Edge Davao 8 Issue 202 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

DCPO: LESSER CRIMES IN 2015

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

CALIBRATION. Employees of a gasoline pumping station along Ponciano Reyes Street conduct a midday inventory of their stocks of petroleum products yesterday. The prices of petroleum products are feared to rise due to the tension in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Lean Daval Jr.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has noted a decrease in crime volume in the city in 2015. Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps forum at the Ritz Hotel by Garden Oases, DCPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C.Driz said the city’s crime volume was recorded at 13,720 in 2015, lower than the 18,030 crime volume in 2014. Driz said this represented at 4,310 or 24 percent de-

crease. “This is because of our efforts. We maintain our collaborative efforts with the media, public, and other law enforcement agencies,” she said. Driz said the DCPO will continue its efforts to fight criminality in the city. Of the total crime rate in 2015, index crime stood at 4,032, which is 38 percent lower than the 6,545 in 2014. Index crimes are defined as acts perpetrated by crim-

inals and other lawless elements. Theft was the leading crime with 2,036, lower than 3,320 in 2014. Physical injuries followed with 882, lower than the 1,479 in 2014. Robbery ranked third in the list with 565, lower than 1,212 in 2014. Other crimes included in the list are rape with 248, murder with 219, homicide 31, motorcycle theft with 40, motor vehicle theft with six,

and cattle rustling with five. The DCPO also recorded a decrease in non-index crimes, with 9, 688 in 2015 which is16 percent lower than the 11,485 in 2014. Non-index crimes are those in which police initiated operations for the apprehension of suspects for violating the special laws. The DCPO also had a 22.91 percent crime solution efficiency rate or 10,822 crimes solved, which is higher than the 10,092 in 2014.

EDGEDAVAO Sports Cebu’s Zumba Queen to host Zwag Dance Party in Abreeza P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

AFP: Don’t pay campaign fees

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE10th Infantry Division (ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) warned politicians against paying the permit to campaign (PTC) and permit to win (PTW) fees of the New People’s Army (NPA), saying giving money to the rebels will endanger their lives and the lives of soldiers. Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps forum at Ritz Hotel by Garden Oases, 10th ID commander Major General Rafael Valencia said the NPA classified the PTC and PTW as RBKU or rebolusynarong buwis sa kaaway na uri (revolutionary tax from the opposite side), which he said simply mean that the politicians are their enemies. “Yung mga kandidato kahit na nagbayad sila, huwag nilang isipin na kakampi na nila

ang NPA dahil kaaway pa rin ang turing ng NPA sa kanila (To the candidates, even if you pay them do not expect that you are already their ally because they still consider you their enemy),” he said. Valencia said the NPA collects money from politicians because its forces are weak and need support even from their enemies. “If you pay the PTC, you contribute to the strengthening of the NPA. If the NPA gets stronger again, it will kill all its enemies, including the candidates who paid,” he said. “I just want to tell those candidates who are paying PTC that they are helping the NPA kill our soldiers,” he added. Valencia said the collection of PTC and PTW is possible in

F AFP, 10

7-Eleven’s stores comply with Davao City’s smoking ban

HE 24 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores here have already complied with the city’s anti-smoking policy after more than a month since City Administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitain warned them of revoking their business permits. In an email on Monday, Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, co-chair of the Anti-Smoking Task Force, confirmed that all 7-Eleven establishments have already given up the selling of cigarettes or any tobacco products. Business Bureau’s Lawrence Bantiding, City Building Office’s Joseph Felizarta, and Villareiz met with the 7-Eleven management on Tuesday. “We will update you next week if they will choose to continue selling cigarettes and remove their refreshment parlor or otherwise,” Villareiz said. In a letter dated November 23, Quitain said that the convenience stores violated City Or-

dinance No. 0367, otherwise known as the “New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City” based on the investigation conducted by the Anti-Smoking Task Force. He stated that 7-Eleven stores have been found “selling cigarettes, as well as selling and serving fast foods in your premises. Your establishment is classified as Accommodation and Entertainment Establishments as defined under Section 3.” Under Section 3, all establishments classified under accommodation and entertainment or “establishments that provide food, accommodations, drinks, merchandise, entertainment or other professional services” are not allowed to sell cigarettes. Stores located within 100-meter range from schools are also not allowed to sell cigarettes.

F 7-ELEVEN, 10

Uncle of mayoralty bet ambushed in NorthCot

NIDENTIFIED men shot dead at past 8 a.m. Tuesday a village chairperson in front of his horrified wife, officials said. Brigadier General Noel Clement, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, said Dodong Mangansakan, chairperson of Barangay Silik, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Poblacion Pikit. Quoting a field report, Clement said Mangansakan was driving a multicab to take his teacher-wife to Pikit Poblacion. Upon reaching Barangay Ginatilan, also in Pikit, unidentified armed men flagged down his car and opened fire. His wife was spared. Villagers rushed the offi-

cial to the town center but he was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians. Clement said Army troopers have been deployed to the village to help the local police in hunting down the attackers. The town police chief did not respond to calls by MindaNews. Talks were rife that the killing could be election related as the slain official was an uncle of Pikit Vice Mayor Don Mangansakan who is running for mayor this year. Relatives brought the remains of Mangansakan to Barangay Paidu Pulangi where he will be given a Muslim burial. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)

PROPAGANDA? Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, shows a printed copy of an alleged deceptive propaganda of the New People’s Army (NPA) through the organization

Save Our Schools against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Ritz Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao Region to get 4,108 VCMs T

HE Davao Region will receive a total of 4,108 vote counting machines (VCM) that will be used for the upcoming May 2016 national and local elections, a poll body official said. During Wednesday’s AFPPNP Press Corps forum at the Ritz Hotel, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 11 assistant regional director Marlon Casquejo told reporters that these new machines will arrive sometime in March and April. But he said some of the VCMs will arrive next week for the demonstration how the machines will be operated and for the briefings and trainings of the Board of Election Inspec-

tors (BEIs). Davao City will get the most VCMs with 1,280, then Davao del Sur with 600, Davao Occidental with 265, Davao del Norte with 801, Compostela Valley with 648, and Davao Oriental with 514. There will be an estimated 12,324 BEIs in the region. Some 170,000 voters in the region have been deactivated from the COMELEC database after the Supreme Court dismissed the petition last December 16 questioning the constitutionality of the poll body’s “No Bio, No Boto” policy for lack of merit. Of the voters without biometrics, 87,000, or more than

half, are from Davao City while the rest from other Davao provinces. The region has a total of 2,659,766 voters, which Casquejo said was only finalized last December 5. Comelec records showed that Davao City has a total of 873,670 voters, followed by Davao del Norte with 525,343, Compostela Valley with 408,539, Davao del Sur with 373,692, Davao Oriental with 319,971, and Davao Occidental with 158,551. The Comelec gun ban will start on Sunday, the beginning of election period, until June 8, or 120 days before and 30 days after election period.

The campaign period for local elections will start on March 25 to May 7. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, in an interview on Tuesday, said the prohibited acts during the gun ban – unless authorized by the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) – include carrying of firearms and deadly weapons outside residence or place of business, and in all public places; to engage the services of security personnel; to transport firearms and explosives, including its spare parts and components.

F DAVAO, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

25 Surigao fishers jailed in Indonesia T

YOUNG TRADER. The son of a livestock trader feeds young goats with swamp cabbage (kangkong) at Agdao Public Market yesterday. More and more farmers are seen raising goats, especially those from the Island Garden City Samal (IGACOS), as the demand for the animal’s meat has been increasing. Lean Daval Jr.

Danny warns of problems to derail Sasa port project By ANTONIO M. AJERO

OR IGNORING officials of the Davao City local government unit (LGU), the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will have difficulty in pursuing the controversial Sasa Port modernization project worth nearly P19 billion. This bleak prospect was raised by Davao City Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at the SM City Davao annex at Ecoland, Matina last Monday. Dayanghirang said the city government has already officially opposed the project in a resolution in December rejecting the multi-billion modernization, stating the failure of proponents DOTC and PPA to consult the city

government and other stakeholders in violation of the Local Government Code. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte agreed with the City Council stand even before the resolution could reach his office. “To pursue the project, the national government agencies need to convince the Davao City LGU to make certain actions required so that the port modernization could proceed, “ Dayanghirang said, citing the need for the city government to amend the City Traffic Code to make way to the rerouting of traffic in Sasa. Included in the traffic rerouting is the conversion of the Malagamot road in barangay Panacan to a national road and the designation of a dedicated truck lane for the port. The DOTC/PPA propo-

Comelec regional execs to be reshuffled ahead of election

nents also requested the city government’s assistance in expediting resettlement of informal settlers within Sasa Port and the acquisition and expro site.priation of additional ROW (right of way) adjacent to the current port area. Dayanghirang expressed surprise over the arrogance of DOTC and PPA officials in by-passing the city LGU when all the while they need its assistance. He said aside from defying the Local Government Code, the proponents have also committed another violation of the law by acquiring an inappropriate area for resettlement of Sasa port’s informal settlers. “I have confirmed that the PPA has paid millions in acquiring a site in Mahayag, which is zonified as industrial

area,” Dayanghirang said, adding it is illegal to convert any portion of an industrial zone in to a resettlement site. Earlier, the Tagum City local government unit under Mayor Alan Rellon also objected to the Sasa port modernization citing among others that it a duplication and an unnecessary competition to the privately-owned international container ports in his city and that of Panabo Citry. The multi-awarded Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. has earlier objected to the project. Regional officials of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways also complained that they were consulted by the project proponents who merely relied on a study by foreigners.

WENTY-FIVE fishermen from this city are now languishing in jail in Indonesia due to illegal fishing, according to two barangay chairmen. Josselyn Mantilla, of Barangay Sabang, said Tuesday that 15 of the 25 are her constituents. The remaining 10 are from Barangay San Juan, said barangay chairman Monina Caluna. Mantilla said the fishermen, all aboard MB RGJ Fishing, left Surigao on Nov. 25. The boat’s operator, listed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-Caraga as Gemma V. Navarro of Barangay Togbongon here, reportedly has no permit to fish in Indonesian waters. Mantilla said she was informed of the fishermen’s condition by the wives, who sought any help they could get to sustain their daily needs. She said the fishermen were caught Dec. 7 by patrolling coast guards off Indonesia. Authorities reportedly detained the fishermen, who also lacked travel documents, in Sorong City of West Papua province. The fishermen, who are now detained at the Ministry

of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Sorong, are Rodrigo T. Puno, captain of the boat; Jarewel R. Perjesa, machinist; and crew members Cristobal T. Ilagan, Romeo A. Edradan, Edgar T. Gecozo, Ronald D. Buniel, Richard T. Cabero, Ruel C. Astronomo, Junnie A. Calundre, Joseph A. Calundre, Teresito S. Macabasag, Ronel J. Escultor, Roel D. Cabating, Alan B. Gucela, Jaime M. Govalanie, Homer C. Etac, Mansueto M. Abrao, Teodoro C. Dayagro Jr., Rolly D. Cabating, Rolando D. Bornea, Leopoldo C. Dadivas Jr., Efren C. Escultor, Nelson A. Arsaga, Jose R. Perjes and Max B. Gucela. Mantilla said the boat captain and machinist are in shackles to ensure they could not escape. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the region, PNP-Maritime 13, the Philippine Coast Guard and MARINA-13 have no reports yet on the incident which checked by MindaNews as of press time. Geoffrey Gervo, station commander of the Coast Guard here, said they are still checking the documents of

F 25 SURIGAO, 10

PNP vows safe election

HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Director General Ricardo Marquez said the entire PNP will do everything in its authority to safeguard the coming May 2016 national and local elections. He added the PNP will be demonstrating the same professionalism and dedication when it successfully secured Pope Francis’ visit last January and the APEC Economic Leaders Summit in November 2015. ”My fellow officers and personnel of the PNP, let us outdo ourselves in 2016, and

once again prove to the nation that we are indeed never outfought. This early, we face the challenge of ensuring peace and order in the forthcoming May national and local elections,” Marquez added. In the same vein, the PNP chief said the police force remains apolitical and must never allow themselves to be used for anyone’s political ends. “The challenge for us now is to surpass the achievements of the 2010 and 2013 election security operations and make 2016 even better,” Marquez concluded. (PNA)

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) 11 will reshuffle its regional and assistant regional directors all over Mindanao as the 2016 election approaches. This was bared by Comelec 11 assistant regional director Marlon Casquejo in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps forum at Ritz Hotel by Garden Oases. Casquejo, however, did not reveal the schedule of the reshuffling, only saying that other regional directors will handle Comelec 11 in May. “Maybe that will start on the second week or third week of January,” he said. He also said another assistant regional director from an-

other region will be the chair of the board of canvassers in Davao City for the canvassing of votes after the May 11 election. Casquejo said the purpose of the reshuffling is to avoid familiarity with the local candidates. Another reason is that the directors can be more effective in another region because he or she is not familiar with the local candidates. Casquejo, however, said all the directors will return to their respective Comelec regional offices on June 8. Meanwhile, Casquejo said the Davao Region will have 4,108 Voting Counting

F COMELEC, 10

PREPARATIONS. Commission on Election (Comelec) 11 deputy director Marlon Casquejo gives updates on the preparations being undertaken by the agency for the upcoming election period which will officially start on Sunday, January 10. Casquejo graced yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Ritz Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

Governor Corazon Malanyaon and Mayor Tambuang lead the distribution of rice seeds to farmers in Banaybanay.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Governor Corazon Malanyaon is joined by Mayor Tambuang, Rep. Dayanghirang, PAGRI staff, and farmers during the distribution of rice seeds to farmer-beneficiaries in Banaybanay town.

