Edge Davao 7 Issue 248 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

WHERE TO GO? A hawker appears to be confused as he considers where to turn next while selling homemade pillows along Camus Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

BUSINESS AS USUAL DCPO: Drugs still rampant in Isla Verde despite raid

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

RUG dealing activities are still rampant in Isla Verde, Davao City despite the arrest of 20 people during a raid on Saturday morning. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Senior Inspector Milgrace Driz said the DCPO will conduct more operations in order to finally rid Isla Verde of illegal drugs. “The DCPO will definitely launch more operations so that Isla Verde will finally be rid of drugs. In this operation we are still checking if the area has been cleared of

drugs or not,” she said. On Monday afternoon, cases of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act and Comprehensive Firearms and Ammonitions were filed against the 20 suspects. Among those arrested was former barangay captain Karim Palawan, who was inside the house of his sons Kahlid Palawan alias “King” and Pangalian Palawan who are the alleged leaders of the Bathala Group. DCPO director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao called the operation a success

because police were able to arrest the Palawan brothers, who were the main targets. “It was a very successful operation. There were no bloodshed, We also apprehended the leader of the Bathala Group. These individuals are really involved in the illegal drugs and gun activities,” he added. A total of 300 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P2.7 Million and several firearms were seized during the raid. Police also seized five caliber .45 pistols, an M-79 gre-

nade launcher, seven 9mm pistols, seven .38 revolvers, two fragmentation grenades, and 114 assorted ammunition The other suspects arrested during the raid were Maricris Batara, Abdullah Salem, Bokary Dimangadap, Pao-Pao Daradagan, Salem Ina Shaman, Rosita Lopez, Abdullah Mama, Umar, Barayman, Aslani Candidato, Aquino Dimangadap, Asnari Sultan, Sampiamo Gamor, Raymart Catito, Christian Sanglay, Carlito Pique and Ricky Pangandaman.

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2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

BARRIER. New metal road barriers are placed at a portion of J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City to keep vehicles within their proper lanes. Davao City’s Traffic Management Center is exerting all efforts to lessen road accidents. Lean Daval Jr.

Advocates call for ‘all-out peace’ C

Mahipus tells DCWD to purchase generators By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

HREE Mindanao peace advocates called for “allout peace” instead of an “an all-out war” to address the decades-long armed conflict in the island region. Speaking in Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, Peace Builder team leader for resource development Dawn Pates said Mindanao need “all-out peace” to stop the cycle of violence here. All-out peace is a broad “call for peace” towards mobilizing all Filipinos in Luzon,

Visayas and Mindanao. Pates said this is a platform where citizens are emboldened to take a stand for peace and reject war or any form of armed violence. The campaign is also supported by a member of the Women Engaged in Action on 1325 (We Act 1325), a civil society organization (CSO) active in different peace advocacies for Mindanao. We Act 1325 working group member Carmen Lauzon-Gatmaitan said women,

the elderly, and children are the most affected in all conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. According to reports, a total of 5,217 civilian families, mostly of women and their children, from different municipalities of Maguindanao are now suffering the ravages of war. “These community people fled from their homes seeking safety and security but there are no evacuation areas,” Pates said of what she saw during

Bacani said repeated conflicts have turned Bangsamoro communities into some of the poorest in the country and that strengthening of such communities is among the basic objectives of the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “Faced by a poverty incidence rate of 48.7 percent in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

as of 2012, the government sought to fast-track development in the region by proposing a P17-billion Special Development Fund (SDF) in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL),” he said. The review of the BBL is now suspended in both houses of Congress. Bacani said that the province of Lanao del Sur, as shown in the data from the

BBL to fast-track rebuilding of war-torn areas in Mindanao

her last visit in Maguindanao two weeks after the January 25 Mamasapano incident. Residents from municipalities of Datu Unsay, Shariff Saidona Mustapha, Shariff Aguak, and Datu Saudi-Ampatuan evacuated their homes to avoid stray bullets coming from heavy armed rebel groups. “Transporting relief good is dangerous. Even members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cannot en-

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abf@edgedavao.net

OUNCILOR Diosdado A. Mahipus yesterday urged the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to procure generator sets so that the flow of water distribution will not be disrupted if there is a power outage. In yesterday’s regular City Council session, Mahipus said water distribution was adversely affected during last month’s rotational blackouts. “My attention was caught with the fact that during brownouts, the DCWD also experienced shortage of supply or rather the City of Davao also experienced shortage of water supply,” Mahipus said in his privilege speech. He said the pumping sta-

tions of DCWD that are the in charge of the distribution of supply in the city also need electricity to pump water. He said during one such water service interruption, he called up DCWD and was told that it was due to a blackout. Mahipus said it is “lamentable” that residents would experience both a power outage and water service interruption at exactly the same time. “More than power and electricity, water is a basic need of man. I know we can survive without power or electricity for many days... but we will suffer a lot if there is no water,” he said.

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By ALEX D. LOPEZ

HE Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will pave the way to fast-tracking the implementation of development projects and intensify the provision of social services and infrastructure in Bangsamoro areas, particularly those that were affected deeply by armed conflicts. This was the pronouncement made by Government of the Philippines (GPH) panel chair Senen Bacani.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION. Various civil society organizations in partnership with government agencies and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) continue to facilitate orientations, workshops, and other venues for dis-

cussions on the salient features of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and updates on the ongoing peace process between the government and the MILF. Alex D. Lopez

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

Duterte to grace convention of Rotarians at SMX March 5

UNDREDS of Rotarians from cities and capital towns in the Visayas and Mindanao will converge at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang Premier on March 5 to 7 for the annual convention of the Rotary International District 3860 ( Discon 2015). This was learned from District Governor Remigio “Boy” Salanatin, who said the participants will come from more than 90 Rotary clubs under RI District 3860 to discuss substantial concerns of the international civic movement, to join the fun sporting events like golf tournament and enjoy bonding with fellow Rotarians during fellowship nights. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will grace the Discon’s opening ceremonies

PLAYBACK. Students eagerly check out a video they just shot with their teachers at Quezon Park in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

when he formally welcomes the civic leaders to the host city. Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communication Operations Office, who is also a past district governor of Rotary will be among the convention speakers. He will speak on Effective Communication. The other speakers are mostly Rotary leaders who will discuss various aspects of Rotary work. There will be a car raffle draw during the farewell fellowship cocktails in the afternoon of the last day. There will also be a fellowship night with the theme “Wild, Wild West” on March 5, and a District Governor’s Night on March 6.

Therma South working on ‘foul smell’ Avila calls on Dabawenyos coming from coal-fired power plant to join Day of Healing Friday T

HERMA South Inc. has confirmed receiving a complaint from its host community regarding the “foul smell” reportedly emanating from the power plant construction site. In a statement, Therma South said it is working to confirm the source of the odor. Once it confirms the matter, it will develop a plan to deal with the source of the odor.

of the plant.It is now resuming “steam blowing activities” which is part of its testing and commissioning phase. Before starting the steam blowing, the company informed its host community, media, local government units and other relevant stakeholders on its importance. “The ‘white smoke’ seen coming out of the power plant during steam blowing activity

is actually steam, no different from the steam from a tea kettle, and is not harmful to the health of people and the environment,” the company said in its statement. Therma South said it is committed to start delivering 300-MW of baseload capacity to its more than 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities by the first half of 2015.

tary timetable has been set. She said that the campaign against the BIFF and international terrorists they provided haven has shifted from "military alone action" into a "community action" where government forces and local leaders and civilians will join hands in neutralizing the terrorists. Hataman led the distribution of Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) of more than 10 tons of food rations to displace families in Mamasapano, Salibo, Datu Unsay and Datu Saudi towns. "Our relief team will continue helping the displaced families," he said, adding that DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman has committed to send more aid for the IDPs. Areas in Mamasapano that never been occupied by military because of the presence of lawless elements are now secured by members of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-6). Marines established

checkpoints along road leading to Mamasapano outlying villages to prevent the return of BIFF who were flushed out by Army offensive last Saturday. Army and police forces backed by Marines are now in control of a large portion of Mamasapano where Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan" was killed in a police commando operation last Jan. 25. Three Marine troopers were wounded when government forces clashed with BIFF in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. About six BIFF were reported killed in that incident. Hataman said he feared for difficult days ahead for the IDPs who were now housed in various schools and village halls in Maguindanao’s 11 towns. At least 16 schools in the province have also been shut down temporarily for security reasons, displacing more than 15,000 elementary and high school students, according to

Hataman. To the BIFF, Hataman made this appeal. "Support peace process and cooperate with the people of Mindanao who are helping each to build lasting peace and development in our area." Hataman also said he has already briefed President Aquino on the extent of the evacuations in the province and has sought help for the evacuees. The President vowed to direct agencies to extend help so that no one dies in evacuation centers. Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division commander, also alerted all Army units to thwart diversionary tactics by the BIFF which normally conduct bombings in civilian communities to divert military action against them. At noon Tuesday, the Army foiled bombing attempt by BIFF in Kabacan, North Cotabato after a civilian alerted authorities of his discovery - a

implementation of the peace process through the Bangsamoro Basic Law “in spite of the unfortunate incident that had happened in Mamasapano.” In an interview, the governor said while the Mamasapano incident was “unfortunate and very regrettable, we can’t stop our campaign for peace in Mindanao because the prob-

lem of peace has been with us for several decades.” “It’s about time that we continue supporting and pushing for the implementation of BBL which I consider our last chance for peace. It’s so near yet so far now,” he said. Del Rosario said President Benigno Aquino has already taken the peace process to its

final conclusion. “We can’t afford to stop fighting for peace, and we can’t allow something to stop us from fighting for the peace that we’ve been doing for so long. The BBL is the last chance of our people in Mindanao to have lasting peace,” he said. Cha Monforte, Correspondent

AFP continues manhunt against BIFF

HE manhunt against outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) will continue until the last BIFF is neutralized, the military here said Tuesday. But Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the operation shifted from "all out offensive," which the Army at first launched in Maguindanao to "all-sectors offensive" with all sectors participating in the efforts to get rid the province with lawless and extremist elements. "We have no time table when to terminate the operation but our directive is to continue hunting down the BIFF and other terrorists relentlessly," Petinglay said. According to Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the government's law enforcement operation against the BIFF in Maguindanao could drag until June this year. But Petinglay said no mili-

The company assured its neighbors and stakeholders that there is “nothing within the power plant site that poses a risk to the community.” “The commissioning process is still on-going,” it added. Therma South also said it remains “committed and focused” on performing the necessary steps and procedures that will ensure the safe and and reliable operations

BBL our last chancem for peace: del Rosario

AVAO del Norte Gov. Del Rosario says BBL “our last chance for peace”; “It’s so near yet so far now” Davao del Norte Governor and Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 chair Rodolfo del Rosario has urged the people in his province and the rest of Davao Region to continue pushing for the

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FDUTERTE, 14

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III asked Dabawenyos to join the National Day of Healing for Unity and All-Out Peace this Friday. In a privilege speech during yesterday’s regular City Council session, Avila said the activity is in support of the families of the 44 members who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25. March 6 is the 40th day since their deaths. “I propose that the City of Davao support the resolution in the lower chamber by Congressman Silvestre Bello III and the call of the civil society groups, peace movements and communities across the country to Declare March 6 as the National Day of Healing for Unity and All-Out Peace,” Avila said. He said aside from the 44 SAF members, 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), five members of the Bangsamoro Islamic

Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and seven civilians – including an 8-year-old girl – were killed in the incident. Avila said the January 25 clash has become one of the most polarizing events in the country’s history. “There are those who are quick to demand retaliation, and their voices lord over people who seek to maintain calm and circumspection, and those who call for an objective conduct of investigations. Yes, we agree that after 37 days, (there are) only snippets of truth,” he said. He also said the event was ironic because it happened a week after Pope Francis visited the country. “How easily we abandon the spirit of peace because our emotions have gotten ahead of us,” he said. He said that too much is at stake for Mindanaoans to be swayed by the passionate clamor for vengeance which is fueled by the news and social

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Floriculture still a growing industry in Davao

AVAO City’s flowering and ornamental plants are not only a passion for Dabawenyos but also livelihood provider to garden makers or landscapers nationwide. It remains a thriving business in Davao. “Growing plants has become a passion not only to a few but to women in the villages and in remote communities where they plant those sought after varieties by landscaper,” said Vicky Jimenez, immediate past president of the Floriculture Industry of Davao, Inc. (FIDI) during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday at SM Annex. “Plant growers like us need several thousands of plant materials and we source our supply from these wom-

en,” she said. She said Davao has become the source of supply by other garden installers in the country. While we do our local projects in Davao, she said, they also established network with their counterparts in other parts of the country, especially in the Visayas region where volumes of planting materials are transported. Those engaged in this business, like those in Cebu and Bohol, would source their materials from here because they can get by volume, she said. FIDI, according to Jimenez, has a hundred members that tap women in the communities to propagate flowering

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4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL

Igacos has GSO with urban greening function T

HE General Services Office of the Island Garden City of Samal is evolving to be an office much different to the ordinarily procurement-busy GSOs of local government units. Differently, the island city’s GSO has an urban parks and urban greening division with two community organizers under a division chief. “We have that division as the GSO, being caretaker of government facilties, needs

DAVAO CITY

to see government facilities already in place on the ground like the city’s parks and greening projects being protected no less than by the users, the people themselves” said GS officer Percenito Bustamante. “Because it’s they who use the facilities, so there is a need for the people to participate on this undertaking,” he added. People participation is done through community organizing of neighborhoods by

the GSO’s community organizers. Bustamnate said that he initiated the changing of the city GSO’s paradigm since the approval of revised GSO plantilla of positions in 2011. “It’s boring to keep on doing repeating tasks, so we take life as challenging in GSO through character building activities,” he said, citing that GSO personnel have also been encouraged to make handmade articles during their

clear spare time at work, without disturbing public service. The island’s GSO is active participant and consistent awardee of “Isla na Maanyag” (beautiful island) program of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government. Traditionally, a GSO of an LGU has a general function of conducting physical inventory of properties, buildings, machineries and equipment, motor vehicles, office equipment, furniture and fixtures,

and most importantly in providing procurement services to all departments of the LGU. It procures supplies, materials and equipment through public bidding and personnel canvass. It also attends to the registration, insurance of all motor vehicles and government buildings with the appropriate government agency. A GSO delivers basic services such as street lightings, transparent procurement and

in keeping complete records and inventory of equipment and plan assets. But these functions are spiced up by island GSO’s added functions of doing community-based maintenance of urban parks and environmentally-oriented greenery projects. “That is in keeping with our island’s overall vision of being an urban center in a garden setting,” Bustamante said. - Cha Monforte, Correspondent

DSWD feeding starts in city’s Madrasahs A T least 1500 children enrolled in Davao City’s Madrasahs will benefit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) for Sajahatra Bangsamoro within the school year 2014 through 2015. Director of DSWD Priscilla N. Razon said, “Initially, we are conducting the feeding program to some 550 five to 12 year-old children in 11 Madrasahs in the city. We will be covering another 950 schoolchildren as soon as we receive the master list from our program field workers.” “For this initial run of 550 children, the Department has allotted Php 910,250.00 for food, dining and cooking utensils, including 6600 kilograms of iron-fortified rice,” she said. Madrasahs are Muslim schools that focus on Islamic Studies and Arabic Literacy. The Feeding Program is the daily provision of food in addition to the regular meals, to two to five year-old children in Day Care Centers or to five to 12-year old children enrolled in Madrasah. Further, the program is an augmentation support in the feeding program of local government units using in-

digenous foods and/or locally processed foods equivalent to 1/3 of Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENIs). “Involved in this feeding program for Sajahatra Bangsamoro are communities endorsed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to DSWD through Task Force Bangsamoro Development (TFBD),” Director Razon added. Feeding is managed by parents of children beneficiaries. Children are weighed at the start of the feeding and three months after, and after the 120 feeding days to determine improvement and sustenance in their nutritional status. The program also aims to improve knowledge, attitude and practices of children, parents and caregivers through intensified nutrition and health education; improve and sustain the nutritional status of the target children beneficiaries; and concretize the socio-economic peace initiative in partnership with the Government of the Philippines and the MILF. Participating parents are mobilized to attend nine capability-building sessions on self, family, parenting, health and nutrition, love of country, and home and environment. DSWD/Carmela C. Duron

HOT MEALS. School children partake of free hot meals in a Madrasah in Lower Sirawan, Toril, Davao City.

Usman likely to have trained scores of bombers in captured Mamasapano bomb factory T

HERE is a huge possibility that Filipino bomb-maker, Basit Usman, one of the other priority targets in the bloody Jan. 25 raid which resulted in the neutralization of Malaysian terrorist, might have trained scores of bombers in the captured improvised explosive device factory captured by military forces in Mama-

sapano town, Maguindanao last Sunday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc on Tuesday said. Earlier reports claimed that Usman was allegedly coddled by small bands of notorious bandits from two different BIFF groups. Mohammad Ali Tamba-

ko of Mamasapano town is one of Usman’s current protector. He is a BIFF leader who had carried out violent atrocities against civilians both in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. Another one is BIFF leader named Kagi Karialan with at least 100 followers. He led the attack on

tabato and found by a man at 11:45 a.m. Traffic was reopened at 1:40 p.m. after the IED was successfully defused. Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th ID chief, lauded the growing awareness and concern that the community has showing since for the past two days now. “The call for an all-out sector offensive against the armed lawless group who calls themselves BIFF and their terrorist cohorts is successfully bringing the society into a level of awareness and responsibility on individually combating terrorism and lawlessness,” Pangilinan said. Last week, the BIFF declared it will launch attacks

in North Cotabato after the group suspected North Cotabato Gov. Emmulou Mendoza has been funding the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to prevent the BIFF entry to the province. Mendoza denied the BIFF claim. She said the discovery of the IED by a civilian who alerted the police and military authorities only show the people are more vigilant now. He urged others to continue helping authorities. “Be a force multiplier. Let’s maintain this level of cooperation and support to our law enforcers,” she said. “Together we can win the quest for peace and development in North Cotabato.” (PNA)

Army foils bombing attempt in NorCot

BOMBING attempt attributed by the military to the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was foiled here when a civilian alerted authorities about suspicious box left at a roadside in Barangay Kayaga Tuesday morning. It was the second bombing attempt by suspected BIFF. On Sunday night, a civilian alerted the 45th IB troopers in Barangay Kabingi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao about a suspected IED along a road used by military in transporting troops to nearby Mamasapano and Datu Piang towns. The IED in Kabacan, composed of assorted nails, bro-

ken glasses, wires and detonating cords, according to Colonel Noel Clement, 601nd Infantry Brigade chief. While the Army bomb experts were checking on the roadside bomb, traffic between Datu Montawal, Maguindanao and Kabacan, North Cotabato was shut down. It was reopened after the Army successfully defused the IED which, according to Col. Clement, has the “signatures” of the BIFF. Clement said similar IED was used in Kabacan and Mlang bombings late last year. Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th ID spokesperson, said the IED was left near Simuay Hardware in Sitio Lotte, Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Co-

MILF communities and civilian communities nearby in Kabasalan and Bulol, both in Pikit, North Cotabato in two separate occasions, displacing at least 25,000 people. Another is Nur Utoh, who is reportedly operating in Shariff Saydona. Several tipsters have spotted Usman in the bailiwicks of these cohorts. (PNA)

3 moderate quakes jolt DavOr, Surigao del Norte on Tuesday ILD earthquakes shook the provinces of Davao Oriental and Surigao del Norte on Tuesday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the first quake with a magnitude of 3.7 occurred at 12:32 a.m. The epicenter of the quake was traced some 81 kilometers southeast of Tarrangona in Davao Oriental. The quake, which was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 66 kilometers. The second quake with a magnitude 4.1 occurred around 5:51 a.m. with epicen-

ter traced some 18 kilometers northeast of General Luna in Surigao del Norte. The quake, which was also tectonic in origin, had a depth of 15 kilometers. On the other hand, the third tremor with a magnitude of 3.4 happened at 5:55 a.m. and its epicenter was estimated 25 kilometers northeast of General Luna in Surigao Del Norte. Phivolcs said the temblor, which was tectonic in origin, had a shallow depth of 11 kilometers. There was no casualty or damage reported from the three tremors and no aftershocks are expected from these quakes. (PNA)

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

Israeli envoy: Improving rural tourism sector will draw Israelis to Mindanao By CHENEEN R. CAPON

I INT’L AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau answers questions from members of local media during a press briefing at The Marco Polo, Davao yesterday where he promoted the upcoming 19th International Agricultural Exhibition and Conference slated on April 28 to 30 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Lean Daval Jr.

