Edge Davao 8 Issue 124 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

ONE LAST TRY Mayor Duterte supporters to hold Million March on Sept. 26 EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

INSIDE EDGE CLEANUP. A young beachgoer runs by a pile of garbage collected during the 30th International Coastal Cleanup activity held in Sta. Ana wharf over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

UPPORTERS of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will go on with the “million people march” at the Burnham Green in front of Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Saturday even though the mayor himself will not be there. This was bared by Duterte for President 2016 Movement Mar Masanguid yesterday in

an interview with DXAB 1296 Radyo Patrol. Masanguid said many groups have already confirmed joining the march on September 26 which is being organized to urge Duterte to run for President in 2016. “Ang gisulti gahapon ni Mayor sa iyahang programang ‘Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa’ na dili siya mo adto sa rally, kung

mahibaw-an niya na milyon ang mo abot didto sa Quirino Grand Stand, makonsensya pud siya (The mayor said in his program ‘Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa’ that he will not attend the rally, but if he finds out that there are a million people at the Quirino Grandstand, maybe his conscience will make him come),” he said.

He said some officials of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN), the political party to which Duterte belongs, also helped his group organize the big rally to urge Duterte to run. Masanguid said volunteers from the religious sector, transport groups, urban poor, the

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SWS survey shows Duterte has solid support: analyst

5 soldiers hurt in IED blast

EDGEDAVAO Sports

Gilas oldest, China tallest at FIBA Asia Page 15 Lascuna seeks redemption P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

WAITING TIME. Parents and guardians sit under the shade of the trees while waiting for their children outside a makeshift school at Magsaysay Park. Lean Daval Jr.

Tuna vendors to be SWS survey shows Duterte charged this week has solid support: analyst D A

AVAO City administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitain yesterday said he expects the case against market vendors who sold adulterated tuna two weeks ago to be filed anytime within this week. In an interview, Quitain said the city government wants to teach the erring vendors a lesson, adding it was impossible for them not to have been able to identify that the tuna they were selling were no longer safe for consumption. “They have already been doing that business for a long long time. They can easily discern if there is something wrong with the products they are selling,” he said. Quitain said the City Legal Office (CLO) is already preparing the docu-

ments for the filing of case against the four vendors from the markets in Matina Aplaya, Puan, and Toril. Quitain said the case to be filed is violation of Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. In a separate interview, CLO lawyer John Christopher T. Mahamud said aside from violation of the Consumer Act, he is also studying other cases to be filed on the vendors. “We just want to take steps to stop this deceit,” he said. “We are just sending a message to other vendors not to deceive their customers,” he added. Mahamud said based on the statement of the City Veterinarians Office (CVO), the tuna were wiped with

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Eastmincom chief calls on Lumads to sign pact

HE chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) has called on what he described as “feuding” Lumads (Indigenous Peoples), to sign a peace pact to restore peace in their communities in Surigao del Sur. In an e-mailed statement, Lt. Gen. Aurelio B. Balalad, Eastmincom chief, said the forging of a peace pact or “Tampuda” will be an instrument to “win the peace in the indigenous peoples (IPs) or Lumad communities in Caraga Region.” The call was made three weeks after the Sept. 1 killing of Emerito Samarca, 54, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Live-

lihood Development (Alcadev), Dione Campos, chair of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU), and Bello Sinzo in Sitio Han-ayan, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur by some 20 unidentified armed men, believed to be members of the paramilitary group Magahat-Bagani. But Joyce Perpetua, spokesperson for League of Filipino Students-Southern Mindanao Region (LFS-SMR) hit the military for calling for a peace pact among the alleged “feuding” Lumads. “There is no feud among the Lumads,” Perpetua said. “Their traditional Bagani forces were peacemakers until the AFP scattered blood

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By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

TENEO de Davao University (AdDU) political science professor Ramon Beleno III yesterday said the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte still has a solid base support even if he has continued to deny that he is running. “Remember that he is the only local politician who topped the survey,” he said. In an interview yesterday afternoon, Beleno told EDGE Davao that the bad side of the survey results is that the mayor’s popularity is not improving despite his short stints on national television. Duterte had guested on several shows – most of them serious news and public affairs programs but one of them an appearance in come-

dian Vice Ganda’s late night program – over the past few months, fueling speculation that he is eying the Presidency. But two weeks ago he declared that his final decision is that he is not running for President. Beleno said the threename methodology conducted by SWS measures a candidate’s popularity, which affected Duterte’s ratings and caused it to drop from 20 percent last June to 16 percent on this latest survey. “Three names kasi yung hiningi nila kaya mahirap din talaga madetermine. Popularity lang talaga ang ma-measure (SWS only asked for three name so it’s hard to determine who they would actually vote for. It only measures popularity),” Beleno said.

He said SWS requested the respondents to give three names of those they see as “good leaders to succeed” President Benigno Aquino next year. “Di naman kasi tinatanong kung sino iboboto nila o sino yung tatakbo (They did not ask the respondents if they would vote for these people, or who they think would run),” he said. Beleno said Duterte’s16 percent rating means the respondents mentioned him as part of the three possible presidentiables. He said many people are now waiting for the Pulse Asia survey in order to balance the situation. Beleno also said Duterte “must work harder to reach more people and he must wisely choose his running mate.”

He said the survey could be a factor in the coming 2016 election but it does not mean a candidate who tops it will have a sure win. “Survey measures popularity. If you are popular, people know you exist,” he said. Beleno said the people usually vote the candidate who they know because they always see and hear them in the news. “But the challenge is how to convert popularity to votes. Remember, Mar Roxas used to top vice president surveys in 2010 but lost the election,” he said. In the SWS latest survey, Senator Grace Poe still leads at 47 percent. Mar Roxas is now in second place with 39 percent, while Vice President Jejomar Binay dropped to third spot with 35 percent.

on September 20 when the IED exploded, injuring the five soldiers. The EastMinCom said a firefight ensued for five minutes after the blast. “Casualties on the bandits’ side are still undetermined as bloodstains and medical paraphernalia stained with blood were seen in the area where the bandits’ positioned themselves during the firefight. The soldiers were immediately brought to a medical facility for treatment,” it added. The soldiers had launched a pursuit operation against the NPA Guerrilla Front 53, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee which the military said was responsible for the

aborted liquidation attempt on White Kulaman barangay chair Felipe S. Cabugnason the other day. The EastMinCom said Cabugnason had been receiving death threats from suspected NPA members. 8th IB Commander Lieutenant Colonel Lennon G. Babilonia condemned the NPA’s continued use of landmines, saying the IEDs are being planted in foot trails where civilians pass in and out of the barangay. He also said it was “very disappointing” that the incident happened a day before the celebration of the International Day of Peace yesterday. The blast occurred a day

after an unarmed soldier belonging to the 26th Infantry Battalion was abducted by suspected NPA members in San Luis, Agusan del Sur on Saturday morning. The military said the soldier, who is still unidentified, was riding a motorcycle driven by barangay kagawad Reneboy Galino in Barangay Policarpio at around 9 a.m. on September 19 when around 30 armed rebels under alias Cai of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee abducted him. The rebels left Galino behind. Soldiers of the 26th IB are currently in pursuit operations while the local police are conducting an investigation. ABFJ

5 soldiers hurt in IED blast F

IVE soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by the New People’s Army (NPA) exploded in Kitaotao, Bukidnon on Sunday morning. The Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) identified the soldiers 2nd Lieutenant Noel Manalang, Sergeant Ruel Lavall, Private First Class (PFC) Abdurasan Ibnomusa, PFC Ravi Pamalison, and PFCMarvin Dancel, all members of 8th Infantry Battalion (IB), 4th Infantry Division (ID). In a statement, the EastMinCom said the soldiers were in pursuit of rebels in Barangay Pagan at around 8:20 a.m.

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Del Rosario voted chair of RDCom–Mindanao

EGIONAL Development Council (RDC-XI) Chair and Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has been elected chair of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board-Regional Development Committee (RDCom)-Mindanao Area. Del Rosario was voted unanimously by his counterparts from the Regional Development Councils of Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - Regional Economic and Development Planning Board. The newly elected chair will serve RDCom Mindanao Area until June 2016. The RDCom Mindanao formulates and monitors policy implementation, promotes equitable resource allocation; and serves as clearinghouse

for Mindanao development concerns to be elevated to the NEDA Board-RDCom. Among the Committee’s agenda for 20152016 are: improvement of health facilities and services, Mindanao’s role in the ASEAN Economic Community; water quality monitoring in Agusan River and Butuan Bay tributaries. The other agenda include harmonizing local and national mining policies; land conversion and power issues; national physical framework plan/ area spatial development frameworks; comprehensive and integrated infrastructure program; scaling-up of conflict sensitive resource and asset management program; and challenges under the Bangsamoro Basic Law. (NEDA-XI/PIA-XI, CLC)

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL. SM City Davao mall manager Lynette Lopez (right) reads the list of exhibitors for the Davao Chocolate Festival during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lopez

was joined by assistant mall manager Engr. Nick Santos (left) and Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. (CIDAMI) executive director Val Turtur. Lean Daval Jr.

187,639 voters in Davao City Rody urges Sara may be disinfranchised in ‘16 to run for mayor Y F

OUR weeks before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2016 elections, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appealed to daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio to consider running for mayor. “To my mind, si Inday naay (Inday Sara has) experience and she has the mindset that can carry the city for another so many years,” Duterte said in his weekly program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” on Sunday. He added his daughter has yet to decide but added “Inday (Duterte-Carpio) has been consistent in the refusal just like me in the presidency. Inday should ponder on it. Do not be in a hurry.” The younger Duterte served as mayor from July

2010 to June 2013. Her father served as vice mayor during the same period after ending a second 9-year term as mayor. The filing of COCs will be from October 12 to 16, 2015. Asked by TV host Geraldine Tiu who would he field just in case Sara decides not to run, the mayor insisted his daughter should run. “Bakakon si Inday, dili sya tiguwang (Inday is a liar, she is not old) She is not 70 years old. Physically, she can still be of service to the people,” he said. He even said his time to retire has come after serving as government prosecutor for 10 years and city mayor for 22 years.

