6 (4). The match was delayed for 2-1/2 hours with Delbonis leading 4-2 in the second set.

No. 5 Dominic Thiem up-

set No. 2 David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2. The 22-year-old Austrian won the Buenos Aires title last week - beating Nadal in the semifinals - and is the youngest player in the ATP’s top 20 rankings.

Thiem will face Guido Pella of Argentina in the semis. He defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 5-7, 6-1, 7-5, but Thiem will be a strong favorite to reach the final.

On the women’s side of the ATP-WTA event, Petra Martic of Croatia defeated No. 6 Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 to reach the semifinals. In another upset, Sorana Cirstea of Romania defeated No. 3 Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 to eliminate the last seeded player from the tournament. █

Nadal into Rio Open semifinals

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2016