Edge Davao 8 Issue 210 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

STRICT. Security personnel composed of security guards and Task Force Davao officers strictly implement heightened security measures imposed by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), which has issued a double red alert status due to the latest terror attack in Jakarta and the broad daylight robbery incident in Tagum City last week. This scene was taken at the entrance of The Marco Polo, Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

‘GREAT RAID’ BEING HATCHED VS RODY?

DCPO has no info on planned big drug sting EDGEDAVAO Sports By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) yesterday said it has no information on an “anti-drug sting” that is allegedly being planned by political operators to destroy and derail the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. In a phone interview yesterday, DCPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz told EDGE Davao that the DCPO has no knowledge of a supposed plan being hatched to bust a drug laboratory in the

heart of Davao City in order to show that Duterte is involved in the drug trade himself. “Wala mi report na nadawat na naay operation sila diri (We did not receive any information that they will conduct an operation here),” Driz said. Driz said the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Office does not need to coordinate with local police in the conduct of an operation or case build-up against drug pushers “if the reason is confi-

dentiality.” She said it is during the actual operation that there should be coordination with the local police to avoid a misencounter. “We call it local territorial police. There should be coordination with us because we are on the ground and we are the ones who know the area,” she said. At the same time, Driz said there is no illegal drug laboratory in the city based on police monitoring.

The allegation on the drug sting was made yesterday by former North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol in his verified Facebook account. In his article, Piñol said the operation is dubbed “The Great Raid” and will reportedly involve special anti-drug units of the government that will be fielded to Davao City at any given time to swoop down on a “drug laboratory.” “This operation is being talked about in whispers here

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Top PH amateur earns Asian Tour card P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

FUN IN THE DIRTY WATER. A young boy plays with a toy fishing boat made from Styrofoam and fishing net on the seawater near Magsaysay Park in Davao City yesterday. The water is littered with various materials as park-goers and nearby residents throw them directly to the sea. Lean Daval Jr.

ERC says attempt to link Min, Vis power grids failed

HE attempt to connect Mindanao and Visayas power grids by submarine cable between Leyte and Surigao del Norte provinces failed due to “major obstacles” along its path, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) told journalists during a forum here Friday. Rexie Digal, Director of the ERC Regulatory Operations Service said the attempt to lay 23 kilometers of underwater cables between Leyte in the Visayas and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao failed when the technical team from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) ran into “major obstacles” along its path. Digal said the team reported that the path of the underwater cable experienced an increase seismic activity that could break the submarine cables. He said the team also en-

countered numerous sunken ships along the path between the NGCP substations in Leyte and Surigao del Norte. “There are even unexploded bombs and other ordnance left from World War 2,” Dingal said. He said the NGCP will try another route to link Mindanao and Visayas between Negros Island and Dipolog City. The cost is estimated at P24 billion, inclusive of the feasibility study. The interconnection is part of Mindanao Energy Plan 20122030 to provide standby power to Mindanao from Visayas which has an excess power supply. As of Jan. 12, 2016, the NGCP reported Mindanao has only a thin power reserves of 70 megawatts compared to Visayas which had 296 megawatts of reserve electricity. (Froilan Gallardo / Mindanews)

DCWD explains emergency water service interruption

HE Davao City Water District (DCWD) yesterday apologized to customers served by Line 1 of Dumoy Water Supply System (WSS) for the emergency water service interruption from 8:00 p.m. on January 17 until 2 a.m. on January 18 in most areas and until 5 a.m. in places farther north. In a statement, DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado said the transmission pipeline ferrying raw water from production wells in Dumoy to the Talomo Treatment and Pump Station in Bangkal

was hit by a horizontal directional drilling machine of private contractor Underground Technologies Inc. in Ideal Subdivision in Bago Aplaya. Regalado said the production wells catering Line 1 of Dumoy WSS had to be shut off to give way to the emergency repair of the damaged transmission line. The shut-off also caused low water pressure to no water in some areas served by Line 2 of Dumoy WSS. The specific areas affected were Talomo, Ulas, Bangkal,

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Move now on Jacama case, Quitain tells SEC By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City administrator Jesus Melchor V. Qutiain urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to get the ball rolling on the case against Jacama Sales and Marketing which was closed down last Friday. “We are calling on the SEC to start moving,” Quitain said in an interview with EDGE Davao. He said it was the SEC’s advisory on Jacama that prompted the city government to implement a closure order on the multilevel marketing company. He said according to the SEC advisory, Jacama is not

authorized to solicit investments from the public as it has not secured the necessary permit from SEC under the Securities Regulation Code. Quitain, however, said he was told by the SEC 11 regional office that it will wait for the order of the SEC national office before filing a case. “The region daw will take its cue from Manila. Matagal pa masyado (But it will take a long time). I do not know why,” he said. Quitain said if Jacama has already secured an SEC permit, the company will have no more problem with the city provided it will honestly declare the true and correct

nature of its business. “Actually, we have no problem if the SEC will say that they have already complied with the requirements of the law,” he said. Quitain said the city, through the Business Bureau, closed down the company for misdeclaration in its business permit. He said in its application for business permit, the company indicated it was a “retail” company that would do “a little wholesale.” He, however, said the company turned out that their operations or the transactions they are engaged in involved investments.

Quitain said the capital amount the company declared was only P250,000 even thought it had millions of pesos in transactions. “Saan ka nakakita na ang kanilang transactions is millions and millions of pesos tapos ang capital nila is only P250.000 (Where can you see a business which has millions of peso transactions but their capital is only P250,000),” he said. Quiatin told the Jacama management not reopen the company without complying with the requirements of the law, otherwise they will be charged for failure to follow the order.

nation with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11. In a telephone interview with EDGE Davao yesterday, Sta. Ana Police Station commander Superintendent Royina M. Garma said her station had been monitoring Sulaiman since August 2015 as he is part of the Daquigan drug group operating in the area. Garma said the arrest of Sulaiman came after the ar-

rest of two drug suspects last Friday identified as alias Cocoy and alias Tibor. She said during the arrest of Cocoy, the police were able to seize around P20,000 worth of shabu. No illegal drugs were confiscated from Tibor. Garma said upon investigating the two drug suspects, investigators traced the source of their supply in the Cotabato area.

“After we traced the source, we launched follow-up operations to arrest their source from Cotabato,” she said. Garma said Sulaiman is considered a big-time pusher. Operatives were able to seize from Sulaiman 10 big sachets of shabu worth P500,000, P8,000 used in the buy-bust operation, and an empty sachet of shabu. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

Big-time drug pusher arrested

PERATIVES of Sta.Ana Police Station arrested an alleged big-time shabu pusher from Maguindanao and confiscated around P500,000 worth of illegal drugs from his possession last Sunday. Police said Aladin L. Sulaiman, 20, a resident of Gadungan, Maguindanao, was arrested in Genesis, Ecoland, Davao City in a buy-bust operation conducted in coordi-

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3 Librado chides Aquino for vetoing SSS pension

D NO POLITICS. National Nutrition Council regional director Dr. Ma. Theresa Ungson urges politicians not to use the agency’s information and education campaign materials as election paraphernalia in the upcoming election campaign period. Ungson made the statement in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

AVAO City councilor Leah Librado yesterday chided President Benigno Aquino for vetoing the proposed P2,000 across-theboard increase for Social Security System (SSS) pensioners. “The SSS pensioners simply do not deserve what is happening now. The increase could have gone a long way in helping them and their dependents,” Librado said in a statement. Librado said the Aquino government showed little concern for millions of pensioners

abf@edgedavao.net

HE National Nutrition Council (NNC) 11 has urged politicians not to use its information and education campaign (IEC) materials in their election paraphernalia. Speaking in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao Annex, NNC 11 region-

al director Dr. Maria Theresa Ungson said the agency will not allow politicians to place their faces in NNC’s IEC materials. “Sa Manila, sinabihan na kami na pwede ba huwag niyong palagyan ng mukha kasi naka-register trade mark na yan (In Manila, we were told

not to allow politicians to put their face in the IEC materials because the trademarks are already registered),” she said. Ungson is referring to the “10 Kumainments and Pinggang Pinoy” which is the trademark IEC of the agency. “We do not also allow other people to reproduce our

HE Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 is recommending the closure of all issues hounding the alleged overpriced P19-billion Sasa Port Modernization Project even with the non-endorsement of the City Council. “It’s a national government project,” said Ma. Lourdes Lim, director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 11, which serves as the RDC’s secretariat. Lim said there is another round of consultation that will take place by March to clarify the scope and cost of the project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of the national government through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The closure of issues relating to the Sasa Port modernization project is one of the 11 priorities included by RDC 11 for 2016. Lim has confirmed that the holding of the consultation was agreed upon in an executive committee meeting that took place after the Davao City Council passed a resolution objecting to the project as DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya continued to ignore the city’s invitation to clarify all coordinates of the project. Lim said that in the executive committee meeting, there were responses by the department to act on some issues. She said these are works in progress such as the right-ofway issues with private land-

owners, cost of valuation of the land, review of the project cost as it was reportedly a “high cost” project. Lim noted that the Sasa port modernization project is a project enrolled under PPP. She said the private sector will still be encouraged to participate. “The main objection (City Council) was predicated by lack of consultation. It will be good if DOTC respond positively,” Lim said, hoping that both sides will open communication. It will be recalled that Lim appeared before the City Council in September last year to seek the City Council’s endorsement before the Sasa

II).

Mindanao grid. The synchronization, which will last until the end of the month, is part of the plant’s load and reliability tests, in preparation for its targeted commercial operations by March. The electric cooperative had signed a power sales agreement with SEC for the provision of 70 MW of base load to its service area. Socoteco II, which has a peak demand of 130 MW, serves this city and parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.

RDC 11 wants closure of issues in P19-billion Sasa port project T

materials so that we can have some sort of control,” she said. Ungson urged NNC’s nutrition coordinators in the local government units (LGU) not to showcase the materials during the election period so that the program will not be tainted with political color.

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FLIBRADO, 10

UP Min guild slates Comm Arts Festival

Nutrition exec to epal bets: T Don’t use our info materials By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

while allowing SSS executives to receive big bonuses. “This is not the first legislative measure vetoed by the President during his term but this speaks of how little concern he has for the pensioners over the millions of pesos received by SSS executives as bonuses, which he approved. SSS officials were paid in 2014 some P116.8 million in salaries and allowances,” Librado said. She said in 2014, the SSS president was paid P6.84 mil-

O celebrate its 15th year, the University of the Philippines Mindanao’s Communicators’ Guild (Comm Guild) of the BA Communication Arts Program will hold the Communication Arts Festival 2016 with the theme, “Promoting Understanding across Cultures through Communication” on February 1, 2016, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Abreeza Mall Activity Center, Davao City. The festival is a non-income generating event that would feature the achievements of Comm Guild for the past years. It will launch series of events which include a cultural presentations, photo ex-

hibit, and the annual oratorical and extemporaneous speaking competition. Twenty-one students from different DepEd accredited and recognized public and private high schools in Region XI will be competing for the 4th Regionwide Inter-High School Speak UP, an oratorical and extemporaneous speaking competition which aims to enhance the communicative skills, promotion of social awareness and empowerment of youth to voice out their opinions on socio- cultural issues. Moreover, the events will include the The CommCultur-

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FRDC 11, 10

GenSan power rates to go down by 2Q

OWER rates in this city and parts of Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces will be reduced by around PHP3 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) once the initial 105-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of the Sarangani Energy Corp. (SEC) will start its commercial operations in March. Ferdinand Corrales, SEC project manager, said Monday their projections showed that the area’s power rates will drop to around PHP5 per kwh, with the streaming of its power supplies to local distribution utility South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco

In 2015, the average power rate passed on by Socoteco II to local consumers reached PHP8.35 per kwh, which included the costs or charges for transmission, distribution and other components. “The cost of electricity here will be significantly reduced, although the final rate will still be determined by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” he said in a statement. SEC started last week the synchronization of its 105MW power plant in Barangay Kamanga in Maasim, Sarangani with Socoteco II and the

