Edge Davao 6 Issue 93 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

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Serving a seamless society

DOG-FRIENDLY. Pet lovers like the owners of these beagle puppies are finding the SM Lanang Premier a friendly place to walk their pets especially on weekends. The mall has installed amenities around the mall’s premises for animal care. Lean Daval Jr.

EXTRA-STRICT BAN Council to pass amended liquor ban today By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO and CHERRIE MAE D. PALICTE

HE amended version of Davao City’s late-night liquor ban ordinance is expected to be passed today after the controversial measure rolled out from yesterday’s second reading into a more forceful and extensive regulation. Tackling amendments to City Ordinance 1627 or the Liquor Ban Ordinance under suspended rules, the city council was poised to pass the measure on sec-

ond and third readings in yesterday’s regular session but with new insertions introduced to make the ordinance stricter, the councilors decided to set a special session at 10 a.m. today for its final passage. The main amendment of the original version authored by Councilor Bonifacio Militar in 1994 was moving the effectivity of the liquor ban from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m. However, Councilor Melchor Quitain said additional amendments which included the coverage of the ban outside commercial establishments. The new amendments

Teenagers wait in queue to register at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office on the second day of the 10-day

nationwide voter registration for the Barangay elections in Magsaysay Park yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

FEXTRA-STRICT ,10

INSIDE:

2 PNoy: Gov’t addressing Mindanao’s power woes 4 Lebron in town, 14 vows to be back Rody rates PNoy: 8.5

2 THE BIG NEWS Congress to review laws after SONA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

By EJ DOMINIC FERNANDEZ ejf@edgedavao.net

ONGRESS vows to now look very closely at the laws that need review after President Benigno Aquino’s state of the nation address (SONA) yesterday. Congressman Karlo Nograles told Edge Davao, “We in Congress will look very closely at the laws the president want us to review.” Nograles said Congress will also look closely at the legislation that the president needs passed. The effort, according to Nograles, will be made to “sustain the momentum of positive transformation that is sweeping us.” The Congressman was referring to the transformation that the current administration has been pushing since the beginning and which the president has underlined in his SONA the other day. “We congratulate President Aquino and our fellow Filipinos for a very comprehensive SONA. As the president himself said, this is the SONA of the people. Clearly, the president wants to emphasize that not only should economic growth be

inclusive,, but that transformation must be inclusive as well, and that is the responsibility of every Filipino,” he said. He added that during the midterm of Aquino’s administration, the president showed that the transformation can already be seen in the different government department, agencies and even GOCCs as the president walked us through some of their accomplishments. “Yet much more needs to be done as some government offices have yet to step up and the president made clear that this has not gone unnoticed and that he will continue his quest to clean up government so the next administration after his term will not inherit any defects, faults or shortcomings,” he explained. Nograles said, “The movement for transformation has already begun and has spread to many more of our countrymen and our communities as they feel the positive effects of good governance and have changed their attitudes towards the government.”

ENERGY FORUM. Davao City Chamber of Commerce president Daniel Lim shares informative insights while European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) vice president and general manager Martial Beck (ext. left), Sarangani Chamber of commerce president Rey Billena (2nd from left)

and Department of Energy (DOE) Mindanao Field Office director Manuel Llaneza listen during the 1st Mindanao Energy Efficiency Forum 2013 at the Marco Polo Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody rates PNoy: 8.5

ayor Rodrigo Duterte gave President Benigno Simeon Aquino III a grade of 8.5 in his performance, alluding to his first three years in public office. He said that the President has fulfilled his responsibility to deliver government service to the people. “The human endeavour is there. He is doing things as he promised,” Duterte said. He said he wants to lis-

ten again to the President’s SONA to have a better grasp of the message. Duterte said he was able to hear the SONA only its preliminary part since he was attending to his constituents. He said there is an increase in investments in the country under PNoy’s three years in office. However, Duterte observed there are many areas in the economy that are protected by the constitution

making it hard for foreign investments to come, particularly on mining and power. Duterte said the economy needs foreign investment. He said that the government wants to push for more development but the country is cash-strapped. “We need to amend the constitution and whether or not it is good to amend the constitution is something else,” Duterte said. He lauded Representa-

tive Isidro Ungab of the 3rd District of the city for crafting the stronger sin tax measure which adds more to the coffers of government. Duterte said even the President appreciates Ungab since the measure tends to collect additional P52-Billion to the government. “They believed in Ungab since he didn’t yield to the lobby from cigarette and wine businesses,” he said. [PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]

We’ve got a friend in Napolcom--Bato By CHERRY MAE PALICTE cdp@edgedavao.net

“W

BACK IN THE STREETS. Not contented with President Aquino’s fourth SONA, militants are again back on the street to protest against government

policies yesterday in front of Sanguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr.

E’ve got a friend in Napolcom.” This was the take of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief Ronald dela Rosa to the plaque of recognition awarded to it by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) last Monday at Camp Captain Domingo E. Leonor. The DCPO has been battling with the plan of the Commission on Human Rights to file a case against it after describing the rescue of kidnapped victim Sally Chua as “murder”, and just recently, the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) summoned DCPO operatives who were involved in the bloody rescue at the Allied Bank C.M. Recto branch last July 11. “While other agencies were quick in investigating us, here comes the Napolcom which was just as quick in recognizing our gallantry action,” Dela Rosa told Edge

Davao, adding that Napolcom boosted the morale and welfare of the police. “We highly appreciate Napolcom’s action, especially at this time when we are troubled and need a helping hand,” he added. Dela Rosa said that the DCPO is willing to face any charge thrown at it. The Napolcom cited DCPO for its “incomparable act of valor” in the neutralization of the heavily-armed kidnappers that paved the way for the successful rescue of the Manila-based businesswoman. The plaque was given by lawyer Randy Babao in behalf of the Napolcom. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said that he is still waiting for an order transferring him to Camp Crame, as his new assignment. “I may leave anytime.” His replacement as DCPO chief had not been announced yet as of presstime.

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

COMPOSTELA, COMPOSTELA VALLEY

Program helps typhoon victims slowly recover C

HELPING THEM RECOVER. Beneficiaries of the Plan International-initiated cash-for-work program clear a banana farm in New Katipunan, New Bataan, Compostela

Valley. They are among the 7,333 beneficiaries of the program funded by the World Food Programme.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

GenSan, ARMM business leaders hail Aquino’s SONA K

ORONADAL CITY— Leaders of at least two business groups in Mindanao expressed satisfaction Tuesday about the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III. The President, midway into his term, delivered his fourth SONA Monday, highlighting the gains achieved and the initiatives needed to sustain the growth of the country. Bench Tacumba, executive director of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. commended Aquino for doing a “good job.” “His pursuit for integrity in government service

demonstrated positive Nresults. It attracts more foreign direct investments because confidence on doing business is high,” she said. The gross domestic product growth of 7.8 percent for the first quarter of 2013 cited by the President, which is recorded as the highest in Southeast Asia, signals that our economy is robust and our competitiveness’ indicators are in good showing, Tacumba added. But on the Mindanao power problem, Tacumba noted the President’s statement “sounds too careful though he directly revealed that steps will continue to address the decade-long crisis.”

“With a huge problem such as this, I expect a more thorough and concrete remark on the matter,” she said. The President said in his SONA that the recurring blackouts in Mindanao made up the long list of problems he inherited from the past administration. “From the very beginning, we have been working on a solution for this—but we are also aware that a problem that has been ignored for an entire decade cannot be solved overnight,” Aquino said in the English translation of his SONA released by Malacanang. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

OMPOSTELA, Compostela Valley --- Anesita Cagubcog was eager as she entered the Rural Bank of Compostela. Shy but composed, Cagubcog was patiently waiting for her name to be called so she could receive her P2,260 financial assistance as she was among those who worked for 10 days for the cash-for-work program of Plan International. The mother of seven was among the 158 beneficiaries who received their first payout for the program which is funded by the World Food Program (WFP) for those affected by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) when it devastated her town and the rest of the province that fateful December 4. To get to Compostela, Cagubcog, who was tapped to work in place of her husband who is suffering from arthritis, and the others were provided with additional P100 fare as she was living in New Katipunan, New Bataan, the next town. In New Bataan there are 729 beneficiaries, part of the 7,333 that the program identified in the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental who were devastated by the typhoon.

