Edge Davao 8 Issue 206 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

GUN BAN NETS 3

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HREE individuals have been arrested in separate areas in Davao City for violating the election gun ban implemented by the Commission on Election (Comelec) since January 10. The first person was arrested on the night of January 11 at Gahol Drive along J.P. Laurel Avenue. The Davao City Police Office-Mobile Patrol Group (DCPO-MPG) said Vicente C. Cadiz, 62, resident of Garcia Heights in Barangay 19-B, was arrested for carrying a bolo, which is also prohibited under the Comelec ban. Police said Cadiz was ar-

rested at around 9:50 p.m. on January 11 after the MPG received a call from Central 911 regarding a drunk man who was getting violent in the area. Responding police officers arrested Cadiz and confiscated a 14-inch bolo from him. Cadiz is now facing a charge of violating the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines after he was submitted for inquest procedure before the City Prosecution Office yesterday morning. The second violator was arrested in Barangay Catalunan Grande at around 11 p.m. the same day. Police said Anthonie

Shane H. Montaño, 33, a resident of Bonifacio Extension, this city, was caught by members of Talomo Police Station and the Barangay Peace and Order Unit (BPOU) carrying a pistol. Police said Montaño walking suspiciously at the side of the road. When police and BPOU members approached him, they saw a pistol tucked in his waist. Montaño was immediately frisked and his caliber .45 pistol was consfiscated. He could not present documents allowing him to carry the pistol. The suspect was detained and will face charges for viola-

tion of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines. The third violator was arrested outside his house at Sunrise in Panacan at around 9:48 a.m. yesterday. Sasa Police Station identified the suspect as Jessie Trocio, 41. Police said an informant reported that he was carrying a gun. Police said when confronted, Trocio introduced himself as an agent but could not present documents allowing him to

F GUN, 10

CHECK. Operatives of San Pedro Police Precinct conduct a random checkpoint along Quimpo Boulevard as part of the implementation of the Commission on Election (Comelec) election gun ban which started last Sunday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Sports Davao karatekas harvest 4 golds in Int’l tourney P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

OUTDOOR LINE. Applicants for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) sit on the pavement as they prepare pertinent documents and fill up application forms in front the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) office along R. Castillo Avenue yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cayetano vows completion of Mindanao railway system

HE long-delayed Mindanao Railway System, a 200-kilometer infrastructure which would connect major food producing areas of the island to the ports, will be implemented under the Presidency of Rody Duterte, vice presidential contender Alan Peter Cayetano told Northern Mindanao businessmen Sunday. Cayetano, who was in Cagayan de Oro to meet with business and religious leaders in a series of town hall activities, said the P75-billion project is a vital component of Duterte’s “Available and Affordable Food” commitment to the Filipino people. He said that while Mindanao has the potential of feeding the over 100 million Filipinos, the problem in transporting products to the market has af-

fected the island’s productivity. The Mindanao Railway System, when constructed, will link Zamboanga City in the western part of the island to other major cities like Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Surigao, Butuan Davao, Cotabato and General Santos traversing key agricultural areas in the central part of the island. “Right now, only huge trucks are used in bringing products to the ports and this is very expensive. This results in higher cost of food products,” he told Cagayan de Oro businessmen. The Mindanao Railway System has already been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the government’s development projects clearing house, but no funds

F CAYETANO, 10

DaLight full service center resumes operations Jan 18

TARTING January 18, 2016, Davao Light full service center will resume operations at C. Bangoy Sr. Street (formerly Ponciano Reyes Street). Davao Light full service center caters to bill payments and all its customer services like billing inquiries and complaints, and electric service applications. Services will be open from Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A self-service payment kiosk called 1Pay Machine will also be available at the Poncia-

no full service center. Customers may pay in full, advance or partial for both green and red bills through this machine. Payments can be made using peso bills only. Meanwhile, Davao Light full service centers at SM Lanang and at SM City Davao will continue to serve customers daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. For other payment options, customers may check the back portion of their bills for the list of third party collecting agents.

Check all convenience stores for violations of smoking ban By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Business Bureau will also inspect other convenience stores in the city to see if they sell cigarettes and serve food and drinks at the same time. In yesterday’s Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong media briefing at Sangguniang Panlungso building, Business Bureau head Lawrence said convenience stores with refreshment parlors are not allowed to sell cigarettes under the New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City. Bantiding said he will verify information that Caltex Mini Mart branches also sell

cigarettes even though they serve food and drinks within their premises. “I have to check with the permit of Caltex Mini Mart and if proven that these are accommodation establishments (then) they are also not allowed to sell cigarettes,” he said. Bantiding said the attention of 7-Eleven was called because the city’s Anti-Smoking Task Force issued a permit to sell cigarettes to the store without knowing that it is an accommodation establishment or one that serves food and drinks. He said the task force had already issued four permits

to 7-Eleven branches before it found in its inspections that the store is an accommodation establishment. Bantiding said it was a good thing the management of 7-Eleven immediately removed all cigarettes upon receiving the order from the task force. In a letter to 7-Eleven management dated November 23, city administrator and task force chair Jesus Melchor Quitain said the convenience stores violated City Ordinance No. 0367, otherwise known as the “New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City” based on the investigation conduct-

ed by the Anti-Smoking Task Force. He said 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. With a report from MindaNews

Lavapie said it could not be denied that the illegal drug trade is still going on inside the jail perpetrated by some visitors and even some jail personnel despite the strong advocacy of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte. “Hindi natin makakaila na meron pa rin talagang droga na umiiral hindi lang sa Davao City kundi sa lahat na rin ng kulungan (We cannot deny the

fact there is really a drug problem not just in Davao City but in other detention facilities),” he said. Lavapie said a proposed resolution that prohibits the sneaking in of, use, and carrying of any form of contraband inside the jail and other detention areas in the city will be a big help to fully implement his goal. “It is one way of eradicat-

ing the anomalies inside the jail,” he said. Under section 6 of the proposed ordinance, a first-time violator will be fined P1,500 or render community service for 24 hours, with subsidiary imprisonment for non-compliance of the service. For the second offense, the violator will be fined P3,000 or render community service

New warden vows to eradicate drugs, contraband from city jail T

HE new Davao City Jail warden vowed to eradicate the problems of illegal drugs, cigarettes, and other contraband inside the detention facility. In an interview yesterday after his courtesy call to the City Council, Davao City Jail warden Superintendent Jonathan Lavapie said he wants to implement changes inside the jail.

F NEW, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

Water service interruption in Punta Dumalag Friday

I SWEAR. Newly-installed councilor John Christopher Mahamud (right) takes his oath before presiding officer Councilor Louie John Bonguyan as the new chair of the committee of ethics and good governance and as a member of various committees of the City Council during yesterday’s regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr.

AVAO City Water District advises of a water service interruption on January 15 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM affecting the entire Punta Dumalag in Matina Aplaya. This water service interruption will give way to the tapping and looping of the newly installed 4-inch diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 6-inch diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at San Isidro Village, Punta Dumalag. Once completed, said project will allow for accommodation of additional service connections. DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected cus-

tomers. He also advises them to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruption. Water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise. The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to latest daily water updates. They may also call / text 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293 and 09084410653 for other updates, complaints, queries and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

AGUINDANAO Governor Esmael Mangudadatu Tuesday recommended the continuation of state of emergency (SOE) and stricter implementation of election gun ban. The province has been under SOE since November 2009 following the Maguindanao massacre, the country’s worst election related violence. Then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared SOE to intensify the recovery of loose firearms of the then Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., tagged as the brain behind the carnage. Fifty-eight persons were killed, more than half were journalists, when Ampatuan’s followers slaughtered the victims in a hilly portion of Ampatuan town. Mangudadatu told reporters he believed the retention of SOE in Maguindanao will ensure peaceful, orderly and safe 2016 elections.

”We should allow the voters to freely choose their candidates, let’s do away with dirty politics,” Mangudadatu said, apparently referring to all political aspirants in May’s national and local elections. ”We want the SOE to stay for the safety of our people, especially during this election period,” Mangudadatu said. Most, if not all, of 36 towns in Maguindanao are considered to be home to loose firearms in the hands of lawless elements, private armed groups and Moro rebel groups. The SOE also covers Cotabato City which hosts the regional center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but is part of Administrative Region 12. As the implementation of gun ban entered its third day, ARMM officials expressed support to the campaign to ensure the upcoming balloting will be peaceful and bloodless political

Stricter gun ban ‘No link between bombing urged in ARMM suspects and land owners’ M T HERE is no direct link between the perpetrators behind the Christmas eve bombing of Tower 25 of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Lanao del Sur and the family who has unsettled claims with the government over this land, an official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said on Monday. Speaking in Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City, Romeo Montenegro, director for Investment Promotion, International Relations and Public Affairs, told reporters that it is not conclusive whether the owners who were recently identified by NGCP as Johnny Sambitori, Intan Sambitori, and Naguib Sambitori have hands in the incident, which resulted in

First election casualty

the isolation of the Agus 1 and Agus 2 hydroelectric plants from the Mindanao grid. He said Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. will convince the family to allow the NGCP personnel entry so that they can start the reconstruction works on the toppled tower and construction of emergency restoration tower (ERS) to temporarily connect Agus 1 and 2 to the grid. Montenegro added he has no information yet how much is the Sambitoris’ unsettled claims with the National Power Corporation (Napocor), which was then in charge of generation and transmission of electricity, but it may go over millions of pesos. He said Tower 25, located at Ditsaan-Ramain in Lanao del Sur, was built 60 years ago

Surigao del Norte council bet slain

RETIRED police official running as councilor in the municipality of Tagana-an in Surigao del Norte was shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects Monday morning, apparently becoming Mindanao’s first casualty since the election period officially started Sunday. Authorities identified the victim as Danrevel Tuldanes Etac, 62, a retired policeman and former councilor of the said town. He was driving his motorcycle on his way home to Tagana-an when the two suspects tailed him and shot him several times along the national highway in Barangay San Isidro in Placer, an adjacent town, police said.