Sen. Villar submits bill on coco levy trust fund A

BILL creating a coconut levy trust fund for the benefit of 3.5 million coconut farmers in the country has been submitted for plenary debates in the Senate. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, reported out the Committee Report No. 106 on the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act of 2015 or Senate Bill No. 2675, a substitute bill for Senate Bill Nos. 455, 2126, 2467 and Proposed Senate Resolution No. 30. The proposed law seeks to create the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund that will be composed of all coconut levy assets, including those declared by the Supreme Court as special public funds. “We are confident that this law will finally resolve the decades-old issue surrounding the coco levy fund and will carry out its two-pronged goal — to help coconut farmers and develop the coconut industry,” Villar said. She said the coconut farmers are considered as one of the country’s poorest, citing a National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) report showing the highest poverty incidence at 60 percent with a per capita income of PhP41 a day. About one-third of the socalled arable agricultural land or about 3.5 million hectares are planted with coconuts, representing 68 out of 79 provinces, and 1,195 out of the 1,554 municipalities in the country. In her dialogue with the KM71 farmers who marched from Davao to Manila to push for the creation of the coconut levy trust fund last November, Villar said her committee will work for the passage of the law in the early part of 2015. The group was also able to get the commitment of President Benigno S. Aquino III to

prioritize the enactment of the bill. The measure requires the conduct of an audit and inventory of all coconut levy assets by the Commission on Audit, together with the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). The Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Committee will be created to ensure the fulfillment of the objectives of the proposed law, and to direct and coordinate the implementation of the plan and the privatization of the levy assets. This will be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as chair; the Secretary of the Department of Finance as vicechair; the National Economic and Development Administration (NEDA) Secretary, the PCA Administrator and five members from the coconut farmers sector. Under the bill, all cash assets, reported to be about PhP70 billion, will become the initial capital of the trust fund. All non-cash assets will be transferred to the Trust Fund Committee and will be privatized by the Privatization and Management Office (PMO) within a five-year period. The proceeds will be remitted to the trust fund and will augment its capital. The trust fund will be maintained perpetually and can only be invested in Philippine government securities. The Bureau of Treasury will be designated as the depository of the trust fund. Five percent of the initial capital of the trust fund will be used for the initial implementation of the plan, and to fund the expenses of the Trust Fund Committee, the conduct of the audit and inventory, the formulation of the Plan, and the activities of the PMO.

crc@edgedavao.net

MPROVING the rural tourism sector of Mindanao will draw more Israeli tourists, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau said yesterday. In a press conference at the Marco Polo Davao, Matityau said the Mindanao has a potential for rural tourism because of its potential trekking sites and rich culture “Rural tourism is a great, great segment in the rural economy. It’s a missed opportunity. Our world is defined young people who are more adventurous and looking for opportunities to send selfies

from all corners of the world,” Matityau said. Matityaoi said that there are about 175,000 Israeli tourists traveling to Thailand every year to visit beach resorts, only 7,000 went to the Philippines last year. However, this is 30 percent higher compared than 2013. “There is an upward trend in this sector and we believe that Israeli visitors in the Philippines will spike to 10,000 this year,” he added. Matityao said most of the Israelis went to Palawan and Boracay which are known for

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6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

DA 11 allots P19.3M for 3 projects By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

port. This year, Orbe said in the report that Davao Region will have a rice production area of 57,000 has. during the dry season from September to March, and 53,754 has. during the wet season from March to September. The region is noted to be the rank 13th in the overall rice production of the Philippines.

The other one, costing P4.85 million, will be for the rehabilitation of a SWIP project in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. The construction and rehabilitation of SWIPs are intended to improve the irrigation system of rice fields as well as increase rice production in different areas of Davao Region. Based on the 2014 actual performance data

provided by the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS), Recoter said 86 percent of Davao Region’s total areas planted with rice were irrigated last year, while 12 percent are rain fed (RF) and only 2 percent were upland plantations (UP). She said the province of Compostela Valley has a total of 4,415 hectares (ha.) rain-fed rice farm; Davao City with a combined 2,368

GRICULTURE Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Senator Cynthia Villar will grace the Schoolon-the-air program (SOA) on rice production today at Mergrande Ocean Resort in Davao City. Four hundred fifty farmers in Davao Region graduated from the course which started from November 20 to December 15, 2014 and was aired over DXRD 711 kHz, Sonshine Radio from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. am every Mondays to Saturdays. Davao del Norte has a total of 250 graduates followed by Compostela Valley with 99; 75 in Davao City, while 20 in Davao Oriental and five in Davao del Sur. SOA is a training course on agricultural crops and commodities wherein a farmer will graduate after their participation and learning through radio focuses. The Department of Agriculture has allocated P1.329 billion to fully subsidize hybrid rice production in the country targeting 147,626 hectares to be planted during the dry season until 2016. Davao Region is getting the biggest share in hybrid rice subsidy at P28.39 million in 2014-2015 dry season and P56.78 million in

2015-2016 dry season. Rice, also known as the world’s most important grain, is the staple food for about one half of the world’s population. Since rice is such an important part too much of the world’s diet it was hoped to remain affordable, especially since it is widely used in defense of world hunger. Currently, scientists introduced next generation (next-gen) varieties of rice to boost the country’s self-sufficiency bid. DA 11 director Remelyn Recoter is optimistic that the intensified demonstration on next-gen rice varieties will enhance the performance of rice subsector in the region. Several next-gen demo farms are now being established in Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte. “Volume of production of rice in the region has increased 421,692 metric tons in 2013 to 452,267 metric tons in 2014 with a growth rate 7.25 percent. With the use of certified and high-yielding seeds we hope that we can further improve the performance of rice production in the region,” Recoter said. Villar is chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture. (ChePalicte DA-11)

DAILY BREAD. Freshly-baked breads and pastries are displayed on a glass shelf by a baker in a downtown bakeshop in Davao City yesterday. Despite increasing prices, bread remains a popular snack among Filipinos. Lean Daval Jr.

Alcala, Villar to grace DA school graduation A

Quips

“We have a reserve of 112MW and we expect that this will increase once the second unit of STEAG starts it commissioning by next week.” - National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) communications officer for Mindanao Milfrance Capulong on the improvement of the power supply in Mindanao

ha. of UP and RF; Davao del Norte with 3,095 RF and UP; Davao Oriental with combined 4,023 ha of RF and UP; and Davao del Sur with 678 ha. Recoter said one of the challenges that kept the agriculture department from making the rice fields here totally irrigated is the luck of fund and acquisition of right of way where the irrigation systems will be established.

It was reported that a total of 103,822 hectares were harvested last year and 89,243 hectares were irrigated, 12,524 ha. rainfed plantaions, and 2,055 has. upland plantations. “Target production for Davao region in 2015 is 490,767 MT. we have a target increment production of 41,970,” DA-Davao assistant regional director Maria Febe T. Orbe said in an earlier re-

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 will allocate P19.3 million for the construction and rehabilitation of three small water impounding projects (SWIP) in the Davao Region. DA 11 director Remelyn Recoter said the first two construction projects of SWIP amounting to P14.5 million will be in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte and Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

DA releases P1-B agri projects in Region 12

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) released on Tuesday nearly P1 billion worth of agriculture-based projects and equipment to various farmers’ organizations and local government units in Region 12. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Senator Cynthia Villar led the “mass distribution” of the farm machineries, postharvest facilities and project funds in a grand ceremony held at the Tupi Seed Farm, Barangay Bololmala in Tupi, South Cotabato. “This is our way of thanking you for your contributions in making sure that there will be food on the table of every

household in our communities on a daily basis,” Alcala said during the program. The activity was joined by leaders and members of farmers’ associations and cooperatives, municipal mayors, governors and congressional representatives from various parts of Region 12. The agency released around P636 million in grants for the implementation of farm-to-market road projects that will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways and issued certificates of the availability of funds for around P151.4 million worth of road projects under the World Bank-supported Philippine Rural Development Program.

It also turned over newly-completed projects as well as funding for projects under the DA’s Agri-Pinoy program, Bottom-up Budgeting or BUB scheme, Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA program and the Soccsksargen Area Development Project Office. These include “state-ofthe-art” postharvest facilities such as a Level 1 Rice Processing Center worth P6 million, Level 2 Rice Processing Center worth P16 million and a village-type corn-on-cobs dryer worth P7.5 million. The municipalities of Palimbang and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat received P7.5 million and P6.05 million, respectively, under the BUB

scheme while Columbio and Maasim town in Sarangani got P5.5 million and P12.3 million, respectively, under the PAMANA program. The released farm machineries comprised 28 floating tillers worth P2.5 million; 25 rice combine harvesters worth P38.7 million; five four-wheel drive tractors with backhoe worth P7.8 million; a four-wheel drive tractor with complete accessories worth P868,000; seven corn shellers worth P1.2 million; 13 corn mills worth P2.4 million; 15 cassava granulators worth P2.2 million; 13 coffee dehullers worth P1.6 million and six multi-cultivators worth P1.5 million. (MindaNews)

tion: A Proposal for Proactive Approach to Risk Financing.” “Regional cooperation is seen as a mechanism to promote the development of financial systems and products to effectively reduce the fiscal burden arising from disasters, as can be gleaned by looking at the experiences of other economies in this regard,” it said. The paper underscored the need to improve the current system of financing the cost of disasters in an effort to enhance the roles of the domestic private sector and

international financial market. It pointed out that individual governments bear most of the cost of disasters, especially in emerging economies where the private sector and the capital markets are not fully developed. “The available resources within governments are mostly insufficient to address the cost of response, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, which could result in adverse impacts on the overall fiscal and macroeconomic condition of the particular economy,” it

stressed. Citing studies, the PIDS paper said the financial implications of natural disasters could be massive, especially in terms of damages on private assets, public infrastructure and on the productive agents of the economy. It said various estimates indicated that the magnitude of damages and losses on economies could hover around a fraction of one percent to a tenth of gross domestic product (GDP), depending on the degree of exposure. (PNA)

APEC urged: Expand reg’l cooperation in reconstruction

HE Philippines and 20 other members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are urged to further expand their prevailing regional cooperation towards improving access to finance for disaster recovery and reconstruction. This initiative was proposed by a discussion paper released by the state-owned think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) titled “Deepening Regional Cooperation for Disaster Recovery and Reconstruc-

7 BIGGER PICTURE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

Yes, childhood cancers

are curable! (Second of Two Parts)

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

(Author’s note: The publication of the pictures and the stories for this two-part series is in accordance with the consent of the parents and assent from the patient.)

R. Mae Concepcion J. Dolendo dreamed of becoming a physician when she was only 9 years old. “There was no doctor in the family but the father of my classmate was a doctor and I thought it was such a cool job looking after sick people and making them well,” she recalls. Her dream even became stronger when her beloved mother died of breast cancer. She was 17 at that time. “It was a difficult, life-changing experience that maybe led me to where I am now,” Dr. Dolendo admits. When she was already studying medicine at the West Visayas State University in Iloilo City, she wanted to become a doctor to the barrios. “I think Dr. Juan Flavier might have influenced me,” she says. “I had this romantic view of being assigned to some far flung, under-served barrio making a difference in the lives of simple barrio folks.” She became a doctor, got married, had two children and came to Davao City, the home place of her husband, Engr. Gabriel de la Cruz Dolendo. This

was in 1994. “It was pretty scary because I came alone. My husband was already working in Singapore. I remembered coming down the plane carrying my toddler daughter and my son’s arms wrapped around my legs,” she says. The following year, she did her pediatric residency at Davao Medical Center (which is now known as Southern Philippine Medical Center) and completed her training in 1998 as chief resident. “Davao Medical Center at that time was just like most public hospitals: dark, dirty with lots of patients and inadequate facilities and resources,” she recalls. “It was very daunting and if not for my father in law, I would not have chosen to go there. He convinced me that I would get the best training from DMC and it

Dr. Mae Concepcion J. Dolendo will make me a very good doctor.” Then Singapore beckoned. “I never had plans of leaving the country,” she says. “I just wanted to stay here and help. Working with marginalized families as a pediatric resident in a public hospital further cemented this determination to help others.” However, her husband thought it would be best for the family to be together. “Singapore had the best schools in Asia and it would be good for the children,” she says. “I was also contemplating on going into pediatric subspecialty training and thought that maybe i would get very good training in Singapore which is in the forefront of medical care.” Dr. Dolendo spent another year of pediatric rotation at the

Myrna Loretero and her son, Miguel.

Bonding moments of some cancer patients and watcher.