“Mag grocery mi aning akong makuha karon (We will use the money for grocery),” she said while waiting for her name to be called, pointing out that the situation of her family has vastly improved because of the interventions coming both from government and non-government organizations. The cash-for-work program aims to assist beneficiary households in the rehabilitation of the livelihood sector while providing temporary employment to the affected population. Target beneficiaries are those who (a) have more than five children in one household; (b) have a member of the vulnerable group (elderly, person with disability, pregnant and lactating women, child(ren) with malnutrition, or person with chronic illness, and those households whose: (c) source/s of income (farms, livestock, fishing gears, etc.) are totally destroyed; (d) houses have been totally or partially damaged; and (e) monthly income is less than P5,000. Before the program, Cagubcog said her family has started harvesting corn so her family could buy rice. “Pero ang panud-an wala (But we have nothing for vi-

EMERGENCY SHELTER. Typhoon Pablo victims in Baganga, Davao Oriental claim their DSWD Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). Baganga town has 255 ESA beneficiary-families that have been provided P10,000.00 each for repair

and),” she added. She hopes she could later buy galvanized iron sheets for her damaged house. Father of three Danny Boy C. Lague said the money he earned will be used to buy basic goods for the family. ““Dako kaayo ni og ikatabang mao nagapasalamat ko sa Plan sa pagtagad sa amoa, ilabi na nga taman Setyembre pa ning cash-forwork (This is a big help and I am thankful to Plan for its attention to us, most especially that the program will last until September,” said Lague, 34. He said the program is a very good intervention because the banana farm which he used to work at P100 a day has yet to be rehabilitated. Typhoon Pablo has affected over 6.2 million people, destroying their houses and livelihood.Plan Philippines has helped address the people’s needs for education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, psychosocial, shelter, and emergency livelihood. Six months after the disaster, Plan still works with affected populations to facilitate early recovery and rehabilitation. (Leslie Lao-Francisco)

of their damaged houses. To date, a total of P79,000,000.00 has been extended through Emergency Shelter and P78,000,000.00 through Modified Permanent Shelter. DSWD

EDGEDAVAO

NATION

SONA. President Benigno Aquino III delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address during the joint session of the 16th Congress at the House of the

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

Representatives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City on Monday, July 22,2013(PNA photo by Rolando Nablo)

P-Noy urges: Contribute to Bangsamoro’s success M

ANILA – Saying that peace in the conflict-laden south is within reach, President Benigno Aquino III on Monday called on Filipinos to contribute towards the successful establishment of the new Bangsamoro political entity in 2016. “Umaasa po ako sa pakikiambag ng bawat Pilipino sa layunin natin para sa Bangsamoro (I am hopeful that every Filipino will contribute towards our goals for the Bangsamoro),” he said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). The envisioned Bangsamoro region is set to replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which has been considered by the P-Noy administration as a “failed experiment” as it has fallen short of fulfilling the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for peace and development. “Ipakita po natin sa kanilang hindi sila nagkamali sa pagpili sa direksyon ng kapayapaan; handa tayong ipahiram ang lakas ng buong bansa upang iangat ang mga probinsya sa Muslim Mindanao, na kabilang sa mga pinakamaralita nating mga lalawigan (We will prove that they did not make a mistake in choosing the path of peace; we are ready to lend the strength of the entire nation to lift up the provinces of Muslim Mindanao, who are among our poorest),” he added. The President stressed that the government aspires for peace and progress in all communities. “Hindi tayo papayag na may kababayan tayong mapapag-iwanan habang may ibang nakakala-

mang (We will not allow any of our countrymen to be left behind, while others surpass them).” Aquino also appealed to the Congress to support the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will be drafted by the Transition Commission and subjected to a legislative process paving the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro region. “Tatapusin ito alinsunod sa mga prinsipyo ng komprehensibong kasunduan para sa kapayapaan; maipasa po sana ninyo ito bago matapos ang 2014. Sa gayong paraan, may sapat tayong panahon para makapaghanda sa paghalal ng bagong pamahalaangBangsamoro sa 2016 (Once their task is completed in keeping with the principles of the peace process, I ask you to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of 2014. This way, we will have ample time to prepare for the election of a new Bangsamoro government come 2016).” PEACE GAINS Aquino cited the historic signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as major peace gain as his administration reached its mid-term. “Abot-kamay na rin po ang kapayapaan sa rehiyong matagal nang pinupunit ng hidwaan. Nitong Oktubre po ng nakaraang taon nilagdaan ang Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (Peace is also within reach in a region that has long been torn apart by conflict. In October of the previous

year, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed),” he stated. The President further related that it’s just nine days ago when another milestone was achieved in the GPH-MILF peace process with the signing of the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing during the 38th formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur. He said it’s the collective efforts of Filipinos who chose the nonviolent path to resolving armed conflict that have made the peace gains possible. “May nakaisip bang magiging abot-kamay na ang kapayapaan sa rehiyong apatnapung taon nang pinupunit ng hidwaan? Di ba’t gawa ito ng mga Morong handang magbaba ng armas at sinabing, halika, mag-usap na tayo, nagtitiwala ako? Di ba’t gawa ito ng karaniwang mamamayang nagsabing, Kapatid, pareho tayong Pilipino, tama na nga ang gulo? (Did anyone imagine that peace would be within reach for a region that has, for the past 40 years, been torn apart by conflict? Who else could be responsible for this but the Moros who laid down their arms and said: “Come. Let’s talk. I trust you.” Who else but the common Filipino citizen who said: “Brother, we are all Filipinos. Let us put an end to this conflict).” DELIVERING COMMITMENTS Aquino reiterated the government’s commitment in abiding by its agreements with the MILF. “Pinalaki po ako ng aking ama nang may isang salita, kaya’t sinasabi ko sa

mga kapatid nating kasapi ng Bangsamoro: Anumang mapagkasunduan natin ay ipatutupad ng pambansang gobyerno (My father raised me to be true to my word, and I can tell our brothers and sisters of the Bangsamoro: Whatever agreements we come to will be fulfilled by the national government),” he said. “Ang mga salitang ating bibitawan ay dapat magbunga ng mga kilos na positibong makakaapekto sa lahat (Every word we utter must result in an action that would benefit all),” Aquino added. “Ang bawat linya sa binubuo nating kasunduan ay dapat maaaring itaga sa bato, at hindi ililista lamang sa tubig upang anurin na naman ng kasaysayan (Every line that we craft in the agreement we are forging must be set in stone and not merely written on water, only to be forgotten by history). He also underscored the growing trust between the government and the MILF. “At ngayon, talagang dama natin na gustong makipagkasundo ng magkabilang panig, at tayo naman ay nagpapakita na dapat talaga tayong pagkatiwalaan (Now, the desire of both sides to reach an agreement is palpable, and we are truly proving ourselves trustworthy).” Amid these gains, the President asked those who sow seeds of doubt and mistrust for the peace process to fail: Masasabi mo bang Pilipino kang may malasakit sa kapwa mo Pilipino? (Can you really say that you are a Filipino that has compassion for his fellow Filipinos?) . (OPAPP)

Malacanang submits proposed P2.268-T budget to Congress

ALACANANG will submit the proposed P2.268-trillion National Expenditure Program to the members of Congress Tuesday afternoon, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said. In a press briefing in Malacanang, Valte said a substantial portion of the budget will go to the Dept. of Education with P336.9-billion, the Dept. of Public Works and Highways at P213.5-billion and the Dept. of Interior and Local Government at P135.4-billion. Valte added the other three departments that round off the top six government agencies to receive substantial portions of the

proposed 2014 budget are the Dept. of National Defense with 123.1-billion, Dept. of Health with P87.1-billion and the Dept. of Agriculture at P80.7-billion. “As the President mentioned yesterday, the budget will be submitted to the leaders of Congress, and I’m told by our fellows in the DBM (Dept. of Budget and Management) that Secretary (Florencio) Butch Abad will be in the House at 3:00 p.m., so that is the schedule,” Valte said. “Prior to that, we are waiting for clearance to release the budget message to all of you, that will be shared later in the afternoon, as soon as we have the final version,” she added. (PNA)

CSC welcomes passage of civil service code

HE Civil Service Commission announced Tuesday it fully supports President Benigno S. Aquino III’s call for the passage of the Civil Service Code. “The civil service is currently governed by different sets of laws and rules contained in laws, decrees, letters of instruction, and executive orders,” said CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III in a statement in response to the call of the president. The CSC stated that it would put in a single comprehensive statute all laws and relevant issuances governing the civil service in adhering to the call made by President during his State of the Nation address Monday . In his SONA, Aquino urged on the legislature to prioritize the passage of the

Civil Service Code. “This situation has caused confusion among civil servants as some of the laws overlap,” Duque stressed, adding “some laws also have become obsolete.” Duque explained that having a Civil Service Code, would mean one ultimate legal authority on the Philippine Civil Service System. He disclosed that CSC has moved for its approval since the mid-1990s and is long overdue. “Having a Civil Service Code is a definitive step in putting the house in order, so to speak.It will also provide the opportunity to address some of the issues besetting the bureaucracy such as employee discipline, meritocracy/qualifications, and employee welfare,” he added.(PNA)