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HURRY UP. City administrator Melchor Quitain Jr. urges Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to file a case against multi-level marketing company Jacama

Sales and Marketing Company which was closed down by the Davao City Business Bureau for violation of the 2005 Local Revenue Code of Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Mild quake jolts Davao Occidental

MAGNITUDE-3.9 earthquake jolted the province of Davao Occidental on Monday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In its bulletin, the agency said the tremor occurred at 12:53 a.m. with its epi-

center traced 370 kilometers southeast of Sarangani in Davao Occidental. Phivolcs said the temblor, which was tectonic in origin, had a shallow depth of 32 kilometers. The agency noted that there was no casualty or damage reported from the quake. (PNA)

IEDs discovered, disarmed

ROOPERS from the Western Mindanao Command (WMC) recovered and disarmed three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) off Sacol Island in Zamboanga City on Saturday. Major Filemon Tan, WMC spokesperson, said the troops conducting security patrol recovered the IEDs from a floating and abandoned boat in the area at

around 11:30 a.m. Seized were three one-liter oil cans, of which two were packed with gasoline-soaked ammonium nitrate and assorted nails, three improvised blasting caps and three pieces of 5-inch wires with no batteries. Tan said the IEDs were disarmed by operatives from the Naval Special Operations Unit 6. (PNA)

Bangsamoro law tightens security vs extremist threats

S Congress resumes session, Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel chair Professor Miriam Coronel–Ferrer Monday once more appealed to legislators to act on the draft Bangsamoro law, saying that the recent terrorist attack in Indonesia last week, shows the urgency of countering the influence of extremist groups among the local population. “The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the draft Bangsamoro law are social justice measures, but from the global security perspective, these are also a containment measure against jihadist extremism,” Ferrer said. “I reiterate our appeal to our legislators in the joint peace panels’ open letter to them which we issued last November 26 after the attack on Paris, in view of the recent violence in Indonesia, which is so much closer to home.” Ferrer said the creation of the Bangsamoro autonomous region will strengthen current efforts by different stakeholders in Mindanao, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in March 2014, to stop the armed conflict in the South and stem the tide of extremism that has sprouted in Africa and the Middle East in the recent years. The open letter signed by both Ferrer and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal cited the statement made by National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia before Congress during the committee hearings on the draft law. According to Garcia, “(P) assing the BBL can help in curbing the spread of extremism in Mindanao. In particular, the Bangsamoro government would be able to help moderate Islamic leaders to counter

the ideology of radicalism being promoted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and steer the Muslim community away from ISIS influence.” According to Garcia, the completion of the Bangsamoro peace process will have positive national security implications as it will close one of the serious internal armed conflicts in the country. “[This will] essentially free up a significant component of the Armed Forces of the Philippines… to shift resources to focus on external concerns, principally the protection of our external territorial integrity and maritime domain which is now being threatened.” Recently, ISIS claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jakarta, Indonesia last January 14 which claimed the lives of seven people, including five of the assailants, and leaving 23 people wounded. This event raised concerns from the international community to the Philippines due to the continuing delay in the Mindanao peace talks. In a news report, Asia Foundation Country Representative Steven Rood said that the presence of foreign fighters in the Philippines hints at transnational links between Southeast Asian militant groups. “It’s definitely time to start taking the threat [of Islamic State] more seriously.” “The [MILF] have clearly said [that] they are committed to the path to peace no matter what; and if they’re not achieving anything, it’s harder to keep arguing that you can fight for Islam through peaceful means.” He added that Philippine lawmakers should expedite the stalled peace plan to deny extremists an opportunity to win over the country’s disillusioned young Muslims. During the Regional Con-

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DUTERTE SHIRTS. A vendor sells Duterte shirts outside the gate of the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague during the feast of Santo Niño in Davao City on January 15, 2016. Each shirt costs P190. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO

Koronadal City cops undergo drug tests A

LL police personnel of the Koronadal City Police Office are negative of drug use, the newly installed city police director said on Sunday. Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City PNP director, said not one from among the more than 200 police officers assigned in the city were found positive of drug use. Condes ordered a sur-

prise drug test for all police officers on Saturday, two days after he assumed office, to ensure law enforcers are not influenced by illegal drugs. ”This is to ensure our law enforcers are clean from illegal drugs,” Condes said. “A police officer cannot be a good and effective law enforcer if he or she is illegal drug user,” he added.

Condes was followed by all his subordinates in submitting urine samples to the PNP Crime Laboratory Office as first a step. Surprise illegal drug test for police officers is now a routine activity among police officers in the Koronadal City PNP, Condes said, adding that eradication of illegal drugs in the city is his primary concern.

The campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs in Koronadal City has been gaining headway but Condes believes the police should double its efforts. He also appealed to the public, especially village officials and parents, to help the police in the drive against illegal drugs before it destroys the lives of the young Koronadalenios. (PNA)

is P5,000. “Some operators allow their drivers to bring home their taxi units. If the operator has no garage of his own, how can he monitor if his taxi is roadworthy or if it carries a deadly weapon?” Inton told the Philippines News Agency in a phone interview. Earlier, LTFRB summoned a taxi driver named Manuel Publico who allegedly thrust a katana (Japanese sword) to a passenger after having an argument over fare rates. The complainant, who requested to remain anonymous, was luckily able to thwart the driver’s attack.

However, he sustained minor wounds. Inton said that parameters for taxi operators should also be reviewed aside from the boundary system set for drivers which is usually at an average of P1,600 to P1,900 a day. “It is not an excuse to be violent and arrogant. They should not earn at the expense of taking advantage of their passengers,” the LTFRB official said. “This is also the negligence of the operator,” he added. Records from the LTFRB show that complaints on

erring taxi drivers increased by 43.03 percent in 2015 to 6,944 cases compared to the 4,855 cases recorded in 2014. In 2015, majority of the drivers complained of exhibited rude behavior (1,082 cases), followed by complaints against drivers who overcharged (892 cases) and drivers who refused to convey passengers (860 cases). Meanwhile, in 2014, most complaints dealt with drivers who refused to convey passengers (1,012 cases), followed by drivers who showed rude behavior (946 cases), and drivers who overcharged passengers (790 cases). (PNA)

Stiffer penalties for erring cabbies

HE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said over the weekend it is mulling stiffer penalties for taxi operators following the rise in the number of complaints against erring drivers. LTFRB board member Atty. Ariel Inton said that although the rise in the number of complaints is attributed to advances brought about by social media and the board’s hotline number “1342,” cases have started to get “more violent.” Under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2015-01, the penalty for overcharging

EDGEDAVAO

5 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Davao gets P38.2-B budget share D

AVAO Region can expect sustained government investments on education, health, social services, and infrastructure through its P38.21 billion share from the approved P3.002 trillion budget for 2016. In a press briefing on the 2015 Davao Region Socioeconomic last Friday, Maria Lourdes Lim, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said the 2015 growth can be sustained in 2016. Lim said the region, comprising the four Davao provinces (Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental) and Compostela Valley and the cities of Davao, Digos, Panabo, Tagum, Samal and Mati, will receive a total of P38.21 billion to be distributed among 23 major government agencies from the approved P3.002 trillion approved budget for 2016. This is 3 percent lower compared with the 2015 budget share of P39.44 percent. She said this budget excludes lump-sum appropriations “that may be later downloaded to agency regional offices.” “The social sector will receive the biggest chunk at 55

percent of the region’s budget, or equivalent to P20.93 billion, she said. Among the regional government agencies, the Department of Education (DepEd) 11 has biggest share with a total of P9.7 billion. The Department of Health (DOH) 11 is second biggest at P4.8 billion, followed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development with P4.3 bllion. She said the infrastructure sector is a total of P14.6 billion, with allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the highest at 97.2 percent, or equivalent to P14.2 billion. In the region’s social sector last year, Lim said the region took strides in the provision of health, education, and social welfare services. “Most significant among the improvements in the social sector was the provision of social welfare services that ensured social protection to the region’s marginalized and vulnerable sectors,” she said. She added that DSWD 11’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as the conditional cash transfer (CCT), enrolled 228,793 household beneficiaries, or 87 percent of its annual target during the three quarters of

TURNING 18. The Marco Polo, Davao general manager Dottie Wurgler-Cronin hits the gong to kick off the hotel’s year-round promotions for its 18th anniversary which will be celebrated in December. Witnessing yesterday’s event are the management and staff of the hotel, guests, and members of local media. Lean Daval Jr. 2015. The region achieved its target for the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) for infant mortality with only 3.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, lower by almost half than the annual target of six deaths.

“Progress were also made in terms of birth attendance by skilled health professionals and sustainable access of the population to improved water supply,” she said. Lim said Davao Region’s gross regional domestic prod-

uct (GRDP) is seen to grow by 8.7 percent in 2016 on the back of a sustained government expenditures for social services, infrastructure developments, and projects enrolled under the private-public partnership (PPP) pro-

gram. The region outperformed 16 other regions in the Philippines after it posted 9.4 percent growth in 2014, even surpassing the 6.1 percent national average. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Consultation set on port project

NOTHER consultation on the controversial Sasa port modernization project will be held sometime in the first quarter to clarify the scope of the proposed P18.99 billion modernization project enrolled under the public-private partnership, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said. Ma. Lourdes Lim, NEDA regional director, told the Regional Development Council 11 press briefing at the NEDA office on Friday that officials from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the

proponent of the proposed modernization project, will be invited to the consultation to put closure to the issues facing the project. She said the city government objected to the proposal after the DOTC proceeded with the bidding process without consulting the City Council which is supposed to pass a legislation allowing the project here based on the Local Government Code. In a forum organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce Inc. (DCCCII) at Park Inn By Radisson in July 2015, stakeholders from the business community also ob-

SoCot allots P815M for dev’t programs

HE provincial government of South Cotabato has allocated around PHP815 million for the implementation of its priority programs and development projects this year. South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Monday such allocation is part of the local government’s PHP1.475 billion budget for 2016 which was approved late in December 2015 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board. The 2016 budget was earlier enacted with the signing by the governor of Resolution No. 286 that enacted Appropriation Ordinance No. 2015-05. “We’re now drawing some fresh strategies to further improve the implementation our continuing programs and projects, and the utilization of our available resources,” she said. The province’s budget for 2016 is up by PHP195 million or 11.5 percent when compared to the previous year’s

PHP1.28 billion. The allocation is distributed into five priority components or sectors: general policy, legislative, administration and finance; development projects, frontline services; support to frontline services; and, other purposes PHP91.9 million. The general policy, legislative, administration and finance component received the bulk of the budget with PHP567.8 million, followed by the development projects with P339 million, frontline services with PHP319.15 million, support to frontline services with PHP157.8 million, and other purposes with PHP91.9 million. Fuentes said the allotment for development projects will mainly fund the local government’s infrastructure program for 2016. She said such component includes the rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance of provincial roads the construction of classrooms and community infrastructure. (PNA)

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) appealed for the rollback of Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) of basic necessities and prime commodities relative to the decrease in diesel and fuel oil prices. Data from the Department of Energy reflect that retail prices of oil significantly declined in 2015 corresponding to a 25.81% price drop in diesel, 13.12% in fuel oil, and 4.27% in household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In 2015, the DTI observed that price rollbacks in selected brands of basic goods such as bread, coffee, flour, and milk were due to lower cost of raw materials and not attributed to the decline in prices of petroleum products. Now, the DTI calls on the manufacturers, distributors and retailers to review their prices taking into account the dramatic price decrease in diesel, fuel oil and household LPG. “It is high time to pass on to the consumers the savings incurred by the manufacturers,

distributors and retailers of basic and prime goods from lower transportation and distribution cost by reducing their prices,” says newly appointed DTI Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. Trade Secretary Cristobal further notes that the public statement of Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on lowering prices of goods is well-taken by the agency. Based on the assessment of the DTI, Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba explains that the drop in prices of petroleum products can translate to a reduction in SRPs of basic and prime goods by 0.05% to 3.04% or Php0.01 to Php26.46. This means that canned sardines can go down by P0.14 per can, evaporated milk by P0.29 per can, condensed milk by P0.40 per can, powdered milk by P0.38 per pack, coffee refill by P0.31 per pack, instant noodles P0.08 per pack, corned beef by P0.26 per can, flour by P26.46 per bag, and cement by P1.48 per bag. (PNA)