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OU’RE a registered voter but can you vote on May 9, 2016? Better check the website of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to find out if, indeed, you can. Remember, “no bio, no boto” (no biometrics data, no vote). Or if the biometrics data on your registration form is incomplete, you cannot vote, too (no bio /incomplete bio). MindaNews did a random check for data of voters with no bio or those with incomplete biometrics data posted by the Comelec as of August 22, 2015 and found that thousands of voters will be disenfranchised on May 9, 2016 if they do not have their biometrics data captured by October 31, 2015. In Davao City, Comelec listed 187,639 voters with “no bio/incomplete bio.” Comelec records show Davao City has 999,629 registered voters as of the October 2013 barangay elections.

In Cagayan de Oro City, the list shows 21,952 names. The city has 285,655 registered voters as of October 2013. In Buluan, Maguindanao, hometown of Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, only five are on the list, for having “incomplete fingerprints.” In Shariff Aguak, hometown of the late three-term Governor, Andal Ampatuan, Sr., only one was listed, for the same reason as in Buluan. In Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, the Comelec lists 8,147; in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, 360; in Jolo, Sulu, zero; in Marawi City, one. “The absence of biometrics in the voter’s registration record would cause Comelec to deactivate the concerned registration records. When that happens, the concerned voter shall not be allowed to vote in the May 2016 elections,” the Comelec announced on its website. It is easy to check on

your status as a voter. Visit the Comelec website to find out if you’re on the list of those with no bio or with incomplete bio. If you’re not on the list but would like to check the status of your registration or if you want to check on the status of your Voter’s ID, visit the Precinct Finder where you can find the Registration Verification data as of April 2015 ERB (Election Registration Board) hearing, for those who filed their registration on or before 31 March 2015. Whether you are from Batanes, Bulacan, Cebu or Tawi-tawi, in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao, or you’re from the city or a municipality, or an OFW, you can check your voter’s status through the Comelec website. The list is in alphabetical order so it is easy to check not only your status but your relatives bearing the same surname in your city or town.

Abu Sayyaf attack in Sulu kills Imam A

FOOD-TOGRAPHY. SM Lanang Premier marketing officer Arianne Pombo (right) promotes the upcoming Food-tography Tour with SM City Davao public relations manager Precious Ann Legario during FAST Fridays media forum

at Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier. The second edition of Food-tography is set on September 22 at SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

The Comelec announcement on the website said it cannot print the Voter ID cards of those with incomplete biometrics data. RA 10367, signed into law by President Aquino on February 15, 2013, provides that all voter registration records must have biometrics information. “This means that when you go your local Comelec office to file an application, your biometrics data will be captured using the Comelec’s Voter Registration Machine (VRM). The VRM makes use of a digital camera, a fingerprint scanner and a signature pad to capture your biometrics data,” it said. “All previously registered voters without biometrics are required to subject themselves to biometrics capture through the validation procedure” and they have until October 31, 2015 to comply with the requirement. (MindaNews)

and Hatib Hajan Sawajaan positioned themselves at Patikul Hill and harassed the residents of Barangay Sandah. Arrojado said the BPAT members of Barangay Sandah “organized themselves to counter the ASG harassment” that triggered a 30-minute firefight. He said the firefight resulted to the death of a Baddiri Jamdane, a recognized Imam of Barangay Sandah, Patikul.

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EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

PhilHealth’s Alaga Ka reaches 800 indigents

SATURDAY SCHOOL. Meranaw children attend Arabic classes at the Mahad Salmonan in Barangay Mini-Forest, Davao City on Saturday. On weekdays, they attend regular grade school classes. MindaNews photo by KEITH BACONGCO

Environ payback program targets NorCot watershed

n environment program that would provide incentives to protection of natural resources is being considered for implementation in North Cotabato According to a report from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Libungan Watershed is being considered for Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), an incentive mechanism designed to strengthen management of natural resources and ecosystems that provide goods and services to the public and key industries. The MinDA report noted that the PES is intended to encourage the efficient and sustainable use of re-

sources that are being provided by the 52,820-hectare Libungan Watershed and its surrounding areas. The Libungan Watershed is home to eco-tourism sites and two river irrigation systems (RIS) that provide water to 9,255 hectares of rice lands, a major crop that drive economic growth in the province. The municipalities of Pigcawayan, Aleosan, Libungan, Midsayap, Alamada, Pikit and Banisilan, which have formed into an alliance of local government units called PALMA + PB will directly participate in the proposed PES and oversee the implementation of the mechanism. “The idea of subject-

ing Libungan Watershed to PES has met a positive response from respondents,” said Dr. Carmelita Martinez, PES consultant of the MinDA. During the recently concluded 1st Mindanao Policy Research Forum held at the Insular Waterfront Hotel here in Davao, Dr. Martinez presented “Developing PES Mechanism with River Basin Organization (RBOs) in Mindanao” which highlighted the result of a pilot study on PES for the Libungan Watershed commissioned by MinDA. The forum was co-organized by MinDA and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Dr. Martinez said “the pilot study revealed that 92 percent of respondents are willing to pay for the protection of Libungan Watershed,” while adding “those who cannot pay have expressed willingness to volunteer their time in any protection and conservation project.” “PES is a market-based mechanism that will employ practical approaches and is not a program designed to reduce poverty,” said Martinez while explaining “that PES is an economic incentive to foster more efficient and sustainable use of ecosystem services provided by the natural environment.” (MinDA/DEDoguiles-PIA12)

Panabo garners Kabalikat award P

anabo City was hailed as Davao del Norte’s KABALIKAT awardee during the 21st anniversary celebration of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) at the Kor-Phil Training Center in Davao City on September 17. For the second year in a row, Panabo City was lauded as TESDA’s outstanding partner in the promotion and enhancement of technical vocation education and training (TVET). Panabo City Public Employment Service Office Manager Cherelle Espinosa said the institutionalization of City Skills Training, Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Program (CSTEP) in City Ordinance No. 07-14 was the city’s edge in obtaining the award. “The ordinance, which institutionalized our TVET

program, paved way for the increase of the number of TVETs conducted in the city as its budget was also boosted,” Espinosa said. She said with the implementation of the CSTEP ordinance, the number of TVETs conducted in a year grew from two to three trainings to 15 trainings. Among the TVETs conducted with TESDA competencies were shielded metal arc wielding (SMAW), dressmaking and housekeeping. Espinosa said the city is eyeing to establish a Training Center to be accredited in the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UPTRAS) of TESDA. “We are still finalizing the exact location of the center but the city already allocated P 1-million for its initial phase of construction,” she said. (PIA-11/Michael L. Uy)

ORE than 800 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries recently took part in PhilHealth’s intensive advocacy campaign for the poor widely known as Alaga Ka Para Sa Maayos Na Buhay. Alaga Ka, otherwise known as Alamin at Gamitin Para sa Kalusugan, has been making the rounds nationwide since its introduction in 2014. To date, it has been launched in five key areas in Davao region. True to its goal of providing PhilHealth members, especially those belonging in the poor sector, a clear and better understanding of their healthcare benefits, the activity highlighted a comprehensive orientation and open forum to gauge participants’ awareness level on PhilHealth programs. PhilHealth 11 regional vice president Dennis Adre said the agency is serious in its commitment towards servicing the poor by taking out apprehen-

sions in seeking medical care due to financial woes. He urged the recipients to maximize the use of their health care benefits. “Kung dati po ay natatakot tayo magpa-ospital dahil walang pambayad, ngayon ay hindi na po dahil covered na tayo (ng PhilHealth),” Adre told the beneficiaries during the program. The agency also allocated a total of P2.8 million funding for the Per Family Payment (PFP) to the municipality which will fund the improvement of local health facilities, compensate health care professionals and generally, sustain the availment of indigent members to PhilHealth’s Primary Care Benefits (PCB) 1 package. Under the PCB 1 package, poor members of PhilHealth and their families are qualified to avail of outpatient services such as free consultation, check-up, screening tests and outpatient medicines for com-

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LIPAD-UK recipients end skilled organic farming By NOEL BAGUIO

OASTAL residents of Panabo City, this province, were given the opportunity to engage in profitable nature farming after acquiring proficiency in organic agriculture production. Some 175 recipients of the Localized and Integrated Program Approaches for Development through Ugmad Komunidad (LIPAD-UK) program completed their training on Organic Agriculture Production (OAP) - NC II. The training was provided by the Aces Polytechnic College, which is the only school recognized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide com-

petency-based training on OAP-NC II. Governor Rodolfo del Rosario led the awarding of the Certificates of Competency, during the graduation rites held recently at the LIPAD-UK area in Cagangohan, Panabo City. He urged the recipients to make good use of their new skills to “help increase the income of their families and to contribute to the advancement of their community.” LIPAD-UK is community development program of the province that aims to uplift the socio-economic condition of coastal communities, in partnership with other

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GARDEN FRESH. Workers prepare crates of lettuce from a farm in Barangay Salumay, Marilog District in Davao City. The vegetables will be delivered to restaurants in downtown Davao. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Hog raisers eye export market So: The market is there. So far we are not exporting hogs By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

DATE 2015. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. executive director Maan Doromal discusses preparations for the Davao Trade Expo 2015 during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex. Also gracing the weekly media forum is Davao Hog Raisers Association president Edward So. Lean Daval Jr.