THE ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

PNoy: Government addressing Mindanao’s power problems

LAMING the Arroyo administration for Mindanao’s energy problem, President Benigno Aquino III said the government is now exerting efforts to stabilize the island’s power situation. At his almost two-hour fourth State of the Nation Address, the President stressed that the recurring blackouts in Mindanao made up the long list of problems that he inherited from the past administration. “From the very beginning, we have been working on a solution for this – but we are also aware that a problem that has been ignored for an entire decade cannot be solved overnight,” Aquino said in the English translation of his SONA released by Malacañang. “Right now, we continue to take steps to address the shortages as well as provide for immediate needs. We have helped electric cooperatives bring in generator sets (gensets) that will reduce brownouts; and this will continue until the plants that will supply the region with more electricity are completed,” he added. Aquino, however, admitted that the plan of the government to introduce gensets is facing resistance. “But the critics will never fully disappear. Some are complaining that the price of electricity will increase with

the usage of diesel-fueled generator sets. Hydropower is abundant now because of the rainy season, so we hear objections to the generator sets. But come summer, many will once again complain about eight-hour brownouts,” he said. Aquino said the government wants more power plants built not just in Mindanao but also in other parts of the country. He noted that as the economy grows, so will the consumption of electricity, which means there’s a need to increase supply. “Do we really want to wait until our plants are at full capacity before more plants are built? Power plants do not sprout like mushrooms – a power plant takes two to three years to construct,” Aquino said. Prior to the last May 2013 elections, parts of Mindanao suffered rotating brownouts lasting up to eight hours daily due the generation deficiency of government-run hydropower power plants, which was partly blamed on low water levels in Lake Lanao, aside from the deterioration of the aging plants. As of June 2013, the committed power projects in Mindanao until 2016 could produce 588 megawatts, data from Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) showed. Already under construc-

tion are the 300-MW Therma South, Inc. coal-fired plant in the boundary of Davao City and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur and the 200-MW coal power plant of Sarangani Energy Corp. in Maasim, Sarangani. Santiago Tudio, manager of the South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative, stressed that swift government action is badly needed on the immediate and long-term solutions to the power problems facing the island. “To address the [power] shortage [problem], permits for gensets and ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) approval should be fasttracked,” he said in a text message. Romeo Montenegro, MinDA director for investment promotion and public affairs, said in a statement last Saturday that President Aquino has already issued Executive Order 137. “The MinDA expects EO 137, which mandates the implementation of the Mindanao modular gensets program to firm up and fast track the process of assisting electric cooperatives in Mindanao through the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO), to generate direly needed capacities either via rental or acquisition option,” Montenegro said. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

THE ECONOMY 7.1 1st Qtr 2013

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

7.8 1st Qtr 2013

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

2.4 % Mar 2013 P113,609 million Mar 2013 P 5,281 billion Mar 2013

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

P 41.14 Apr 2013

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

6,847.5 Mar 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

132.8 Apr 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.6 Apr 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.1 Apr 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals

418,108 Feb 2013

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

20.9% Jan 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.1% Jan 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2012-April 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

INDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) chair Luwalhati Antonino today said that President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday tackled national policies and issues that will have direct impact on Mindanao and will determine the island-region’s role in the overall transformation of the country. “The president’s SONA specifically reiterated the national government’s commitment in achieving sustainable peace for the Bangsamoro and Mindanao - imperatives in the successful delivery and implementation of major Mindanao economic initiatives,” she stressed. Antonino added that the

USD 3,741 million Feb 2013 USD 4,708 million Feb 2013 USD -967 million Feb 2013 USD -640 million Dec 2012 P 4,964,560 million Feb 2013

8. Interest Rates 4/

2013

2012

2011

40.67 40.73

42.23 41.01 41.12 41.45 41.75 42.04 41.91 42.78 42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

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

EDGEDAVAO

MinDA chair says PNoy’s 4th SONA highlights key Mindanao priorities

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

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

president also noted the successful conduct of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an indication that Mindanawons can unite in choosing the path of peace for the island-region. “As the President calls for sustaining the country’s current economic gains, Mindanao remains as the country’s steadfast economic partner particularly in the agriculture sector, reaffirming its role as the country’s food provider and agri-business hub. She said that Mindanao would continue in supporting national efforts to achieve sufficiency in rice and other staples with Mindanao aggressively pursuing the production of hybrid rice and corn seeds.

TimeFree Innovations is one of the 10 winners at the 1st IdeaSpace National Competition held last April. TimeFree’s Philip Adrian Atilano (5th from left) and Joselle Macrohon are

“The President also cited a number of key policy measures designed to address specific concerns in Mindanao such as the delivery of modular generator sets for Mindanao electric cooperatives in order to generate needed capacities and bridge supply gap for the next two years,” she added. Antonino said that this latest directive manifests the strong commitment of the president to resolve the Mindanao power situation, particularly in addressing the current supply shortfall until new power plants are on stream by 2015. The MinDA chair also lauded the president’s statement on the amendment of cabotage law that prohibits foreign ves-

sels from directly transporting domestic cargo between two ports other than those designated as international ports. “The business community in Mindanao has long been clamoring for the amendment of the cabotage law and I am glad that the President has cited it as a key legislative item in his SONA,” she said. In the fourth SONA of President Aquino, he centered on calls for transformation in government service and the necessity to maximize opportunities for all, particularly for those most in need. The president also stressed the need to accelerate and expand the transformation of society and that every Filipino must never again stray from the straight path.

joined by the top executives of companies under Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and the PLDT Group led by PLDT and MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan (3rd from left).

Microsoft invites SWEEP tech startup to speak in BizSpark

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IMEFREE Innovations, one of the first schoolto-market tech startup companies under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), will be sharing its experience as a startup in the upcoming Microsoft BizSpark Activation Day. The startup offers TimeFree, a virtual enterprise queuing solution that sends SMS alerts to users if their turn is approaching, thus allowing users to do other things instead of waiting in line for their turn. TimeFree Innovations CEO Adrian Atilano was invited by Microsoft Philippines to give a

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

talk about the company’s experiences as a startup and how Microsoft BizSpark has helped in its bid to become one of the most successful startups not just in the Philippines but in the region as well. The event is slated on August 3. Microsoft’s BizSpark program provides technology, support, visibility, and community to promising startups and entrepreneurs at no charge. “We’re excited to be part of the upcoming Microsoft BizSpark Activation Day. The program has been very supportive to the startup ecoas of May 2013

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system in the Philippines by providing free software to startups. It’s an honor to be invited to talk in one of their major events,” said Atilano. The company is one of the three startups from SWEEP, the industry-academe engineering education program of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). TimeFree Innovations has received additional support from Smart and is also among the 10 winners in the 1st IdeaSpace National Competition held last April. The company was co-founded by Atilano, Joselle Macrohon, Sharief Kayer Al-

Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Silk Air Mon/Sat MI588 / MI588 13:35 Silk Air Wed/Sun MI566 / MI566 15:20 Silk Air Thurs MI551 / MI551 12:05 Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50 Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05

sree, and Ken Marvin Wee. All are graduates of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, a SWEEP partner school. “With the support of SWEEP, IdeaSpace, and partners like Microsoft, we expect our company to achieve good traction and become the leading virtual queuing solutions provider in Southeast Asia,” he added. TimeFree Innovations has raised $25,000 in seed funding and is the first startup in the IdeaSpace incubation program to have generated over US$100K revenues in less than six months.

Manila-Davao-Manila Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu

14:05 18:55 18:55 15:45 15:30

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

Legarda: Utilize science for a better PHL S

ENATOR Loren Legarda today said that the nation should utilize science, technology, and innovation in transforming the Philippines into a country not just of potential but of actual success. Legarda made the statement in time for the 2013 National Science and Technology Week (July 23-27, 2013). “The science community is a vital sector that must be tapped to provide the needed innovations to address the pressing needs of various sectors like agriculture, transportation, industry and services as well as improve climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts,” said Legarda. The Senator noted that the Philippines’ growth should be translated to better services for Filipinos. She said that programs based on scientific research and innovation can change lives by averting disasters, safeguarding jobs, incomes,

and livelihoods, enhancing food supply, promoting environmental sustainability, and combating poverty. “Through science, our cities will be planned better; our farmers and fisherfolk will be more adequately supported; our people will live in a healthier and safer environment; and our economic growth will finally start to benefit all,” Legarda said. Meanwhile, Legarda also cited the improvements in the country’s climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction programs as announced by President Benigno Aquino III in his State of the Nation Address yesterday. “We are making headway in improving our disaster preparedness. The Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) has been helpful particularly in providing the needed equipment to provide accurate information and

timely warnings to our communities,” she said. “We also note the ongoing work for the completion of multi-hazard mapping and geohazard mapping. According to the President, geohazard mapping will be completed by the end of 2015, while the multi-hazard mapping of the Greater Metro Manila Area is expected to be done by 2014, following the completion of similar mapping in 28 hazardous areas. In all these efforts, science and technology has been our great weapon,” she added. “The Department of Science and Technology has been tireless in providing solutions that address the country’s challenges in environmental sustainability, jobs and livelihoods, rural development, and disaster resilience. We hope that the path the DOST is treading on will lead to a better and smarter Philippines,” Legarda concluded.