National University Hospital in Singapore. “My initial interest was in gastroenterology but after spending time with the pediatric oncology team I decided it was the kind of doctor I would like to be,” she says. She was captivated by what Prof. Quah Thuan Chong -- whom she describes as “my inspiration and role model” -- was doing. “I was very impressed to see children with cancer being cured and I was inspired by the compassionate, intelligent and hard-working team looking after these children. I wanted to learn how to be a pediatric oncologist so I can help children with cancer in Davao. I did not know pediatric cancer was curable. Most of the children with cancer I cared for back home died and to me, being able to save these children was something worth doing.” In 2004, she decided to return to Davao. When her friends -- who were mostly Chinese -- learned that she was going back to her native land, they threw her a farewell party. “Actually, there were several parties,” she says. “And for each party, they gave me a red envelopes or hongbao.” Dr. Dolendo accumulated a significant amount from the said gifts. Instead of spending it on material things, she decided to use as seed money for the Davao Children’s Cancer Fund, Inc., which she registered the same year she returned. “Childhood cancer is curable,” says Dr. Dolendo, who is the head of SPMC’s Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Unit (CCBDU) “But the treatment may take several months and even years for some. I think one of the major stumbling blocks in the treatment and cure among children with cancer is the lack of access to health care institutions that can provide multispecialty care.” The Merck Manual of Medical Information shares this: “It is difficult for the healthcare team and the family to maintain a sense of normalcy for the child, especially considering the child’s frequent hospitalizations and office visits for treatment of the cancer and its complications. Overwhelming stress is typical, as parents

struggle to continue to work, be attentive to siblings, and still attend to the many needs of the child with cancer.” Despite the fact that there were two very good specialists before 2004 at the SPMC, there was no dedicated infrastructure for pediatric cancer. “Diagnostic facilities were pretty basic,” Dr. Dolendo says. “Treatment was paid mostly out of pocket; patients and families stay in the ward for long periods of time due to lack of places to stay in Davao; and even if patients were diagnosed most of them dropped out of treatment because of the length of treatment. “Families were exhausted financially and emotionally,” Dr. Dolendo adds. “Survival was less than 10 percent because of financial incapacity and treatment abandonment.” Something must be done somewhere. So, Dr. Dolendo helped convince SPMC to convert an old dorm within the compound into what is now known as the House of Hope. It was renovated to serve as a transient home for children with cancer. “Every year, almost 150 new patients from all over Mindanao come to seek treatment at SPMC,” she says. In 2007, the House of Hope, a single-floor facility with seven rooms, was launched. Since then, more than 2,000patients and 4,000 caregivers have benefited from its clean and wholesome environment. Two caregivers are allowed for each patient; the caregivers help keep the house and its environment clean in exchange for a free stay. Those who stay at the House of Hope are not only from the far-flung places of Davao region; some come from provinces as far as Zamboanga, Cotabato, Sarangani, and Surigao. “In fact, there are those from the Visayas and even from Luzon who came here for treatment,” Dr. Dolendo says. “We monitor our patients closely after treatment,” she says. “Chances of relapse are higher during the first two years and we sigh with relief after 5 years but we consider

“It was a difficult, lifechanging experience that maybe led me to where I am now,” Dr. Mae Concepcion J. Dolendo

ten years without relapse as cure.” Its data for six years (20082014) showed that for acute lymphoblastic leukemia alone, the overall survival is 59 percent over 6 years. “This is quite good considering majority of our patients come from marginalized families and would not have a chance at all for cure taking into account the total cost of treatment,” she says. Pediatric solid tumors require more resources inasmuch as they entail surgery, chemotherapy and even radiotherapy; average overall survival is about 50 percent across tumor types. Late stage presentation, treatment noncompliance and abandonment are still major challenges but providing cure for children with cancer does not happen overnight even in the best places. “We have patients from 2004 who have passed the 10year mark but we are still in the process of going back now that we have better data management support to collect data so we can get the total picture,” Dr. Dolendo says. Most people believe that being diagnosed with cancer is a death sentence. This is the reason “Survivor’s Day” is held every December 8. “We asked those who completed treatment and survivors of child cancer to return to provide inspiration for other patients undergoing treatment,” Dr. Dolendo says. “They are living proof that childhood cancer is indeed curable.”

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

EDITORIAL Tip of the iceberg

OLICE may have netted 20 suspected drug pushers during a dawn raid on a community in Davao City last Saturday, but by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO)’s own admission, drugs are still rampant in the area. The police operation, which targeted the leaders of a known drug syndicate, has apparently touched only the tip of the iceberg, with an entire mountain of ice – to use one of the slang words for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu – still hiding beneath the surface. This leads us to a very inconvenient paradox, one that should give pause to those who believe the rhetoric that Davao City does not have a drug problem. If Davao City is as it is being portrayed to be, that is, one that is relatively safe from the reaches of drug syndicates and pushers, then why do we periodically see the arrest and often even the summary execution of suspected drug dealers?

EDGEDAVAO

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The very fact that they keep getting arrested and killed means drugs do get sold right here. What is even harder to admit is that the so-called vigilantes who have been doing the summary killings for more than a decade are apparently not causing a dent on the drug scene in the city. Dabawenyos have taken some illicit pride in these killers, crediting them for the peaceful atmosphere we enjoy today. In Davao City, we proudly proclaim, it is the criminal who is afraid, not the law-abiding citizen. But let’s have a reality check here: if the drug dealers are afraid, then why are they still operating? And why is there an apparent air of impunity among them? These questions have no ready answers, but one fact remains: drugs are a real problem, and it will take all of us to lick it. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

The other side of marriage

ARRIAGE is one of the greatest institutions created by God in the Garden of Eden. The first marriage was initiated by God between Adam and Eve. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). But despite its being sacred, marriage has not been spared by people from poking fun on it. The great Leonardo Da Vinci, for instance, said, “Marriage is like putting your hand into a bag of snakes in the hope of pulling out an eel.” G.K. Chesterton has a similar view: “Marriage is an adventure, like going to war.” After all, “marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can’t sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can’t sleep with the window open.” If we have to believe what British playwright George Bernard Shaw said. If “I am” is the shortest sentence in the English language, then what is the longest sentence? “I do,” said George Carlin. Marriage is not a word – it is a sentence. Women have so many ideas about men and getting married. Here’s one from Jean Kerr: “Marrying a man is like buying something you’ve been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get it home, but it doesn’t always go with everything in the house.” A man’s reply: “Getting married is very much like going to a restaurant with friends. You order what you want; then, when you see what the other fellow has, you wish you had ordered that.” Humorist Helen Rowland shares, “Before marriage, a man declares that he would lay down his life to serve you; after marriage, he won’t even lay down his newspaper to talk to you.” Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who’ll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness? Yes, you’re right. It means you’re in the wrong house. The late film actor George Burns said this in one of his hit movies.

VANTAGE POINTS

Here’s a one-liner from THINK ON THESE! Milton Berle: Your marriage is in trouble if your wife says, “You’re only interested in one thing,” and you can’t remember what it is. Marriage is like television. Twenty is when you watch the Henrylito D. Tacio TV after. Forty is henrytacio@gmail.com when you watch the TV during. Sixty is when you watch the TV instead. Please don’t get me wrong, okay? Remember what Helen Rowland said? “When you see a married couple walking down the street, the one that’s a few steps ahead is the one that’s mad.” “A man who says his wife can’t take a joke, forgets that she took him,” Oscar Wilde pointed out. That was what Kathy Lette also thinks. “Why can’t women tell jokes?” she asked. “Because we marry them!” Hollywood sex goddess Zsa Zsa Gabor seemed to agree, “A man is incomplete until he is married. After that, he is finished.” Max Kauffmann, however, never heard that statement. “I never knew what real happiness was until I got married,” he said. “And by then it was too late.” Socrates learned his lessons well: “By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” Now, you know why he became a philosopher? The husband is usually at losing end when it comes to marriage. Film actor Woody Allen states, “In my house I’m the boss, my wife is just the decision maker.” Joey Adams thundered, “Marriage

is give and take. You’d better give it to her or she’ll take it anyway.” A husband’s last words should always be, “Okay, buy it!” Each person has different view about his or her mate. “Women hope men will change after marriage but they don’t; men hope women won’t change but they do,” said Bettina Arndt in Private Lives. Even a beauty like Marilyn Monroe can’t get hold of her man. “Before marriage, a girl has to make love to a man to hold him,” she commented. “After marriage, she has to hold him to make love to him.” No wonder, she married several times and went to bed with several men. There are some formulas for a happy marriage. S.T. Coleridge contends, “The happiest marriage I can imagine to myself would be the union of a deaf man to a blind woman.” That is why Rodney Dangerfield has said this: “I haven’t spoken to my wife in years. I didn’t want to interrupt her.” To either husband or wife, Benjamin Franklin suggests, “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half-shut afterwards.” Anne Taylor Fleming believes that “a long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time.” Henry Youngman was once asked about the secret of his marriage. His reply: “We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week: a little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.” Another one from Youngman: “I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.” Love and marriage are two different things. “Love is one long sweet dream, and marriage is the alarm clock,” someone quipped. Marriage also changes passion — suddenly you’re in bed with a relative. On second thought, marriage – according to Alan King – is nature’s way of keeping us from fighting with strangers. Estelle Getty has this view: “If love means never having to say you’re sorry, then marriage means always having to say everything twice.”

ditions but rather the unequal access to opportunities and amenities, if not pleasures, readily available and accessible to people around them who are enjoying higher general living standards. Hence, a transient poor in Davao City may be considered non-poor when to be found in other areas with lower standards of living. Translating it into a real life situation, a foreigner who married a Filipina and belonged to the lowest income level in his first world country of origin may transit to a higher income category after relocating to the Philippines. Poverty in Philippines, however, is beyond the sphere of income inequality. It is also characterized with the prevalence of chronic poor in many parts of the country particularly in the remote provinces. Chronic poor are those who are almost resigned to being poor for the rest of their lives. These are the poor who are in “destitution,” deprived of food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter and health care. Almost half of the chronically poor in the Philippines are in Mindanao and more than seven of every ten chronically poor are in rural areas. The underpinning poverty problem of the chronic poor depends not only on income but also on access to social services, security of tenure and access to land assets and human capital particularly among the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and other minorities. In Davao City, however, access to physical assets also appears to be an urban problem as eight of the top ten poorest villages with problem on lot occupancy are urban barangays. Yet, the top two leading barangays under this

indicator are relatively rural: Pandaitan and Bago Oshiro. Of every ten households in these villages, nine are occupying lots that they do not own. While the post-Edsa administrations have introduced major anti-poverty programs, the whole gamut of poverty-alleviation initiatives are bent towards subsidizing the food supply and increasing the income of the poor. The bias towards palliative approach has been a major component, if not the most prevalent, since the “Tulong sa Tao” program of Pres. Cory Aquino, the Social Reform Agenda-Community Integrated Delivery of Social Services (SRA-CIDSS) of Pres. Fidel Ramos, the “Lingap para sa Mahirap” of Joseph Estrada and the Kapit Bisig Laban sa KahirapanCommunity Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) of Pres. Gloria Arroyo. During the middle part of her tenure, Arroyo introduced the more responsive Conditional Cash Transfer-Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (CCT-4Ps) which is now being continued and expanded under the present administration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. While these programs have unarguably benefited the poor, there remains the need to give greater emphasis on the human and social factors that permeate poverty. In fairness to Arroyo and Aquino, the implementation of CCT-4Ps has yielded initial gains in addressing the need to invest in human capital. Tales are abound particularly in rural villages and slum neighborhoods about parents actively encouraging their children to stay in school lest they will be disqualified from the program which offers them regular cash assistance per month. Despite the allegations of non-existing beneficiaries and other forms of corrupt practices, the desirable results from the implementation of CCT4Ps are a step forward in finding ways to address poverty beyond the seasonal provision of kilos of rice and cans of sardines. It demonstrates that education and other human capital investments are far better in empowering the poor to fulfill their basic needs and dreams to prosper than reducing them as passive and helpless recipients of food commodities and other dole outs.