FTER years of supplying the local market with their products, hog raisers in the Davao Region are now eyeing to penetrate the export market. Edward So, president of the Davao Hog Raisers Association, said they are now pushing to expand their potential for export and will use the coming Davao Trade Expo or DATE 2015 as possible launching pad for their goal. “We are really more on import, rather than export. There are lots of opportunities in the market. So far, we are not exporting hogs,” So told reporters. The DATE 2015 event, which fires off September 25 to 27 at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang Premier, focuses on the livestock, poultry, game fowl and aquaculture sectors under the theme “Building Local Products for the Global Community.” The three-day activity organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) will have several foreign Filipino trade attachés as

invited guests. DCCCII executive director Maan Doromal said the foreign attachés who confirmed their presence were those assigned in Thailand and Japan. Also invited were attachés from Malaysia, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. The invited guests will be discussing the character of the foreign market. It is also important for the local aquamarine, livestock and poultry producers to be updated of the industry situations in these markets. So said the Philippines can become a major player in the poultry and livestock sectors for being bird-flu free and foot-and-mouth disease-free. “Until now, we didn’t take advantage of that,” So said in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at the SM City Annex. “We are really more on import, rather than export.” He said among the foreign markets they are eyeing are Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. “The market is there,” So said.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Bigger Davao chocolate festival By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

HOCOLATE lovers, this one’s for you. After its successful staging last year, the Davao Chocolate Festival will be held for the second straight year at the SM Davao Annex event center from September 25 to 27. Organizers said the second edition will be bigger than last year with 20 exhibitors taking part in this year’s celebration and several events added to spice

up the activity, including the Chocolate Mocktail Challenge. The event will have in the house chefs Jackie Ang Po and Rolando Laudico and showcase chocolate processors and other related enterprises. “We have invited schools, children to come to the festival,” SM Davao assistant mall manager Engr. Nick Santos said in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw

Yolanda recovery progress encouraging, says NEDA

HE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recently noted “encouraging progress” in the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in the areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda almost two years ago. “As the visiting UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margaret Wahlstrom, observed, there is encouraging progress in rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts on the ground. I saw this for myself when I visited Yolanda-affected areas in July. Construction work on several resettlement sites in Tacloban City is in full swing. People are starting to occupy some resettlement sites. And a number of livelihood centers and facilities are helping the Yolanda survivors get back on their feet through organic and sustainable farming as well as aquaculture,” Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Arsenio M. Balisacan said. Wahlstrom was earlier quoted in the media as saying, “If you go there now, you will already see important change. If you go there in another two years and it (the recovery) continues at the same pace as of now, it will be very visibly a new place.” Wahlstrom told the Agence France Presse that recovery from major disasters usually takes 10 years. NEDA reports showed that based on agency submissions as of 15 August 2015, a number of Yolanda rehabilitation programs, projects and activities (PPAs) have started to post noteworthy results. For example, a total of 717,404 families have received Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to repair damaged houses. The Commission on Higher

Education (CHED) has rehabilitated 358 or nearly all, save for three, damaged public university buildings. Meanwhile, the livelihood assistance programs are reaching many Yolanda survivors, NEDA reports show that 82,772 people benefited from emergency employment and integrated livelihood programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); 78,840 people benefited from cash for work activities of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 46,719 fishers have received fishing boats from the DA/Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and 31,130 people received livelihood and vocational trainings given by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Based on recent monitoring field visits conducted on July 20-30 on Typhoon Regions VI, VII and VIII (Western, Central and Eastern Visayas), NEDA also noted some small but high-impact succeses in several Yolanda-hit communities, as a result of strong cooperation between national and local government agencies working together with private, non-government and multilateral organizations : • The association of micro-entrepreneurs of Guiuan has been reactivated, providing livelihood opportunities and generating jobs locally, helping the municipality’s local economy to recover; • The reconstructed San Jose Central School in Tacloban City pleased students who only have memories of their old school, which was 90 percent damaged by Typhoon Yolanda. • Fishing com-

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media forum at the SM Davao Annex. Santos added that the three-day festival will also let the people know that Davao is the biggest producer of cacao. The festival will open with the slicing of the giant chocolate cake at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 25. The next day, culinary art enthusiasts will have the chance to listen to Po’s segment on “Baking Chocolates at

Home” and treated to an exciting afternoon with Chocolatier’s Match as the festival searches for this year’s best chocolate dessert. The Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (CIDAMI) is also going to give updates of the cacao industry on Sunday morning as one of the highlights of the festival, before Laudico shares his thoughts on cooking with chocolates in the afternoon.

The city’s best chocolate will be proclaimed during the Chocolate Cake Off, also in the afternoon Shoppers can also win a Golden Ticket being offered by SM Davao during the celebration. He or she can score a Golden Ticket with a maximum of P5,000 worth of single purchase from any mall tenant. The shopper needs only to present the official receipt to the Golden Ticket redemption

booth at the ground floor of the mall. A shopper can also win a Golden Ticket by guessing the number of golden chocolate coins inside the chocolate capsule placed inside the mall. The shopper also needs to only post a photo of the capsule with his or her guess on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, tagging the SM City Davao and using the hashtag #SMDavaoChocolateFestival.

SPEAK FROM THE HEART - Unifrutti Group of Companies chairman John P. Perrine shares how he has continually managed a successful business in Mindanao during the recent 24th Mindanao Business Conference in Dipolog City.

How inclusive business contributes to peace, development in Mindanao F

rom no man’s land to haven of opportunities, this is the new Datu Paglas now. Nineteen years ago, this 4th class municipality in Maguindanao was among the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. But, years of business involvement in helping build a community and in sustaining peace, have started reaping a good harvest for its residents. La Frutera Incorporated and Unifrutti Group of Companies are among the corporations in Datu Paglas that have helped in the development of the Mindanao region. The two companies now employ

close to 2,000 Muslim workers, some of whom were former combatants of the MNLF and MILF. Workers of other belief and tribe also help build the company and the communities around it. Countless families benefitted from its presence in the province through employment and local business opportunities. “How can you bring solutions to Mindanao if you don’t understand the problem?” says John P. Perrine, chairman of the Unifrutti Group of Companies. “Speak the truth, and from your heart. Be with the people,” Perrine

emphasized in his speech before delegates of the 24th Mindanao Business Conference held recently in Dipolog City. Cavendish bananas, grown from the company’s farms in Datu Paglas and Buluan in Maguindanao, now reach the markets of the Middle East, Japan, Korea and China. Perrine worked with the late Mayor Datu Ibrahim “Toto” Paglas when he established his company in Maguindanao. Apart from his various involvements in the community, Perrine is also an active member of the Mindanao Committee (MinCom) of

Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). Unifrutti Group Philippines which belongs to the Unifrutti Group of Companies, shares in PBSP’s mission of reducing poverty in the country by promoting programs and projects designed to help communities become self-reliant. Inclusive business helped harness the pople’s capability of overcoming poverty in the town of Datu Paglas, Buluan and its surrounding communities in Maguindanao, by providing opportunities for a better life. (danny escabarte)

tors to participate in the global value chain. Clavesillas, who is also the executive director for Bureau of MSME Development under the Department of Trade and Industry, made the statement during a press conference here for the 22nd APEC SME Ministerial Meeting with the theme, “Mainstreaming MSMEs in the Global Economy”. “Why focus on food processing? Because more than 60 percent of

our MSMEs are in the processed food [business],” he mentioned. “We have already been impacting about 60 percent of the total MSMEs in the country including their workers, and other dependents of this particular sector,” he added. Since the Philippines is an “agriculture economy”, according to Clavesillas, MSMEs in agribusiness should be provided with assistance for them to comply with the global

standards. “There are so many things that they have to comply with now the market is becoming more selective. For agriculture products now, the preference of the market is organic productions,” he mentioned. “These are the things you also have to be aware of. Just a little intervention in your production process can already increase a lot in terms of the

Phl focuses facilitating MSMEs in agri T

HE Philippine government aims to facilitate micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in food processing and agribusiness to achieve inclusive growth. The Philippines’ Head of Delegation for 22nd Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) SME Ministerial Meeting Jerry T. Clavesillas said the government should make interventions in helping MSMEs in food processing and agribusiness sec-

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TRAVEL

CAMELLA UP AT 20 AND GOI N G HI G HER C AMELLA celebrates 20 successful years of building communities that have become the most admired in the region. With masterplanned developments such as Solariega, Toscana, Camella Cerritos, Camella Tagum, Camella Davao, and Northpoint, Camella provides stylish, functional houses where homeowners can truly feel at home. Camella kicked off its month-long anniversary celebration on September 8 by releasing hundreds of balloons carrying a miniature model of its most saleable home, the Marga house, reminiscent of the house lifted by balloons in the animation film “Up”. The movie title ‘Up” symbolizes Camella’s up-

ward path propelled by its excellent performance and leadership in the real estate industry since it first opened in Davao City twenty years ago. The balloons carried the mockup all the way to Mati, Davao Oriental where it landed after three hours, found by a certain Frankie Dy. Camella will be inviting Dy to its anniversary party where he will be the lucky recipient of a special gift. To jumpstart another exciting day, Camella officers, staff, and brokers took part in a Zumba class in the early morning of September 12 as a muscle-flexing activity prior to the Tree-Planting that followed in Mintal. The tree planting was in line with the environmental advocacy

of the Villar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Vista Land, the country’s largest homebuilder and holding company of Camella. Planters were given the privilege to name after them the seedlings they had planted. An on-going activity is the ‘Damang-dama ang Saya sa Camella’ where dance groups were invited to perform a dance routine to the tune of Camella’s new song, “Damang-dama.” The winning team’s dance moves will become Camella Davao’s official dance step for the song. Camella is also holding the online singing contest called the ‘Damang-dama Song Cover’ that is open to all. Contestants can submit a video of themselves singing the chorus

part of the song ‘Damangdama’ in Visayan version. The winners of both competitions will be chosen during the grand finals at the anniversary party on

September 26. Lovers of remote-controlled miniature cars and mini four-wheel drives will love that Camella will hold a Tamiya competi-

tion at the parking area in the afternoon of September 25. A fun run with a twist follows in the evening, where runners will

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

EVENTS

Fishermen walk along the wide sandy beach.

Lost in Talikud Island's

LA I S LA BONI T A I

never was a beach person. While a weekend with the hot sun and cerulean seas is sure to make every sea baby shout for joy, I would rather feel content and happy in my room with the air conditioning on full blast, YouTube streaming on my iPhone and a cup of my favourite seafood cup noodles on my side. And given that most beaches today tend to be crowded and full of noisy people, some quiet isolation with myself is a nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Durianburg.

All this changed last Thursday with a visit to Talikud Island thanks to the invite of Davao del Norte Provincial Tourism Council president Ms. Araceli Ayuste. Since it had been over a decade and a half since I last visited the island I was excited at the prospect of finally exploring it more this time around. Located at the south western side of Samal Island, Talikud Island is a routine stopover when tourists go island hopping in Davao Gulf. The shallow seas around Talikud Island where the popular Coral Gardens are located allow snorkelers to take in the exciting seascape under the waves. There is also a coral wall for scuba divers to explore and enjoy. The beaches of the island sport fine white sand but I remember just being able to see these beaches from afar as there was no way at that time to go onshore to enjoy it. This trip I was on intended to change all that. Coined by Araceli as their Talikud Inland Tour, the tour packages offered by Talikud Island Tours allowed visitors to finally go onto the vast unspoilt island of Talikud and explore the

Enjoying the view from the top of La Isla Bonita’s cliff.