SPO2 Alan Yap Badajos, of the Placer police office, said Etac was shot six times by unidentified suspects using a caliber .45 pistol, but only four hit him in the different parts of the body, causing his instantaneous death. Badajos said the suspects fled towards the neighboring Sison municipality. The victim was brought to the Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital but the attending physician said Etac was already dead by the time his body reached the hospital. Though police could not yet determine if the killing had something to do with politics, Tagana-an has always been an election hotspot. Roel Catoto/ MindaNews

by Napocor. In 2001, the year when Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) was passed into law, the grid operation was relegated to the newly created National Transmission Corporation (TransCo). When privatization came in 2007, the TransCo concession was awarded to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Montenegro added they are yet to verify whether the land the Sambitori claimed as theirs has a title. Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada, in an interview with reporters during the inauguration of Therma South Inc.’s (TSI) 300-megawatt coalfired power plant in Binugao, Toril, this city, told reporters

that they are still verifying whether some of the claimants, including the locations of the other NGCP towers in Mindanao, have been paid already for the right of way. She said most claims have already been paid, but they are still looking for the records for those that have not been paid yet. “We still have to check if the claims are still valid, and as to how much, and if the amount is reasonable,” she said. Monsada said that in the case of Tower 25, the Sambitoris refused NGCP personnel entry, demanding that they be paid first with their claims. She added that the cost of repair works on damaged towers will be passed on to the consumers through the

F NO LINK, 10

F STRICTER, 10

LOOK MA, NO HELMET. A motorcycle rider and his passenger traverse the national highway in Toril, Davao City without helmets, a rampant problem in the area which the City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO) is planning to address this year by hiring18 additional enforcers. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EO for Halal body set for signing By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T CRABLETS RELEASED. Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon leads local officials in releasing king crablets along the Tancuan Creek in Barangay Bincungan which is eyed to increase the population of the said specie in the said area. Joining the mayor is Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and DIDP Executive Director Atty. Wendel Avisado. Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum

Tagum LGU seeks to hike crab yield O

VER 500 crablets of the Scylla serrata specie of the king crab, also known as mud crab, were ceremoniously released last January 8 at Tancuan Creek, Barangay Bincungan during the 1st Crab Seeding Ceremony spearheaded by the City Government of Tagum through the City Agriculture’s Office. The hatchlings were released at the mangrove reforestation area of the said barangay to undergo a grow-out phase where the young crabs would be raised and grown for a period of three to four months until they reach marketing size and weight. City Agriculturist Engr. Harold S. Dawa said the crablets would grow to about 1.5 kilos to 2 kilos in a matter of seven months and would fetch an income of P400 to P600 per kilo before adding that the ceremony would serve as the start

of the production of king crabs by the city government. The newly-released cast of crabs was hatched from the newly-inaugurated P3-million Liboganon Multi-Species Hatchery, which is said to have a capacity of hatching and producing a total of 76,800 crablets per quarter. The city government intended to extend the knowledge of crab culture and technology to the fisherfolks after the initial crab disposal activities. Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon was joined by Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario, Davao Integrated Development Program executive director, Atty. Wendel Avisado and other key officials and personnel of the local government as well as stakeholders of the city during the event. Richi D. Gulle/CIO Tagum

HE City Government of Cotabato is geared to a more productive and investment filled 2016, officials said Monday. “The year 2016 will be a full packed year for the City Government of Cotabato,” Aniceto Rasalan, secretary to Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., said in a statement. With its several achievements in 2015, the city government has planned to sustain the level of development that this city has attained. ”This year, the main focus will still be on the economic progress, peace and order, and social protection,” Rasalan said. While 2015 was a good

year for Cotabato City since it was founded 57 years ago, Rasalan said there are still areas that need further improvement. This year, the city government will be strengthening its ties with the law enforcers, line agencies, the private sector, and its other partners in order for these problems be given proper solutions. Rasalan said the areas that need immediate solutions are the traffic congestion in the main thoroughfares of the city, the increasing number of public utility vehicles that are illegally operating in the city, the ambulant vendors, and other illegal structures like termi-

Cotabato City gears for more projects T

FCOTABATO, 10

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) is working for the signing of the executive order this week that will lead to the creation of the Davao City Halal Industry Development Council. Marilou W. Ampuan, newly-installed chairman of the Halal committee of TCP, said the council is an important body in their bid to position the city as Halal center for tourism and investment. “The purpose of this council is to promote the development and growth of the Halal

Industry in davao City with the support of all relevant stakeholders from the government and private sector,” Ampuan said in yesterday’s Davao Business Forum at Dermpath at SM City Davao. Ampuan said the EO will support the existing Davao City Halal Ordinance as well as the newly-launched Philippine Halal Tourism Project of the Department of Tourism (DOT). “The implementing body was not identified in the current city ordinance,” she said, adding that the order to be signed by the city mayor will

give teeth to city regulation on the development of the Halal industry. Ampuan said once the EO is signed, the council will then be formed and to be chaired by the Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce and co-chaired by the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC). Among its members will be the representatives from different national government offices like the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Sci-

FEO, 10

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

High hopes on new Congress By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said the new set of congress will provide “fresh hopes” in pushing for legislative agenda that will improve Philippines’ competitiveness and compliance with the Asean integration. “There are still some of the regulatory hurdles that the government has to go through in order to keep pace with the compliance and ability of all other Asean countries to take advantage in the Asean integration,”Romeo Montenegro, MinDA director for investment pro-

motions and public affairs, said in Tuesday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex. Montenegro is referring to the pending modernization of customs policies as well as other economic policies that will improve the ease of business here. “The entry of new congress provides us fresh hopes of being able to put forward these legislatives agenda to a new set of lawmakers that would be able to look at necessity of these priority bills that will allow the Philippines able to take advantage of the Asean integration,” he

said. Montenegro said many of the policies were already signed into law last year like the Anti-Competition law and the Loading and Co-loading Act of the Philippines which amended the Cabottage Law but many policies are still pending in the congress. In terms of compliance rate, he said the Philippines is ranging around 90 percent. The start of the year 2016 was also the “reckoning poin” of the integration of the 10 member countries of the Asean. While the ease of do-

ing business is better and the cost of doing business is cheaper in other countries, the Philippines is still on the stage where it still target to make business operation here cheaper. The high transport cost as well as the prohibiting regulations like the 60-40 percent ownership in foreign businesses continues to drive away foreign investors. Montenegro said other Asean countries like Vietnam and Laos continued to be destination for manufacturers because of lower cost of electricity and better logistic

and transport system. “The cost electricity in these nations is ranging an average of P3 per kilowatt hour, while ours is P10 on average,” he said. “This is essential in the business operation because it comprise the 40 percent of production cost.” He said the archipelagic structure of the country is still another challenge in improving its connectivity to other member nations. The cost of domestic shipping here is farmore expensive than of the international direct shipping which is only pegged at US$1,600

NorCot farmers brace for rodent attacks

MOBILE BUSINESS. A woman buys native delicacies such as cassava rolls and pilipit from a street vendor in an alley along R. Magsaysay Avenue yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Aboitiz awaiting exploration permit for renewable facility development

HE exploration of approximately 18,000 hectares of conservation area in Mt Talomo and Mt. Apo for geothermal energy sources will start shortly after the Aboitiz Power Renewables Inc. secures all permits. AboitizPower, the firm in charge, started to secure permits for the exploration last year. The one-year permitting period is expected to end this year for the development of the renewable energy facility which has a target installed capacity of 200megawatts (MW). “Maybe this year, our permit to explore fully (Mt. Apo and Mt. Sibulan) will be approved by the energy department,” said Manuel M. Orig, AboitizPower 1st vice president for Mindanao affairs.

Orig said the firm already secured the endorsement of the local government units within the exploration area and still waiting for the approval of their permit for exploration for the Mt. Apo Geothermal Project (MAGP) from the Department of Energy (DOE). Once secured, the firm will be exploring the areas of Davao and Digos, including in the areas of Magpet in North Cotabato and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur for geothermal energy source. Earlier reports said the company will conduct surface exploration for geothermal resources inside its contract areas that cover the Mt. Talomo-Tico contract area consisting 8,586 hectares and the Mt. Sibulan-Kapatagan contract area that covers 8,910

hectares, Apart from surface exploration that will verify the existence, sufficiency, and suitability of geothermal resources, the firm will also introduce the power project to respective local government units and other stakeholders and indigenous peoples living around the area. Orig said the project will be only pursued if the result of the exploration shows that there’s a presence of at least 50MW in the area. The board, he said, is still assessing s to how much will be the budget allocated for the exploration adding geothermal power is the most expensive power to produce. The company will pursue the project as part of its desire to increase their renewable energy portfolio, according to

Orig. Erramon I. Aboitiz earlier said the power company is targeting to increase it energy portfolio to 2,000 MW by 2020 with a current RE portfolio of close to 1,000MW representing close to 40 percent of the firms total generating capcity. AboitizPower has also other RE projects which include the 69MW hydroelectric power plant in Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon that will be operational by 2017. “AboitizPower is committed to support the Mindanao Energy Development Plan of the DOE and Mindanao Development Authority, which are both pushing for a balance of renewable and none renewable sources of power in the region,” Aboitiz said. CHENEEN R. CAPON

and US$ 500, respectively. The lack of processing centers and manufacturing companies in Mindanao left producers here to export their raw produce to smaller markets. “If Mindanao wanted to take advantage of the Asean integration, the mind set should be leading to establishments of more processing center here so that we will not only produce raw materials but also value added products that are directed toward larger markets like the Asean and other bigger markets,” he said.