DTI calls for rollback of basic goods prices T

jected to the proposal, specifically the bid cost which was placed at P18.99 billion, higher by more than three folds from its original cost of P4 billion set by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Consultants from Germany were hired by the International Finance Corp. (IFC) of the World Bank and placed the bid cost at P17 billion. Vicente Lao, chair of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) acknowledged that the city needs a modernized port but not at the cost DOTC proposed through the PPP. He pointed out that the region already has two

modern ports owned by the Davao International Container Terminal (DITC) and Hijos Resources Corporation which can already cater to local exporters. He added a government project should not compete with privately owned corporations. During Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, outgoing DCCCII president Antonio Dela Cruz said the position of the chamber under the new leadership has not changed. “We are not against development,” he said. Dela Cruz

is DCCCII president for two terms from 2013 to 2015. In a statement, incoming DCCCII president Bonifacion Tan said among the reasons why the city government has rejected the bid cost is that will bring up the rates for the handling fees and other port charges. He said the proposal did not consider the actual needs of the port. DOTC secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya clarified that the bid cost is just indicative and that it could still go down if a bidder is able to present a more “cost-efficient plan” and pay the government the high-

est concession fee. He also allayed fears that the modernization project will eventually result to the increase of shipping cost. He said the proposed port can accommodate bigger cargo vessels and will be more efficient, therefore it will bring down the cost of shipping. Abaya added that every major city needs a modern port that will support its growth, insisting that the plan is a product of both “science and vision” that local players may not appreciate today. (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)

GETTING READY. A sales attendant arranges a pile of food items at a kiosk at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Gov’t spending to drive Davao’s growth

OVERNMENT expenditures on social services, infrastructure, and projects enrolled under the private-public partnership program will drive the expected 8.7-percent growth of Davao Region’s gross regional domestic this year, an official said. In a press briefing Friday, National Economic Development Authority 11 director Maria Lourdes Lim said the growth last year can be sus-

tained as it ended well espite global setbacks. In 2014, the region outperformed 16 other regions in the Philippines with its 9.4-percent growth that surpassed the 6.1-percent national average for that year. Lim said the region will receive P38.21 billion to be distributed among 23 major government agencies from the P3.002-trillion 2016 budget. In 2015, the region re-

ceived P39.44 billion. The official said the amount excludes lump-sum appropriations “that may be later downloaded to agency regional offices”. “The social sector will receive the biggest chunk at 55 percent of the region’s budget, or equivalent to P20.93 billion,” she said. The Department of Education got P9.7 billion, the Department of Health P4.8 bil-

lion, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development P4.3 billion. Lim said the infrastructure sector has received a total of P14.6 billion, with allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways at 97.2 percent, or equivalent to P14.2 billion. She said the region took strides in the provision of health, education, and social

of PPP Center director Cosette V. Canilao to BusinessWorld last January 5 saying that the project has not been given approval by both the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the National Economic and Development (NEDA) Board. Director Canilao also claimed that since the reclamation project has a port component, it will require the approval of the PPP Center. Cortez bared the city council is still discussing the proposal preliminary to giving Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte authority to sign an agreement with the proponent. “Until the agreement is signed, there is no project to talk about,” he

said. “We can only work on the processing of documents when the two parties come up with the needed agreement,“ he added. An interested company informed Cortez that it sought an extension of the Swiss Challenge for the project before the PPP Center, a claim that Canilao denied in her letter. However, Cortez earlier clarified that the city government could not act on the extension of the Swiss Challenge because it was requested before the PPP Center which is not part of the project implementation. Swiss Challenge is a bid-

ding process for unsolicited proposals with the proponent needing only to match the conditions of the best proposal, he said. Cortez believes the project will be implemented after the May elections when a new national administration takes over. In her letter, Canilao also revealed that her agency is assisting the PPP in the undertaking of the Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project as a PPP project. The city government has been at odds both with the PPP and the Department of Transportation and Communi-

FGOV’T, 10

No need yet for gov’t. okay of P40-B reclamation project

HE CITY government of Davao is far from implementing its plan of establishing a P40-billion mixed use reclamation project so there is no point in seeking approval of the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Center as of the moment. However, the city government and its partners, particularly project proponent Mega Harbour Development Corp., will follow religiously the permitting rules and jointly seek all the necessary approvals before the project is implemented, according to Ivan C. Cortez, head of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center. Cortez reacted to a letter

FNO, 10

ENVIRONMENT 7

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Is coal really the answer? Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO (Second of Two Parts)

LTHOUGH the government wants to use renewable energy to address the power generation problem in Mindanao, it is facing a lot of issues. “The problem is that we all know how expensive it would be if we go solar or other forms of renewable energy,” President Benigno Aquino III was quoted as saying by Philippine News Agency. According to Aquino, his administration is looking into natural gas as possible source of power generation in Mindanao. But again, natural gas also has some problems. “Our problem with natural gas,” he said, “is that there is no regasification plant in the Philippines. Gas occupies a big volume, and transporting to producers it requires that it be made into liquefied gas or compressed natural gas. And to use our turbine plants, it must be turned back into a completely gaseous state. That is what gasification is.” During the recent Climate Change Media Workshop for Mindanao-based journalists, Dr. Rosa Perez of the Manila Observatory said that climate change will have adverse effects on agriculture, forest and biodiversity, health, marine resources and energy. Dr. Perez said that Mindanao’s power supply, for instance, would suffer heavily as the heat would dry up the hydroelectric sources. This would mean it has to rely more on imported coal and oil. Although Secretary Lucille Sering, vice-chairperson of the Climate Change Commission, did not categorically support coal power plants, she said that Philippine carbon emission is below one percent when compared to develop countries. But she warned that using coal power plants to generate power would consume tons of water to produce the desired power supply capacity. The question now is: Why there is so much ado about coal? Coal (from the Old English term col, which has meant “mineral of fossilized carbon”) is a relatively cheap and more accessible source of power. Environmentalists, however, are worried that should coal plants be allowed, it could harm the ecology and jeopardize the

health of the communities where the plant is located. Coal may contain high heat content at economical costs, but many environmental problems are associated with its use. “Coal has long been linked to air pollution and ill effects on health,” pointed out Seth Dunn in a special report published in World Watch. Particulate matter (dust, soot, and other solid air-borne pollutants) and sulphur are two of the most unhealthy by-products of coal combustion. “Particulates penetrate deep into lungs,” explained Dunn. “Prolonged inhalation causes a range of respiratory and cardiovascular problems, such as emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart disease. It is also linked to higher infant mortality rates. The smallest particles can stay in an individual’s lungs for a lifetime, potentially increasing the risk of cancer. Sulfur dioxide exposure is associated with increased hospitalization and death from pulmonary and heart disease, particularly among asthmatics and those with existing breathing problems.” Coal smoke contains potent carcinogens, affecting the more than one billion rural poor who rely on the fuel for cooking. According to the Geneva-based World Health Organization, rural indoor air pollution from such cooking accounts for 1.8 of 2.7 million global annual deaths from air pollution, with women and children most at risk. “Coal also contain arsenic, lead, mercury, and fluorine -- toxic heavy metals that can impair the development of fetuses and infants and cause open sore and bone decay,” Dunn pointed out. Burning of coal releases pollutants that help contribute to acid rain. “When fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are burned, many substances are emitted into the air,” explained H. Steven Dashefsky, author of Environmental Literacy: Everything You Need to Know about Saving Our Planet. “Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen compounds, and particulates are three such substances, and are considered primary pollutants responsible in part for air pollution. “These substances travel through the air and react with each other in the presence of sunlight to form

Total blackout

Coal power plant in Davao City

Power generation secondary pollution, such as sulfuric and nitric acids. When these acids fall to earth with rain, it is called acid rain.” The most apparent damaged caused by acid rain is the destruction of statues that crumble from the acids, but the most serious effects are less noticeable. Studies show acid rain at levels below 5.1 kill fish and destroy aquatic ecosystems since most organisms have narrow pH tolerance ranges. Acid rain also weakens and kills trees and stunts the growth of crops and other

plants. In addition, the coal burning may release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere thus causing the climate change phenomenon. “Ranging from less than 20 to more than 98 percent in carbon content, coal is the most carbon-rich fossil fuel,” Dunn informed. “The industrial era’s heavy combustion of these fuels is short-circuiting the global carbon cycle, building up atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to their highest point in 420,000 years.” Studies have shown that

coal-fired electric power generation emits around 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide for every megawatt-hour generated. This is almost double the approximately 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide released by a natural gas-fired electric plant per megawatt-hour generated. But there’s good news. “New technologies can burn coal more efficiently and more cleanly,” Dashefsky noted. “This includes the fluidized-bed combustion method, which will begin replacing oldstyle coal burners. It converts solid coal into gas or liquid fu-

els called synfuels.” Coal gasification converts solid coal into a gas synfuel called synthetic natural gas. Coal liquefaction turns it into a liquid synfuel such as methanol. Both types of synthetic fuels produce much less air pollution than burning solid coal. “Liquid fuels are more functional than solid fuels for heating homes and running automobiles and other forms of transportation,” Dashefsky pointed out. “They can also be transported through pipelines whereas solid coal must be shipped.”

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Impressions

OLICE officers, soldiers, and government workers have been warned by their respective authorities not to use their social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter to support the candidacies of political candidates on pain of being slapped with various sanctions, including suspension and even dismissal from service. The rationale for the warning is that act of “liking,” “sharing,” or commenting on content that promote the candidacy of politicians is inimical to the service. Since police offices, soldiers, and government workers are supposed to be non-partisan, it does not serve the interest of the people if civil servants begin campaigning — even in small ways — for particular candidates. Simply put, it gives people the impression that these servants are serving not them but those who are already in power. Indeed, the main reason for the directive has to do with the incumbents; since they are the ones who have control over the purse and the ones who are seen, rightly or wrongly, to make the decisions on the continued employment of their staff, it is presumed that they can use government resources and pressure their personnel to campaign for them. The problem takes on a more sinister air if soldiers and police officers are the ones campaigning, especially if it is done on social media. As we have seen in the past, platforms like Facebook and Twitter tend to take twists and turns that no one expects, and it is

EDGEDAVAO

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entirely possible for one’s post to become viral for all the wrong reasons. A cop or soldier — especially one with a higher rank — can easily give the impression that he or she favors particular candidates with just one click of the mouse or a tap of a finger. Given our nation’s troubled past and history with martial rule, such an impression is a fearsome one, something that few welcome. The police and military are rightly told to take their place in neutral territory so as not to give the past a chance to make a comeback. Of course this talk of using and misusing social media accounts opens up the discussion on other professions that ought to rein down their “likes” and “shares.” In particular, media practitioners ought to take a second look into their online activities to see if they are giving the impression that they are promoting certain candidates — if not campaigning for them openly. This is particularly important in a place like Davao City whose mayor is using his experience as a local chief executive as platform for his presidential run. There is no lack of supporters here, and they appear to be more than enough to tackle the entire internet. One wonders, however, if the media should put a self-imposed ban on social media engagements when it comes to candidates in order to assure readers and viewers that they are not using their profession to sway the minds of the people — or that they are being used by certain persons to promote their agenda. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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EDGEDAVAO

