Edge Davao 8 Issue 221 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ILLEGAL CHANGE

MOTHER AND CHILD. A Lumad woman carries her child while participating in the Congressional hearing conducted by the House Committee on Indigenous People (IP) in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last Friday. The hearing was conducted by committee chair North Cotabato second district Rep. Nancy A. Catamco. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

“...the green space is important because it fosters community involvement, stewardship, and ownership. It also promotes wellness, mental health, and physical health.”

DAVAO EDGE Sports AdDU advocacy council says CLUP amendment ‘illegal’ By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Ateneo de Davao University-Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (AdDU-UCEAC) said the proceedings of the Davao City Council amending a provision of the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) was “illegal.” In a press briefing yesterday at the AdDU Media Center,

AdDU-UCEAC executive secretary lawyer Arnold C. Abejaron said a provision in City Ordinance no. 0546 of 2013 or the City Land Use Plan 2013-2022 specifies that the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) should be convened first before it is amended. “It might be considered as illegal because the ordinance

requires that any amendment to the existing ordinance should have the recommendation of the committee first, and we call it the LZRC,” Abejaron said. During last week’s regular session, the City Council approved the amendment of article 9, section 13 of the ordinance removing the 10-per-

cent green space allocation in subdivisions in the city. Subdivision developers would only be required to leave open spaces, setback areas, and sidewalk strips, areas where trees and ornamental plants would be planted and water ponds would be developed and then turned over to

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Top Pinoy golfer finishes 4th at Singapore Open P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

HONEST TO GOODNESS. A taxi driver receives a citation from Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. and City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) chief Lisette Marques during the awarding of Davao City’s honest drivers at Camp Domingo Leonor yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Anti-mining activist dies in hospital after shooting

N anti-mining activist in Compostela Valley province who was rushed to a hospital in Tagum City Wednesday night after an assassination attempt expired early Saturday morning, the human rights group Karapatan Southern Mindanao said. Karapatan identified the victim as Teresita Navacilla, 60, a small-scale miner and purok chair of Gumayan, Barangay Kingking, Compostela Valley and convenor of the Save Pantukan Movement, an anti-large scale mining network and a critic of the government’s Oplan Bayanihan. Navacilla, Karapatan said, was tending her store when a gunman shot her twice at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Karapatan said the attempt on Navacilla’s life was an attempt to silence her for opposing the entry of the Nationwide Development Corporation (Nadecor) and St. Augustine Gold and Copper

Limited, “both large-scale and foreign mining companies that will scale-up its operations this March covering 1,656 hectares in Pantukan town. Hanimay Suazo, Karapatan-SMR, secretary-general said the killers could have come from the 46th IB, who she said, “have been on a rampage in Pantukan lately, arresting innocent civilians and portraying them as members of the NPA, and assaulting human rights of progressive leaders in the area as well.” She said the suspects are “targeting those small-scale miners, farmers and Lumads of Mansaka tribe who are opposing the entry and full operation of NADECOR and St. Augustine Mining Companies.” Lieutenant Colonel Seigfred Tubalado, commander of the 46th IB denied allegations that they were behind the killing of Navacilla. “Wala kaming participation dyan,” he told MindaNews. (MindaNews)

Palace rebuffs Enrile’s debate challenge on Mamasapano clash

ALACAÑANG sees no need to respond to a debate challenge of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to President Benigno Aquino on the Mamasapano tragedy, but rather it is good for the country to continue its focus on the transformation and reform program. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Enrile has had the opportunity to present his case. “It is best that our people focus their energies instead on how to sustain the momentum of our reform and transformation efforts that have gained the respect and admiration of

the global community,” Coloma said in a statement. For his part, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda believed that all questions related to the 2015 Mamasapano encounter have already been asked and responded during the reopening of the investigation on the incident. “All that were needed to be asked by the senators have been asked. All that were needed to be answered by the resource persons have been responded to. Perhaps, the results of the Senate reopening of the Mamasapano should speak for itself,” he said. The clash left 44 police commandos dead on Jan. 25 last year. (PNA)

Environmentalists open to dialogue with gov’t on green space removal By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

TENEO de Davao University (AdDU) president Fr. Joel Tabora S.J. said environment groups are still open to dialoguing with the Davao City government despite the approval by the City Council of the amendment of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) removing the 10 percent green space in subdivisions. “We have been trying to remain in dialogue with the Council men and women. We would like to keep that dialogue open because the inter-

est in the city is not the only the interest of the subdivision developers,” Tabora said in a press briefing yesterday at the AdDU Community Center. “Davao is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. We hope that we will not just go the way of Manila. We have to protect our city from going the way of Manila and the way of Manila has been more concrete, more development,” he said. “From the view point of Ateneo de Davao, the common good demands that we protect

the open spaces and we protect the development of these open spaces for all,” he added. Tabora said green spaces in the city help combat global warming. “If we don’t provide green spaces, the city will be too hot, too congested, and unlivable,” he said. Tabora also said he fears that the councilor “have been misled by simply the pressure of subdivision developers.” Tabora said if the dialogue with the city government does not prosper, he and the other environment groups will orga-

nize Dabawenyos and educate them on the importance of the green spaces. He said with the fast development of the city, the government was not able to plan enough, and the pressure of development came from the moneyed people and from Manila. “Davao is such a beautiful city and it doesn’t have to develop in the way of Manila. Let Davao develop in the way of Mindanao and according to the best instincts of our own people,” he said.

SUS) bill pending in Congress, USEP will be integrated with three other SUCs in Davao Region, namely the Davao Oriental State College of Technology, Davao del Norte State College, and Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology. “We have to really understand the bill (first). There’s still no extensive consultation conducted yet but I can say let’s give the bill a chance. Be open-minded. As president, I have to be open-minded and have to really see to really see the pros and cons,” Generalao said. She said stakeholders of USEP and other SUCs, especially the students who had received “wrong information,”

should consider the bill and educate themselves further on it by participating in consultations. She said some of the claims of those opposing the bill were just conjecture and not even stated in the two bills in Congress, namely the House Bill 5311 authored by Davao City 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab and Senate Bill No. 2292 authored by Senator Ralph Recto. Among the claims are alleged tuition increase, reduction of budget allocation from the national government, and removal of the USEP’s College of Engineering in its Obrero Campus. “Some of them are not really true based on the bill,” Generalao said.