ESIDE the feared El Nino phenomenon that expected to hit hard during the first three months of the year, rice farmers in North Cotabato’s rice granary are facing anew its worst enemies – rats. Disaster officials here reported that palay farmers in at least nine villages have declared “failure” of this quarter’s cropping season as thousands of rats have feasted on palay already in its vegetative stage while they were all asleep. ”Failure” is a jargon used by farmers when rice farming resulted in deficit as compared to the amount of input used per hectare. David Don Saure, Kabacan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) chair, said as of Monday, the rat infestation has destroyed close to PHP13 million worth of palay and corn crops in nine barangays. Saure said the rodents

attacked about 100 hectares of rice fields in the villages of Bangalan, Cuyapon, Dagupan, Lower Paatan, Katidtuan, Malamote, Upper Paatan, Simone and Pedtad, affecting more than 1,000 rice and corn farmers. Saure said the massive infestation could be attributed to climate change and the onset of El Nino phenomenon. Rats normally go astray into rice and corn fields because of warm temperature due to dry spell. It preys on ready to harvest crops in the middle of the night when farmers are asleep and the surroundings were silent. Saure said the municipal government is mulling of extending rodenticides to farmers to contain the infestation in adjacent villages and save rice production. Kabacan is the primary producer of agricultural crops that include corn, rice, soy-

F NORCOT, 10

Manufacturing sector growth accelerates in November 2015

ROWTH in the manufacturing sector accelerated in November 2015, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). In the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries for November 2015, the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) grew by 7.5 percent, significantly faster than its 1.7-percent growth in the previous month. Also, the Value of Production Index (VaPI) increased by 1.0 percent in the same month after posting declines since April 2015. “The increased growth in manufacturing despite the continued weak global demand shows the resiliency of our domestic economy. This could also potentially support stronger fourth-quarter 2015 growth of the industry,” said Economic Planning

Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan. He added that the sector is expected to grow further until December 2015 on the back of robust domestic demand, increased inflow of remittances, stable inflation, and low fuel prices. “We must aggressively pursue efforts to encourage innovation to help the manufacturing sector realize its potential as driver of economic growth. We have to explore and invest in new technology to enhance existing product base to maintain competitiveness in the regional and global market,” said Balisacan, who is also NEDA Director-General. For consumer goods, tobacco maintained its robust growth in November 2015, posting a 52.7- and 54.1-percent growth rate in volume and value of production, respectively, despite the

FMANUFACTURING, 10

7 BIGGER PICTURE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

A pregnant teenager (Taken from Wikipedia)

Children having children By Henrylito D. Tacio

(First of Two Parts)

OAN was only ten when she came to Davao City. That was the time when her parents got separated; her father left the family for another woman. Joan is the youngest of the four siblings, so she was brought to the city to live with her grandmother. Her mother decided to work abroad to support the children. Without her parents, life was not rosy at all for Joan. When there were problems, she had no one to talk to – except friends who are also her age. She wouldn’t dare consult her grandmother, whom she considered very strict. Then, something happened that really changed her life completely. She was already 16 when she attended the Junior-Senior Promenade together with her boyfriend, who’s a year older. It was not the party the students were longing for. There was dancing but drinking of anything alcoholic was prohibited. Wanting to have more fun, some of the students, including Joan, decided to sneak out from the party. The group went to a nearby bar and imbibed some beers and wines. They were laughing out loud until some of them became drunk. Joan also drank too many. Before she knew it, she passed out. The following day, she woke up naked in bed with her boyfriend. Something happened between the two of them that night; she lost her virginity. Joan went home and told no one about what had happened. A month later, she broke up with her boyfriend

when she discovered that he was also dating another girl. She was more devastated when she found out that she was pregnant. It may be preposterous that a teenager like Joan is already pregnant at 16 but such is the reality these days. One in 10 young women in the Philippines is already a mother or pregnant with her first child, according to the final results of the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) done by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). “One in ten young Filipino women age 15-19 has begun childbearing: 8% are already mothers and another 2% are pregnant with their first child,” it said. “Among young adult women age 20 to 24, 43% are already mothers and 4% are pregnant with their first child.” Early childbearing, the survey found, is more com-

mon in Caraga (38%) and Cagayan Valley (37%) than other regions. In Davao region, only 4% of teenagers were pregnant early with their first child. Studies conducted by the World Bank from 2000 to 2003 ranked the Philippines as one of the top 10 countries with an increasing number of teenage mothers. Seven out of 10 Filipina mothers are adolescents; most of them are below 19 years old. “It is unlikely that a sexually active teenager will settle with a single partner for life,” says Dr. Mildred R. Yutuc, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Caloocan City. In fact, there are some girls who claim that they engage in casual sex with acquaintances. In her more than two decades of medical practice, Dr. Yutuc seldom encounters sexually active teenage pa-

Melgar, Likhaan’s executive director, told Channel News Asia, “not just physically to save their lives because of the risks of early pregnancy, but also economically, because we know that young people who are able to have opportunities are the people who are able to delay sexual engagements, especially having pregnancies.” The United Nations Population Fund A teenager having a baby (IPS, from the net) echoes the same concern. “Pregnancies tients until in the past three years. “I have observed that among girls less than 18 the number of single moth- years of age have irreparable ers who ask for help regard- consequences,” deplores the ing sex-related problems New York-based UN agency. “It violates the rights of girls, gets younger,” she says. “Sex outside of marriage with life-threatening consewith multiple partners has quences in terms of sexual consequences,” Dr. Yutuc and reproductive health, writes in an article which ap- and poses high development peared in Health and Home. costs for communities, par“And when the girl is only in ticularly in perpetuating the her teens, the consequences cycle of poverty.” According to Dr. Yutuc, are truly serious.” teen mothers – like any oth“Many of the youth are er teens – are still growing in clueless that even on a single matters of physical, emotionintercourse, they could wind al, and social developments. up pregnant,” wrote obstetri“Should they fail to get their cian-gynecologist Rebecca S. parents’ support, these teen Singson of the Asian Hospital mothers would have inadeand Medical Center in a feaquate prenatal care and beture published in Philippine come undernourished, ” the Daily Inquirer. Women’s groups are lady physician warns. In a study conducted by alarmed by the recent steady the American Medical Assoincrease in teen pregnancies ciation, it was found out that in the country. “We need to stress that delaying the babies born to women who age of pregnancies are im- do not have regular prenaportant for them,” Dr. Junice tal care are four times more

likely to die before the age of one year. Teen mothers are also at higher risk of serious medical complications. These include: pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia, significant anemia, placenta previa, premature birth/prolonged labor, lowbirth weight infant with underdeveloped organs, and post-partum depression. “Death rate from pregnancy complications is higher for 15 years old and younger,” writes Dr. Yutuc. “Pregnancy during the teenage years is a frustrating situation, one that comes unexpected,” wrote one concerned mother in her blog. “For a student facing unintended pregnancy, the physical, emotional and spiritual issues can seem overwhelming.” Why is teen pregnancy becoming rampant these days? Some experts believe it’s because of lack of sex education. “Unfortunately, even sexuality education is being challenged and opposed by conservative forces in the Philippines,” Dr. Melgar said. “Whether we like it or not, whether parents approve it or not, the young people are getting all source of information from the Internet, from their peers, etc. “And if there’s no authoritative voice that tells uniformly on a standard basis what’s the harm, what are the risks, how can young people avoid the risk of early pregnancy?” Dr. Melgar asked. “Then the risks to young people will stay as is, or could even increase the incidence of teen pregnancies in the country.” (To be concluded)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EDITORIAL Be careful out there

NE of the peculiarities of the 2016 election is that is the first electoral exercise in which a cybercrime law is in effect in the country. Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, addresses legal issues concerning online interactions and the internet in the country and includes offenses like cybersquatting, cybersex, child pornography, identity theft, illegal access to data, and libel. For the most part, the law is an important one and puts the Philippines squarely in the 21st century as far as information and communication technology is concerned. There really needed to be a law that would address crimes that are rampant in the internet, especially child pornography for which the Philippines was fast being notorious. In many ways, RA 10175 was a step in the right direction and has made other countries more confident about their online security here. The problem with the law, however, is that it also includes online libel and has even increased the penalty one degree higher, that is, from a maximum of four years and 2 months (prision correccional) to a maximum of eight years. The new law has been criticized for constituting prior restraint to the freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and this is now going to be put to the test as the May election approaches. Indeed, we are already getting a warning from Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) spokesperson Superintendent Jay Guillermo, who recently warned that “paid trolls” spreading destructive memes against politicians, particularly those running in the national elections this year,

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

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

may be charged with online libel. His warning was particularly directed to groups that are paid by politicians to defame their rivals on social networking sites that harsher penalties await them, but it may very well apply to everyone who’s online. This can actually be seen in the statement of Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, who advised netizens in general to “be careful” when posting on Facebook, Twitter, and other sites. “If you’re uploading information on the Internet, you have to examine the proper words you will be using para hindi ka makasira. Neutral lang dapat dahil malaki ang audience when you are uploading information on the Internet,” Mayor was quoted as saying. If that is not prior restraint, then we don’t know what is. Such statements have a chilling effect on those who want to be free to express their opinions about any person, a right that is especially important as candidates try to convince the people to vote for them. Without the freedom to reveal the truth about and to express opinion about candidates, the people will have no basis to make educated decisions on whom to vote for. We’re all for civility and self-restraint, but these are values that come from inside a person, not imposed by any authority. With the Supreme Court declaring the online libel provision of RA 10175 constitutional, we fear the worst as candidates use this to prevent people from writing against them online. Be careful out there.