Perils of terror, and what can be done

EWS is circulating that the Philippines is a new breeding ground for the terrorist group Islamic State, or more commonly ISIS. Jakarta, Indonesia has also currently been a victim of suicide bombings and although there is no confirmation yet regarding ISIS’s involvement, many speculate that they are responsible for it. ISIS is a terrorist group that currently occupies large territories in Iraq and Syria and seeks to create an Islamic state called a caliphate in the same area. It was dubbed the most powerful terrorist group to date with people from all over the world seeking to join its cause, including many Europeans, and surprisingly a lot of them are even university students. ISIS is responsible for several bombings, including in Paris and in Beirut, and it claims its attacks in the name of Islam. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out that the idea of ISIS, even if they’re just

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

HE next administration should not lift the logging ban or slow down reforestation activities. That was Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said, as quoted by Jonathan L. Mayuga of Business Mirror. “Sana kahit iba na ang DENR secretary, hindi ma-lift ang total log ban,” he suggested. According to the environment honcho, “preventing deforestation while implementing massive reforestation activities are essential measures in building the country’s resilience to natural calamities.” In last year’s Global Forest Resources Assessment report, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization ranked the Philippines as the fifth among countries reporting greatest annual forest area gained from 2010 to 2015, with a total of 2.4 million hectares, or an average of 350,000 hectares per year. That’s good news indeed. Compare this report from the book, The Forest for the Trees?: Government Policies and the Misuses of Forest Resources, published by the Washington, D.C.-based World Resources Institute (WRI): “From the late 1950s through 1973, deforestation in the Philippines reached 172,000 hectares per year. Virgin forests have especially hard hit, declining by 1.7 million hectares from 1971 to 1980 alone. In 1982, 55% of the country’s total land area (16.6 million hectares) was classified as forested land and virgin forests accounted for about 9% (2.7 million).” But there were some discrepancies. “However, 1976 Landsat photos showed

rumors MY MILLENNIAL MIND (authorities deny ISIS presence in the country and claim they are only criminal bandits Vanessa Kate Madrazo riding on the fame of ISIS) highly increases the insecurity of people especially in Mindanao. People here have seen enough of gunfire, bombs, and acts of terror. This is very bad for many reasons beyond its implications in the peace and order in this country. I grew up knowing some of the nicest and most well-meaning Muslim friends and I stand as witness that none of the people who claim to be Muslim but perpetrates violence are authentic repre-

sentations of what Islam stands for. And this comes from a perspective of me personally witnessing a bomb explode during a Catholic mass directly outside the Church as a high school student in my hometown. But I know that Islam is a religion of peace, that it disassociates itself from and condemns terrorism, and that the meaning of jihad was never violence, but a meaningful struggle against temptation. But not everyone knows that. It’s not new at all to hear multiple instances of Islamophobia in this country especially from people who haven’t had close interactions with Muslims, particularly those who live outside Mindanao. They’re main source of reference regarding what they are like is the news media that is full of violent portrayals of people who misrepresent their religion. Rumors of ISIS creeping into the Philippines serve to heighten that even more. The success of terrorist recruitment,

in part, relies on the government’s incapacity to protect its own people, but recent research also suggests that many people drawn to radical ideologies are people who seek to find meaning and order in an environment that’s not able to give them that. Given that, it becomes necessary to reestablish the current institutions that we have as a source of meaning and hope. I’m not a big fan of organized religion, but in this particular situation, maybe it’s one of the few strongholds that can fight against terrorist recruitment and the demonized stereotypes against them. Voices of Muslim leaders in any aspect and followers may help reestablish Islam as a religion of peace and explicitly denounce any claims that it represents violence. They serve as a strong antithesis to the dominant portrayals in media right now and are the most credible voices that can correct the misinterpretations that radical groups create.

only 8.5 to 9.0 THINK ON THESE! million hectares actually under forests, and 1983 photos revealed a decrease to 7.8 to 8.3 million hectares, within which virgin forests were Henrylito D. Tacio only 2.0 to 2.5 henrytacio@gmail.com million hectares,” wrote Robert Repetto, author of the WRI report. Logging was cited as the primary culprit of the fast disappearance of forests in the Philippines. “After independence, the Philippines’ new government viewed exploitation of the country’s forest reserves as a good way to raise desperately needed revenues,” Repetto wrote. “Log- and wood-product exports were resumed, and timber companies were given substantial incentives.” In the late 1950s, more than 5 million cubic meters were harvested. The timber boom continued during the 1960s, peaking in 1969. “By then, the annual harvest exceeded 11 million cubic meters, nearly triple that of 1955,” Repetto noted. From there, it was going down. “Annual outputs averaging 10 million cubic meters were maintained until 1974. Declines continued over the next decade, and by 1984 the harvest had returned to the pre-boom level of 3.8 million cubic meters,” Repetto wrote. But logging was not the only cul-

prit. Shifting cultivation, locally known as kaingin, can also be blamed. “Some 80,000 to 120,000 families cleared an estimated 2.3 million hectares of forest land,” wrote Repetto. In addition, the illegal conversion of mangrove forests to fishponds also contributed to forest decline. “About 100,000 hectares, an area equivalent to roughly half of all Philippine mangroves forests remaining in 1982, had been lost,” Repetto reported. Where have all our forests gone? “Deforestation is a concern because forests are important in regulating the planet’s carbon and hydrological flows and provide a host of local environmental services,” the Worldwatch Institute declares. “Trees are essentially carbon warehouses. Their carbon is released to the atmosphere where the rots of felled trees rot in the ground and when the paper or wood products made from trees decompose in landfills.” Between 1850 and 1998, land use changes -- primarily deforestation -- accounted for an estimated one-third of global carbon emissions. The current concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is about 380 parts per million (ppm) and is increasing at roughly 2 ppm annually. In 35 years, if the atmospheric carbon dioxide will continue to increase by the current rate, scientists believe it will reach a threshold of 450 ppm of carbon dioxide, considered by many to be an “irreversible catastrophe.” The reforestation program of the current administration government is one of its strategies in fulfilling its international commitment to reduce the country’s car-

bon emission by 70% from 2020 to 2030. In the Business Mirror article, Director Ricardo Calderon of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau is supporting his boss when he said: “The next administration will have to think twice before lifting the total log ban. The people will not let that happen because they are very much aware of the importance of the forest because of the impact of climate change.” But Dr. Percy Sajise, former director of the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Agricultural Graduate Studies, believes it takes more than laws to address the problem. “Past lessons showed that if only the technical and economic aspects were to be considered and the spiritual dimension would be missed, efforts would not last but fail,” Dr. Sajise stressed. “No matter how beautifully written the (government) policies and the programs are, if the inner man does not change, then they will be of no use -- they will fail later on.” In a speech delivered during the first Philippine Forestry Congress in 1978, J.L. Leido Jr. said: “The Japanese preserve their trees, wildlife and other resources because part of their religion and living as Shintoist is the worship of the nature. “We, Filipino, claim to be the only ‘Christian’ nation in Asia,” he added. “I think, we can do it, if we only live up to what we profess and even much better, because our worship is not of nature but of the Creator of the nature. We must realize that being a Christian is not confined to being in the church building on Sunday but involves how we live and relate to people and our environment.”

Vanishing forests

10 NEWS GREAT RAID... FROM 1

(a camp in Metro Manila),” Piñol quoted an intelligence officer as saying. Piñol said after receiving the information over the weekend, he double-checked with another source “who also confirmed that he heard talks of ‘The Great Raid.’” “The informant said that the raid is intended to destroy Duterte’s image as an anti-drug crusader and suggest that the Davao City Mayor is ‘involved’ in the drug trade himself,” Piñol said.

Piñol said he has relayed the information to people close to Duterte, “warning them that ‘The Great Raid’ is actually a political operation aimed at destroying the Davao City Mayor.” Piñol quoted Duterte’s campaign manager, Maribojoc, Bohol Mayor Leoncio Evasco, as saying should the sting operation succeed in Davao City, “the Duterte camp would be placed in a defensive position during the whole campaign period.”

lion, while an external vice president was paid P4.95 million. Another EVP got P1.6M and three SVPs were paid P4.8 to P4.9 million. She said total investment plus other income generated by SSS in 2014 reached 34.5 billion. Librado called on Congress to override the President’s veto and pass the law for the sake of the pensioners. She said she also supports the proposals from the bill’s principal author, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, to institute reforms to strengthen the SSS fund life. “Whatever mismanagement on the part of SSS should not be blamed and dependent upon the contributions of its members. It is high time that this increase be approved,” Librado said. Meanwhile, Malacañang on Sunday urged lawmakers to consider the importance of stabilizing the funds of the SSS and its 30 million active members before overriding the veto. ”It is better to consider by our lawmakers the need to stabilize the SSS funds and assure the payment of the benefits for the SSS members,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan. Coloma cited the statement of President Aquino on Friday saying as father of the nation, he should not allow the passage of a bill that would create big problem for the next administration. ”It is important for the present administration to

also consider now the effect of their decision in the future and the interest of the majority of the people,” Coloma said. Under the proposed SSS pension hike bill, the 2.15 million pensioners will benefit from the P2,000 across-theboard increase in their monthly pension. President Aquino decided to veto the proposed measure, saying more than 30 million SSS members would be calling him “careless and heartless” if the SSS becomes bankrupt by 2027 because of the P2,000 pension hike. According to the SSS, the proposed pension hike would require additional P56 billion every year, stressing it would lead to the projected deficit of P26 billion for 2016 from an expected income of P41 billion. Some lawmakers are pushing to override the President’s veto which would require two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Colmenares, for his part, said the SSS would be able to afford the pension if government increases the collection rate from its current “dismal” 38 percent. “In 2009 alone P94 billion was uncollected,” he said in his Facebook account. He also said the SSS “should cut down on exorbitant bonuses to its board members.” “It gave its Board more than P1 million bonus each in 2012,” he said. “Its former Board members should return the more than P200 million in retirement packages they received in 2009,” he added. Armando B. Fenequito Jr. with a report from PNA

Port and the Airport projects can proceed. But on Dec. 14, majority of the councilors voted for the resolution rejecting the project, believing that there was violation of Sections 2 and 27 of the Local Government Code requiring consultation and prior approval from the City Council before proceeding with any national government project. Councilor Diosdado Mahipus earlier asked RDC 11 chairman, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, to suspend its resolution endorsing the Sasa Port Project pending coordination efforts from DOTC. RDC issued Resolution No. 118 on Dec. 21, 2014 endorsing the Sasa Port subject to several conditions which were not fulfilled up to now. Among the conditions

stipulated in the RDC endorsement are: the immediate acquisition of 6.2 hectares right of way, appropriate compensation for private property owners specified in the Terms of Reference, payment of the Real Property Tax, relocation and the assurance that the project will benefit not only the operator but the port users as well, status of the workforce of the two cargo handlers in the port, their Collective Bargaining Agreement and the non-consideration of the plan to prepare the port for cruise tourism. The business sector here even objected to the project proposal at its bid price of P18.99 billion because these would mean higher cost of handling fees and other port and shipping charges. (PNA)

Librado... FROM 3

RDC 11... FROM 3

EDGEDAVAO

DCWD... FROM 2

Matina Aplaya, Matina Crossing, Matina, Langub, Bucana, Ecoland Phases 1 to 7, Downtown, Pampanga, Sasa and Bo. Obrero and some areas in Agdao (Wilfredo Aquino, Gov. Vicente Duterte, Leon Garcia Sr., R. Castillo, Ubalde, Lapu-Lapu, San Antonio and Centro), Bago Aplaya (Gulf View Executive Homes, Versari Village, Castro Village and Sto. Niño Village), Matina Pangi (3K Compound, NSDS Village and from Matina Crossing to Pangi barangay hall), Ma-a (from NCCC Mall

to Metroville Subd.) and Panacan (ICSAMA Sapaha, Panacan Relocation, San Juan Village, Landmark 1, DPWH Depot and Philippine Naval Forces). Estimated to be done by 4 a.m. on January 18, the repair was completed past 1 a.m. By 5 a.m., normal operations were restored. Regalado said he has instructed the DCWD technical group to coordinate with Underground Technologies, Inc. regarding the damages. Jamae G. Dela Cruz