Beyond the sphere of income inequality

COURIER service company outside the country or elsewhere in the Philippines may charge a standard fee for a parcel of goods addressed to a resident of barangay Tapak, Davao City. The addressee, after all, resides in a city classified as highly-urbanized. Unknown to many—including perhaps to some Davao City residents—Tapak is the northernmost barangay of the city exactly 160 kilometers from the downtown. In going to the village, one has to take a circuitous route via the municipality of Kapalong or Panabo in the neighboring Davao del Norte province. Reaching the village is definitely not an easy experience. While there are a few jeepneys plying up to the adjacent barangays, getting to Tapak proper takes at least four hours either through horseback riding or through the improvised habal-habal motorcycle, negotiating an arduous and hilly access road. Tapak’s geographic isolation appears to be the primary factor why it topped as the most poor barangay in Davao City based on a string of socio-economic indicators—ranging from health and education to shelter and food security—used in the conduct of participatory rapid appraisal by the local government. Like the rest of the country, poverty in Davao City remains dominant in the rural setting. Of the ten poorest barangays in the city, nine are in the rural areas, home to around 280,000 out of the 1.4 million Davao City’s total population. Overall, more than a third (or almost 4 in every ten) of people in the Philippines live in poverty. Majority of the country’s poor are transient or seasonal who are vulnerable to episodes of economic contraction, armed conflict, man-made calamity and human-induced natural disaster that often result to temporary loss of jobs and the corresponding income. When the number of transient poor increases, the prevailing income inequality widens as the proportion of population with income lower than the poverty line also takes a sharp turn. Some of the contemporary economists are of the opinion that the core poverty problem among the transient poor is not the presence of abject con-

Mayday! Mayday!

FAST BACKWARD BY THE ARCHIVIST

N the early dawn of May 2, 1945, rapid gunfire in two successions greeted the day. The bullets were intended for two Okinawan soldiers who were guarding the Bankerohan Bridge. For one, the event signaled the liberation of the city, and it was collaborated by the gingerly flying of a light plane above the city, much like a hawk in flight, while sporadic firing punctuated areas more as a celebration than it was as a declaration of freedom. A local historian poignantly remembered the unfolding event. On the same day, American planes stationed in the southwest Pacific staged fierce bombardments of Japanese installation in the city. Fearing heavy casualties from the U.S. onslaughts, the puppet government was compelled to move its headquarters to Tugbok. Sadly, during this period, Pacifico Sobrecarey, a commissioner for Mindanao and Sulu, fell into Japanese hands and was horribly tortured before being killed for his refusal to cooperate with the Japanese Imperial Army. The first American troops to enter the city on May 3 were combat elements under the 24th Division led by Maj. Gen. Woodruff. After marching over 115 miles, which took two weeks to negotiate, the ingress to the once Japanese-dominated metropolis was easy. On the road, there was lesser opposition, although the resistance was felt in the outskirts of the city. House-to-house fighting ensued as the troops rushed to drive the enemy to the hills. What the Japanese did was destroy nearly all vestiges of progress before deciding to move inland where they were holed up defending their last stand. Along the way, the friendly troops seized the airfields at Padada, Darong and Daliao. But, more important, was the effort the troops had to invest in clearing the extensive mines and other lethal objects planted by the retreating Japanese on the beach. Recovered along the route were an elaborate system of abandoned batteries and the discovery of numerous coastal defense installations that were still intact. On May 5, 1945, the 24th Division of the US Army under Maj. Gen. Roscoe Woodruff, restored the Davao Commonwealth government in the city, appointing Pantaleon Pelayo, Sr. as the first liberation mayor. In reaching Davao, the American combatants had to trek overland from Parang in Cotabato, through the Japanese-infested territories of Digos and Sta. Cruz, both under Davao del Sur province, and Toril, in the city’s third congressional district. Time, in reporting on the fall of Davao City, chronicled: “…24th Division troops stormed into Davao, capital of Mindanao and last large Philippine city in Japanese hands, after one of the toughest marches in Pacific annals—more than 140 miles in 17 days from the Parang landing beach. They found most of the Japanese army gone, the elaborate defenses abandoned. All the wicked-looking pillboxes had faced seaward—the wrong way. “Gone, too, were Davao’s 18,000 leading citizens, the smiling Japs who had come to this town long before Dec. 7, 1941, acquired 75% of its wealth, made it a “little Tokyo” in the Philippines and plastered big Tokyo with posters urging other Japs to settle there. Suspicious Manilans called it “Davao-kuo”—a somber reference to the process by which the Japs had moved into Manchuria, then renamed it Manchukuo. “Why the civilians had left Davao was not clear. Perhaps they sincerely dreaded American vengeance, perhaps their own troops drove them away. But the troops, it was clear, had left a few units behind for house-to-house fighting, then retreated to the hills to rat-fight from caves and ridges, in conformance with standard Japanese tactics.”

10 THE TRAVEL TELLER EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

I kissed the skies of

arangani S By OLAN FERNANDEZ EMBOSCADO

HE sun was up scorching at 34 degrees Celsius that day. It was hotter than I expected. I wished I hadn’t worn my tank top. My arms were dreadfully grilled, and the itching was becoming unbearable. But instead of complaining, I just I reminded myself why I was submitting myself to the burning weather. This was sizzling Sarangani and I was here for what I called the flight of my life – at the Sarangani Paraglide. When a friend laid down the itinerary for our Sarangani Tour telling me excitedly about the inclusion of Sarangani Paraglide, I couldn’t contain my excitement. It’s just that this kind of adventure is way too far from the usual outdoor things I do, and knowing how this would change me made me more excited. The thought of free flying hundreds of feet above the ground and me up there kissing the skies thrilled me. And now that it was unfolding, I picture-painted the freedom that came with it. Sarangani Paraglide is the first and the only paragliding company in Mindanao. It is located at Safii Ranch Paragliding Flysite in Barangay Seguil, Maasim, Sarangani Province. The site is about 950-feet above the sea level, making it a perfect spot for paragliding because of its vast ridges and cliffs needed for the foot launch. Paragliding is an air adventure that uses a foot launched glider aircraft that solely relies on wind conditions. Sarangani Paraglide promises one helluva flight. There are only three paragliding sites in the Philippines. One is in Carmona, Cavite, the second one is in Bontoc, Mountain Province, and finally the Sarangani Paraglide in Sarangani Province. It was three years ago when paragliding was first introduced in this very site. It was the group of paraglide enthusiasts from General Santos City who started this air adventure and has since become one of the most sought after extreme adventures in Mindanao. It was also three years ago after hear-

ing this when I started dreaming to try this type of thrill I’ve never experienced before. Safii Ranch Paragliding Flysite is about 30 minutes ride from General Santos City. To get there, we took a passenger van bound to Maasim and dropped off at the entrance of the SAFII Ranch. From there, aboard 4X4 van, our host and pilot Titoy Romano, drove us to the launching site which is on a hilltop overlooking the stunning view of Sarangani Bay. The ride going up to the site was bumpy and we drove through very rough, sharp, and stony limestone-clad trails bouncing up and down inside the vehicle. “What a challenging way to start this extreme adventure” were the only thoughts I could come up with. At the launching site, the breathtaking view of Sarangani Bay became more inviting. It was a perfect day. The azure skies complimented the bluish bay and warm wind caressing my face signaled a perfect and extraordinary flight. But knowing I was almost a thousand feet above sea level and I was about to take the leap made me shiver. I never had acrophobia. In fact I always love being on top, but free flying across the skies was beyond doubt different. Yes, there was fear now but I told myself to keep calm, focus, and

enjoy this flight of my life. “Relish it. Savor it. Feel it.” I commanded myself over and over again as I began suiting up for my turn. Titoy was my tandem pilot. He made sure the harness was properly secured and promised me for a remarkable flight that day. As he started his instructions, I keenly listened to him, trying to absorb every word he said. “One mistake and I’m done,” I told myself. But honestly, I couldn’t process all of it. My mind was too busy entertaining thoughts of what would happen in case we crashed. Oh yes, I was paranoid. But somehow I managed to stay calm and believed that this wanderlust and this appetite for great adventure would mean no harm to me. So, there I was waiting for my turn. Minutes later, I found myself geared up to launch with Titoy as my tandem pilot. I must admit, there was this sudden rush of fear that made me panicky at an instant.

Titoy noticed it but he calmed me down and reminded me to stay focused and free my mind from all thoughts and just think about flying – free flying. At his signal, we ran so fast and in few seconds we gently took off into the wind. It was fast and all I can remember was that I was shouting at the top of my lungs: “This is it. This is the flight of my life!” Titoy, being so used to this kind of flying, was so reassuring, letting me relish the freedom I was feeling literally up above the skies. He told me to un-

leash all the negative thoughts I had and savor the moment that I was there – up up and away. Being up in the air more than a thousand feet above sea level, suspended by lines attached to an inflatable wing, was truly a magical experience – an uplifting exhilaration incomparable to other adventures I made in the past. It’s more like a mixture of fear and thrill – braving to launch on a cliff to soar high like a free bird. Yes, we soared high flying engineless across the skies. It was a crazy crazy flight. As the flight went on, I relaxed myself and remained stunned with the wonderful panoramic view beneath my feet. I was in total and utter awe as my eyes met with a vast panorama that quite literally took my breath away. I couldn’t help comparing how much I admired the view of the scenery from this kind of flight compared with the numerous flights I had with airplanes. Here, I had a 360-degree view of everything under me. After six minutes of flying, Titoy signaled that it was time to land. I wanted to fly more, to be on the air for a little longer, but every amazing experience should come to end. From a distant, we soared back from where we

launched and slowly went down to land. It was a smooth landing. I felt like all the goodness of the skies connived to give me that one perfect flight. I walked fast to the shaded area so fulfilled and overjoyed with what I’ve achieved. I felt so high and that feeling lasted for a few minutes. I couldn’t contain my happiness. Flying has done something so hard to explain. Yes, it’s magical. As we headed back to the 4X4 truck, I gazed at the very spot where we launched our wings and I smiled knowing I had done something so incredible and that I’d never ever forget for the rest of my life. Because I remember, there were days I dreamt of flying, not inside the enclosed cabins or gigantic planes, but free flying where I can touch the skies and feel the wind beneath my feet, and I did them all gliding the mesmerizing skylines of Sarangani. What an uplifting experience! SARAGANI PARAGLIDE made that dream come true. Thank you! Thank you! FOR MORE INFORMATION: SARAGANI PARAGLIDE Saffi Ranch 1, Sitio Seguil, Barangay Tinoto Maasim, Sarangani province +639228071961 +639333736871 Facebook Page: Sarangani Paraglide

11 ICT HUB

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

CONNECT THE WORLD. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (left) arrives for a press conference at the Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile phone trade show in Barcelona, Spain, on March 2, 2015. At right, Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, talks during the conference. (AP Photos/Manu Fernandez) Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service Case No.2000-XI-00116 ARLENE Q. ASIS, Petitioner

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: CIRCULATION ROUTE 13 and for cargoes as dual services from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on March 1, 2015. In the petition filed on February 16, 2015, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 17, 2015 at 09:30 a.m. at this office at the above address. At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 16th day of February 2015 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Google, Facebook update plans to connect world

CI-FI solutions or making friends one at a time? Google and Facebook want more people online, searching around and clicking on ads. And they are finding new ways to make it happen — from selling smartphone data plans, to using solar-powered drone aircraft as floating cell towers to partnering with telecom providers in the developing world to get people hooked on apps. The two Internet giants gave updates on their efforts at the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona on Monday. And while Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google Vice President Sundar Pichai say they might like to collaborate more, they are taking very different approaches to getting the world connected.

