Edge Davao 7 Issue 267 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

LOOKING BACK. A graduate looks at his parents while the school’s graduation exercise is being held over the weekend at the Fil-Asian Mission Academy, Inc. along Bacaca Road in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

5 DEAD IN SINKING Man, 4 kids drown after boat capsized By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

INSIDE EDGE

abf@edgedavao.net

63-YEAR-OLD man and his four young grandchildren drowned when their small banca capsized off Bangkal, Davao City on Friday afternoon. Talomo Police Station identified the victims as Antonio Echaves, 63; Carl Vincent Intod, 6; Moreen Intod, 5; Justin Intod, 3; and Rafael Uros, 3, all from Muslim Village in

Bangkal. In an interview, Talomo Police Station commander Chief Inspector Alfredo Santillana told Edge Davao that the incident happened at around 4 p.m. on March 27. Santillana said the victims and five other children rode a small banca from their place in Muslim Village to Matina Aplaya where they were going

for a swim. Santillana said the boat capsized off Bangkal due to strong waves. He said Echavez tried to save the four younger children who did not know how to swim, but they all ended up drowning. The five other children, who were aged 9 and 10 years old, were able to swim to safe-

ty.

Following the incident, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Davao Station commander Lieutenant Commander Dann August Cariño reminded the public to be more careful in traveling by water, especially during the Holy Week when more people are expected to travel by boat. With a report from Cheneen R. Capon

LORDS OF THE RING Sports P16

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

EASTER EGGS. Young children play with huge egg replicas on display at the SM City Davao Annex ahead of the Grand Easter celebration. On Sunday, April 5, the Christian world will celebrate Easter or Resurrection Sunday, a festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the culmination of the Passion of Christ. Lean Daval Jr.

No major road closures, rerouting on Holy Week By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Traffic Management Center (TMC) will not impose major road closures and traffic rerouting schemes during the observance of Holy Week.

In an interview, TMC chief Rhodelio Poliquit told Edge Davao that during the Way of the Cross this coming Good Friday, his office will just close one lane in roads near the churches in the city.

Sudagar takes oath as IP rep

INALLY, after more than two months of vacancy, the Indigenous People (IP) in the city have representation in the Davao City Council as Halila Sudagar took her oath yesterday as the new IP Mandatory Representative (IPMR). The oath taking ceremony was officiated by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte at People’s Park. In an interview, Sudagar told reporters she was happy that she can now serve the IP community in the city. Sudagar said she received the certificate of affirmation (COA) from the National Commission on Indigenous Peo-

He said the other lane will still be passable, especially in the major roads. He said the TMC has already prepared the traffic signs and advisories. Traffic enforcers will also be de-

tailed in every church in the city. Poliquit said his office is fixing minor details on its traffic plan because three of the 18 churches in the city have not yet submitted their

respective schedules of religious activities. “Naa man guy ubang mga simbahan na ang ilang religious activities during the Lenten season naa ra sa ilang compound. Kung naa ra

sa sulod sa ilang compound mas easier sa amoa (There are some churches that will hold their religious activities inside their compounds. In that case it’s easier for us),” he said.

Coast Guard to deploy 25 personnel for Holy Week By CHENEEN R. CAPON

ples (NCIP) 11 at 11:45 a.m. yesterday. She then called the staff of the mayor to arrange for her to take her oath from Duterte. Sudagar said in her first day as IPMR she will check the pending items left by former IPMR councilor Berino Mambo-o Sr. of the Ata Tribe. “I want to continue what he started,” she said. Sudagar assured the other six IP tribes in the city that she will give equal treatment to them in terms of services. Duterte had initially opposed Sudarar’s selection since she had already served

FSUDAGAR, 10

crc@edgedavao.net

HILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG)-Davao Station commander Lieutenant Commander Dann August Cariño yesterday said he will be deploying at least 25 personnel to different piers in Davao City, the Island Garden City of Samal, and in Talikud Island during the Holy Week to secure the larger number of people who are expected to travel by boat. Speaking in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw held at SM City Davao Annex, Cariño said people tend to go on vacation trips to beaches during the Lenten season.

“By Sunday, we expect that there will be a huge number of beach goers travelling from Davao City to Samal,” he said. Cariño said the 25 PCG personnel will be deployed for crowd control and passenger assistance as part of the Oplan Semana Santa program of the coast guard. “We will be deploying our personnel and PCG auxiliary forces to Davao-Samal Ferry pier in Panacan, Kilometer 11, Maywest, Blue Jazz, Davao Sasa Port, and Sta Ana Wharf,” he said. PCG personnel will be also deployed in Kaputian and Tali-

kud Island. Aside from a passenger assistance center, there will be a medical team that will assist beachgoers and other passengers. “We’ve already finished boat inspection last week. We will now focus on crowd control to avoid overloading of passenger in boats and ferries that are allowed to operate during the season,” Cariño said. He reminded the public that the ferries and boats docking in Sta Ana Wharf and Km. 11 will be allowed to operate only until 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively during Holy Week.

Cariño said based on his records, Good Friday and Black Saturday are the busiest days because outgoing passengers will depart from Davao City to Samal, while passengers on their way home will start to arrive from Samal on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. PCG’s six aluminum boats will also be deployed in the Davao Gulf to patrol and guard the passengers. For her part, Belle Marquez of the safety services division of the Red Cross advised the public to bring hydration kits during their travel.

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

DA recommends cloud seeding in Zambo as dry spell worsens

HE Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soil and Water Manager (BSWM) has formally recommended cloud seeding operations in Zamboanga City. The recommendation came after a two-man team from the BSWM completed its assessment last Thursday on the prevailing condition of the drought-stricken farmlands, crops and fishery products in this city. City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said Monday the team has seen the urgent need to conduct cloud seeding operations to induce artificial rains. As a form of weather mod-

ification, cloud seeding is the process of spreading either dry ice, or more commonly, silver iodide aerosols, through the use of an airplane into the upper part of clouds to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain. Palacat said the team’s recommendation is awaiting approval from Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. He said the BSWM team, headed by Corazon Ditarro, found this city’s prevailing condition to be falling within the criteria and guidelines for cloud seeding operations after making the rounds of the

FDA, 10

DepEd Sec dares next Palaro host to beat Davao Norte

EPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin A. Luistro recently challenged succeeding hosts of the Palarong Pambansa to outdo Davao del Norte in preparing for and in holding such national athletic event. Addressing the official launching of the Palarong Pambansa 2015 on March 26 in Tagum City, Luistro cited Davao del Norte’s hosting as “the benchmark of all succeeding Palarong Pambansa.” “Ang susunod na mag-host ng Palarong Pambansa, mag bantay kayo; kailangan mas magaling kayo kaysa Davao del Norte (The next to host the

Palarong Pambansa, watch out; you have to do even better than Davao del Norte),” he said. Asked by the media of his rating for Davao del Norte, Luistro gave the province-host a 9.7 percent rating while taking note of the advance pace of preparation for the Palarong Pambansa, the standard sports facilities, the guidebook firsttime made for the Palaro and the Provincial Comprehensive Sports Development Program. “It is the first time that I really feel and sense that we are one month ahead of the Palarong Pambansa,” he said during the official launching which

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DCWD offices are closed April 2 to 5

N observance of the Holy Week, Davao City Water District’s offices in Bajada, Matina and Toril and collection center in Victoria Plaza will be closed from April 2 to 5. Regular public transactions in all its offices will resume on April 6. DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado assured DCWD customers that even if DCWD’s offices are closed for four days, DCWD will still be able to attend to customer

concerns. Its round-the-clock Central Information Unit / Call Center will cater to customer queries, complaints, reports and requests while the emergency crews of DCWD’s Pipelines and Appurtenances Maintenance Department will also be available 24 / 7 to attend to emergency pipeline leak repairs. Customers are advised to visit the DCWD website (www.

FDCWD , 10

PALMS FOR SALE. A young boy sits in front of palm fronds in different styles and sizes on display along San Pedro Street in Davao City during Palm Sunday. Lean Daval Jr.

16 killed in clashes S

IXTEEN people, including four soldiers and a commander of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), were killed as clashes erupted anew on Sunday in Maguindanao, the Army said Monday. The first firefight broke out between the 6th Scout Ranger Company led by Capt. Blas Alsiyao and the BIFF under sub-leader named Commander Bungos in Barangay Malangog, Datu Unsay town at around 9:30 a.m., 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay said in a statement. “The Scout Rangers overran the enemy positions after about an hour of intense firefight,” Petinglay said. Another firefight erupted at around 9:50a.m. between the BIFF led a certain Commander Bisaya and members

of the 34th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pamalian, Shariff Saydona town, she added. “The Joint Task Force Central sent reinforcements who successfully out maneuvered the bandits, killing Commander Bisaya and two more unidentified companions who were said to be close relatives of another BIFF Commander Karialan. Twelve other bandits were also wounded in the hour-long firefight,” Petinglay said. Two members of Joint Task Force Central were wounded in the clashes and evacuated by a military medical team, she said. But as the ambulance carrying the wounded soldiers was approaching Barangay Elian, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town at around 1 p.m., it was ambushed by a small BIFF unit hitting the driver, she said.

Petinglay said the wounded soldiers and the medical team were rescued at around 4 p.m. Col. Melquiades Feliciano, 601st brigade commander identified Bisaya’s alleged fellow commanders as Nords Indong alias Bhuto and his brother Salaudin Indong. Feliciano said the BIFF rebels returned to their camps in the interior villages of Datu Unsay and Shariff Saydona towns during the unilateral suspension of military operations declared by the Army to pave the way for the graduation ceremonies of elementary and high school students in Maguindanao. He said the Indong brothers were siblings of BIFF leader Mohaimen Indong alias Commander Kagi Karialan, now acting as the leader of the group after its founding chair

Ameril Umra Kato fell seriously ill and the arrest of Mohammad Ali Tambako. Feliciano said Bisaya was the leader of the BIFF hit squad which liquidated at least seven soldiers in the “SPMS box” in Maguindanao. “SPMS box” refers to the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona, all in Maguindanao where the BIFF operates. “Because of the SOMO, the BIFF returned to their encampments inside the SPMS box area so we conducted security patrol in the area,” Feliciano said, adding the soldiers captured the BIFF camp in Malangog. Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Irriberi was expected to arrive Monday to visit government forces. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)

PRODUCTIVITY OLYMPICS. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11 director lawyer Joffrey Suyao an- DELAYED. Davao City Water District spokesperson lawyer Bernardo de Lima talks about the month-long delay in the nounces the staging of this year’s Productivity Olympics, a search for the best productivity improvement program in completion of the water pipe bridge in Bankerohan due to the late arrival of materials. De Lima was a guest of the agribusiness, service and industry, during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr. Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

