Edge Davao 8 Issue 184

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

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DAVAO CURFEW MISCONSTRUED Duterte bashers claim 1 am curfew as prelude to Martial Law

PLACARD PROTECTION. Two Lumad teenagers use a placard with an anti-government slogan as protection from the heat of the afternoon sun during a march-rally in time for International Human Rights Day yesterday along Roxas Avenue. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Kitchie: I’m not anti-Duterte

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

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njb@edgedavao.net

HE deluge of remarks that immediately flooded social media on Wednesday night after Mayor Rodrigo Duterte went on national television for an interview with DZMM pointed to a number of gray areas where the toughtalking presidentiable was misconstrued for his statements.

The use of “curfew” as a terminology to mean the alcohol regulation ordinance enforced in Davao City elicited

the loudest howl from social media, especially from Duterte bashers who believed that the “curfew” will be a prelude to Mayor Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law. “I find it hilarious, if not ridiculous, that the mainstream media could misinterpret the statement of Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte about the 1a.m. curfew for a “curfew” imposed during Martial Law which curtails people’s movement during specified hours at

night,” said Duterte supporter Manny Piñol. “They got it all wrong. Totally wrong.”

Duterte was asked by DZMM panel composed of Karen Davila, Vic de leon Lima and Gerry Baja with a slew of probing questions which the Davao City Mayor answered straightforwardly.

Piñol said that when Mayor Duterte talked about imposing a 1 a.m. “curfew,” he was actually referring to the curfew he imposed in Davao

City for the serving of alcohol, beer and other intoxicating drinks.

Piñol singled out an article written by Nestor Corrales, which read in part: “Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he would implement a nationwide curfew if elected president in the 2016 national elections. “’Pag ako naging president, ala-una (ng madaling araw) sarado na,” he said in an inter-

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By JON JOAQUIN jon@edgedavao.net

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INGER-SONGWRITER Kitchie Nadal yesterday clarified that she is “not anti-Duterte” and that she might even vote for the Davao City mayor for president.

Speaking to EDGE Davao in a phone interview, Nadal said people had misunderstood a Facebook post she had written last week in which she said womanizing “has to be con-

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

RADIO INTERVIEW. Mayor Duterte with DZMM announcers Karen Davila, Vic de Leon Lima and Gerry Baja. Photo by Romirose Boloron

Public urged not to use PNP logo T HE Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 urged the public not to use the logo of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in any material because it might misconstrued as being used for personal purposes.

“We are appealing to the public to refrain from using the plates bearing the word ‘police’ and (the PNP) logo because as mandated by law it is prohibited to use the PNP logos as only the PNP has the sole right to use it,” PRO 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea de Cerna said in an in-

terview.

Dela Cerna said the matter was brought up during a staff meeting last Monday when the photo of a car bearing a commemorative plate of the Police Hotline Movement, Inc. was published in a local newspaper.

She said this prompted PRO 11 regional director Chief Superintendent Wendy Rosario to order a stop to the practice.

Dela Cerna said the Police Hotline Movement Inc. has been issued with an authority

N one of his most daring jabs at the establishment, Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte has promised to end the practice of “contractualization” of jobs in the country if he becomes President in 2016.

“I’m sorry to tell you this but contractualization has to go,” Duterte addressed business establishments who hire workers for a maximum of six months through job agencies.

In the two-hour interview with DZMM hosts Karen Davila, Vic de Leon Lima and Gerry Baja, Duterte said contractualization destroys the skills of the Filipino workers.

“He is hired to work for a certain job for six months and then terminated. He gets rehired and given another job.

His skills will never improve,” Duterte said.

“Contractualization” is covered by a law authored by the late Senator Ernesto

Herrera, who was also a labor leader, which allowed companies like SM, Philippine Airlines and others to enter into service contracts with job agencies.

The system has eliminated the employer-employee relationship and has deprived the workers security of tenure, including year-end and Christmas bonuses and other benefits.

In stressing his position against contractualization, Duterte said he was prepared to accept the fact that owners of big corporations could work against his presidential candidacy.

“There are things you have to stand for and principles to fight for,” he said in previous speaking engagements.

Duterte said the next President should protect the interests of the ordinary Filipino workers. MANNY PIÑOL

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Duterte vows to end ‘contractualization’ I

Continue your ‘saintly ways,’ political analyst urges Duterte

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

abf@edgedavao.net

POLITICAL science professor of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte should maintain his “saintly” ways so that his survey ratings will not be affected.

In an online interview with EDGE Davao, AdDU professor Ramon Beleno III said he expects the mayor’s ratings to decrease after he cursed Pope Francis last November 30 in his proclamation as the presidential bet of PDP-Laban.

“Expected yung bababa sya pero not that much (It is expected that his ratings will decrease but not by much),”

he said.

Beleno said many Filipino Catholics were really disappointed with Duterte’s language directed at the Pope.

But he also said Duterte was able to correct the bad publicity by explaining that he was cursing not directly at the Pope but at the horrendous traffic that his visit had caused.

And last week Duterte went to Davao Archbishop Rev. Romulo Valles to express his apologies to the Pope. He said Valles reprimanded him and told him not to curse in public.

The mayor also promised to donate P1,000 to Caritas

Davao Foundation for every curse word he would utter.

Duterte said he wants to be as holy as a saint and wants to be called “Santo Rodrigo.”

“Hopefully, we will see a new Duterte,” Beleno said. “If that happens, maybe his ratings from the recent survey will improve more.”

Beleno said his advise for Duterte is to to stick to the issues and not destroy other people’s reputation.

“It must be noted though that (the survey) was done before the Pope incident. (It was still) surprising that he topped all the social classes and that he got almost half of NCR (Na-

tional Capital Region),” he said.

The SWS nationwide survey showed that Duterte was the choice of 38 percent of voters, giving him a double-digit lead over Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay, who each got 21 percent.

Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas received 15 percent and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago got 4 percent.

SWS ran the survey on Nov. 26-28, or five to six days after Duterte finally declared his run for the presidency and two days before PDP-Laban proclaimed him its presidential candidate for the May 2016 general elections.

be immediately addressed once he assumes the Presidency on June 30, 2016.

“Corruption has to go.

Crime has to stop. Drugs will have to be stopped,” he said when asked what he would do in his first 100 days should he win the Presidency next year.

Duterte also said that he would endorse the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty and warned policemen involved in drugs and crime that they would be the “first to go.”

He also said he will order a review of the law which

grants youngsters below 15 years old immunity from criminal prosecution, saying the law authored by then Senator Francis Pangilinan has created a huge problem involving minors in serious criminal incidents.

Duterte said he will also form a commission composed of representatives coming from all the regions of the country to start a study on the shift from a Unitary Presidential form of government to a Parliamentary Federal System.

On the problem of traffic

in Metro Manila and informal settlers, Duterte said there should be a long-term formula to solve the problem.

“Metro Manila is overpopulated with both people and vehicles,” he said.

To diffuse the traffic and overcrowding in Metro Manila, Duterte said factories located within the metro area will have to be relocated to outlying areas.

He said the availability of jobs in the outlying areas will ensure that informal settlers who are relocated would no

Duterte vows to address drugs, crime, corruption, Metro traffic

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EADING Presidential contender and Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte yesterday assured the nation that he will address the problems of drugs, criminality, corruption, and the monstrous traffic of Metro Manila in the first 100 days of his Presidency.

Appearing in the DZMM program “Ikaw Na Ba: The DZMM Presidential Candidates Interview” hosted by Karen Davila, Vic de Leon Lima, and Gerry Baja, Duterte said while the problem of Metro Manila’s traffic gridlock will take 12 years to solve, it will

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

Chiz blamed for S Grace’ s DQ woes F RONT-RUNNING vice presidential candidate Francis “Chiz” Escudero should take the blame for the current troubles of Sen. Grace Poe who is facing several disqualification cases in her candidacy for President.

Prof. Joey Sindayen Pinalas, a political analyst, said Senator Escudero has known

all the time that Poe shall meet very rough sailing regarding her citizenship issue and other requirements, such as residency, which would ultimately lead into her disqualification.

Escudero must not blame anybody, since he is the one who has been pushing Poe to aim for the top post, unmindful of the problems she would

be facing later on, until the Commission on Elections disqualified her last week.

Aside from being Poe’s strategist, Escudero is a lawyer, owning a law firm and strongly allied with the best lawyers who could have steered Poe clear from any foreseen legal problems, Pinalas said.

In a well-circulated news

story Escudero is likened to the ‘Trojan Horse’ in current Philippine politics.

“It’s Trojan Horse Politics, the kind of politics Chiz has been waging ever since he started getting into alliances with the big names in top-level politics, just to climb higher into big game politics now,

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A FLOOD OF LIGHTS. A mother and her infant child watch the Christmas lights and decorations at Davao City Hall on Wednesday night. The Christmas decorations around San Pedro Square are the main attractions of the annual Pasko Fiesta. Lean Daval Jr.

NEWS 3

Hero’s burial for Marcos, house arrest for GMA: Rody AYING that the country must look towards the future and move forward, leading Presidential contender and Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte yesterday declared that as President he would allow the interment of the remains of late President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani and agree to a house arrest for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In a live interview for two hours over Radio Station DZMM, Duterte also rejected the idea that as President he would order the scrutinising of the records and performances of incumbent President Benigno S. Aquino III and his officials for criminal prosecution saying that it is the job of the Ombudsman.

“There is a Constitutional body, the Ombudsman, tasked to do that. Let’s leave that to the Ombudsman,” he said.

The Davao City Mayor, who leads in the recent presidential surveys, sent shockwaves to the different political cliques in the country by wading into issues which other Presidential candidates have conveniently skirted.

He declared his position on the controversial issues in the country without blinking and with the conviction and confidence of a leader who knows what is right for his country.

It was Duterte’s first public pronouncement of what he had been telling his close friends long before on his position on controversial issues dividing the country.