Pastel colored sunset at Talikud Island. many new destinations on Talikud Island itself. One stop of the tour package was at La Isla Bonita, a wide natural white sand beach with an unobstructed view of Davao Gulf and beyond. The water was crystal clear and the sand which had a light peach hue thanks to the minute orange shells that is in the mix of the sand was cool and clean. Walking along the almost one kilometer long shoreline, my feet would literally sink into the cool sand, tempting me to just lay back and relax my

Land crabs with coconut sauce.

day away from all the trappings of the digital age. La Isla Bonita reminded me of Boracay but less crowded and closer to nature yet nearer to Durianburg. The locals were also friendly and are also aware of their environmental responsibility, as I was shown an enclosure where they transferred and secured a cluster of sea turtle eggs they found down the beach. I may not have changed my mind on my being a die hard urbanite where the hum of city life is my credo, but Talikud Island’s

rough and simple beauty might have come close for me to almost change my mind. La Isla Bonita can be accessed though a 20-minute rented motorcycle ride from Sta. Cruz port, Talikud Island’s biggest port. There are regular ferry boat rides to Sta. Cruz port from Sta. Ana Wharf. It is also a stop when you book an inland tour with Talikud Island Tours. For more details you can check their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/TalikudIsland.

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EVENT

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SM spells magic with Disney

THE SM GROUP announced a collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia to bring the Disney brand of stories closer to Filipinos through mall, retail, entertainment and amusement opportunities. The two companies aim to bring Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars brands to life through unique Disney experiences at SM’s many leisure and entertainment properties. Fans can look forward to a host of innovative offerings including Disney branded events, promotions and other unique experiences themed around fan-favorite Disney brands and characters. “We are thrilled to be associated with the iconic Walt Disney Company. Mr. Henry Sy Sr. envisioned and purposed a second home for Filipinos across the nation where they can create memorable bonding activities with their families through amusement facilities, retail centers, and food establishments, all found in one mall,” says Edgar Tejerero, president of SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. “65 years later, and with 52 malls across the Philippines, it had just been high time that SM forged an official collaboration with the best family entertainment company in the world.” “Every day, we make millions of Filipinos laugh and smile with

our stories and characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. We have worked with the various arms of SM group over the years and today we are delighted to announce our collaboration on a comprehensive plan to create magical moments and memories that will last a lifetime for fans across the Philippines,” said Rob Gilby, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia. Both SM and Disney have given, and continue to give, customers happy lifetime memories across all generations. Both brands offer a legacy, a tradition, a

way of life—a world that customers identify with and find attachment to. Through this partnership, SM will continue to create these experiences and bring the Disney magic closer to Filipinos. SM has synergized the efforts of all its subsidiaries -- including SM Supermalls, SM Markets, The SM Store, Toy Kingdom, and its lifestyle and entertainment arm, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. – to produce a complete and one-of-a-kind Disney experience for its patrons: from the moment they enter the mall to watch a movie, to the

time they purchase their favourite snack and Disney merchandise. Patrons can also take their SM Cinema and Disney experience with them home, or wherever they go, through the newly launched Blink app. As a precursor to an already successful association, Disney and SM have worked hand in hand to bring multiple experiential events to the Filipino families such as the recent Avengers Experience in SM North EDSA, wherein guests were treated to life-size characters, avenger-themed games, and a meet and greet with Captain America,

Thor, and Black Widow. To officially jumpstart its formal bond as allies, SM and Disney will be launching a “Star Wars Galactic Christmas” to welcome the latest instalment of the movie, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The exhibit will include life-

size figurines of characters from the movie, interactive games, and official merchandise from The SM Store and Toy Kingdom. Watch out for the “Star Wars Galactic Christmas” event in select SM Supermalls near you.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. President Hans T. Sy and The Walt Disney Company, Asia President Paul Candland during the Star Wars-inspired ceremonial launch of partnership between SM and Disney, two iconic companies built by visionaries Henry Sy, Sr. and Walt Disney.

September 9-15, 2015

HENERAL LUNA/ *THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED John Arcilla, Epy Quizon/ Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson, Gabriella Wright R13/*R13

11:25 | 1:40 | 3:55 LFS/* 6:10 |8:05 | 10:00 LFS

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS Dylan O'Brien, Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Brodie-Sangster R13

11:20 | 2:00 |4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

PIXELS/ *SINISTER 2 Adam Sandler, Kevin James/ Shannyn Sossamon

R-16

PG/*R16

11:25 | 1:40 | 3:55 LFS/* 6:10 |8:05 | 10:00 LFS

EX WITH BENEFITS Derek Ramsay, Coleen Garcia, Carmi Martin R13

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

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run in Zombie Land. The zombie fun run will be held back to back with the Midnight Madness where Camella will give away special gifts and irresistible promos as its anniversary treat to homebuyers. Outright discounts that will be given up to September 26 can go as high as P80,000 for a Camella house. The first 20 buyers of Luxuria Series will receive P20,000 worth of All Home Gift Certificates, while the first 20 buyers each for Camella Series Houses and Lessandra Houses will receive P15,000 and P10,000 worth of certificates, respectively. Those who will make reservations this September will have a chance to win in a raffle giving away a Refrigerator and Range Hood Combo as 1st

prize, P30,000 worth of All Home Gift Certificates as 2nd prize, and a Washing Machine with Drying Cage as 3rd prize. Five mini appliances will also be given away as consolation prizes. It is a discount and promo bonanza this anniversary month for Camella homebuyers, Camellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of saying thank you for two flourishing decades and for putting Camella on the top.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 123 â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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CULTURE & ARTS

HISTORY OF DAVAO (6 of a Series) TH

Invading Davao’s skies By ANTONIO FIGUEROA

couple of years before Davao became a chartered city, the first commercial airline landed in the region in 1934. This was two years after the Iloilo-Negros Air Express Company, the first Filipino-owned airline firm owned by the Lopezes, the same family that controls ABS-CBN, brought its first aircraft, a three-engine Stinson Tri-Motor, to Davao. The event opened the region to a “fast, commodious, elegant and reliant” service. But the first longhaul planes did not arrive in the city until May 6, 1966. Philippine Airlines, simultaneous with the opening of its Iloilo route, introduced to Davao its twin-engine BAC 111, which were also used for inter-regional flights. PAL’s success, though, was also tempered with a handful of unfortunate events. On Mar. 2, 1963, a Douglas DC-3 crashed in Davao due to premature fall; 27 passengers died in the tragedy. Twelve years later, on Feb. 25, 1975, two hijackers hijacked a PAL BAC 111 bound for Manila from Davao, but the perpetrators aborted their adventure by surrendering. Eight months later, a lone hijacker aboard PAL BAC 111 from Davao demanded to be

brought to Libya but was convinced to yield. On May 23, 1976, another PAL BAC 111 coming from Davao was commandeered by rebels, demanded US$375,000 and wanted the plane flown to Libya. Unable to convince the authorities, they detonated a hand grenade inside the cabin, burning the aircraft and killing 10 passengers and three hijackers. Three other hijackers were caught and sentenced to death. A quarter of a century later, PAL Flight 812 from Davao was again hijacked by someone with marital problems. He was pushed out the aircraft and escaped with the use of a homemade parachute. The emergence of Cebu Pacific Air, the country’s second flag carrier, on Aug. 26, 1988 as a lowcost budget airline would redefine travel in the islands. A decade later, its maiden flight to Davao was launched, affording Southern Mindanao more opportunities for travel. In May 2005, Cebu Pacific’s Davao route expanded with the operation of its Airbus A320, and two years later, on Nov. 12, 2007, Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Bangoy became its fourth hub, flying direct to Hong Kong. On May 8, 2008, its first Davao-Singapore direct flight was opened. On June 2, 2013, Ce-

buPac Flight 971 from Manila and carrying 165 passengers overshot the Davao airport due to human error. There was no casualty in the accident but the plane was heavily damaged. Another airplane that met a mishap in Davao was Air Philippines Flight 541 from Manila. (Air Philippines was later renamed PAL Express.) On April 19, 2000, an AirPhil Boeing 737-200 crashed near the city’s international airport, killing 131 passengers, the deadliest air disaster in domestic airline history. With the birth of BIMP-EAGA and the economic boom that transformed Davao region into an attractive investment address and emerging tourist destination, more airline firms showed up in the horizon. Air Philippines, a subsidiary of PAL, and Asian Spirit (later renamed Zest Airways, Inc. after a new management takeover), the first airline cooperative in the country, took to the skies as budget players, followed by SeaAir, and in 2012 by Mid-Sea Express. The first foreign airline to serve the BIMP-EAGA was Bouraq Indonesia Airlines. It initially fielded a turbo-propeller plane, flying the Davao-Manado

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

EDITORIAL Setting the stage through surveys

HE Social Weather Stations (SWS) is doing all of us a disservice by coming up with presidential surveys in which the question asked of respondents is vague and obviously intended to allow candidates in the fringes to make it into the inner circle. As in the previous survey, respondents in this last poll were asked to give up to three names of those they see as “good leaders to succeed” President Benigno Aquino next year. Why three names and not one, as would be the case in an actual presidential election? SWS president Mahar Mangahas offers this explanation: “By not suggesting any names it is fair to all. Asking for ‘up to three’ (not forcing exactly three) is a way to give more chance for dark horses to be mentioned.” And there you go, straight from the pollster’s mouth. Mangahas himself says the survey is tweaked so that those who may not necessarily be the choice of the people can have a chance of entering the “Magic Three.” And who else would benefit from such a setup? If you ask someone to name three people who can be President, you will definitely give the names of the three people who are now occupying the three top positions in the survey. In other words,

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giving the respondents three choices makes it possible for laggards to be in the headlines as among the frontrunners. Why is this important? As any candidate knows, the name of the game is name recall, and the more people see one’s name — especially in the context of popularity polls — the better their chance of eventually winning. In this case, it was Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas who has gained the most. Lagging behind through much of the political season, he has seen his name being pushed forward in dramatic fashion — but not necessarily because he has suddenly captured the minds and hearts of the people but because the poll respondents were given the opportunity to give three names from off the top of their heads. Roxas thus owes his place in the top three not to competence but to statistics. Thankfully, SWS has said this is the last “no-list pre-election” poll it will undertake as the next one would identify the candidates. But by that time the stage shall have already been set; the surveys have already favored certain personalities, and we can only hope the people have enough sense to realize they have been taken for a ride.