Sec. Deles urges advocates: be strong in seeking peace By ALEX LOPEZ

N the midst of setbacks and hardships that the peace process and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) face nowadays as an offshoot of the Mamasapano incident, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) appealed to peace advocates and peacemakers in Mindanao to be steadfast in pursuing peace. Speaking before the graduates, parents and the administration of Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) on Thursday, during the school’s 78th Commencement Exercises, Deles said that “in our pursuit of peace, we must be steadfast and careful especially when assailed by the frenzy of words and emotions that can and does harm to, rather than help, the cause of peace in Mindanao.” The Xavier University bestowed honors to Deles and peace panel chairs Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Mohagher Iqbal in recognition to their huge contributions in peace building in Mindanao. The OPAPP secretary also emphasized the need to end the decade of cycle of war in Mindanao that had already cost the lives of more than 150,000 lives. On the latest offensives against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Deles noted of the 100,000 refugees that need around Two Million Pesos daily for survival. “But the statistics are chilling if we start counting from the year 2000 throughout most of the decade, when war became a way of life and evacuation was synonymous with survival for whole population in Central Mindanao and elsewhere,” she said. Deles also stressed the reasons why the GPH panel defends the peace process with the MILF which she said was grounded on the fact that “for three years the ceasefire held, the beleaguered families and communities experienced a sense of normalcy, planting their crops and harvesting them, enrolling their ten-year olds in first grade, buying pots

and pans and new clothes, daring to dream for their children’s future.” She added that we can easily count the number of deaths, figure out the budgets of the displaced and treat the injured but still “there are wounds that cannot heal.” In conferring the Doctor in Humanities to Secretary Deles, the Xavier University cited her “exceptional and remarkable contributions as a trustworthy public servant and strongwilled pioneer in the development sector of the Philippines, her sincere heart for the welfare of women, poor, and the marginalized.” Above all, the citation added, the honor was given to the secretary “for her work in peace building in the country and especially in Mindanao.” Peace panel chairs Coronel-Ferrer and Iqbal were this year’s recipients for the Fr. William F. Masterson, SJ Award. The university cited Coronel-Ferrer’s exemplary contributions to peace-building and conflict management in the country and as a champion of human rights. Iqbal was also honored for his “conscientious and patient efforts to engage in democratic dialogue and negotiations for peace in Mindanao” and for his “untiring work towards negotiated political solution that eschews the ways of extremism and terrorism, and for his unflinching and heartfelt service to bring peace and progress to the country.” In her response after receiving the honorary doctorate, Deles expressed gratitude to the Trustees of Xavier University for their “steadfast advocacy of peace in Mindanao”. The earlier decision of the Trustees of said university to award the honors to Deles, Coronel-Ferrer and Iqbal were questioned by some quarters due to the Mamasapano incident. “Media reports tell us that some quarters have questioned the wisdom of honoring at your commencement exercises three personalities

FSEC. DELES, 10

SEAL OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon receives the Certificate of Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance from DILG Davao Del Norte Provincial Director Alex Roldan, DSWD Team Leader for Davao Del

Norte Ellen Nahial and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Arlene M. Semblante. Also in photo are members of the Council of Women and Children and some Tagum City Officials. DSWD

Completing the Tourism Circuit: The Case of Surallah By JONALLIER M. PEREZ

ANY local government units, eager to be part of the booming local tourism industry, embark on ambitious projects requiring gargantuan amounts of public funds, only to realize years after that it is taking them extra long time to recover the returns of public investments, if any. Most common practices are heavy infrastructure expenditures, such as site developments, access roads and other facilities, on just any natural attraction they may have

without serious prior study on its feasibility and target market, among others. Alternative jobs may be created and there may be a little spike in the national economic performance figures because of massive public spending. They may have something to write on their annual accomplishment report too. In the end, however, millions of limited government resources go down the drain developing destinations that are hard to sell. Somewhere in SOCCSKSARGEN

Region, one city is spending millions of pesos developing a Lilliputian falls whose water level decreases every year and whose city dwellers would rather go to neighboring Lake Sebu for a far better experience at the famous Seven Falls. To a serious tourist, say from Davao or Cebu cities who already travelled that far and spent that much, a mere 45 minutes additional land trip to Lake Sebu is nothing. And that dwindling tiny falls in the city remains nothing.

This is not an elucidation on efficiency in public spending, however. Rather, this is a little discourse on completing a tourism circuit, given constrained public funds and limited natural attractions. Surallah in South Cotabato is a good example. It has no natural tourist attractions, such as falls, beaches, caves, mountain ranges, etc., that are at par with those of its neighbors. Lake Sebu used to be part of Surallah. When this scenic town, which is home of the dreamweavers, was carved out of Surallah, the former brought with it the three lakes and the seven falls, among others. Surallah’s only natural asset, probably, is the fact that no one goes to Lake Sebu right now without passing through Surallah. The mother town sits on a most strategic junction and is a mere 25 minutes away from Lake Sebu, the region’s foremost tourist destination and the BIMP-EAGA center for development on community-based ecotourism. South Cotabato has a rapidly booming local tourism industry. It has a complete

FCOMPLETING, 10

Some of the recommended food icons subjected to food tasting

Davao Today donates copies of ‘State of Fear’ book to UP

EI Io Ming Correa-Capistrano (left), Business Manager of Davao Today Inc., donates copies of the book “State of Fear, Reportage on human rights in Mindanao during the Arroyo and Aquino regimes” to the University of the Philippines Mindanao, through its chancellor Dr. Sylvia Concepcion. According to Capistra-

no, “State of Fear” contains stories of human rights violations in Mindanao. The complimentary copies are being distributed for the education of constituents of Davao City’s universities and colleges. She also said it is the first book published by Davao Today, which also creates multi-media productions and

publishes on the world-wide web, and that the donation is part of Davao Today’s 10thyear anniversary commemoration. Concepcion thanked them for the donation and pledged that the books will be made available at the UP Mindanao University Library’s Main Library and its college outlets.

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

DOT eyeing Davao as venue for biggest fruit market in Asia

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing to put up in Davao City the Asian Fruit Market, a center that will showcase various kinds of fruits from the Philippines and other parts of Asia. DOT 11 director Roberto Alabado III said once established, the Asian Fruit Market will run for one year. “Tourism assistant secretary Arturo Boncato has proposed this to Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr.,” Alabado said. Alabado said that during the visit of Jimenez last week, the tourism head is looking at Davao City or Davao Region as good location for the biggest fruit market in Asia. Davao City is an ideal site because of its various fruits, according to Alabado. “The market place could be as large as three to five hectares that will be located at the heart of Davao City,” he said. Aside from fresh fruits

from Davao Region and other parts of the Philippines, the fruit market will also have fruits from other parts of Asia such as Thailand. “Investors from Thailand expressed their interest of supplying their fruits to our proposed Asian Fruit Market,” Alabado said during the I-Speak media forum last week. He added that fruit-based cuisine and other fruit-based beauty and cosmetic products will be also exhibited in the market. “Not only processed fruits like banana chips and fruit jams will be sold in the market but also fruit-based lotions or teas. Anything to do with fruits will be available in the market,” Alabado said. He added that DOT is planning to set the fruit market to have a single place where all types and varieties of fruits will be sold either to the locals or foreign tourist. Tourists, Alabado said, will

MAJOR BACKER. Visit Davao Fun Sale Execom represented by vice chair for ways and means Benjie Lizada, and DOT11 director Roberto P. Alabado III (first and second from left, respectively) present a token of appreciation to BPI,

represented by SVP Jojo Ocampo, VP Angie Florentino and Senior Manager Glen Hermosilla (third to fifth from left), for being one of the major sponsors of the event during the BPI Merchant Appreciation Night last March 24.

be able to find and eat even seasonal fruits in the market place that shall be located just near in the city.

scouting for any area for the market area yet,” Alabado said. However, Alabado said he didn’t want to preempt other

The fruit market will entice tourists in Davao City, he added. “We haven’t started the

details because it is still being finalized by Jimenez and Boncato, who is the project proponent.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

DOLE: 80% of Davao firms comply with labor laws By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11 recorded a 75 to 80 percent compliance rate of establishments in the region on general labor standard and occupational safety and health standard last year. “The most compliant sector is education, together with large unionized companies,” DOLE 11 director Atty. Joffrey M. Suyao said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex yesterday.

Based on DOLE 11 status update on the Labor Law Compliance System (LLCS) for 2014, the labor department was able to visit a total of 4,596 establishments in the region. This is 12.43 percent higher than its 3,579 2014 target. “DOLE only inspect establishments’ compliance to labor law which is more on monetary benefit but now we include occupational and health standard compliance,”

OREIGN investors continue to place their funds in the Philippines, reinforcing economic managers’ confidence that the country remains attractive to offshore investors. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show that as of the week ending March 13, 2015, the country registered a net inflow of foreign portfolio investment or hot money, dubbed due to the speed it comes in and out of an economy, of USD 1.75 billion. This is a reversal compared to the USD 1.89 billion net outflows in the week ending March 14, 2014. Central bank officials believe that amid the widely expected normalization in United States interest rates this year, foreign investment inflows to the Philippines will remain strong. In its Report on Economic and Financial Development for the last quarter of 2014, the BSP said negative impact on inflows of the US interest

rates normalization is seen to be countered by the easy monetary policy in Japan and the Euro zone. The central bank report said emerging markets (EMs), including the Philippines, “could face a reversal in capital flows and exchange rate pressures” as well as tighter financial conditions because of the projected volatilities in the global financial markets. This volatility, it said, has the possibility to affect real sector activity through increased risk aversion, sharp increases in long-term interest rates, tighter access to external financing, and possible foreign exchange market pressures. ”The potential adverse impact of the Fed’s monetary normalization on liquidity, interest rates, and capital flows could be counterbalanced, although not completely offset, by the continued accommodative monetary policy in the euro area and Japan,” it said. Philippine monetary offi-

Hot money inflows to remain strong F

FHOT, 10

ODA loan disbursement triples in 4th quarter

HE financial performance of projects and programs funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) improved as the disbursement level in the fourth quarter of 2014 tripled from the same period of last year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “Comparing the financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2014 from the same period in 2013, all absorptive capacity indicators registered favorable performance. This includes the disbursement level, disbursement rate, availment rate, and the disbursement ratio,” said NEDA Monitoring and Evaluation Staff (MES) Director Roderick M. Planta. The disbursement level, which is the actual expenditure or draw-down of ODA-funded projects and programs, increased to US$1.62

billion in the last quarter of 2014 from US$546.36 million during the same period in 2013. The said improvement was caused by higher actual loan drawdown (or disbursements) from 13 program loans amounting to US$1.1 billion from US$182.60 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to a report of the NEDA-MES. The disbursement rate, or the actual disbursement level as a percentage of target disbursement for the year, had an 18-percentage-point increase to 68.3 percent in 2014 from 50.3 percent in 2013. Though this was below the acceptable 70-percent threshold, for a satisfactory financial performance for a given year, the disbursement rate was a significant improvement compared to 2013 figure. The availment rate, or the percentage of loan amount’s

FODA, 10

Suyao said. Suyao said the regional office of DOLE is targeting lesser of last year because of the slashed budget approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). “We are targeting to visit at least 2,000 establishments this year because our budget for LLCS is only P1.2 million lower than the P5.8 million budget for 2014,” he said. Suyao said DOLE 11 visited and inspected at least 1,200

establishments in 2013 which have a budget of almost P1.2 million for operation. On the other hand, Suyao also encouraged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from sectors’s agribusiness, service and industry to join the 2015 productivity Olympics. “We are targeting to produce one nominee for each category for the national award,” he said. Deadline of submission

of the nomination form is on May 30. Winners will be able to receive trophy, cash award, and incentives like usage of productivity Olympics logo for publicity purposes for three consecutive years and poses, priority endorsement to other training programs and services of DOLE and its attached agencies. Productivity Olympics is a biennial national competition for best productivity

improvement programs of MSMEs nationwide. It is oprganizedbu the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), an attached agency of DOLE. The search aims to intensify national awareness and commitment to quality and productivity; encourage MSMEs to adopt productivity improvement programs and practices; and showcase best productivity improvement programs.