1,600 DavOr farmers receive rice seed support D

ETERMINED to boost Davao Oriental’s rice production, the Provincial Government has distributed anew rice subsidy to farmer-beneficiaries here as part of its Rice Expansion Program. Recently, some 1,600 farmers in the towns of Banaybanay and Lupon received one bag of rice seeds each. This rice support is touted to cover at least 1,600 hectares of rice fields in these towns. Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRI) Department Head Rotchie Ravelo said that for the whole province, PAGRI has allotted a total of 3,176 bags of certified and registered rice seeds for dispersal. He said that the rice distribution is a strategy that the Provincial Government has

cropped up to help the province attain its 100% rice sufficiency level target. “Attaining this will enable us to supply enough rice to feed the province’s entire population,” he said, saying this has been the ultimate goal of the Provincial Government in terms of rice production. For the past eight years, said Ravelo, Davao Oriental has achieved substantial increase on the rice sufficiency level from 41% in 2007 to 68% in 2014 through its Rice Self Sufficiency Program, which was introduced in 2008. According to the PAGRI, Davao Oriental has achieved a production of 4.27 metric tons per hectare per year – a figure way above the national average target which is only 3.87

metric tons per hectare per year. “With this outstanding performance in rice production, Davao Oriental ranked fourth in the recent Agri Pinoy Rice Achiever Award (APRAA), which was participated by 62 rice-producing provinces in the country,” he said. Amidst this major feat in rice production, Ravelo stressed that there is still a need to further boost Davao Oriental’s rice production in order to also increase its rice sufficiency level from the current 68% to 100%. Prompted by this target, the big-ticket irrigation system in Cateel town, situated in the province’s first district, was constructed. Funded by the World Bank, Mindanao Rural Development Program, and

the Provincial Government, the irrigation dam will further expand Cateel’s areas of production as it is touted to irrigate additional 1,600 to 2,000 hectares, thus, would also increase rice production in the whole province. Launched in October 2014, the irrigation system is already operational and is now covering wide swathes of rice fields which have been unirrigated for many years in the past. Aside from significantly increasing the cropping season and rice production in Cateel, it is also poised to boost the income of rice farmers. “This is our concept for our development in our province—that is ensuring that we develop all areas that has the potential to produce our food

Officials appeal to pupils displaced by armed conflict to attend classes L OCAL and education officials in a remote village here have appealed to parents of public school children to send their children to school. The appeal was aired by Mary Ann Belmonte, principal of Kidama Elementary School in Barangay Kidama, Matalam,

North Cotabato when pupils whose houses were burned during the conflict refused to attend classes. Two Moro armed groups figured in shooting war on New Year’s Eve that left three persons dead. They are among the civilians who remain in evacuation

center in Barangay Kidama after leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) clashed over long standing land and territorial dispute. Belmonte said the pupils have not been reporting to school after their books, school

supplies, school uniforms were lost in a fire that hit their homes at the height of the skirmishes. During the resumption of classes on Monday and Tuesday, only 51 Christian pupils showed up in Kidama Elementary School.

tive inquiry next week with the City Health Office (CHO). “We need to know what’s going on and come up with measures to remedy the problem,” Nunez said. A report released by CHO showed that the city’s dengue incidence reached a total of 976 from Jan. 1 to Dec. 26 last year. It listed five deaths during the period, with three recorded in December alone. Dr. Washington Loreno, CHO chief, said that when compared to 2014, the city’s dengue cases dropped by 32 percent last year. The CHO recorded a total of 1,434 confirmed dengue

cases and 16 related deaths in 2014 within the city’s 26 barangays. Loreno said they have sustained their intensified efforts against the disease despite the significant drop in incidence last year. “Our health workers are always on alert against the possible recurrence of outbreaks,” the official said. He said their initiatives are focused on the immediate detection and proper treatment of the patients to prevent possible deaths. Loreno reiterated the need for residents to observe the Department of Health’s 4S strategy against dengue.

It stands for “search and destroy, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.” He said they will continue with their health education sessions and regular clean-up drives this year in affected communities to help prevent the further spread of the disease. They have also set visits to local public and private schools to raise awareness on various measures against dengue among students, pupils and school personnel, he said. “We’re targeting to further reduce our dengue cases and eliminate the deaths this year,” he added. (PNA)

GenSan councilor seeks more proactive measures vs dengue A

CITY Council member here has called for more proactive measures against dengue in the wake of the recent surge in disease incidence and deaths in the area. City Councilor Rosalita Nunez, chair of the council’s committee on health and sanitation, pushed for such move as she raised alarm over the three confirmed deaths in the city last month due to dengue hemorrhagic fever. “We need to look into this problem and set some intervention before it worsens,” she said during the council’s regular session on Tuesday. Acting on Nunez’ call, the council has scheduled a legisla-

F OFFICIALS, 10

and boost our economy,” said Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon. She said that the programs on agriculture that the Provincial Government has fashioned stemmed from one of the goals laid on its development agenda – which is to defeat poverty. Under this agenda is the governor’s flagship program – the Pagkain at Kita Program – which became a contributory factor to Davao Oriental in achieving a large drop of 6.5 percentage point in poverty incidence rate. From 42.7 % in 2007, poverty incidence plummeted down to 37.8% in 2012---the highest reduction in poverty incidence among the provinces in Davao Region. For achieving this feat, Gov. Malanyaon lauded the important contributions of the farm-

ers in propelling the economy and feeding the people of the province. “We in the government are only instruments in providing the resources, but it is you [the farmers] who nurtures and grows these resources,” she said. Meanwhile, first district Rep. Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who graced the turn-over ceremony, lauded the Provincial Government in its innovations in addressing food security here in the province. “All the Provincial Government efforts have now come to fruition. We are now achieving sustainable increase in our agricultural production, we are raising rural income, and more importantly, we are addressing hunger,” he said. By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan

DA launches agriculture program in MILF camps

URRENT and former agriculture secretaries turned over initial agricultural equipment and materials to the farmers of six previously acknowledged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps in Maguindanao and Lanao provinces yesterday. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala led the service presentation ceremony of the farmers’ assistance program with former DA Secretary and Philippine government (GPH) peace panel member Senen Bacani at the Bangsamoro Leadership Management Institute in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The program is an initial confidence-building measure under the Bangsamoro peace process with the end in view of transforming these areas into peaceful and productive communities. The initiative was organized by the Task Force Camps Transformation (TFCT), in partnership with the DA-Farmer’s Assistance Program and is part of the normalization process stipulated under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the MILF and the Philippine government. Among the equipment and materials that were turned

over to farmers in the MILF-acknowledged communities are six units of heavy-duty 90HP farm tractor with complete accessories; six units of cassava grater; three units of hand tractor; 1200 bags of palay seeds and fertilizer; and 1200 bags of OPV corn seeds and fertilizer. Also part of the assistance are planting materials such as 300 pieces of assorted rambutan, lanzones, jackfruit seedlings; and 300 pieces coffee, achuete, and guyabano seedlings. Eighteen carabaos will also be turned over for distribution to local farmers in conflict-affected areas. In addition, certificates of commitment from the DA were given for the upcoming delivery of 16 units of non-motorized bancas; 160 units of fish traps or “baliyat”; 12 modules of goats (one module is composed of 4 female goats and one male goat); 18 heads of cattle; 6 units of corn sheller; 6 units of corn mill. Said equipment and farm animals will be turned over to local beneficiaries in a span of two to three months. These areas are in the vicinity of former MILF Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Camp Badre, and Camp Omar ibn

F DA, 10

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Go Hotel to open its doors in Davao City next month By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

O Hotel, Inc., the budget hotel line, will open its doors in Davao City next month. Located in Lanang, the P96-million hotel will be the second of the brand in Mindanao, next to Go Hotel Butuan. “The 8-story accommodation facility will have 183 rooms,” Davao City Investment and Promotions Center (DCIPC) chief Ivan C. Cortez told reporters. The Go Hotel Inc. Davao branch is a joint project of Robinsons Land and Davao Citybased Udenna Development Corp (Phoenix Petroleum).

Cortez said it will be given local fiscal incentives after its application was approved by the Davao City Investment Incentive Board last year. The Go Hotel website said the rooms on its newest location have an average of 18 square meters in size and a capacity to accommodate two persons in each room. Each room comes with air-conditioning, private bathroom with hot and cold rain shower and handheld showers, 22-inch LCD TV with cable, free wi-fi, and more. Cortez said the 183 new rooms from Go Hotel will be

added to the city accommodation units that need to be increased because of the growing tourism industry. He said to further support the growth in the tourism industry, investors are encouraged to construct theme parks, leisure resorts, retirement villages, cultural heritage projects, and tourist services. Meanwhile, Davao City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Lissette Marques said the tourism industry of Davao City continues to grow because of new tourist destinations in the region and exhibits and conventions here.

The geopolitical tension in Middle East failed to lift the market. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia cut off its diplomatic relations with Iran after angry protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran, to protest against Saudi’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir alNimr. Analysts believed that the impact of geopolitical risks in the Middle East is being cush-

ioned by the oversupply from other oil producers around the world. The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery moved down 79 cents to settle at US$35.97 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for February delivery decreased 80 cents to close at US$36.42 a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (PNA/Xinhua)

Oil prices fall amid stronger US dollar

IL prices dropped Tuesday as strengthening US dollar made the dollar-priced crude more expensive and less attractive for buyers holding other currencies. The US dollar gained against most other currencies Tuesday as the divergence between Federal Reserve and other central banks has driven investment flows into the US and boosted the greenback.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

EARLY BIRDS. It’s not even 8 a.m. but the Davao City Treasurer’s Office is already starting to get crowded with people who have tax concerns. Lean Daval Jr.

Tax-sharing on Aboitiz coal plant unresolved By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE tax-sharing issue for the remaining 70 percent local business tax (LBT) between the local government units of Davao City and the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur for the AboitizPower-owned 300MW coal-fired power plant of Therma South Inc. (TSI) remain unresolved days before the inauguration of the plant. AboitizPower Corp. has announced that the base load plant will be inaugurated on Friday with the presence of President Benigno Aquino, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, and officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Environ-

ment and Natural Resources (DENR). The tax-sharing issue has been on the discussion table for two years since the power plant straddles Davao City and Sta. Cruz. The Davao City Council committee on finance, ways and means and appropriation chaired by councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang is proposing a tax-sharing of 60 percent-40 percent in favor of Davao City on the remaining 70 percent LBT of TSI. “We’re still waiting for the legal opinion of the City Legal Office who will study and review the proposal,” Dayanghirang said.