Internet.org is Facebook’s fledgling effort to create new users in countries with little or low Internet use. Zuckerberg said Monday that it has launched apps with basic free services in six countries: Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Colombia and most recently, India. Zuckerberg said initial feedback from telecom partners in those countries has been positive, and called the app an “onramp” for paid services. “Even if they have never used Internet in their life, they have basic services they can use— communication, health, education and jobs— and that basically serves as an onramp so people can learn why they would want to pay for data,” Zuckerberg said. “And we are finding that is growing paid subscribers and overall sub-

scribers of the Internet.” The app is customized for each country and telecom operator so as to lure new users while not hurting the telecoms’ already existing base of customers by offering free versions of services users already pay for. That is the reason why Internet.org does not include the WhatsApp messaging service, bought by Facebook last year. Mario Zanotti, Senior Vice President of Operations at Millicom, said that Internet.org was working well for his company’s business in Paraguay. “Internet is an abstract concept. We need to bring it down to earth,” he said. Earlier, Pichai announced Google’s plans to start testing the use of solar-powered drone aircraft as “floating cell towers” that could bring cov-

erage to remote areas or even disaster zones. He also said that Google’s “Project Loon” — which uses high-altitude air balloons to provide coverage for rural areas — had advanced to the point that the balloons are expected to be ready in two years. “The model is really beginning to work, so we have started large-scale testing,” he said. “You can imagine a constellation of balloons and planes together, which we can stitch together to create a mesh of floating cell towers. That’s what we trying to do. “We will be flying these planes out in the coming few months. That’s the next big step for us.” While both executives said they would be willing to work more together— Internet.org, for example, includes Google

Search— they also made sure to underscore their differences. “No one company can bring connectability at scale for 4 billion people, and we are happy to work with them to provide our services on Internet.org, so that’s exciting for me,” Pichai said. “Having said that, it’s complementary, but what we are trying to do is different. We are trying to provide the actual backbone, the physical connectability at scale across the globe, so it is different.” Facebook is also experimenting with drones and satellites, however Zuckerberg said that the focus on hightech fixes is “sexy” but not as important as helping local telecom operators grow their businesses. JOSEPH WILSON, Associated Press

age worldwide, Globe has also forged tie-ups with operators in 10 more countries, allowing postpaid customers to enjoy its flat rate for unlimited data roaming service in popular international destinations such as Canada, New Zealand, Turkey, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, bringing overall countries covered to over 80 worldwide. “We are delighted to see that more and more Globe postpaid customers are enjoying our unlimited data roaming service as they stay connected while abroad without the need for Wi-Fi connection. With the P599 flat rate valid for 24 hours from the time data roaming is activated,

customers can enjoy value for money and a worry-free mobile surfing experience so they can browse, send e-mails, post on social networks, upload photos, and use apps all they want – without the fear of billshock,” said Coco Domingo, Vice President for Roaming Business at Globe. Domingo adds, “With this innovative service, customers need not worry about the sites they visit and apps they use, and be mindful of corresponding data roaming charges. Our P599 per day unlimited data roaming offer gives them access to everything they need, whether they travel for work or for leisure.” The P599 flat rate for un-

limited data roaming service per day protects users from bill shock, allowing them to surf worry-free. With the offer following a 24-hour cycle, users can stay connected all day without needing to worry about extra charges. It also promotes a hassle-free experience without the need to memorize registration keywords, take note of multiple data roaming rates, or track different time zones to avail of the best offers. With the simple activation of the data roaming switch on smartphones, customers can already avail of the flat data roaming rate. By subscribing to the offer, users are also given an added

bonus of free travel insurance with TravelCare to protect them from flight delays or cancellations, loss of baggage, and medical emergencies worth up to P200,000 for 30 days. For those traveling within the Globe list of partner countries, postpaid customers will receive a welcome message that includes the partner carrier in the selected country once they land. Upon activating their mobile data and data roaming in their country of destination, customers will automatically be connected to the partner carrier of that country. They can start using the service upon receiving a confirmation text for the P599 per day offer.

Globe sees hike in data roaming business with daily flat rate offer

LOBE Telecom has seen a boost in its data roaming business in 2014 as more postpaid customers have availed themselves of its flat rate for unlimited data roaming service which comes with free travel insurance. The number of data roaming customers increased by 40% in 2014 as the appetite for internet connectivity while abroad has grown. With the P599 flat rate per day, Globe postpaid customers get access to unlimited mobile surfing without the fear of bill shock, giving them a worry-free experience anytime, anywhere. In order to reach more customers and expand cover-

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DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE

Director of Sales

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JOCELYN S. PANES

Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601

EDMUND P. RENDON

General Santos City

Mobile: (Sun) 0925-357-3460 (Smart) 0907-202-3844

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

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EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

The BrainFit advantage EVERY dedicated and concerned parent keeps track of their child’s development in school. Some even go the extra mile by giving children supplementary aid through special classes or tutorial sessions to better enhance their little learner’s understanding and comprehension, particularly on subjects they have a little difficulty with. As each child is unique, so are their learning style and focus. Some ace their grades simply by listening in class, while some are more visual. Top performers in class pick up lessons faster and they remember them more. Outside of the class setting, top performers in arts or sports also have above average abilities on attention to detail, balance and coordination,

speed, among other traits. There are also kids who seem to show less interest in academics as compared to skills training and extra curricular activities. Whatever their problems areas, these are only indicators, not of their inabilities but, instead, weaknesses and needs which can be improved if given the right attention. A child deemed to be inattentive

or careless in class may actually just be displaying behaviors which affect his learning and focus. There are several studies which show that intelligence is partly hereditary. How to optimize your

BrainFit A4

BrainFit Singapore’s Ms. Goh, Choon Kim talks about how to keep the brain fit.

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STYLE

Smart and McDonald’s partner to promote strong connections Two industry leaders – leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. and world’s largest fastfood chain McDonald’s – have come together to offer a valuable treat that gives Filipinos more reason to stay in touch with family and friends. Now, every order of any McDonald’s Value Meal plus fries or sundae comes with a FREE Super Messaging 10 coupon from Smart, which offers a whole day of unlimited text and unlimited access to mobile chat apps. Designed to cover all messaging needs, Super Messaging 10 gives Smart Prepaid subscribers nationwide one day of unlimited text to all Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text subscribers, as well as allday access to top chat apps such as Facebook Messenger, Line, Viber, WeChat and Whatapp – without need for WiFi connection. With its perfect combination of unlimited text and chat, Super Messaging 10 adds even greater value to McDonald’s World Famous Fries and sundae, which are two popular value-for-money items on the fastfood’s Everyday McSavers menu. Meaningful personal and digital connections “Smart is proud to partner with McDonald’s, which has established itself as a happy place where Pinoys can get together and create real-life connections – much in the same way that Smart, as the country’s leading mobile network, has enabled Pinoys to keep meaningful interactions with their loved ones anytime and anywhere through mobile technology,” said Charles A. Lim, Executive Vice President and head of Wireless Consumer Division at Smart. “This shared value led us together to foster greater connectedness among Pinoys through FREE Super Messaging 10, which provides all the means to stay close and connected to family and friends even beyond their bonding time,” Lim added. “McDonald’s has always provided the best value to its customer by serving great tasting food at affordable prices in a friendly restaurant environment. With this new partnership with Smart, we are able to give our customers even more value with FREE Super Messaging 10, allowing them to stay connected with their loved ones even outside our restaurants,” said McDonald’s Senior Vice President for Marketing, Margot Torres. To get a FREE Super Messaging 10 coupon, simply add any Everyday McSavers item, such as a regular fries or sundae, to your favorite Breakfast Value Meal, Chicken Value Meal, Burger Value Meal or McSaver Meal. All Smart Prepaid subscribers nationwide, as well as Smart Bro Prepaid subscribers, can redeem the FREE Super Messaging 10 coupons by simply texting the unique code found inside using the format: Super10<SPACE><Coupon Code> to 6236. A free notification from Smart will indicate successful registration. With unlimited text on your mobile device, nothing will hold you back anymore from sending thoughtful and heartfelt messages to your friends and loved ones. On the other hand, with unlimited chat, you can stay active on your favorite chat apps and send cute emoji and chat stickers to perk up your conversations – all without need for WiFi connection. Rewarding experience for subscribers “This promo is one of the many awesome treats that give Smart Prepaid subscribers nationwide a really rewarding experience. Our subscribers can expect more perks and freebies as we move toward further enriching their mobile lifestyle,” said Joel Lumanlan, Smart Prepaid head. The FREE Super Messaging 10 coupon is available to Dine-In, Takeout, Drive-Thru and McDelivery customers at any McDonald’s outlets nationwide until April 21. Redemption of the FREE Super Messaging 10 codes by Smart subscribers is until June 21. For more information on Smart Prepaid’s Super Messaging 10, simply visit www1.smart.com.ph/Prepaid/offers/supermessaging10. To check out McDonald’s offerings, visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph/

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

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ENTERTAINMENT

Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes shows charisma as a clergyman in Pari Koy KAPUSO Primetime King Dingdong Dantes takes on a role he has never done before in GMA’s newest inspirational drama series entitled Pari Koy.