FOR SALE. A young boy offers palm fronds for P5 per piece along Bolton Street in Davao City during Palm Sunday. Lean Daval Jr.

Laguindingan airport eyed as reg’l hub

FFICIALS expressed optimism the Laguindingan airport will become the busiest regional transport facility as soon as a huge passenger aircraft landed in Misamis Oriental Sunday night. A Cebu Pacific Air Bus A320 operated by Tiger Air landed Sunday night, marking the first time a widebody commercial plane did so at Mindanao’s newest air transport facility. Another Cebu Pacific Air ATR 72-500 turbo prop plane from Mactan made the first night landing at the airport last March 12. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and airport Manager Jose Bodiongan said the airport would be the “busiest regional transportation hub”

after the installation of runway lights, state-of-theart navigational equipment and purchase of two new fire trucks to ensure safety. “This airport has been heavily criticized at the start. Many said it is unsafe but now this airport is now among the top airports in the country. This is jubilation,” Bodiongan said. Bodiongan said they expect air passenger traffic will rise in the near future as passengers from Iligan, Marawi, Cagayan de Oro and Valencia cities turned more to air travel to get around the country. He said that presently Laguindingan caters to 24 flights daily to and from Manila, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo. “With two more flights coming at nights, increased

traffic will surely pick up in the coming months,” Bodiongan said. He said the installation of runway lights and stateof-the-art navigation facilities was finished in November last year. He said since that November the control tower in Laguindingan has been handling all plane traffic, while the old airport in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro is now handling the flights of Philippine Air Force planes. “It just took a little while before night operations started because major air lines were still studying the profitably of servicing Laguindingan airport,” he said. Department of Tourism Northern Mindanao Director Catalino Chan III wel-

comed this development. Chan said the tourism sector was also elated when travel to and from the airport was reduced to only 30 minutes from one hour. He said the prevailing peace and order situation has made the Philippine College of Surgeons to reconsider their decision not to hold their convention in Cagayan de Oro following the Limketkai bombing in July 2013. Chan said the doctors have now decided to bring 1,000 delegates to their convention in Cagayan de Oro this year. “We now have the tourists and the passengers. The airlines will have to fill this increased demand,” Chan said. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

7 SCITECH

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

More biotech foods coming! Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

HIS is good news for scientists but bad news to people who are against bio-engineered foods. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States approved two varieties of apples and six varieties of potatoes for commercialization. In approving the genetically engineered foods, the federal agency said in an announcement that, after a thorough evaluation, they are “as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts.” The only change made to potatoes is that they won’t bruise. Scientists had lowered enzymes in the apples so they do not brown. These were possible through biotechnology, which encompasses an array of tools and applications that allow scientists to manipulate the genetic material of plants and also of animals and microbes. The methods used can modify the characteristics passed from one generation to the next. The Boise, Idaho-based J. R. Simplot Company, which conducted the studies on po-

Apple

Coming soon: Biotech rice

tatoes, calls the produce as Innate. “It could be years before the average customer is able to buy one of the potatoes,” said a news report released by Associated Press. “The company has about 160 hectares of Innate potatoes in storage from the 2014 harvest that it plans to deliver to growers, packers and shippers to be sent to a tightly-controlled network for use in small-scale test markets,” the report added. One good thing about the Innate potatoes is that they will have 70 percent less acrylamide, a chemical that can be created when potatoes are cooked at high temperatures. In a new research conducted by economist Wallace Hoffman from Iowa State University (ISU), he found that consumers are willing to spend more for bioengineered potato products with reduced levels of the chemical acrylamide, which has been to be carcinogenic in rodents. The Canadian company Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., based in British Colum-

bia, is trying to make apples a more convenient snack with its non-browning version. According to the company, the bagged Arctic apples -as they are called -- wouldn’t have to be washed in antioxidants like they are now, a process that can affect taste, the AP report said. “Biotechnology represents one of the most exciting advances in the biological sciences in this century,” said an official of the United Nations Environment Program. “It will become a driving economic force in the coming years, helping to provide practical solutions to global problems of food supply, health care, energy waste treatment, and industrial regeneration.” Biotechnology has existed since ancient times. Spirulina, one of the oldest forms of life on earth, is believed to be what the ancient Israelites of the Old Testament called “manna from heaven.” Biotechnology also includes biological processes used in the food industry. Some of these have been used

Potato for centuries, like yeasts to help bread rise and convert sugar into alcohol in brewing, and bacteria to digest sugars and add flavour in cheese making. All these techniques use naturally-occurring organisms. In 1973, geneticist Stanley Cohen and biochemist Herbert Boyer, both Americans, removed a specific gene (a piece of the genetic material that determine the inheritance of a particular characteristics, or group of characteristics) from one bacterium and inserted it into another using restriction enzymes. This event marked the beginning of recombinant DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) technology, commonly known as genetic engineering. Also known as genetic modification or bioengineering, it is the alteration of an organism’s genetic, or hereditary, material to eliminate undesirable characteristics or to produce desirable new ones. Dr. Antonio Alfonso, a plant breeder at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Crops Biotechnology Center director, said genetic engineering is employed because of the following reasons: the trait is not present in the germplasm of the plant; the trait is very difficult to incorporate using conventional breeding methods; and it would take a very long time to introduce and/ or improve such trait in the crop through conventional breeding. In time, functional foods came into existence. Actually, they are “foods or dietary components that claim to provide health benefits aside

from basic nutrition,” notes the briefing paper published by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). “These foods contain biologically active substances such as antioxidants that may lower the risks from certain diseases associated with aging.” Apples and potatoes are just two examples of functional foods. Other functional foods include fruits (banana, grapes, and citrus, among others), vegetables (broccoli, tomato, and garlic, to name some), whole grains, soy, milk, enhanced foods and beverages, and some dietary supplements. “Of course, all foods are functional because they provide varying amounts of nutrients and energy to sustain growth or support vital processes,” notes Dr. Jennifer K. Nelson, of the Mayo Clinic. “However, functional foods are generally considered to offer additional benefits that may reduce the risk of disease or promote optimal health.” But like other technologies, biotechnology has some pitfalls. “There is much euphoria about developments in biotechnology and about the benefits they promise to bring to society,” UNEP warned. “But there are also risks and dangers associated with this technology.” “I believe that this kind of genetic modification takes mankind into realms that belong to God, and to God alone,” deplored Philip Arthur George Charles – more popularly known as Prince Charles – in 1998. In the Philippines, seven

of 10 farmers are landless, renting fields from landlords or working for large corporations. Some groups argue genetically modified crops will give the companies that sell seeds and farm chemicals even greater power. “Big landlords and transnational corporations will call all the shots,” said a consultant for the Peasant Movement of Philippines. “In the case of small farmers, it means going deeper and deeper into debt.” There is also the issue of health. Critics said some of the most adverse effects of eating genetically modified crops are seen in the rise of allergic reactions, resistance to antibiotics, and susceptibility to cancer and other diseases. But the big question is: Are bioengineered foods safe for human consumption? “Foods produced using genetic modification is as safe as foods produced using conventional breeding techniques,” assures FDA. “Genetically modified foods are as safe as other foods available on the market.” The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) declared that different genetically-modified (GM) foods go through the global food safety process called Codex Alimentarius Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology under which these foods are not found to be risky to human health. “GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health,” said the UN health agency in a statement.

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

EDITORIAL

Safety record

AVAO Gulf has always had a strong safety record, with no untoward incident happening in recent memory. This may be attributed to the relatively good weather the region enjoys year round which makes for a safe and even pleasant travel experience. Water travel is also fairly uncomplicated since there is only one long coast and a few islands to travel to; as such there are relatively few ports that need to be monitored by the authorities. Compared with the Visayas where shipping lines thrive due to the sheer volume of passengers, Davao Gulf is a sleepy town. This safety record, however, is never to be taken for granted. It takes only one accident to shake our faith in our own water transport system – one that is not so modern to begin with. The incident involving a man and his four grandchildren who died in a boat trip on Friday last week may be an isolated case, but

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it underscores the need for government to have a firm hold of traveling within the gulf. The unfortunate family had slipped through the cracks, so to speak, but it could very well happen to a bigger vessel if the authorities are not careful. This Holy Week the Philippine Coast Guard is gearing up for the influx of residents and visitors who are expected to make their way to the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) and other beach destinations that are reachable only by boat. There is a need to be strict especially as these destinations become more and more popular due to their exposure on social networks. Like we said, it takes only one mishap to erase our safety record. And much as we have to say it, a number of the vessels that ply the gulf are accidents waiting to happen. We certainly hope that our water transport system would be upgraded soon; our very lives depend on 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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IS not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” – Isaiash 58:6 Fasting is defined as “complete abstention from eating all or certain foods and often also from drinking, for a longer than usual period.” And since the dawn of civilization, fasting has always been associated with religion and ritual, creed and ceremony, totem and taboo. Fast days were faithfully observed in ancient times by the Parsis, Hindus, Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans. Many early religions set aside days when man should go without food, and sometimes drink, as well, as a sacrifice to the gods. In the beginning, fasting was one of those rituals which involved the reduction or suspension of physical activities, resulting in a state of calm or repose, resembling that of death or state prior to birth. Fasting, likewise, embodied part of the fertility customs in ancient ceremonies. Many of these primitive rites took place during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and persisted for many centuries. Fasting also plays a big part in religion. Judaism, for instance, imposes a yearly fast on the Day of Atonement while Muslims all over the world fast for one whole month from dawn to sunset in observance of the feast of the Ramadan. Every Muslim, whether he is a Tausug from Mindanao, a Turk from Kayseri or a Bedouin from Arabia, observes the rigorous fast – he is not only enjoined to stay away from food and drink, he is also forbidden to swallow his own saliva although with the onset of evening he can break the fast. In the Orient, Jain and Hindu ascetics are committed by their creed to very severe fasting while those who believe in Confucianism undertake the same discipline as a preparation for the worship of ancestral spirits. Taoists, on the other hand, practice only abstinence, not fasting, during certain periods of time. Meanwhile, during the first two centuries of its establishment, the Christian Church instituted fasting as a deliberate preparation for receiving the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism, and for the ordination of priests. In subsequent times, however, fasting became obligatory. In the sixth century, fasting during Lent was extended from the original 40 hours, the time Christ stayed in the grave, to 40 days, during which period only one meal was allowed each day. Shortly after the so-called Reformation, the great