“What I can say now is we need to educate our constituents further to be able to have balanced opinion on the positive and negative side of it,” she said. Generalao said a study was made in 1986 under then-University of the Philippines (UP) president Edgardo Angara that showed the quality of state universities had decreased because of the presence many SUCs in the country. She said the study recommended that all SUCs, except UP, be integrated in order to uplift their quality. She said Davao Region was supposed to be the pilot region for the SUC integration but the strong opposition of USEP faculty and its students delayed it.

New USEP president open to merging SUCs By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE new president of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) is open to the proposal to dissolve the state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Region 11 and merging them into one system. “Under my leadership, I encourage everybody (to be open-minded) because we are a community of scholars,” Dr. Lourdes Generalao said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao Annex yesterday. “We are supposed to be open-minded to policies, if there are changes that will be implemented by the government,” she added. Under the Davao Regional State University System (DR-

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

More power as TSI’s 2nd unit begins commercial operations By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HERMA South, Inc. (TSI) yesterday announced the start of the commercial operations of the second 150 megawatt (MW) unit of its Davao Baseload Power plant in Barangay Binugao in Toril District. “Unit 2 will add another 150 MW (130-MW net) to the Mindanao grid,” TSI said in statement. TSI, an AboitizPower subsidiary, declared the commercial operations of its first 150MW (130-MW net) unit in September last year, allowing customers to receive 50 percent of their contracted supply. President Benigno Aquino led the ceremonial inauguration of the 300-MW power plant last January 8. “The commercial operations of the Unit 2 could not have come at a better

time as Mindanao suffers from power supply problems brought about by El Niño,” TSI president and COO Sebastian R. Lacson said in a statement. “TSI will provide much needed baseload power for our customers, hopefully contributing to the long term solution of the Mindanao power problem,” Lacson added. TSI’s Unit 2 had been undergoing testing and commissioning for the past several months and has in fact been delivering, on a non-committed basis, commissioning energy to its customers at discounted rates. By declaring full commercial operations of the two units, TSI’s customers, composed of 20 electric cooperatives (ECs) and distribution utilities (DUs)

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Beyond PNoy: Moving on in the peace process

“T

HE BLBAR is dead; long live the BBL!” The Congress-proposed Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR) under the Aquino administration is dead, but the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) will continue to live beyond the Aquino administration. This is what lawyer Ishak Mastura, head of the Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, meant when he said “the BLBAR is dead; long live the BBL!.” Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has repeatedly said that in their present form, they would not

accept the BLBAR that the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL and the Senate Committee on Local Government substituted for the “agreed version” of the BBL because these versions envision a Bangsamoro that is “less than the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) that it seeks to replace” and the Senate version reduces it into a mere local government unit. In an interview on January 26, Murad reiterated earlier statements that if the BBL is not passed under the Aquino administration, they will continue, in the next administration, to demand implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which the peace

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UPDATES. Rep. Isidro Ungab of the 3rd District of Davao City gives updates on various pending bills in the house before it ajourns for the election during a gathering with local media at Lispher Inn on Saturday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Ungab hopes House, Senate agree on gov’t pay increase

AVAO City third district Rep. Isidro T. Ungab is still hopeful the delegations of the House and the Senate can agree on a harmonized version of the proposed Salary Standardization Law 4 during the bicameral conference committee (Bicam) meeting on Wednesday ( February 3). Ungab, who heads the House delegation being chairman of the powerful committee on appropriations, said that the two chambers’ delegations will strive to reach an agreement on a harmonized

version on Wednesday. There is doubt if any bill can still be taken up after election when Congress resumes from May 23 to June 10 before it gives way to the 17th Congress , as the remaining time will be spent on canvassing of the presidential and vice presidential votes. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad earlier confirmed lack of funds to implement the Senate version of the SSL4 proposing the inclusion of increase in pension of retired military and uniformed personnel. He said the General

Appropriations Act (GAA) does not include the salary increase proposed by the Senate version. Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said the House version of the proposed salary increase is limited to government personnel. Gonzales was quoted that the House version, without the additional input of Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile, will benefit more than 1.5 million state workers, including 1.18 million civilian employees, and 346,000 military and uniformed personnel

Water service interruption in Bago Gallera Thursday

DISMAYED. Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) president Fr. Joel Tabora expresses his dismay at the Davao City Council’s approval of an amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) which removes the 10-percent green space requirement in every subdivision development. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

, including those in the police, Goast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the jail system. On the other hand, Ungab said the House delegation could not agree with the Senate version because of the funding problem. It was easy for the House delegation to accept the Senate version be popular with retired military and uniformed personnel, but without funding we will just be giving them false hopes and we will be passing the funding problem to the next administration, Ungab said. AMA

AVAO City Water District (DCWD) announced a water service interruption on February 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. affecting the areas along Bago Gallera Road (from corner Baliok Road to corner Davao-Cotabato National Highway), Samantha Homes Subdivision, Spring Valley Village, Mega Homes, Kaliraya Subdivision, Gallera de Oro Subdivision, Catotal Subdivision, BAVNAI Village, Saavedra Neighborhood Assn. Inc. (SANAI) and School for the Blind. This water service interruption will give way to the tapping of the newly installed 100 mm diameter Polyvinyl Chloride () pipeline to the existing 150mm diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Spring Valley Community in Barangay Bago Gallera. Once completed, said project will allow for accommodation of additional ser-

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

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Watershed management plan eyed for Panigan-Tamugan Watershed

ley are community clean-up and mangrove planting in the coastal areas. The theme of the celebration is “Wetlands for our Future- Sustainable Livelihood.” Arguillas called on the public to protect the mangrove and trees planted in the coasts and riverbanks and to maintain the cleanliness of local wetlands. The Philippines is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1999 an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and

international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetland resources. The convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran on February 2, 1971, the date where the World Wetlands Day is celebrated. Wetlands are areas covered by salt, fresh, or brackish water either in the edge of bodies of water or in low-lying flooded areas, they support a wide range of flora and fauna and are valued as a nursery for species of fishes and aquatic animals. (PIA/XI)