Dingdong, one of the country’s most soughtafter leading men who is blessed not just with bountiful talents but especially with the heart to reach out and act upon his advocacies, will portray the role of Father Kokoy Evangelista. Everyone may want to be part of Kokoy’s world. Aside from having the complete package of good looks, humor, warmth, and wisdom, he is also being looked upon because of his on-point principles in life. A go-to person in times of problems, Kokoy is the kind of friend who will unconditionally offer a shoulder to lean on. He is the ideal guy, the Mr. Right, and the man any woman would like to introduce to her parents. But here’s the catch: Kokoy is a priest. Father Kokoy better known as “Pari Koy” is a priest who is known for his non-traditional and non-conformist ways of bringing closer to God. He will do anything just to show that it is cool to believe. But his own faith will be put to the test when he is assigned in the parish of Barangay Pinagpala and starts to deal with the people of the community. Set in a contemporary barangay, stellar performances will be delivered by some of the country’s respected and talented artists including Sunshine Dizon as Noemi, the secretary of the parish in Pinagpala who remains to be optimistic despite being maltreated by her husband; Chanda Romero as Martha, the self-righteous leader of the lay workers in the parish of Pinag-

as the director of Pari ‘Koy who is known not only for tackling social relevance but for uplifting the human spirit and evoking hope through his masterpieces. From the original concept of Christine Novicio, Pari Koy is created by the GMA Drama group headed by Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Senior Vice

pala who is against the unconventional ways of Father Kokoy; Luz Valdez as Esther, one of the lay workers in the parish who loves to talk about gossips and rumors; and Dexter Doria as Salome, also a lay worker who loyally serves in the parish despite being teased by Martha and Esther. Another highlight to look forward to is how Father Kokoy puts his faith in action as he meets the people of Barangay Pinagpala. Playing equally vital roles are Gabby Eigenmann as Jude, the influential and corrupt chairman of Barangay Pinagpala; Rap Fernandez as Sol, the right-hand person of Jude, who helps him with his illegal schemes; JC Tiuseco as Timo, the irresponsible brother of Noemi; and Carlo Gonzales as Simon, the abusive husband of Noemi who fails to provide for his family. Bringing more delight in the series are characters to be portrayed by GMA Artist Center’s homegrown talents led by Jillian

Ward as Sarah, the loving daughter of Noemi; Jeric Gonzales as Eli, the son of Salome who thinks of going to parish is uncool; Lindsay De Vera as Ava, the charming grandchild of Martha who will fall in love with Eli; Hiro Peralta as Sam, the closet homosexual brother of Father Kokoy; and David Remo as Pinggoy, the high-spirited “village’s son” of Barangay Pinagpala. How will Father Kokoy bring the people of Barangay Pinagpala closer to God? Will he be successful in instigating change in the community? Or will his faith and perspectives in life be moved by the people around him? And to helm this primetime series is the awardwinning director Maryo J. Delos Reyes. After the successful run of the primetime series Niño, GMA takes pride in having him

President for Entertainment TV; Redgie A. Magno, Vice President for Drama; Cheryl Ching-Sy, Assistant Vice President for Drama; Redgynn S. Alba, Program Manager; and Darling Pulido-Torres, Executive Producer. Pari Koy airs weeknights beginning March 9 after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.

March 2-3, 2015

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson R16

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CRAZY BEAUTIFUL YOU Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla PG

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FOCUS Will Smith, Margot Robbie R13

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FIFTY SHADES OF GREY / * PREDESTINATION Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan / * Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook R18 / * R16

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WOMEN BrainFit A1 intellectual capacity depends also on your environment and support system. Sleep quality, proper diet and “screen time” (exposure to distractions such as tv, computer and gadgets) also affect one’s focus and comprehension. Intelligence, cognitive ability or cognitive performance is usually measured through a series of tests which aim to quantify skills such as memory and analytical ability. Results vary between people in how they perform on such tests, which can be related to to genetic and environment factors. In this modern day and age, cognitive performance scores are used primarily because of their predictive ability. Educational attainment, income, job performance and health are all correlated with cognitive performance. In a short seminar given by the instructors of BrainFit Studio, parents were given an overview of how important it is to keep the brain “fit” especially starting at a young age. BrainFit is a highly specialized educational

program which offers the most up to date neuroscientific-based brain fitness training in Asia, with branches existing in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Similar to physical fitness, which is our foundational body skills that influences our performance in sports, brain fitness is our foundational brain skills which influence learning and achievement in school, work and daily life. Understanding that each individual has a unique brain profile, the program gives emphasis to the 5 Brain Pillars which comprises they key cognitive abilities that form the foundations for all learning: Attention and Memory, Sensory Motor Coordination, Auditory and Language Processing, Visual and Spatial Processing, and Social-Emotional Self-Regulation. Smart Programs, as they call it in BrainFit, aim to impart scholastic excellence while providing a rock solid foundation for life long learning. It helps exercise the mind to improve its ability to acquire, retain and pro-

BrainFit Studio Philippines’ president Ms. Jeanette Yu-Co discusses the different programs offered by BrainFit Studio. Moms strike a pose after the BrainFit seminar. tion and visual spatial training) with the aim of getting the cells “wire” and “work” together. For SMART LISTENING, brain training and exercise are done in a computer lab where a child is given separate workstations, engaged in special programs to improve his comprehension and auditory skills. SMART MOVES focuses on a child’s sensory fitness. The end goal of the whole program is to incess knowledge. There are his visual attention, visual crease mental capacity children who are already spatial sense and muscle through a more enjoyable intellectually superior coordination. A girl may and easier learning experiand not all need to un- be asked to jumped on the ence. Parents whose childergo the focus programs. trampoline (muscle co- dren underwent BrainFit There are also those who ordination training) and have reported improveare achievers in their own focus on the directional ments in their children right but has some needs arrows on the wall at the within 10 weeks. Some when it comes to inter- same time (visual atten- results are evident in the personal relationships or expressing emotions. This is also something which is covered in the Smart Programs which is offered to everyone, from a young child to an older individual. While results are more easily achieved with young minds, brain plasticity (changeability) is not limited to children. During a child’s first visit to the BrainFit studio, he undergoes a Cognitive Map assessment --- a tool used to measure and analyze the brain fitness level or cognitive skill of a student. Through this, instructors will be able to identify the key opportunity or improvement areas that need to be addressed. It also indicates one’s strengths which can be taken advantage to achieve success and optimum performance. It also serves as a “before snapshot” for pre and post programs comparison and evaluation. Once these strengths and weaknesses are identified, the child is given a program designed and customized according to his needs. It’s personalized to suit his unique abilities, ensuring that the brain is engaged at optimal intensity. In all exercises, there is simultaneous development of skills. For example, in SMART VISION, one may be working on

Similar to physical fitness, which is our foundational body skills that influences our performance in sports, brain fitness is our foundational brain skills which influence learning and achievement in school, work, and daily life.

penmanship and speed and ability to read, understand and memorize lines from a story. Most children not only perform better in school but also demonstrate higher selfesteem and greater interest in learning. Other development aspects observed include sentence structure and conversation skills, attentiveness, reading and spelling, interpersonal relationships, Math and theoretical concepts and academic progress. BrainFit Studio is opening a branch in Davao this March 17. Parents may inquire about their services through mobile number 0916 247 8765 or email them at brainfitphdavao@ gmail.com.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

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EDGEDAVAO

ter the area,” Pates said. She said members of Peace Builders cannot go back to the area because of threats. Pates said the recent dispute between members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

left many homes destroyed and many lives disturbed. She said children stopped going to school as a result. “They are all afraid of the war but they are still hopeful that peace will be attained by passing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL),” she said.

Andrea Maria Patricia M. Sarenas, chair of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE) which is composed of 12 CSO networks, said the BBL, which now in the House of Representatives and Senate for deliberation, should not be “watered down.”

National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), posted the highest poverty incidence of 68.9 percent compared to other areas in the ARMM. The same data also showed that Maguindanao is the second ARMM province with high poverty incidence of 57.8 percent. The island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi have slightly lower poverty incidence rates but are among the highest also in the entire country, the data added. “Areas in the proposed Bangsamoro, which are mostly composed of provinces under the current ARMM have lagged behind in terms of economic growth for years due to armed hostilities,” Bacani said. The proposed P17 billion SDF will be divided into an initial tranche of P7 billion for the first year of existence of the Bangsamoro, with P2 billion a year to be released for five years. “To ensure there would be no repeat of past sad experience in the utilization of pub-

lic funds, the government will implement strict audit and transparency rules in its use, first through the Bangsamoro audit agency proposed to be created also under the BBL, and also through the Commission on Audit,” Bacani said. He also urged civil society groups and other institutions to actively participate in monitoring the utilization of funds and the implementation of the projects under the SDF. Aside from the SDF, the government under the BBL will also provide the Bangsamoro government a 4 percent share out of the 60 percent revenue allotment budget of the national government that would reach P27 billion. Bacani said if approved by Congress, the block grant from the IRA would replace the annual subsidy given by the national government to the ARMM, which amounts to P24.3 billion under the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA). “For development to catch

up with poverty in the Bangsamoro region, the government sees fresh funds in rebuilding these war-torn areas as a tool for strengthening the peace,” he said. The move, he said, will make the Bangsamoro people feel the changes after the peace accord was signed by the government and the MILF. For her part, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles said the ultimate objective of providing these funds is to give a boost to the Bangsamoro region. “The fund will help strengthen the Bangsamoro region to become the anchor and sanctuary of our aspirations of shared prosperity and shared security – not only in the Philippines, but in Asia and across the globe,” Deles said. Deles also emphasized that Bangsamoro is inclusive and will affirm the government’s commitment that no one – Muslim, Christian or Lumad – will be left behind.

Mahipus said he cannot see why the DCWD cannot continuously supply water to the residents of the city since it earns billions of pesos from its collections. “There is no reason why they cannot buy, they cannot set aside funds to buy generator sets so that when brownout comes the water supply will continuously flow to the residents of Davao,” he said. In a statement, DCWD spokesperson Bernardo D. Delima responded to Mahipus’ speech by saying the DCWD has a total of 54 pro-

duction wells in the city, which means the procurement of new generator sets will cost P500 million for all production wells. “DCWD is planning to put up generator sets in certain satellite stations in Tugbok, Toril, Lubogan, Cabantian, Panacan, Calinan Riverside, and Calinan Proper,” he said. Delima said that if the Tamugan Water Supply facility will open by 2019, there is no need for generators since the flow will be operated through gravity from the source. At the same time, he said

the city’s water supply is no longer affected by blackouts because the 36 production wells at the Dumoy system have had a special power line from Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) since last year. “One to two-hour brownouts will not cause water stoppage,” he said. Delima said a power outage of an hour or less will cause low water pressure in Cabantian and Panacan. If the outage is more than one hour, the water reserve will slowly get used up.

Before the Discon’s formal opening, there will be a district team training seminar to be hosted by District Governor-elect Salvador “Buddy” Estudillo to be participated in

by the incoming district officers to serve under Estudillo’s watch in Rotary Year 20152016. The highest RI dignitary to grace the Discon is PDG Pai-

Chou Tu, RI president’s representative. Past president Marie Josephine “Jing” B. de Vera, is the chairperson of this year’s Discon.

its beautiful shorelines, among others. To draw Israelis here, he noted that villages and “subsistent” communities here just need to improve infrastructures like accommodations that can cater to Israeli backpackers who are mostly travelling kilometers by foot. “For instance, you must have villages along the road that can provide accommodation for three to four dollars. It’s not a big money, but for a rural community it’s a big help,” he added. He said that the influx of tourists in subsistent communities will fuel an economy needed for progress and in-

clusive growth as well as for alleviation of poverty because these tourists can spend as much as $10 to $20 up to more than $100 daily Matityau noted that communities can start businesses by selling handicrafts and souvenirs to travelling tourists in the area. He said these tourists will continue to draw other tourists around the world because of its posted photos and experience in the community on their social networking accounts. Aside from infrastructure development, he said the country needs to promote and to market its tourist destina-

tions and develop trekking areas where backpackers would like to include on their lists of tourist destinations. One of the areas in Davao City that is being proposed to be developed for rural tourism are the villages along Bukidnon-Davao road, the Department of Tourism (DOT 11) regional director Roberto Alabado III said. The City Government of Davao in partnership with the private sector, communities and partnered DOT11 for the drafting of a development plan in the area which aims to create homestay programs and develop the site for tourism purposes. CRC

BBL... FROM 2

Mahipus...