Skipping breakfast may increase heart disease risk

or death from coronary heart disease compared with those who reported they didn’t. Breakfast skippers tended to be younger and were more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol, said the study. “Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time,” Leah Cahill, study lead author and postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard School

of Public Health, said in a statement. Men who reported eating breakfast ate on average one more time per day than those who skipped breakfast. According to the researchers, it suggested that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional make-up meals later in the day. In addition, while there was some overlap between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate late at night, 76 percent of latenight eaters ate breakfast. It also found men who reported eating after going to bed had a 55 percent higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didn’t. But the researchers were less convinced this was a major public health concern because few men in the study reported this behavior. The study collected comprehensive questionnaire data from the participants and accounted for many important factors such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, body mass index, and social factors like whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams, or smoked currently or in the past. (PNA/Xinhua)

Senator Loren Legarda

WHO affirms GM foods passed Codex safety tests

ASHINGTON-Men who reported that they regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease, a U.S. study said Monday. The study, published in the U.S. journal Circulation, analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes of over 26,000 men between the ages of 45 and 82, for 16 years, during which time nearly 1,600 had first-time cardiac events. It found those who regularly skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease compared with those who reported they didn’t. Breakfast skippers tended to be younger and were more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol, said the study. “Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol

and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time,” Leah Cahill, study lead author and postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health, said in a statement. Men who reported eating breakfast ate on average one more time per day than those who skipped breakfast. According to the researchers, it suggested that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional makeup meals later in the day. In addition, while there was some overlap between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate late at night, 76 percent of latenight eaters ate breakfast. It also found men who reported eating after going to bed had a 55 percent higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didn’t. But the researchers were less convinced this was a major public health concern because few men in the study reported this behavior.

The study collected comprehensive questionnaire data from the participants and accounted for many important factors such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, body mass index, and social factors like whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams, or smoked currently or in the past. While the current study group was composed of men who were of 97 percent white European descent, the results should also apply to women and other ethnic groups, but this should be tested in additional studies, the researchers said. “Don’t skip breakfast,” Cahill said. “Eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients.” (PNA/Xinhua)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

EDITORIALS

Is there a perfect President?

OW do you size up a President’s state of the nation ad- ter how extensive the President’s men researched for its condress (Sona)? Yesterday, we asked some Dabawenyos of tent, no amount of research and speech preparation is enough their reaction to President Aquino’s fourth report to the for the cynical Pinoys whose knack for finding faults is deeply woven into our culture. nation. This is the stark reality. It matters not who is up there in the The responses were expectedly varied but there are surprisingly few who were glued to the one hour 40-minute speech podium and addressing the country, somebody somewhere will spoken in crisp Filipino. While it was frantically seizing those have to say something against it as being untruthful and unrein Manila, there was oddly relative silence around here save for sponsive. Ask those placard-bearing and effigy-burning protesters and the protest actions staged as usual by militant groups. It’s strange that even before the Sona was delivered, there they will come up with a litany of rhetoric—the sort of things were already statements and public releases critical of the Pres- they complain of the President’s Sona being mere rhetoric. On the other breath, there is also this school of thought that ident’s Sona ranging from not being truthful to being irrelevant and unresponsive. Funny how we can react sometimes, but while there may be no perfect President but it is also a mandate that’s how it goes. In the Philippines, there is no perfect Presi- to the nation’s chief executive to lead us with only the highest of standards, otherwise we will be content with mediocrity. dent and there is no perfect Sona. President Aquino, admittedly still enjoying public trust and President Aquino is no perfect president, and like his predecessors, there will be no Sona without the antecedent events— support, is expected to be just that—work with a passion for protest marches, burning of effigies and name-calling. There is perfection, if not near perfection. So is there a perfect President? also no Sona without people looking for the missing issues and Zip. Nil. None. the missing answers. No matter how long a Sona is and no matANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 •WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

Reform measures after SONA

ETTING THINGS DONE – As expected pervasive criticism against the fourth State-of-the-Nation-Address or SONA of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III reached a level comparable to the time of his predecessors. Demonstrators of all colors and stripes – opposition diehards, militants and progressive groups, and student activists including exploited innocent children collide with the police dispersal units during the SONA resulting to injuries on both sides and damages to government and private properties. Activists masquerading as legitimate groups who wanted change – power-obsessed political has-been and have-nots, self-proclaimed reformists, and red flag-waving and placard-bearing protesters denounced President Aquino’s alleged repressive policies and even compared him to his predecessors. They conclude that instituting reforms under the present system is highly improbable. The interlocking problems –basic social services, massive unemployment, grinding poverty, criminality, human rights violations, social injustice, just to name a few have taken center stage during the protest rallies. Hardened critics of the present dispensation reiterated that the country’s social ills had become the millstone tightly tied around the people’s neck, slowly pulling it down underneath. Those are hotly contested questions as experts on both sides of the debate agree that the most serious divisions within society spring not from the alleged police brutality and apparent protesters’ recklessness during the SONA, but from alleged economic and social inequality. For now, political watchers considered the occurrence as signs

VANTAGE POINTS

N the wake of PNoy’s third SONA and the widely disparate reviews coming from the President’s allies and his critics, it is interesting how conflicting perceptions are formed based simply on the way we communicate with each other. While it may come as a surprise to many, reality is not the same for everyone. Different people experience the world through different eyes and the way those experiences are communicated creates specific realities that are unique to one particular group or individual. A concrete example of how certain types of communications can build realities is seen in the way Mindanao has been stereotyped as a war zone despite what the majority of Mindanaoans actually live through everyday. This negative portrayal does have the force of fact and has affected people’s opinions and decisions as it relates to this part of the country. These differences - and the conflicts that often come with it - lie in the unique perspective each of us have of particular events. Perspectives that may run counter to how other people view the exact same thing. Whenever I do talks and seminars I illustrate this by having two people describe a coin based on what they

of fracture but government reform strategists say there are now signs that the Aquino administration is beginning to strike at the roots. That’s why a growing number of economists are declaring it’s time for a committed reform measures that could bring back a quick recovery. Another critical factor holding back socio-economic and political reforms is the archaic, deteriorating and busted condemnation of the main opposition, left-leaning movement, militants and activists that it would almost certainly bring about lots of long-term discomfort by busily trying to create a wedge in the social breadth. After all this time, these adversarial groups still have the impertinence and resources to muddle through no matter whoever is in power. With this kind of people who obviously have hidden agendas and personal interests, and keep on working out to destroy the government, progress may stagnate. Tell anyone who doesn’t live here that these people have credibility problem and you’re likely to be met with disbelief, if not laughter and ridicule. Moves to restart the economy, the institutions and the systems become more and more urgent. Government therefore must be serious about tackling the massive problems rather than spending more time entertaining all the impracticable demands of the noisy

and annoying red-flag and placard-bearing protesters, and their boisterous and irascible leaders who always have provocative remarks against the leadership. To be frank enough, everyone is fed up of the anarchy on the streets. The words of false comfort remained and majority of our people were unhappy about it. They get tired and exhausted and came to the realization that there is absolutely no end in all the senseless protests. Of course, there are complaints here and there but nobody cares about them if government is addressing all the pressing problems. Now, after the SONA, government should get back to work, take necessary actions and get things done. The Aquino leadership may be in for some real, desirable work because it is the common belief that government should be responsible to the people and President PNoy is committed to achieving these aims while he is in power. To succeed on a national scale, President Aquino had to reverse decades of neglect and indifference, which led many frustrated people to join protest actions and embrace the culture of hate and disgust. However, reforms should not be abrupt because the mounting and pressing problems could not be solved overnight, but the goal is to ensure that Filipinos don’t lag far behind in terms of socio-economic and political development. The good thing is that President PNoy is, at least, acknowledging that socio-economic progress is achievable – that the destitution of millions of Filipinos is not an everlasting unalterable fact but something that should be the priority of any government. Nevertheless, the elements for reforms – government’s willingness to listen, to work and institute reforms are as strong as ever.

see from opposite sides. The point of the exercise is to show that even the participants can’t agree on what the coin “really” looks like, they mustn’t discount the possibility that the opposing viewpoint is as just real as their own. While this activity may elicit amused giggles, skeptical snorts and a few surprised oohs and aahs during my lectures, it actually has some pretty significant real life impact on how we communicate and build relationships with other people. Just think about it, all human conflicts - at it’s very root - result from differences in the opinions. Sometimes these differing world views are resolved by talking, but you can expect that when the words stop the fists, and then the bullets start flying. This is the case among siblings fighting over toys or whole nations jockeying for territory. This is what happens when militants clash with the police, or when politicians argue over

policy - it starts simply with a difference of how people perceive the world and escalates depending on their ability to act on those differences. As a practical application of this principle, it is important for all of us to try and improve the way we communicate with other people. We should constantly be aware of the fact that talking - or any of the other ways we share ideas - is not just a tool for sending messages, it is also the primary means by which we build relationships and shared realities. We have to realize that in all that we do, we each only hold one piece of the whole puzzle. And while the size and scope of this piece may be affected by the depth and richness of our own life experiences, no matter how well we’ve lived our lives, it would be impossible for us to know everything about everything. Keeping this in mind can help us stay grounded the next time we have the urge to pass of our opinions as truth, or when we feel like forcing our version of reality on others. It can also help us gain a better understanding of how other people think and why the act they way they do. And who knows, it may even help explain why some people insist that there’s a war Mindanao.