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

Car ownership and the great Filipino dream (Part 1)

AR ownership is a legitimate aspiration. Perhaps a sign of a growing Filipino middle class In Metro Manila, it is compounded by the need to ensure that all the days of the week, a car is available for use by the owner. Hence the term ‘pang coding” emerged to describe the need for a backup vehicle for use when the primary car is disallowed in compliance with the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, also known as the number coding scheme, where, as most Manilans know, certain cars are not allowed on certain city streets on major parts of the day. Car ownership as part of the Filipino dream Nonetheless, owning a car is pretty much be the third leg of the Filipino dream. The first is owning your own home, which brings together the psychological need for certainty and security which opposes centuries of programming as landless peasants beholden to landlords. The second leg, for the most part, is ensuring that all the children finish school. A lot of anxiety surrounds this since the cost of pre-

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

ECENTLY, I received a press statement from the University of the Philippines League of Agricultural Biotechnology Students (UP LABS) on its “expression of dissent over the Supreme Court Ruling on Bt talong and nullification of DA AO 08-2002.” I am sure that most Filipinos know it already as the court ruling was published in most major dailies and local publications across the country. Perhaps, not too many people know the statement of UP LABS which is supported by the following academic organizations: Biology Majors Alliance of the Philippines, UP College of Agriculture Student Council, UP College of Science Student Council, UP School of Statistics Student Council, Rizal Technological University College of Arts and Sciences Student Council, UP Agricultural Society, UP Los Baños Chemical Society, UPLB Genetics Society, UP Pabvlvm Scientia Sodalitas, UPLB DOST Scholars’ Society, UP Beta Kappa Fraternity, UP Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Society, UP Physician-Scientists Association, RTU Organization of Biotechnology Students, Our Lady of Fatima University-Quezon Campus League of Biology Enthusiasts and RTU Interactive Psychology Students Association. “The UP League of Agricultural Biotechnology Students is deeply saddened over the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling against Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) talong and its respondents,” the statement said. “Three countries have started developing this crop almost at the same time; two of these countries, India and Philippines, who were expected to commercialize the product first, have been stopped due to rulings of the Executive and Judiciary branches of their respective governments.” The statement said that Bangladesh, a fellow developing country, “has already approved and has been consuming Bt eggplant since 2014. And, upon its market release, no incidence of harmful effects to the environment and humans were reported. The approval of the Bt eggplant in Bangladesh was due to the political will and strong support of its govern-

ferred private MY TWO CENTS’ education has risen to a proportion that pretty much takes a third of the family’s monthly budgets and on an annual basis has become a John Tria variable cost, as tuition and othecisouth@gmail.com er fees rise at between 5 and 10 percent yearly. Owning a car helps give us the feeling that we have options, as opposed to being trapped in a set of undesirable circumstances, the manifestation of which is decades of being subject to the inefficient public transport system. For Metro Manila residents, you can add the horror of the breakdown of the Metro Rail System and walking on train tracks in the midday heat.

Vehicle demand growing As such, Philippine demand for new vehicles has been steadily growing at about 10% year on year for the past six years, booming to 21% in the first half of 2015. In a January 12 GMA news report, American Chamber of Commerce adviser John Forbes cites data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines that the current 350,000 vehicle per year demand will increase to 500,000 by 2020. This makes the Philippines a major market for cars. As fuel prices remain low in the medium term due to Middle East tensions and other factors, buying, owning, and driving your own car is a viable option for many, hence the demand for cars.

Reviving steel and car manufacture brings jobs With the recent approval of the long awaited Motor Vehicle Industry roadmap and the call of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for the revival of our steel industry, the stage is set for renewed calls to revive our car assembly and manufacturing industry, which combine forces

for the renaissance of Philippine manufacturing in general. If our growing middle class will increasingly obtain the opportunity to buy and own their own car and house, then the manufacturing of cars and car parts, paints, and even fabric for seats, will push the creation of more businesses and jobs. According to the Department of Trade and Industry in its website, “In 2013, the industry estimates that it has directly employed 8,000 workers in automotive manufacturing, whereas approximately 68,000 jobs have been generated in auto parts manufacturing. An estimated 340,000 are employed in auto-supporting industries.” Thus, the economic multiplier potential of an increased manufacturing automobiles cannot be overstated. In the 1980s then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad led the establishment of Malaysia’s car manufacturing program, culminating in the launching of the renowned Proton brand now ubiquitous on Malaysian highways. Apart from shoring up Malay pride and giving many the opportunity to own a car, this program reportedly gave jobs for many Malaysians. To be concluded

to the approval of the Bt corn, there were no reported environmental and health problems were brought out from the consumption and production of Bt Corn. “This was because before approval, strict food and environmental safety tests were conducted,” the press statement said. “The nullification of DA-AO 08 and subsequent halting of the application, commercialization and importation of GM crops until a new Administrative Order is promulgated may decelerate agricultural development in the country,” the statement deplored. “This will also impede the continuing researches on other modern biotechnology projects (e.g. golden rice, virus resistant and delayed-ripening papaya, and Bt cotton), consequently, these may cause the delay and loss of thesis and research grants for our fellow students, interns, researchers and scientists.” The result: “With lesser opportunities to hone their expertise in the Philippines, the graduates may seek greener pastures in other countries. Also, the youth might be discouraged to pursue a degree in specialized sciences because of the lack of institutional support, appreciation and incentives.” Not only that, according to the statement. “The (SC) decision may slow down the corn-related businesses in the Philippines. If the permit on allowing Bt corn is included in the enjoined decision, more than 415,000 corn farmers, poultry and livestock growers, feed millers, will be greatly affected. The P 90 billion-worth corn industry may suffer major losses on their income. We may no longer be self-sufficient in corn production because of the decision.” Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis. “Bt talong was developed by genetically engineering a gene from the bacteria so that the genetically modified eggplants now produce a protein that defends it against insect attacks,” explained Dr. Michael Purugganan, a Filipino plant geneticist who is the Dean of Science at the New York University. “When ingested by the larvae of the target

insect, the Bt protein is activated in the gut’s alkaline condition and punctures the mid-gut leaving the insect unable to eat. The insect dies within a few days,” noted a briefing paper circulated by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). Bt is present in the Philippine soil and had been in use for years without any harmful effects. As it comes from the earth itself, Bt is very natural, according to Dr. Emiliana Bernardo, an entomologist or a scientist who studies insects. In 1901, Bt was discovered to have an insecticidal property. By the 1950s, it became a wellknown biological insecticide. “Bt is easily cultured by fermentation,” the ISAAA briefing paper said. “Thus, over the last 40 years, Bt has been used as an insecticide by farmers worldwide. Organic farming has benefited from Bt insecticide, as it is one of the very few pesticides permitted by organic standards. The insecticide is applied either as a spray or as ground applications. It comes in both granules and liquefied form.” But the big question is: Is the Bt protein found in Bt talong safe for non-target organisms? On tests conducted on dogs, guinea pigs, rats, fish, frogs, and even birds, the Bt protein was found not to have any harmful effects, according to Extension Toxicology Network (Extoxnet), a pesticide information project of several US universities. “The specificity of Bt for its target insects is one of the characteristics that make it an ideal method of biological pest control,” the ISAAA briefing paper said. “The specificity rests on the fact that the toxicity of the Bt protein is receptor-mediated. This means that for an insect to be affected by the Bt protein, it must have specific receptor sites in its gut where the proteins can bind. Fortunately, humans and majority of beneficial insects do not have these receptors.” According to Dr. Bernardo, cooking the Bt eggplant can completely denature the Bt protein. “It is non-detectable in any cooked food therefore there is no human exposure to Bt proteins in eating cooked Bt crops,” she said.

Dissent on Bt talong

ment officials to THINK ON THESE! uplift the socio-economic status of their farmers.” According to the statement, the Biosafety Regulatory Framework of Bangladesh was also referred to Henrylito D. Tacio the Philippine henrytacio@gmail.com Biosafety Guidelines of 1991. Now, Bangladeshis’ benefit from the 70-90% reduction in insecticide use, consequently increasing the net income of their farmers – the true purpose of developing Bt crops. “We are also greatly dismayed on the nullification of the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order (DAAO) 08 series of 2002, the Biosafety Policy on Genetically-Modified (GM) Crops in the country,” the statement further said. “The expanded decision of the SC will bring major setbacks against the stakeholders and industry in the agriculture sector.” The UP LABS explained that DA Administrative Order 08-2002 is an issued policy by the agriculture department on the “Importation and Release into the Environment of Plants and Plant Products derived from the use of Modern Biotechnology.” “This Biosafety Regulation Policy crafted by DA gives additional mandate to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on issuing permits to promote the safe and responsible use of biotechnology,” the statement explained. “It also recognizes the policy of the state on acknowledging the potentials of modern biotechnology to improve the quality of life of the Filipino People.” The UP LBAS believed that “the biosafety regulation policy through DA-AO 08-2002 is a workable yet highly monitored protocol for processing products of modern biotechnology.” In its 13 years of implementation parallel

10 NEWS GUN... FROM 1

carry the caliber .45 pistol and seven bullets that were found in his possession. The suspect was detained at Sasa Police Station and will be charged for violation of the Omnibus Election Code of the