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AST September 8, President Aquino, at the exclusive “Meet Inquirer Multimedia Forum” with the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s editors and staff, disclosed there had been no closure to the Mamasapano debacle — that the National Bureau of Investigation is probing an “alternative truth” to the clash. He expressed his personal concern: “I still have a lot of questions. There is an alternate version of events that happened there. Certain quarters raised certain points that led to the alternate version. There is no conclusion at this point.” He declined giving details (PDI, September 8: “Aquino on Mamasapano: No conclusion at this point”; and, 9: “New Mamasapano lead eyed; Aquino: Alternative truth emerges; probe continuing”). However, he said that the photo of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” showing him dead in his hut that came out in the Inquirer on Jan. 30 “posed many questions and that is what we want to resolve.” (bold italics ours) That was the cue to the “alternative truth” and it ignited a “word war” the media are too willing to give prime time and space. MILF’s peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal: There is no alternative truth. The truth is in the MILF’s Special Investigative Commission Report. Marwan was already dead – killed by his aides — when the SAF commandoes arrived. PNP-SAF, with former Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas talking to media: The truth is in the PNP Board of Inquiry Report. The SAF commandoes surprised Marwan and killed him when he resisted. He challenged Iqbal to prove his claim – accusing him together with certain military sources of discrediting the truth and insulting the 44 SAF commandoes killed in the

“

THE political scene is perhaps the most public arena where people have expressed their distrust in those who lead them. These are not easy times in which to be a leader.” -- Henry and Richard Blackaby, authors of Spiritual Leadership *** And it came to pass that God saw the sufferings of His people in Egypt. He had heard them crying out because of the miseries they were experiencing. He wanted to rescue them from their bondage. So, He called a man named Moses to bring God’s chosen people out of Egypt. “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt,” Moses asked. Moses was terrified to become the leader. In their book, Spiritual Leadership, authors Henry and Richard Blackaby wrote: “Leadership. Everyone experiences it, or the lack of it, in their daily lives. Those called to lead can find doing so a daunting task. Those expected to follow can experience frustration when their leader is unable to lead.” There are 850 different definitions of leadership. That was what Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus found when they were writing their collaborative book, Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge. It is no wonder why today’s leaders have a hard time measuring up their level. There are too many standards to meet! Dr. John C. Maxwell, an authority on leadership, has written a very comprehensive book entitled, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. In his introduction, he posed these questions: “What makes people want to follow a leader? Why do people reluctantly comply with one leader while passionately following another to the ends of the earth? What separates leadership theorists from successful leaders who lead effectively in the real world?”

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VANTAGE POINTS

Complicating the Simple MIND DA NEWS BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ debacle. It doesn’t help that President Aquino has declined giving details while at the same time titillating reporters and the reading and listening public to speculate the more. To whet more appetite for speculation, the President says he does not mean the “alternative truth” is the ultimate truth; on the contrary, it can be false (philstar.com, September 14, 2015: PNoy: Mamasapano ‘alternative version’ may not be the truth; also, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 15, 2015: Aquino backtracks from ‘alternative truth’ stand). Neither does it help that INQUIRER.net (September 17, 2015:Aquino puts an end to ‘baseless’ Mamasapano speculation) reported that during a briefing at Malacañang “President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday showed photos of slain international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, to put an end to rumors that the Special Action Force (SAF) did not kill him” – calling the “speculations” as “baseless”. In Pilipino (Tagalog), he said the pictures are clear. It is impossible to doubt that it was the SAF commandos who cut Marwan’s fingers. All other reports concerning the so-called “alternative narrative (truth)” are baseless. In trying to “put an end to speculations”, he confirmed that the “alternative truth” the NBI is probing is about “Marwan’s death”. Even if he did not say it, it must follow that the NBI probe would be stopped. Will that stop or will it deepen the speculations?

The questions remain and more intriguing: Who killed Marwan? How was he killed? These are the very questions the quest for what President Aquino calls “alternative truth” has resurrected. The investigation reports of the PNP and MILF and the Senate and House hearings have the answers. What are the direct facts on the killing of Marwan? First, a picture shows Marwan dead with SAF commandos present. This has been published by media and included in investigation reports. Presented by the President in his news briefing at the Palace on September 17 were three pictures in series showing the commandos cutting one of Marwan’s left finger. Second, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed through DNA test that the person killed was, indeed, Marwan. The truth is clear and simple: Marwan is dead. There is no alternative to that. But the controversy is not about whether Marwan is dead or not; it is whether the SAF commandos really killed him. The SAF did, so says the PNP Board of Inquiry Report. No, it was Marwan’s aides who did, so says the MILF in its Special Investigation Commission Report and certain military sources to the media. They both refer also to the pictures of the dead Marwan. Even before President Aquino revealed last September 8 the ongoing NBI probe, these conflicting reports had presented “alternative truths” for readers to pick to believe or not — complicating the simple truth that Marwan is dead. And circumstantial facts further complicated the simple. Pictures of commandos cutting dead Marwan’s finger, per se, does not prove he was killed by the commandos. Media was told, so says the

PNP Report, Marwan was killed when he fought it out. The finger-cutting picture is just a consequence to his killing. The MILF used the same pictures to prove the SAF commandos did not kill Marwan, focusing on his wounds indicating that Marwan had been shot at close range and that he could not have been killed while fighting it out. Yet, this does not directly belie the SAF claim raising the challenge, “Who then killed Marwan”. To boost its version, the MILF cited some circumstantial facts. There are more such circumstantial facts that complicated not only the simple truth that Marwan is dead but also truth about the entire Mamasapano police operation. The simple truth that Marwan is dead should have been allowed to put closure to the most unfortunate Mamamasapano debacle. Such is for the best interest of the country without any alternative. But the controversial question “Who killed Marwan” would not let peace reign nor allow Marwan to rest in peace. The President himself, instead of keeping his peace, resurrected the controversy last September 8. Will his September 17 press briefing in Malacañang to end the speculations on the “alternative truth” close the Pandora’s box he has opened? The paradox is: This controversial question can be closed only by admitting that the conflicting facts in media and investigation reports will not close the controversy. And the inevitable: Complicating the simple will lead to more controversies. This is most regrettable. We will comment on this next time. [Author’s Note: Mind da News, the alternate of COMMENT, is a comment on current news. The author may be contacted at patponcediaz@yahoo.com.]

won’t get you anywhere.” -- Lee Iacocca, American automobile executive Competence: “The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its piped nor its theories will hold water.” -- John Gardner, American novelist Courage: “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities… because it is the quality which guarantees all others.”-- Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister Discernment: “The first rule of holes: When you’re in one, stop digging.” -- Molly Ivins, American columnist Focus: “What people say, what people do, and what they say they do are entirely different things.” -- Margaret Mead, anthropologist Generosity: “No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” -- Calvin Coolidge, American president Initiative: “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” -- Conrad Hilton, hotel executive Listening: “The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.” -- Woodrow Wilson, American president Passion: “Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.” -- Henri Frederic Amie, Swiss moral philosopher Positive Attitude: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind.” -William James, psychologist Problem Solving: “The measure of success

is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.” -- John Foster Dulles, US Secretary of State Relationships: “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” -- Theodore Roosevelt, American president Responsibility: “When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.” -- Louis Nizer Security: “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.” -- Andrew Carnegie, industrialist Self-discipline: “A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself… He longs to whatever can make captive of him.” -- John Foster, author Servanthood: “The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.” -- Eugene B. Habecker, author Teachability: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” -- John Wooden, Basketball coach Vision: “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.” -- John Scully, Chief Executive Officer To end this piece, here is a final statement from Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu: “To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate ... When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’”

What makes a true leader?

M a x w e l l THINK ON THESE! enumerated the 21 qualities -- in alphabetical order -- as follows: character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, gener- Henrylito D. Tacio osity, initiative, henrytacio@gmail.com listening, passion, positive attitude, problem solving, relationships, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability and vision. Now, here are some thoughts from various leaders and thinkers from around the world: Character: “Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.” -- Bernard Montgomery, British Field Marshal Charisma: “How can you have charisma? Be more concerned about making others feel good about themselves than you are making them feel good about you.” -- Dan Reiland, vice president of leadership development Commitment: “People do not follow uncommitted leaders. Commitment can be displayed in a full range of matters to include the work hours you choose to maintain, how you work to improve your abilities, or what you do for your fellow workers at personal sacrifice.” -- Stephen Gregg, chairman of Ethix Corporation Communication: “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas

10NEWS

One last... FROM 1 academe, and Chinese business groups are also involved in the rally. “Ang nakanindot ani nga rally kay wala ta mang-recruit, ang mga tao mismo ang nag-volunteer (The unique thing about this rally is that we did not recruit anyone. The people are ones who volunteered to join),” he said.