Dayanghirang said officials of Aboitiz and TSI had earlier requested the City Council for “the passage of an ordinance specifying the sharing of LBT of industries and entities situated as TSI.” Davao City automatically got 30 percent of the local business tax, computed from the annual income of operation of TSI, because TSI’s main office is located in the city, while the remaining 70 percent is shared by the two LGUs. The remaining 70 percent of the local business tax will be paid by Black & Veatch (BVIP), the contractor and service provider of TSI.

Dayanghirang proposed that the estimated sharing of the 70 percent would be P3,909,357 (Davao) and P1,506,030 (Sta. Cruz) for 2015; P27,074,936 (Davao) and P10,460,596 (Sta. Cruz) for 2016; P28,447,951 (Davao) and P10, 991,330 (Sta. Cruz) for 2017; P28,713,696 (Davao) and P11,094,053 (Sta. Cruz) for 2018; and in 2019, a sharing scheme of P29,224,160 for Davao and P11,291,371 for Sta. Cruz. He said his committee will be waiting for the response of the legal office before it will be formally presented before the City Council in a regular session anytime.

tracted to Davao Light and Power Company, another Aboitiz subsidiary, which has an average daily demand of 340 MW. The power plant will supply power to the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Butuan, Kidapawan, Cotabato and Tagum, and the provinces of Davao region, Caraga region, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, parts of Bukidnon, parts of Misamis and parts of Zamboanga peninsula. Since the 2012 power crisis, power companies have been encouraged to invest in Mindanao, but stakeholders said the island should achieve a 50-50 balance in power

mix between hydro and fuel sources. During a forum on power outlook for Mindanao last month, Noriel Christopher Reyes, science research specialist II at the Department of Energy’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, said four units of coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 550 megawatts will open by first half of 2016. San Miguel Power Corporation will start commercial operation of its two power plants, each having a capacity of 150 MW, in the second quarter, Reyes said. Meanwhile, Senior Insp. Milgrace Driz, city police office spokesperson told reporters

on Tuesday that around 500 police officers from the Police Regional Office’s Regional Public Safety Battalion will provide security to the president. She added the city and Davao del Sur will deploy additional personnel for the president’s arrival. The power plant is located Toril and Barangay Inawayan of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte was also invited to the event, along with officials from the Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and executives from Aboitiz Power. (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

FMIC eyes higher inflation in 2016 I NFLATION is seen to go up to within-target levels in 2016, even with prices of oil remaining low and food supply still sufficient despite the impact of an extended El Niño. First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) forecasts rate of price increases to average at 2.5 percent this year, from 1.4 percent in 2015. In a briefing Wednesday, Dr. Victor Abola, an economist of the University of Asia and the Pacific which has a tie-up with FMIC, said the low inflation environment is seen as among the growth booster of the domestic economy, which in turn is seen to expand by about 6-6.5 percent this year. During the same briefing, FMIC Chairman Francisco C. Sebastian said they have assumed a “guarded optimism” for the domestic economy this year on back of “harsh realities” that came out last year namely, the weak global growth, slowdown of the Chinese economy, and the growing but still low foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the Philippines. He said they continue to see a “healthy” output for the domestic economy this

year after its proven strength amidst challenges in 2015. “We remain optimistic but guarded, more reserved, and more attentive to local and international developments that seem to hold back the Philippines from taking off as we have hoped in the past year or years,” he added. Relatively, FMIC President Rabboni Francis B. Arjonillo, during the same briefing, said they forecast domestic interest rates to go up this year given the external risks that include higher US interest rates and geo-political developments. In particular, he forecasts a 25 basis points increase in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) key rates at the latter part of 2016 but pointed out that this will only transpire if inflation rise to unexpected levels, if the Federal Reserve hike its rates anew and if interest rates in other countries continue to rise. “A 25 basis points (increase) is not altogether impossible,” he said. FMIC sees inflation to go up this year but within the government’s target of two to four percent. It is forecast to average at 2.5 percent. (PNA)

PEZA investment pledges up in 2015

nvestment pledges in Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in 2015 can grow up to 7 percent, an official of the agency bared on Wednesday. “We’re looking at 2 percent up to 7 percent for the full year of 2015,” PEZA Spokesperson Elmer San Pascual told reporters. He, however, did not disclose the amount of investment pledges as PEZA is still consolidating the figures. One of the biggest approved investments in 2015 is from a foreign firm producing cigarettes for exports, he said. Expansion projects last

year of existing PEZA-registered companies are also significant, the official added. In 2014, PEZA approved a total of PHP279 billion projects. Direct employment generated in PEZA zones as of October 2015 reached 1.24 million or an increase of 7.7 percent over a year ago. In the same period, PEZA has a total of 3,625 registered firms operating in economic zones nationwide. On the other hand, exports revenues of PEZA-registered firms slightly declined by 0.55 percent to US$36 billion. (PNA)

Aquino to grace opening of TSI power plant LTFRB chief hopes road IT

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will grace the inauguration of the coal-fed 300 megawatt Therma South Energy Project in Toril, Davao City on Friday. Therma South Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, has just completed the construction of the 300 MW two-unit power project which started in 2012. The first 150-MW unit started commercial operation in September 2015. The power firm infused some P25 billion for this project and, at its peak, employed over 4,500 workers, mostly from its host communities. Out of the 300 MW, at least 100 MW has been con-

project awarded by March

TRANSPORT official on Tuesday expressed hope that the P298-million Road Transport Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Project Phase II will be awarded by March. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Winston Ginez said that the Board is targeting to award the winning concessionaire by March so construction can start immediately. The Road Transport IT project is meant to upgrade the Board’s existing IT infrastructure including computerization of its manual processes, development, supply and operationalization of its network

infrastructure (hardware) and database, and applications (software). LTFRB said that the computerization efforts will significantly help clean up its existing data, enhance data collection and processing. At present, one group was announced qualified for the bidding of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project. Ginez, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the project’s Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee, disclosed last Dec. 23 that the qualified bidder is the consortium of IL&FS Technologies Ltd. and SAHI Technologies Unlimited Inc. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Dengue:

7 SCIENCE

Hope in the horizon

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO (First of Two Parts)

HEN four-year-old Nathan came down with a recurring fever and started complaining of stomach pains in April last year, his mother Stella thought he was just suffering from wind. Still, she took the boy to the doctor, who said some paracetamol should help ease his symptoms. However, Nathan’s condition didn’t improve. Finally, when his breathing became rapid and his skin turned cold and clammy, Stella rushed him to a clinic, which immediately sent them to a nearby hospital. Nathan had fluid in his chest and his veins had collapsed. Doctors, struggling to keep his rocketing blood pressure under control, moved him into intensive care. It was too late: less than two days after being admitted to hospital, Nathan died. Nathan was a victim of a virulent form of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne contagion considered to be one of the country’s biggest health problems. “Dengue is a major public health concern throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world,” reports the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). Although cases of dengue in Davao region dropped by 54% from January 1 to September 30 in 2015, still there were 11 deaths recorded, according to the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the regional office of the Department of Health. Of the 6,715 cases, most of them were from Davao City with 1,253 cases. “The parents now are very aware that they bring their children to the hospitals if they suspect they are infected with dengue,” Engr. Antonette Ebol, the department’s program manager of dengue/malaria center and other vector-borne diseases, was quoted as saying. And there’s a good news. The world’s first dengue vaccine for human use has already been approved in three countries, including the Philippines, according to Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi. The two other countries are Brazil and Mexico. “Approval of the first dengue vaccine in Asia, which bears 70% of global disease burden, is a major milestone

in dengue prevention and public health,” pointed out Olivier Charmeil, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur in a press statement. T h e vaccine has undergone testing on more than 29,000 patients worldwide. The Philippines reportedly participated in all three phases of the clinical development of the vaccine called Dengvaxia®. The New England Journal of Medicine published the pooled efficacy and integrated safety analyses from the 25-month Phase III efficacy studies and the ongoing long-term studies. “Prevention of dengue is an urgent and growing medical priority in the Philippines,” says Dr. May Book Montellano, president of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination. And vaccination, she adds, “is widely accepted as one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases like dengue.” The Scientific American reported that the vaccine, which is designed to coax the body’s immune system into making antibodies against all four forms of dengue, is a live virus comprised of an attenuated yellow fever virus. (Yellow fever virus and dengue virus have the same genus.) For the vaccine, however, the virus is genetically engineered to include genes encoding for dengue proteins. The vaccine isn’t perfect but it could help. “In clinical trials it only reduced the chances of developing the disease by about 60 percent,” Scientific American said. “Also, it is only approved for use in people nine to 45 years old who live in dengue-endemic areas —not young children or the elderly. In fact, the vaccine seems to be least effective in children younger than nine years old, particularly among kids under 6, whose immune systems are especially vulnerable and might be part of the group who need the vaccines most.” According to Sanofi, the vaccine prevents “9 out of 10 cases of severe dengue.” Cam-

The mosquito that brings dengue virus (from the net)

eron Simmons, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Melbourne, told Al Jazeera: “The evidence from the vaccine trials is that it can prevent hospitalization for about 80 percent of those who get vaccinated.” Also known as “breakbone” fever, dengue is the Swahili term for “a sudden overtaking by a spirit.” Caused by four distinct virus serotypes (varieties recognized as distinct by the immune system), it is a distant cousin of yellow fever. Like death and taxes, dengue exempts no one: fat or

thin, ugly or beautiful, rich or poor, educated and illiterate. Children, who are exposed in open areas while playing, are more prone although adults are not spared. Take the case of Manuel, a Manila-based lawyer. To beat the heat during the summer season, he went to Baguio, where he contracted dengue. A few days after bitten, he suffered high fever, severe headache, and pain behind the eyes. There was also an outbreak of rashes in some parts of his body. From Baguio, he was brought to Manila. But it was already too late. He suffered hemorrhage in the liver and died three weeks after being confined in one of the wellknown hospitals in Makati City. Even doctors die from it, too! There was a case of a lady physician whose daughter suffered from dengue. Unknowingly, a mosquito which bit her daughter had bitten the doctor. A few days after the daughter

died, as a result of dengue, the doctor also showed manifestations of having dengue. She also died of the same disease. The clinical features of dengue fever vary according to the age of the patient. The United Nations health agency says dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue its other name. Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears three to four days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children. Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). With DHF, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding in the nose, mouth, and gums. Without prompt treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock. Most people equate DHF with influenza and similar flulike diseases. “There is usually rash in dengue while there is

none in flu,” explains Dr. Allan Schapira, an epidemiologist who was then with the WHO regional office when interviewed by this author. “Fever caused by dengue tends to last almost a week, while that of flu disappear after 3-5 days.” Sarah thought her 7-yearold son Justin had flu since he manifested such symptoms as fever, chills, headache, runny and stuffy nose, sore throat, and weakness. A day later, her son complained of muscle and joint pains. The fever was gone one day and returned the following day. By this time, there were rashes all over his arms and blood was oozing from his nose. “There’s something wrong with our son,” Sarah frantically told her husband. The couple immediately brought Justin to the nearest hospital. The doctor conducted a blood test and confirmed Sarah’s observation. “Justin is suffering from dengue fever,” he said. “He is in need of type-B blood as his platelets have dropped to a critical level.” “Children are much more like to get DHF than adults,” explained Dr. Schapira. “This is the reason why children are much more at risk of dying.” (To be concluded)

Symptoms of dengue fever (from Wikipedia)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Bleak prospect