Philippines. The Comelec gun ban prohibits the carrying or transport of firearms or other deadly weapons in public places unless authorized in writing by the Comelec.

have been allocated. In contrast, Cayetano said that the national government has already spent over P300-B for Metro Manila’s Metro Rail Transit. He said the first phase of the Mindanao Railway System project will connect Iligan City to Gingoog City while the last phase will connect Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao to Malungon/General Santos City in the South. Cayetano said the railway system will spur development in Mindanao, create new townships which will decongest the

big cities, increase agricultural productivity and ensure sufficient supply of affordable food for the people. He also said that he will take up with his presidential running mate his proposal to rehabilitate and reactivate the railway systems from the Cagayan Valley Region and from the Bicol Region to Metro Manila. “These are very important infrastructure projects which will have huge impact on food supply, rural development and jobs generation,” Cayetano said.

for 120 hours with subsidiary imprisonment for non-compliance of the service. For third and subsequent offenses, the violator will be fined P5,000 or render community service of eight hours for a month with subsidiary imprisonment for non-compliance of the service. Under the draft, “contraband” refers to deadly and bladed weapons; metal cutting saw or blades and digging tools not permitted by the jail officers; cigarettes and other tobacco products; liquor, beer, coconut wine, and other intoxicating beverages; prohibited drug drugs and paraphernalia; cash which is more than the prescribed allowable, to include checks; mobile phone and electronic communication

devices; pornographic materials; gambling paraphernalia and other products prohibited by jail officials. The proposal aims to strengthen the implementation of security measures in the jail and prevent the occurrence of deaths, riots, hostage taking, and escape of inmates. The proposal also wants to prevent the inmates from coercing, intimidating, and threatening complainants and witnesses, order retaliation, orchestrate crimes, and organize rescue plans. The proposed ordinance will prevent the inmates from bribing jail officers or custodians since the possession of excessive amount of money will be prohibited. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

nals. “We need to really look into these areas as these are the ones that are constantly affecting our day to day activities,” he said. Rasalan said the city government would like to start 2016 right. “By starting it right we mean that we really need to implement what is stated by the law,” Rasalan said. One of the major projects of the city government in 2016 is the massive construction of additional school buildings and classrooms to help resolve the problem of insufficient classrooms for students now that the Department of Education is implementing the K to 12 program. Moreover, foreign investors are also expected to come to Cotabato City during the first quarter of this year to personally explore the city’s vast investment opportunities. Rasalan said the Halal Slaughterhouse will also be opened early this year. “The City Government is intensifying all its efforts in sustaining the developments that we have achieved in the past years so that we can invite more investors to come in and

subsequently reduce the city’s unemployment rate,” Rasalan added. The 2015 has been a very fruitful year for Cotabato City as it has been acknowledged by several award giving bodies. It has been recognized as one of the Top 3 Most Business Friendly Cities in the First Class City Category, Top 3 Most Child Friendly Cities in the Independent Component City Category, 4th place in the Search for the Most Competitive Cities in the Component City Category. It has also been given the Certificate of Recognition by the Department of Interior and Local Government for its efforts in Good Financial Housekeeping. Presently, Cotabato City has a total of 2,714 new investments including nine new investments with a capital amounting to 100 million pesos to PHP1.25 billion. It has welcomed two big malls, the Fiesta Mall and the Al Nor Mall, which opened in the last quarter of the year. Centro Department Store and PureGold, two famous department and grocery stores, have also started business last month. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

Cayetano... FROM 2

New... FROM 2

Cotabato... FROM 5

COURTESY CALL. Councilor Bernard Al-ag exchanges pleasantries with students from South Korea who are on a 20-day Davao City visit as part of their 2016 winter overseas culture experience. The students are members of the World Mission Society Church of God and will conduct missionary activities. Lean Daval Jr.

Stricter... FROM 4 and democratic exercises. Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman vowed to help the poll body implement ban on carrying of firearms throughout the region. Hataman said all the provincial police directors in all five provinces ordered to strictly impose Comelec’s firearm ban without fear or favor. “The ARMM government is in full support of the restriction on carrying of guns during the election period because it can help ensure a peaceful conduct of elections,” he told reporters.

As in other areas of the country, the Comelec gun ban started on Sunday in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, traditionally known as loose firearms’ depot in the country. Chief Supt. Ronald Estilles, police regional director for the ARMM, said local police officials were directed to enlist all stakeholders in the campaign and to help maintaining peaceful campaign period ahead of the May national and local elections. (PNA)

ence and Technology, Bureau of Food and Drugs, National Commission of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF). Ampuan said tourism related establishments like hotels and restaurants need to go through the council should they want to secure Halal certification from certifying bodies registered by NCMF. She said the local Halal industry faces challenges. “For instance, our Philippine logo for Halal certification is not yet credible and not yet recognized internationally,” Ampuan said. Under the proposed order, which already on its second endorsement, Ampuan said the city has to take the opportunity posted by the industry which recorded to a US$ 3.2

trillion income in the global Halal market in 2012 and is expected to grow twice by 2018. “This exclude banking and financing,” Ampuan said. Business opportunities in the global halal food market are not limited to food production, but the entire halal food chain, including businesses providing technology for food production, food inputs such as fertilizer and farm-raising livestock, according to him. She said many Muslim tourists find Davao City Halal-friendly, although the choice of Halal certified establishments is very limited. “There’s a need to further boost the marketing and promotion of the city as a Halal destination,” Ampuan said.

beans, peanut, mongo, cassava and other field crops. More known as the “Rice Granary of the Province of North Cotabato,” Kabacan farmers devoted most of its fertile domain to rice production with corn as secondary crop. Last year, the Department of Agriculture in Region 12 had called for community and local government unit partnership to combat rat attacks. DA-12 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Enriqueto G. Natividad said the government had gone beyond mere pest management and control. He told a news conference

of a proactive approach that will involve local governments and farmers themselves in eradicating rodent attacks. A comprehensive research is going on to understand rats in the rice fields and how to contain them in the face of climate change affecting most of the region. Last year, DA-12 distributed more than 400 kilograms of Zinc phosphide rodenticide throughout the region which is composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos. (PNA)

EO... FROM 5

NorCot... FROM 6

No link... FROM 4 electricity bills. Southern Mindanao, Monsada said, will not be that affected because of TSI’s operation. In an interview with Milfrance Capulong, NGCP spokesperson for Mindanao, she said that 16 towers were bombed in 2015, of which nine were toppled and seven were damaged, in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and Maguindanao. She said the rest of the towers, except for Tower 25, have been restored with the construction of emergency restoration structure (ERS), a temporary foundation made of steel that is propped up to deliver the power from the sources. Other than Tower 25, Towers 19 and 20, Tower 95, Tower 68, Tower 168, and Tower 153 were all bombed in December. The latest was Tower 4, bombed on December 28 at Barangay Nangka in the municipality of Baloi, Lanao del Norte. She said this was the worst in seven years since

2009, the year TransCo turned over the management and operation of nationwide transmission system to NGCP. Montenegro added that Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had been tapped to secure the towers and the safety of the personnel conducting restoration works and construction of towers in Mindanao. Unlike before when 100 percent of Mindanao’s power was derived from the Agus-Pulangui Hydropower Complex, he said that the island’s grid will not suffer from total blackout the towers are attacked because the grid now has various sources of power – coal, diesel, and renewable energy all across the island. “If one tower will be damaged, there are alternate redundant connectivity points that can be tapped by the NGCP,” Montenegro said. He said that new power plants have been built in areas with high demand for power. Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews

slowdown from its three-digit growth in the previous month. On the other hand, the food subsector continued to decline in both production volume and value,registering a contraction of 10.0 in volume and 9.8 percent in value. This is due to the plunge in the production triggered by the low demand for tuna products, low supply of agar, and inadequate supply of raw materials for the production of vegetable and animal oils. For intermediate goods, leather goods posted a double-digit growth of 23.7 and 24.9 percent in volume and value of production. For capital goods, basic metals grew by 25.1 and 11.3 percent, sustaining its robust growth from the previous month, offsetting its negative performance since May. The transport sector also grew by 9.5 in volume and 8.7 percent in value due to the sustained strong sales

in passenger and commercial vehicles. Meanwhile, the average capacity utilization slightly grew to 83.6 percent from 83.5 percent last year, with basic metals posting the highest utilization rate of 88.6 percent. Among surveyed firms, 25.4 percent are operating at full capacity (90-100%), 55.8 percent at (70-89%) and 18.8 percent operating at below (70%) capacity. “We need to raise the productive capacity of MSMEs by upgrading skills and improving access to financing, which will enhance their capacity to expand and participate in the global value chain,” the Cabinet official said. The business sector is expected to benefit from the realization of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC),which is expected to accelerate investments, create additional employment, and generate more income in the Philippines.