Masanguid said aside from groups based in Manila, volunteers from other parts of Luzon as well as the Visayas and Mindanao will also join the rally. “Amoa kaning katapusang singgit para hangyuon si Mayor na modagan (This is our last call for the mayor to run),” he said.

mon illnesses such as asthma, acute gastroenteritis, low risk pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Malita’s municipal health officials widely regard the benefit package in its role on disease prevention, health management and decongestion of hospitals. They have likewise lauded PhilHealth’s efforts to reach out to the local government units. “This is very strategic, innovative and at this day and age, we need that,” stated Dr. Anne Quezada, Municipal So-

cial Welfare and Development (MSWD) Coordinator. Quezada noted that with the growing number of PhilHealth members in their municipality comes the similarly growing need to address their concerns. Hence, they are optimistic of the possibility for the corporation to extend a satellite office in Malita – to which PhilHealth acknowledged as one of its long term goals in the region. (PhilHealth-XI/Kleah Gayle Dublin/PIA-XI, CLC)

agencies. Aside from organic farming, the program also include coastal biodiversity conservation, livelihood development, tourism development and grassroots sports development. The scholars earned while they learn through the emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that provided them a daily salary of P317 during their 20-day training. TESDA Provincial Director Dr. Remegias Timonio assured a better future for the scholars, after they met the competency standards that secured their productivity, quality and global-competitiveness. He said that given the expanding market for organic

crops and meat products, more and more agricultural companies find organic farming to be profitable and rewarding. “TESDA-certified graduates of organic agriculture, have better chances of getting hired in these companies,” he said. During the event, del Rosario also conferred training certificates to 44 kids who completed the first batch of the LIPAD-UK grassroots swimming program, in partnership with LGU of Panabo City and Barangay Cagangohan. Eighteen of them were given certificates of swimming proficiency after reaching the relevant time standards that qualified them for competitive swimming.

route in two hours. Later, it was replaced by a bigger aircraft but it folded up in 1970 due to low patronage. On June 7, 2012 Wings Air, a subsidiary of Jakarta-based Lion Air, made its maiden flight to Davao from Manado. In July 2002, Darwin, Australia-based Air Frontier announced its plan to launch passenger and cargo flights between Davao City and Darwin but nothing concrete came out of it. Nov. 29, 2006, Jakarta-based Sriwijaya Air used Boeing 737-200 in opening its Davao-Manado route, which was then served by Merpati Airlines. Seven years later, in November 2013, MASwings, a regional airline company that operated the Rural Air Services in East Malaysia and previously operated by FlyAsi-

anXpress, made it s maiden flight to Davao via Kota Kinabalu. Royal Brunei Airlines and Eva Air of Taiwan made exploratory flight to Davao City, but never opened regular routes. Singapore Airlines, through its Silk Air, and Malaysian Airlines also made weekly flights to and from Davao, but the returns were lower than expected. Tiger Airways, a Singapore Airlines subsidiary, made an attempt to compete with the domestic low-budget flyers but its Philippine operation was eventually sold to Cebu Pacific. In 2012, the Filipino-Malaysian consortium Air Asia Philippines joined the expanding domestic airline industry from its base in Clark, Pampanga.

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and started to break the unity among Lumads,” she said, claiming the military “created and armed the paramilitary forces of Lumads” to drive a wedge between the IPs. In a text message, Capt. Alberto Caber, chief of the Public Information Office (PIO) and spokesperson of the Eastmincom said Lumad leaders have yet to inform them when the signing of the peace pact will take place. Balalad claimed that the move is supported by local government units (LGUs) and concerned stakeholders

in the provinces of Caraga. Caraga region comprises the two Agusan and two Surigao provinces and Dinagat Island. “We strongly support this pact among Lumads because this is the key to peace within their ancestral lands. We respect their culture,” he added. The statement added that the Tampuda is “the highest gesture of unity among the warring tribes that is seen to bring resolution to the conflicts and misunderstanding among the Lumads.”

“Tampuda is proper and recognized among the IP communities as the key to lasting peace. The military as an institution recommends that move with the support of concerned stakeholders,” he said. Perpetua alleged that what the military is up to is to cover up the militarization it started, which led to the killings. Sheena Duazo, secretary general of Bayan Southern Mindanao Region, called the peace pact “misleading and irrational” and a “futile attempt to evade the issues on

human rights violations.” “If this is about the issue on the killings in Lianga, Surigao del Sur and other parts of the region, then this call is misleading and irrational for what happened is not a tribal feud but extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the military themselves,” she said. Duazo urged President Benigno Aquino III to heed the “legitimate call of the IPs to disarm and dismantle paramilitary groups and end militarization/Oplan Bayanihan that grossly violates human rights.” (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)

pork blood to make them appear fresh. Last Sunday, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to arrest and file charges against the tuna vendors. In his television program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” on Sunday, Duterte said the vendors who would not heed his warning will face estafa for deceiving consumers. The mayor said the violators “will be prosecuted for estafa under

the Revised Penal Code because you make the fish you are selling appear fresh. What makes it worse is that, they are laced with (pig’s blood). That makes it doubly reprehensible because you must remember that ang ating mga kapatid na Muslim ay hindi kumakain ng baboy” (our brother Muslims do not eat pork).” He explained that deceit is not a simple offense and cannot be taken lightly compared

with simple violations of unsanitary practices by some ambulant vendors. “I will order the market master to oust you from the market and you will be arrested for estafa,” he said. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz, for her part, said the police will assist the CVO and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 11 in their operation. Driz said the police

could not launch an operation because they have knowledge on how to identify an adulterated fish. She, however, said DCPO director Vicente D. Danao Jr. ordered the station commanders to assist the two agencies in the filling of the cases. Driz also said the two offices have already coordinated with DCPO for their future operations in the markets in the city. ABFJ With a report from MindaNews

Duterte first became mayor from 1988 to 1998. He served as representative of the first district from 1998 to 2001 and as mayor again from 2001 to 2010. In 2013, he was elected mayor for the seventh time with son Paolo as vice mayor. Duterte added he wanted to have a good transition from his term to the next.

“Ang ako is the bridging, we do not intend to stay there. One day, I will die. One day, ang mga Duterte mawala yan (the Dutertes will be gone) just like other ruling political families here. We know that’s reality of our planet,” he added. Earlier, his son Paolo said he would not run for any higher position next year if Sara and brother Sebastian would also run.

Sebastian has been asked by some in the private sector to run as the city’s third district representative. “Puno na kaayo og Duterte ang syudad sa Davao… didto nalang ko sa ako barangay (Davao City is already full of Dutertes… I’d rather go back to my barangay),” Paolo said. With regard to the 2016 slate of Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (Hug-

pong), he said some slots will be left vacant by councilors whose terms end next year. He added Gabriela Partylist Rep. Luz Ilagan is joining the Hugpong slate for next year’s election. Ilagan served as city councilor before winning a seat in the House of Representatives. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

He said the troops from the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion “immediately deployed its quick reaction force” and provided assistance to the BPAT members of Barangay Sandah. He said the ASG men fled after the troops pounded their positions

with mortar shells. He added the ASG members staged the attack as they were angered by the insistence of the residents in the area to push through with the concreting of the circumferential road linking the barangay of Sandah to Tugas, Patikul. (PNA)

value of your product,” he added. Clavesillas stressed that facilitating MSMEs for them to meet the global market’s requirement will empower more MSMEs to participate in the global value chain and help the country to achieve inclusive growth. The 22nd APEC SME Ministerial Meeting will be held at the Iloilo Convention Center which was recently inaugurated by President Benigno S. Aquino III. Among the subthemes of APEC SME Min-

isters will include promoting inclusive growth through sustainable and resilient MSMEs; advancing modernization and standards and conformance of MSMEs; and removing barriers to facilitate MSMEs entry to markets. In line with the SME Ministerial Meeting, the Philippine government will also be holding workshops for MSMEs in sectors of food processing, agribusiness, and handicrafts to help them understand and meet trends in the global market. (PNA)

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Yolanda... FROM 6 munities in three barangays in Carles town in Iloilo regained their main livelihood: fishers received and were able to immediately use 10 motorized fishing boats; while the women’s association, which was provided P100,000 seed capital to jumpstart dried fish processing, has since recovered capital and sustained income. Balisacan acknowledged that much work remains to be done, especially in the resettlement of people who have been displaced by the typhoon. To date, only 11,247 houses have been constructed and 73,442 are under construction. He added that NEDA is working hard to identify implementation and policy issues that continue to slow down the pace of rehabilitation, and determine appropriate actions

at the local and national levels to address these issues. “The rehabilitation of Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas remains a core priority of the government. NEDA, with all the implementing agencies and our partners from the private sector, civil society, and the international development community will continue to improve the execution of Typhoon Yolanda programs and to work together to ensure that these are responsive to the needs of the affected localities,” Balisacan said. In April this year, President Benigno S. Aquino III, through Memorandum Order No. 79, transferred the coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of all disaster-related PPAs from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery to NEDA.

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HEALTH 11

Going loco over coco TEXT and PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“

THE coconut scare is foolishness... To get the word to commercial interests terrorizing the public about nothing is another matter.” – Former US surgeon general Dr. C. Everett Koop during congressional hearings in 1988 *** Although it is not actually a fruit, Dr. Willie T. Ong included coconut as one of the top 10 healthiest fruits. In his book, “Stay Younger, Live Longer,” Dr. Ong wrote: “Dr. Conrado Dayrit’s book, ‘The Truth About Coconut Oil’ lists several health benefits for virgin coconut oil, ranging from treating bacterial infection, fungal diseases such as ringworm, and even HIV/ AIDS. Coconut water, on the other hand, is good for kidney stones and cleansing one’s digestive tract.” Coconut has been touted as a “lazy man’s crop.” According to an old legend, coconut is God’s gift to the lazy man. “He sleeps in the shade of the tree, is awakened when a nut falls, drinks the milk, and eat some of the meat. He then feeds the rest of the meant to the chickens and cattle, which produce eggs and milk and meat, respectively. The leaves provide thatch for the roof and walls of his coconut hut, and are also woven into hats, baskets and mats.” With multifarious uses, coconut is indeed a “tree of life.” In the Philippines, the coconut industry is a pillar of the country’s agriculture. “(Coconut) is the oldest and most strategic industry in the country, comprising 1.14 percent of our gross domestic product,” noted Senator Edgardo J. Angara, who once served as agriculture secretary. White most Filipinos know of coconut’s economic importance, not too many are aware of the health benefits coconut gives. Let’s start with coconut milk, which is made from water and grated coconut meat. Coconut milk is said to be high in saturated fat but mostly in the form of medium-chain fatty acids, which are not metabolized the same as the long-chain fatty acids found in animal products. As such, the fats found in coconut milk are not bad for your health, according to a 2006 article published in “The Ceylon Medical Journal.” As a matter of fact, people with diets high in coconut milk have lower cholesterol levels and lower rates of heart disease. Jill Corleone in an article which www.livestrong. com published, however, cautioned: “While there is some promising research about the benefits of coconut milk for your heart, the evidence is preliminary and more research is needed before formal recommendations for its use

can be made.” So, what about the fats from coconut oil? Pina LoGiudice, Siobhan Bleakney, and Peter Bongiorno, co-medical directors of the New Yorkbased Inner Source Health, wrote: “Conventional thought used to consider fats like coconut oil to be unhealthy and contribute to heart disease. We now know that this isn’t true. In fact, coconut oil is actually a heart-healthy food that can keep your body running smoother in a few different ways.” Coconut oil is most potent when it’s virgin – that is, extracted through pressing without the use of heat. Thanks to the pioneering work of the late Dr. Julian Banzon and his protégé, Dr. Teresita Espino, the chemistry of virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been known and its beneficial effects on the human body have been confirmed. Lauric acid is the key element in the VCO that is causing a lot of interest among scientists. The late Dr. Dayrit was touted to be the Father of VCO. Thanks to his untiring and courageous effort in research on coconut oil, it was found that VCO is sort of a drug “that regulates the body’s functions and defense mechanism. It restores the normal balance of tissues or cells that have become dysfunctional.” However, much research still has to be done on the benefits of VCO but preliminary findings and anecdotal reports are very promising. It reportedly removes toxins, manages diabetes, controls allergy, strengthens digestive system, and enhances immune system and body metabolism. Gout strikes like a bolt from the blue. Its excruciating, throbbing pain often hits at night, turning the skin red-hot and leaving the affected joint swollen and tender. Worse, an attack can last for days. VCO can help ease the pain of those suffering from gout. Ask multi-awarded Filipino columnist Conrado de Quiros. “Taking virgin coconut oil has not made my gout disappear, or lessened its visits,” de Quiros wrote in his widely-read column. “But it has made walking much easier, something I’ve been at pains to do for some time now, my left knee in particular having become a little stiff. A rheumatologist once explained to me that gout attacks deplete the joints of fluids, which makes for stiffness. The equivalent, he said, is motor oil slowly drying up on a car engine, which causes friction among the pistons. Who knows? Maybe the virgin coconut oil is replenishing the lost fluids on my knee? That is pure speculation, of course. But I personally don’t care; I like what I’m feel-