Crisanto Sotelo, Socoteco II acting general manager, acknowledged that the area’s power rates are currently considered relatively higher than those with other localities. He said such situation is due to their dependence on contracted supplies from diesel-fired power plants. “Most of our contracted power producers operate using diesel. Diesel are much more expensive compared to coal,” Sotelo said. Sotelo explained that the power supplies coming from SEC will not pass through the power lines of the National

Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) but will directly be streamed to Socoteco II. “That will drastically cut down our transmission costs,” he said. Aside from the hydroelectric plants of the National Power Corporation, Socoteco draws supplies from the diesel-fired power plants of SoEnergy, Peak Power, Therma Marine Inc. (TMI) and the Mapalad Power Corporation. Sotelo said the electric cooperative will not renew its contracts with SoEnergy and TMI once they end later this year. (PNA)

sultative Meeting for Heads of Posts in Europe, organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held in Manila last January 11, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles said that the that the outcome of the Bangsamoro peace process would send a message to the leaders of the religious extremist groups. “[T]he success of the Bangsamoro peace process can help us arrest the spread of extremism around the globe by showing clearly that an Is-

lamic movement can address its grievances and pursue its interests through a legitimate mode of democratic political engagement while still remaining within the country’s territorial integrity and constitutional framework, and without losing their culture and identity,” she said. “[The completion of the peace negotiations] can show the global ummah that even Muslim minorities can thrive and contribute to development through the mutually-beneficial interaction of distinct cultures,” Deles added. (PNA)

cations (DOTC) on the implementation of the Sasa modernization accusing the national agencies of not conducting consultation with local authorities on the project. Both the city council and Mayor Duterte have rejected the project alleging proponents violated the Local Government Code particularly provision that project implemented in the locality must first be endorsed of the local government unit. Cortez admitted that the city government endorsed in 2009 a PPA proposal for the modernization project, but the

“indicative amount was just about P4 billion.” The PPA sat on the project and we were surprised when they announced that they are implementing the Sasa port modernization project with a much bigger cost of P18.99 billion, Cortez said. Aside from Davao City, the cities of Panabo and Tagum in Davao del Norte, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and several other chambers of commerce in the provinces of Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley are opposing the controversial PPP project. AMA

welfare services last year. “Most significant among the improvements in the social sector was the provision of social welfare services that ensured social protection to the region’s marginalized and vulnerable sectors,” she said. She added the DSWD 11’s Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program, or the conditional cash transfer program, enrolled 228,793 household beneficiaries, or 87 percent of its annual target during the

three quarters of 2015. The region achieved its target for the Millennium Development goal for infant mortality with only 3.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, lower by almost half than the annual target of six deaths. “Progress was also made in terms of birth attendance by skilled health professionals and sustainable access of the population to improved water supply,” Lim said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

GenSan... FROM 3

Bangsamoro... FROM 4

No... FROM 6

Gov’t... FROM 6

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Nutrition... FROM 3 “We also want to inform our action officers and our nutrition coordinators on the ground to please not to showcase the materials during the election period... so that the materials will not be abused,” she said. Meanwhile, Ungson said she has observed that some

LGUs have been neglecting their respective nutrition programs because elected officials are busy in their election campaigns. She urged the people to choose candidates who can deliver the social services needed by the public in terms of health and nutrition.

al Show that will showcase Mindanaon culture through performing Arts featuring Ms. Maan Chua , Mabini Performing Arts Ensemble, Sta. Ana Performing Arts Guild, Sinagila Dance Artists Ensemble, and Volturi; the Photo Exhibit that will feature the works of the 3rd year BA Communication Arts student major in Media Arts of UP Mindanao under the Handuraw Productions, reflecting the concept of “Paghigugma” as a mediator in solving the struggles to attain peace and security in Mindan-

ao region; and The CommCultural Ramp that will cater the distinct and unique culture of the 11 Tribes in Davao City as an avenue for the youth to understand and appreciate the culture and traditions of Davaoenos. The event is co-presented by Abreeza Mall Davao and supported by our Speak UP was officially endorsed by the DepEd Davao City Division under Memorandum no. 1271 series of 2015. It was also endorsed by other DepEd Divisions in the Region.

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer Of Unit with Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a TH FREIGHT TRUCK Service

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Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Case No. 2015-XI-01269 (2010-XI-00888) RODULFO R. LAGAZO, Petitioner-Vendor

CRISOLOGO A. GOTAS, Petitioner-Vendee

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NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by RODULFO R. LAGAZO in favor of CRISOLOGO A. GOTAS of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular service on the route: CIRCULATION ROUTE 5 with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on July 5, 2016. In the same petition filed on December 23, 2015, petitioners likewise request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 3, 2016 at 09:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 4th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Case No. 2016-XI-00036 CLAIRE G. CANIA, Petitioner

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NOTICE OF HEARING Applicant requests authority for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate TH FREIGHT TRUCK SERVICE for the transporatation of freight on the route: WITHIN PANABO CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI ACCESSIBLE TO MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC AND VICE VERSA with the use of ONE (1) unit. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 8, 2016 at 10:20 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 13th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

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EDGEDAVAO UP AND ABOUT

Members of the Davao Jaycee Senate, led by its first ever Lady President Jocy TagleLedesma, engaged in a merry pose, in celebration of their Annual Christmas Party and Elections which was held right after the Formal Awarding Ceremony of the 2015 LEADavao Search event at Marco Polo Davao Hotel last Dec. 19. The memorable affair was also graced by the 2016 JCISP National President Atty. Rogelio Garcia. The Davao Jaycee Senate is an organization composed of accomplished JCI members and is affiliated with the JCI Senate Philippines and the Junior Chamber International. JCI Senators are bestowed with this honorary title and a lifetime membership to the JCI organization.

Three awardees for

2015 LEADAVAO A POLICE OFFICER, dance teacher, and a doctor are the honorees of this year’s Leaders and Achievers of Davao, a search project organized by the Davao Jaycee Senate. The LEADavao awarding ceremony was held last December 19, 2015 at the Marco Polo Hotel and was attended by foremost JCI Senate luminaries such as former Vice Mayor and Past Chapter President Louie Bonguyan, former City Councilor and Past President Nilo Abellera, incumbent first district Congressman and Chapter Director Karlo Nograles, JCISP Past National Presidents’ Joe Custodio and Nonoy Villa-Abrille, Past JCIP National President

Anggie Angliongto and incoming JCI Senate Philippines National President Atty. Rogelio Garcia. LEADavao was first held in 2003 under the presidency of Mr. Manuel “Bobby” Orig and was Past President Bobby Orig (standing) poses with the lovely Ladies of chaired by Mr. Nilo Clauthe Davao Jaycee Senate. Seated from left are Joy Orig, Alice Reyes, Elsie dio. There were 5 LEADSantos, Lilian Tan and Ching Bangayan. avao honorees namely: Joji ilagan Bian (business and education), Carolyn O. Arguillas (journalism), Jose iñigo l. Ayala (arts and music), Margie Moran Floirendo (community The Davao Jaycee Senate honored these Outstanding Dabawenyos service) and Antonio T. namely; (from left) SPMC Chief Dr. Leopoldo “Bong” Vega, Dance Maestra Lourdes Carmen “Bing” Locsin and Ret. Police Supt. Dionisio “Jun” Abude last Dec. 19 at the Marco Polo Davao Hotel. These 2015 LEADavao Honorees stand proud with their respective LEAD Trophies, crafted by no less than Davao’s very own prolific artist, Kublai Millan. The LEADavao Awarding Ceremony was also graced by no less than the 2016 National President Atty. Rogelio Garcia (center) of JCI Senate Philippines. Seated with him are Davao Jaycee Senate Foundation Chairman and Past JCISP National President Joe Custodio and former Vice Mayor and Davao Jaycee Senate Past President Louie Bonguyan.

Davao Jaycee Senate’s first Woman President, JCI Sen. Jocy TagleLedesma delivering her meaningul message and thanking the LEADavao organizing commiittee, the Davao Jaycee Senate Foundation, Corporate Partners and the entire membership for successfully reviving the LEADavao Search.

2015 LEADavao’s distinguished Panel of Judges together with the Search Organizers namely; (from left) LEADavao Founder and Davao Jaycee Senate Past President Bobby Orig, ONB President Alex V. Buenaventura(Judge), 2015 President Jocy Tagle-Ledesma, JIB Founder and Past LEADavao Awardee Joji Ilagan-Bian(Head of Panel), DSWD Regional Director Precy Nidea-Razon(Judge), DLPC EVP and COO Art Milan(Judge) and LEADavao Overall Chairman Toto Mabaquiao. (not in photo: DOT ASEC Art Boncato–Judge)

Uy (government service). The awarding ceremony was held at the Marco Polo Davao during the JCI Senate Philippines National Convention hosted by the Davao Jaycee Senate that same year. Through the leadership of 2015 President Jocy Tagle-Ledesma, the LEADavao Search Project was revived and chaired by Chapter Director Toto Mabaquiao and ably assisted by Vice Chair Steve Arquiza. The said event

featured three outstanding Dabawenyos who best exemplified the JCI values. Honored were… Retired Police Supt. Dionisio C. Abude who was cited for his leadership role in various functions in the Davao City’s police force, having received 50 medals and 104 commendations as well as community service where he initiated the Ecological Youth Camp Program for Chil-

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TRAVEL

NOT SO LONG AGO, a group of friends would usually meet up on Fridays or Saturdays to drink, have a good time and catch up with one another. So one day while they were all drunk and spent in an island called “Boracay”, one suggested, instead of spending all our money buying alcohol, why not invest it, let’s start a new venture, and since they are all ‘seasoned’ social drinkers, what else would it be... a bar. A few weeks after their initial ‘drunk’ talk, they sat down together and discussed the plan. Construction started June 8, 2015. Just in time for the famous Tnalak Festival of the Province of South Cotabato, they were able to build the 99 Brewery Koronadal and started its operation last July 8, 2015. From nine minds of nine closest of friends, hence the name 99 Brewery. At the same time they all belong to Batch 99’ of Notre Dame of Marbel University IBED High School. The initial six months of operations was a considerable success. And

99 Brewery GenSan’s newest nightlife destination

since Gensan was really their initial target market, these friends never hesitated and decided to look for the perfect place to start its second branch. And when they found this building with an awesome rooftop along Santiago Boulevard, the rest was history and on January 8, 2015, General Santos City bore witness to the unveiling of its newest nightlife destination. 99 Brewery offers the perfect industrial easygo-

99 Brewery offers the perfect industrial easygoing aesthetics and liquor-friendly ambiance accompanied by great food and wide variety of local to imported drinks.

ing aesthetics and liquorfriendly ambiance accompanied by great food and wide variety of local to imported drinks that transforms social drinking into a whole new level. Their very own fingerlicking and mouth-water-

ing comfort foods are perfect in combination with their topnotch beer and liquor collection. 99 Brewery mixes it all up with standby music, DJs, bands and even celebrities. And they’re not just about the new, they cater to different

audiences, after all, having a good time is not limited to young people. 99 Brewery wants to be identified as a place where the aesthetics is just enough, without intimidating their customers, where the price offers the best value for money and where people go to have not just a good time but a perfect one, and a place to transform social drinking into a whole new level. Cheers! 99 Brewery’s Koronadal Branch is located along Alunan Avenue, fronting the Provincial Capitol, Zone 4, Koronadal City while their General Santos Branch is located along Santiago Boulevard, beside Eastwest Bank, General Santos City.