“This country has to move

forward. Tama na yang away ng mga angkan sa pulitika. Red versus yellow, green versus blue. We have to stop this insanity,” he once told this writer.

Asked to answer questions with only approve or disapprove, Duterte immediately said “Approve” when asked if he would allow the burial of late President Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Maski ano pa ang sabihin natin, naging Pangulo ng Pilipinas ‘yan at lumaban noong World War II,” he earlier said.

When asked if he would approve a house arrest for former President Macapagal-Arroyo who is under hospital arrest for plunder, Duterte said: “Approve.”

He later explained that the charges against the former President have not been established yet.

Lawyers of the former President have filed a petition before the Supreme Court asking that Macapagal-Arroyo be allowed to post bail on humanitarian grounds, the same reason cited by several Justices of the Supreme Court as the ground for the release of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile from detention.

On same sex marriage, Duterte initially hesitated saying “Neutral ako dyan” but later said “Approve.”

On the Freedom of Information Bill whose passage has been delayed in Congress, Duterte said: “Approve.”

“I will not blame the past leaders of this country for my failures as President of the Philippines,” he repeatedly said in previous speaking en-

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

ARMM inks P286-M road project for Maguindanao

A Photo by Renel Balsabas

UTONOMOUS Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials awarded Wednesday a PHP 286.5-million road network project that included a bridge to five construction firms in Maguindanao after passing government bidding standards.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, together with Department of Public Works and Highways – ARMM chief Engr.

Don Mustapha Loong, both said the construction firms would undertake the construction and concreting of numerous vital roads in the province.

The project involves the concreting of the Tamontaka-Kusiong-Tapian Road

in Datu Odin Sinsuat town amounting to PHP47,092,346; North Upi-Datu Blah Sinsuat Provincial Road – PHP68,436,703; Tapian – Datu Blah Sinsuat Road Phase 2 – PHP107,424,608; North Upi – Datu Blah Sinsuat – Lebak Road Phase 2 – PHP34,785,587; and Nuyo Bridge – PHP28,830,060.

Loong said a budget of PHP607,512 has also been allotted for security purposes on watching over government heavy equipment in the field during the entire duration of the project.

The winning bidders were the MUST Enterprises and the BRE Construction, which won in two undertakings; Dalanon Construction Company, and CS Construction, Inc. (PNA)

HE city government is pushing for the institutionalization of the newly-concluded first Mindanao-wide inter-local government unit (LGU) sports competition here as an annual sports festival in the city.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera disclosed such move on Thursday as he expressed satisfaction over the local government’s hosting of the week-long sports event, which formally ended on Wednesday.

He said the local government will further enhance the event to encourage the participation of more LGUs across Mindanao.

“We will establish it as one of the grandest sports festivals in Mindanao,” the mayor said in a statement.

Dubbed Manny Pacquiao Sports Challenge, the sports fest’s debut was joined by around 2,000 local government personnel in Mindanao.

Organizers said the event is so far considered as the among biggest inter-LGU sports competition due to its number of participants.

The LGUs represented in the sports fest were the provinces of Sarangani, Davao del Sur and Tawi-tawi; municipalities of Lutayan, President Rox-

as, Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan, Kiamba, Maasim and Glan; and the cities of Iligan, Tagum, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos.

The main events included basketball, volleyball, kickball, tennis, table tennis and darts.

Side events like scrabble were also featured, with cash prizes reaching as high as P10,000 awarded tonthe winners.

The sports event, which mainly aims to promote camaraderie among local government workers, took off from last year’s competition between the city and Sarangani Province.

Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who is the main sponsor and chair of the event, personally pushed for its expansion to other LGUs this year.

Rivera said the event is also a “door of opportunity” for the city to further promote its trade and tourism potentials.

“If we can have as many visitors as this, we can really showcase our city further, especially our tourism and our growing businesses. Who knows, one or two of these participants would be interested to invest here,” he added.

(PNA)

Gamao lights Tree of Hope at Panabo Paskohan Village T

GenSan pushes institutionalization of sports fest for Mindanao LGUs

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AYOR James G. Gamao officially opened the PASKOhan sa Panabo 2015 with the lighting of the Tree of Hope and the Paskohan Village dubbed on December 1 at the Parks and Plaza.

Dubbed IWAG, the celebration was preceded by a civic torch parade participated in by city officials, department heads and employees, various sectors and organizations, and private and public schools from Sto.Niño Church to Parks and Plaza which was the site of the opening activity.

Gamao stressed the significance of lighting the Tree of Hope which symbolizes the unity and cooperation among Panaboans for the growth and development of the city.

“This is our way of cele-

brating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and showing our gratitude for all his blessings,” he said.

Vice Mayor Janrey Gavina expressed his gratitude to Panaboans, guests, visitors, and participants who come and witnessed the IWAG celebration. “Mapasalamaton ko sa inyong pagtambong, welcome sa atong Paskohan 2015 and advance Merry Christmas sa tanan,” he said.

City Tourism Investment and Promotion Section (TIPS) head Cher Bastida said new events have been lined up for IWAG, including an inflatable castle, free carousel rides for children at the Parks and Plaza, and mixed media art exhibit of Bong Espinosa from December 1 to January 2016 at Museum Panabo which is open for public viewing from

Tuesday to Friday.

Part of the Paskohan celebration is the 1st Mayor James G. Gamao Panindutay ug Christmas Tree (Christmas Tree Contest) for Barangay category made of indigenous and recyclable materials.

Prizes at stake are P50,000 for the winner, P35,000 for second place, and P20,000 for the third placer. The top ten will receive P 7,000 each and P 3,000 consolation prizes.

Another attraction are the miniature lights of the different wonders of the world and the Nativity set located in front of Panabo Museo.

Paskohan sa Panabo 2015 activities are: on December 9, Hudyakan: Kantyaw and Christmas Rock competitions, 6 PM at the ARF gym; December 10 – Pasko Para sa mga Bata and the recipi-

City officials, led by Rivera, earlier met with the families of the fishermen, who were mostly crew members of 48 fishing boats from this city that went missing off the country’s eastern seaboard at the height of typhoon Pablo.

The fishing boats were reportedly battered by huge waves and strong winds while on their way to the mainland of Surigao del Sur on Dec. 4, 2012.

The Philippine Coast Guard said most of the fishing vessels, which were maintaining payaos or fish aggregating devices located around 115 nautical miles off the eastern seaboard of Mindanao, were already on their way to the nearest ports when the storm caught on them.

A total of 306 fishermen remained missing and now presumed dead.

In September, the city government unveiled a memorial marker at the Plaza Heneral Santos here in honor of the sacrifices of the fishermen.

The establishment of the marker was personally pushed by the mayor, whose family is among the pioneers of the city’s thriving tuna fishing industry.

“They sacrificed a lot for all of us. They stake their lives every time they go fishing,” Rivera said.

Rivera first proposed for the construction of the memorial marker to honor the fishermen while he was a still a city councilor in early 2013.

ents are IP leaders from Balay Paglaum at Panabo City Gym, J.P. Laurel; December 11- Paskohan Zumbang Gabi, 7 pm at ARF Gym; December 14-16 Judging of 1st Mayor James G. Gamao Panindutay og Christmas Tree for Brgy. Category; Dec 17 – Paskohan Dance Showdown and from December 2 to 31, Tatak Panabo Pasalubong Products are available at the Tourism Kiosk, Museo Panabo Grounds.

Among the visitors who graced the program were Board Members, Hon. Janet Gavina, Hon. Allan Dujali and former Panabo City Mayor Rey P. Gavina, Tourism Council President Dizon Namuag, Carrie Lagdameo of Damosa Land, Inc. and Edwin Galaura representing Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, among others. Jasz Paras /CIO-Panabo

GenSan mulls scholarship program for children of typhoon‘Pablo’victims

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HE city government will establish a scholarship program for the children of more than 300 fishermen from this city and nearby Sarangani province who perished due to the onslaught of typhoon “Pablo” three years ago.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the local government is currently working on the details of the program, which it plans to implement in cooperation with local tuna industry players and other stakeholders.

He said he has tapped the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to spearhead the initiative.

“We have set it as among our priorities and hopefully it will be realized soon,” he said.

UNSPOILED BEAUTY. The sugar-fine white sand in Bitaog Beach in Barangay Rizal, Basilisa town in Dinagat Province

FGENSAN, 10 offers tired souls an idyllic refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life. MindaNews photo by Roel N. Catoto

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

P1.5B investments expected in Siargao W

MOBILE BUSINESS. A sunglass vendor sees an opportunity to sell his goods as a big crowd converges for the International Human Rights Day protest rally along Roxas Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao City needs architect’s office

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

AVAO City needs to set up the City Architects Office as its landscape continues to change brought by economic development, an official of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) said.

“Now is the high time for the City Government of Davao to establish the City Architects Office to ensure that the aesthetic side of development will be considered,” UAPDavao District secretary and UAP-davao del Norte president Architect Glory Rose Dy told EDGE Davao.

Dy said the city is lacking on the necessary facilities for a growing city like the metro Davao such as bike lanes and

lanes for pedestrians.

The urban planning for Davao City came late because the economic boom was really unexpected, according to Dy. However, she said much can still be done.

With only 10 percent built-in of the city’s total area, Dy said there are still many districts here that could be improved.

“Development in Davao City has been moving outside the central business district (CBD) and these areas need planning,” Dy said. “These areas include Buhangin and Mintal, among others.”

The city’s urban plan should not only include for facilities that would improve

mobility of the walking public and transportation but also the aesthetic side.

This, she said, would allow the efficient use of air space for wirings, among others.

According to the Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, the mayor may appoint a city architect.

“The UAP can extend technical assistance to the City Government if it decides to set up the City Architects Office,” Dy added.

Earlier, Felino Palafox Jr., principal architect and urban planner of Palafox Associates, one of the leading architecture and urban planning firms

in the country, said the city’s urban planning should be comprehensive, visionary, and for long term basis.