Food made from coconut ing right now.” In the United States, for instance, VCO has increasingly become popular in natural food circles and with vegans. It was described in a “New York Times” article as having a “haunting, nutty, vanilla flavor” that also has a touch of sweetness that works well in baked goods, pastries, and sautés. Another coconut product that is making waves in the United States is the coconut water, which is available in supermarkets, health-food stores and even in some vending machines in single-serving sizes. One US health magazine hails coco water as “America’s healthiest beverage” for providing enhanced hydration, essential nutrition and all five essential electrolytes (calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium). When compared with a popular sports drink per 100 milligrams, coco water has more potassium (294 milligrams versus 11.7 milligrams), less sodium (25 milligrams versus 41 milligrams), more chloride (118 milligrams versus 39 milligrams), more magnesium (10 milligrams versus 7 milligrams), and less sugars (five milligrams versus six milligrams). American nutritionist Jonny Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” considers coco water to be a “perfectly good option” for people who want to stay hydrated. “It’s high in hearthealthy potassium, with most brands providing about 700 milligrams in an 11-ounce serving – that’s lots more than you get in a banana,” he wrote. “It also has only about 60 calories per 11-ounce serving.” Another coconut product

Coconut products which is not only healthy but good for diabetics is coco sugar. The sugar is derived from coconut sap or toddy, which contains 12-18 percent sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids. “A natural sweetener and functional food, coconut sugar is a much welcome development for diabetics and hypoglycemics,” said the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar drops too low. Because keeping their blood sugar at normal levels requires quite a balancing act, diabetics are particularly prone to hypoglycemia. Compared with refined cane sugar, coconut sugar has a glycemic index (GI) at 35. This is much lower than the

54 GI, the level which nutritionists consider as safe for people who have to watch out their glucose level. GI is a measure of the rate at which carbohydrates as glucose enter the blood stream. “The GI also indicates the rate at which carbohydrates break down during digestion in the small intestine into the simple sugars glucose, fructose and, sometimes, galactose,” explains Dr. Virgilio M. Ofiana in his weekly column for a national daily. “The glucose is the sugar that is rapidly absorbed and has a reference GI of 100 or greater,” Dr. Ofiana writes. “Both fructose and galactose enter the circulation at a slower rate and need to go to the liver for conversion into glucose: both, therefore, have lower GIs.” Sudden release of glucose into the bloodstream

causes spikes of insulin that, if sustained for some time, is hazardous to health. “Having a low GI means that people who consume coco sugar will not experience sudden spikes in their blood glucose or blood sugar levels,” explained PCARRD, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology. “The amazing thing about the coconut palm is that it provides almost all the necessities of life: food, drink, oil, medicine, fiber, timber, thatch, mats, fuel, and domestic utensils, as well as serving important environmental services such as soil erosion control in coastal regions, wind protection and shade for other crops.” That was what Craig Elevitch, author of various books on tropical agriculture, has said. Well, he failed to mention the stunning health benefits derived from coconuts!

12CLASSIFIED

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DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE EDMUND D. RENDON Marketing Specialist Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

NEWS 13

Abu Sayyaf attack in Sulu kills Imam

Gov’t open to holistic reform on tax system A

HE government is open to adjustments in the Philippines' tax system but stressed that any changes should be holistic. "We are open to a holistic reform which will include an adjustment of the rates and brackets - doing otherwise is not the fiscally responsible way since it can hurt our people in the long run if we go down the slippery slope of populist policies," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a statement released by Malacanang Monday.

The statement was issued after Palace executives were asked for their position on the suggestion of the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) to lower income tax rates. TMAP, in a statement, urged the Aquino administration to reconsider its position on income tax reforms and proposed for a cut in income tax, which it said will give salaried individuals more spending power. "Lower income taxes increase disposable income by transferring

money from government hands back to the consumption budget of Filipino families, who will likely spend more on goods and services," TMAP President Terrence Conrad H. Bello said. Bello also cited that this additional spending by the people "fuels the economy and attracts more taxes." Several bills that target to reform the country's tax system are pending in Congress. These include a cut on tax rates and adjust-

ments on the brackets. The government does not favor a cut on tax rates saying this will be negative on the fiscal side, which is projected to suffer from around PHP 29 billion loss in revenues. Instead, the Department of Finance (DOF) proposed an all-in income tax exemption to all wage earners who have less than PHP 1 million annual income and an increase to 14 percent of the value added tax (VAT) from the current 12 percent. (PNA)

N Imam was killed in an attacked staged by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the hinterlands of Sulu, a top military official disclosed Monday. Brigadier General Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group commander, said the attack took place around 1:45 p.m. Monday in Barangay Sandah, Patikul, Sulu. Arrojado said the Abu Sayyaf members numbering to around 150 followers led by Ninok Safare and Hatib Hajan Sawajaan positioned themselves at Patikul Hill and harassed the residents of Barangay Sandah. Arrojado said the BPAT members of Barangay Sandah “organized themselves to counter the ASG harassment” that triggered a

The Summit gives opportunity to all organizations working on security to present their activities and plans. It is also a platform for increased coordination and collaboration between the JNC and civil society organizations

working on security-related issues. The JNC was created by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last October with the purpose of coordinating efforts to keep and improve security.

Its creation is parallel to a number of national and international NGOs and academic institutions implementing projects to address peoples’ security concerns. The ongoing event, spearheaded by the Asia Foundation and the Con-

ciliation Resources, is participated in by members of the JNC from the GPH and MILF; representatives from international donor agencies; civil society organizations (CSOs) implementing security initiatives in the Bangsamoro;

30-minute firefight. He said the firefight resulted to the death of a Baddiri Jamdane, a recognized Imam of Barangay Sandah, Patikul. He said the troops from the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion “immediately deployed its quick reaction force” and provided assistance to the BPAT members of Barangay Sandah. He said the ASG men fled after the troops pounded their positions with mortar shells. He added the ASG members staged the attack as they were angered by the insistence of the residents in the area to push through with the concreting of the circumferential road linking the barangay of Sandah to Tugas, Patikul. (PNA)

GPH, MILF committee hold Mindanao Security Summit T

HE Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) conducted a Mindanao Security Summit here at the Waterfront Hotel Monday, recognizing security as a main concern of the people in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

members of the GPH and MILF Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH); Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG); International Monitoring Team (IMT); and International Decommissioning Body, among others. (PNA)

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

LUMAD SUPPORT. Davao Light and Power Company senior vice president Arturo Milan (fourth from left) hands over a ceremonial check to Ateneo de Davao University president Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ to support the school’s Lumad Scholarship Program.

DLPC, AdDU partner M in assisting lumads

Health care within reach

HE Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) collaborated with the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) in a capacity building program for the lumad community in the remote barangay of Gumitan in Marilog District, Davao City. The partnership is part of DLPC and AdDU’s Mindanawon Initiative for Cultural Dialogue (AdDU-MICD) which is aimed at empowering the Indigenous Peoples within the power firm’s franchise area. Fermin Edillon, Commu-

nity Relations Manager of DLPC, said the partnership started after DLPC installed a solar charging station last December 27, 2014 in Gumitan, which is an off-grid area. Edillon said DLPC saw the potential of the tribe and wanted to create a sustaining project that will provide livelihood and at the same time improve skills. The electric utility partnered with a lumad-focused organization, the AdDU-MICD, which has been DLPC’s longtime partner in empowering the Lumads.

NTC website hacked over slow Phl internet speed

ACKERS took over the website of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Sunday to protest the Philippines’ having “one of the lowest internet speeds.” NTC’s website was replaced by a black background overlaid by a message from the hacker group, Anonymous Philippines. Currently, the site is not loading. “We, Anonymous Philippines, are sympathizing with our fellow Filipino netizens whose battle cries are the ‘OVER PROMISED, UNDER DELIVERED’ system of our internet service providers; it is the neigh direct proportionality of our internet speeds and bandwidths in relation to price. We, as a country, suffer on the bottom of the internet pyramid having one of the lowest internet speeds while paying the same amount, or even higher, compared to other countries; adding DATA CAPPING to our ‘UNLIMIT-

ED’ data plans sums up to our great burden as an avid follower of the internet – for studies and such,” the message read. “We are calling forth the attention of the NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION for this matter in hand; with this we talk as a whole...as ONE, we are asking for fairness in charging and serving our data services; Unlimited should be patterned to its name – ‘UNLIMITED’; not ‘UNLIMITED with 800MB cap.’ A 2 MBPS speed should never be a 56kbps (kilobytes per second). A 98 percent service reliability should be always on the 98% part, not the 2 percent one,” it added. The hackers also ended the message saying that they “do not forgive” and “do not forget.” This incident comes on the heels of NTC conducting a pilot test on the country’s internet speed earlier this week. (PNA)

HACKED. A screen shot of the NTC website shows that it is inaccessible as of press time.