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

The value of fasting 16th century revTHINK ON THESE! olution, which put an end to the Pope’s ecclesiastical supremacy in Western Christendom, fasting was retained by most Protestant churches and was made optional in some cases. The Orthodox Church observes fasting Henrylito D. Tacio to the letter. henrytacio@gmail.com In the 20th century, fasting has acquired a secular color. As a form of protest against injustice, it has even acquired a new name: hunger strike. Mahatma Gandhi, Hindu nationalist and spiritual leader, was noted for his fasts or hunger strikes to bring about peace in India. Fasting in recent years is being used as a form of therapy for such mental afflictions as schizophrenia and severe paranoia. Greg Brodsky, author of “From Eden to Aquarius: The Book of Natural Healing,” writes: “Observe the ways of animals. When a wild animal is sick, it finds a quiet place near clean water, lies down, sleeps as much as possible, and takes no nourishment whatsoever. It fasts and allows its body to heal.” Deer, wolves, and cougars have been known to undertake this system of natural healing, too. From our own observations, we have discovered that the ordinary household cat also fasts when it is sick, only eating grass before the fast. The same is true with dogs, especially mongrels. Man, the rational animal, can also avail himself of the wonderful therapeutic effects of fasting. This form of therapy is based on the premise that elimination cannot take place when there is obstruction. The minute the stomach is freed from its digestive function, it can start eliminating toxins in the body. There is an age-old folk belief among the Germanic peoples that any disease which cannot be cured by fasting is incurable. Now that folk beliefs are being studied seriously by scientists, one cannot pooh-pooh the ancient Germanic saying. A Russian psychotherapist at the Moscow Psy-

chiatric Institute has been reported to make experiments using not laboratory animals but human beings, that is, men and women suffering from psychological ailments. The study subjected mental patients to a new form of psychotherapy based on complete fasting and regulated exercise. The results of the study were dramatic – many if not all were cured after undergoing the strict regimen imposed by their psychiatrists. Some experts claim viral infections can also be effectively cured by fasting. The more common alternative is antibiotic therapy. However, fasting, Vitamin C, sleep and rest are said to be more effective in curing a virus-induced ailment like viral pneumonia. Within 15 days of fasting, the disease is gone. On the other hand, when the family doctor prescribes aspirin and antibiotics, the pneumonia may drag on for more than one month. And when one takes aspirin for such a prolonged period, gastric inflammations, ulcers, or kidney damage may result. There is nothing like fasting, Vitamin C, sleep and rest to clean out a severe case of viral pneumonia. Fasting is very good for adults and young adults. However, patients above the age of 40, or with a chronic or acute ailment, are advised not to undergo fasting. So are people who are suffering from pernicious anemia. On the other hand, some people are undergoing fasting for another reason – to shed off the extra poundage. The idea of feast today, fast tomorrow has been adapted by those who feel disgusted at having eaten too much during previous days. The traditional water and bread fasts have been replaced by more modern ones. The trend among dieters is to eat less than 800 calories a day. This could translate to intakes of unsweetened fruit juice, fresh fruits and broth soups, for example. It could also mean only one full meal per day. Dr. Annella S. Orbeta, in her newspaper column Fit or Fat, advises that fasting should not be undertaken without doctor’s prescription – whether you are completely abstaining from food and drink or just undergoing a monodiet. Fasting of any kind must also be done under medical supervision if the patient is not to ruin his or her health. “Secular fasting is fraught with health hazards if it is done on one’s own with nary an advice from the doctor,” warns a physician.

people usually congregate. For the breadth and width of its anti-smoking campaign, Davao City was declared in 2013 as the “First 100% Smoke-Free Metropolitan” in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). In the preceding year, it was also entered into the Hall of Fame of the Red Orchid Award of the Department of the Health for “advocating a 100% tobacco-free environment.” Actually, the city was the first Local Government Unit (LGU) to enact an anti-smoking law. Its Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance in 2002 is considered as the first exhaustive anti-smoking measure in the Philippines, ahead of the country’s Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The city’s anti-smoking campaign has been replicated in many LGUs across the country and used as a model in promoting a smoke-free environment in the neighboring countries. SEATCA has published a booklet entitled “Your Guide to a Smoke-Free City. Lessons Learned from Davao City, Philippines” as an advocacy material in its campaign centered on a theme “Moving Towards a Smoke-Free ASEAN.” More than the national and international accolades, the city’s smoke-free drive has made tangible impact to the encompassing program of the local government to promote healthy lifestyle which considered cigarette smoking as the single largest avoidable cause of premature deaths. According to World Health Organization

(WHO), smoking is responsible for nine in every 10 cases of lung cancers, 75 percent of chronic bronchitis and 25 percent of ischemic heart disease. Although there is no known scientific study correlating the city’s anti-smoking campaign to the prevalence of the three most prevailing lifestyle diseases, government statistics from 2010 to 2014 showed a remarkable decrease in the incidence of these diseases in Davao City. For instance, from 2,077 cases of ischemic heart disease in 2010, the figures plunged to 488 in 2014 and from 1,277 incidents of chronic bronchitis, the number decreased to 337 over the same period. Cases of lung cancer also dropped to 31 in 2014 from 56 recorded in 2010. The city’s anti-smoking ordinance is not actually intended to stop a person from smoking per se. It simply encourages people to stop smoking through the conduct of advocacy drive and holding of cessation counseling. By prohibiting smoking in enclosed establishments, public places and other areas where people usually congregate, the ordinance only seeks to protect every individual from the devastating health effects and economic costs from exposure to secondhand smoke. Since the amended version of the ordinance was implemented in 2013, more than 5,000 violators were fined with P500 each; making the city earned an additional P2.54 million local income. The number of violators excludes those who took for granted the citation tickets issued by the apprehending police and later found themselves in court settling up for higher fines aside from a conviction record. The strict implementation of the ordinance resulted to major changes in the behavior of Davao City residents and visitors. Now, it is hard to see anyone smoking in public. If the anti-smoking drive proved to be an effective tool in helping shaped the responsible behavior of the people of Davao City, it is not a farfetched idea then that some laws of Singapore deemed worthy to emulate can be successfully introduced and adopted in the city.

Southeast Asia’s most stringent anti-smoking law

RECENT travel to Singapore gave me a firsthand exposure to what extent the city state’s strict enforcement of laws and policies dictates how its residents and visitors alike behave in public. One could rarely see garbage in the streets or somebody urinating on the walls. Singapore prides itself on being “The Fine City,” a label with a dubious meaning as it also actually refers to the hefty fines that the country imposes on littering, spitting, jaywalking, eating in public transportation, smoking and some seemingly negligible acts like forgetting to flush the toilet in a public convenience with a fine of S$500 or around P16,000, and chewing gum which carries a fine double the amount. But what is surprising is Singapore’s more apparent lenient way of regulating smoking in public places as compared to Davao City’s implementation of its own anti-smoking ordinance. Contrary to what I had thought past the travel, smoking in Singapore is allowed in designated areas found outside bars, restaurants and even in streets fronting the corporate offices. The smokers, though, have to ensure that cigarette butts are properly thrown inside the ash receptacles lest they be penalized for littering. Even inside the Universal Studios Singapore, smokers only need to find in the map—readily provided to tourists and visitors—an ashtray icon indicative of the exact location of smoking areas within the sprawling theme park. Each smoking area is provided with ash receptacles and seats for the convenience of smokers. While Singapore imposes higher fine for smoking outside the designated areas at S$1,000 (P32, 500), Davao City appears to be the most stringent among localities in the Southeast Asian countries when it comes to the coverage of its anti-smoking campaign. The city prohibits smoking in all enclosed establishments and open public places such as streets, parks, pedestrian overpasses, indoor car parks, waiting sheds, sidewalks and other areas where

VANTAGE POINTS

The Bongbong Marcos folly

E R MY TWO CENTS’ HAPS t h e most unfortunate turn for the ambitious Senator Bongbong Marcos last week came as a renowned Asian leader John Tria passed away. ecisouth@gmail.com Lee Kuan Yew, revered by many as the father of Singapore, finally passed on after having successfully steered the city state from third to first world. Many plaudits have been given him, yet the most common observation made by most was that he was a CONSISTENT leader. Consistently straightforward and outspoken, and consistent with a vision and drive to make things better, consistently frugal in his personal tastes and finances, and consistently able to deal with his opponents, detractors, and friends in a manner consistent with the way he toughly practiced governance. From a difficult start, he drove the consistency needed to create the discipline that made multiethnic Singaporeans believe in their government, and credibility that made the outside world take him – and his fledgling city state with no resources and lots of unrest – seriously. In a recent editorial, the Philippine Daily inquirer shed light on Senator Marcos’ assertion a few years back that had his dad, former President Ferdinand Marcos, been allowed to continue in office, the Philippines would have been another Singapore. Whether it was a play on words meant to deceive, or an ill-informed opinion or downright delusion, it tried vainly to create a false impression. Before World War II, the Philippines, then rich in various resources, was a picture of Asian progress under a more “benevolent “ colonial ruler in America when Singapore was an agglomeration of kampongs and districts divided across ethnic and religious lines reeling from the divide-and-rule of the British, who operated military bases, yet was prepared to leave their former colonial outpost as their global influence waned in the post WWII era. Indeed, they left Singapore earlier than announced. As many of us already know, things in the Philippines deteriorated as the decades passed, and took its worst turn with Marcos as President. As the Marcos regime proceeded, the Philippines further sunk economically, while Lee’s Singapore developed rapidly. The Inquirer anecdote taken from Lee’s memoirs about Marcos sending his minister Bobby Ongpin to Lee to borrow money from Singapore to make interest payments is perhaps an embarrassing testament to the rapid decline of the Marcos political fortune, and the steady rot of the Philippine economy and society, under his rule. True enough, Marcos blessed those who benefited from his rule – this includes cronies, or those who got in his favor. Everybody else challenging him was fodder for his political games, including the thousands of human rights victims tortured and/or killed, the thousands of coconut farmers whose meager contributions to the coconut levy are still an issue today, and the millions robbed of tax money used as collateral and payment for behest loans incurred to fund crony projects like the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. While Marcos consolidated power and plundered our economy, Bongbong then was the playboy son who never had it so good while the rest of the country suffered. Thus Bongbong’s recent words about his fathers’ supposed legacy to have created the next Singapore constitutes the Bongbong Marcos folly, which I define as an unfortunate outcome that exists on two planes. One, the thought that the father is like the son, and can replicate or exceed the fathers supposed achievements. The second plane is the thought that his father, Ferdinand Marcos, is the Philippine Lee Kuan Yew. Again, it is another non sequitur, with evidence to the contrary as obvious as the slums that grew to occupy almost half of Metro Manila. Had Marcos continued, the entire country would have been a slum, where more than most Pinoys live on land they no longer own, survive on borrowed food and time. Now, looking at our current President, is he also victim to the Bongbong Marcos folly?