“What are lacking here are sidewalks, bicycle lanes, pedestrians, and flood control and drainage, among others,” Palafox said, adding this would be necessary for Davao City to be at par with other progressive cities like Dhubai, Singapore, and New York.

“Even with the investments climate now in Davao, still only 10 percent has been built up and it can still be good for urban renewal development and re-planning meaning the city can still come up with better urban planning,” he told reporters.

ferent areas of the city are complaining that there are NFA retailers in some public markets that obliged customers to buy P32 per kilo of well-milled NFA rice before they will be allowed to buy more than 2 kilos of P27 NFA rice variety.

There were related complaints reported in Matina, Toril and Calinan.

“We hope to come-up with possible solutions on the meeting,” Alerta said.

Alerta said in the same interview that the strategy of NFA rice retailers is legal and allowed just to ensure

the complete disposal of the imported rice.

“Some retailers implement this strategy to avoid loss in their income,” he said.

He said the NFA and accredited rice distributors have agreed that 75 percent of its contracted NFA rice will the regular milled NFA variety worth P27 per kilogram each, while the rest will be the well milled NFA variety which is worth P32/ kg.

“We are all mandated to dispose all imported rice to the market,” he said.

Distributors could opt to

lowering the price per kilo of NFArice from P32 to P30 for return of their investment, according to Alerta.

The NFA has recorded a drop in the demand for the 50 percent NFA rice imported from Vietnam.

The NFA-Davao City is disposing of around 2,500 bags of NFA rice daily.

NFA-Davao City assistant manager Maria Ellaine Respecia said last week that the NFA office here has 400,000 sacks of 50 kilogram NFA rice that can last until the second quarter of next year.

CHENEEN R. CAPON

NFA-Davao to meet retailers T

HE National Food Authority (NFA) in Davao City will meet its rice retailers this week in the wake of consumer complaints on the selling method.

“We’ll be scheduling the meeting either within this week or next week,” NFA Davao City manager Virgilio Alerta said in a radio interview yesterday.

NFA-Davao has a total of 160 accredited NFA outlets in Davao City, mostly located in Toril and Bankerohan public markets.

NFA consumers in dif-

ITH the influx of tourists in Siargao Island, the mayor here said at least P1.5-billion worth of capital will be invested on the island next year.

General Luna Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon told MindaNews Thursday that at least a billion pesos worth of various investments from tourism-related businesses will be shelled out by investors.

Almost all, or 95 percent, of the investments will be for General Luna alone, according to the mayor.

Rusillon stressed that most of these will go to purchases of land properties, as well as building resorts and other tourism-related investments.

He said that in the past few months, 35 new businesses have opened in the town with multimillion-peso investments.

“One of these is the Siargao Blue, a cozy resort that opened its doors in town recently,” the mayor said.

Rusillon pointed out that in the last three years, more than a billion pesos from the tourism industry have been spent every year in the town.

He said that as of this year, General Luna’s resorts have already reached 75, noting that no other town in all of Caraga Region has this much number

of resorts.

“Not just inns have been sprouting like mushrooms but also restaurants and other tourism related businesses,” he said.

Rusillon said that the investments have great impact on the local economy, providing more job opportunities for residents.

“It trickles down to the local economy. Thus, we prevent our people from leaving the island to work in other places,” he said.

General Luna, known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, is considered as the tourism hub of Caraga Region.

Over the past few years, tourist arrivals in Siargao Island have increased. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), 13,188 passengers flew in and out of the island’s airport last year.

In the first five months of 2014, there were 7,160 passenger arrivals at the Sayak Airport here as against 5,530 arrivals recorded over the same period in the previous year, or an increase of 29.5 percent.

There is no available data as of this year yet but Rusillon said this year’s tourist arrivals will definitely surpass 2014’s. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)

Solons want tax exemptions of cooperatives strengthened

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AWMAKERS are seeking to strengthen the tax exemptions of cooperatives to help further promote their self-reliance and enable them harness people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice.

Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and his younger brother Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) both sought better tax exemptions of cooperatives.

According to the lawmakers, based on the master list of registered cooperatives of the Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA), as of December 31, 2014, there are 24,633 registered cooperatives all over the country, which translates to millions of members.

The elder Rodriguez said these cooperatives are autonomous and duly registered association of persons, with a common bond of interest.

“Members of these cooperatives have voluntary joined together to achieve their social, economic, and cultural needs and aspiration by making equitable contributions to the capital required, patronizing their products and services, and accepting a

fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking,” said Rodriguez, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

In House Bill 6281, now pending at the Committee on Ways and Means chaired

by Rep. Romero Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), the lawmakers sought the amendment of Republic Act 9520, otherwise known as “An Act Amending the Cooperative Code of the Philippines to be known as the Philippine Cooperative Code Of 2008.”

The amendment provides for an additional Section 61-A which states that a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) certifying that a cooperative is in good standing and that such cooperative falls under the provisions of Articles 60 and 61 of the Act shall be considered as conclusive proof for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that the cooperative is entitled to the corresponding tax exemption.

Article 60 of RA 6281 pertains to tax treatment of cooperatives while Article 61 pertains to tax and other exemptions of cooperatives.

(PCOO News Release/House of Representatives)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY 7

Banana sector to recover in 2016

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) is expecting the banana industry of Davao Region to fully recover by next year.

“There are still areas that we need to rehabilitate. We are still catching-up,” PBGEA president Alexander N. Valoria told reporters.

Valoria said some banana growers and producers in Davao are still replanting some

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HILIPPINE exports fell by 10.8 percent in October 2015 on account of continued sluggish external demand, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported today that merchandise exports fell to US$4.6 billion in October 2015 from US$5.1 billion recorded in the same period last year.

“The lingering sluggish global demand, as well as the slack in industrial activity in the United States and the recent economic adjustments in China, brought down the country’s exports. Exports performance in the succeeding months is also anticipated to remain weak given the slowdown in economic growth of the country’s major trading partners,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

All key commodities registered drops in exports for October, particularly manufactured goods, agro-based products, mineral products, and petroleum products.

Manufactured goods, which make up 88.5 percent of the country’s total merchandise exports for October 2015, declined by 5.1 percent. It fell to US$4.1 billion from US$4.3 billion in October 2014.

“Despite the decline, this is an improvement from its double-digit drop of 24.7 percent in September, following

rent production of the banana industry is only at 180 million boxes.

He said the production of the region’s top export commodity and economic driver has not attined its peak production volume recorded in 2011.

At present, Valoria said banana exporters shipped out 35 percent of the total 180 million boxes to its overseas market in the third quarter.

pected to experience the worst of the El Niño phenomenon but it is now moved to February to April next year,” he said.

Banana diseases like the fusarium wilt or the Panama disease as well as the SIGATOKA also threaten the banana industry from fully recovering, he said.

Department of Agriculture (DA) 11, in its 2013 report, said that a total of 701,000 mats were infected with Pana-

the slight improvement in the global manufacturing industry. This is particularly due to the recovery of shipments of electronic products that grew by 7.3 percent, on the back of stronger exports in semiconductors which grew by 11.7 percent,” he said.

Exports of mineral products also declined by 56.1 percent to US$150.9 million in October 2015 from US$343.9 million on the same month last year. This is due to lower earnings from copper metal, copper concentrates and other mineral products.

“The lower volume of export of mineral products reflects the continued decline in the prices of metal commodities in the global market.

International prices of iron ore and copper, which are the country’s two top minerals exports, declined significantly, resulting in lower revenue,” said Balisacan, who is also NEDA Director-General.

Also, petroleum exports dropped by 57.9 percent, while agro-based products likewise contracted by 29.8 percent to US$264.5 million from US$376.6 million revenues registered in the previous year.

Meanwhile, structural and economic adjustments in China have affected Philippine export performance, with revenue losses dragging down exports growth for Oc-

TIME TO RELAX. Dabawenyos get a much-needed massage offered by professional masseurs at Rizal Park in Davao City on Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr.

Weak global demand downs Phl exports

FWEAK, 10

ma disease in the region.

Davao del Norte has the biggest infected number of mats planted either with Cavendish, Saba, and Lakatan variety totaling to 430,256 mats; followed by Davao City with 109,837; Compostela Valley with 91,838; Davao del Sur with 61,780; and Davao Oriental with 7,769 mats.

The level of infection in Davao del Norte has gone up to 50 percent, the highest. Next is

Compostela Valley at 25 percent level of infection. Davao Oriental which has the lowest number of infected mats has also the lowest rate of infection.

Despite the threat post by changing climate and banana diseases, the PBGEA set a higher target next year.

“We’re targeting to export 200 million boxes of 13 kilogram Cavendish banana,” Valoria said, adding that cur-

banana plantations damaged

by Typhoon Pablo in December 2012. The calamity caused damage to the industry of at least US$ 300 million.

Valoria attributed the slow recovery of the banana industry, which is the region’s top export commodity and economic driver, to drought, typhoons, and changing climate.

“The state-owned weather forecaster Pag-Asa announced six months ago that we are ex-

ARMM’s best year with P6.5-B investments T HE year 2015 is considered as the best year ever for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) investments as it recorded, during the first 11 months of the year, a whooping Php6.5 billion total investments, officials said Tuesday.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, Regional Board of Investments (RBOI-ARMM) chair, said this year’s investment has exceeded by 900 percent its 2015 target of Php700 million.

“This 2015, is the best year ever since the region has

generated the highest value of investments in the 26-year history of ARMM,” Mastura said during the Year-End Meeting of the ARMM Cabinet-Economic Growth and Linkages (EGL) Cluster Cotabato City.

Mastura said in 2015, RBOI approved eight investment projects with Al-Sahar Agri Ventures Incorporated as the biggest investor to develop a Php 3.7-billion cavendish banana plantation in Maguindanao.

It was followed by Chan C. Mining Incorporated which

pared to last year’s 3,433.