Two sides

Constitutional issues RIVERMAN’S VISTA ANTONIO G. M. LA VIÑA

(2nd of three parts)

N natural resources. Government income derived from the exploration, development and utilization of natural resources within the Bangsamoro shall be allocated in the following manner: For non-metallic minerals (sand, gravel, and quarry resources), 100% of the revenues shall pertain to the Bangsamoro while for metallic minerals, the sharing is 75%-25% in favour of the Bangsamoro. However, there shall be equal (50%-50%) sharing for fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) and uranium. At present the sharing arrangement in the ARMM is 70-30 in its favour except for strategic minerals which is 50-50. However while the ARMM law provides for the sharing arrangement on taxes imposed on natural resources (here the all-inclusive term “natural resources” should be understood to all land and water natural wealth including forestry, aquatic and land resources), there seems to be no counterpart provision in the Annex which specifies only the sharing of non-metallic and metallic resources. Does this mean that the Bangsamoro shall exercise taxing power already vested in the ARMM insofar as aquatic, forestry and land resources are concerned? After all, there is already a catchall provision in the Annex which states that “All taxing powers already devolved to the ARMM by R.A. No. 9054 and other legislations shall be exercised by the Bangsamoro.” *** Under the Local Government Code, LGUs are given an equitable share in the proceeds derived from the utilization and development areas at 40% of the gross collection derived by the national government from the preceding year from mining taxes, royalties, forestry, and fishery charges in addition to the internal revenue allotment. The 75%-25% sharing arrangement is decidedly favourable to the Bangsamoro insofar as metallic minerals are concerned. However with respect to strategic resources such as oil and natural gas the Aceh peace accord grants the Acehnese a much higher share at 70% than the 50% for the Bangsamoro. Fund transfers As regards, fund transfers from the national government the Annex speaks of 1) block grants and 2) the special development fund. The annual block grants constitute the annual financial assistance to be extended by the Central Government to the Bangsamoro Government for its operation. Noteworthy, revenues from the additional taxes beyond those already devolved to the ARMM and the Bangsamoro share in revenues derived from exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources will be deducted from the amount comprising the annual block grant. This is without prejudice to the just share of the Bangsamoro’s constituent local government units in the national taxes. As in the case of the ARMM, block grant or government subsidy is likewise given to the Bangsamoro, the formula to be defined by the Bangsamoro Basic Law but in no case less than the last budget received by ARMM immediately before the establishment of the Bansamoro Transitional authority. The block grant is similar to the Internal Revenue Allotment automatically appropriated to the LGUs which typically averages around 90% of the total budget of the municipalities and ranges from 50% to 70% of cities’ total annual budget. Sadly, most LGUs fail to maximize their taxation powers and have to rely on the IRA to finance their operations and activities.

EXTRA-Strict..

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

FFROM 1

included banning consumption of liquor in plazas, streets and parking lots during the liquor ban time. The penalty was also raised to P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 for the second offense, and cancellation of business permit for the third offense. Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte also asked that some terms be clarified in the amendments like the closure or stoppage of selling by establishments during the late night ban. He said it should be clarified that only the selling of liquor is stopped, not the selling of food and non-alcoholic drinks. “Di mana pwede sa balaod, unsaon mana nimo na pati restaurant na naa pay gusto mukaon imong sirad an? So akong gi-suggest sa ilaha na kambyuhan ang close, seize, stop on selling of liquor na words,” Vice Mayor Duterte said in a television interview. In an interview with Edge Davao after yesterday’s session, Councilor Leonardo Avila III said the new version is a lot stricter. “The ban includes consumption after 1 a.m. in the said establishments and public places like streets, plazas, parks, parking lots, dili na pwede. Mas matindi ito na ordinance,” Avila said. He confirmed that the ordinance is expected to be passed today. Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang reasoned that they will have to fast track the passage of the said amendments and focus on other measures pending on the floor. “We need to prioritize everything there, there are many pending ordinances that needs to be published but as far as this concern, the fact that it’s important we need to fast track it tomorrow,” he said. With time running out yesterday afternoon, the

city council decided to set a special session at 10 a.m. today on motion by Councilor Tomas Monteverde IV. In an earlier report by the Philippine Information Agency, Councilor Militar, proponent of the amendments, said that under the new provisions establishments will stop selling and operating from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. The new amendments also take away the proposed changes to the 1994 ordinance which would have exempted tourism-related establishments. However, exempting tourism-related establishment would have left a gray area in the ordinance as there is difficulty in defining what are tourism-related establishments. City Ordinance 1627 was authored by Councilor Militar in 1994. He said Davao City was experiencing a high crime rate at that time to the point that Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte had to go on night patrols around the city. Passing a liquor ban ordinance was eyed to solve the problem. In his pitch for the amendments the mayor earlier said that most of the troubles are started by intoxicated minors who are supposed to be in their houses during night-time. Davao City Police Director Ronald dela Rosa agreed with the observation of Mayor Duterte. Meanwhile, some establishment owners are feeling the pinch of the ordinance. Susana Isidro, who owns a small bar in downtown Davao said that the 1 a.m. liquor ban is already being allegedly implemented this month. “This has affected our businesses. Our sales are down 20%,” she said. Isidro added that their bar which used to consume around 12 cases of beer now only uses around eight cases. (With a report from PIA/RG Alama)

WEDDING EXHIBIT. A couple confers while visiting Kasalang Filipino 2013 exhibit at the activity center of Abreeza Mall Sunday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

DPWH completes 52 new school buildings By CHERRY MAE PALICTE cdp@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 11 has built 52 school building infrastructures out of the projected 159 in the region. Boy Dacumos, its information officer, said this compares to only 36 completed last year, adding, “These projects started last January 2013 and the 52 school buildings were completed just last June.” The projects were dis-

tributed region-wide, with Compostela Valley District Engineering Office (DEO) leading with 45; Davao del Norte DEO, 31; Davao del Sur 2nd DEO, 27; Davao City 2nd DEO, 22; Davao City DEO 1st DEO, 21; Davao Oriental 1st DEO, 6; Davao Oriental 2nd DEO, 4; and Davao del Sur 1st DEO with 3 buildings. Dacumos said that the school buildings are valued at more than P360 mil-

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

lion, with 107 projects still on-going for an aggregate accomplishment of 55.89% as of June 2013. “The increase in school building infra by the DPWH 11 is an indication of the government’s effort to address the region’s dire need for more classrooms and DPWH has targeted the completion of the remaining 107 projects this year,” Dacumos said. He added that a new

design for school buildings is being implemented in typhoon Pablo-hit areas in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental where the buildings are designed to withstand 240-kilometer per hour winds. As of last May 10, DPWH had repaired 718 classrooms and 15 out of 16 school buildings destroyed by typhoon Pablo in both Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Valenzuela heads Mayor warns police: ‘Shape up, or else’ Metro Davao Y’s Men G

IVIC LEADERS led by Efren Veneracion and Paciencio “Jun” Rosalem Jr. have revitalized the Y’s Men of Metro Davao, the organization tasked to support projects and activities of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Davao. Veneracion was a former regional director of Y’s Men of Metro Davao, while Rosalem is the incoming director. After a week of reorganizing, the group elected a set of officers last Saturday. Elected president was Jose N. Valenzuela Jr., a veteran civic leader of Rotary, Jaycee Senate, Ambassador Club, YMCA and currently the Grand knight of the

Knights of Colombus, St. Jude parish chapter. Others elected were Jose B. Custodio, president-elect; Antonio Batao, vice president; Charmaine Y. Quiambao, secretary; Leslie Ann N. Cruz, treasurer; Ulysses Solis, auditor; and Antonio M. Ajero, public relations officer. Members of the board of directors are Scott Nimmo, Leoncio P. Villa-Abrille, Vicente Banes Jr., Wendell Udan and Wehelito N. Pepito. Aside from generating resources, like fund-raising for YMCA Davao, the new set of officers will strengthen its ranks by recruiting new members.