10 NEWS Sudagar... FROM 2 as youth representative to the City Council. He said he reconsidered after talking to 16 leaders of the Kagan tribe, who did not oppose Sudagar’s selection. In a separate interview, City Council floor leader coun-

cilor Bernard Al-ag told Edge Davao that the office of the IP councilor is ready for Sudagar’s assumption. Sudagar was chosen last January by the Kagan Tribe after garnering 147 votes. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

“Water is not enough. Make sure that you will bring beverages rich with electrolytes like Gatorade, among others,” Marquez said.

She said it is very important during the summer to bring refreshments because the heat of the sun may cause heat stroke.

affected areas including the watershed. The city government has pressed for such measure to due to the worsening dry spell that has damaged crops and fishery areas. Ditarro earlier said the assessment included such criteria as the size of areas affected, which should be at least 1,000 hectares, existence of crops with critical growth and critical water level in reservoirs. Latest reports from the City Agriculture Office showed the damages to crops and fishery products caused by the long dry spell have already reached 8,743.9 hectares with an estimated value of P129.44 million. Of the total 8,743.9 hectares damaged, 1,389.8 hectares have no chance of recovery. The Zamboanga City Water District reported the latest

water level at its diversion dam was measured at 73.89 meters. The normal level is 74.20 meters. The guidelines do not permit the conduct of cloud seeding operations over the areas or lands with existing fruit-bearing trees like mangoes and that the area should have no peace and order problems. Ditarro also explained earlier that the funds for cloud seeding operations will come from DA-BSWM if they are carried out directly over agricultural lands with counterpart funds from the city government. The DA is set to shoulder P3 million for the cloud seeding operations, the Zamboanga City Water District will contribute P1.5 million, and the city government will provide P300,000 as counterpart fund. (MindaNews)

was attended by members of the National Management Committee of DepEd. Luistro revealed that DepEd used to experience feeling the panic buttons, rushing to complete last-minute preparations including the application of painting on game venues, done before the Palaro day opening. “Salamat sa provincial government of Davao del Norte; di po kami masyadong harassed. (Thanks to the provincial government of Davao del Norte; we are not too harassed.), he said while implying that indeed Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario made true his promise to make this Palaro “the best thus far.” He invited everyone to visit the various playing venues and see the level of preparations that Davao del Norte had so far done 38 days before the opening of the Palaro. “We are way ahead of

schedule. Di naman pala kailangang maghabol. (After all, we need not be rushing.),” he said. Meanwhile, Luistro pointed out the “heart” of hosting the Palaro on top of providing logistics and transportation. He cited the essentials of taking care of the athletes and the coaches such as food, medical needs and peace and security. “Kelangan wala tayo maiiwan; wala tayong nakalimutan, napangalagaan natin sila. (No one should be left behind; we have forgotten no one, we have taken good care of them all.),” he said. However, he called on DepEd officials and coaches to take on the responsibility of guarding their ward-athletes against acts of littering. “Napagandang probinsiya ng Davao del Norte, habang tayo ay pinangalagaan, pangalagaan di natin ang provinsiya,” he said. (Jeanevive D. Abangan, PIA 11)

davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook account (www. facebook.com/davaocitywaterdistrict) for DCWD related news. They may also contact DCWD’s 24-hour customer

hotlines thru 297-3293, 09277988966, 0925-5113293 and 0908-4410653 for any concerns pertaining to DCWD services. (Jovana T. Duhaylungsod)

Coast... FROM 2 DA... FROM 3

DepEd... FROM 3

DCWD ... FROM 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

SAFE TRAVEL. Coast Guard Station Davao commander Lieutenant Commander Dann August A. Cariño outlines “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe,” an effort to secure the safety of sea transport passengers during Holy Week. With him in

yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao is Belle Marquez of the Red Cross who talked about the organization’s summer programs. Lean Daval Jr.

Sec. Deles... FROM 4 caught in the eye of that very storm. That is why I find doubly heartwarming Xavier University’s decision to stand by its invitation and to confer on my colleagues the Fr. William Masterson SJ Award and on myself an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities – which, I

must confess, truly thrills me because there is no other way I could ever earn a postgraduate degree,” Deles said. On their part, both panel chairs Coronel-Ferrer and Iqbal expressed gratitude to the honors they received and vowed their untiring convictions to

Completing... FROM 4

continue to work for peace in Mindanao. In his closing remarks, Xavier University president Fr. Roberto Yap SJ said that their institution will continue to support endeavors devoted to peace and development in Mindanao.

recipe that offers memorable tourist experience. It has a destination branding strategy with its shout out as the Land of the Dreamweavers---an iconic, authentic and powerful marketing message. Desirous of sharing in the gains of industry growth, Surallah is judicious enough to create its own tourism product line, instead of wasting its limited resources on natural attractions that are really hard to sell. A project is ongoing designed to develop its food icons that will be the official tourist-oriented pasalubong items. Among the targeted market niche are tourists going to Lake Sebu, on top of local market demands and that of the region through consignments in malls, stop shops, cafes and souvenir stores, among others. Food icons being de-

veloped Last year alone, 314,000 tourists went to Lake Sebu. More than half of them went there through organized tours, mostly by tour operators and travel agencies. Currently, there is no food icon in the province that is undergoing aggressive marketing effort, probably with the exception of various tilapia-based recipes in Lake Sebu and fruit derivatives from Tupi town. Imagine even if only half of the annual tourist traffic to Lake Sebu drop by at Surallah and be made to purchase its food icons through previously arranged tour packages with travel operators, say at P100 only per head. That would be equivalent to roughly P15.7 million annual gross income for its pasalubong center!!

This writer is currently helping Surallah fine tune its tourism product line and has made it appropriately clear to the municipal government that the future pasalubong center will be owned, managed and operated by a people’s livelihood organization under a public-private partnership arrangement with the municipal government. The livelihood organization will be composed of unemployed women and out-of-school youth, and not by a single capitalist, profit-oriented entity. After all, the challenge is not only about increasing tourist arrival and receipt but also spreading the socio-economic benefits of tourism to as many people as possible. An inclusive tourism industry is for the common people too, you know.

cials have continuously stressed that the domestic economy has the capacity to remain resilient given the measures that have been put in place. For one, the central bank’s policy rates remain low, with the overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) rate at four percent and the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate

at six percent. The BSP is among the few central banks in the region that has not increased it key rates even as its counterparts overseas have raised their respective rates. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo recently said they see no need to increase key rates to date since infla-

tion remains low and domestic growth remains robust. ”The economy hardly needs it,” he said. The central bank executive said slashing the key rates now is counter intuitive because it will translate to lower lending rates and increase the country’s external competitiveness. (PNA)

actual utilization against loan schedule, likewise improved and still exceeded the threshold at 77.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 73.0 percent of the previous year. Furthermore, the disbursement ratio, which is the actual drawdown as against the available net loan amount, improved by 12.3 percent-

age points, from 9.3 percent during the last quarter of 2013 to 21.6 percent in fourth quarter same period. The increase was due to the entry of about US$2.04 billion worth of new program loans, but almost half of which was disbursed within the year. Meanwhile, the overall net commitment for ODA-assisted projects and programs regis-

tered an increase of US$3.18 billion in fourth quarter of 2014. This was from US$8.11 billion in last quarter of 2013 to US$11.29 billion. The said net commitment consists of 13 program loans amounting to US$4.09 billion and 62 project loans amounting to US$7.21 billion. The Infrastructure Sector had the largest share (40.2%).

Hot... FROM 6

ODA... FROM 6

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 Ordinary Regular Service Case No.2010-XI-00522 ROBERTO T. ATABELO, Petitioner

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NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ Ordinary Regular service on the route: CIRCULATION ROUTE 4 with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on July 7, 2015. In the petition filed on March 19, 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 APRIL 14, 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 19th day of March 2015 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

ICT HUB 11

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DANGEROUS NETWORK

Kaspersky Lab study reveals more than 2/3 of users encountered content dangerous to children in the nternet

Sound advice S

O what should adults do to protect their kids from psychological traumas due to cyberbullying? Kaspersky Lab has some advice:

1. First, be patient. It will take time. Like every serious issue, problems with cyberbullying can’t be solved in a couple of minutes. 2. Don’t wait for your child come to you and tell about problem. Maybe it won’t happen at all. You should be the one to start this conversation.

3. Of course, each person has a right to privacy. But this is not a reason to neglect your child’s online activity. Learn what your kids do in social networks. For a start, add them to your friends’ list in every social network in which you both have accounts. As few as 20 percent of parents do this — let’s make this figure better.

4. Talk to your children about cyberbullying. Tell them they should come to you if/when they face this

problem. Explain that cyberbullying is a commonly encountered problem. It could help your kid realize there’s nothing wrong with him personally.

5. Never use prohibition. Taking away a kid’s phone or disconnecting his devices from the internet won’t help. Actually, such prohibitions are what your child is afraid of and why they wouldn’t tell you about cyberbullying to begin with. 6. Talk to your kid about basic online security and privacy. Show him how to change privacy settings in social networks to prevent strangers from seeing his private data. 7. To protect your child as efficiently as possible, use parental control applications. For instance, Kaspersky Lab has recently developed new app called Kaspersky Safe Kids. You can download this app for Windows, Mac, iOS or Android. It is currently available free of charge.

OUR kid is beside you with his device, but do you know where he or she is in the World Wide Web? It’s about time you become aware of your child’s whereabouts in the digital world. A recent Kaspersky Lab study called ‘Children Online’ revealed that more than two-thirds of Parental Control technology users encountered inappropriate or dangerous content online. Kaspersky Lab is an international software security group operating in almost 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, with its holding company registered in the United Kingdom. It has a presence in the Philippines. The study showed that 68 percent of parent internet users, who use Kaspersky Lab’s filtering technology, faced prevalent threats to children such as adult content, gambling, and sites carrying information about weapons. Results also said that more than half or 59.5 percent of users encountered pornography while over a quarter or 26.6 percent landed on websites dedicated to gambling. Every fifth user stumbled across sites featuring weapons and almost the same number was confronted by strong language. Websites carrying inappropriate content like pornography, gambling, weapons, strong language, along with others featuring drugs, tobacco and alcohol, were the ones blocked most often by Kaspersky Lab protection solutions. Amid the increasing online threats and harmful contents present in the internet, Kaspersky Lab encouraged parents and adults to use Parental Control programs that monitor and regulate children’s access to search engines and applications with possible dangerous content. On the other hand, it is now harder for parents to monitor their children’s online activities and protect them against existing cyberthreats as children today are often far more active internet users than adults.