Mastura also revealed that 65 percent or Php .3 billion of the combined value of investment projects approved by RBOI this year are agri-based, while 24 percent or Php1.5 billion are energy related and 11 percent or Php742 million is a mining and quarrying project.

Other companies with investment projects approved

by RBOI this year were: 1) Tawi-Tawian Petroleum Trading Corporation with a Php121-million petroleum

ics Pharmacy which distributed free medicine and vitamins; the City Medical Laboratory which provided free cholesterol screening for 100 members; United Laboratories (UniLab) which shouldered the cost of free sugar test of some 100 members; Herchanova which conducted a lecture on Proper Nutrition and Pascual Laboratories which offered free vitamins.

Tagum Cooperative also took note of the benevolent partnership of the Kiwanis Club which distributed 100 dental kits, the Rotary Club of Tagum Golden LACES (Ladies in Action Committed to Effec-

tive Service), the Anat Group which rendered free massage services to 40 members and the City Health of Tagum.

Another first crack of health and wellness services during this year’s HPP Anniversary was the dental check-up and dental extraction which benefitted 50 members.

Others HPP services offered were fasting blood sugar screening, benefitting 200 members; Prostate Cancer screening, 50; eye check-up, 50; and pap smear, 80 members.

The one day event brought wellness and health

FARMM, 10

More partners in HPP 2015 anniversary

T HPP ANNIVERSARY. Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors (BOD) chairperson Norma R. Pereyras observes during the free medical services.

invested Php742 million for a mining and quarrying of nickel ore project in Tawi-Tawi.

The third biggest investor was Lamsan Power Corporation with its power plant expansion project of an additional 5.5 megawatts worth Php687 million, located in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

RBOI has recorded an increase of 70 percent in the total value of investments as compared to last year’s Php3.867 billion. These investments also provided 4,894 jobs which is 43 percent higher as com-

HE Himsug Pamilya Program (HPP) anniversary this year was loaded with new catch of service partners which offered health and wellness benefits for Tagum Cooperative members.

MBA officer Elsa Balagon noted the number of health and wellness entities with which Tagum Cooperative tied up to pack up sets of services in this year’s HPP anniversary day held on Nov. 28 at TC Gymnasium.

Among those partners were ADAM or the Alternative Diet and Alternative Medicine which was among those which conducted lectures; the Gener-

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EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

EDITORIAL No firecrackers, please

T

HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has warned the public anew against the sale and use of firecrackers and other forms of pyrotechnics, reminding citizens of the long-standing city ordinance that is the envy of many other local government units (LGUs) in the country. It’s the holidays once again and law enforcers want to make sure nobody gets hurt during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The spokesperson of the DCPO, Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz, said all police station commanders have been mandated to monitor their areas of responsibility for the possible sneaking in of firecrackers during the holidays. Despite full implementation of the law not only during the Yuletide season but all throughout the year, unscrupulous businessmen have the penchant for violating the ordinance just to gain profit, resulting in several arrests.

Although Davao City has been enjoying zero firecrackerrelated injuries for the past several years now since the

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ordinance was first implemented in 2001, there are still people violating the law by selling and exploding firecrackers. The DCPO recorded several arrests during the holidays last year and after New Year for firecracker use, including a barangay councilor. Although the number of arrests made dropped from the 39 recorded in 2013, the city has yet to accomplish a perfect record as the manufacture and sale of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices continue despite the total ban.

“We encourage the public not to sell, not to manufacture, and not to use firecrackers,” came Driz’s warning as the city gets ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year. The warning may sound like a broken record because it is repeated again and again, but people must understand the seriousness of law enforcers in delivering the message for it concerns the safety and convenience of everyone. Nobody wants to spend Christmas behind bars, and certainly no one wants to lose a finger or two in welcoming the New Year.

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T

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Some economics of election earning and election spending

HE “unofficial” campaign period has begun, and as the Comelec may be perceived to allow political ads being aired, the jockeying for the lion’s share of election funds is hot. Obviously vital to kicking off a viable campaign, funders need to be secured, and to the strongest candidate goes the best resources. Note how the disqualification of erstwhile leading candidate Grace Poe factors into the election spending decisions of our tycoons and taipans. She continues to harp on her being a foundling to attract the sympathy of voters, but with little else to push her platform, she may lose more steam as the weeks progress.

A disqualified Poe, or at least the threat of disqualification coupled with the surge of the dark horse Duterte, is an untenable situation that stole her thunder and diminished her early lead. Jejomar Binay’s approval rating will continue to progressively slip, Mar Roxas is outshined by run-

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

hristmas carols are everywhere.

You hear them in department stores, malls, cinemas and even houses. There are no radio or television sets which don’t play the songs that tell everyone Christmas is indeed here. At night, you either annoyed or welcome with gladness those children who are caroling.

Perhaps one of the most popular songs these kids sing is -- hold your breath! -- Jingle Bells. Although this popular American song is strongly associated with Christmas, it contains not a single Yuletide reference. The reason: it was written for Thanksgiving, one of the most popular holidays in the United States.

The song was written by James Lord Pierpont, a New England born songwriter, arranger, organist, and composer. The original title was “The One Horse Open Sleigh.” Wikipedia offers this bit of information: “In August, 1857, his song ‘The One Horse Open Sleigh’ was published

by Oliver Ditson and Company of 277 Washington Street in Boston dedicated to John P. Ordway. The song was copyrighted on Wednesday, September 16, 1857. The song was originally performed in a Sunday school concert on Thanksgiving in Savannah, Georgia.”

When it was first published, the song was not very popular although it was reprinted in 1859. So, how come it is now associated with Christmas. Who made it become one of the most endearing Christmas carol?

One author surmised: “(The popularity of the song) happened first with the spread of phonograph records and

ning mate MY TWO CENTS’ Leni Robredo, and Miriam’s words seemed to have lost their sting as the reports of a disloyal Bongbong chasing after John Tria the Davao ecisouth@gmail.com mayor will disappoint not a few heretofore admirers of both senators.

Momentum matters, and how well this is sustained will show you how hard they kick once the official campaign period commences in January. The next few weeks will be telling on these efforts.

What exactly is a presidential election’s impact on the Philippine economy? First, we expect inflation to rise a bit further in the near term as Christmas approaches, and per-

haps a tempering of the rise of the US Dollar versus the Philippine Peso.

Four or five presidential candidates means that there will at least be 50 billion pesos in direct election spending, with a good portion of these funds coming from abroad, denominated in US Dollars, Euros, or Renminbi.

Imagine all the major business houses and families announcing major foreign acquisitions such as Megaworld tycoon Andrew Tan’s purchase of a large tower and the Fundador brand in Spain, 8990 holdings plan to build a million houses in Southeast Asia, Jollibee’s acquisition of new fastfood brands abroad, Max’s expansion in California, and the Razon’s ICTSI bagging new port management projects in the Americas. There seems to be a lot of foreign money now owned

by Filipinos. Global Filipino business means more foreign money for investing in the leading spectator sport and policy investment in the country:

Philippine presidential elections.

The opportunities created by Philippine elections cover short term employment for thousands in many sectors, from the printing of posters and campaign materials, increased revenue for media airtime and production outfits for campaign advertising, not to mention the salaries of paid campaign staff, billboard and poster installers, drivers and assistants, among many others.

Nonetheless, while it may sound corny, we all need to appreciate Philippine elections less for their entertainment value and more for the manner in which our political institutions are strengthened or weakened, and how well the servants we elect carry our interests into government. As our archipelago maintains a centralized government and administration, and our political culture remains to be leader oriented, the presidential election will, for better or ill, be an important investment for us.

later on ra- THINK ON THESE! dio, which allowed the song to be heard by a n a t i o nw i d e audience.”

In 1898, Edison Male Quartette recorded “Jingle Bells” on an Henrylito D. Tacio Edison cyl- henrytacio@gmail.com inder. Four years later, the Hayden Quartet recorded the song.

In 1935, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra reached No. 18 on the charts with their recording of the song.

In 1941, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ernie Caceres and the Modernaires on vocals had a No. 5 hit with “Jingle Bells” on RCA Victor. Famous balladeer Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters recorded the song in 1943 on Decca which reached No. 19 on the charts and sold over a million copies.

Now, here’s a trivia from a blogger named Daven Hiskey: “On December 16, 1965, astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra on Gemini 6 sent the following message to Mission Control: ‘We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit… I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit….’ The two then proceeded to sing the first ever song broadcast from space, Jingle Bells, with a harmonica and bells accompanying, both of which

they had secretly smuggled aboard.”

Wikipedia claims that among all these recordings, it was Bing Crosby with The Andrews Sisters who made the song the most popular. “Their 1943 recording is the one most often heard today during the Christmas season in the United States,” it said.

But what most people don’t know that the author, Pierpont, believed he died a failure. Robert Fulghum, the man behind It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It, wrote: “In 1866, at the age of eighty-one, he came to the end of his days as a government clerk in Washington, D.C., with a long string of personal defeats abrading his spirit.”

Why did Fulghum believe so? In his book, he enumerated several reasons: “He was a failure at school teaching. He was too easy on his students. And so he turned to the legal world for training.

“He was a failure as a lawyer. He was too generous to his clients and too concerned about justice to take the cases that brought good fees. The next career he took up was that of dry-goods merchant.

“He was a failure as a businessman.

He could not charge enough for his goods to make a profit, and was too liberal with credit. In the meantime, he had been writing poetry, and though it was published, he didn’t collect enough royalties to make a living.

“He was a failure as a poet. And so he decided to become a minister, went off to Harvard Divinity School, was ordained as a minister of the Hollis Street Church in Boston. But his position for Prohibition and against slavery got him crosswise with the influential members

of his congregation and he was forced to resign.

“He was a failure as a minister. Politics seemed a place where he could make some difference, and he was nominated as the Abolition Party candidate for governor of Massachusetts. He lost.

Undaunted, he ran for Congress under the banner of the Free Soil party. He lost.