FROM 2

Duterte... FROM 3 Israeli... FROM 5

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HARD WORK. Pure perseverance drives this determined little boy to pick water apples (locally known as tambis) with a wooden pole. Lean Daval Jr.

Avila... FROM 3

media. “I believe in the principle of subsidiarity, which in essence says that those people who are closest to the problem have the best chance of solving

the problem,” he said. Avila said for this reason, Mindanaoans reject the call for an all-out war because meaningful solutions can be arrived at if the people will re-

main steadfast on the course of peace. “Let us not allow the tragedy in Mamasapano rob the island of the possibility of lasting peace,” he said.

deadly improvised bomb. The IED was left near Simuay Hardware along Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato. It was the second bombing attempt by the BIFF that the government forces foiled

in two days. On Sunday night, Army bomb disposal team defused a powerful IED at a roadside in Barangay Kabingi, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao after a civilian alerted authorities of a suspicious bag

nearby. "Peoples participation about security matters is important to prevent terrorism," Pangilinan said even as he lauded the civilians for reporting quickly and accurately. (PNA)

plants and other ornamental plants. She said this is their way of helping the women and mothers aside from being part of the organizing group of the annual Agri-Trade Fair during Araw ng Dabaw and the Kadayawan sa Dabaw. Jimenez said they are also advocating green environment and promote organic practices instead of using pesticides. "This can be done easily and we had been teaching the women and mothers to practice in their gardens," she said.

“But there is still lot of work to do to change the attitude of people on becoming more environment friendly,” she added. Meanwhile, Jimenez said their members were now legitimate business operators after they had their businesses registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). She said they wanted to professionalize their operation after BIR Commissioner Kim Henares and during the BIR’s tax mapping operation that vendors were found out not issuing receipts. The BIR

Davao and FIDI had fixed the issue and had their businesses registered. She said if they operate legally, they can market anywhere and also make partnership in other cities and provinces. Jimenez said they also undergo continuing education on the marketing aspect an important component in the business. “We don’t just grow plants, we need to market them in order for us to earn,” she said. (PNA)

from Isulan, Kidapawan City, Koronodal City, Digos City, Sta. Cruz, Panabo City, Tagum City, M’lang, Mati City, Kabacan, and Davao City. The categories are the 10 years old and under unisex, 12 under, 14 under, 16 under and 18 under for boys and girls. Registration fee is P300 per entry. The other legs are in Sultan Kudarat (March 16-20),

Cagayan De Oro (March 22-26), General Santos City (March 28-April 1), Dumaguete City (April 5-9), Bohol (April 11-15), Cebu (April 17-21), Bacolod (April 23-27), Iloilo (April 29May 3), Kalibo (May 5-9), Bicol (May 5-9), Pampanga (May 10 -14), Olongapo (May 15-19), Urdaneta (May 20-24), Vigan (May 25-29), Baguio (May 30 – June 3) and Manila (June 3-7). The annual event organized

by Dynamic Sports Corporation is powered by GapheneXT with Head ATP as the official ball. It is backed by Chris Sports and Toalson. For further inquiry, contact Philta (09063374323) or Head Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit Secretariat (09155774323). To register, text HEAD <space> FULL NAME <space> CATEGORY <space> VENUE and send to Philta.

AFP... FROM 3

Floriculture... FROM 3

Globe-Head... FROM 15

EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

A TEAM TO CALL OUR OWN Davao’s MX3 joins Pilipinas Legends basketball league

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

AVAO City will have a team to call its own in the Pilipinas Legends after health and wellness brand MX3 formally signed up with the newly-organized league yesterday. Emilia Mendoza, chief executive officer of DMI Medical Supply Incorporated, signed the memorandum of agreement with Pilipinas Legends president Dick Balajadia at The Royal Mandaya Hotel during the weekly SCOOP Forum where the league was also formally launched to local sports media. Witnessing the signing was league commissioner Chito Loyzaga, himself a PBA legend. “DMI is determined to create a breakthrough in health-wellness that will contribute to the overall welfare of Filipinos in particular and humanity in general,” said Mendoza who also unveiled the official MX3 jersey. “We can accomplish these things through God’s help and with the popularity of the sport,” she added. Pilipinas Legends is a tour-

nament featuring retired PBA players and is set to take off on May 11 with the first conference dubbed as Legends Cup. Initially, it will play with four teams with one playing day a week every Saturdays. Like the PBA, it will also be carried by a television station which is yet to be announced pending finalization of the deal. “It’s not just a league for legends who wanted to play again. It’s for a bigger purpose,” said Loyzaga. “We will be part of a community that will extend help in cases of emergency and disasters. We will also promote a healthy lifestyle.” MX3 will be bannered by former four-time PBA MVP Alvin Patrimonio, Jojo Lastimosa, Dennis Espino, Zaldy Realubit, Victor Pablo, Sonny Cabatu, Zandro Limpot and Rey Evangelista. Also signing up yesterday was Goldlife, a health and wellness networking brand, with team owner Jaypee Solis of Goldlife Presidents Circle. Incidentally, Solis is a Davao-based businessman.

PILIPINAS LEGENDS. Emelia Mendoza (third from left), CEO of DMI Medical Supply Inc., with George Espejo of the MX3 team unveil their official team jersey with Pilipinas Legends president Dick Balajadia (extreme left) and commissioner Chito Loyzaga. At right is Jaypee Solis of Goldlife team. Boy Lim Goldlife will parade former MVP slash Rookie of the Year Benjie “Tower of Power” Paras,

high-flying Bong Alvarez, and “The Triggerman” Allan Caidic. Loyzaga said some 200 for-

mer PBA players have signified interest in playing or being part of the league organization. Aside

from MX3 and Goldlife, at least four other teams have shown interest in joining the league.

Danny wants Deped to explain on Davraa football controversy By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

SPORTS SEMINAR. Officers of the Dabaw City Sports Council Inc. led by president Dexter So (seated, extreme right) with Josephine Reyes and Jay Futalan of the Philippine Sports Commission Center for Sports Science after the 2-day Sports Science seminar. Boy Lim

Globe-Head junior netfest kicks off in Davao

HE nationwide 17th Globe-Head Graphene XT Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit kicks off in Davao City on March 10 to 14 at the Ecoland 1 Tennise Center. This is the first of the 17

legs nationwide presented by Head and Globe. It is a Group 2 event sanctioned by the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta) represented by Region 11-B Director Carol Angel. “We’re expecting the best

young tennis players in Mindanao to join,” said tournament director Marivic Loquinario at the SCOOP Session of The Royal Mandaya Hotel. The players are coming

FGLOBE-HEAD, 14

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City councilor Danilo Dayanghirang on Tuesday said he will invite officials from the Department of Education at the Sangguniang Panglugsod (SP) for them to explain on the controversy arising from selection of Davao Region football teams to the coming Palarong Pambansa. Dayanghirang, in his privilege speech during yesterday’s regular SP session, said he received complaints from some parents that the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) elementary and football teams were allegedly dropped by Deped 11 office for the Palaro campaign. ADDU had represented Davao City in the recent Davraa Meet in Mati City and won the gold medals both in the boys’ elementary and secondary

divisions, but were allegedly dropped in favor of the second runner-ups due to a misunderstanding over Deped policies on the selection process. “We will invite the DepEd sports division to appear here to explain briefly what has transpired and what are their recommendations relative on this matter,” Dayanghirang said in his speech. The second district councilor said he received complaints from the parents of the players that DepEd opted to get players from other schools from other division to represent Davao Region to the Palarong Pambansa scheduled on May 3 to 9 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. The Palaro is the country’s biggest sporting competition for elementary and secondary athletes being held every year.

DMI, formally inked the dotted line with Pilipinas Legends president Dick Balajadia yesterday and even came up ready with an MX3 jersey with the number 1 on its back. MX3 should give Dabawenyos something to cheer for and call its very own. The MX3 line-up also looked awesome. Imagine this. Fourtime PBA MVP Alvin Patrimonio will be renewing his old role as “The Captain” with MX3 along with former PBA stars Jojo Lastimosa, Zandro Limpot, Dennis Espino and Victor Pablo. Throw in also reliable Zaldy Realubit, Rey Evangelista and Sonny Caba-

tu and you must be drooling now at a very impressive MX3 squad. The new league will have four squads and by far, two have signed up—MX3 and Goldlife, a networking business also specializing on health and wellness. Chito said they are talking to four to seven companies now including a car dealership and a freight company. The league will also be televised with playdates every Saturday. Close to signing, Chito said, of the TV deal. I can just imagine how fun it would be watching Pilipinas Legends. Picture this: Allan

Pilipinas Legends and the Mangosteen Magic

NEW basketball league is born and it’s called Pilipinas Legends. My good friend Chito Loyzaga blew into town yesterday to formally announce the birth of Pilipinas Legends which will be the new playground of retired PBA players. Chito, himself a PBA legend with that barrel-sized upper body, is wearing a familiar hat as league Commissioner. Being called that title is almost like second name to him having served as commissioner of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), the Philippine

Sports Commission (PSC), and the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). He even served as commissioner for a baseball league for a time. Fact is, he is even twitted as candidate to be the next PBA Commissioner. “I’m in demand,” said Chito over lunch yesterday. Aside from the PBA Legends, he is also a consultant of Blackwater in the PBA which recently beat fellow expansion team Kia last Sunday. I pressed on how much he is paid for that. He said quickly: “For a song.” Knowing Chito, he simply loves the sport.

LET’S GET IT ON

Neil Bravo

Back to Pilipinas Legends, it’s exciting to know that the first team to sign up for the league is a Davao-based company—DMI Medical Supply Inc., makers of the very popular MX3. Emilia Mendoza, CEO of

But, Deped 11 has debunked reports it has dropped the Ateneo teams from the Palaro. “That’s not correct,” Deped 11 spokesperson Jenelito S. Atillo said when asked if the reports were true. “Davao City will still be the lead group to represent Davao Region,” he added. Atillo, however, maintained that not all the members of the winning team will be able to play in the Palaro as it is the policy of the Davraa Board to get players from other divisions. He said the issue has been resolved after the Deped and coaches of the winning teams have deliberated on the matter. A total of 10 divisions are competing annually in the Davraa.

Caidic firing three point shots with abandon, Benjie Paras collaring rebounds, Alvin Patrimonio pirouetting to the hoop, or Johnny Abbarientos dishing off no-look passes. And MX3? Oh you got to love this team the way you love that coffee. It’s not official but I’d love to call that team Mangosteen Magic. How about that for a home team? Notes: Listen to “Let’s Get It On with Neil Bravo” on 105.9 Balita FM every Saturday 8-10 a.m. You may send comments and letters to this writer at bravoneil@rocketmail.com.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 248 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015