Parental Control technologies can block access to sites with dangerous content but it does not guarantee full protection especially in web services like social networking sites where chats and dialogues are used as platform for the most well-known cyber menace, cyberbullying. “Because of children’s active online presence, they are now more prone to encounters with the dangerous sides of the internet. We encourage and urge parents to be vigilant and be active in their children’s digital lives. That is the only way to be sure that their young will not fall as victims of harmful online activities especially cyberbullying,” said Jimmy Fong, Kaspersky Lab’s Channel Sales Director for Southeast Asia. Among the existing cyberthreats, cyberbullying is one of the unpleasant effects of hyper-socialization that the internet as a whole – and social networks in particular – bring us. Cyber bullying is a form of online communication with the intent to abuse or degrade someone, specifically kids. Nearly half of children have been bullied online, every 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once. “The internet brings a great many benefits, but unfortunately it also allows certain people to unleash their destructive human traits, and cyberbullying has become a widespread problem today. For its victims, the psychological damage can be massive and long-lasting,” said Eugene Kaspersky, founder and CEO of the security firm. “There’s probably no purely technological answer, but we must talk about it to raise awareness of this issue and help young people and their parents safely make the most of the good things the internet has to offer,” he added. According to an AGB Nielsen 2011 report1, almost two thirds or 65 percent of Filipino internet users were aged 15 to 19. With the Philippines’ ‘young’ internet population, it is important for the modern-day parents to know how to protect their kids against cyberbullying.

12 CLASSIFIED

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DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE

Director of Sales

Marketing Specialist

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

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

THE City of Tagum was again filled with songs and music as the Musikahan Festival 2015 surged with musical spectacle that truly proved the city’s claim as the “Music Capital of Mindanao”. What was once a minor musical celebration is now considered as one of the country’s biggest music festival. It started as an annual venue to showcase Tagumeños talents in music but has morphed through the years into a musical event that celebrates the musical ingenuity not only of the Tagumeños but of Mindanao and the Filipino people as a whole. Since 1999, Musika-

the region but even guests and participating groups coming far from the Visayas and Luzon. It even went international when Tagum City was chosen to host the 3rd International Rondalla Festival in 2011 participated by different groups coming from Asia, Europe and the Americas. Today, the Tagum City Musikahan Festival is considered as one of the country’s premiere music festivals showcas-

Tagum City’s Musikahan Festival 2015: A celebration of Filipino’s ingenuity in music Text and Photos by Olan Emboscado

Since1999,MusikahanFestival has been the City’s signature festivalaimedatshowcasingthe country’s love for music and the Filipino’s excellence in musical composition, performance and production. han Festival has been the City’s signature festival aimed at showcasing the country’s love for music and the Filipino’s excellence in musical composition, performance and production. Since the creation of this wellloved music festival, it has attracted not only spectators from around

ing musical events from amateur to professional vocal competitions, rondalla to brass bands, show bands to classical music, choral performances to music theater, and other music related activities. This year’s celebra-

Musikahan A4

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PEOPLE

Patricia Ciocon

REPORTS are saying that this summer 2015, Gensan will be the hottest city in the Philippines. Maybe it is because of the hot Generals? With that, I’ve asked around Gensan personalities, How they manage to beat the heat, and keep their cool. For Patricia Ciocon a college student from ADDU, having her vacation in Gensan, said her go to outfits for the heat are light weight clothing, and pairs them with cute sunglasses and even a wide brimmed hat. Ice cream and smoothies are her go to snacks against the heat. Don’t let the heat keep you from enjoying the summer break, says Jdee Landero a Fashion Photographer, who shares that, “Even for once in a year go somewhere you’ve never been before. Travel, take lots of photos with memories, even though

Shara Tobias

its hot. Summer’s really fun, and sure you make the best out of it” Stephanie Chu, Proprietress of Stevens Place has a lot on her plate and going around town for errands with the extreme heat may sound really exhausting, indeed it is, but

Jdee Landero

How Generals stay cool in

SUMMER she manages to counter it by, “Dressing smart lang. Wear light clothing, then travel light always, just bring a messenger bag or

something just lighten up your feeling” she replied. Shara Tobias a model and student of NDDU, shared that she goes against the heat with a comfy summer outfit, ice cream, the beach/pool, and swimming. And as for me, I keep my cool by staying indoors, AC blasted to full, with snacks on my side and glass of Gelatea, while having hours and upon hours of movies and TV series DVD marathons. Yeah, I wish. Seriously the heat is insane, but lets not get inside our heads, seize the day, even if its burning your skin, or blinds your eyes. What do you do to beat the heat? Tell me all about it! Mention/follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @ kyriekoutre, plus for more adventures in and around my wonderland that is Gensan, Tuna Capital of Stephanie Chu the Philippines.

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Vice, Gandang-ganda Sa Sarili Sa Araneta all set on May 22 INFLUENTIAL TV host, comedian, and recording star Vice Ganda makes a grand comeback at the Araneta Coliseum for his fourth major solo concert titled “Vice, Gandang-Ganda Sa Sarili sa Araneta: Eh di Wow!” on May 22 (Friday).

When asked about what to expect in his upcoming concert, the Kapamilya star said that it will shock the audience with its stage set in the middle of the Big Dome and the high-tech special effects showcase. Vice said, “The concert will not just require SPG (strict parental guidance), it will be SSSSSPG.” Vice’s last show at the Araneta Coliseum was the highest-earning concert staged by a local artist for 2013, “I-Vice Ganda Mo ‘Ko sa Araneta.” His two previous hit concerts were “The Unkabogable Concert” in 2011 and “May NagText… Yung Totoo: Vice Ganda sa Araneta!” in 2010. “Vice, Gandang-Ganda Sa Sarili sa Araneta: Eh di Wow!” is under the production of Star Events and ABS-CBN Events,

NEW DIRECTION. It’s been a rough few days for Zayn Malik and his now former One Direction band mates. The 22-year-old pop star was photographed leaving his home in London on Saturday looking very glum, walking hunched over while carrying a backpack and looking down. Malik announced on Wednesday he was leaving the boy band after five years, which followed a short hiatus from the group. Fans literally mourned his departure.

stage direction of Paul Basinilio, TV direction of Bobet Vidanes, and musical direction of Marvin Querido. Tickets for Vice’s upcoming concert are now

available at Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum Box Office. Simply call 911-5555 or log on to www.ticketnet. com.ph. For more information,

visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/starrecordsphil, Twitter.com/ starrecordsph and Instagram.com/Starmusicph.

Food Magazine showcases easy pizza and pasta recipes in first free cooking class HUNDREDS of foodie and kitchen savvy people learned new easy and simple pizza and pasta recipes from experts during the first leg of free cooking classes offered by Food magazine for its 20th anniversary titled, “Food Tastings: A Pizza and Pasta Class.” “Who doesn’t love pizza and pasta, right?” Ms. Nana Ozaeta, Food magazine’s editor-inchief said at the event which received a loud and enthusiastic “yes” from the participants who were all ready to learn and make their own pizza and pasta recipes. Food magazine is the largest culinary selling magazine title of ABSCBN Publishing, Inc. The official venue partner, Project Pie Tomas Morato, was full

to the brim for “Food Tastings” that featured premiere chef Nancy Dizon-Edralin and Lifestyle Network’s Portia Baluyut, who both showcased their cooking skills to a room filled with eager participants. Portia Baluyut, who made a mark in the industry as one of the finalists in Lifestyle Network’s “Clash of the Toque-en Ones” in 2010, passionately shared her secret in making a chick-

en and chorizo summer cream tomato pasta. Baluyut is also a restaurateur and host of Lifestyle Network’s “A Pinch of Portia.” Meanwhile, chef Nancy Dizon-Edralin gamely introduced three easyto-make scrumptious pastas: a conchiglie with sun dried tomato and goat cheese, pasta portobello, and seafood pasta with squid ink sauce. Chef Nancy also made her session en-

gaging by inviting people to help her make the dishes on stage. “Food Tastings” got even more interactive as Project Pie taught the participants how to make two creative pizzas from their resident chefs and gave participants a chance to build and name their very own pizza creations. “Food Tastings: A Pizza and Pasta Class” also turned out to be exciting and fun as participants took snapshots of their social media worthy pastas and pizzas and shared their photos online. The next series of classes of “Food Tastings” will run throughout the year, having participants explore recipes on health and wellness, hearty breakfast meals, and delectable sugar rush gift ideas.

March 26-April 1, 2015

INSURGENT Shailene Woodley, Theo James PG

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

CINDERELLA Lily James, Hayley Atwell, Richard Madden G

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

SONG ONE Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn PG

R-16

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

HOME Rihanna, Jim Parsons G

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge! TRAVEL Musikahan A1 tion is no exemption. Coinciding with 17th Araw ng Tagum and Tagumenyos Bisag Asa also known as the “Trio Celebration”, Musikahan Festival 2015 highlighted the musical talents of the Tagumeños as showcased through different activities participated even in the grassroots level like the annual Barangay Musikahan. Despite different challenges, the City Government of Tagum wielded commendable efforts to continue this unique musical and cultural event in the hope to maintain its claim as the Music Capital of the South. And like the previous years, Musikahan Festival is a great boost for local tourism in

Despite different challenges, the City Government of Tagum wielded commendable efforts to continue this unique musical and cultural event in the hope to maintain its claim as the Music Capital of the South. the city. Compared to last year, this years’ Musikahan Festival is much bigger because of various lined-up events that took place simultaneously. Among the musical activities highlighted in the festival were the Avenida Musika Brass Band Competition, Kasikas sa Dalan DBC competition, Himig Handog Chorale Competition, Rondal-Awit, Kantahan sa Tagum, Tunog Tagum Songwriting Competition, Battle of the Bands and Musikahan sa Barangay. With city’s effort to continue this celebration of music and musical ingenuity of the Filipinos, there is no doubt that Tagum City is indeed the Music Capital of Mindanao. This year’s Musikahan Festival is organized by the City Government of Tagum through the Tagum City Tourism Council and sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Musikahan Festival ran from February 21, 2015 through March 7, 2015.