“He was a failure as a politician. The Civil War came along, and he volunteered as a chaplain of the 22nd Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers.

Two weeks later, he quit, having found the task too much of a strain on his health. He was seventy-six years old. He couldn’t even make it as a chaplain.

“Someone found him an obscure job in the back offices of the Treasury Department of Washington, and he finished out of the last five years of his life as a menial file clerk. He wasn’t very good at that either. His heart was not in it.

“John Pierpont died a failure.”

But then, he never died a failure. After his death, his “Jingle Bells” became a phenomenal hit.

Wikipedia said: “From 1890 to 1954, “Jingle Bells” was in the top 25 of the most recorded songs in history, beating out ‘My Old Kentucky Home,’ ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever,’ ‘Blue Skies,’ ‘I Got Rhythm’ and ‘Georgia on My Mind.’ In recognition of the universal success of his composition, he was elected into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

In 1997, a James Lord Pierpont Music Scholarship Fund was established at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia.”

Jingle bells

10 NEWS DAVAO... FROM 1

view on radio DZMM, saying he wanted to protect children.

“Ang inaalala ko ay ‘yung mga bata. There’s always a time for everything,” he added.

“Davao City has been implementing a curfew law, ordering that those 18 years old and below are not allowed to loiter in the city between 10 pm and 5 am unless they are accompanied by their parents or guardians of legal age.

“Duterte has ordered the arrest of parents whose children are seen roaming the streets of the city during the curfew period.”

Piñol said that while there is indeed a local ordinance being enforced in Davao City which prohibits minors from loitering in the city from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the Mayor was actually referring to the serving of alcohol, beer and other intoxicating drinks when he said “pag ako naging President, ala una, sarado na.”

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter mixed up the curfew for minors with the 1

a.m. curfew for the serving of alcoholic drinks which is also enforced strictly in the city.

The “curfew” report by the Inquirer has been pointed out by critics as the prelude to a possible declaration of Martial Law by Duterte.

Netizens from Davao also reacted to the posts from Duterte bashers, posting real-time photos on social media Davao’s streets at 1 a.m. on Thursday and how one can freely move around without fear of being robbed or hurt.

Mayor Duterte also said in the interview that when elected as President, he will allow the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the house arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On the question whether as President he will probe irregularities committed by his predecessor, Mayor Duterte said he will initiate it but rather leave it to the Ombudsman to do any investigation if warranted.

demned and not condoned.”

“If ever you are thinking of voting for Mayor Duterte (and I include myself), we should keep in mind that men and women should uphold marital laws as seriously as criminal laws, because family is the very foundation of our society,” she had written on her Facebook page.

The post, however, attracted numerous negative comments from Duterte supporters, so much so that she had to delete it.

In explaining her post, Nadal told EDGE Davao that what she was actually addressing was not Duterte himself but “our culture of taking womanizing too lightly.”

She said this is evidenced even in pop culture in which movies and TV shows glorify extra-marital affairs and having mistresses.

“The people in our generation, we’ve been so blinded.

We don’t know how bad it is now. It’s so common,” she said. “That’s my frustration.”

Nadal said that is why she

wrote the Facebook post. “I’m pleading to the mayor: If you cannot follow the law, at least respect it. Kasi may marital laws. Even if he doesn’t follow it, have some respect for it.”

She said Duterte can be truthful about his affairs but “make a disclaimer at least.”

“As a woman nakakabastos (I find it disrespectful),” she said.

Nadal also said she wishes Duterte would not flaunt his womanizing ways.

As an example, she said a smoker can go to Davao City and follow the ordinance against smoking. The person would still be a smoker, but he does not have to flaunt it before other people.

“There are so many ways to respect the law,” she said.

Nadal said the reason she focused on Duterte is that he is the only presidential candidate she is considering.

“That is precisely why I’m concerned. The reason I’m focusing on him is I’m leaning towards voting for him. I’m not thinking of voting for others,” she said.

gagements.

“Hindi ko sayangin ang six years sa paghahabol lang ng ibang mga tao. There are agencies and people tasked to do that,” he said.

“Let us leave the past behind and look towards the future. That is the only way we could unite this country and change for the better,” Duterte earlier said. MANNY PIÑOL

benefits to a total of 500 Tagum Coop members.

Tagum Coop Board of Directors (BOD) Chairperson Norma R. Pereyras, Fe J. Adlawan and Edgardo T. Silagan (directors) along with Treasurer Rosalina S. Argent and General Manager Juris D. Perez never missed the anniversary celebration.

Pereyras said that the celebration primarily concerns and caters to the health and wellness of Tagum Coop members especially the sick and elderly.

Though most of those who benefitted during the HPP Anniversary Day were Tagum Coop members residing in TagumCity, the Cooperative through the HPP office made sure that members in various branches also feel the care of Tagum Cooperative.

Balagon said the HPP services particularly pap smear, Prostate Cancer screening and FBS were conducted in all branches of Tagum Cooperative within the month of November. (Tagum Cooperative)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

LUMAD GRIEVANCES. Indigenous People (IP), together with members of progressive groups, stage a caravan protest rally to air their grievances against the Aquino administration in yesterday’s commemoration of International Human Right Day along Roxas Avenue. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte... FROM 2 longer return to the squatters area.

Duterte, however, warned that should he become President, people must follow the law.

“Kapag sinabi ni Duter-

te na hindi puede yan, dapat sumunod ka,” he said, citing Davao City as an example of an area where people respect the rules and follow the law, making it one of the safest cities in the world to live in.

where he is inching closer to the top posts,” according to Professor Pinalas, who teaches socio-political thought and philosophy of politics at Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

As Poe’s vice-presidential mate, Chiz had the guts to meet Vice President Jejomar Binay, one of Poe’s strong opponents, over lunch in Davao several weeks before Poe was disqualified.

“Did Chiz and Binay discuss the disqualification of Poe during the Davao meeting before the COMELEC disqualification decision was made several weeks later?” Professor Pinalas wondered. “Was the Davao meeting unintentional, or were there secret talks between Binay and Chiz if Poe’s disqualification would happen?”

According to Pinalas, after Poe’s disqualification, many doubts and questions about Chiz’ intentions and hidden motives started to come out.

Professor Pinalas wondered “What is Chiz’ real motive and agenda?”

“Remember, Chiz was the architect on Binay’s win over Mar Roxas for the vice-presidential post in 2010 presidential elections, and he organized the NoyBi (Aquino-Binay) coalition, defeating Roxas who was Aquino’s official running mate,” he said.

The Professor recalled that according to media reports, Binay’s camp was the first in raising the issues on citizenship and residency of Poe that were brought out publicly

by UNA president and Navotas

congressman Toby Tiangco.

Pinalas described Chiz’s game as “Trojan Horse Politics”, he recalled that when Chiz was opposition leader in Congress and spokesman for Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), there were reports that Chiz was still receiving pork barrel from (then) President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In 2010, Chiz was the “Trojan Horse” reported by media as the young presidential wannabe who tried to convince (then) President Arroyo to help him run for the presidency, Pinalas alleged.

The political science professor claimed that big names like Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Danding Cojuangco, Mar Roxas, Serge Osmena, Ping Lacson, Manny Villar, Noynoy Aquino, and Jejomar Binay, had helped Chiz rise up in politics as to reach presidentiable status now.

But, Pinalas charged that Chiz had turned his back on them, and he made enemies out of the others.

He said Sen. Miriam Santiago, a law expert and also presidential aspirant, said Poe has serious qualification problems.

“The Constitutional provisions are very clear on the requirements for the president and vice-president. . .

In all of these provisions, the requirement is a natural-born Filipino. The Constitution says a natural-born Filipino is one who becomes a Filipino citizen even without undertaking any act. . . No, she is not. I am sorry to say,” Santiago said before the media.

His proposal was initially shelved due to lack of support from other city council members but pursued it when he was elected as mayor.

“I am raised by the fishing industry and I have experienced and witnessed the perils of the sea. That’s why I had been fighting for this me-

morial shrine because I want to honor every fisherman who made our city the Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” Rivera explained.

“We are the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. They (fishermen) are our heroes here.

We must give pride to them,” the mayor added. (PNA)

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through a memorandum of agreement with Manila Police District station 3 but she could say if it is allowed to go to other parts of the country.

She, however, said in a 2012 report of the PNP, it appeared that use of the PNP logo in its plates and even t-shirts is not accredited by the Directorate of PNP Community Relations Group.

Dela Cerna said the PNP Community Relations Group in Camp Crame could determine if a certain non-govern-

ment organization is allowed to use the PNP logo.

She said even a police officer cannot use the logo of the organization for personal use.

Dela Cerna said there other uniform providers in the country that are not accredited by the PNP. She under article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, any person violating the rule will be slapped with up to six months of imprisonment.

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

tober. From January to October 2015, export revenues to China contracted year-on-year by 24.7 percent.

“As the global economy remains fragile, export-oriented firms in the Philippines should recalibrate its production and marketing processes to serve the domestic market instead to facilitate this,” the Cabinet official said.

Balisacan also stressed the need to collaborate with the private sector in order to facilitate marketing export products to the domestic market.

“However, we remain positive as substantial improvement in Japan’s industrial sector may partially offset the downward pull from

weakness in US and China in the coming months. There is strong international demand for Japanese products and this will be a major factor in sustaining robust industrial growth,” he added.

Furthermore, Balisacan underscored the need to tap the potential of the services sector specifically tourism, indicating an expected surge of demand for services related to recreation and travel.

“Several manufacturing firms are also considering relocating to emerging economies. The country should thus take advantage of this opportunity by improving its competitiveness as an investment destination,” he said.

project in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi; 2) DS3 Fuel Tanking and Services Inc. with a Php252 million petroleum project operating at Polloc Free Port, Parang, Maguindanao; 3) Maguindanao Enegry Farms Inc. based in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao invested Php400 million for a 474-hectare napier

grass plantation; 4) Matling Industrial and Commercial Corporation (MICC) to establish a Php194 million new cassava starch milling plant in Malabang, Lanao del Sur and; 5) Southsea Industrial Energy Corporation to build a Php471-million oil refinery project in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.