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EVENT

DOT-XI holds Annual Tourism Industry Gathering from the discounted accommodations, tour packages, and even airfare. Another new development for 2016 is the addition of new partners to Meetings, Incentives Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE) Davao. Composed of hotels, convention facilities, land transport, spas, malls and tour operators, Cebu Pacific has officially joined the ranks of MICE Davao and is the first airline who will be offering discounted MICE airfare rates, giving discounts to

By Kenneth Irving Ong

THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM XI gathered its various partner tourism stakeholders, government agencies, and provincial and city tourism officers is a one-day Tourism Industry Gathering last January 15 at the Marco Polo Hotel. The annual gathering serves as a platform for the various cry and tourism offices in the Davao Region to present their key updates on new tourism and investment products, skills enhancement programs, and other various tourism activities for 2016. The multi-sectoral activity was also an opportunity for tourism stakeholders to present the DOT-XI’s

accomplishments for the year 2015 as well as set directions for 2016. Among the highlights for 2015 was the annual Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS), which on its second year, was able to engage the various links of the tourism value chain of the region and

became an effective venue for private-public sector collaboration. “Our best gain during the VDFS 2015 was the strong collaboration between the different tourism stakeholders, particularly the private sector which resulted in a seamless discounting

MICE participants flying to Davao. Aside from the VDFS and the new MICE Davao programs, the tourism officers of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Samal Island and Davao City gave invited guests a sneak peak of the newest tourism developments in their areas such as new and better tourism facilities in Davao Oriental, new tourism products for Davao del Norte, the opening up of Talikud Island’s interior for Samal, and Davao City’s land reclamation master plan.

of tourist facilities and products,” Alabado said. For 2016, the Department promises a bigger and better VDFS with the inclusion Davao del Norte’s Island garden City of Samal for its beaches and Davao del Sur’s Mt. Apo adventure aside

ENTERTAINMENT

Dabawenyo named first semifinalist of ‘Tawag Ng Tanghalan’ DOMINADOR ALVIOLA JR. represented Mindanao with pride as he was recently hailed as the first semi-finalist of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on the noontime variety show “It’s Showtime”.

The 44-year-old dad from Mati, Davao Oriental stunned the madlang people and the hurados for five consecutive days with his soothing voice and stage presence. He first wowed the viewers with his rendition of the Tom Jones his “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” His power vocals also secured him a spot at the semifinals with the song “One in a Million You” by Larry Graham. As his winning streak ended, Dominador won more than P100,000 and was thankful for the opportunity “It’s Showtime” gave him to show his talent to the madlang people. Meanwhile, with their strict yet entertaining comments, the interesting mix of the hurados adds fun to the singing competition. Led by the Legendary Singer-Songwriter and Punong Hurado Rey Valera, the Total Entertainer Rico J. Puno and the 13-week Tawag ng Tanghalan Defending Champion and Today’s premiere Director and Starmaker

Bobot Mortiz are full-force in finding the country’s next singing superstar. Aside from the three OPM legends, joining the panel of judges are Pinoy Dream Academy’s first Grand Star Dreamer and Philippine’s Pop Rock Princess Yeng Constantino; OPM and Showbiz Royalty Karylle; first-ever The Voice of the Philippines Grand Winner Mitoy Yonting; and Singer, Composer and Acoustic King Nyoy Volante. Completing the set of hurados are the Bipolar Diva of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” K Brosas and the “Tanghalan’s” Queen

Mother Karla Estrada. Don’t miss the talented pinoy singers as they battle for supremacy in the return of “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” in the noontime variety show “It’s Showtime,” Mondays to Saturdays in ABS-CBN. For more information, follow “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on Facebook (facebook.com/ TawagNgTanghalan), Twitter (@ TNTABSCBN), and Instagram (@ TawagNgTanghalan). Be updated with the latest happenings on “It’s Showtime” by also following the show on Facebook and Twitter (@ ItsShowtimena).

January 15 – 19, 2016

OUR BRAND IS CRISIS Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton R13

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

STAR WARS VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher PG

1:00 | 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

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UP AND ABOUT LEADAVAO A4

dren in Conflict with the Law (CICL). He currently serves as Assistant Operations to the City Mayor’s Office, and as Consultant of the Davao City AntiSmoking Task Force. Dance Maestra Lourdes Carmen D. Locsin who not only excelled individually but made a lifelong commitment to propagate and promote our local Arts & Culture by serving as mentor, artistic director and dance instructor at LCB Performing Arts Center Foundation.. Her notable works include being Director and Choreographer of “House built by tunes”, “Alay sa Bayan”, and “Rico…Ang Batang Kalye”. Rico was Davao’s first original musical theater production that included actual street children as talents in 2001. And honored in the field of Public Health Service and Hospital Administration was Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega who, as Medical Center Chief, transformed SPMC into a first class Government Health Facility thus, providing the much needed healthcare for Dabawenyos in all walks of life. He also served as Medical Director of the Davao Medical School Foundation from

President Jocy Tagle-Ledesma (right) poses with incumbent Davao City 1st District Congressman and Davao Jaycee Senate Director Karlo Nograles (left). JCI Sen. Nograles also serves as a JCISP National Director and a key committee member of the LEADavao Organizing Committee.

Chairperson of the 2015 LEADavao Board of Judges Ms. Joji IlaganBian (left) shares a moment with Architect Mike Dakudao (right). 2004 to 2008 and is currently the Medical Center Chief II of SPMC. The distinguished Board of Judges led by Panel Head and past LEADavao Awardee Joji Ilagan-Bian with members namely; One Network Bank President Alex Buenaventura, DLPC Executive Vice President and COO Art Milan, DSWD Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon and DOT ASEC Art Boncato, Jr. were present during the said awarding and were instrumental in qualifying and selecting 2015’s set of LEADavao Honorees.

The beauteous ladies of the night wearing their best smiles. (Standing in front from left) JCI Sen. Butch Tamayo, JCI San. Narda Lu, Past LEADDavao Awardee Joji Ilagan-Bian, President Jocy Tagle-Ledesma and JCI Sen. Rona Naidas. (Standing at the back from left) JCI Mem. Cheeza Way, 2015 JCI Davaoeña Daba Davao Jaycee Senate Treasurer Annie Fanlo-Candari (left) strikes a pose with Daba President Leah Aquino, JCI Sen. Annie Fanlo-Candari and JCI Past JCISP National President and Past Davao Jaycee Senate President Nonoy Villa-Abrille (right). Mem. Jeline Gison. After the successful staging of the formal awarding ceremonies, the Davao Jaycee Senate went on to celebrate its Annual Christmas Party and Chapter Elections on the same night. This 2016, the Davao Jaycee Senate will be led by its newly elected

President Richard Eric Tandoc. Davao Jaycee Senate’s momentous event would not have been possible without the support of its corporate partners namely; Aboitiz Power, CITI Hardware, Marco Polo Davao, APM, Eden Nature Park

and Resort, The Island Buenavista, Davao, King Printers Davao, Tristar Fuels, The Linden Suites, Sea Wind Residences, Florsheim, Naturalizer and Petro Trade Philippines. (LEADAVAO is an annual project of the Davao Jaycee Senate. The Davao

Jaycee Senate is an organization of Junior Chamber International (JCI) members who, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contribution to the JCI movement, have been awarded a lifetime membership as JCI Senators.)

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2015: ‘Cyber-security’ enters popular culture

ERHAPS for the first time in history, issues relating to the security of the Internet and the protection of internal networks were discussed by and relevant to every sector of the economy as well as everyday life: from finance, manufacturing/industrial, automotive and aircraft to wearable devices, healthcare, dating services and more. “Select any economic sector at random, and the chances are high that you’ll find something in the media about a cyber-security incident or problem. The same goes for all aspects of everyday life. This year’s cyber-events have resulted in a sharp increase in interest, not only in the

world’s media but also in the entertainment industry,” said Aleks Gostev, Chief Security Expert at Global Research and Analysis Team, Kaspersky Lab. “Movies and television programs featuring cyber-security issues sometimes resulted in experts appearing as themselves. But, in addition to the positive changes of increased public awareness of risk and how to avoid it, 2015 also resulted in some negative outcomes. Unfortunately, for many cyber-security has become inextricably linked to terrorism. Today, attacking and defending internal and external networks, such as the Internet, are subjects of considerable interest to vari-

ous illegal groups,” he added. 2015 saw near-exponential growth in all areas related to cyber-security. For Kaspersky Lab, the overriding trend has been increased complexity in cyber-attacks. The growing number of attacks, the numbers of both attackers and their victims, together with a greater focus on cyber-security in defense budgets, new or enhanced cyber-laws, international agreements and new standards: 2015 redefined the rules of the game. This year, agreements on cyber-security were signed between Russia and China, China and the United States, and between China and the United Kingdom. These

DEVICE and mobile application that enable people to turn off appliances even when they’re not home. An app that allows users to buy groceries via mobile devices, and have these delivered. An affordable pocket-sized electrocardiogram device. These are some of the projects developed by Filipino college students that have been shortlisted for the 12th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards of mobile leader Smart Communications. For more than a decade, Smart has been recognizing innovative projects of information technology (IT) and engineering students under its industry-academe linkage initiative called the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP). This year, 10 teams made the cut as finalists out of 304 groups that submitted entries from all over the country. The

finalists came from Angeles University Foundation, Asia Pacific College, Batangas State University, De La Salle University—Science and Technology Complex, Gordon College, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of Cebu-Banilad, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and Wesleyan University Philippines. The finalists have months to further develop their projects in time for the final judging in February 2016. Smart will give P300,000 to the first placer, P200,000 to the second placer, and P100,000 to the third placer, with the rest of the shortlisted teams each getting a merit prize of P50,000. Smart will also award grants to the schools of the 10 finalists – P150,000 for the first placer, P100,000 for the second placer, P50,000 for the third placer, and P25,000 each for the other schools.

To help the student-teams fine-tune their projects and learn how to do elevator pitches before judges, Smart recently held a boot camp in Makati City where the finalists received advice from judges and mentors. The mentors, among them startups backed by First Pacific incubator IdeaSpace, gave practical tips on how to turn their ideas into viable and marketable products and services. Among the mentors were former SWEEP Awards finalists like Chino Atilano of TimeFree Innovations, whose SWEEP project, a virtual queueing solution, has developed into a technology company valued at $2 million. “SWEEP Awards has gone beyond being a simple awards program that encourages students to develop innovative technological solutions to real-life problems. We have also helped several participants to

Smart announces finalists of SWEEP Awards for innovation A

agreements include not just a commitment to mutual cooperation but an assurance that both sides will seek to prevent attacks on each other. Cyber-activity during 2015 is described by Kaspersky Lab’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) as “elusive”: full of cyber-criminals that are proving hard to catch, cyber-espionage actors that are even harder to attribute, and with privacy often the most elusive of all. Cyber-attacks have achieved the impossible: they have thinned the walls of bedrooms and offices around the world. Kaspersky Lab: predicting the future

establish startup companies to commercialize these solutions,” said Smart public affairs senior manager Stephanie Orlino. SWEEP Awards is part of Smart’s SWEEP program, under which the company partners with colleges and universities to improve engineering and IT education in the country. SWEEP also aims to help schools produce industry-ready graduates or future technology entrepreneurs. For more information, please visit www.smartsweep.ph

A year ago, the director of Kaspersky Lab’s GReAT team, Costin Raiu predicted a few trends for advanced, persistent cyber-threats in 2015. As the year was to show, his forecast was accurate: • The evolution of malware techniques. In 2015, GReAT discovered previously unseen methods used by the Equationgroup, whose malware can modify the firmware of hard drives, and by Duqu 2.0, whose infections make no changes to the disk or system settings, leaving almost no traces in the system. These two cyber-espionage campaigns surpassed anything known to date in terms of complexity and the sophis-

tication of techniques. • Targeting executives through hotel networks. This prediction was later modified to include any venue where a high-profile target could be targeted outside the protected corporate perimeter. For example, the Duqu 2.0 malware infections were linked to the P5+1 events and venues for high-level meetings between world leaders. • Precise attacks merged with mass surveillance. Animal Farm’s targeted cyber-attacks merged with DDoS attacks from the same threat actor, which is rare for advanced targeted cyber-campaigns.