MID plans to construct a bulk surface water treatment facility on Panigan-Tamugan rivers, the watershed advocacy group Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) called for the formulation of a watershed management plan to ensure the sustainability of the water supply and to protect it from contamination. “Now that the Panigan-Tamugan watershed has been designated as the future source of drinking water, efforts must be made towards making a holistic plan of action so that upland communities which directly depend on Panigan-Tamugan’s resources will not be affected drastically by the development in the area,” said IDIS executive director Ann Fuertes. Fuertes said that the watershed management plan should have long-term goals and clear implementation mechanisms explicitly defining the tasks and responsibilities of the agencies involved, and all stakeholders living or operating in the watershed area. It should also have projection scenarios of watershed conditions in different land use conditions. Fuertes said that the planning process is important because it results in the partnership among stakeholders in the watershed. “This is an effective way of marshaling resources aimed at protecting and sustaining the watershed. The resulting partnership is also a key ingredient in the successful management of the watershed’s resources since all stakeholders understand that they have an important role to play in sustaining the health of the watershed,” she said. She also said that watershed management planning is a “continuous process”, requiring cooperation among watershed dwellers, government, and other stakeholders to create a long term plan to manage land, water, and other watershed resources with clear

ESIDENTS of Panabo City commemorated the first death anniversary of the late Mayor Jose L. Silvosa Sr. at the Panabo Eternal Garden in Barangay Datu Abdul, Panabo City. The commemoration started with a holy mass led by Rev. Father Randy Murillo of Sto. Niño Parish. Silvosa’s wife and children, LGU employees, and government workers joined in remembering the late mayor’s contributions, qualities, and governance. He was known as a simple and humble mayor of Panabo. Silvosa’s daughter, Josephine Silvosa, expressed her gratitude to the people who came to pay tribute to her father. Mayor Silvosa started his career as public servant in 1972 up to 1980 in the Municipality of Cateel,

Davao Oriental and was appointed as OIC-vice Mayor of Panabo. He was elected as 2nd District provincial board member in the province of

Davao del Norte from 1998 to 2007 until he became Panabo City Mayor for three terms from 2007 to 2015. He served for nine years

‘SPIDER BOXING.’ Boxers trade punches while perched on a bamboo pole at the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College in North Cotabato. Dubbed “spider boxing,” the sport mimics spiders fighting on a stick. MindaNews photo by Geonarri O. Solmerano

Region celebrates Wet Lands Day

HE World Wet Lands Day will be celebrated by the different environmental agencies and offices in the region. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-XI along with the CENRO (City Environment and Natural Resources Office) of the five cities in the region had their separate activities to celebrate

the World and National Wet Lands Day this coming February 2. According to Marygelinne Arguillas, chief of the Protected Areas Management Biodiversity Conservation (PAMBC) of DENR-XI, the local governments in the region are also commemorating the said event. Among the events and activities spearheaded by the provincial government of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Val-

HE Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF), more popularly known as Dapecol turned 84 years old last Thursday with its officials and employees expressing greater optimism this year on the implementation of Republic Act 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013. BuCor director general Ricardo Rainier Cruz III and his staff of BuCor Manila officials arrived at the sprawling Dapecol main camp at BE Dujali, Davao del Norte and joined in the founding anniversary celebration with some 300 Dapecol workers led by acting prison superintendent Gerardo Padilla. In his speech, Cruz said he has much optimism that the law would finally be effected this year especially on the issues on salary increase and promotion of BuCor personnel and on the hiring of additional BuCor personnel to respond to the problem of prison guard-to-inmate ratio.

He said the BuCor central office in Manila has already submitted all documentary requirements asked by the Department of Budget and Management and that they have already ended the series of meetings with undersecretaries and assistant secretaries relating to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the BuCor law. The BuCor law was said to be delayed due to the delayed crafting of the IRR, which was only finalized last month. Cruz said he had asked DBM officials to visit and look at how the lowest prison guards of the kolonya have been working well yet are receiving salaries that are low compared with their counterparts in the police, military, or the Bureau of Fire Protection. “BuCor has around 2,800 prison guards, and about 1,600 of them have the item Prison Guard I which has Salary Grade 5. Compare that to

mechanisms for real-time monitoring and updating based on changing conditions. Fuertes pointed out that the presence of banana and pineapple plantations in the Panigan-Tamugan watershed makes it even more important to undergo watershed planning. “Surface and ground water systems can be easily contaminated. Since monocrop plantations are generally pesticide-intensive, the risk is high that Panigan-Tamugan’s water resources will be easily contaminated. By creating a watershed management plan, harmful impacts on the watershed’s rivers and aquifers can be identified quickly so that prevention or remediation can be carried out appropriately by stakeholders”, she said. She called on the Watershed Management Council (WMC) and the Apo Agua Infrastructura which is constructing the water treatment facility to take the lead and begin the process towards drafting the watershed plan. “During the deliberations of the Watershed Management Council on Apo Agua’s bulk water treatment plant, Apo Agua has already committed to contribute in the formulation and implementation of the Watershed Management Plan. So we need to start planning now to ensure that the water resources will be protected and that there will be enough to extract from without causing damage to the communities and the natural resources in the area. Based on the minutes of the WMC meeting, Apo Agua will now have two environmental plans to draft. The Environmental Management Plan which will cover the issues and concerns in the specific areas where the infiltration gallery, transmission pipeline and treatment plant will be established, and the Watershed Management Plan, which will cover the entire watershed and its stakeholders within.

under the “Programang Panggobyerno Para sa Tao” (Government Program for the People) program. Debbie A. Calope – CIO Panabo

Dapecol turns 84 Panabo remembers late Mayor Silvosa T R

FDAPECOL, 13

REMEMBERING. The family of Mayor Jose Silvosa lead the commemoration of the late mayor’s first death anniversary. CIO Panabo

EDGEDAVAO

5 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

PEZA AGREEMENT. Anflocor Group of Companies senior vice president and chief operating officer Ricardo Floirendo (second from left), Damosa Land, Inc. vice president for residential projects Cary Lagdameo (leftmost), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Lilia B. Delima (second from right), and administrator Sansaluna Pinagayao sign the PEZA agreement for the Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) in time for the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in Panabo City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

AIE: Davao’s trade center By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

N yet another major business breakthrough, homegrown Anflo Group on Monday held its groundbreaking ceremonies for Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE), a world-class project that is envisioned to become a premiere business and investment destination in the Davao Region.