(PNA)

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NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 60908 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 8007241-0 issued to SALUD SANCHEZ CRUZ was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

11/27/12/4,11

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

EDGEDAVAO ARTS AND CULTURE

WITH the upcoming Star Wars movie on the horizon, one can say that sculptor Jan Calleja is on top of his game. With his upcoming exhibit titled Jan Solo II, Calleja again appropriates model cars, airplanes, guns, and other toys and reconstructs them into intriguing yet exciting sculptures.

With a degree in visual communications at the University of the Philippines Calleja acquired a distinct aesthetic taste that would be his prowess to execute his big bright bold ideas. To thoroughly comprehend his brilliance one must take a mental journey with him, travelling to places so distant we may not initially see a way back.

Inspired by the original Star Wars movies he watched as a kid with its assortment of wonderful vehicles such as X Wings Tie Fighters, All Terrain All Scout Walkers, and lumbering All Terrain Armored Transport, Calleja sees a bit of whimsy as he reforms

them using various toy kits.

A Volkswagen 1964 Kombi served as the foundation for the creation of the AT-AS. The front of toy sculpture evoking with whimsy how the original AT-AS looks like and still on the Walker’s trademark stilt legs. Cajella’s Tie Fighter meanwhile was born from a Mini Cooper, the elegant lines of the iconic vehicle serves as the foundation of the piece.

While the Walkers and Tie Fighters hark back to his childhood memories, the Rebel X Wings were inspired by his father’s survival tales in Daet during World War II. Both sculptures are a

tribute to the memory of his father and were crafted from a Fokker DR 1 triplane and a Scout SE5 biplane, turning machines of destruction into constructs of whimsy and marvel from a parallel universe.

The Jan Solo II exhibit will be unveiled on December 11, 2015 at 6:30 in the afternoon at the Art Portal Gallery of Contemporary Art located at the 2nd floor Eastwest Bank, BGP Complex2, MacArthur Highway, Matina Davao City.

Volkswagon AT-AS Walker.

Rebel X Wing Fighter.

Rebel X Wing Fighter.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at

Eden

STEP INTO 2016 with the biggest New Year bash at Eden Nature Park & Resort on Thursday, December 31, 2015 starting 5PM. With a magnificent setting at the lower veranda of Vista Restaurant overlooking the city, it will be a night of indulgence.

The resort’s culinary team will lay out a lavish sumptuous holiday feast of international buffet dinner where guest can expect mouthwatering dishes.

Adding a sparkle to the evening is an exceptional live entertainment by various performers. More than the usual countdown show, the resort will be featuring two groups from the community, Kultura Edeng and Elias B. Lopez Memorial National High School performers to showcase their talents.

Join the throngs of cheering revelers as we will also feature the delightful cultural performances of Kalumon Performing Ensemble, a dance-theater group who performs contemporary pieces rooted in the indigenous culture of Filipinos and Davao’s very own local artist, Mebuyan band.

A show of this scale allowed us to bring together Davao’s pride to entertain you throughout the spectacular evening to

enjoy live music of mesmerizing sounds and high energy.

The programme will be hosted by ABS-CBN’s TV Person-

ality, Ms. Claudette Centeno.

There will be exciting games and raffle prizes.

While teens and adults are hooked up to the celebration, kids can also have fun at the kiddie corner at Cafe Vista hosted by Happyface Partyhaus.

As the clock strikes midnight, awe-inspiring performers, confetti and balloon showers, and wine toasts will surround guests to create their most memorable start to 2016.

Guests can celebrate all night long singing and dancing their favorite songs with Flight99

Band. And at the after party, Eden will give you Davao’s finest DJ that will bring guests to their feet with beats. Raise a glass and be one of the lucky guests to walk away with amazing prizes. Tickets to the dinner and event tickets are priced at Php1,600 for adult and Php1,100 for children below ten years old.

Dance, groove, and rock your way at Eden’s annual New Year’s Eve party that promises to be the best party this holiday season!

Your New Years Eve plans have been officially set! So get ready for a celebration of sheer nightlife indulgence at its absolute finest. For more information, please call our Sales & Reservations Office at (082) 2991020 or 0918-9307590 or email us at info@edennaturepark. com.ph.

Christmas Sale and holiday treats at Abreeza Mall

CHRISTMAS at Abreeza Mall wouldn’t be complete without a huge sale and a bazaar to let shoppers shower their loved ones with the best presents! To make the season even more special, Abreeza Mall also highlights well-loved holiday traditions that are sure to warm every shopper’s heart.

Abreeza Mall and BPI invite shoppers to do their Christmas shopping during the Amore Christmas Sale from December 11 to 15, which offers discounts of up to 70% mall-wide. Customers

will get ample time to shop during the Christmas rush, with extended mall hours of up to 10pm beginning December 11.

From December 11 to 17 at the Activity Center, The Mindanao Trade Expo Christmas Bazaar brings in a collection of crafts by micro, small, and medium enterprises from Mindanao.

Customers can expect to find unique gift ideas at this impressive showcase of regional talent and entrepreneurship.

From December 16 to 25, kids will get the chance to share their Christmas wishes as they meet and greet Santa

Claus from 4pm to 6pm at the Ground Floor Fashion Hallway.

Letting customers feel the spirit of the season as they go through their shopping lists are Christmas carolers at the Activity Center, who will be filling the air with holiday harmonies on December 11 to 13, 18 to 23, and 25.

Ayala Malls calls on shoppers to share their blessings with the less fortunate this season by taking part in its Christmas Shopping Bag Promo that’s ongoing until December 31. Shoppers who present a minimum purchase of P500 at the Main Concierge and

donate P5 to the Co Su Gian Home for the Elderlies get to bring home an exclusive Ayala Malls Christmas gift bag.

‘Tis the season for gamers to show off their skills as Abreeza Mall hosts the Games & Gadgets Fair 2015 in partnership with E2 Events and Solutions Inc. at the Activity Center from December 18 to 22. Gamers and techies get to take part in an online gaming competition, feast their eyes on the latest gadgets, and more at this annual fair.

Abreeza Mall encourages everyone to spread the Christmas cheer by sharing

what they love at the mall—from shopping treats to delicious feasts, from holiday entertainment to unforgettable bonding moments—by posting photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the hashtags #lovemall and #AbreezaMall.

For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/ AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘You’re My Foreignoy’ contestants form a band, inks contract with GMA Records I N T E R N E T s e n s a t i o n 4Noiz signed a distribution contract with GMA Records recently at the GMA-7 Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GEMPC) Building.

4Noiz is a band composed of Aaron De Tommaso, Aisaku Yokogawa, Eric Buzbee, and Gui Adorno, who are self-proclaimed AlDub fanatics that wrote and performed MahAlden Kita, Please Be Maine, a song inspired by the love story of the phenomenal loveteam.

The boy band was formed out of the friendship that was built in Eat Bulaga’s segment “You’re My Foreignoy”, a competition in which different foreigners showcase their talents while harbouring the qualities of a Filipino.

Their love for music strengthened their bond and this collaboration was born out of their obsession with Eat

influence he gets from the Philippines. “A lot of boy bands here do a lot of covers, so I had the idea of making our own original compositions that not only the band can enjoy, but also what Filipinos can relate to as well.” Aaron can’t believe the dedication of their supporters, “The appreciation that people have in this country is

Bulaga’s Kalyeserye.

Being a true-blue Eat Bulaga fan, Aisaku was the one who influenced the rest of the group to follow the love story of Alden Richards and Yaya Dub. The song MahAlden Kita, Please Be Maine is the lovechild of all their creative juices and crazy imagination, which eventually resulted to the filming of its music video. With their goal to express their support for the love team, they

uploaded it online and became an instant hit.

Now that GMA Records will be officially releasing their first single, 4Noiz is thankful for the opportunity to share their music with all the Filipinos around the world. Eric fluently shared in Tagalog the experience of seeing the comments on their video, “Natuwa ako nung nakita ko yung mga comments dahil halos puro positive,

amazing, so thank you Philippines for teaching me how to appreciate properly in life.”

Their single, MahAlden Kita, Please Be Maine was released on iTunes last November 25. For more information on its release, visit GMA Records’ official Facebook page at http:// w w w.faceb ook .com/ GMARecords.

walang negative.”

As for the future of the band, Gui proudly expresses his excitement to make a fusion of culture. “We are staying here in the Philippines, and we are embracing the culture. So we want to do this mix of English songs and Tagalog songs.”

Meanwhile, Aisaku admits to be a fan of OPM. From Imelda Papin’s music to Ogie Alcasid’s tunes, he prides himself of the

Ilustrado wins back-to-back awards local and int’l awards GMA’s Ilustrado, the first-ever bayaniserye on Philippine primetime TV, has been sweeping awards both here and abroad.

Bannered by Kapuso star Alden Richards, who played the role of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, Ilustrado won the Silver Award for the Best Program Opening Sequence in the recently concluded PromaxBDA Asia Awards 2015 held in Singapore.

A few months ago, Ilustrado was also a finalist in the PromaxBDA Global Excellence Award in New York. The groundbreaking bayaniserye, produced by GMA News and Public Affairs, utilized complex video graphics to recreate a 19th century European milieu.

Earlier this year, the historical drama series received a Certificate for Creative Excellence from the prestigious U.S. International Film and Video Festival.

Ilustrado has also earned the nod of Philippine award-giving bodies. It very recently won as Best Drama Mini Series at the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television,

December 9-15, 2015

THE CREED Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone PG

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

A SECOND CHANCE Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz PG

with the series’ lead star, Alden, awarded as Best Drama Actor.