MEMBER of the Davao City Council, the law-making body of the city, has raised the bleak prospect of the P19-billion Sasa Port modernization project facing legal problems due to the failure of officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to conduct mandatory consultation with the city government and other stakeholders before proceeding with the gargantuan project. Consultation is provided for in the Local Government Code, obviously for the purpose of transparency in governance and prior consent of the locals who are going to be affected by the project. “Locals” include stakeholders such as businessmen, informal settlers, and all other Dabawenyos who are going to suffer if the project fails. Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said the city’s lawmaking body has officially rejected the project in a resolution it passed last month, but officials of the DOTC and PPA headed by Secretary Joseph Abaya have chosen to ignore the resolution, a stand concurred in by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte days

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village. Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

after its passage by the council. Dayanghirang charged the project proponents have forgotten the fact that they still need the help of the local government for the project to be realized. These include expediting resettlement of informal settlers within the Sasa port, acquisition or expropriation of additional ROW (right of way) adjacent to existing port area, conversion of Malagamot road to a national road and designation of a dedicated truck lane for the port. Most of these actions must be covered by a city ordinance passed by the city council. However, with their relationship with the LGU now soured up, it is doubtful if the proponent national agencies could easily get what they want. One problem that has developed recently is that the PPA had spent millions in acquiring a resettlement area in barangay Mahayag which is classified as industrial area in the city’s zoning ordinance. Establishing a relocation area for informal settlers in an industrial zone is a no-no. This faux pas could have been avoided had PPA factotums consulted local authorities before buying the property. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO CHENEEN R. CAPON MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. CHA MONFORTE ARLENE D. PASAJE Photography Correspondents Cartoons Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • EDCER C.B. ESCUDERO • ATTY. EMILY ZEN CHUA • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO JOHN CARLO TRIA • BORBONCARLOS • MARYMUNDA ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO•AGUSTIN • EMILY VIDA S. VALVERDE C. LUMBA • HENRY J. SCHUMACHER • VANESSA KATE MADRAZO• JONALLIER Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG ZENMIA CHUA • CARLOS• FRED MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG M. PEREZ

the national association of newspapers

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance RICHARD C. EBONA Marketing Supervisor

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

Who is scared of the FOI?

URING GMA’s time, the opposition, then represented by the current regime and a host of other antis (including incumbent VP and now presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, senator and now vice-presidential aspirant Chiz Escudero), shouted their voices hoarse for the immediate consideration, passage and legislation of the Freedom of Information bill. To advance their interests, the FOI was utilized by the anti GMA groups as a political battle cry against perceived huge, scandalous corruption being then committed, rationalizing that its enactment would prevent and deter corrupt and greedy officials of the then GMA administration, from stealing and robbing the national treasury and ensure transparency in the conduct of government affairs. The FOI was utilized effectively in the 2010 presidential balloting where the opposition ran away with the presidency that, unfortunately for right thinking citizens, saw the installation of a “student council” kind of leadership. In the United States and other advanced Western countries, the FOI

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

empowers SPECKS OF LIFE the citizens to check on all the shenanigans they perceive being committed by governFred C. Lumba ment officials that enable them to gather concrete evidence and documents, press charges and eventually send the guilty parties to jail. This is the same idea thought of by the FOI advocates during GMA’s term but which is now subtly shunned by the current leadership because they do not want Filipinos to be so empowered as there is as much corruption and stealing going on now as there was during the previous regime. Or it could even be much more. Remember, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the now infamous DAP (Development Acceleration Program) hatched by DBM Sec. Butch Abad to replace the very scandalous PDAF or pork bar-

rel. As former Pres. Erap used to say: “Weather-weather lang yan.” Indeed, there is no other way to look at our situation today. We are in a state of quandary, chaos and confusion. The ruling authorities today want us to be so. Gusto nila na maging tanga at ignorante ang mga Pinoy, lalo na ang masa, upang ang pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan ay maitago sa mata ng tao. The Senate and the House of Representatives are like a boys club. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. We, the citizens, are too long the victims of the misdeeds of our own so-called leaders. Yet, when it comes to the political reckoning, we allow ourselves to become willing tools of their foolhardiness. We kowtow to their sloganeering and rhetoric as if these will rectify the wrongs and erase the omissions committed in the name of freedom and democracy. Decades of misgovernment and misrule have punctuated this country that the great patriot and national hero Dr. Jose Rizal called the “Pearl of the Orient.” The rape and ravaging of the country’s patrimony have gone

unabated. The advocates of FOI in Congress are now muted, looking the other way to cover the scandalous and corrupt tracks of the present regime as well as to protect the men and women who are enriching themselves in office. Come to think of it, we are lulled into a false acknowledgment that the government is doing better as media spins describing the country’s economic rise as the second fastest growing economy get extensive media mileage. If this were true, how come more families are getting poorer? How come more unemployed graduates are roaming the streets as “istambays’ and hundreds of thousands more are driven to seek work abroad? This government is a lying government. It lied about the BBL and its merits, it lied about the DAP, it lied about the Mamasapano incident, it lied about the FOI, it lied about almost everything. Don’t liars go to hell? (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). God bless the Philipines!

of Dute- MY MILLENNIAL MIND rte and Roxas, and how media so patronized the exchange of threats of punchVanessa Kate Madrazo es and curses. It’s become a race of who can come up with the wittiest comeback. But what’s more saddening is that the electorate itself has been lured in this manner of discourse, and we’re seeing netizens bash, for example, supporters of Duterte as Dutertetards, and the supporters of Grace Poe bash Senator Escudero as Boy Laglag and Ahascudero. It’s disappointing to see how people settle to responding to the façade that politicians create for themselves rather than scrutinizing what they really stand for and compare that with other candidates.

The culture of voting out of name recall and sound bites is strong and this is pretty obvious with how a lot of people buy into Duterte’s ironfist image and at the same time how other people are quick to dismiss him as a viable candidate because of his cursing and, admittedly, sexist remarks. That happens too with how many people are quick to support to Mar because of his promise to continue Daang Matuwid, or Bongbong Marcos who relies on revising the Martial Law era and his father’s legacy. But there’s a much better way to engage in politics. The underlying assumption of voters who are quick to support candidates is that there’s a quick fix to the ills in our country, but there isn’t. Moreover, no leader is perfect. It is important to recognize that all candidates do fall prey to flaws, some more than others. But abstention is also not a quick fix either for not choosing a lesser evil. This is where scrutiny and comparison come in. Voters, opinion

leaders, and media have the moral obligation to elevate the discussion into the emphasis and scrutiny of platforms. What will Federalism bring to this country? How will poorer regions fare? And what will happen to urban centers? What has Daang Matuwid exactly accomplished and is it good to continue it? Are Davao, Naga, and Makati really good case studies for progress and good governance and are the people who claim to lead these cities really responsible for the accomplishments? Public debate between candidates also isn’t big in our culture where they can discuss what they stand for vis-a-vis their opponents so that people would have the ability to directly compare. This also exposes their intentions and how they directly respond to the issues that matter to voters. It’s a new year. It’s way overdue that we change the game. It’s way overdue that we change the discussion.

Public discussion and anti-intellectualism

T’S not new at all, the idea that politics has become an arena for entertainment in this country instead of being a space for the serious discussion of actual issues. Political candidates – and you have to admit even the ones you support – are very image-oriented, concerned with the narrative, the story that they show to the people, instead of being more platform-oriented. We have a tough disciplinarian who acts as a savior to wipe all crime and evil in this country. We have a poor foundling who is ostracized by the system and disallowed to run for the presidency. We have a nice guy who acts as the rightful heir to the presidency and the only one who can continue the legacy of the previous administration. And then we have a self-proclaimed bullied leader facing corruption allegations who was poor once and claims to have helped a lot of the poor as a public servant. This has even gone to the extent of mudslinging, as in the case

10 NEWS AFP... FROM 2

areas where the NPA is present. He said some politicians in some parts of Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and the boundary of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley might pay PTC and PTW to the rebels. Valencia said even some areas in Davao City are not spared because the areas of Marilog and Paquibato districts have strong NPA presence. For his part, Commission on Elections (Comelec) assis-

tant regional director Marlon Casquejo said paying PTC and PTW is an election offense under the Omnibus Election Code. Casquejo said paying the PTC and PTW to the rebels could be considered as giving donations to boost one’s candidacy and have a sure win in the election. “If there is an allegation and if it is proven, it will be grounds for disqualification and an election offense which is punishable with imprisonment,” he said.

Under Section 9, first-time offenders will be fined P1,000 or one month imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court. For second offense, a penalty of P2,500 or two months imprisonment while third and subsequent offenses will be fined P5,000 or four months imprisonment. The ordinance prohibits smoking in public conveyances, government-owned vehicles, accommodation and entertainment establishments, workplaces, encloses public places, public buildings, and public outdoor spaces such as cemetery, markets, and terminals. Under Section 7 of Executive Order No. 4, it stated that “the selling of cigarettes or any tobacco shall not be allowed inside the accommodation and entertainment establishments, and public buildings.” However, the city allows smoking in designated areas, provided they are located in

an open-space with no permanent or temporary roof or walls in an outdoor area and shall not be located within 10 meters of entrances, exits or any place where people pass or where people congregate. Also, a designated area should not have an area larger than five square meters and the ordinance allows only one designated area per establishment. The selling of food and drinks is also not allowed in designated smoking areas. The ordinance mandates establishments to have “a highly visible and prominently displayed ‘smoking area’ sign and a graphic depiction and corresponding explanation of the ill-effects of smoking to the smoker’s health or exposure to secondhand smoke. Under no circumstances shall any work, device, word or image associated with any tobacco company or product be included in any of these signs and materials.” (MindaNews)

Also, the issuance of firearms licenses, permits to carry firearms outside residence, permits to carry firearms outside residence for mission orders, letter orders and acknowledgement receipts has been suspended, ineffective and without force and effect. Failure to comply will be

penalized with imprisonment from one to six years, permanent disqualification from public office and loss of right to vote, and deportation for foreigners, but only after prison is served or cancellation of and/ or perpetual disqualification to secure license or permit. (MindaNews)

“The D5 is built for speed and accuracy with our most advanced AF system utilizing 153 AF points, 99 cross-type sensors and very wide AF area. Even at 12fps, there is very minimal blackout time and mirror bounce,” he added. The D5 also boasts a wide range of ISO sensitivity up to 102400, expandable to Hi 5 (ISO 3280000 equivalent) -the most expanded sensitivity range in Nikon history. “The Nikon D5 is not just about technical excellence, but the marriage of elegant technologies. Speed and refined image quality have never converged so extensively, making it truly the camera that the industry has been waiting for,” said Nakayama. Meanwhile, the D500 which also supports 4K UHD movies, also features the new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine, enabling it to deliver high-quality images and movies and realises a wide sensitivity range from ISO 100 to

51200, expandable to Hi 5 (ISO 1640000 equivalent). The D500 also employs a touch-screen, tilting monitor, and features SnapBridge, an application which allows images to be shared via constant wireless connection with a smart device. The KeyMission 360 is a wearable action camera capable of recording true 360 video in 4K UHD. It has an image sensor and lens combination on two opposite sides of the camera, and images from each are combined in-camera to create a single realistic, high-definition, 360 image. The camera itself is waterproof to depths of 30 meters without a separate housing, and is also very tough, standing up well to dust, shocks and low temperatures. The KeyMission 360 is expected to be released worldwide in the market between March and May this year. (PNA/Bernama)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

7-Eleven... FROM 2

Davao... FROM 2

Nikon... FROM 14

WATCH LIST. Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna (right) says the authorities are still in the evaluation stage on identifying the region’s election watch list – except the municipality of Monkayo

which is already being validated as a high risk area. Dela Cerna and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz were guests in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Ritz Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

the boat. “We are checking documents if they sought clearance to us before they sailed,” he said. Caluna said they got wind of the fishermen’s plight after several of their relatives sought her office’s assistance. She said she referred the case to Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr., who shelled out money for the fishermen’s fare on their way home. Caluna said Romarate sought the intervention of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through its consulate

in Indonesia, for the repatriation of the jailed fishermen. She said she issued certificates that the fishermen were indigents so their families could get help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. MindaNews sent an email inquiry to Charles C. Jose, spokesperson of the DFA, as well as to the Philippine Consulate in Manado, Indonesia on Wednesday morning, but there was nor response yet as of this writing. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)