“This is going to be the center for trade in the region,” said Ricardo F. Lagdameo, vice president for Anflocor’s real estate arm Damosa Land Inc. (DLI). “I believe with a lot of hard work, we can make Panabo and the Davao Region fly to new heights.” Lagdameo said the

63-hectare Anflo Industrial Estate will help boost Davao’s economy, offering thousands of jobs and providing opportunities for the people with its ideal location. “II can sum up in one phrase what today’s event is all about, what really comes first to mind is, it’s really a progress

and development,” Lagdameo said. The AIE is designed to be a self-sustaining ecozone which can accommodate agro-industrial and light manufacturing companies, and is duly licensed and proclaimed as a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Special Eco-

nomic Zone by the Office of the President. The estate will offer land and ready built factory buildings/warehouses for sale and lease in various sizes to suit locators’ needs. The project also features safety measures such as a suitable perimeter fence, CCTV, and 24/7 security. PEZA

facilities and a central administration building with meeting rooms will be constructed within the area to house its service team. With the development of infrastructure and the continuing investment from the private sector, the entire Davao

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

NGCP told: Explain power problem By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Mindanao Business Council (MBC) will ask the private sector to pass a resolution endorsing the immediate cancellation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ existing contract as grid operator if the NGCP cannot prove that problems being experienced by Mindanao on power are completely out of its hand. MBC chair Vicente T. Lao said the NGCP better come up with a satisfactory explanation otherwise they will have to take action.

“The NGCP has to explain what the problems are during our meeting that will be on Thursday,” Lao said. The problem on bombing as well as right of way (ROW), he said, could be part of financial matters that are internal to the management of the Syled NGCP. The MBC chair pointed out that news items released by the NGCP on its problems in some areas in Mindanao were just used to “press the government to resolve their problems.”

SP to approve tax sharing between Davao, Sta. Cruz

For instance, Lao said it is the duty of the NGCP to remove trees growing under its transmission lines which may damage its assets. However, it has to ask assistance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to do the job. Lao also said that the problem with the fees and rentals on the land owners should be an issue that the NGCP should have resolved a long time ago before it went worst. “Those people will always find way to make money,” he

said. The problem with ROW and rentals was not problem during the Marcos regime under the National Transmission Corporation which is contrary to the claim of NGCP that it has been decade-long problem long before the NGCP took over the operation in January 2009. “If the problem is really caused by the climate change as what they claim, then we cannot do anything about it but if it’s the other way around they have to explain it

to us,” he added. Lao said the many businesses here in Mindanao have complained of the negative effects of the power interruptions. “Some of the processors are complaining of the power interruption that causes damage to their machineries,” he said. If the problem continues he said this might affect the projected stability of the Mindanao power grid this year. He said it is necessary to put transmission lines in place to

ensure that new capacities will be able to reach its target clients. An investigation will be conducted by the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) during the meeting on Thursday, Lao said. The meeting will be participated by the private-sector led Mindanao Electric Power Alliance (MEPA) also head by Lao, Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Board, and NGCP.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City council is set to approve today the proposed ordinance specifying the sharing of the remaining 70 percent local business tax from the coal plant of AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South Inc. (TSI) between Davao City and the Municipality of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. The proposed ordinance which specifies the sharing of the two local government units (LGUs) will be discussed on third and final reading in today’s regular session. In the draft ordinance, the Davao LGU will get 60 percent of the sharing of the remaining 70 percent while Sta. Cruz is set to collect 40 percent. The report of the city council’s committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriation headed by councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, said during the first committee hearing held last September 2014, the TSI proposed to the city for an equal share of the remaining 70 percent. Lawyer Oscar P. Mata of the City Legal Office, however, opposed on the proposal because city administrator Jesus Melchor Quitain before that he could not agree with the

50-50 share with Sta. Cruz. During the joint meeting with the LGUs and TSI last October 2015, Quitain inquired on value of the power plant in both territories. The report said that big structure built in the area of Sta. Cruz is the Coal Dome where the coal will be stocked to be used in generating power. Quitain said in the report that the Dome can be relocated in the city because it is not integral on the operation and also indispensable. Quitain proposed that the sharing should 60-40 in favor of the city because most of the operation is within the boundary of the city. Earlier, Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray Lopez is already amenable to the proposed 6040 percent sharing between the Davao City and the municipality over the 70 percent remaining business tax of the operation of the 300 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of the TSI. Lopez described the proposal made earlier by Dayanghirang as “already fair enough” since Davao holds the larger percentage of the area where the plant was erected.

SIGNING UP. Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. brand ambassador Piolo Pascual signs autographs during a press briefing before his concert at Abreeza Mall with his son, Iñigo, dubbed “Freedom celebration,” an event for the culmination of the company’s #LiveFreePH Freedom Tour caravan, at Seda Abreeza Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

DCCDC, BDO partner for Chinatown T

HE Davao City Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC) is set to enter into an agreement with Banco de Oro (BDO) to boost the promotion of the city’s Chinatown as a tourist destination. City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head Lisegtte Marques said both the DCCDC and BDP will sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) next week in time for the celebration of the Chinese New Year,

“We hope that the fiveyear contract with the sponsor will be signed during the celebration,” Marques during Monday’s regular Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at SM City Annex. Marques said the P3.5-million sponsorship of BD0 will be utilized for the installation of red-colored lamp posts with a design of a dragon in a bid to position Davao’s Chinatown as a tourist destination. “The lamp post will be

consistent to the design of the Chinatown,” Marques said. DCCDC public information officer Jasper Huang earlier said more than 60 street posts from Magsaysay Avenue to Sta. Ana Avenue will be replaced with street posts that have the street names and corresponding Chinese translations. “The project is part of the plan to develop the 46 hectare-Chinatown into a tourist and investment destination,” he said. DCCDC started the re-

placement of posts last year. “We’ve already changed the street post in Lizada Street,” Huang said. Davao’s Chinatown area is known to be the largest in the world as declared by the city government of Davao, according to Huang. The Chinatown comprises the entire area bounded by Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and some portion of Leon Garcia Street between Ramon Magsaysay and Sta. Ana Ave.