Ilustrado was also recognized at the 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) as the Best Drama Series/Program last November. This is the third year

in a row that GMA News and Public Affairs took home the Best Drama Series Award from the CMMA. Highly-acclaimed TV miniseries Bayan Ko and Titser won the said award in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

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

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy PG

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

THE 33 / *POINT BREAK Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro / *Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey PG/*PG

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

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11 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

This land is mined Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio (Second of Two Parts) “Mineral resources are limited, finite and do not occur everywhere. They are concentrated in only a few blessed provinces.” -- Ronald Recidoro, vice president for policy, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines

Y

***

OU may not know it but an average cellphone contains about 24 milligrams of gold, 250 milligrams of silver, 3,800 milligrams of cobalt, and 9 milligrams of palladium.

That’s just one product that comes from mining or mineral extraction. There are more: computers, television sets, radios, spectacles, cameras, cars, planes and ships.

Most of the things you find in your kitchens are included: spoons, forks, plates, cups, knives, kettles, microwave ovens, burners, refrigerators and a lot more.

“If we didn’t have mining, I’d miss all the golden crucifixes and golden domes of churches that we ogle at, and the TV and radio broadcasts and commentaries that can be informative too,” wrote Jose Bayani Baylon in his column which appeared in Pahayagang Malaya.

“Mining has been a driver of economic development,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan in a speech delivered during a mining forum held in 2012.

“Mining in Australia contributes US$142 billion each year; in Canada, $37.5 billion; in the US, $1.9 trillion, and in Brazil, $24 billion.”

According to Pangilinan, “The challenge is precisely to grow mining so that it creates more value-added for all of us.

Only a larger and healthier industry can enable us to achieve forward linkages in downstream processing plants.”

“The Philippines is among the world’s richly endowed countries in terms of mineral resources,” Dr. Antonio M. Daño, assistant director of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), bared in a forum that was held in Kidapawan City recently.

As a matter of fact, the country’s mineral wealth is estimated to be about $840 billion. “The real question before us today is: Should mining be allowed in the Philippines?” asked Christian Monsod during the “Conference on Mining’s Impact on Philippine

Taken at the Mines View Park in Baguio City

Polluted river Economy and Ecology.”

In the Philippines, mining operations are oftentimes located in ancestral land, forest land, agricultural land and even fishing areas. “All areas of the Philippines are technically ‘available’ for mining,” said Dave de Vera, executive director of the Philippines Association for Intercultural Development (PAFID).

Speaking before a group of journalists attending the learning sessions on land use planning some years back, De Vera cited the case of Sibuyan Island, touted to be the Galapagos of Asia and home to Mount Guiting-guiting.

In February 1996, then President Fidel V. Ramos declared Mount Guiting-guiting as a national park. For their part, the indigenous Mangyan Taga-Bukid -- the traditional caretakers of the mountain -- secured Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title over their territories.

Despite these efforts, some 21 mining companies have applied to mine the area. “The applications cover 42% of the island and overlap with 32% of the management area of the national park,” De Vera deplored.

The Catholic Church, some cause-oriented groups and

environmentalists are against mining. All of them have valid reasons. Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, SJ, in his column, wrote a very thought-provoking piece. “A valid objection is that mining operations sometimes leave the local population with little residual benefit after the mining operation,” he wrote.

“This is not true in most cases as, for example, the Baguio mining. If not for the mines, tourism could not have developed Baguio as it is now.

But many of the local people are still poor. This not because of mining but because of the sharing system. Why let the mining companies take away all the gravy and leave the community in poverty?”

Primo Morillo of social development network Philippine Miserior Partnership was quoted as saying by the Rappler that whatever benefits mining provides is only temporary. “They say the resources are finite so when they are gone, they will leave. Whatever development will happen is temporary but the effect of mining is permanent.”

Now, let’s talk about mining wastes. According to Dr. Daño, “mining waste materials drains into major water systems causing pollution.” Take the case of the Tapian Open Pit copper

Dr. Antonio M. Dano, ERDB assistant director mine in central Marinduque.

Raul Alibutud, in an article published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, reported: “What used to be rich fishing ground is now nearly barren of marine life. Corals and seagrasses, the homes of nesting places of fish, have been choked by sediment. Near the mine’s waste discharge pipes, the once-clear water has become murky and turbid.”

In 2007, the MGB reported there were 24 non-performing mining tenements -abandoned and need immediate rehabilitation. “These areas were left out after several years of mining operations leaving behind toxic waste materials and overburdened areas that are stony, rocky and acidic,” Dr. Daño said. “These areas have open pits and mine tailings.”

Dr. Daño said mining areas are characterized by acidic and saline due to oxidation of pyretic materials. He considered them as “the most difficult site to rehabilitate” because the soil acidity (pH) falls below 4.0.

Generally, mining areas are “untouched for rehabilitation unless bulks of soil are brought back to the site.” In gold mine areas, heavy metals on-site are way above normal levels (i.e. copper, arsenic, chromium, lead, zinc and strontium) carried away by running water to low lying areas.

After mining finishes, the mine area must undergo rehabilitation. Wikipedia cites the following options to be done:

• Waste dumps are contoured to flatten them out, to further stabilize them against erosion.

• If the ore contains sulfides it is usually covered with a layer of clay to prevent access of rain and oxygen from the air, which can oxidize the sulfides to produce sulfuric acid.

• Landfills are covered with topsoil, and vegetation is planted to help consolidate the material.

• Dumps are usually fenced off to prevent livestock denuding them of vegetation.

• The open pit is then surrounded with a fence, to prevent access, and it generally eventually fills up with groundwater.

• Tailings dams are left to evaporate, then covered with waste rock, clay if need be, and soil, which is planted to stabilize it.

For underground mines, rehabilitation is not always a significant problem or cost. This is because of the higher grade of the ore and lower volumes of waste rock and tailings. In some situations, stopes are backfilled with concrete slurry using waste, so that minimal waste is left at surface.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

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

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

EDGEDAVAO COMPETITIVE EDGE 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

Seda Abreeza’s Department Heads with media partners during the Christmas Media Launch.w

Best Yuletide treats in Seda Abreeza

S

EDA Abreeza is more than ready to provide the best Christmas feelings in the world – from rooms, food indulgence, to exciting events.

This Yuletide season, the urban lifestyle hotel is ought to give our guests and valued partners the best holiday feelings in the world. With an angel-inspired theme for this year’s celebration, Seda Abreeza aims to share beauty, goodness, protection, faith, hope, and love through its genuine hospitality service and through giving back to the community. The series of activities and celebrations will commence through the Christmas Tree Lighting Cere-

mony, where all Yuletide promotions, CSR activities, and other exciting updates will be launched.

Experience seamless service and celebrate the holidays in style and comfort as Seda Abreeza provides special holiday packages for its valued guests. Aside from all the facilities and amenities guests can always enjoy, a complimentary Christmas gift is also part of the package. For events and socials, Christmas Holiday Party Packages are also available, with special compliments from the hotel.

A Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Mass will also be held in the hotel, from 6PM

to PM on the night of the 24th and the 31st to further feel the spirit of the season.

Seda’s all-day dining restaurant Misto has series of activities laid out as well. Yuletide Set Meals are available during lunch and dinner from December to January, which includes an indulging threecourse set that goes with the season. Starters include choices of Garden Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette or the Soup of the Day, main course is Prime New Zealand Roast Beef with Rosemary Gravy served with choices among Mashed Potato, French Fries or Steamed Rice, and Milk Punch Tres Leches Cake for

dessert.

A Noche Buena Dinner Buffet is featured on the 24th of December where families and friends can savor signature holiday treats as ham, keso de bola, and roast beef, perfectly matched with Yuletide beverages. Guests shall be entertained with live music all night, and surprise raffle items are up for grabs on this highly celebrated occasion. The buffet is available at Php 1380 nett for adults, Php 780 nett for kids aged 7-12, and free for kids aged 6 and below. Come Christmas morning, guests can meet and greet Santa with treats and gifts in the bag at Seda Abreeza’s hotel lobby as

guest performers sing all-time favorite Christmas songs.

For New Year’s Eve, Seda Abreeza has lined up thrilling set of activities. A Media Noche 3-course Wine Dinner is available at Php 1380 nett for adults, Php 780 nett for kids aged 7-12, and free for kids aged 6 and below.

Part of the menu is Grilled Chateaubriand with Porcini Mushroom Sauce, Served with Roasted Potatoes and Caramelized Onions, all put up by Sous Chef Giovanna “Bang” Flores.

A pumped up New Year’s Eve Countdown Party will be joined by merry-makers with free-flowing drinks and cock-

tails from 7PM to 1AM, with exciting games and prizes the entire night. The upbeat and enthusiastic dance partying vibe is up ‘til midnight with a live band and a guest DJ to keep the music going. Guests my enjoy this event at Php 1480 nett for adults, Php 780 nett for kids aged 7-12, and free for kids aged 6 and below. Enjoy all New Year’s Eve events with a set dinner and countdown package at Php 2580 nett for adults, Php 1480 nett for kids aged 7-12 and free for kids aged 6 and below.

For inquiries and reservations, please call (082) 322 8888 or email dvo@sedahotels.com.

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.88ISSUE ISSUE184 184••FRIDAY, FRIDAY,DECEMBER DECEMBER11, 11,2015 2015

RIO-BOUND. Ernie Gawilan of the Philippines celebrates after winning his second gold medal in the 8th Asean Para Games.

CASH WINDFALL

Gawilan, para medalists to receive incentives under new law

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

A

njb@edgedavao.net

SEAN Para Games double gold medalist and Rio Paralympics qualifier Ernie Gawilan is bound to receive P375,000 as cash incentive from the government.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. said the Davao para swimmer will be among the first beneficiaries of the newly consolidated law Republic Act No. 10699, known as the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.”

Iroy said that under the new law passed only last month, Gawilan will receive P150,000 each for the gold medals he won in the 400-freestyle and 200-meter IM S8 events of the Asean Para Games. He will also receive P75,000 for his silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle.

“We are happy that they will be the first to benefit from the new law,” Iroy said.