SWEEP Awards finalists were asked to present their innovative projects before peers and mentors, who then gave constructive criticism and advice.

SWEEP Awards finalists get tips from mentors on how to improve their projects.

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NEWS 13

NGCP’s Tower 63 restored T

HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) restored Tower 63 on at 2 p.m. on Saturday, two days after it was bombed by unidentified men past 11 p.m. last Thursday. In her Facebook post late Saturday evening, NGCP Mindanao spokesperson Milfrance Capulong said they completed the repair works on Tower 63 at Purok 4, Barangay Pagangan in Aleosan town, North Cotabato, along the Kabacan-Sultan Kudarat 138-KV line. “Repair fortunately proceeded unhindered as NGCP encountered no resistance from the landowners,” she stated. This was the 17th tower bombed since 2015 and the first this year. According to Capulong, seven tower bombings were recorded in December 2015 alone: Towers 25, 19, 20, 95, 68, 168, and 153. Support from the public, local government, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, local community leaders was encouraged to help monitor “the safety of the towers so that transmission services remain uninterrupted.” Last January 6, the grid

operator placed Mindanao under red alert status after the island’s power reserves went zero and warned of possible grid collapse due to the insufficient power supply and the bombing of Tower 25 in Lanao del Sur on December 4 which isolated Agus 1 and Agus 2. But it was back on yellow alert level again the following day. The transmission company usually declares yellow alert status when “contingency reserve is less than the capacity of the largest synchronized unit of the grid.” Capulong added repair of Tower 63 was facilitated immediately because there is no land dispute between the landowners and the National Power Corporation (Napocor). She said Agus 1 and Agus 2, with combined installed capacity of 150 MW, remained isolated from Mindanao because landowners Johnny Intan and Naguib Sambitori refused entry to NGCP personnel, pending unsettled claims by the Napocor. She said NGCP “awaits resolution on right of way between landowner Sambitoris and government-owned National Transmission Corporation (Transco)”.

JUMP. Foreigners jump off the rock at Magpupungko in Pilar town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. Tourists love the tidal pools and rock formations in the area. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO “The dispute remains unresolved to this day,” she added. Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada, told reporters during the inauguration

of Therma South Inc.’s (TSI) 300MW coal-fired power plant in Binugao, Toril, Davao City last January 8, that they were verifying whether some of the claimants have been paid for

the right of way. She said most claims have already been paid, but they are still looking for the records for those who 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. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

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to push energy DOST: First Filipino-made DOE as land use classification satellite to help agriculture T

HE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol regional office here has expressed excitement over the first Filipino-made micro-satellite set to be launched this year as part of the government’s efforts towards improving the country’s agricultural activities. “The talents of our own scientists are working for our people and we are confident that the benefits of this project will boil down to improving the lives of Filipinos in the long run. We are so proud of it,” DOST Bicol Regional Director Tomas Briñas said over the weekend. The DOST‘s launch into this new horizon is driven mainly by the project’s major nationwide benefits such as improving agricultural productivity and food security, he said. Once put in place, the microsat would be able to send critical data on weather systems which are crucial for the country’s farmers to adjust planting methods and procedures in the light of climate change. A landmark project of the DOST through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, the first Filipino made micro-satellite is poised to fly high in the next two months, Briñas said, citing a recent information received from Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo. This micro-satellite, he said, uses cutting-edge technology, designed and assembled by Filipino scientists and engineers on a comprehensive training on satellite technology at Japan’s Tohoko and Hokkaido universities. Named after Filipino mythological character “Diwata” (fairy), this new astronomical object that weighs just 50 kilograms -- but the benefits are indeed heavy -was designed and developed

by an all-Filipino team of scientists and engineers now based in Japan, Briñas quoted Montejo as saying. These Filipino scientists were trained in this technology in the hope of providing vital information to farmers so they will be prepared on what crops to plant, when to plant and how they can come up with provisional contingencies in overcoming the ill effects of El Nino up to the middle of 2016, according to Montejo. Just like in other countries around the world, Briñas said, this satellite technology will greatly improve the capability of the national weather agency, the DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to make accurate forecasts and weather monitoring that is crucial in agriculture. The data that will be generated by Diwata will enable DOST-PAGASA to predict extreme weather systems like the El Niño phenomenon that can dramatically affect agricultural productivity and crop yield and threaten food security. In fact, the PAGASA was able to map out its strategy months in advance before the onset of El Niño last March 2015, made possible due to satellite weather data that was sourced from independent satellite data providers at that time, Briñas said. Using satellite data and imageries, the country’s weathermen are able to make a forecast on the extent and severity of weather phenomenon in the different provinces and regions on a month-tomonth basis. With Diwata, PAGASA’s forecasting will greatly be improved because of more available data at its disposal

that would allow local farmers, agricultural officers of government units and the private sector involved in producing and processing agricultural products to plan and establish safety nets to cushion the impact of the dry spell, according to Briñas. Earlier, Montejo had said that by investing in the country’s intellectual resources, harnessing the best minds in the country, DOST developed Diwata to provide Filipinos the opportunity to reap the many benefits it offers, aside from information critical to agriculture.

nign competition, learn from and reinforce each other, and move forward in tandem,” Xi reiterated on Saturday. Xi also announced that in addition to subscribing capital to the new lender, China will contribute $50 million to a soon-to-belaunched special fund “to support the preparation for infrastructure development projects in less developed member states”. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will address the founding conference of the AIIB council on Saturday afternoon. The series of opening activities will last till Monday. These include maiden meetings of the board of the mammoth China-led lender, a $100 billion multilateral development bank. The bank’s president will be officially appointed and the management

team will be instituted during the meetings. The China-led development bank was formally established in Beijing on 25 December. Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei was elected as the first Chairman of the AIIB council. Jin Liqun was elected the first AIIB president. “The opening of the AIIB marked a milestone in the reform of the global economic governance system,” Lou said in a recent interview. Despite the opposition of Washington, Philippines, a major US ally in the region, has joined the new lender. The US and Japan have not applied for the membership in the AIIB. The bank, headquartered in Beijing, now has 57 members, that includes Germany, France, Italy, and the UK. The new lender is expect-

He cited as among these benefits the use of microsat’s data in monitoring the country’s forest cover and natural resources, implementation of a responsive disaster risk management program like Project NOAH, enhance water resources management systems and improve weather monitoring and forecasting, Montejo said. NOAH is a project that enables the government to address the serious challenges brought by extreme hazard events by applying advanced science and technology tools, such as enhanced vulnerability maps and a shortened six-

hour monitoring and flood warning system for communication along major river basins. It has various components such as Hydromet sensors development, DREAM-Lidar, FloodNET, hazards information media, landslide hazard mapping, Doppler system development and storm surge inundation mapping that address major needs in various disaster situations. Diwata, branded as “Proudly Filipino Made,” Briñas said, marks a milestone for the country’s venture into outer space as the Philip-

HOW DIWATA MIGHT LOOK LIKE. Since Japan is involved, Diwata might look like JAXA’s SDS-1. (Image from JAXA) pines and the two Japanese universities as project collaborators hand it over to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to be “our eyein-the-sky.” the JAXA as well as the Tohoko and Hokkaido universities supported the project as apart from training 10 Filipino students in creating and operating micro-satellites, they also shouldered more than P500 million of the P840.82 million program’s budget. (PNA)

Xi attends opening of AIIB in Beijing

HINESE President Xi Jinping on Saturday attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing. “This is a historical moment,” Xi said. The AIIB will extend China’s financial reach and compete not only with the World Bank, but also with the Asian Development Bank, which is heavily dominated by Japan. China, however, has repeatedly stressed that the new bank is willing to work with other development lenders. “The demand for infrastructure development in Asia is enormous. Institutions for infrastructure investment, old or new, have much to offer each other, and may well work together through joint financing, knowledge sharing and capacity building. They may engage each other in be-

ed to name its first lending projects in mid-2016. The China-backed multilateral development institution is tasked with financing infrastructure development across Asia. With an authorized capital of $100 billion, the AIIB will finance infrastructure projects like the construction of roads, railways, and airports in the Asia-Pacific Region. The ADB has estimated that in the next decade Asian countries will need $8 trillion in infrastructure investments to maintain the current economic growth rate. BRICS members, China, India, and Russia are the three largest shareholders, taking a 30.34 per cent, 8.52 per cent, 6.66 per cent stake, respectively. Their voting shares are calculated at 26.06 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 5.92 per cent.

HE Department of Energy (DOE) is supporting the passage of a law that will add energy as a classification for land use in the country. “If the area is identified as a potential resource or local site for energy, then the local government unit (LGU) has to isolate that area and classify it as for energy use,” DOE Director IV for Energy Policy and Planning Bureau Jesus Tamang told reporters. He noted that the land classification for industry is competing with land allocated for energy. Tamang said the DOE-proposed law will back the energy project than the local community, if it comes first before the population in the area.

He cited the Pandacan oil depot, which came first in the area before the people -- but was still forced to relocate from Manila. He stressed the relocation incurred costs, which will likely be passed on to the public. Director Tamang, at the same time, bared that the DOE is pushing for a temporary solution that will declare energy projects as projects of national significance. AC Energy Holdings Inc. chief executive officer John Eric Francia has also disclosed that Congress is updating the country’s laws to solve the ROW (right-of-way) concern. He pointed out that resolving the ROW problem is vital for the stability of power supply in Mindanao. (PNA)

European cruise ship passengers get taste of Kalanggaman Island

HE MS Europa 1, an international cruise ship of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Company in Europe, made a stopover on Tuesday in Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte. This is the second visit of the cruise ship. The first was on April 26, 2013. The ship made a historic first stop, where a crew member planted a marker at the welcome sign of the island. Its port call ushers the arrival of tourists in the famed island with powdery white sand and sand bars. It also opened doors for Kalanggaman as cruise destination according to Raoul Bacalla of the office of Mayor Ramon Oñate. There were close to 400 guests, mostly Europeans that were met by Palompon’s officials led by Vice Mayor Georgina Arevalo, Tourism Officer Cleofe Rivera and Bacalla. The officials noted that the tourists came mostly as family. The town’s employees feted and welcomed with songs and dances. Arevalo said that MS Europa’s visit means so much for the locality’s tourism industry. She is grateful that among other destinations in the Philippines, the company chose Kalanggaman. The island was destroyed

by super typhoon Yolanda’s fierce winds that hit the Central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013. The beautiful island, with an area of 8—hectares is 45 minutes from the mainland of Palompon. MS Europa I was the first international cruise ship that brought cruise tourists to the island. This was followed by MS Breman, MS Europa II among others bringing close to 2,000 tourists to the island in the last two years. The tourists had the time of their life to eat sumptuous food, kayaking, swimming, frolic in the sand, scuba diving, snorkeling and stand-up paddle boarding. They also went shopping as the local government of Palompon brought native bags, wallets and other locally produced items. For their entrance fees and use of kayaks, boats, paddle boards, the group paid nearly P200,000. Not bad for a oneday income, according to Bacalla. The cruise ship arrived at 6 a.m. on December 29, and left at 7 p.m. on the same day. After Kalanggaman, MS Europa made a port call at the world-renowned Boracay island also in Visayas. (PNA)

OPENING. Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the opening ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing. (Xinhua Li Xueren)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

Top PH amateur earns Asian Tour card

OBIM CARLOS continued his stellar play, claiming playing rights on the Asian Tour with a 15th place finish in the qualifying tournament in HuaHin, Thailand. The top young Filipino golfer, who earlier secured a card on the Philippine Golf Tour, fired a closing 70 highlighted by an eagle on Saturday at Springfield Royal Country Club. Carlos, still with an ‘A’ beside his name on the leaderboard to mark his amateur status, came up with an eagle-three on No. 12. The former University of San Francisco golf star also hit four bogeys and three bogeys. The Filipino shotmaker, who last week claimed his

second straight Philippine Amateur title, had earlier rounds of 69-68-70 for a seven-under 277 total. That was just six strokes strokes off the top spot and well inside qualifying places for the 2016 Asian Tour season. The top 40 and ties earn Asian Tour cards. Yikeun Chang of Korea had a 67 for a 13-under 271 total to top the qualifying event, one stroke ahead of Dodge Kemmer of the US. Michael Bibat had a closing 67 for a 282 total and a share of 42nd place. Jay Bayron fired a final-round 75 for a 284 total and 59th place. OrlanSumcad shot a closing 71 for a 288 aggregate and 97th spot.