Machines (VCM), the replacement of the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS), which will be distributed to the provinces. He said Davao City will have 1,280 VCMs, Davao del Sur will have 600, Davao Oc-

cidental 265, Davao del Norte 801, Compostela Valley 648, and Davao Oriental 514. Casquejo said trainings for the operation of the VCMs will be held in February with the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).

al-Khattab in Maguindanao; Camp Rajamuda in North Cotabato and Maguindanao; Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur; and Camp Busrah Somiorang in Lanao del Sur. Prominent individuals such as Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman, ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, Bangsamoro Development Agency Executive Director Mohammad Suib Yacob, Maguindanao 1st District Representative Bai Sanda

Sema, and Maguindanao 2nd District Representative Zajid Mangundadatu also attended the event. The event was joined by more or less 1,000 participants, including members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and the farmer-beneficiaries. The implementation of such confidence-building measures is undertaken through the Joint Task Forces mandated to help transform the MILF camps into peaceful and productive communities. (PNA)

Belmonte reiterated his appeal to parents to let their children come to school even without school uniforms or books. To convince the pupils, Belmonte said teachers have extended financial assistance for the pupils’ uniform, books and other school needs. “We launched a fund drive among our teachers for pupils’ school uniforms,” Belmonte said. She said parents should not worry about the food since the Department of Education in the province has been conducting feeding at lunch time. She also appealed for public support, in cash or in kind, so the Muslim pupils would return to school. MNLF members, led by Commander Mangadta and Commander Ampalatan of MILF clashed on December 31, sending civilians fleeing. MILF forces allegedly attacked the community where the MNLF reside to avenge the murder attempt of a relative in November. “We have talked to both sides and they agreed to a ceasefire,” Chief Insp. Sunny Leoncito, Matalam police chief, said. Felipe Maluenda, Barangay Kidama chairperson, said the conflict between two warring families started in 2013 but it was quickly settled. In 2014,

tension erupted anew between the two groups after the MILF conducted information drive on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which the MNLF allegedly opposed. Maluenda said in November last year, a member of Ambalatan clan was shot and wounded in Poblacion Matalam. The victim positively identified his attacker and that he belonged to Mangadta clan. He said both Mangadta and Ampalatan families live side by side in Barangay Kidama and they know each other very well. Von Al Haq, spokesperson of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, said several emissaries from the MILF central committee had been sent to Barangay Kidama. “This is not an organizational fight, they just happened to be affiliated with MNLF and MILF,” he said in a phone interview. Al Haq said MILF chieftain Al Haj Murad has directed MILF field commanders to declare unilateral ceasefire and ordered MILF fighters in nearby areas not to reinforce in Barangay Kidama. Capt. Joan Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the 602nd brigade has deployed soldiers as peacekeepers in the affected village to prevent the escalation of conflict. (PNA)

franchise that serves the needs of retail customers and small to medium scale businesses. With Lendr, any consumer can apply any time whenever they need money for emergencies, minor house repairs or school tuition via SMS, mobile app or online with any device or telco provider. Consumers are in full control as they can keep track of their loan application status, loan repayments and amortization schedule. Lendr was first introduced

last November during the 58th Anniversary of the Rural bank of the Philippines to more than 500 rural bank presidents and CEOs from across the country. Aside from the partnership with RBAP, more than 50 individual rural banks already signed up to be part of Lendr. Voyager Innovations is now fast-tracking the integration of Lendr with bank partners as it targets to offer the platform to consumers by early next year.

bring any cash. Through GCash, customers no longer need to own a credit card or even have a bank account to make financial and ecommerce transactions. Instead, they can turn their mo-

bile phone into a virtual wallet to pay at the speed of a text message. The GCash wallet may be funded by cashing-in at over 11,500 GCash outlets nationwide or by enrolling in mobile and online banking.

there could be some kind of a standoff between humans and robots in future. Stephen Hawking claimed in 2014 that robots will become more intelligent than people in the next 100 years, and will possibly cause the end of humanity. Nick Bostrom, an Oxford University scientist, reiterated that idea, adding that

robots will define the forms of human existence. Prominent business magnates including PayPal creator and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates have both said that AI will likely become an “existential threat” for human beings sooner or later. (PNA/Sputnik)

25 Surigao... FROM 3

Comelec... FROM 3

DA... FROM 4

China... FROM 14

Officials... FROM 4

Globe... FROM 11

Robots... FROM 11

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Serving a seamless society

YEARENDER (PART 2)

CONSTRUCTION BOOM. The surge in construction projects in Davao marked a big year in real estate. Lean Daval Jr.

Photo by Lean Daval Jr.

The year in business By CHENEEN R. CAPON

NDUSTRIES described 2015 as a “bad year” for business because of the effect of El Niño across all sectors. Weather experts have said the current episode, which will last until June this year, is the worst El Niño season since the 1997-1998 event. The effects have been significant, as can be seen in the following:

Agriculture sector The Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 announced in October last year that the damage to the agriculture sector in Region 11 due to El Niño reached an initial P300 million in rice and corn, which was translated to an initial 4,975.38 hectares (has) damaged production area, of which 1,427.81 hectares were for rice and 3,547.57 hectares were for corn. Mitigating mechanisms like distribution of small pumps and drought-tolerant seeds were earlier implemented to aid affected farmers. This year, the agriculture agency will allot only P16 million as rehabil-

itation budget for the aftermath of El Niño. The banana sector, for its part, is still on the road to recovery. The international market price dropped and foreign demand went down. The quality of Cavendish banana decreased because of El Niño. Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director Stephen H. Antig said the situation is expected to worsen this year because of the tighter competition in the global banana market. The sector suffered in 2015 as the volume of exported fresh banana to Philippines’ major market dropped by 5.2 percent in the first 9 months of the year, lower than the previous year’s. The 5.2 percent decrease in volume of exported banana was equivalent to 4, 822,989 boxes of 13 kilogram banana per box. Antig attributed the decrease to the damage caused by the long drought season which started last year and is expected to worsen this year.

“The banana exportation also decreased as the demand from Philippines’ major market like China and Japan dropped,” he said. Japan, a huge market for Philippine fresh banana, is starting to import bananas from other countries in the Asean at zero tariff while Philippines exports banana at a higher tariff depending on the season. Other agriculture economies in the Asean like Sri Lanka, Vietnam have a growing banana industry, while the banana production in other Asian countries like India and Taiwan continues to gain more momentum in the global market. China, on the other hand, has reduced its imports from the Philippines during the last period of the year because it has already consumed its own banana supply grown in provinces of Hainan and Guangzhou. The PBGEA forecasted that the banana industry is expected to fully recover by

2017 from the aftermath of the long drought season. Recovery from pest and diseases, however, is another issue that the sector is still facing as it continues its search for a resistant variety.

Power sector President Benigno Aquino III was proven wrong when he said Mindanao would not experience massive power outages in 2015. Several coal-fired power plants that are expected to boost Mindanao’s reserve did not go online as scheduled. Mindanao has been facing a power crisis for the past five years because of insufficient base load of power generation available in grid. For many years, Mindanao has been playing with what is available reserve putting some areas here to long hours of rotating power interruption. As the power demand increased because of improving economic activity across all areas, the base load was not sufficiently increased, leading to a day-

to-day deficiency in supply. The Department of Energy forecasted in 2014 that Mindanao will have a maximum demand of 1,583 megawatts (MW). The power crisis plaguing Mindanao was a result of the decreasing capacity of degraded hydroelectric power plants (HEPS). It was aggravated by the long drought season which pulled down the water elevation level in reservoirs of Agus-Pulangi HEPS- Mindanao’s primary source of power. However, the four and half Mindanao-wide blackout last Easter Sunday was not caused by a power shortage but more of a technical when the stand connecting the Agus 7-Agus 6 tie line broke. The Easter dawn power outage came 13 months after the February 27, 2014 Mindanao-wide outage which lasted from 3:52 a.m. to 12:18 p.m. NGCP’s investigation revealed that the February 27 blackout was caused by the tripping of two units of the 210 megawatts (MW) Steag

coal-fired power plant. The series of bombing of the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) towers over the holidays also caused hours of rotating blackouts in different cities and provinces in the island-region. The NGCP recorded a total of 18 bombings of their towers by still unidentified persons in 2015. The deficiency in power supply affected all other industries in 2015 like the service sector, manufacturing sector, property development, and transportation and logistics. Manufacturing Sector Business leaders advocate for more investments in the manufacturing sector to create a more stable, sustainable, and inclusive economy. But the lack of reliable power and industrial zones as well as security concerns have hindered investors. For the year 2015, the manufacturing sector was still considered as a prior-

THE YEAR A2

A2 YEARENDER

EDGEDAVAO

PROMISE. Therma South Inc. promises the public that its coal-fired power plant in Binugao, Toril, once fully operational, will help solve the current power crisis in Mindanao. Lean Daval Jr.

THE YEAR A1

ity industry by the government which the region has a huge opportunity. The presence of different agriculture commodities like banana, cacao, and coconut can be value-added. This will increase the competitiveness of Mindanao’s value-added products in the international market arena.

Service sector: Business Process Management (BPM) The ICT-BPM industry in the region remained upbeat in 2015 despite the power crisis. Among the new players that expanded here were the US- based Expert Global Solutions (EGS) and Open Access BPO, as well as the expansion of existing companies like IBEX-Philippines, Teleperformance, Sutherland, and VXI. Davao continued to be a destination for expansion of operations of both foreign and local-based companies, which led to creation of more job generation for Dabawenyos. The Davao City Investment and Promotions Center recorded a total of 35,000 people employed in the ICT-BPM industry alone in the city for 2015.

The construction and completion of more BPM spaces in 2015 was also a sign of a booming ICT-BPM sector. Retail sector The increasing purchasing power of Dabawenyos, especially among the young professionals, created an emerging market for both local and foreign retail industry players. Last year was a good year for the region’s retail industry with the entry of Manila-based malls like the Robinsons and Citimall in Tagum City in Davao del Norte. The aggressive expansion of local players like the Gaisanos and the NCCC Mall extended economic activity from the urban city to nearby areas and provinces. Also, the entry of international store chain 7-Eleven posed a threat to the local players in the convenience store industry. At present,

the 7-Eleven has 20 branches and is eyeing 50 more by the end of June.

Property development Propelled by the positive chain of events created by employment, the region’s property development sector was still identified as one of the fastest growing in the sector. It fuelled the economic growth of the region last year. Last year was considered as a banner year for the sector, which includes property development projects ranging from subdivision development to construction of high-rise condominium projects as well as construction of more commercial and industrial spaces. Among these high-rise development projects were the lakeside condo development township project in the proposed Davao Business District in Lanang of Megaworld Corp. Other towers to rise in the city are Abreeza Place and Abreeza Residences, which are projects of Alveo Land in partnership with Accendo Commercial Corp. Another set of high-rise towers that are also under construction are the Avida Towers Davao, along C.M. Recto Ave. (Claveria) of Avida Land, in partnership with Avencosouth Corp. Property developers as well as members of the whole business community in Davao City opposed to the proposal of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to increase the land valuation in the city last year. Developers said any increase in val-

uation will adversely affect the cost construction of any property development projects either for commercial, industrial or residential use. Even the officials from City Government of Davao opposed to the proposal because it might interrupt the growth of the real property sector. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (DCCCII) past president Daniel Lim said the proposed increase in zonal valuation will pull down investments in the real estate industry in Davao City. Land developers and other investors might stop developing land either for commercial or residential use because of the higher valuation that will be imposed soon by the bureau. “The 200 to 300 percent increase in the valuation is too high especially for a raw land,” Lim said, adding that it would have a negative effect on both the developers and the consuming public. Lim said once implemented, the new zonal valuation will either make the selling of properties and developments – even low-cost housing projects – harder because they will be pegged at higher prices. Until now, the BIR has not set new valuation for properties in Davao City.

Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project opposed Another major issue in 2015 was the strong opposition of the private sector to the allegedly overpriced Davao Sasa Port Modernization project that would cost P19.8 billion. Even the City Government of Davao

requested the national government to temporarily halt the bidding process of the project, which is believed to increase the freight cost and production cost of exporters. The private sector claimed that the government should focus Sasa Port for tourism rather than make it compete with the operation of existing port operation like the Davao Integrated Container Terminal of ANFLOCOR. However, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) stood firm in its decision to continue the bidding process, saying it will be needed by the growing economy of the region in the long run. The project, which will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, drew interest from five investors, namely Asian Terminals Inc.-DP World FZE Consortium, Bollore Africa Logistics, International Container Terminal Services Inc., Portek International Pte Ltd-National Marine Corp. Consortium, and San Miguel Holdings Corp.-APM Terminals Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Consortium. The modernization project covers the construction of a new apron, development of a linear quay, expansion of the back-up area, provision of container yards and warehouses, and the installation of appropriate container handling equipment throughout a 30-year concession period. The government targets to start the first phase of Development by this year.

CONTROVERSY. Stakeholders led by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) issued a resolution calling for an investigation on the controversial P17-billion Sasa Port Modernization Project. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

REAL OR FAKE? A member of the National food Authority (NFA) inspection team examines rice sold in a dealership store at the Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City. NFA is conducting inspections in all public markets and rice dealerships after reports that fake rice from China has infiltrated Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

Furor over fake rice

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

ABAWENYOS were shocked by news that fake or synthetic rice had entered the city in the middle of 2015. The scare started when Carmen Grinio, a resident of Matina Aplaya, turned over a sample of the alleged fake rice on June 26 to the National Food Authority (NFA). NFA provincial manager Virgilio Alerta said the rice was bought by Grinio’s sister-in-law in a store in Cabantian and was cooked by Grinio. Alerta said the alleged fake rice “looked like Styrofoam” and would not soften. The NFA Davao City immediately submitted the rice for a test at NFA Manila Laboratory to identify its composition. Upon learning of the matter, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte warned importers and retailers against selling synthetic rice in the city. He immediately ordered the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to go after the the distributors of the alleged synthetic rice. The DCPO immediately launched an investigation along with NFA and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11. The Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 also took cognizance of the incident and formed the Special Inter-Agnecy Investigation Task Group (SIITG) Synthetic Rice. The CIDG-Davao City was tasked by the SITG to gather facts and information on the issue of fake rice proliferation in the city. The NFA laboratory later found that the rice turned over by Grinio was positive of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), a compound used in a wide range of products for everyday use such as plastics, paints, inks and cosmetics. Its widespread use has raised some concerns on its safety. Alerta said based on the investigation of the SITG, the rice was cooked on June 20 and was taken out of the rice cooker on June 23. The City Council’ committees on health and agriculture called for a hearing on the matter because it involved public safety and health. During the hearing, former CIDG-Davao head Police Chief Inspector Warren Dablo said Grinio bought the rice in Cabantian and Matina Aplaya. Dablo said his team was able to talk with the retailers and take samples from their display. The NFA proved that the samples were well-milled rice. Dable said the the source of the retailers came from the rice millers in Tagum City, Davao del Norte and Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Dablo said his team inspected the rice miller in Tagum City and took 11 varieties of rice tested and found them negative of contaminants. The NFA also found the rice in Bansalan negative of contaminants. Dablo also received reports there was fake rice in Sta.Cruz, Davao del Sur but the reports proved negative. He said the report in Mintal, Davao City was also found negative of contaminants. As for the incident in Matina Aplaya, Dablo said the family cooked the rice on June 20. The rice was removed from the rice cooker, placed inside a plastic cellophane and then was refrigerated for three days. On June 23, the father-in-law of Grinio took the rice out of the refrigerator and left it in the veranda for three to five hours. In the end of it all, Dablo admitted: “We cannot prove it was synthetic.” Fake bihon? Soon after the fake rice scare, City Health Office (CHO) sanitation chief Robert Oconer revealed they were able to get hold of fake bihon or Chinese rice noodles which was being sold in a public market in Calinan. Oconer said the fake bihon was turned over by a barangay captain, whom he did not identify, to their office. He said the barangay captain told him that even he had already cooked the bihon, it still could not be chewed. DCPO director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. ordered all police station commanders to inspect the public markets following the reports of the fake bihon. CHO head Josephine Villafuerte, however, said CHO teams that had conducted inspections in the markets found no fake bihon being sold. Villafuerte said the barangay captain may have not cooked the noodles properly.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

YEARENDER A3

Women as

game-changers Four women record siginificant milestones for Davao By CHENEEN R. CAPON and ANTONIO M. AJERO

CHARITA PUENTESPINA

NORMA PEREYRAS

DIR. PRISCILLA RAZON

GOV. CORA MALANYAON

OUR women known to wield positive influence in their respective spheres achieved significant milestones in 2015. They gave national and international honors to the Davao Region. The women of substance are Charita Puentespina, owner of Malagos Agir-Ventures Corp. known for many outstanding products recognized internationally, including the Malagos red wine, Malagos chocolates and the famous Vanda Sanderiana; Norma R. Pereyras of Tagum Cooperative, Corazon N. Malanyaon, provincial governor of Davao Oriental; and Priscilla N. Razon, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

One of the world’s best chocolates The international award for MAVC was published by Business World, which reported that Malagos 65 % Dark Chocolate won a silver award at the Schokolade Gourmet Festival held last September in Hannover, Germany. “Malagos won in the World Drinking Chocolate Competition, which was judged live with samples prepared by the organizing group’s pool of chased based on the contestants’ consumer recipes,” Business World reported. Malagos was the only winner from the east Asian region while majority of the winners were chocolate producers from the United States and the United Kingdom. The recognition is the MAVC’s second last year after its 100 % Unsweetened Chocolate was given the bronze award for Best Unflavored Drinking Chocolate by the Academy of Chocolate, a UK-based trade association, in London in April. Rex P. Puentespina, one of Charita’s sons with whom she has partnered in the cacao venture, was earlier quoted to have said: “This award validates the quality of beans and chocolates we have been producing the past two years.” Ms Puentespina is credited for saving from extinction the Waling-waling orchids, particularly Vanda Saderiana. She won Entrepreneur of Year Award in 2013.

Tagum Cooperative: Cream of the crop Under the leadership of Ms Norma R. Pereyras as chairperson of its board of directors, the

Tagum Cooperative worked its way up the ladder to attain its brand of being the “cream of the crop” among credit unions in Asia. Now with assets worth more than P3 billion, Tagum Cooperative was recognized by the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU) for its leveled performance bestowing the cooperative with ACCESS Silver Brand Certificate on September 11, 2015. ACCESS means A-1 Competitive Choice for Excellence in Service and Soundness that has developed as credit union quality assurance tool with pre-set 84 indicators of excellence perspectives. It just took a single year for Tagum Cooperative to move up from Bronze last 2014 to Silver last year, setting the record as the only Asian cooperative which has elevated its ACCESS status in just one year. The citation noted that the cooperative has “established a management system that can channel the energies, abilities, and specific knowledge held by people in organization toward achieving long term strategic goals on four key perspective” which are on Finance, Customer-Member, International Business Processes, and Learning and Growth. Aside from above-said international award, Tagum Cooperative also bagged Galing Pook’s first Citizenship Award 2015 in recognition of its outstanding efforts in uplifting and empowering the people and community. Tagum Cooperative made history in Galing Pook Award as the only cooperative winner of the award intended for individuals, NGOs, civil society society which have engaged local government to produce results. The cooperative, Peyreras said, has contributed in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) particularly on the poverty alleviation.

Corazon Malanyaon: Leader with a heart When elected almost nine years ago, Governor Malanyaon knew that her path as the provincial leader of Davao Oriental would not be an easy one. However, months before her third term ends in mid-2016, Malanyaon knew that her nine years in service did not go to waste as she led the province into development from challenges that put her desire and commitment to serve into test.

Her efforts paid off when she was awarded as one of the 2015’s Outstanding Governor of the Philippines by the Superbrands Marketing International Inc., an award-giving body engaged in consumer and service products. Dubbed as the “best prime mover of government programs deemed worthy of emulation and recognition”, Malanyaon helped in attaining sustainable development by inspiring and empowering her constituents as well as institutionalization of policies and mechanisms that will serve as foundations for development and good governance. During her stint, among her trailblazing accomplishments include the recognition of Davao Oriental as the host of the newest world heritage site- the Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary; the recovery of her province from the ruins of Typhoon Pablo in 2012 and the building stronger communities and municipalities; and the successful embarking on peace and development efforts. Malanyaon earlier bagged Seal of Good Local Governance Award from Department of Interior and Local Government in 2015.

Priscilla N. Razon: the best manager Region 11 director Priscilla N. Razon was adjudged the nation’s Best Manager of the Department of Social Welfare and Development during the celebration of DSWD’s 64th Founding Anniversary last year. Razon, who also won as the Best Assistant Manager in 2011 when she was still the assistant regional director, is a hands-on leader who ensures that the men and women of his agency work for the welfare of those who are in need of assistance. Under her leadership, DSWD 11 obtained the highest rank during the review of Performance Contract among 21 DSWD offices throughout the country, including central office and attached agencies for two consecutive years. DSWD 11 was also cited Outstanding in 2013 Report Card Survey of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) which measured agency compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of the Philippines. (CRC). This month, particularly last Tuesday, she moved up to the DSWD Central Office (CO) for a more challenging assignment.

A4 YEARENDER

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

The big leap

After a big year in 2015, Esdevco is ready to launch Arcadia in 2016 By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

ICTURE THIS. You can lift weights, box on the squared ring, run on treadmill inside a state-ofthe-art fitness gym. You can test your limits and try some extreme sports like wall climbing. You can go up to the next level and play hoops with friends. Or you can laze up in a comfy lounge and sports bar. All that under one roof. It’s called Arcadia and it’s bound to be Davao City’s next fitness and sports mecca. Things are really looking up in 2016 for homegrown real estate developer Escandor Development Corporation and Arcadia has a lot to do with the excitement. Oh well, it’s all a by-product of one good year ending and another good one dawning. First, 2015. According to Matina Enclaves project director Gerald Kent Garces, Esdevco’s initial venture’s has been tremendous. “The project’s 2015 performance has been tremendous. Sales grew by 50% compared to the

sales from the previous year,” Garces said. It wasn’t easy though. Garces admits they have to compete with the big ones. “Amidst the existing projects and new offerings by big developers, we were able to successfully dispose our inventory. This means that Matina Enclaves at this stage has already created its own market niche,” he said. So what’s in store for 2016? “As we see it, things will just be better for 2016 especially that we will launch Arcadia, the commercial component of the project,” Garces bared. Arcadia is another component of Matina Enclaves which will rise across the sprawling complex next to the fabled Davao City Golf Club. Arcadia is bound to become a haven for sports and fitness aficiona-

dos. It will be equipped with a 50-meter lap pool, a fitness gym equipped with top-ofthe-line equipment, extreme sports, basketball gym and a sports lounge. Aside from the Arcadia, the prospects for 2016 will be boundless, according to Garces. “This will definitely create the buzz in town and add excitement for the project as a whole,” he said. With the existing development at the Matina Enclaves, Garces said “much effort is also placed on the construction and completion of building 1 which will be last quarter of 2016. Similarly groundbreaking of building 2 will be on the 1st quarter of 2016 and building 3 on the 3rd quarter. So next year will be a busy year for the project.” Looks like this real estate upstart is ready to cash in on 2016.