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13 COMMUNITY SENSE

Ambassadors’ projects in Tanauan, Palo go on A

MBASSADOR CLUB International-Davao will finish its humanitarian projects in the typhoon-ravaged towns of Tanauan and Palo, Leyte near Tacloban City. This was learned from Scott Nimmo, a British veterinary surgeon based in Davao City who is now the president of Ambassador Davao, an international civic and professional group organized in Bern, Swit-

zerland more than 50 years ago. The veterinary surgeon now practices his profession online from Davao City where he lives with his wife Rhodora Gabunada-Nimmo, a Dabawenya who is an industrial engineer. Nimmo, who recently ended his term as president of the Rotary Club of South Davao, succeeded retired Regional Trial Court Judge Isaac “Dodong”

G. Robillo Jr., whose one-year presidency was marked by the club’s projects giving substantial assistance to daycare center children in the typhoon Yolanda-affected towns of Palo and Tanauan. As second vice president of Ambassador Club Davao, Scott earlier headed the fund-raising campaign which collected more than P1 million mostly from Europe-based Ambassador clubs

DSWD@DCPO. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reional director Priscilla N. Razon receives a certificate of appreciation from Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. for being guest speaker during the DCPO Convocation cum Culmination of Women’s Month Celebration on Monday. Also in photo is DCPO deputy city director for administration Superintendent Marvin Manuel P. Pepino. In her message, Razon lauded the significant contribution of the women in uniform in preserving peace and ensuring public safety. She also emphasized their vital role in strengthening the Philippine National Police as capable associates of the men in uniform. She also cited the pioneering Filipino women police officers who paved the way in advancing and demonstrating the distinct ability and competency of women law enforcers. DSWD/Carmela C. Duron

for victims of typhoons Sendong, Pablo, and Yolanda. As president of RC of South Davao, the British vet was also behind the huge matching grant money gathered from abroad for the group’s humanitarian projects for local indigents. As a result, he and his club became multi-awarded. They received a total of nine awards –most outstanding club president; most outstanding club in service projects, The Rotary Foundation (TRF), Club Administration, New Generation, Membership and Public Relations, most outstanding club bulletin. During his multi-awarded presidency, Scott led the club in implementing an organic farming project in support of single mothers, heart surgery of an 8-year-old boy to save his life, and one-year food sustenance for the students of the Talomo school for the blind. Among his other major projects were foreign support for free cataract operation for 200 patients and got funding to support 55 street children for one year. Scott’s administration will complete funding for daycare centers in Palo and Tanauan worth close to P500,000, a decision made by the Ambassador Club Davao board of directors recently. The assistance of the club to children started way back during the presidency newsman Antonio M. Ajero and followed up by the late Severo dela Cruz and later immediate past president retired RTC Judge Isaac G. Robillo Jr. Elected with Nimmo are

SCOTT HELPS. Ali Nixon is a blind kid who had a condition called patent ductus arteriosis and was given by doctors only six months to live. Scott Nimmo, British veterinary surgeon now living in Davao City, got a Rotary matching grant to give him open heart surgery. The operation was successful and Ali lives. Contributed photo. Dr. Anthony Ybiernas, vice president; Rhodora Gabunada-Nimmo, Scott’s wife, secretary; Paciencio “Jun” Rosalem Jr. treasurer. The newly elected officers were immediately sworn into office by lawyer Leoncio “Nonoy” Villa-Abriller, Ambassador past national president. The oath-taking was witnessed by some former top officers of the Ambassadors Club who include past national president Leoncio “Nonoy” Villa-Abrille, past club president Antonio M. Ajero, and past club president Antonio “Ony” Partoza Jr. Also in attendance were prominent club members, Dr. Ma. Lourdes “Malou” G. Monteverde and Sofronio “Boy” Marquez Jucutan, both past presidents of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce.

The newest club member is Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo “Dolfo” del Rosario, who took his oath of membership during the Ambassador national convention in Davao a few months back. Meanwhile, Ambassador Club Philippines president Roger Guadalquiver also announced this week Scott Nimmo’s election as national vice president of the AC-Philippines. Scott will serve starting March 15 with incoming National Pres. Rufio “Boy” Mijares. The Davao chapter has produced several national presidents of the international organization. They are Ambassador Rogelio “Rolly” Santos, Mike Inigo, Roy B. Ferrer M.D., lawyer Leoncio “Nonoy” Villa-Abrille and former Vice Mayor Louie Bonguyan.

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Earth Hour marks with 170 countries P

ROVING that no individual action on climate change is too small and that no collective vision is too big, WWF’s Earth Hour kicked-off at 8:30PM last night with celebrations in over 7,000 hubs across 170 countries. The Quezon City Memorial Circle hosted the Philippines’ main event. Clad in glow-in-the-dark costumes, thousands danced and celebrated climate change solutions in one of the country’s largest Zumba gatherings. The ninth edition of Earth Hour crossed 24 time zones to unify the world around a single challenge – climate change. Even before the hour, Earth Hour organizers were working with citizens, policymakers, and businesses to drive progress on issues like access to renewable energy, strengthening climate education, and restoring critical forests. Organizers from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) were elated at the massive outpouring of support. “We wish to thank everyone who supported Earth Hour,” said Earth Hour Philippines National Director Atty. Gia Ibay. “Now the real work begins, as we work to reduce our individual carbon footprint – our impacts on the Earth.” Earth Hour Philippines now highlights its Gift of Light project, which funds the deployment of hundreds of portable solar lamps for off-grid communities in Beton, Northern Palawan. In 2014, Earth Hour catalyzed over 60 environmental outcomes, including a ban on plastics for the Galapagos Islands, planting 17 million trees in Kazakhstan and the deployment of fibreglass bancas to communities sundered by Typhoon Yolanda

in the Philippines. Organizers wish to thank public sector partners like the Office of the President, Senate of the Philippines, Local Government of Quezon City, Climate Change Commission, the Departments of Agrarian Reform, Agriculture, Budget and Management, Education, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Development, Transportation and Communications, Trade and Industry, Public Works and Highways, Labor and Employment, Interior and Local Government, the League of Provinces, Municipalities and Cities, Commission on Higher Learning and Education, Laguna Lake Development Authority, Metro Manila Development Authority, plus the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Corporate champions were led by Philips, ArthaLand, Alveo Land, Banco De Oro, First Gen Corporation, Smart Communications, and McDonald’s. Media champions included ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Regional, ABS-CBN Sports and Action, ANC, Balls TV, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, ClickTheCity.Com, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, FleishmanHillard, FocusMedia, Far Eastern Broadcasting Corporation, Globaltronics, Hero TV, Jack TV, Jeepney TV, JVC Advertising, Knowledge Channel, Leo Burnett, Lifestyle Network, My Only Radio, Myx, Net-25, Nyxsys, Orangemagazine.ph, Pelicola.TV, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, QCreativs, Radyo Pilipinas, Radyo Agila, Radyo Veritas, Sign Media, TV5 and Wheninmanila. Com. The next Earth Hour is slated for March 26, 2016.

SWITCH OFF. SM City Davao was among the 50 SM malls nationwide and six malls in China that turned off non-essential lighting in observance of Earth Hour last March 28 at 8:30 p.m. In the photo are (from left) a Boy Scouts of the Philippines representative, SM Supermalls Assistant Vice President for

Enjoy longer mobile surfing this summer with GoSURF

CHOOL has ended and the summer heat is finally on. It’s time to lounge at the beach and enjoy the sun while listening to your favorite summer playlists, watching videos, chatting with friends or sharing selfies on social media. For now, we bid school goodbye and say hello to summer! Make summer your favorite season ever with your connectivity partner Globe Telecom and its consumable data plan GoSURF, which allows you to surf all the sites you want and gives you free access to popular apps such Viber and Facebook, as well as premium content such as Spo-

tify and Piso Mall, the country’s first-ever one-stop shop video content store with over 200,000 videos available. Start planning your summer escapades with GoSURF50, which gives you 300MB of mobile surfing so you can browse through travel sites, book hotel accommodations, read travel reviews, chat with friends, and share posts and photos on mobile complete with free access to Viber and Facebook. GoSURF50 also comes with free access to Spotify so you can check out the latest songs you can play during trips as well as free access to Piso Mall to view the perfect summer videos and

The information was revealed by Mindanao Deputy and National Convention Committee Chairman Balbino C. Fauni during the group’s regular weekly meeting held at the Knights of Columbus office in Davao City. MD Fauni said the “K of C tri-state national convention” is a rare opportunity for Mindanao because it only happens once in every ten years. “That is why I am calling all my brothers Knights from Mindanao, especially from Davao Region, to grab this opportunity to attend the convention. You could just imagine how expensive this convention for us Mindanaoans The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl A. Anderson (left), poses with Mind- should it be held in anao Deputy Balbino C. Fauni during one of the latest international KofC events. Visayas or Luzon,”

Fauni said. With the theme “You will be all brothers: Our vocation to Fraternity,” the convention is expected to gather 1,500 delegates from all over the country. Fauni said the organization’s headquarters located in New Haven, Connecticut also advised him of the possibility for the Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson to visit the country to honor the event. The Knights of Columbus has more than 1.8 million members in over 15,000 councils around the world. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Church, their communities, families, and young people. Currently, Knights of Columbus donates more than US$170 million and 70 million hours of service to charitable causes. Please visit www. kofc.org for more information. Would be convention delegates may also send their interest at kofc_mindanao@yahoo.com. (PR-KOFC REB)

Davao to host Knights of Columbus confab T

HE Mindanao Jurisdiction of the world’s largest Catholic lay organization, the Knights of Columbus, officially announced Monday that

the 10th Knights of Columbus National Convention will be held in Davao City at SMX Davao Convention Center on May 1 to 3, 2015.

Operations in Mindanao Debby Go, Phoenix Petroleum Corporate Affairs Manager Ben Sur, WWF National Coordinator Ricky Biyos, councilor Leo Avila III, SM City Davao Mall Manager Lynette Lopez, and a representative of the Davao Rover Scouts. Over a thousand participants joined the celebration at SM Davao.

clips with your travel buddies. Do all these for 3 days for only P50. “As the leading purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle, we want our prepaid customers to have more fun this summer so we are boosting our GoSURF promos with more mobile data allocation so they can enjoy their mobile internet experience without spending too much. We also want to give them more of what they love so we’re bundling our GoSURF promos with free premium content such as Facebook, Viber, Spotify and Piso Mall to fully enable their digital lifestyle,” says Issa Cabreira, Globe Senior Vice President for Con-

sumer Mobile Marketing. Register to GoSURF50 by dialing *143# and choosing GoSURF50 or by simply texting GS50 to 8888. Upon successful registration to GoSURF50, you will receive a confirmation SMS with details on the premium content which you can immediately access as part of the bundle. GoSURF also comes in lower denomination promos such as GoSURF10, GoSURF15 and GoSURF30 to cater to Globe Prepaid customers’ digital lifestyle, budget and needs. To know more about GoSURF promos, visit www. globe.com.ph/gosurf.

Davao Light bares scheduled power interruptions April 1

AVAO Light and Power Co. will conduct two 15-minute power interruptions and one two-hour power interruption within its franchise on April 1, Wednesday, affecting Bunawan, Panacan, Buhangin, Ecoland, Matina, and Bangkal feeder lines. The first set of power interruptions will be for 15-minutes which will be necessary to conduct normalization of the lines recently transferred to other lines to facilitate the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ upgrading works. The first schedule will be anytime between 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. affecting Davao Light’s Ecoland Substation. Particularly affected are customers along McArthur Highway from Matina Town Square to Davao Memorial Park including the entire area of Ecoland. This also affects areas along diversion road going to the entire area of Maa which includes Robinsons Highlands,

Woodridge Subdivision, Magtuod, Langub and other nearby areas. Meanwhile, normalization of ERA 2 and DRA 4 lines will be implemented still for 15 minutes only anytime between 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.. This will affect customers in areas along diversion road from Santol Street, Buhangin at diversion road going to Panacan and from Bunawan up to Panabo Substation including Lasang. Moreover, a two-hour power interruption from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. will be experienced by customers connected to Davao Light’s Matina and Bangkal Substations. This will facilitate the upgrading works on the electric utility’s power transformer. Customers affected are those in the entire areas from Davao Memorial Park going to Catalunan Grande, up to PLDT Bangkal. This also includes Shrine Hills Matina up to Energy FM and whole area of Matina Pangi.