Top Filipino amateur Jobim Carlos earns Asian Tour card with solid finish in Qualifying School. Jobim Carlos comes up with rounds of 69-68-70-70 for joint 15th. Jerome Ascano

Wolves score 30-point win over Suns Spurs rout Mavs 112-83

NINE-GAME losing streak mercifully ended, Minnesota Timberwolves interim coach Sam Mitchell carried 6-foot-8, 270-pound assistant coach Vince LeGarza into the locker room on his back and dumped him off to illustrate to his players the weight that had just lifted from his shoulders. Down the hall at Target Center, the burden only grows larger on Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek. Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points each and the Timberwolves blew out the Suns, 117-87, on Sunday (Monday, Manila time). “It’s tough when you lose nine games in a row,” Mitchell said. “One thing I give the group credit for, they don’t hang their head. They don’t point fingers. They come to work every day and work on their game and try to become a better basketball team. But you need some wins along the way to verify the hard work you’re putting in.” Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for the Timberwolves, who improved to 6-17 at home. They shot 56.5

percent and got 11 points and eight rebounds from Shabazz Muhammad to win for the first time since they beat Utah on Dec. 30. Brandon Knight scored 20 points on 9-for-20 shooting, and Markieff Morris had 17 points and five rebounds for free-falling Phoenix. The Suns have lost 13 of 14 games to drop to 13-29. “These guys can call themselves basketball players until you go out there and you try to stop somebody and get in front of somebody and take a charge or do something,” an exasperated Hornacek said. “We got one, two guys maybe on this team that do that. It is what it is.” The good news for both of these struggling franchises coming into the game was that someone had to win. The Timberwolves had lost 13 of their previous 14 games, bringing heavy criticism on Mitchell. Hornacek has felt plenty of heat himself, with the franchise shaking up his coaching staff by firing his top two assistants on Dec. 28. Morris drew all the wrong kind of attention after being benched for throwing a towel at Hornacek during a game and the

team lost guard Eric Bledsoe to a knee injury to zap much of the offense’s explosiveness. “With us being under-manned and not having everybody available for us guys have to play harder than what they usually would,” Knight said. “I don’t think it’s really there right now and we just have to be professionals and do a better job of that.” The Suns’ chemistry issues have certainly contributed to one of the NBA’s worst defenses, which entered the game ranked 29th in points allowed. In this last ugly stretch, the Suns have had losses of 33, 21, 23, 20 and 19 points before the 30-point drubbing by the lowly Wolves. “When you give up 40 free throws, that means you’re not guarding anybody,” Hornacek said. “To me, if I’m out there playing I’m going to at least guard my guy.” Gorgui Dieng added 15 points and six rebounds and the Wolves were able to rest their starters for the entire fourth quarter in their largest margin of victory since a 143-107 win over the Lakers in 2014. “They were struggling, we were struggling,” Wiggins said. “They probably came in

DRIVING THROUGH. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins drives past Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren. AP

here thinking they were going to beat us. So I wanted to win. We lost a lot straight. I just wanted a win, man.”

RUBIO’S SHOOTING Rubio has struggled with his shooting in his first four years in the league, but is shooting 45 percent from 3-point range over his last 11 games. He hit 6 of 11 shots against the Suns. “We got to do it now with teams that are playing well,” Rubio said. “This is a no-mercy league and you have to go out there and win when you have a chance.” TIP-INS Suns: Hornacek said C Alex Len, who has missed the last three games with a sprained left hand, should be ready to return when the Suns get back home on Tuesday. ... The Suns fell to 0-18 when failing to score 100 points. Timberwolves: After missing the last game with an illness, SG Kevin Martin had 11 points in 16 minutes. ... Towns received his NBA Rookie of the Month award for December. He has been the Western Conference winner for the first two months of the season.

HE San Antonio Spurs can be sparked by so many different players, even their worst start of the season didn’t faze them against a heated intrastate rival. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and the Spurs got an early spark from Jonathon Simmons to beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-83 on Sunday night and remain undefeated at home. ‘’It’s just easier having guys that can make plays, guys that can have big nights,’’ Aldridge said. ‘’Last game David (West) played great, I was in foul trouble. (Tony Parker) had two or three games where he was killing. Kawhi (Leonard) had the previous five games. I think it just makes it easier on everyone out there.’’ The Spurs did have some bad news, losing Parker late in the third quarter to right hip soreness. An earlier occurrence of the injury forced him to miss two games at the beginning of the month. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Parker’s status is unknown. San Antonio is a franchise-best 24-0 at home and has won 33 straight at the AT&T Center dating to March 2015. At 36-6,

the Spurs tied the 2010-11 team for their best 42-game start. ‘’We’ve got to credit these guys, credit the Spurs,’’ Dallas guard Wesley Matthews said. ‘’Obviously they’re undefeated at home for a reason. They’re a great team. They play hard every single possession. Everybody that checks into the game plays hard.’’ Matthews led Dallas with 12 points. Dirk Nowitzki was held to four points on 2-for-10 shooting. It was his lowest output since scoring one point in 9 minutes Feb. 29, 2012, at Memphis. San Antonio set a season low for points in any quarter in falling behind 16-14. The Spurs had as many turnovers - three - as baskets in the opening 10 minutes. The teams combined to open the game shooting 4 for 23. ‘’Both teams were the same,’’ Popovich said. ‘’Neither one of us could make a basket.’’ The sluggishness passed for the Spurs following a timeout and the insertion of Simmons. After having his dunk blocked by JaVale McGee, Simmons retreated to beyond the arc for a pair of 3-pointers that put San Antonio up 27-26 with 6:41 remaining.

Fajardo doesn’t need injury

WO-TIME PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo does not need surgery for his injured left knee but it is unclear whether or not he can suit up for San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, says head coach Leo Austria. Fajardo did not play in the Beermen’s 91-100 loss in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the Alaska Aces, as his knee remained swollen two days after injuring it in Game 6 of their semi-finals match-up against Rain or Shine. “According to the doctor, he will be back in the series, but I don’t know when,” Austria said when asked for Fajardo’s official status. “To my understanding of the situation, sometimes, andoon ‘yung swelling tapos mawawala, then bumabalik. That means there’s something wrong, but they told me na it’s not serious, so no need for surgery,” he added. “Day to day basis ang mangyayari sa kanya.” Austria revealed that he talked to Fajardo on Sunday morning and the Gilas standout admitted

that he can “hardly” walk. “He wants to be back,” the coach said. “And I told him na don’t force it.” “What’s important for me is his health,” Austria stressed. “Whatever happens, win or lose, kung andoon siya or wala, what is important is his speedy recovery.” San Miguel badly missed Fajardo in Game 1. Without their center, they were outrebounded 28-48 by Alaska. The 28 rebounds were a franchise-low mark. It was also the fewest rebounds grabbed by a team this conference. Fajardo averaged 16.4 rebounds per game in the semi-finals against Rain or Shine, and 14.4 rebounds per game in the eliminations. In their elimination round game against Alaska, he torched the Aces for 43 points and 20 rebounds. Austria made it clear that Fajardo’s ACL and PCL were intact, but the doctors want to reduce the swelling in his knee first. “I told him if he’s not 100%, I don’t want to play him,” he also said. “I don’t want to aggravate his injuries. Maybe Friday (Game 3), we’re hoping, but we don’t know yet.”

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

CMO dumps PNPA with huge late rally

Go scattered 35 points, including decisive baskets, for the CMO which came out on top after a blistering pay off period. The trusted executive aide of presidential contender Mayor Rodrigo Duterte nailed a string of four three pointers

midway of the final period that put the game away from the Policemen. Vice presidential candidate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano dished out 19 baskets as Ricky Sumagang added 14 for the CMO. Rafuson and Rolly Albania

BOMBSHELL report alleging widespread match-fixing in tennis rocked the Australian Open as the season’s first Grand Slam tournament began under a cloud on Monday. The BBC and BuzzFeed claimed 16 top-50 players in the past decade, including Grand Slam champions, had been repeatedly suspected of fixing matches for betting syndicates. Three suspect matches were at Wimbledon, and eight of the players under suspicion were due to take to the courts for the Australian Open in Melbourne, the report claimed. None of the “core group” of 16 players had faced sanctions, added the report, which was based on secret files leaked by a group of anonymous whistle-blowers. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) chief Chris Kermode said the timing of

the report was “disappointing” and rejected any suggestion that match-fixing had been covered up. “The Tennis Integrity Unit and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match-fixing has been suppressed for any reason or isn’t being thoroughly investigated,” Kermode told reporters. “And while the BBC and BuzzFeed reports mainly refer to events from about 10 years ago, we will investigate any new information, and we always do.” The match-fixing report cast a shadow over the Australian Open, where 128 matches were scheduled on day one with defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams both in action. Players seemed unaware of any problem with match-fixing, with both Williams and Japan’s Kei Nishikori saying they hadn’t noticed

anything untoward. “When I’m playing, I can only answer for me, I play very hard, and every player I play seems to play hard,” said Williams after beating Camila Giorgi in the first round. “I think that... as an athlete, I do everything I can to be not only great, but, you know, historic. If that’s (match-fixing) going on, I don’t know about it.” BuzzFeed said players were targeted in hotel rooms at major tournaments and offered $50,000 or more to fix matches for the betting syndicates. The leaked files included details of an investigation into a 2007 match which world number four Nikolay Davydenko lost to 87thranked Martin Vassallo Arguello. It found insufficient evidence of corrupt practice by either player. But the report said the probe uncovered syndicates

ITY Mayors Office banked on the hot-shooting of ace gunner Christopher “Bong” Go down the stretch to complete a 103 – 83 come from behind victory against PNPA Region XI on Sunday at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym.

Match-fixing claims rock Aussie Open

paced the PNPA with 16 and 15 points respectively. PNPA was leading in the first three periods behind its much better ball movement and excellent shot selection. But CMO came out sizzling from the outside behind the superb sniping of Go to pull

away with the win. Daniel Pumecha had 10 points while Donald Concepcion was limited to seven points that hobbled the PNPA’s offense. Box scores: CMO – 103 Go 35, Cayetano A. 19, Sumagang 14,

Cayetano R. 12, Aberilla 12, Cloribel 8, Peloton 6, Casan 0, Poliquit 0. PNPA – Rafuson 16, Albania 15, Nepomuceno 12, Pumecha 10, Delmo 10, Concepcion 7, Polestico 5, Caquilala 4, Lagundi 2, Navarro 2, Arbutante 0, Pamaybay 0.

The BBC and BuzzFeed claimed 16 top-50 players in the past decade, including Grand Slam champions, had been repeatedly suspected of fixing matches for betting syndicates. in Russia and Italy making hundreds of thousands of dollars betting on matches investigators thought to be fixed. The key group of 16 suspect players had not been targeted in any crackdown, it said, questioning the effectiveness of the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), the sport’s anti-corruption body.

Kermode said the TIU had won 18 convictions including six life bans since it was set up in 2008, adding it “has to find evidence as opposed to information, suspicion, or hearsay”. “Let me just say that all of us here in tennis are absolutely committed to stamp out any form of corrupt conduct in our sport,” he said.

“There is a zero-tolerance policy on this. We are not complacent. We are very vigilant on this.” Other allegations included that a confidential report in 2008 recommended investigations into 28 players “but the findings were never followed up”, according to the BBC.