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Bicam moves to save bill on firms’alien ownership A

Rep. Anthony “AGR” G. del Rosario

BICAMERAL conference committee will make a last-minute effort today to harmonize versions of the House and the Senate on the bill seeking to lift foreign-ownership restrictions on certain companies in a bid to attract more foreign investors in the country. This was learned from Rep. Anthony “AGR” G. del Rosario of Davao del Norte, one of the principal authors of the bill. “I have a bicam conference committee meeting on

February 2 (Tuesday) in the Senate to work on the final version of the bill lifting foreign ownership restrictions for adjustment companies, investment houses, financing companies and lending companies, “ the young lawmaker from Davao said. “We hope to finish it on the same day, so it can be ratified by both chambers on Feb. 3 (Wednesday) which is the last day of session,” he said, adding that the ownership restrictions are a major dampening factor to foreign

companies and individuals wanting to invest in the financial companies in the country. The lawmaker from Davao del Norte’s First District is referring to an identified priority bill “An act removing/ amending investment restrictions in specific laws governing adjustment companies, financing companies and investment houses cited in the investment negative list.” He said the bill “will allow up to 100-percent foreign ownership in the specified

companies, thus allowing for further growth in financial sector.” AGR, who heads the House committee on economic affairs and senior vice chairman of the House committee on trade and industry, is either principal author or co-author of 18 bills passed into law in short stint in Congress. These include two most significant ones – Republic Act 10667 (The Philippine Competition Law) and 10668 (Amendment to the Cabotage Law, both mentioned by President Aqui-

no in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year. SID: “I am still hoping we can reach an agreement. If we cannot approve it by next week, Congress will resume May 23 to June 10. Hopefully, we can approve it by that time. The SSL 4 is effective January 1, meaning it has retroactive effect.” Another bill signed into law by President Aquino very recently is the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law of which AGR is one of the more than a dozen authors. AMA

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Where have all our fish gone? Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Less fish is bad news for small-time fisherfolks. (First of Three Parts)

posed to 28.5 kilograms per year in 2003. Fish provides more than half of the protein requirement of Filipinos. This makes the people in this planet one of the world’s biggest fish consumers. “Without any change in fish consumption and no active human population management program,” the World Bank report warns, “domestic demand for fish will reach 3.2 billion kilograms by 2020, given the projected population

N the past, Bago Aplaya used to be a haven of fish in Davao City. “When I was still younger,” 53-year-old Ronnie Estrera recalled, “we used to catch a lot of fish. But it’s the case anymore today.” As he was talking, his son Dondon came home with one ice box full of fish. The 19-yearold lad, however, lamented that the fish were getting smaller and fewer. In some instances, they were forced to fish farther south into the waters of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. “Fishers are already scarce in Bago Aplaya,” he said. Bago Aplaya is part of Davao Gulf. With an area of 308,000 hectares, the gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from Philippine Sea. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) considers Davao Gulf as one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world. Diverse coral reefs, different mangrove species, cetaceans and a host of invertebrates contribute to the natural diversity of the gulf. Unknowingly, Davao Gulf is Southern Mindanao’s fishing ground. In fact, it is the 10th major fishing ground in the country. As such, “Davao Gulf is a critical resource supporting the economies of six coastal cities and 18 coastal municipalities,” says the Davao Gulf Management Council (DGMC), composed of all the local government units surrounding the gulf. But since 2000, the volume and quality of the fish in the Davao Gulf have been found to be in constant decline, according to a study conduct-

Fish catch these days are getting smaller and lesser. ed by the Kuala Lumpur-based World Fish Center. A collaborative effort of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), local government units (LGUs) and the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the decade-study looked at the volume and quality of the harvests of 10 commonly fished species in the gulf: matambaka, tamban, moro-moro, caraballas, bilong-bilong, lapu-lapu, danggit, molmol, talakitok, and maya-maya. Except for maya-maya, the harvest numbers for the species have been falling. At the current rate of decline, the caraballas, bilong-bilong, molmol, and danggit may all disappear completely from Davao Gulf within a decade, said the study entitled, “Strengthening Governance and Sustainability of Smallscale Fisheries Management in the Philippines: An Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management Approach in Davao Region.”

The matambaka, tamban and moro-moro are more resilient, but even they may disappear within a generation, it added. But it’s not only in Davao Gulf where fish catch is dwindling. InterAksyon.com, the online news portal of TV5, reported that in the newly-established Negros Island Region is also running out of fish. This was based from a study conducted by Remelyn I. de Ramos, a researcher from the Marine Sciences Institute of University of Philippines-Diliman. Business Mirror, on the other hand, revealed that Filipino fishermen these days are catching smaller, lesser fish. “It is unfortunate that the country’s small and commercial fishermen are fishing themselves out of business,” Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president for Oceana Philippines, was quoted as saying. In the 1950s, the average fish catch was “more than 10 kilograms a day.” It went down

to “less than 5 kilograms a day” in the 1990s due to decades of overfishing, catching of juvenile fish, and use of illegal fishing methods, according to Jimely Flores, Oceana’s senior marine scientist. Currently, the Philippines is home to more than 100 million people, as per record from the Washington, D.C.-based Population Reference Bureau. “About 62% of the population lives in the coastal zone,” says the Philippine Environment Monitor published by the World Bank. The Philippines has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, with an average annual rate of increase of 2.75 percent during the last century. Estimates show that if the present rapid population growth and declining trend in fish production continue, only a few kilograms of fish will be available per Filipino per year in the coming years, as op-

with few limitations to all takers. “Overfishing is the primary cause of dwindling fish population,” writes Peter Weber in his report, Net Loss: Fish, Jobs and the Marine Environment, published by Washington, D.C.based Worldwatch Institute. According to a study conducted by Remelyn I. de Ramos of the Marine Sciences Institute of the University of the Philippines at Diliman, the “fish stocks in major fishing grounds (in the Philippines)