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

5 Davao aspitants make it to Jr. NBA, WNBA Finals By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

THE FILIPINO FLASH. The crowd got me going. Boy Lim

Donaire: Crowd chants inspired me By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

T was only seconds into the fight when the crowd started chanting “Nonito, Nonito, Nonito.” Drawing inspiration from the chants that reverberated inside the Araneta Coliseum, Nonito Donaire Jr. responded by throwing a barrage of big blows to finish off William Prado of Brazil in the second round and claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) North America Boxing Federation (NABF) super bantamweight title in their Pinoy Pride 30 clash Saturday night. Donaire rained Prado with a series of left hooks and overhand shots and opened a cut above the Brazilian’s right eye in forcing the referee to waive off the fight at 2:16 mark of the second round. He’s back. “I can feel the energy going into my body,” Donaire said in describing what he felt upon hearing the chants during the post-fight press conference. Just months ago, Donaire absorbed a sixth-round technical knockout loss at the hands of hard-hitting Jamaican Nicholas Walters that

AYN Malik has left One Direction and is headed in some other direction. But that’s not what I want to talk about. The sports world is seeing its stars go different directions of late. Last weekend, Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire both ended as big winners on Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day. But the manner in which both carved out their wins came in contrasting fashion. Nietes, the country’s longest reigning world boxing champion, was patient and methodical against Gilberto Parra. He waited for the moment to unleash his main

somehow tainted his boxing career. The defeat didn’t discourage Donaire and the five-division champion immediately got back on track right in his first comeback fight since the debacle. “If you put me down seven times, I will stand up eight times,” he said. The victory over Prado was even more rewarding for Donaire as it happened in front of his countrymen. “I love the fact that this is my home,” said Donaire, who dedicated his triumph to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Donnie Nietes and Albert Pagarra also scored impressive wins in the Pinoy Pride 30 staged by the ALA Promotions and television network ABS-CBN. Nietes fashioned out a 10th round TKO victory over Gilberto Parra of Mexico to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight title, while Pagara stopped Rodofo Hernandez also of Mexico in the fourth round of their IBF inter-continental junior featherweight championship.

weapon--one big right. When the moment came, Parra’s end was just a matter of time. Donaire, the former five-division world champion, was Nietes’ antithesis. He was a man possessed from the get go. Donaire stayed in the ring for but less than six minutes for a fight he prepared for two months. Now, Nietes could go up in weight and fight the big names of the 112-pound class while Donaire could go down and fight Guillermo Rigondeaux once more at 122. In golf, former world no. 1 Tiger Woods and erstwhile no. 1 Rory McIlroy are going

LASKA Milk, official partner of the Jr. NBA/ WNBA officially announced the qualifiers from last weekend’s Alaska National Training Camp Regional Selection in Davao City. “Five aspirants including two girl dribblers made it as the Davao leg’s representatives to the National Camp set April 24-26 in Manila,” said Yam Maramba of M2M Advertising in an email to Edge Davao. Making it to the elite cast of dribblers are Davao City’s 11-year old Rozie Amatong of Modern International Learning Center, 14-year old Rhea Ville Bausin of the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, 14-year old Paolo Emanuel Antonio of Stella Maris Academy, and 14-year old Christopher Gonzagaof the University of the Immaculate Conception, and Cagayan de Oro City’s 13-year old Jeffy Malilim of Corpus Christi School. After Davao, only one more Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Selection Camp remains. The Manila Regional Selection Camp will be held at the PICC Forum at the CCP Complex in Roxas Boulevard on April 11 and 12. The selection camps and the NTC are run by Jr. NBA/ Jr. WNBA Head Coach Chris Sumner assisted by Alaska coaches, Perlas Pilipinas coaches and local volunteer coaches. The National Training

STRUGGLING and edgy Rafa Nadal crashed out of the Miami Open in the third round on Sunday, losing 6-4 2-6 6-3 to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. The 31-year-old Verdasco, who is ranked 34th in the world, has now won his last two matches against world number three Nadal, after the 14-time grand slam winner had won their previous 13 meetings.

Camp which will be held at the PICC Forum on April 2426 is the high point of the NBA’s global developmental basketball program. Ten Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA AllStars will be selected who will embark on a unique, overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA AllStars from Southeast Asia. Registration is still ongoing for the remaining Regional Selection Camp through the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA event website www.jrnba.asia/ philippines, where full program terms and conditions can be found. Fans can follow Jr. NBA/ Jr. WNBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www. facebook.com/philsnba) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/ nba_philippines).

YOUNG JINS. A taekwondo practitioner hits an opponent to the face during the 11th ITF Taekwon-Do Philippines National and Invitational Tournament 2015 at NCCC Mall on Sunday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Separate ways for Nadal, Murray “It is a huge victory and it is always nice to win in a packed stadium in a big tournament and against one of the best players in history,” said Verdasco. Verdasco caused problems from the outset and broke in the eighth game, helped by a double fault from Nadal. Nadal battled back in the second set, breaking Verdasco twice and pushing the contest into a third set.

The contest turned decisively in Verdasco’s direction when he broke to go 3-1 up in the third set. Nadal has never won in Miami, with his 11 attempts his longest streak of attempts at a tournament without a victory and he said he was concerned that he was nervous when playing. “I am playing with too much nerves for a lot of moments, in important moments, playing a little bit of anxious in those moments,”

18 years. The 39-year-old American is down at number 96 and a world ranking official told Reuters that he is likely to slip to 102nd when the list is adjusted after this weekend’s tournaments. When he turned pro in September 1996, Woods was ranked 433rd. He jumped to 75th after landing his first victory as a professional at the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, the first of Tiger’s collection of 79 PGA trophies. Tiger rose to world number one when he finished 19th at the 1997 U.S. Open and spent a record total of 683 weeks at the top of the rank-

ings until he lost the number one spot to Australia’s Adam Scott in May 2014. McIlroy has been top of the rankings since August 2014. The former boyfriend of tennis star Caroline Wozniacki is doing a Justin Bieber these days--a gym freak that’s turning his once baby fat-bound body into a ripped animal. Swing coach Butch Harmon doesn’t at all agree with the idea of golfers bulking up. He has seen this before with Tiger and he is afraid the weights workout could harm Rory’s swing. Finally at the Miami Open,

Opposite directions LET’S GET IT ON

Neil Bravo on opposite directions too. Former world number one Tiger Woods will drop outside the top 100 in the rankings beginning this week for the first time in more than

JR. NBA. A Junior NBA aspirant from Team Yellow tries to score against the defense of the opposing team during the final day of the Junior NBA/WNBA Davao Regional selection camp at the University of Immaculate Conception in Bajada, Davao City on Sunday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

he said. “I have been able to control my emotions during, let’s say, 9095 percent of the matches in my career, today it was tougher to be under self control. “But I am going to fix it. I don’t know if in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I am going to do it.” In another upset, seventh seed Stan Wawrinka lost 7-6(4) 7-6(5) to 28th-seed Adrian Mannarino.

two of the game’s best players went the opposite directions. Rafael Nadal, former world no. 1 is out of the running and his rival Andy Murray, now wearing the Under Armour brand, is making headways. But that’s how it goes in sports. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes, it rains. Did I say Zayn? Notes: Listen to “Let’s Get It On with Neil Bravo” at 105.9 Balita FM every Saturday 8 am to 10 am. You may write the author at bravoneil@rocketmail.com.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

LORDS OF THE RING Aldeguer: Donnie wants to move up By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

ONNIE Nietes sat around a big round table near a pool in the posh Solaire hotel Sunday dawn. He looked elegant in his dark suit and was smiling around while talking with friends and fans after a late dinner. They offered congratulatory words, shook his hands and took out their gadget to have “selfie” moments with Nietes, all of them in admiration of this little Filipino boxer who has gone big hero in his country with his impressive skills atop the ring. Just a few hours ago, Nietes further cemented his niche in Philippine boxing history when he extended his run as the longest reigning Filipino world champion with a ninth-round demolition of Gilberto Parra of Mexico in the historic Araneta Coliseum. For annihilating Parra, Nietes improved his ring record to 35-1 with 21 knockouts. The 32-year-old Nietes now has defended his World Boxing Council (WBO) light flyweight crown six times. His reign began in 2007 when he won the world minimumweight title and up until this very day, the Negros Occidental native has no plans of slowing down in his quest for greatness. There was a constant question, though, that

Nietes and his promoter kept hearing: What’s next for Donnie Nietes? ALA Promotions president and CEO Michael Aldeguer said after Nietes has dominated the 108-pound division, the Filipino fighter is talking about invading the 112-division and fight Mexican world champion Juan Francisco Estrada. “He’s still comfortable at 108 pounds, but Nietes has to fight the big names at 112. He’s is talking about fighting Estrada, but that’s still four pounds. We will study,” Aldeguer told reporters. Aldeguer said Nietes will have a mandatory defense against Francisco Rodriguez on July 4 in Cebu City and after that they will announce to the media where the champion is headed. For now, things are looking good for Nietes, who is called Ahas. “You saw how Nietes has evolved as a fighter in the past two years. We will study and see what’s good for him,” Aldeguer said. Nietes was at his usual best against Parra, showing good lateral movements and throwing combinations that rattled the Mexican challenger. Nietes had trouble finding the range in the early rounds, but he patiently waited for the right moment to land his lethal bombs. A two-punch

combination capped by his vaunted right hand dropped Parra on the seat of his pants in the eight round. Sensing victory, Nietes was all over Parra in the ninth and a big right hand opened a nasty cut near the challenger’s left eye. A bloodied Parra was shaking his head as he headed to his corner after the ninth round bell sounded. He failed to answer the bell in the 10th, giving Nietes a technical knockout win. At the victory party in Solaire, Nietes was having a good time going around and talking even to the waiters about his latest conquest. Inside the ring, Nietes is a fierce competitor who likes to devour his opponents with his pair of killer fists, specifically with the vaunted right hand. Outside of the ring, he is humble and a nice person. He doesn’t even walk around with a flamboyant hop in his step, much less look like a world champion with all the bling-bling and the braggadocio. In the wee hours Sunday, the meek-mannered Nietes finally called it a day, stood up from his chair and bade everybody goodbye. The longest reigning Filipino world champion is finally taking a much-needed rest. For now, the future will have to wait.

WINNERS ALL. Nonito Donaire (left) and Prince Albert Pagara after defeating William Prado of Brazil and Rodolfo Hernandez of Mexico, respectively, last Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Center,. Boy Lim

IS HE MOVING UP IN WEIGHT? Donnie Nietes is carried up the shoulders of trainer Edito Ala Villamor after his 9th round TKO win over Gilberto Parra of Mexico last Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Center,. Boy Lim