Manufacturing... FROM 6

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EDGEDAVAO STYLE

Visions of Baguio Plains & Prints’ Photographic Memories Collection SINCE THE BEGINNING, photography has been a source of inspiration and celebration. From that iconic photo of the Afghan Girl on the cover of National Geographic Magazine, to that image of the American sailor kissing a woman on Times Square on D-Day, to Anne Geddes’ photos of adorable babies, beautiful photographs are always a cause for celebration. On its 20th year, Plains and Prints is celebrating the genius of acclaimed lensmen Mark Nicdao and Wig Tysmans by digitally printing choice photographs on the brand’s anniversary collection, and coming up with truly special pieces that evoke inspiration and nostalgia. TELLING A STORY Fashion photographer Mark Nicdao has snapped photos of the who’s-who in the dazzling sartorial world. Nicdao has worked with not only local celebrities and models, but also

with international stars such as Paris Hilton and Adam Levine. He was also a nominee in the 2011 Asian Top Fashion Photographer Awards. He credits all this to his ability to tell stories with a single photograph. “I’ve always been fascinated with movies. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always loved films, especially the independent ones,” Mark recounts. “I suppose that’s how I learned how to tell stories with just a shot.” But apart from fashion, Mark also loves to shoot interesting locations. ‘’It’s what I call my ‘photography for leisure.’ I go on vacations and take photos of things that interest me. I especially like how I can be freely artistic with these shots,” he explains. On a trip to the Rajasthan region in India in 2008, Mark captured the mystery, color, culture, the life, the beat of this exotic destination through his lens. “It was really magical, that’s how I felt when I went to India. I’m sure a lot of people have been to India but for me, it’s special because I’ve never seen anything like it. Especially

VISIONS A4

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EVENT

Color U Countown party at Park Inn by Radisson Davao PARK INN BY RADISSON DAVAO celebrated the New Year Countdown on December 31, 2015 with a splash of colors and fun. Dubbed Color U Countdown party, the event gathered the city’s prominent families and residents. Guests were treated to a delightful gastronomic feast with the Roast Rib Eye and Lechon taking center stage. Another sight to behold was the Color U Dessert station with the Fantasy Tower Cake, Candy land, Jawbreaker Cake and Sunny Cake pops. The live acoustic band 22k serenaded the guests during dinner time while the featured band, Playlist entertained everyone towards the countdown. Host Nadia Shami livened up the guests with games and fun.

The crowd’s energy escalated during the raffle draw where 3 lucky winners took home Roundtrip tickets to Singapore for two, Roundtrip tickets to Cebu for two with Accommodation at Radisson Blu Cebu, Roundtrips tickets to Manila for two with Accommodation at Park Inn by Radisson Clark.

As minutes turned to seconds, at exactly twelve midnight, guests bid farewell to 2015 and they made a toast to the New Year 2016 with a glass of Martini. The New Year countdown event would not have been possible without the following sponsors: Silk Air, Cebu Pacific and Martini Spunante.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Daniel and Erich topbill ‘Be My Lady’ ABS-CBN opens 2016 with a light romantic comedy that sheds light on interracial relationships beginning this Monday (Jan 18) in “Be My Lady.” Follow the love story of certified ‘dalagang Pilipina’ Pinang and modern BrazilianJapanese guy Phil, played by real life couple Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales, as they find their way to each other’s hearts despite differences in language, beliefs and culture. Pinang grew up to a simple family with big dreams. To make ends meet, her mother Marcy (Janice De Belen) works in Singapore and tries her luck there in hopes

of earning money to reclaim the piece of land her husband Emil (Al Tantay) used to own and uses for farming. But things will not go her way as an unfortunate incident paves way for her to get deported. Phil, meanwhile, grew up in a very western and liberated environment. He is independent and lives a very comfortable life with his mother Chelsea (Priscilla Mereilles) in Singapore. A wedding of a dear friend suddenly brings him to the Philippines, which also gives him the long awaited chance of finding his childhood nanny who he want to make amends with. As he searches for a person very dear to

him in his past, Phil also finds the woman who will make his heart skip a beat like no other. How will the aggressive B r a z ilian -Jap ana e s e hunk grab ther eyes of the conservative and very reserved Pinay? Also joining the cast are Yayo Aguila, Almira Muhlach, Yves Flores, Karen Dematera, MJ Cayabyab, RK Bagatsing, Devon Seron, Karen Reyes, Mike Lloren, Ana Abad Santos, Perry Escano, Marife Necesito, and comedy trio No Direction.

“Be My Lady” is directed by Theodore Boborol and produced by the business unit led by Ruel Bayani with by production manager Mavic HolgadoOducayen, and creative manager Mel Mendoza Del Rosario. Don’t miss the highly anticipated premiere of “Be My Lady” this Monday (Jan 18) on ABSCBN. For updates follow @bemyladyabscbn on Twitter and Instagram or like www.facebook. com/bemyladyabscbn on Facebook.

Dennis Trillo, Betong Sumaya and Mikael Daez headline Filipino Festivals in the Middle East GMA International continues to touch the hearts of Filipinos in the Middle East through a commemoration of Filipino heritage and culture last December.

Celebrating the tenth year anniversary of its flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, GMA brought a taste of home to Filipinos in the region through a series of events featuring Dennis Trillo, Betong Sumaya and Mikael Daez. Kicking off the festivities in Dubai, Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo entertained kababayans at the Bayanihan Festival 2015 last December 4. The whole day event was spearheaded by the Bayanihan Festival Organizing Committee and the Philippine Consul General in Dubai and Northern Emirates with GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International as media sponsors. The huge turnout at the Al Mamzar Park warmly welcomed Dennis, who had enamored audiences both locally and abroad in the recently concluded drama series My Faithful Husband. With upbeat song numbers which enlivened the mood among the throngs of admirers, his performance was the highlight of the day’s program. The Kapuso Booth at the venue also drew a large crowd with various activities and a meet and greet with the awardwinning actor, wherein he gamely signed autographs and posed for photographs with each person in line.

Meanwhile, GMA International also took part in a significant occasion among the Filipino community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paying tribute to the hardworking overseas Filipino workers at the Philippine Fiesta sa Dammam last December 18. Leading the event in KSA were Kapuso leading man Mikael Daez, who co-starred with Dennis in My Faithful Husband, and the talented actor-comedian and Bubble Gang mainstay Betong Sumaya. As first time visitors to Saudi Arabia, both Mikael and Betong enjoyed meeting and spending time with their kababayans in the Kingdom. Organized in partnership with Lins Fip Music Production International and United Entertainment, the annual event drew countless participants from all over the Easter Province at the Cobra Amusement Park, Dammam Eastern Province, KSA. This year, the Philippine Fiesta sa Dammam coincided with the first-ever Filipino Expo Festival, a whole day event for the family

featuring booths, rides and backto-back live band performances from local Filipino talents. A dental medical mission was also conducted for the benefit of Filipinos in the region. “It is a great honor for GMA to be able to reach out to our fellow Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” shares GMA First Vice President for International Operations Joseph T. Francia. “Being able to gather the Filipino community in the country is a rare opportunity, and one which we truly grateful to have been given.” “On the heels of GMA Pinoy TV’s 10th anniversary in 2015, we welcome another year of bridging Filipinos abroad with their home country through significant events that promote Filipino heritage such as those in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, as well as our continued commitment to providing quality programming and services overseas,” he added. For more information on GMA shows, artists and international events, visit the website, www. gmapinoytv.com

January 13 – 14, 2016

OUR BRAND IS CRISIS Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton R13

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

SNOOPY & CHARLIE BROWN / *STAR WARS VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS Francesca Capaldi, Madisyn Shipman / *Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher G / *PG

12:00 | 2:00 LFS / *4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

MACBETH Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard R13

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

LUMAYO KA NGA SA AKIN Maricel Soriano, Herbert Bautist, Cristine Reyes, Candy Pangilinan PG

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

STYLE VISIONS A1

the people, the colors, everything,’’ Mark gushes. Mark always keeps his vacation shots in a safe place, he says, because at the back of his mind, he is planning to turn them into a book or something special in the near future. But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that his precious photos would be translated on clothes! These vacation shots in India are thus the ones to be featured by Plains & Prints for its Photo-Fashion Anniversary Collection. “When I saw the Plains and Prints pieces, I was very happy with the results. It’s as if I was transported back to the streets of India. It’s an achievement because a brand like Plains & Prints totally believed in me. Seeing those clothes, everything came back to me, those happy moments when I was shooting those pictures. It’s a proud moment. Not a lot of people go to India and I want to share it with everyone. It’s gonna be immortalized in the clothes,’’ Mark says. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Fans of revered portrait photographer Wig

Tysmans will be pleased to know that some of the snapshots closest to his heart are now immortalized on Plains and Prints’ anniversary collection. “These are photos I took of my children when my family still lived in Baguio. I wanted to capture the blue skies and I could only do that early in the morning. So I wake them up, we drive around, and I just let them run free while I take photos of them,” recalls Wig. The City of Pines will always remain as one of Wig’s great loves, more specifically, the Baguio of yore. ‘’There’s always beauty to find in Baguio. There’s also art there. When I was an Architecture student, we had all these dreams of zoning and planning Baguio city. It’s hard when it becomes the most desired place to live in. Even people build houses there as their second homes. But Baguio was designed for a population of only 20,000, and now it has about 400,000, and a million on peak season,’’ he explains. These photographs are extra unique because of a special technique Wig experimented with during the ‘70s. “The photos

are captured with infrared film. This means it has this special effect of making the skies really deep blue. Combined with the Baguio scenery of the late 70s and early 80s, it makes for an interesting photo, and now, interesting prints on clothes,” he adds. People often say that there is something about a Wig Tysmans photo that makes it unique, a stand

out even. “I guess you can say I have a certain lighting technique and I play with the use of shadows. But I have always believed in not restricting myself and trying out everything,” Wig says. Seeing Anne Curtis wear the Plains and Prints anniversary collection that carries his own photographs has made Wig feel nostalgic. He was even in tears, sort of!

‘’Because I never saw it like that when we discussed this with the creative team. I was surprised that the photos had been translated this way and I love it!’’ Wig enthuses. “The most I ever dreamt of was that my photos would be printed on a t-shirt, but this new collection goes way beyond that. The way it was done was also very tasteful, so I’m happy.” On its 20th year, Plains

and Prints continues to flourish as it showcases the Photo-Fashion Collection of Mark Nicdao and Wig Tysmans, in a fusion of photography and fashion that exudes nothing but elegance, style, creativity and inspiration. The Photographic Memories Collection is available at Plains & Prints stores at SM City Davao, Felcris Centrale, and Abreeza Mall.