Surging population is one of the reason why the country is running out of fish. growth rate of the country.” “We are running out of fish and running out of time. For a country known for marine biodiversity, there are very few fish left to catch,” deplored Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “Our fishery resources are beset with problems,” says the BFAR, a line agency of the Department of Agriculture. Fishery resources refer to inland (lakes, rivers, freshwater swamps and fishponds), coastal and offshore waters. Aside from population, the BFAR has identified several other factors which contribute to the dwindling fish catch. Oceans, which most of the fish come from, are global common property resources, open and

have been reduced to less than 10 percent of the levels in the 1950s.” De Ramos believed “the average catch today is less than 50 percent of the catch in the 1970s.” A report published in Rappler said that Filipino fisherfolk would catch 20 kilograms of fish a day in the 1970s. Now, they catch only around 4.76 kilograms a day – barely a fourth of the amount during the good old days. Meanwhile, the BFAR regional office implements a 3-month fishing ban in Davao Gulf. “Given the decline of fishery resources, there has to be a closed season in Davao Gulf,” pointed out Councilor Leonardo Avila III when he was still alive. (To be continued)

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8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

EDITORIAL

Second worst place in the world for journalists

HE Philippines has just been named the second worst country in the world for journalists, according to an independent report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The report placed the Philippines behind only Iraq whose record of media deaths in recent years has totaled 309. The Philippines was cited primarily due to the Maguindanao massacre in which 34 journalists where killed, although most of those responsible have been brought to court. Mexico is the No. 3 country with the ignominious record. Media deaths have reached 2,297 in the past 25 years throughout the world, according to the IFJ report, and this can only be seen as something that promotes a culture of impunity, a society that’s soft on journalists. In the Philippines, 77 reporters have been killed as a result of their work. For a country that rose against a regime

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that trampled on press freedom among others in the not so distant past, the Philippines still has a long way to go in upholding the rights of journalists and achieving a culture of tolerance to journalistic criticism and observation. In Davao City alone, a number of media deaths, including that of broadcaster Fernando “Batman” Lintuan and photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag (although he was killed in Jolo), have remained unsolved and will most likely go that way. The IFJ report will be part of a document to be submitted prior to a debate at the British Parliament and will be brought to a major UNESCO meeting in Paris. The Philippines should take this matter seriously. Otherwise, it is not just a big dampener to its reputation in the international community but a nightmare it will have to face for a lifetime.

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N February 28, the annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry will be held. Now on its 88th year, it is the oldest entertainment awards ceremony in the United States. Since the inception of the award in 1929, a total of 2,947 awards have been given. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit, which has become commonly known by its nickname “Oscar.” Actually, the trophy is 13-and-a-half inches high and weighs 8-and-a-half pounds. It is cast in solid Britannia metal electroplated with 28-karat gold. The name Oscar was reportedly conceived by director Margaret Herrick, who observed that the little statues reminded her of her uncle Oscar. In the past, only five films were nominated for Best Picture. But in recent years, more films were included. This year, eight movies are competing against each other. These are: The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight. Already, there are talks that The Revenant may win the coveted Oscar for Best Picture with Leonardo DiCaprio finally getting an Academy Award -- after being nominated two times. But then, he has to defeat first the four other nominees: Bryan Cranston of Trumbo, Matt Damon of The Martian, Michael Fassbender of Steve Jobs, and Eddie Redmayne of The Danish Girl. Some of those which won or nominated for Best Picture were filmed in the Philippines -- and some of the performers also clinched the coveted trophy. Let’s take a closer look at some of them: Apocalypse Now: This is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. It received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Francis Ford Coppola), and Best Supporting Actor (for Robert Duvall). It managed to win two awards: Best Cinematography (for Vittorio Storaro) and

N the bombing of transmission towers (18 since last November mostly in Lanao del Sur area), Sen. Francis Escudero, candidate for vice president, said: “There can be no better time for the MILF to show good faith and sincerity than now when the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) is under consideration in the legislature.” (Bold text ours) (The Philippine Star, January 23, 2016: Secure power towers, Chiz asks MILF) He may – just “may” – not be suspecting the MILF as behind the bombings. But, by hurling the challenge to MILF “to show good faith and sincerity”, he doubts; so, if MILF was in good faith and sincere in negotiating for Bangsamoro it must stop the bombing of the transmission towers in the area of the proposed Bangsamoro. Escudero’s call is his test for MILF to prove good faith and sincerity in negotiating peace with Government. He implies without assurance, though, if MILF can stop the bombings that will convince the legislators of MILF’s good faith and sincerity and pass the BBL. The call also amounts to an accusation. However, in crying against MILF, “Insincere!”, “Bad Faith!”, he should pause and listen to the echo, “Who is insincere?” and “Who is in bad faith?” Point 1: The bombings are primarily a police problem. If the Philippine National Police forces in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) cannot cope with the problem, the assistance of the military should be of-

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

VANTAGE POINTS

Hollywood’s lucky charm Best Sound. THINK ON THESE! In one of its climatic scene, a carabao was slaughtered with a machete. According to some reports, the scene was inspired by a ritual performed by a local Ifugao tribe which Henrylito D. Tacio Coppola had witnessed along henrytacio@gmail.com with his wife (who filmed the ritual later shown in the documentary Hearts of Darkness) and film crew. The Year of Living Dangerously: A romantic war drama, which was adapted from Christopher Koch’s 1978 novel of the same name. The story is about a love affair set in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno. It follows a group of foreign correspondents in Jakarta on the eve of an attempted coup by the September 30 Movement in 1965. It starred Mel Gibson as an Australian journalist and Sigourney Weaver as a British Embassy officer. But it was Linda Hunt, as the male dwarf Billy Kwan, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Filipino actors -- Bembol Roco and Kuh Ledesma -- appeared in the movie. The film was originally set to be shot in Jakarta but permission to film in Indonesia was denied, so the bulk of the film was shot in the Philippines. Death threats against director Peter Weir and Gibson from Muslims who believed the film would be anti-Islam forced the production to move to Australia. Platoon: The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1986. It also won Best Director for Oliver Stone, as well as Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. Both Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe were nominated for Best Supporting Actor but Charlie Sheen failed to snatch a nomination.