EDGEDAVAO

11 ICT HUB

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

End of the world for APTs as we know them in 2016 A

AppCola for iOS frees up space and optimizes usage

DVANCED Persistent Threats or APTs as we know them will cease to exist in 2016, replaced by deeper, embedded attacks that are harder to detect and trace back to the perpetrators, according to Kaspersky Lab experts. In their Predictions for 2016, the experts reveal that while the ‘Threat’ will remain, the concept of ‘Advanced’ and ‘Persistent’ will disappear to reduce the traces left behind on an infected system. They will also rely more on off-theshelf malware to minimize their initial investment. Kaspersky Lab’s Predictions for 2016 are based on the expertise of the Global Research and Analysis Team, the company’s 42 top security experts, located all over the world. Kaspersky Lab’s experts anticipate that in 2016 will see: • APTs lose letters, gain weight. There will be a dramatic change in how APTs are structured and operate. Rather than investing in bootkits, rootkits and custom malware that gets burned by research teams, Kaspersky

Lab expects to see an increase in the repurposing of off-the-shelf malware. As the urge to demonstrate superior cyber-skills wears off, return on investment will rule much of the nation-state attacker’s decision-making and nothing beats low initial investment for maximizing ROI. • Thieves in the TV and/or crime in the coffee-maker. Ransomware will gain ground on banking Trojans and is expected to extend into new areas such as OS X devices, often owned by wealthier and therefore more lucrative targets, in addition to mobile and the Internet-of-Things. • New ways to make you pay. Alternative payment systems such as ApplePay and AndroidPay, as well as stock exchanges, will become growing targets for financial cyber-attack.

“2016 will see significant evolution in cyberespionage tradecraft, as sophisticated threat actors minimize investment by repurposing commercially available malware and become more adept at hiding their advanced tools, infrastructure, and identities by

ditching persistence altogether,” said Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade, Senior Security Expert, Global Research and Analysis Team, Kaspersky Lab.

Kaspersky Lab’s longer-term predictions include, among others: • Evolution of APT attacks – Access-as-a-Service. An expectation that more newcomers will enter the APT space. Cyber-mercenaries will grow in number as more parties seek to gain from online attacks. These are expected to offer attack expertise to anyone willing to pay, and also to sell to interested third-parties digital access to high-profile victims, in what could be called an ‘Access-as-a-Service’ offering. • Balkanization of the Internet. The appearance of a balkanized Internet, divided by countries. If this point is reached, Internet availability in any region could be controlled by attacks on the service junctures that provide access across different boundaries. Such a landscape could even lead to a black market for connectivity. Sim-

The cover for Kaspersky Lab’s Predictions for 2016

ilarly, as the technologies that power the internet’s underground continue to gain mainstream attention and widespread adoption, developers with a stake in shadow markets, exchanges, and forums will develop better technologies to keep the underground truly underground.

How businesses and individuals can prepare to meet the cyber-risks of the future Actions a business should take today: • Focus on cybersecurity education for staff. • Ignore the detractors and implement mature, multi-layered Endpoint protection with extra proactive layers • Patch vulnerabilities early, patch often, and automate the process • Mind everything that’s mobile • Implement encryption for communications and sensitive data • Protect all elements of the infrastructure – gateways, email, collaboration

And what about individuals? • Invest in a robust security solution for all devices • Explore and make use of the extra options that come with your protective solution, such as Default Deny Execution Controls, Whitelisting, Encryption, and Automated Backups. • Study the basics of cybersecurity and teach your friends • Switch to encrypted communication • Consider revising your online habits, and what information you share. Once uploaded, the information stays in the Internet forever and can be used against you or your company.

‘Robots could wage war vs humanity by 2055’

HE war between robots and humans will become possible in 2055, as by that time intelligent machines globally will outnumber humans and will likely want to take control of the world, a science fiction author has predicted. Artificial intelligence will be capable of challenging their human creators within the next 40 years, when they will surpass people in number and will likely demand self-control, Logan Streondj, a software programmer turned science-fiction author wrote in his blog. “The most likely timeframe for an artilect war style conflict would be between 2040 and 2055,” he wrote, according to Business Insider.

Streondj made his assessments while preparing his new novel, “A home for robots or-else artilect war.” To arrive at the prediction he compared statistical data from open sources and concluded that robots are developing and growing in numbers faster than humans do. The num-

ber of robots is increasing much quicker than that of humans, he pointed out. The human population grows by one percent annually, while the robot production capacity has an approximate year-to-year increase of 15 percent. “In around 25 years, parity will be reached -- the number of robots and humans be-

ing produced per year will be the same,” he stated. But taking into account that an average robot’s working life is around a seventh of average life expectancy of a man, Streondj outlined, about seven times more intelligent machines per year will be needed to match the human population by 2050. “If, however, there is no assistance from humans fighting for the entitlements of robots, and the robots are forced to revolt by themselves, likely they would do so when outnumbering humans 10 to 1, which would (assuming trends continue) be in 55 years, or around 2070.” Streondj joins a long list of those who have predicted

F ROBOTS, 10

PPCOLA is a new third-party management tool designed for iOS. This innovative tool will provide fast access to updates an software downloads. Currently AppCola is available for download on your PC and on iOS.

Some of the amazing new features are designed to enhance iPhone usage. One key feature is to help reduce the size of photos, freeing up valuable space on your iPhone by compressing photos without losing the quality.

AppCola features: 1. With AppCola there are many apps that you can download for free on the PC and iOS versions. 2. Photo Compression without loss of resolution (for PC version only) 3. The exclusive lossless photo compression technology enables AppCola to optimize your photos, reducing the storage while maintaining its original quality. 4. File Management (PC and iOS versions) 5. AppCola is a powerful tool to manage your iPhone. It will manage the update notifications, fix the flash, perform a system scan on your iPhone via the PC version, compress large files, clear up the trash and speed up your iPhone. The PC version enables you to install updated games and apps more rapidly. 6. A world of wallpapers (for PC version only) 7. With AppCola, you will find a world of high definition and quality wallpapers that are classified into several categories, all available to download with just one click. 8. Ringtone Creation (for PC version only)

When it comes to ringtones, AppCola will help create professional ringtones, simply make a new ringtone from your favorite song, it is easy to use and comes with your style!

Globe collaborates with Asiasoft on gaming services

LOBE Telecom and its fully-owned subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) have entered into a strategic partnership with leading regional online entertainment provider Asiasoft Corporation Public Company Limited on gaming services provisioning. The collaboration is part of the Memorandum of Understanding with Asiasoft which Globe and GXI signed together with other members of the Singtel Group such as Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel – Singapore), Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS – Thailand), and PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel – Indonesia). “GCash aims to further establish its position as the preferred payment option in the mobile and digital space. Thus, we are excited to explore marketing collaborations with Asiasoft to grow gaming-related transactions and bring GCash at the forefront of eCommerce. At the same time, we want to enhance existing Globe customer payment services and provide them with a full digital lifestyle experience,” said Xavier Marzan, President

and CEO of GXI. The partnership allows GCash, the mobile wallet of GXI, to be used as a payment method at PLAYPARK game portal and mobile app checkouts via PlayMall, Asiasoft’s single wallet platform, thereby, giving GCash customers an option to buy “Cash items,” “lives,” “coins,” or “gems” without the need for a credit card. Asiasoft, has been working with its subsidiary Level Up!, the pioneer online game publisher in the Philippines that published legendary games such as Ragnarok Online and Cabal Online. It also has a dominating market share in the Southeast Asia region covering Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines servicing Mobile and PC games. GCash is an internationally-acclaimed micro payment service which transforms a mobile phone into a virtual wallet for safe, secure, and hassle-free mobile money transactions. It can be used to buy prepaid load, pay bills, send money, make donations, shop online, and even purchase goods without the need to

F GLOBE, 10

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

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

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

Mangudadatu seeks LGU help to secure communities vs BIFF

AGUINDANAO Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu has called on all town mayors in the province to design localized security plan to ensure the safety of civilians, especially in areas where outlawed Moro armed group regularly harassed. “We should have security plan and we should always be ahead of the lawless groups,” Mangudadatu told a news conference after presiding

over the Maguindanao provincial peace and order council Tuesday. At least 7,000 individuals have been displaced by atrocities carried out by outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the towns of Ampatuan and Abdullah Sangki in Maguindanao since December 24. Fighting involving Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Sultan sa Barongis

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late EUGENIA J. TOLENTINO has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF STATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS executed among her heirs per Doc. No.388; Page No.78; Book No.42; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ELISA D. EVANGELISTALAPIÑA 01/7/14/21

also displaced civilians who are now in at least three evacuation centers. Mangudadatu said police and military authorities have designed security measures but it is still best for the local leaders, down to the barangay, to have its own defense plan. “We all know that the police and the military could not be in all places at all times, so the local officials are expected to protect their own people,” Mangudadatu said. More police and military checkpoints have been established in areas considered conflict zone. These are the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona and Sultan sa Barongis, areas where the BIFF operate. Mangudadatu also directed the provincial relief response team to continue with the distribution of food packs and assistance to displaced families. He also handed out financial assistance to relatives of slain farmers in Barangay Kauran, Ampatuan, Maguindanao even as he assured them that justice will be served. Mangudadatu said the government is filing charges against the Barangay Kauran

IN SEARCH OF GOLD. Work on the Cateel-Compostela road cut through the side of a mountain in Barangay Bango in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, exposing the holes drilled by small-scale miners in search of gold. MindaNews photo by Gail Ilagan attackers. The governor also appealed to the MILF leadership to help protect civilian communities from BIFF and help mediate in the MILF infighting. Relief workers of the provincial emergency and

disaster response team and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Midnanao - Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team (ARMMHEART) have extended food packs and other provisions to about 7,000 evacuees on Monday and Tuesday.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, through ARMM-HEART, also extended financial and medical assistance to two civilians trapped and injured in Sultan sa Barongis town after MILF clashed on Monday morning due to long standing land dispute. (PNA)

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

unveils 3 new Business optimism across Nikon cameras for 2016 Asia Pacific region up J

EW research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR), a quarterly global survey of business leaders in 36 economies, reveals that business across the Asia Pacific region are resolute in their optimism for the coming 12 months. With expectations for exports and revenue steadying, business fears over the speed and size of the Chinese economy slowdown appear to have eased. Globally, business optimism is also holding firm with European firms particularly resilient. Business optimism across the Asia Pacific region has increased from 20% to 31% in Q4, and is higher than the 27% recorded this time last year. In China, business optimism increased from 26% to 36% in Q4, and economies like Indonesia (36% to 56%) have

followed suit. Even Malaysia (-28% to -14%) and Thailand (-8% to 4%), which have taken bigger hits to confidence as fears over the impact of China’s slowdown grew, have seen their confidence levels improve slightly. Yet the research also sees a warning light flashing in the US, where firms report a dent to their confidence heading into the New Year amid concerns over export markets and the strength of the Dollar. Businesses in the US have reported a drop in optimism from 74% to 50% in Q4, the biggest fall of any of the 36 countries surveyed. Marivic Españo, chairperson and Chief Executive Officer at P&A Grant Thornton, said fears over the slowdown of the Chinese economy caused a shock to the system in 2015, and in Q3 the optimism of Asia Pacific business-

es plummeted. “The good news is that it has improved since then. This is partly because the rebalancing of the Chinese economy creates new opportunities; demand for raw materials will not reach the heights we saw in recent years but as the need for services will continue to grow,” Españo said. “At the same time, increasing numbers of firms across Asia Pacific are looking further afield in 2016 and exploring growth opportunities around the world. This is reflected in their improved levels of optimism,” she added. Grant Thornton’s research finds that despite revenue expectations in China falling from 33% to 21% this quarter, across Asia Pacific they have only shifted from 38% to 36%. Similarly, Chinese export expectations have slipped from 14% to just 6% but across the

region they have held at 11%, down from 12%. Globally, business optimism heading into 2016 stands at net 36% - only slightly down from Q3 2015 and just above the 35% recorded a year ago. Net 38% of EU businesses are optimistic about their economy over the next 12 months, the same as in Q3. Businesses in Latin America report big quarterly increases in optimism. “The global economy continues to change and evolve, with shifting landscapes in major economies creating new challenges but also new opportunities. Those businesses with an instinct for growth will be best placed to spot these emerging pockets of opportunity, build new trade links, and make the most of the brighter outlook being reported for 2016,” Españo said.