ENERAL Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has given local police officials at least a month to shape up and improve the performance of their personnel in the wake of recent controversies involving several policemen. Rivera said on Monday he specifically directed city police director Senior Supt. Froilan Quidilla and other police officers in the area to introduce the necessary reforms that will ensure that their personnel perform properly during operations. “The city has set a direction for our city police, and if we cannot see any movement towards that within one month, then we will have no other choice but to request for their re-

placement or the appointment of newofficers here,” the mayor said. Rivera said he agreed with City Councilor Franklin Gacal Jr., the city council’s committee on public order and safety chair, to set the ultimatum following the killing last July 10 of criminology student Randy Quirante after being mistaken as a car thief during a police operation and the escape on July 16 of three detainees from the Bula police station lockup. Quirante, an 18-year old criminology student at the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges (RMMC) here, was gunned down by members of the Lagao police station in an operation along the national highway in Ba-

rangay Baluan. Four policemen, who were identified as Police Officer (PO) 2 Arnold Sua, PO2 Ariel Beldera, PO1 Rudyard Dequito and PO1 John Rey Daligdig, have since been relieved and will likely face criminal and administrative charges over the incident. On July 16, three detainees of the Bula police station bolted from its lockup by sawing off its steel frames. The detainees reportedly made the escape while duty desk officer Police Officer 2 Jonathan Mejores was inside the comfort room. Two of the detainees have since been recaptured while another remains atlarge and is the subject of a

manhunt. The mayor clarified that they issued the ultimatum to give enough time for Quidilla and his staff to prove their worth. “Having just assumed (as mayor) last July 1, I’m still in the familiarization stage as to their operations so I’m also trying to work with them,” he said. With regard to the city government and local police partnership, Rivera said he is so far satisfied with their cooperation. He said the local government has continued providing the necessary support to the city police office in terms of logistics and their mobilization. City information [City Information Office]

11 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

Expert says:

Modern farming methods spell ecological disaster B

EIJING-- Some modern farming techniques once thought successful in boosting production instead have caused ecological damage too expensive to repair, says an American environmental expert. John Cobb, a long-time researcher on ecological sustainability, told Xinhua recently that modern farming, with its sole focus on raising output and featuring excessive use of petroleum and chemicals, has inflicted irreversible damage on the environment. Industrializing agriculture has been one of the biggest mistakes made in the United States, Cobb said, adding that its implementation has effectively increased the loss of topsoil and the depletion of water resources while making the sector heavily dependent on oil. In addition, Cobb said, the monocrop system now used for mass production has also played a role in creating ecological problems such as a dramatic drop in bee and bird populations. “In the United States, the policies are dictated by Wall Street and the financial leaders are the most powerful people in the country,” Cobb said. “But they have very limited vision for the long term and they are much more interested in

short-term profits.” Like the United States, Cobb said, many other countries have achieved economic success at the price of ecological destruction. It is already too late for many of the developed nations to reverse the ecological degradation they have caused in pursuit of economic gains but the late-comers to modernization have a better chance of dealing with the problems, Cobb said. China, which has astounded the world with rapid economic development in the past three decades, should devote more attention to establishing an ecologically responsible growth pattern, Cobb said. He said he was happy that the Chinese government started to build an ecological civilization years ago and recently has stepped up efforts to steer the national economy toward greener development. However, he warned that the pride many Chinese have in their national economic achievements might be a liability to the country’s so-called green efforts. Cobb urged policy makers around the world not to simply see agriculture as a source of food but as a complicated system that is key to the welfare of future generations. (PNA/ Xinhua)

PNoy eyes intercropping to up income of coconut farmers P4.4-B fund to boost P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III claimed that the country has achieved strengthening of the agriculture sector, citing the introduction of intercropping as a strategy initiated in the coconut industry. In his fourth State of the Nation Address Monday afternoon, he lamented the traditional way coconut was planted: farmers wait seven years for the coconut tree to bear fruit. “We have the potential to vastly increase the income of this sector if we can foster a culture that truly encourages hard work and productivity. The solution: intercropping,” he added after citing the reduction of rice importation as one of the key achievements of his administration in the agriculture sector. Aquino said the government has already begun laying down initiatives for the project in 2012 with 5,500 hectares of land for intercropping in 90 different locations throughout the country. The program covered 10,000 farmers.

He cited that for 2013 they set a target of additional 434 sites for coconut intercropping. Bukidnon provincial agriculturist Alson Quimba said intercropping is already practiced in the province. He said one of Bukidnon’s coconut farmers from Dangcagan town is competing in a national farming competition with his diversification of his coconut plantation. Quimba said that in Bukidnon’s coconut farms, planting banana and cacao at the second height level and ginger at the third layer is ideal. But he clarified that success of intercropping is not absolute – it depends on spacing as lower growth crops need sunlight. Aquino said the government will help coconut farmers; but in exchange, they will be required to sow different kinds of seeds in between the rows of coconut trees. “Doing so will raise the frequency of crop harvests, and depending on what they plant, their income will also

increase,” he added. Aquino said if farmers grow only coconuts, they would earn about P20,000 a year per hectare. But if coffee is added, income could reach about P172,400 a year. If the farmers add bananas, they could earn P102,325 per year. If farmers add cacao, he added, farmers earn extra P89,000 per hectare per year. “Isn’t that such a huge difference?” he added. The Philippine Coconut Authority cited among its programs and projects in its website the initiative on farm diversification, which involves growing of “short season and high value crops in between spaces of coconut trees such as corn, peanut, banana, cacao, coffee, pineapple, among others.” According to the Department of Agriculture website, to respond to the growing demand for coco water abroad, the government has embarked on a renewed effort to sustain the productivity and further increase the incomes of small coconut farmers and their families.

The PCA has started a nationwide coconut planting and replanting program. As of July 31, 2012, some 14.6 million seed nuts were planted, accounting for 71 percent of last year’s total target. The PCA also set to fertilize up to 25 million coconut trees in 2013 and to pursue the intercropping project dubbed as Kasaganaan sa Niyugan ay Kaunlaran ng Bayan (KAANIB). According to the site, coconut products and by-products remain as the country’s leading agricultural exports, totaling $1.96 billion in 2011, 20 per cent more than 2010’s $1.63 billion. The Philippines export 39 coconut products and by-products to at least 100 countries. In 2011, the top export was coconut oil worth $1.4 billion, followed by desiccated coconut ($287 million), and coco chemicals ($35 million). Aquino said in his SONA the agriculture sector grew 3.3 percent in the first three months of 2013. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

Mindanao agri dev’t T HE government’s crusade in alleviating poverty in Mindanao has geared up, as the Japanese government funded a P4.4-billion comprehensive package of support services project benefiting around 70,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in 216 barangays in Mindanao. The project, dubbed as Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development (MINSAAD), funded under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), also aims to improve the living condition of more than 400,000 residents located in 12 settlement areas in Central, Northern and Southern Mindanao. MINSAAD Director Nasser Musali said the project is designed to increase agricultural productivity, product value and income of agrarian reform beneficiaries and other smallscale farmers through provision of agricultural infrastruc-

tures and other capacity-building support. The comprehensive package of support services involves the construction of farm-to-market roads, bridges, irrigatios and potable water systems, among others, as well as providing technical assistance and linking the farmers with financing institutions. The settlement areas covered by MINSAAD, with a population of 404,175, include the B’laan Settlement Reservation Area, Bukidnon Settlement Area Project, Karagan Valley Settlement, Lanao del Norte Resettlement Area 1, Lanao del Norte Resettlement Area 2, Lanao del Norte Resettlement Area 3, North Cotabato Resettlement Area 1, North Cotabato Resettlement Area 2, South Cotabato Resettlement Area 1, Sultan Kudarat Resettlement Area 1, Sultan Kudarat Resettlement Area 1-2, and Sultan Kudarat Resettlement Area 2. (PNA)

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

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14 SPORTS

SHOOTERS. During the5th Anniversary of Mindanao Defensive Shooters Association .In photo is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the Guest of

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

Honor and members of MDSA. The association also unveiled their rule book on Instinctive and Defensive Shooting.

EDGEDAVAO

LEBRON JAMES. Wowing the fans in Manila.

Lebron in town, vows to be back L

EBRON James told media Tuesday at a hotel in Makati that he was “happy to be here to inspire people,” and quickly laid the groundwork for a second trip to Manila. In a short press conference for his #WitnessHistory Nike tour, James said “I love the game of basketball and I am happy to be here to inspire people.” He later added, “I can’t believe it’s my first time here and it definitely won’t be my last.” James also touched upon the successful back-to-back title runs of his team, the Miami Heat, describing them as “emotionally draining.” According to the reigning two-time Finals MVP, games in the playoffs were “maybe five times more difficult than a regular season game.” He also discussed his online presence, explaining,

“For the most part, what I tweet, what I put on Instagram is who I am. Social media is a great tool to interact with fans.” On the flipside though, he admitted that “there are people on Twitter who can get crazy sometimes, but I have nine-point something million followers, so I don’t get to read all of it,” in reference to haters or people sending him hatetweets. The 28-year-old also didn’t want to talk about his part in NBA history quite yet, saying, “I don’t think about it [his legacy]. I’m 28-years-old. I have a lot more to prove. I’ve got a lot more to accomplish.” James is a nine-time NBA All-Star, a four-time NBA MVP, and a two-time NBA champion, earning Finals MVP honors in both trips. - AMD, GMA News

Orcollo takes US Open One Pocket crown

OP billiard player Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo Monday crowned himself the US Open One Pocket Championship 2013 king at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, by outduelling Derby City One Pocket Champion Corey Deuel of the United States, 5-3. Orcollo, a former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur grabbed the top prize of $ 7,500 while Deuel pocketed $ 4,800 as runner-up. Orcollo’s colleagues, Carlo “Black Tiger” Biado took home $ 3,300 while Francisco “Django” Bustamante, had $ 1,500. Two other Pinoys, Warren