The production of the film was done in February of 1986; it was almost canceled because of the political upheaval in the country due to then-dictator Ferdinand Marcos. However, with the help of well-known Asian producer Mark Hill, the shoot went on as scheduled. The shoot commenced 2 days after Marcos fled the country and lasted 54 days. Scenes were shot in Mount Makiling at Los Baños, Laguna (for the forest scenes), Cavite (for the river and village scenes) and Villamor air base near Manila. Perhaps, not too many that Platoon was the first screen appearance of Johnny Depp, who would later become a star in his own right. “I could tell a mile away. I said, ‘You’re going to be a star. There’s just absolutely no question. You’ve got a great face, you’re unbelievably handsome, and you have an original character. You have a quality,” said Stone on casting Depp. Born on the Fourth of July: In 1989, Oliver Stone returned to the Philippines to shoot this movie, which was based on the autobiography of Ron Kovic. Stone wanted to shot the movie in Vietnam, but since the relationship between Vietnam and the United States had not been resolved, the director instead to film it again in the Philippines. Playing the title role was Tom Cruise, who delivered a tour de force performance and earned an Oscar nomination. “I still remember Laoag City in the Philippines where I had a great time filming the Oliver Stone movie,” he told a newspaper. All in all, the movie received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It won only two: Best Director (for Stone) and Best Editing. There are other Hollywood movies that were filmed in the Philippines. Oscar-winning Bob Hoskins traveled all the way from United States to the Philippines to appear in Roger Spottiswoode’s Noriega: God’s Favorite (2000). Since the movie was about a Panamanian, the Philippines was used as Panama and South America this time. In Roger Donaldson’s Thirteen Days (2000) the Philippines was used as Cuba. Although it starred award-winning actor Kevin Costner, he

never came to the country. It was shot in Pagsanjan, Clark Airbase and several other locations. Most films shot in the Philippines were done in Luzon, but director Tran Anh Hung did I Come With the Rain (2009) in Mindanao, particularly in Mount Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley. Independent filmmaker John Sayles’s Amigo, a film about the Philippine-American War, was shot entirely in Bohol. Of course, there were Hollywood movies in the past where the actual setting was the Philippines because it happened in the country. In 1964’s Flight to Fury, the adventure was set in the Philippines and chronicled the exploits of two men who survive a plane crash in the jungle. Jack Nicholson appeared in the movie, along with our very own Joseph Estrada, who played the role of Garuda. The setting of the first part of An Officer and a Gentleman was the Philippines, particularly Subic Bay. Paradoxically, The Great Raid (2005), starring Benjamin Bratt and Cesar Montano, was shot in Australia. To think of, the story happened in the Philippines, specifically Cabanatuan. Other Hollywood films that were shot in the Philippines include: Subject: I Love You (2010), Man on the Moon (1999), Kiss The Sky (1999),DNA (1997), Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990), American Ninja (1985), Enter the Ninja (1981), The Thirsty Dead (1974), Black Mama, White Mama (1972),The Big Doll House (1971), Too Late the Hero (1970), Back to Bataan (1945) and The Real Glory (1939). The most recent film shot in the country was The Bourne Legacy, starring Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz. In Metro Manila, some portions of the movie were filmed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila Yacht Club, the Metro Rail Transit station in Pasay, and San Andres in Manila. The ending of the movie was shot in Palawan, the country’s best island. The film’s Oscar-nominated producer Frank Marshall described Palawan as “the most beautiful place” he had ever been to. “I can live in Palawan forever,” commented the Oscar-winning Weisz.

dance with the Comprehensive Agreement of Bangsamoro, the chief minister of Bangsamoro will have administrative and operational control of the Bangsamoro Police but still subject to the full authority of the National Police Commission (Article XI. Public Order and Safety, Draft BBL). However, in the substitute bills, this power has been denied the chief minister. The ARMM Police under the full control of Napolcom has not secured the transmission towers and stopped the bombings. Why call on the MILF that has no police power to do the job? Where is the good faith and sincerity in calling on the MILF to do the job? Without full police power, the ARMM governor cannot do it effectively? Without the same power, the chief minister, later, cannot do it either, should the Bangsamoro be established eventually. Point 4: Escudero’s call reflects the thinking of the majority in the Congress. If they want to test the good faith and sincerity of the MILF, they must restore to its original Article XI, as well as the entire Draft BBL, enact BBL and establish Bangsamoro. If the present bombings of transmission towers continue after that, the MILF would have failed the test. Point 5: The issue of good faith and sincerity ultimately leads to the peace negotiation. Did MILF negotiate peace in good faith and sincerity? As testified by the military, for the last five years or more before that Mamasapano debacle on January 25, 2015, there had been no armed

encounters between the military and MILF forces. That was an acknowledgment of the good faith and sincerity of MILF in signing the ceasefire agreement and following the protocols for its implementation. The Mamasapano debacle happened because the PNP-SAF top command ignored the ceasefire agreement. The members of the Congress – in the Senate almost to a man – condemned MILF for bad faith and insincerity for negotiating peace with Government even if before that the leaders in both the Senate and the House had endorsed Draft BBL with assurance to pass it soonest within 2015. Who is in bad faith and insincere? MILF has already proven its good faith and sincerity. That the majority in the Congress or the entire membership except the Moro legislators would not recognize it only shows the true measure of their good faith and sincerity in telling the country and the world that they are deeply concerned about how the Moros have lagged behind economically and socially and that they would enact the Bangsamoro Act to allow the Moros to catch up. The test of the pudding is in the eating. What the Congress has done with Draft BBL is the real test of good faith and sincerity in the promise to give the Moros justice, peace and progress. (Author’s Note: Mind da News, the alternate of COMMENT, is a comment on current news. The author may be contacted at patponcediaz@yahoo.com.)

Crying insincere! Who is?