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

AVP for Engineering Support Engr. Reynold Felix (center) and Distribution Network Department Manager Socrates Arce (center group, second from right) pose with the team that was sent off to Sorsogon on December 26, 2015 to assist in power restoration work after Typhoon Nona hit the area.

DLPC team winds up restoration work in Sorsogon A

DAVAO Light and Power Company (DLPC) team is winding up today (January 13, 2016) its work to help restore powerin Sorsogon which was directly hit by typhoon Nona.

The team, composed of 10 linemen, was sent to Sorsogon on December 26, 2015 to assist the team of Sorsogon 1 Electric Cooperative (SORECO 1) and volunteers from other distribution utilities in the line clearing,

ECHNOLOGY is increasingly playing a key role in empowering small businesses in order for these ventures to remain competitive and sustainable. As Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) realize the value of innovation in business longevity, a number of entrepreneurs have fully embraced the digital revolution to grow their businesses as highlighted by the first-ever Bozz Awards organized by Smart SME Nation. The Bozz Awards is a social media crowdsourcing search for the new generation of entrepreneurs known for spearheading a revolutionary change in business platforms through their use of technology. MobKard’s Carlo Calimon emerged as the Boss for Mobile Readiness for making his product accessible anytime and anywhere. MobKard digitizes and converts traditional plastic privilege cards. Kimstore’s Kim Lato won Boss for eCommerce for successfully maximizing the Internet as the world’s largest marketplace. Kimstore is a pioneer in online tech and gadget shopping in the country. The Boss for Social Responsibility effectively harnesses the power of technology for a notable cause and this honor went to Kristine Reyes-Lopez of Messy Bessy Cleaners, Inc. Messy Bessy produces and sells cleaning and personal care items made from all-natural materials, and help formerly abused, jailed and trafficked young adults. Jason Magbanua, who raised the bar for wedding videos in the country, was Boss for Social Media for successfully utilizing social media platforms to create meaningful connections with customers and grow an online community. TimeFree Innovations’ founder and CEO Chino Atilano was

Boss for Customer Service for creating a virtual queuing solution to improve customer service and build brand loyalty. As engine of economic growth, it is important for SMEs to have access to the same technology as the big players to level the playing field, to be flexible, responsive, and anticipate customer needs. Empowered with technology, SMEs can leverage a vast array of tools to establish competitive advantage and strengthen customer relationships. Latest government data showed the Philippine economy is driven mainly by micro, small and medium enterprises. Over 99 percent of business enterprises operating in the country are MSMEs. Data also showed that MSMEs generate almost 65 percent of the total jobs generated by business establishments. “Startups and small businesses have limited resources at their disposal, which is why we give them affordable communications solutions for seamless connectivity and mobility bundled with the latest gadgets without them having to spend a substantial chunk of their operating capital,” said PLDT First Vice President and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde. Smart Communications via Smart SME Nation has made technology accessible to entrepreneurs and small businesses with its suite of wireless solutions that bundles connectivity with the latest devices and gadgets so that constant connections with employees, suppliers, and customers is the least of their worries. It offers a range of broadband (Smart Bro, Smart LTE, iGate, FibrBiz), mobile voice (Smart Plans, Unified Communications as a Service), and bundled data and voice connectivity (Smart BizKit) all designed to meet the specific requirements of its clients.

Smart harnesses digital tech for SME growth T

primary and secondary line restoration, and pole erections in the said province. “The assistance that we give is not only limited to the areas where we operate especially in times of a calamity. By sending our team,

we hope to at least ease a little the current situation of the community. We’re also grateful to our linemen who chose to spend the holidays working to speed up restoration works in Sorsogon instead of being with their

Globe Telecom Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Marketing Issa Cabreira (center) formalizes the partnership of the telco with PTAA President Michelle Victoria (second from left) for the 23rd Travel Tour Expo with Globe as

families,” Davao Light’s assistant vice-president for engineering operations said Mark Valencia said. Davao Light, the third largest electric distribution utility in the Philippines, is one of the electric utilities

that first responded and extended help in the power restoration during the devastation of typhoon Pablo in Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental, super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas, and typhoon Glenda in Luzon.

official telco partner. Joining them are (from left) 23rd Travel Tour Expo chair Lulu Velasco, Globe Vice President for Roaming and International Business Coco Domingo, and PTAA co-chair Marciano Ragaza III.

Globe supports Phl’s biggest travel expo

S official telco partner to the 23rd Travel Tour Expo, Globe complements the international travel experience with its hassle-free and true 24-hour unlimited data roaming offer Roam Surf Globe Telecom is looking to support the growing number of Filipinos travelling abroad either for business or leisure purposes with its partnership with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) for the 23rd Travel Tour Expo, with Globe as official telecom partner. Globe will be showcasing its flagship data roaming service Roam Surf which offers full 24 hours of unlimited data roaming service that enables worry-free internet connectivity from over 80 countries around the world for its postpaid and prepaid customers. Organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, Inc. (PTTA) in cooper-

ation with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board, the Expo is the biggest event for the travel and tourism industry and is expected to gather over 300 exhibitors targeting travel and tourism trade practitioners, corporate and business travelers, holiday travelers, incentive and convention planners, government and business leaders, as well as direct buyers and investors. It will be held on February 5-7, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. “We are off to a great start this 2016 with our partnership with the PTAA. With our shared vision of providing the best and most convenient travel experience to the growing Filipino travel population, PTAA and Globe will come together to not only house the most hassle-free and value-for-money travel deals but to ensure that Filipino consumers understand that their

trips can be made even more wonderful with our banner roaming product Roam Surf,” said Coco Domingo, Vice President for Roaming and International Business at Globe. “Roam Surf is the perfect data roaming service for Filipino travelers who want to enjoy the digital life they are accustomed to once they travel abroad. Roam Surf provides true 24 hours of unlimited data while roaming and eliminates the worry of bill shock because of its flat rate of only P599 per day. With Roam Surf, users can surf, post updates on their social networks, use their apps, share files, and even stream music and videos to complete the travel experience. Roam Surf also comes with a free 30-day travel insurance coverage for a worry-free travel that only Globe can give,” Domingo added. With Globe RoamSurf, Filipino travelers abroad have access to full 24-hour data

roaming service for only P599 per day. This means that data roaming connectivity does not end at 11:59pm. Roam Surf also allows customers to enjoy a complete browsing experience with no limitation or usage restriction, allowing users to do music and video streaming, as well as file sharing with no additional cost. Subscription to Roam Surf is simple. Postpaid customers simply need to turn their data roaming on their mobile while prepaid customers can subscribe either while in the Philippines or already at the country of destination by dialing *143# toll-free. To supplement the worry-free travel experience, Roam Surf customers will also get access to free travel insurance coverage to protect them from travel-related incidents such as lost luggage, damaged mobile devices, terminated or delayed flights, and other travel inconveniences.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

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

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS13

Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait

Annual sardine fishing ban starts

HE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

(BFAR-ARMM) has started implementing a three-month closed season for sardine fishing off Sulu Sea and Basilan

Strait to allow fish to spawn freely. “The annual ban is intended to conserve the population

(of sardines),” Jerusalem Abdullahim, chief of the Fisheries Regulatory and Law Enforcement Division of BFAR-ARMM

SURFERS’ DESTINATION. Foreign surfers catch the waves in Paradise Barangay Union, Dapa in Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, a popular destination particularly for surfers. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

said in a statement Monday. The ban would last until March 31. Abdullahim said pursuant to Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, sardine fishing in the area, which covers the waters of East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait, and Sibuguay Bay, is temporarily suspended to give way to the spawning period. He said the ban also includes the selling, buying and possessing of sardines caught within the conservation area, which is approximately 6,481.80 square nautical miles, or 22,260.36 square kilometers. This is the fifth annual ban imposed by the fishery office during the spawning period that starts in December and ends in March. Abdullahim reiterated that the measure will hopefully help increase sardine stocks within the closed sardine fishing area. “Our office has deployed patrol vessels in the island provinces in collaboration with the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and Maritime Police to enforce the closed season,” he added. Under Section 86 of RA 10654, violators of the fish-

ing ban will be penalized with confiscation of catch and gear, and will be slapped with an administrative fine equivalent to five times the value of the catch, or a penalty ranging from P50,000, for small-scale commercial fishing to P5 million for large-scale commercial fishing. The waters of Zamboanga and the island provinces in the ARMM, specifically Sulu and Basilan, are not the only areas where sardine fishing ban has been implemented. BFAR national office also reinforced a sardine-closed season in the Visayan Sea and its surrounding waters. It was in Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu Sea and Basilan Strait where the country’s largest concentration of sardines is located. These waters are also spawning grounds for yellow fin tuna and other tuna-like species. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data covering July-September 2015 showed that ARMM produced 1,328.17 metric tons of Indian sardines, or ‘tamban.’ As of Jan. 6, 2016, data from BFAR’s national office showed ARMM has 221,784 registered fisher folks out of the nationwide total of 1,645,013 fishing persons. (PNA)

14 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

It’s TIME to CHANGE THE GAME.