“Warrior” Kiamco and Jose “Amang” Parica, finished with smaller prize money, so with now US- based Santos “The Saint” Sambajon. Orcollo raced 2-0 l ahead in the final five but Deuel fought back to level at 2-2,before the Filipino titlist got back, 3-2. But the former U.S. Open 9 Ball champ leveled at 3-3 before making a mistake on his break return at 4-3. Deuel earlier beat Biado 3-2 for the chance to cross Orcollo who crushed Michael Reddick, 4-1, Danny Smith, 4-2, L. C. Carter 4-0, Larry Nevel, 4-2, and Chris Bartram, 4-2 to reach the hot seat. (PNA)

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

Face it

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

The True Color Eyeshadow Quad is Avon’s most coveted eyeshadow product to date. ON THE DAY I hit 30, I started my morning feeling a bit edgy while doing my makeup in the cab. For some reason, the colors of my eye shadow didn’t seem to blend right like they used to and the eye liner was a wee bit out of line. I felt so unsatisfied with my look, thinking that I have to change color palettes to retain a younger appearance. I guess vanity catches up with age… For me, at least. After a few bumpy kilometres along the way, I felt so exasperated and decided to redo my makeup all over again. On top of that, I was running late for work. I was lucky I had a pile of work waiting in the office. It kept me from becoming more irritable, emotional, and dramatic --- which sometimes happen when I turn a year older. Hormones, you know. Fortunately, I managed to survive work without falling into the I’m-turning-30 depression. Little did I know that I was going to end my day with another makeup encounter… This time around, it was for something beautiful and exciting. And it was worth moving my birthday dinner to an hour later. My friend’s sister called

and invited me to the exclusive preview of Avon’s new makeup line. An hour with beauty essentials wouldn’t hurt, I thought. This could, somehow, answer my need for change and makeover. So, off I went and sat down with the Avon PR team. The collection presented to us is actually scheduled to be launched officially in August. Featuring innovative new True Color technology, Avon’s latest line boasts of more vibrant, ultra-wearable and highimpact colors that stay true to the shade you see on the package—what you see is what you get. The True Color Eyeshadow Quad is Avon’s most coveted eyeshadow product to date. Available in six intense and luxurious eye-popping palettes,

it lights up your peepers in one-sweep applications, creating effortlessly

stunning eyes that last the day without fading or creasing. And with numbered shades to guide you, the True Color Eyeshadow Quad guarantees quick expert eye looks that ensure that all other eyes are on you. Meanwhile, your lip color can simply say it all with the Ultra Color Lipstick and Ultra Glazewear Lipgloss. The Ultra Color Lipstick collection features

long-lasting lip power, with self-renewing pigments to retain the same rich and vivid color from the tube and straight to your puckers. Find the perfect lipluscious look for you with 13 vivid shades to choose from, and let your lips love the extra pampering, with Shea butter, omega oil, arctic berry, and vitamin E that hydrate and keep them feeling smooth and supple. Available in five luminous shades designed to fit different skin tones, the new Ultra Glazewear Lipgloss packs in the same

moisturizing ingredients and adds a visible burst of brilliant shine and color to your lips. Avon’s PR team also shared with us the concept behind their beauty campaign. “Your true colors make you amazing, and it’s time to let them show with Avon’s new makeup collection. And while each stroke or sweep is designed to bring out what’s naturally fabulous, it’s your uniqueness that creates the impact that can’t be forgotten. In short, You—yes, you—Make It Beautiful.”

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT

Japanese Nights at Cafe Marco

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

It’s a boy!

CAFE MARCO transforms into a gastronomic adventure as we bring you the best of Japanese Cuisine beginning July 24, 2013. Yield to classic dishes, such as prawn tempura, sukiyaki and ramen entrées and savor sushi, sashimi IN CASE you haven’t and other timeless treasures. heard: It’s a boy! T h i s special limited offer is available for dinner from July 24.2013 to August 7, 2013. For reservations and inquiries, please call (82) 221 0888 local 7222.

Ranchero lets you savor the south with Mindanao platters SAVOR the bounties of Mindanao at Ranchero Abreeza and Ranchero Nuevo SM City Gensan.

Inspired by the cities of Mindanao, each Ranchero Mindanao Platter highlights the special dishes and ingredients found in four iconic Mindanao City. Taste pomelo and kinilaw with our Davao platter or take a bite of the freshest tuna with our General Santos platter. Crab lovers may want to order our Zamboanga platter while go surf and turf with our Cagayan de Oro platter. Visit Ranchero at Abreeza Mall and Ranchero Nuevo at SM City General Santos now and taste your Mindanao in platters!

LOVE TO WATCH! Want to have a Wolverine movie poster? Then avail our Abreeza Cinemas Early Bird Promo from July 16 to 24. Just buy 2 tickets for the movie The Wolverine and get 1 poster for free!

By now, the news that Kate Middleton and Prince William have welcomed their first child is known to virtually everyone. But just in case you missed it, London is celebrating the Prince of Cambridge’s arrival in a few very unique ways. Take the fountains of Trafalgar Square, which have been lit in blue lights to celebrate the wee 8 pound, 6 ounce bundle of joy that arrived at 4:24 p.m. local time. Images of the glowing water instantly made their way to social media such as Twitter and Instagram. There are sure to be many more photos too, as the colorful fountains will stay blue for the next seven days. Of course, that’s not the only way Brits celebrated the world’s most famous newborn. The London Telecom Tower, formerly know as the BT Tower, had the phrase “It’s a boy!” flashing in a digital banner. Not to mention tomorrow at 2 p.m. there will also be a gun salute fired at the Tower of London as well.

Twitter

Trafalgar Square, blue fountain. It should be noted that the citizens of England are also taking the time to toast their latest royal all on their own. While crowds of hundreds gathered outside the palace and St.

Mary’s hospital in London, residents of Bucklebury— where Kate’s parents live— also have party plans. “We are all having a massive party, it’s a great atmosphere and it’s all kicked

off,” local pub owner John Haley told the BBC. “It’s great that Kate and her son are doing well.” Seems like the future king is already getting the full royal treatment. E!News

Astrologer predicts royal baby will be ‘conventional and conservative’ like dad THE royal baby born today may not have a name yet, but astrologers are already predicting the little prince’s personality traits.

The HRH Prince of Cambridge arrived at 4:24 p.m. local time today, narrowly making the cut for the zodiac sign Cancer—the same astrological sign as dad Prince William. Only a small window of time separated whether Will and Kate Middleton’s son would be a sensitive Cancer or a dynamic Leo, as the cutoff for becoming a Cancer occurred the same day the future heir to the throne was born. NEWS: Kate Middleton gives birth to a baby boy While the two signs are next to each other on the calendar, they could not be more different, as Cancer is a water sign ruled by the moon while Leo is a fire sign ruled by the sun.

Before the baby’s arrival, astrologer Patrick Arundell predicted the little one would have a “very Cancerian personality” even if born under the sign Leo. “Either way, he or she is going to be larger than life, charismatic and glamorous...and be sensitive and caring,” he told the U.K.’s Telegraph. “If the baby’s born today it will have a slightly more conventional and conservative personality, but if it’s born tomorrow it will be more groundbreaking and more in tune with modernity,” he added. Due to the position of the planets, Arundell also predicted the newborn will have a great deal of energy, determination and star power. “Mars and Jupiter are conjunct in Cancer and that will give the baby a tremendous amount of go-get energy and that is already in motion,” he said. “Venus and the Sun are also in a mag-

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images netic connection which will give the baby a star quality and a sparkling charisma.” In addition to the new dad, Prince William’s mother, Diana, was also a Cancer. Other famous stars bearing the Cancer sign include Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Khloé Kardashian Odom and Nelson Mandela.

Historically speaking, the birth date of the future heir was incredibly crucial and was believed to determine whether the next in line was fit to rule. “Before the era of DNA and genome sequencing, casting a Royal Heraldry chart was the way people checked the genetic heritage of the monarch’s bloodline,” Dr. Elizabeth Hurran, a historian at the University of Leicester, told the U.K. Telegraph. “Historically speaking, the Royal family have a much better track-record with Leos than Cancerians,” she added. Middleton gave birth to the couple’s first child in the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s London hospital July 22. “Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight,” Kensington Palace said in a statement. “We could not be happier,” Prince William added. E!News

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Hugh Jackman admits to stealing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s workout plan IT’S no secret Hugh Jackman has one impressive body. Come on, have you seen him in X-Men: Days of Future Past?