National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines president Mike Barredo last month hailed the passage of the new

law which he called a “landmark” law.

“The passage showed the government’s commitment, through the President, to support our athletes striving for excellence,” he said. “It’s always motivational for our athletes to do better, to try harder with the promise of benefits and incentives. More so, our differently-abled athletes because it’s the first time they’ve been recognized as national athletes by law.

Now, they’re officially recognized as belonging to the mainstream.”

The new law will be used as the guide for rewarding the medalists in the 8th ASEAN Para Games in Singapore held on Dec. 3-10 with 67 Filipino athletes competing in 10 of 15 sports.

Also bound to receive incentives are the Rapid Chess team of Dabawenyos James Infiesto and Henry Lopez and Sander Servino.

Under the new law, a Filipino gold medalist at the ASEAN Para Games will receive a bonus of P150,000. A silver medalist will be given P75,000 and a

bronze medalist, P30,000.

For team events, the provision is the same incentive will be given divided equally for a gold medal winning squad of less than five participants actually present during the competition.

For teams with five or more players, each participant will receive 25 percent of the incentive for an individual medalist. For demonstration or exhibition sports in the Olympics, the incentive is 25 percent of the provision for a medalist in a regular Olympic event.

“When I was with the PSC, we set aside P25,000 for a gold medalist, P15,000 for a silver medalist and P10,000 for a bronze medalist although it was not mandated by law,” said Barredo in an earlier report.

“Now, our differently-abled athletes will be given their benefits and incentives by law. We’ve lobbied 12 years for this recognition. It’s been quite a struggle.”

Barredo said it is doubly significant that the initial beneficiaries will be differently-abled athletes.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

Davao’s Bisera leads PGT Q-School R

AMIL Bisera stayed on track for a return to the Philippine Golf Tour, firing a 68 to take the top spot after the third round of the qualifying tournament on Thursday at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course in Cavite.

Bisera is at 216 heading to the final round.

The top 50 players plus ties will earn cards for the next PGT season, while the next 10 players will earn reserve status.

Richard Abaring also had a 68 and joined Danny Zarate, who had a 75, at 218.

Former Philippine Open champion Artemio Murakami fired a second straight 71 to take solo fourth at 219.

DAVAO BET. Ramil Bisera is on top of the Q-School standings with one round to play.

Hailmary shot sinks Pistons

D

ETROIT sports fans can be excused if the last week has ruined their holiday mood.

Six days after Aaron Rodgers beat the Lions with a 60yard Hail Mary pass as time expired at Ford Field, the Pistons were on the wrong end of a similar finish 30 miles north at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

This time, it was Matt Barnes knocking down a halfcourt shot with 1.1 seconds to play that gave the Memphis Grizzlies a 93-92 victory over Detroit on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

“I knew I was ahead of a lot of people, and I wasn’t sure what the time was, but I had space to get a clean look and I shot it,” Barnes said. “It was a crazy, lucky shot to hit and win a game.”

Marc Gasol pulled Memphis to 92-90 by making one of two free throws with 29.4 seconds to play, and Grizzlies

coach Dave Joerger chose to play defense rather than foul.

Marcus Morris missed a contested shot, and the ball was knocked away from Ersan Ilyasova before Andre Drummond missed a tip.

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy shook his head when asked if Ilyasova had been fouled.

“After losing a game on a halfcourt shot, I’m going to get myself a huge fine from the league?” he asked. “No.” As Memphis grabbed the rebound, Joerger started to call a timeout, but stopped when he saw his team breaking up the floor. Barnes could have gotten closer — he let fly from halfcourt with time left on the clock — but the shot rattled home. Once again, a Detroit crowd fell silent as a visiting team celebrated.

“The play we called if they missed was to dribble three times and shoot it with four

Hawks turn back Mavs 98-95

P

AUL Millsap scored 20 points, including a jumper that capped Atlanta’s game-turning run in the final minutes, and the Hawks beat the Dallas Mavericks, 98-95, on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).

The Hawks trailed 93-89 with 3:07 to play before Millsap scored four points in a 7-0 spurt. He also led Atlanta with 11 rebounds.

The Mavericks inbounded with 11.4 seconds left after Jeff Teague hit two free throws to put the Hawks ahead 98-95. Deron Williams’ long 3-point attempt at the buzzer banged off the rim.

Williams led the Mavericks with 18 points. Zaza Pachulia had 11 points and 17 rebounds for Dallas.

Teague and Al Horford added 14 points apiece for Atlanta, which won consecutive games for the first time since a seven-game winning streak that ended in early November.

The Mavericks shot 36 percent, their worst mark of the season.

Wes Matthews scored 17

points, Dwight Powell had 14 and Dirk Nowitzki added 13. Nowitzki was 1 for 8 on 3-pointers and didn’t score in the fourth quarter while playing 9 minutes.

The largest lead for either team was six points, by the Hawks in the fourth. There were 20 lead changes and 11 ties.

Raymond Felton and Powell combined for 16 third-quarter points to keep Dallas in the game.

The period ended with two baskets by Kent Bazemore to give the Hawks a 76-72 lead.

The Hawks’ 49-44 advantage at the break equaled the largest margin of the first half, which Atlanta first achieved on a 3-pointer from the right corner from Bazemore with 1:04 to play.

Mike Budenholzer earned his 112th win as Hawks coach, moving him into ninth place in franchise history.

TIP-INS Hawks: Atlanta played the first half of a back-to-back after having four days off. . Tiago Splitter, who had been sidelined with a sore hip, played after missing Atlanta’s previous seven games.

seconds left from halfcourt,” Joerger joked. “We executed it very well.”

Detroit still had 1.1 seconds left, and managed to anger its coach as Morris missed another tough shot.

“Instead of running the play, we broke it off after the first option,” a frustrated Van Gundy said. “I told them that I still don’t know if the play works, because we didn’t run it in Washington and we didn’t run it again tonight.”

Zach Randolph led Memphis with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Gasol had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Courtney Lee came off the bench to score 14.

Drummond had 18 points and 19 rebounds for the Pistons. Reggie Jackson added 18 points and seven assists.

“It’s the toughest loss all season,” Jackson said. “It was a good basketball game, just with something unimaginable

and unexplainable happening at the end.”

The Pistons had led for the entire second half, and Randolph missed a pair of free throws that could have tied the game with 3:43 to play. Jackson’s 3-pointer made it 92-87, but Randolph made it a threepoint game with a tip-in.

The Pistons were then called for a shot-clock violation with 1:12 to play, and after the teams traded misses, Gasol made it 92-90 from the line, setting up the frantic final seconds.

Detroit might have had a bigger lead with a better start to the game.

The Pistons struggled to hit shots early, trailing by as many as nine points, but rallied to take the lead late in the second quarter. Detroit outscored Memphis 30-19 in the period and led 47-43 at halftime.

Much of the half was a battle between Gasol and Drum-

Chris de los Santos also fired a 71 for fifth at 221 followed by Nelson Huerva (74222), amateur Jobim Carlos (67-223), Al Cruz (68-223), Johvanie Abaño (71-223) and Belem Arancon (74-223).

Former Masters champion Rodrigo Cuello also bolstered his bid get into the tour again as he matched par 72 for a 224 for joint 11th with Junro Mamaril, who made a 73.

Gerald Rosales shot a 78 after a 69 and slid to joint 13th at 225 with Henry Bolano, who carded a 75.

The qualifying tournament for foreign players will be held Feb. 3 to 6 at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Davao hosts PH Open Ju-Jitsu

D

AVAO City will play host to the 2015 Philippine Open Ju-Jitsu on December 20 at the NCCC Mall.

This was announced by the Ju-Jitsu Federation of the Phil. Inc. (JJFP) in an email sent to Davao media yesterday.

“The JJFP is very pleased to invite you to witness the 2015 Philippine Open in NCCC Mall, Davao City on 20 December 2015,” the statement said.

JIFP will be supervising

mond. Drummond finished the half with seven points and nine rebounds, while Gasol had eight points and seven rebounds.

The Pistons expanded the lead to 58-49 early in the third, but the Grizzlies were within 74-67 by quarter’s end, and narrowed the gap to one early in the fourth.

TIP-INS Grizzlies: Gasol played despite spraining his left ankle in Tuesday’s lopsided loss to Okla-

the competitions expected to draw participation from the country’s best Ju-Jitsu practitioners.

“After the success of the 2015 Philippine Open in SM Mall of Asia, our event aims to discover Ju-Jitsu athletes from all over the country to be included in our National Training Pool and soon represent the Philippines in the Ju-Jitsu International events,” JJFP said.

homa City. ... Randolph, who helped Michigan State to the 2001 Final Four, received his usual warm ovation from the Palace crowd. Grizzlies assistant coach Shawn Respert also played at Michigan State, and is still the school’s leading scorer.

Pistons: Jackson appeared to injure his leg on the last play of the first half and limped slowly back to the locker room.

He came out for the second half with a brace on his right knee, but took the floor at the beginning of the third quarter.

THE STING IN TRAINING. Former IBO champion Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong will banner the Boxing Revoluition 4 card on Saturday at the Davao City Recreation Center promoted by Sonshine Sports Management Inc. of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Lean Daval Jr.

16

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 184 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015

REMINDER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF DAVAO DOCTORS HOSPITAL (CLINICA HILARIO), INC. In relation to the Tender Offer made by Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. to acquire shares of Davao Doctors Hospital, Inc., this is a reminder to the shareholders that the last day to submit applications is on December 19, 2015 (Saturday).

The accomplished Application Form together with the stock certificates and other requirements shall be submitted to the Tender Offer Agent at the following address: Atty. Dominador Maphilindo O. Carrillo SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices The Penthouse, 17/F, Landco Corporate Centre J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City 8000 Telephone No. : (6382) 221-3917 Email : dmocarrillo@syciplaw.com For inquiries or clarifications, you may contact the Tender Offer Agent.