Your ads come to life with vivid, clear, crisp colors. Get the value for your money and don’t settle for an awful copy on a badly printed space. Advertise wisely.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

As creative as you can get.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 206 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

Miciano, 14 other Davao bets qualify to NAG Grand Finals

ETERAN international campaigner John Marvin Miciano and 14 other bets from Davao City had qualified to the Grand Finals of the National Age-Group (NAG) Chess Championships set in Manila this year. Miciano and his fellow Dabawenyos earned their slots for winning in the 2015 Mayor Peter Miguel NAG Mindanao Qualifying held last weekend at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in Koronadal City. Miciano only needed a draw with fellow Dabawenyo John Ray Batucan in the fifth and final round to earn 4.0 points to top the group composed also of the Under 18 and 16 players. Miciano ruled the Under 20 boys division followed by Batucan (3.5) and his twin brother James Rhey Batucan (3.0), who finished second and third, respectively. Janes Hitfield Caingles also from Davao qualified in the Under 20 girls.

MINDANAO QUALIFIERS. Under 20 Boys champion John Marvin Miciano (3rd from right) flanked by the Batucan twins John Rey (left) and James Rhey. Also in photo are GM Jason Gonzales (extreme right) and IA James Infiesto (2nd from left) during the Mayor Peter Miguel National AgeGroup Chess Mindanao Qualifying Leg held at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in Koronadal City.

“The winners in the Grand Finals will represent the country to the ASEAN + Age-Group in Pattaya, Thailand this year,” said GM Jason Gonzales, Executive Director of the organizing National Chess Federation of the Phils. (NCFP). Gonzales conducted a simul game during the opening and awarded the prizes together with Regional Director IA James Infiesto last Sunday. The other qualifiers are: Under 18 girls – 1. Zsuzsa Tabudlong (Davao) 2. Caissa Jane Guevarra (Davao) Under 18 boys – 1. Alberto Diolola Jr. (Gensan) 2. Bhing Joel Gimony (Davao) 3. Gino Angelo Asuncion (Davao). Under 16 boys – 1. Sumail Iii Sekak (Cotabato) 2. Carl Zirex Sato (Panabo) 3. Romeo Canino (Cagayan de Oro) Under 16 girls – 1 Honey Grace Buenafe (Davao) 2 Florence Faith Guevarra (Davao) 3.Rhobie Shayne Benogsodan

HALFWAY THERE Warriors chalk up 36th win, halfway away from Bulls’mark S

TEPHEN Curry scored 31 points and Draymond Green added 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors to their 36th straight regular-season home win, 111-103, over the Miami Heat on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time). Klay Thompson added 17 points to help the Warriors (36-2) get halfway to Chicago’s record win total of 72 set in 1996-97 three games before the midpoint of the season. Dwyane Wade scored 20 points and Chris Bosh and Gerald Green added 15 apiece for the Heat, who had won eight of their past 11 games here. But these Warriors teams are far different and that showed against a resilient Heat team that battled all night but was unable to handle the depth of the Warriors despite the rare off-shooting night from Curry. Curry missed seven of his first nine 3-point attempts but got plenty of help as the Warriors tied the Philadelphia 76ers (1966-67) for the fourth longest regular-season home win streak in NBA history. Chicago holds the record of 44 set in 1996-97.

Back-to-back baskets by Green helped Golden State build a 10-point lead late in the third quarter before Miami responded with the final seven points to make it 80-77 heading into the fourth on Goran Dragic’s layup in the closing seconds. Marreese Speights, who did not play the first three quarters, scored Golden State’s first six points of the fourth. The Warriors extended the lead to 88-79 on a basket by Harrison Barnes, despite the entire starting lineup resting to start the quarter. Three free throws by Klay Thompson after he was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Gerald Green and a 3-pointer from Curry made it 101-88 midway through the fourth and Golden State went on to another win that was sealed with a 3-pointer by Curry that made it 110-101 with 26.9 seconds to go. Miami played nearly flawless ball in the first half, committing just one turnover, assisting on 17 of 22 baskets and going on an 11-2 run midway through the second. But despite all that, the Heat still trailed 56-54 at the half when Curry hit two free throws

TOP GUN. Stephen Curry leads all scorers with 31 points, making 11 of 27 shots in over 37 minutes of action. AP

the closi n g seconds to give him 18 points at the break. TIP-INS Heat: Luol Deng was called for a technical foul in the first quarter. ... Hassan Whiteside did not play because of a right knee injury and rookie Justise Winslow made his first career start in his place. Warriors: Curry extended his streak of regular season games with a 3-pointer to 109, 18 shy of Kyle Korver’s record. ... Leandro Barbosa was cleared to return after missing eight games with a left shoulder injury but did not play.

Messi wins 5th Ballon d’Or trophy

N SALOMON RUN. Salomon – the world’s #1 brand in trail running, will once again stage the Salomon City Trail Run on January 31. Salomon injects its mountain heritage into city running, to break the routine and let people in any city to “Elevate Your Run” with Salomon Citytrail products. Salomon CITYTRAIL encourages all to find trails wherever they are, even in an urban environment. It is about breaking away from the normal road runs, and injecting adventure by creating their own trails in the City. The Citytrail Race event is a culmination of the Citytrail Launch, which aims to promote the new line of Salomon—Citytrail X-Scream 3D. Shown in photo are Mae Sanchez of Salomon and race director Dax Ang during the SCOOP Davao sports forum at the Royal Mandaya Hotelyesterday.

OW score it Lionel Messi 5, Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Messi won the Ballon d’Or trophy on Monday as the world’s best player in 2015, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-year hold on football’s top individual honor. “It’s incredible that it’s my fifth,” said the 28-year-old Barcelona and Argentina forward, who won four straight FIFA awards from 2009-12. Messi earned his record-extending fifth after being runner-up to his great rival for the past two years. “It’s a very special moment for me to be back here on the stage,” Messi said in Spanish in

his acceptance speech, “after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win.” Five major titles for Barcelona last year — leaving none for Ronaldo’s Real Madrid — brought the golden ball back into Messi’s hands. It was not even close. Messi got 41.33 percent of total voting points in a 23-candidate ballot. Ronaldo received 27.76 percent and third-place Neymar, Messi’s Barcelona teammate from Brazil, got 7.86 percent. Voting was by national team captains and coaches, plus invited journalists, from FIFA member countries. As usual, Argentina captain Messi and Portugal cap-

tain Ronaldo ignored each other on their own ballot papers. Messi voted for three Barcelona teammates and Ronaldo listed three Madrid colleagues. However, Portugal coach Fernando Santos did put Messi second to Ronaldo. It was a stellar night for Barcelona and the World Cup-winning United States women’s team. Luis Enrique was named best coach after guiding Barcelona to win the Champions League, Spain’s La Liga and cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. The women’s awards were won by U.S. captain Carli Lloyd and coach Jill Ellis.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.88ISSUE ISSUE206 206• WEDNESDAY, • WEDNESDAY,JANUARY JANUARY13, 13,2016 2016

GOLDEN HARVEST AAK Davao karatekas bag 4 golds in adidas International tourney By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

AK Davao amassed 4 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals in the 4th Adidas International Karate Championships held at the SM Mall of Asia, last January 9 and 10, 2016. Six-year old wonderkid Atsuko Kaiyel Tan underscored the conquest of the high-achieving young karatekas from AAK

Davao with her second international gold medal in less than a year. Tan, daughter of AAK Davao head coach Rommel Tan and a standout of Davao Christian High School, won the gold in the girls 6-7 years old kata besting the opposition much bigger than she is. Also winning golds for AAK D ava o a r e John Paul Ponce (121 3

boys kata) from Precious International school, Mark Damayo (juniors kata) and Darlene Ross Maramara (juniors Kata)from Davao City National High School. The silver medalist are Manuel Sotto Sy (cadets kata boys) form Davao Christian High School, Ponce (12-13 boys kumite), Sofia Agullo (girls cadets below 47 kgs kumite) from

University of the Immaculate Conception High School, Darlene Ross Maramara (girls juniors open kumite) and Ella Angelica Villapaz (12-13 girls kata) from UICHS. The bronze medalist are Julian Ambrose Ramirez (boys cadets kata) from Precious International School Davao, Manuel Sotto Sy (Juniors -67 kgs kumite) and Craig James Infiesto (12-13 boys kumite) from A p o

Learning Center. Tristan Sy and Stephen James Cartagena also competed but fell short to win a medal. The 11-man team was accompanied by Rommel Tan (coach), Jay Ramirez (asst coach) and Edgar Ponce as team manager. AAK Davao also attended the training camp for kata and the WKF seminar new rules. The kata seminar was for the 4 major karate styles namely Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu. Chino Veguillas (AAK) and Ruperto Torres (JKA) conducted the Shotokan kata seminar, Marcelo Navarroza (WMK) conducted the shorin ryu kata seminar, Norman Montalvo (AAK) and Dennis Aquino conducted the kata seminar for shito ryu and Richard Lim sensei (AAK-GOJUKAI) and Greg Sanger Sensei

(Gojukai Australia) conducted the seminar for goju ryu style. Every participant was able to experience and do the kata of different styles in the said training camp on January 9. The championships was participated by teams from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, South Africa and local teams coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Some 300 local karatekas took part in the said competition. “AAK Davao would like to thank our sponsors Beefit gym owned by Jimmy and Vicky Javier, AAK Davao parents Jay and Joanne Ramirez, Ruth Agullo, James and Skye Infiesto, Sharon and Richard Cartagena, Rachelle and Doods Maramara, Lola Kins and Gina Sy, Anne Michelle Tan , Edgar and Maethel Ponce, Mr. and Mrs Villapaz, Mr. Damayo and Dabaw City Sports Council Inc. for the support given to the team,” said Tan.

BIG START. Members of Team AAK Davao headed by coach Rommel Tan (third from right, back) pose with their medals at the close of the 4th adidas International Karate Championships at the SM Mall of Asia.