But for his latest role in The Wolverine, in theatres July 25, the actor is admitting to E! News that sometimes, you need some extra diet and fitness tips from other leading men in Hollywood. Enter Dwayne Johnson! “I know Dwayne and I rang him and said, ‘Buddy, I saw you in The Tooth Fairy…and then I saw you in an action movie and you are massive. How do you do it?’” Let’s just say it takes a lot of time and food to look that big. “He said, ‘Okay, you want to put on 25 pounds of lean muscle? You need six months. You need to eat 6,000 calories and here it is,’” Jackman recalls when describing the important phone call. In between the helpful tips, Jackman recalls one moment during the oh-so-manly conversation that can’t escape his memory. “Right as he’s telling me the whole diet, someone knocked on his trailer door—and I’ll never forget this moment,” Jackman recalls in an excited voice. “He goes, ‘Hold on a second! I’m talking to Wolverine! You can tell them I said they can wait.’” Man, the Wolverine sure is one important dude. Long before bulking up for this role, Jackman had one fan moment he couldn’t have prepared for—no matter how much muscle he gained. It happened one evening in the early 2000s in Southern California, when he was watching Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers compete at the Staples Center. “I’m watching the whole game, and about the third quarter, Shaq looks and goes, ‘Oh, Wolverine’ and he gets up and as he’s coming to me, he goes to give me a fist bump.” “When his fists come to you, it’s terrifying. It’s literally like 10 fists going, ‘Yo, Wolverine,” Jackman joked. “I broke about 11 bones in my hand,” Jackman said. “But it was worth it.” E!News

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HEALTH

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

Your purse is as germy as a toilet

YOU’RE schlepping around more than lip gloss and cash in your purse: Your handbag may be contaminated with a ton of bacteria, too -- more than the average toilet seat, according to a new study from Initial Washroom Hygiene, a hygiene and washroom services company in the U.K. Researchers swabbed and tested the surfaces of and the items inside 25 different handbags and compared the results to separate data on toilet hygiene. They found that the dirtiest part of the bag is the handle -- it carries more bacteria than the average toilet seat -- and that one in five handbags contained enough bacteria to be considered a health risk. As for the items in the bags, bottles of hand cream were the worst offenders. They were also more germ-infested than the average toilet seat but generally cleaner than purse handles. Part of the problem is that people often forget to clean their handbags -- both the exterior and interior, says Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University. And that gorgeous leather bag that you lusted after and splurged on? Thanks to its texture, it’s basically a breeding ground for bacteria, she says. Your bag can pick up bacteria from any of the surfaces it touches, says Duberg. If you consider all the places your bag ends up -- restaurant floors, countertops, even bathroom floors -- that’s a lot of opportunities for exposure. The thing is, putting your bag on the floor is often inevitable: Few restaurants provide hooks under the table, and public restroom stalls may not have them, either. That said, there are a few simple ways to keep your purse a little

less germy.

Become a pro hand washer The most basic way to cut back on bacteria? Just wash your hands more often, says Duberg. Lathering up will not only help reduce the amount of bacteria you’re putting in and on your bag, but also the amount that you expose yourself to. “Having better hand hygiene breaks the cycle of infection,” she says. Get into a clean routine Make cleaning your purse -- and everything you carry in it -- a weekly practice, suggests Duberg. For leather purses, look for disinfecting wipes that don’t contain bleach or alcohol and wipe down the exterior and interior. Remember to pay special attention to the parts that you touch the most, like handles and straps. As for bags made from cloth, wash them in cool water on a delicate cycle, and add just a bit of baby soap to the machine. This will get the bacteria down to a safer level, says Duberg. Watch what you carry Another rule of thumb -- especially for women on the go: Don’t throw sneakers, food, or used tissues in your handbag. Each of these items is moist -- the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. The solution is pretty simple: Just put each of these in a separate plastic bag before placing them in your purse, says Duberg. Yahoo! Health

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 •WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

SO KIM CHENG SPORTS AWARDS. Langie Mae Meder (5th from left) and Earl Ryan del Socorro (6th from left, represented by his brother) receive their plaques as Athletes of the Year in the 19th So Kim Cheng Sports Awards on Monday at the Grand Regal Filipinas Ballroom. Presenting the award are (l-r) So Kim Cheng Foundation president Dexter So,

Davao City Sports Council president Ben Sur, Kagawad Laurente Capisos, SKCF chairman So Peng Kee, Davao City sports coordinator Butch Ramirez, Councilor Mabel Acosta, Councilor Jimmy Dureza, University of Mindanao president Willie Torres and former president of DCSC Nilo Abellera Sr. [Lean Daval Jr.]

Will Paul George be the next Lakers star? L

HEADING TO LA? Paul George is reportedly on the radar of the Los Angeles Lakers.

AS VEGAS – Indiana Pacers guard Paul George is spending the week here training at USA Basketball’s minicamp. And every time he runs into a Los Angeles Lakers fan in Sin City, they’ve had the same message for him: “ ‘Paul, are you coming to L.A.? Let’s get you in L.A.’ That’s all I’ve been hearing since I’ve been out here,” George told Yahoo! Sports after Monday’s practice at USA Basketball minicamp. Paul will enter the final year of his $3.2 million rookie contract with the Pacers next season. The All-Star had a breakthrough year last season averaging career-highs of 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He averaged 19.2 points in the postseason while leading Indiana within one victory of the NBA Finals. George grew up primarily a Los Angeles Clippers fan in his hometown of Palmdale, Calif., which is about an hour-and-15-minute drive from the Staples Center. But he was also a major fan of Kobe Bryant and has worn Bryant’s No. 24 at Palmdale High, Fresno State and with the Pacers. The Lakers will have money

to try to pair George with Bryant in the summer of 2014. Or, if Bryant signs elsewhere or retires, the Lakers could try to make George their next star, George said the speculation about his future is only going to heat up. “Everywhere I go [in L.A.] they say, ‘We want you here. Don’t sign with the Pacers,’ “ George said. “I hear that constantly. It’s getting a little repetitive … but I’m getting used to it. “I understand it. I can’t really be mad about it. It’s a great feeling when people in the stands really want you.” Of course, Pacers fans might not have too much reason to worry about the Lakers trying to lure away George. Indiana has until Oct. 31 to sign George to a long-term extension, and Pacers president Larry Bird recently told 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis the team plans to make George a “major” offer. If George doesn’t sign an extension this summer, he will become a restricted free agent after the season. Even then, the Pacers will have the right to match any offer he receives.

Batang Pinoy 2013 begins Aug.27-30

HE Philippine Sports Commission is ready to hold the 2013 Batang Pinoy. The first leg or Mindanao Leg is scheduled in Tagum City, Davao del Norte from Aug 27 to 31 while the second or Visayas Leg will be held at Maasin City on September 24 to- 28.The National championships has been tabbed in Zamboanga City on November 19 to 23 in Zamboanga City. The Batang Pinoy is open to all young Filipinos whether by birth or naturalization. Fil-foreigns may also join provided they have fulfilled all requirements and are submitted by a local government unit. All participating athletes must present a certified true copy of birth certificate and must be endorsed by one LGU coming from the governor, municipal mayor, sports coordinator or barangay chairman.

The 22 events in Mindanao are arnis, athletics, badminton, billiards and snookers, boxing, chess,dancesport, futsal, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting and volleyball for girls and boys. In the Visayas leg, arnis athletics, badminton, billiards and snookers, boxing, chess, dancesport, futsal, gymnastics (cheerdance), judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, wrestling and volleyball. TheLuzon leg has 29 events with the addition of baseball,bowling, sailing, shooting and wushu. The National Championship has added basketball 3 on 3 for boys and girls and triathlon. (PNA)

VOL. 6 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO Sports

CHAMP. Chris Froome, the 100th edition champion of the Tour De France, hopes to win more.

DOMINANCE IN HIS MIND C

Tour De France winner is far Froome done

HRIS Froome targets Tour de France dominance after winning 100th edition Chris Froome is determined that his Tour de France title this year is just the start of a run of dominance in cycling’s greatest race. The 28-year-old barely gave his rivals a sniff during the 100th Tour, and has warned them he believes he has still to reach his peak.

“If I look at my career now and what my ambitions are as a pro cyclist, to come and target the Tour has got to be the biggest goal,” he said. “To be able to do that year after year through your prime period, that has got to be what my main focus is on.” This year’s mountainous Tour route - criticised by some for being too tough as it deadened the yellow jersey battle in the final week, riders too

exhausted to fight one another - suited Froome’s climbing ability. But the man who finished second to Sir Bradley Wiggins in a support role on last year’s flatter parcours is confident he can handle most things the Tour might throw at him. “I’d like to think I’m well balanced,” he said. “I can time trial reasonably, I can climb pretty well, I can’t see what else they can put in the Tour

that I would struggle with so I’d like to think I can come back every year. “This success here has set an amazing platform for me. Going forward, everything I’ve done building up to here, it really has been a massive learning experience as much as this Tour itself has been. “It would be a shame not to carry that experience forward and use it in future editions.”

Froome is clear that the Tour is the one that matters the most to him, and he is unlikely to follow Wiggins’ path and turn his attention to the Giro d’Italia next year, nor for that matter the Vuelta a Espana - the race where he made his breakthrough with second place in 2011. But he also insists that his focus on the Tour would not be about chasing records or amassing statistics.

After Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven titles for doping, no man has won more than five Tours de France, a tally shared by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. But Froome admits he is a novice when it comes to the history of cycling, having been brought up in Kenya and South Africa, a world away from its traditional European heartland.