APANESE camera manufacturer Nikon Corporation yesterday unveiled three new cameras for 2016, including its first 360-degree action Virtual Reality (VR) model. The two others are the new D5, a FX-format model, and the much awaited D500, a DX-format model that is comparable to the D5’s performance as it incorporates the

same powerful 153-point AF system. The cameras were jointly revealed by Nikon’s Imaging Senior Vice President Nobuy-

oshi Gokyu and Corporate Vice President Tadashi Nakayama here in conjunction with the CES 2016, a four-day global consumer electronics show beginning Thursday. Gokyu said the D5 camera, which the photography industry had been awaiting, represented what Nikon was trying to

do for the entire DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) category, namely “to keep raising the bar on speed, accuracy and image quality”.

F NIKON, 10

China Bank Savings, Voyager Innovations partner for Lendr

SM City Cagayan de Oro employees and kid beneficiaries spend a fun time on a train ride.

Making kids smile through ChriSMiles O

N December 16, 2015, SM workforce across the nation simultaneously held “ChriSMiles,” a volunteerism activity that has become a yearly Christmas tradition aiming to benefit kids in need. In Mindanao, volunteer employees of SM City Cagayan de Oro, SM City Davao, City General Santos, and SM Lanang Premier gave donations in cash and in kind and shared their time to give joy to over 200 child beneficiaries. SM City Cagayan de Oro went the extra mile by granting kids of the mall’s agency personnel and from DSWD Center for Children a wonderful time in the mall. The kids enjoyed free train rides and received goodies from the employees. SM City Davao gave kids from Isla Swerte Day Care

Center a fun-filled morning. Kids were able to showcase their dance talents, meet and greet with Christmas characters - Christmas tree and candy cane mascots – and rode the mall’s kiddie facilities for free. They also received gifts and shared meals with mall administration employees.

A little girl flashes a huge smile while riding the carousel at SM City Davao.

Meanwhile, in SM City General Santos, children from St. Agnes Orphanage, Substitute Home for Girls and Gensan Center for Boys and the kids of agency personnel, were treated to mall rides, gifts and snacks. The appearance and dance number of well-loved mascot, Hamburglar, also delighted the said beneficiaries.

SM Lanang Premier offered a special Christmas celebration to children of the mall’s security and janitorial personnel. During the ChriSMiles activity held at the SMX Lobby, employees gave the kids gifts, and hearty meals. The kids also played games and had a meet and greet with Manna Restaurant’s adorable official mascots. Parents of the said beneficiaries also participated in the games during the ChriSMiles activity. ChriSMiles is an annual project under the Employee Volunteerism Program of SM Supermalls. It encourages employees to find the deeper meaning of Christmas by being share their blessings with the needy sectors of the society. For the past years, ChriSMiles has brought smiles to thousands of Filipinos nationwide.

HINA Bank Savings (CBS) has partnered with Voyager Innovations, the digital innovations unit of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), for Lendr, the country’s first online marketplace platform for consumer loans. CBS is the first thrift bank to join the fast expanding partners for Lendr which was initially introduced last month. Lendr is a fully digital, multi-channel, telco and bank agnostic solution that financial institutions and credit providers can use to reach consumers planning to avail of loans. Through Lendr, consumers will be offered a convenient, transparent, fast and secure service through a marketplace that provides an all-in-one account and multiple loan options, delivered straight to the mobile device. “We’re excited to have CBS on board in our pioneering digital loans platform Lendr. Fintech is changing the banking industry and we are delighted to enable our partner banks to serve their customers better,” said Orlando B. Vea, president and CEO of Voyager Innovations. “I take particular pride in our possible tie-up with Voyager Innovations and Smart that will allow China Bank Savings to service the loan applications of our customers through an online marketplace platform, called Lendr. It reaffirms our strong commitment to introduce customer-centric delivery systems

for our products and services. With the Lendr, our clients can look forward to greater mobility in banking,” said Ricardo R. Chua, Chairman, China Bank Savings. “The Lendr is definitely a game-changing solution - one that will pave the way for broadening CBS’ market share. We are extremely delighted with the development of this platform, which will enable us to service the needs of our clients more efficiently. More importantly, Lendr will empower both our existing and prospective clients who will now have a convenient, fast access to product information and options,” said Alberto Emilio V. Ramos, President, China Bank Savings. “We are enabling and optimizing the reach of partner banks such as CBS with Lendr. This online marketplace will surely empower consumers and help bring more customer to our partner banks as well,” said Lito Villanueva, Vice President and Head of Fintech, Digital Inclusion, and Alliances at Voyager Innovations. CBS, part of the China Bank Group, is one of the fastest growing and leading thrift banks in the country. It began operation in 2008, following China Bank’s acquisition of Manila Bank in 2007. With the acquisition and merger of Unity Bank in 2012, and Planters Development Bank (Plantersbank) in 2014 (to be merged with CBS in 2015), CBS has emerged as a strong banking

F CHINA, 10

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 202 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

AUSSIE TRAINING

RACKSTERS Christopher Ulboc, Edgardo Alejan, and Mervin Guarte will leave for Perth this month to embark on a three-month training in the first leg of their buildup for major international competitions, including the 2016 Rio Olympics. “It’s a long range plan. If they fail to make it to the Olympics, they will be good for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018, and the SEA Games in Manila in 2019,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico. The three Pinoy distance runners will undergo intensive training in the capital city of Western Australia as they seek to improve on their impressive showing from last year, specifically during the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. In the athletics competitions of the SEA Games held in Singapore last year, Ulboc won the 3,000m steeplechase event while Guarte bagged a silver in the 800m dash and Alejan the 4x400m silver and a bronze in the 400m run.

PH Olympic hopefuls to train in Perth

OLYMPIC HOPEFULS. PH trackster Christopher Ulboc took the SEA Games gold medal in the 3,000m steeplechase in Singapore last year. AP

Colmenares, Miguel to award chessfest winners

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

R REP. COLMENARES

njb@edgedavao.net

EP. Neri Comenares, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) vice president for Visayas and chairman of the House Committee on Grassroots Development and Promotions will award the prizes to the winners of the 2016 Mayor Peter B. Miguel National Age Group Chess Championships-Mindanao Leg on January 10, 2016. Colmenares will be joined by GM Jayson Gonzales, NCFP Executive Director and host Koronadal

Mayor Peter Miguel. The tournament will be staged on January 8-10 in Koronadal City. Tournamwent director James Infiesto, meantime, revealed the early registrants for the tournament: Koronadal City is fielding Chrisus Joshua Sarchez, Chrisus Joseph Sarchez and Kriztian Roger Magdugo. Davao City will be sending a power-packed cast led by 2015 ASEAN Age Group triple silver medalist Irish Yngayo, 2015

Carl Zirex Sato. General Santos City will field Ricky Rafols Jr., and Rea Jean Rafols. Team Midsayap will parade Nathalie Liscano, Cybil Jay Ibias, Renz Philip Madarang, Amber Juneeza Ambor, Christian Angelo Ibias and Eugene Jauhari Ambor. During the opening ceremony (9:00 am) on January 8, GM Jayson Gonzales will conduct a 30-board simul exhibition to selected participants and chess clinic to all present. Round 1 will start by 1:00 pm.

Spieth working on various aspects of game

NEW YEAR GOALS. World No. 1 Jordan Spieth believes his wedge game last year was average. AP

PNG-Mindanao medalist Zsuzsa Grace Tabudlong, international campaigner John Marvin Miciano, Batang Pinoy gold medalist Earl Rhay Mantilla, Alisa Galliamova Tabudlong, Rhobie Shayne Benogsodan, Verby Jay Quiachon, Michael John Varquez, Norman James Varquez, Gino Ascunsion, Tasheen Saludsong and James Bantugan. Panabo City will be bannered by Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Japheth Aaron Caresoa and

ORDAN Spieth had an answer for anyone curious about what he will do for an encore. “Doesn’t an encore mean that the show is then over?” he said Tuesday. The 22-year-old Texan is well aware of the attention that will be heaped on him when he starts a new year at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. His hope is to get better in areas of the game that could improve, no matter how slight. That doesn’t mean it will translate into two majors and a shot at the Grand Slam, five PGA Tour titles, $12 million in earnings, a Vardon Trophy and a FedEx Cup title with its $10 million bonus, or even staying at No. 1 in the world. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the only players in the last 20 years to win two majors and play consistently well enough to

win the PGA Tour money title. Spieth has his own set of expectations. The golfing public will have another. “I’m sure they’ll measure it based on last year,” Spieth said. “The easiest thing for me to look at is Rory in the past. After his 2014, they’ll compare 2015. I think 2013 was the year which he considered a letdown for him after a major championship in ‘12. It just seems that you’re judging from the previous year. That’s the general public, so I give you my perspective as being in the general public for somebody else. “For me, I’m not even thinking of it as a new year,” he said. “I’m just thinking we had a threeweek break and we’re just continuing to hopefully stay at the same level.” So what would he consider a great year? “Last year,” he said with a

smile. The only difference is the month and the numbers for the new year. He played the Australian Open. He played in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. He took a side trip to Augusta National with his dad and his agent, stepping into the Champions Locker Room for the first time, the space above the clubhouse reserved for Masters champions. And then he was home in Dallas for Christmas, long enough to sit down with coach Cameron McCormick and pore over the statistics to see what needed work. He targeted his wedge play, not only hitting it closer from 60 yards to 140 yards, but getting up-and-down around the green. McCormick sees the numbers before Spieth, and he asked Spieth how he felt about various aspects of his game.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.88ISSUE ISSUE202 202••THURSDAY, THURSDAY,JANUARY JANUARY7,7,2016 2016

IT’S CALLED

ZWAG

Zwag Dance Party at Abreeza Mall Jan. 9

N EXCITING Zwag Dance Party is set this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Activity Area of Abreeza Ayala Mall in Bajada featuring Cebu City’s hottest fitness instructor Baby Jane Enad. “Baby Jane will be joined by our own instructors here in Davao and Panabo City,” said organizer Vicky Javier of the Beefit Gym and Aerobics in this year’s inaugural SCOOP Session at The Royal Mandaya Hotel held Tuesday. Also present was her husband and Beefit Gym co-proprietor Jimmy Javier.

Enad is an Aerobic and Fitness Association America (AFAA) certified, a certified group fitness instructor, licensed Zumba fitness instructor, certified pole dance fitness instructor, and Cebu’s Hiphop Specialist instructor. Enad is also a Female Zin Idol 2015 Z Stars Philippines and is a Yamaha Lady Circuit Racer. She is a second termer an elected barangay councilor of Poblacion Ward 4, Minglanilla in Cebu. Enad will be joined by fellow instructor Victor Rivero and the V-Force Davao’s

Ronnnie Bulanda, Rudy Dano, Rodolfo Enot, Robert Awing, John Ri Romero, Tata Debildos, Darms dela Cerna, Rose Garcia and Javier. “Also joining us are fellow instructors from Panabo Kim and Frenzy,” said Javier. Zwag is all modern and international music like the hip hop and pop while Zumba is 70% Latin music and 30 percent world beats international music. At least 300 participants are expected to join. Awards will be given to the Best Group Back-up Dancers (maximum

of 10), Best Group Back-up Dancers Instructor’s Category (maximum of 6), Best Male and Female Back-up Dancers, Male and Female Zwagger of the Night and Seasoned Participant (Male and Female). The best customized T-shirt also gets a chance to win cash prizes and one free overnight accommodation from The Royal Mandaya Hotel. The other sponsors are the Johnny Air Retail Padala, Holiday Gym and Spa, Abreeza Ayala Mall and city government of Davao.

HOT ZUMBA DIVA. Cebu’s hottest and top fitness instructor Baby Jane Enad will spearhead the exciting Zwag Dance Party on January 9, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Activity Area of Abreeza Ayala Mall in Bajada, Davao City.