AdDU-MICD, which has long been a long-time partner of DLPC, helped in organizing Gumitan’s Women Farmer Development Association (GWFDA), which is the recipient of this capacity building project. Under GWFDA, the Lumads could enhance their abilities that will allow them to achieve measurable and sustainable results necessary in the operations of the solar charging station. The program also includes various workshops including technical assistance. DLPC also hopes to sus-

tain the culture of the tribes while supporting them cope with the fast-changing society. DLPC is also set another solar-charging station in another Lumad community located in an off-grid area of DLPC’s franchise. Meanwhile, DLPC also turned over P200,000 to AdDU-MICD as support to its Lumad Scholarship Program, a continuing education program since 2003 to allow Lumads get a college degree in various colleges and universities within its franchise. (PNA)

AKING ends meet is a struggle that every Filipino household, especially those living under the poverty threshold, continue to scuffle. Likewise, many suffer the consequence of poor health as a result of being trapped in communities either far from or beyond the reach of the government’s social services programs. This reality is a burden braved by those like Nerma Pillanon, 23, who grew up living life one day at a time. Married at the young age of 18, Nerma who originally hails from North Cotabato moved to Marilog, Davao City where her husband, Elorde resides as part of the Manobo tribe, which is one of the earliest ethnic groups in Mindanao. For the couple, getting a glimpse of life past the out-

skirts is beyond the bounds of possibility. For years, they were held safe and secure in the mountains where life is simple, until an ill-fated turn of events stripped them off this security blanket. On facing health predicaments Last 2012, their firstborn, Xyriel, fell ill and with nothing much to shell out, Nerma and Elorde resorted to seeking help from a local hilot, or a folk healer in their vicinity. However, the condition only got worse and their efforts grew futile. It took nearly two weeks of severe coughing, wheezing and fluctuating fever before their daughter was rushed to the nearest district hospital. But it was too late. At the age of one, little Xyriel succumbed to complications in pneumonia. /Kleah Gayle Dublin

security coverage to informal sectors and OFWs, opening of more SSS branches and Service Offices here and abroad, and providing more meaningful benefits such as the five percent across-the-board pension hike in 2014 and increase in the funeral benefit from the fixed P20,000 to a vari-

able amount of P40,000 in 2015. The CEO Excel Awards are given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines to 14 distinguished leaders from various fields who made a significant change in their respective organizations.

SSS chief receives CEO Excel Award

OCIAL Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros Jr. was among the recipients of the Communication Excellence in Organizations (CEO) Excel Awards for 2015 held last September 14 at the Intercontinental Hotel along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

De Quiros was cited for “his vision and outstanding performance” for the past five years as the head of SSS. In a statement, the SSS said de Quiros’ reforms have included the implementation of stricter guidelines for employer compliance with the SS law, expansion of the social

CEO EXCELLENCE. (From left) Elpi O. Cuna, Chairman Emeritus and IABC Fellow; Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo, Chairman and Director of the International Executive Board and Trustee, IABC Foundation; SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros Jr., Kane Errol Choa, President of IABC; and Joe Zaldarriaga, Vice President of IABC and Chair of CEO Excel Awards 2015.

SPORTS 15

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

CMO cagers drub Buhangin 90-77

U S I N E S S MAN-sportsman Glenn Escandor came through with a blistering performance as the City Mayor Office clobbered Buhangin District, 90 – 77, at the start of the 2015 Duterte Basketball League Inter-Political District at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym on Saturday. Escandor finished with game-high 28 points for the City Executives who opened their campaign on the right track with the dominating win. The spot-up shooting president of the Royal Mandaya Hotel and a con-

sultant to the City Mayors Office stepped up and delivered when it needed the most, knocking big three pointers at all angles, as ace gunner Christopher “Bong” Go played sparingly. Go, who had back to back 50 plus points performance in two friendly games last week, dished out eight assists on top of 15 baskets for the CMO. Another shooting guard Michael Peloton, versatile forward Orly Escarilla and Elmer Rañon provided the big lift for the City Executives making a combined 39 points. Forward Adapan and

Lacida had 17 and 16 points to pace the Buhangin District. City Executives rolled on to a hot start and propelled to a commanding lead bridging the first and second period. The rage carried on in the second half as Escandor continued his hot shooting and Peloton and Ranon started to bury jumpers though the playmaking of Go. Buhangin District could not withstand with the City Executives offensive firepower that appeared too tough to deal with. (Rico Biliran)

HAT was expected to be a tight match turned out to be a walk in the park for Ateneo as the UAAP champion Lady Eagles drubbed the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25-19, 25-13, 25-21, in the opener of the V-League Collegiate Conference finals series on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan. The Lady Eagles, who were without head coach Tai Bundit, needed only an hour and 18 minutes to complete the demolition and move within a win of the crown. Alyssa Valdez scored 20 points, while Kim Gequillana added 11 markers for Ateneo. Myla Pablo scored 11 points, while Lady Bulldogs star Jaja Santiago was limited to seven. Valdez, the confere n c e Most Valuable

Player and first Best Outside Spiker, fired 15 kills, two blocks and three service aces. Assistant coach Parley Tupaz called the shots for Ateneo, with Bundit on a two-week break to attend a coaching course in Thailand. Jhoanna Magaruinot scored nine, including the winning point for Ateneo, and second Best Middle Blocker Bea de Leon and Amy Ahomiro combined for 10 points. “Maganda lang talaga ang gising. We played as a team today. We are really happy inside the court and maganda ang naging resulta ng ga m e ,” said Valdez, who bagged her seco n d

consecutive MVP award after winning in the Open Conference for PLDT Home Ultera. NU gave Ateneo a brief scare in the third set, when Pablo led the Lady Bulldogs to a 1411 lead and held on, 20-18. But Ateneo scored four straight points to snatch the lead, 22-20, and Maraguinot’s attack and Gequillana’s ace pushed the Lady Eagles to matchpoint. “Grabe third set,” said Valdez. “Ang NU siyempre hindi naman bibitaw ang kalaban.” “I’m really proud of my teammates, Kim, Jho, si Zelle (Tan), si Kiwi, si Bea, si Ella, everyone even outside of the court and coaches. Sobra ang support at focus nila kanina nandoon. It’s for my teammates talaga,” she added. NU played without guest player Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who is in Vietnam playing for Petron in the Asian Club Championship, but will be back for the second match on Sunday.

HOT-HANDED. Sports consultant Glenn Escandor finished with game-high 28 points for the City Executives. Lean Daval Jr.

Lady Eagles close in on title W

TOP PERFORMER. Alyssa Valdez scored 20 points, while Kim Gequillana added 11 markers for Ateneo.

Gilas oldest, China tallest

HE Philippine national men’s basketball team will try to prove that as they are the oldest squad competing in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship that will start on Wednesday in Changsha, China. At 31, Gilas Pilipinas has the highest average age among the 16 teams participating in the Olympic qualifier, according to official team lineups from FIBA. The Filipinos’ average age is obviously bumped up by veteran big man Asi Taulava who, at 42, is the oldest player in the tournament. Apart from Taulava, Gilas Pilipinas is comprised of six other players aged at least 30 — already more than half of the 12man lineup. They are Gabe

Norwood (30), JC Intal (31), Marc Pingris (33), Sonny Thoss (33), Ranidel De Ocampo (33) and Dondon Hontiveros (38). The youngest in the team is 23-year-old guard Terrence Romeo, a first-timer in FIBA Asia wars. Chinese Taipei is the second oldest squad in the tournament with an average age of 30. Height is might? The Filipinos may not tower over its opponents in basketball but based on the average height of the teams in FIBA Asia, Gilas Pilipinas is just almost as tall as its Asian rivals. Gilas Pilipinas has an average height of 6’5″, or just as tall as Middle East squads Iran, Jordan and Lebanon. Of the four aforemen-

tioned squads, only Iran has a seven-footer in 7’2″ center Hamed Haddadi. The Philippines’ tallest player is naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche who stands at 6’11″. China boasts of the tallest lineup in the tournament with an average height of 6’8″. With how tall their players are, the tournament hosts could already build a Great Wall of their own as they have four seven-footers in their lineup, namely Li Muhao (7’2″), Zhou Qi (7’1″), Wang Zhelin and Yi Jianlian (both 7’0″). Just behind China are Qatar and Kazakhstan which both have an average height of 6’6″. Singapore has the smallest lineup with an average ceiling of 6’1″.

EDGE EDGEDAVAO Sports

DAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 124 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

REDEMPTION

Lascuña goes for the jugular at Sherwood

T TOP AMATEUR SCORER Alessandra Christine “Ella” Nagayo chips from the apron during the Eagle Masters golf tournament at Rancho Palos Verdes.

ONY Lascuña seeks redemption as Philippine Golf Tour season winds up at Sherwood TONY Lascuña looks to finally end the slump as the Philippine Golf Tour holds its season finale at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martirez, Cavite. The ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship begins on Wednesday, with Lascuna heading the field that is without recently crowned Order of Merit champion Miguel Tabuena and Asian Tour veteran Angelo Que. Tabuena, who secured the top spot in the Order of Merit with backto-back victories at Wack Wack and Luisita, and Que are seeing action abroad. Lascuña believes regaining his putting tough would be the key to winning again. I just couldn’t seem to putt right in the last two tournaments, especially at Luisita where I finished outside of Top 10 in a long while,” said the ace Davaoñeo shotmaker, who ended up 12th in the inaugural Central Azucarera de Tarlac. “But Miguel is playing exceptionally well. He’s good but I could’ve

salvaged my season had my putting clicked last week,” said Lascuña. Also vying for honors in the P3.5 million TPC marking the end of the local golfing season sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. are Jay Bayron, Elmer Salvador, Orlan Sumcad, Clyde Mondilla, Cassius Casas, Zanieboy Gialon and Jhonnel Ababa. Mars Pucay, who routed the field to snap a long title spell and win this event at Southlinks last year, is also back to defend the crown in the 72hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Also in the field are Tonlits Asistio, Jun Bernis, Ferdie Aunzo, Jessie Balasabas, Rufino Bayron, Chris de los Santos, Marvin Dumandan, Charles Hong, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Robert Pactolerin with a host of Korean, Japanese and Dutch challengers hope to spoil the locals’ bid in the event backed by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Callaway, Srixon, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, Rudy Project, Pacsports, Omnisource, Cleveland Golf, KZG, FootJoy, Silicon, Empire and Great Depot.