MIND DA NEWS BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ ficially asked, not of the MILF. The good senator knows. He only wants to put MILF on the spot out of anti-Moro spite. Is that good faith and sincerity in proposing how to end the bombings? Luwaran, the official website of MILF, in its January 24-31 editorial in response to Escudero’s call, said: “What are the consequences? If the bombing stops, then some people might suspect that the MILF is behind the act, because it had stopped it; if the bombing continues, then the MILF would be pictured as inutile or has not done enough to prevent it from happening. ‘Damn if you do, damn if you don’t’ is still the rule here.” Point 2: He knows that BBL has been substituted with BLBAR – SB 2894 in lieu of SB 2408; HB 5811 in lieu of HB 4994. Only 20 percent of SB 2408 is retained in SB 2894; about 50 percent of HB 4994 in HB 5811. What is being tackled in the Congress now is BLBAR, not BBL. Only six session days are left with the Senate far behind schedule. Is it good faith and sincerity to dangle the most dubious passage of BLBAR – calling it BBL which is not — in return for stopping the bombings? It’s adding insult to injury. Point 3: As provided in Draft BBL in accor-

10 NEWS ILLEGAL... FROM 1

the homeowners. Abejaron said article 14 section 14 of the ordinance states that changes in the Zoning Ordinance as a result of the review by the Local Zoning Review Committee “shall be treated as amendment, provided that any amendment to the Zoning Ordinance or provision thereof shall be subject to public hearing and sectoral consultation to be conducted by the Local Zoning Review Committee and review evaluation of the said Local Zoning Review Committee and shall be carried out through a resolution/ordinance upon three fourth majority votes of all the members of ” the city council. Abejaron said the process of amendment “bypassed this provision during its approval in last week’s regular session. “It puts a question on the legality of the proceedings,” he said. He said with the technicality that the Council did during the approval of the amendment, it is possible that Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will veto the change. Abejaron said the AdDU-UCEAC is joining the call of environment groups in the city to urge Duterte to reject the amendment. He said if Duterte vetoes it but the Council overrides the veto, his group will appeal before the appropriate courts. “We can initiate legal actions before the lower courts,” he said. He said aside from illegality of the proceedings, his group will also cite the inter-generation responsibility of the right of everyone to have a green space environment. Abejaron said some of the developers in the city are lobbying for this amendment as evidenced by the fact that no civil society group or environment group was invited to the committee hearing. He said based on the minutes of the proceedings, there was one councilor who expressed concern on the “profitability of the housing indus-

try in Davao.” “They were talking about the competitiveness concerns, how it discourages the housing industry,” he said. For his part, Architect Jim Palma of AdDU said if the concern of the developers is that the 10 percent allotted for the green space will be wasted, the city government should set a standard on how the space is to be used. “In a way, I see this issue as a design, management, and enforcement issue,” he said. “There is an argument that we remove green space and incorporate it to the sidewalks or at the houses. (But) try to look on the cuts of lots now being offered especially in socialized housing, it’s too small to have an additional or to incorporate green space,” he said. Palma said if the developers will move the trees to the sidewalks, a standard should be put in place because the green space in the sidewalks is “very inadequate.” “It will kill all the vegetation of the plant. The trees will die in three to four years because of root compaction or the tree may damage sidewalks or the walls,” he said. Palma said green space is important because it fosters community involvement, stewardship, and ownership. “It also promotes wellness, mental health, and physical health,” he added. He said in the existing law which mandates 30 percent of allocation for open space, only a small portion will be used for green space because most of it will go to roads, parks, and other recreational areas. “The 10 percent green space that was enacted in our CLUP is actually considered as a landmark ordinance because our legislators there thought of making Davao City climate resilient and a sustainable city in the future,” he said. Palma said the 10 percent green space can also address a lot of issues such as flooding and climate change.

on one end and that portion of J.P. Laurel Avenue between Ramon Magsaysay and Sta Ana Ave. and Soliman Street on the other. The Chinatown will also include the Magsaysay Park and Sta. Ana Wharf, as well as the areas adjacent to the boundaries of the Davao City Chinatown, including barangays 13-B, 14-B, Tomas Monteverde, 26-C, 28-C, 29-C, and entirety of 27-C and 30-C. Aside from replacing street posts, Huang said the council is planning to assign uniform colors in all buildings and establishments inside the Chinatown area. “This will give uniformity,” he said, adding that the council is still finalizing the color. The council is also crafting the draft of the development plan for Chinatown.

The Davao City Chinatown Development Council was created in 2013 after former Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio signed Executive Order No. 12 to assist the City Government in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs, projects and activities in the development of Chinatown area as defined in the city ordinance. The creation of the council “aims to empower and institutionalize the participation of the Filipino-Chinese community in the city’s development process, starting with the development of their very own Chinatown.” The city government has been in constant communication with the development council to ensure the development of programs and plans crafted in a holistic approach.

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in the Mindanao region, can now receive their full contracted capacity. The power plant currently supplies a significant portion of the power supply to the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga, Butuan, Kidapawan, Tagum, Koronadal, Digos, Pagadian, and Cotabato, among others. Among the DUs and ECs that have contracts with TSI in

Davao Region are Davao Light and Power Company, Daval del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO), Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO), and Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO). TSI also supplies power to the Cotabato provinces, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan provinces, Surigao provinces, Zamboanga provinces, parts of Bukidnon, and parts of Misamis.

panels signed on March 27, 2014. There will be no renegotiation of the CAB, he said, because it is a signed agreement, forged after 17 years of peace negotiations, and is in fact already on implementation phase, including the passage of the BBL. He said they will not change the draft BBL for submission to the 17th Congress (2016-2019) because “it’s already an agreed version. Napagkasunduan na.” He said the process of passing the BBL under the next administration will not necessarily go back to zero but to square 1 as the “agreed version” of the BBL will already be ready for submission when the 17th Congress opens and will then go through the legislative mill. Murad said they are aware that once the draft BBL is refiled, changes would still be made by the next Congress. “Titingnan natin kasi sa proseso, even though it’s already agreed, kung meron silang pagbabago (Let’s see because in the process, even though it’s already agreed, Congress might introduce changes).” He said they are open to “improvements” of the draft when Congress deliberates on it, “as long as it will not contradict the CAB… as long as they will comply with the CAB.” The “agreed version” Murad is referring to is the version drafted by the BTC which was vetted by and agreed upon with the Office of the President, the same version submitted to Congress during ceremonial rites held in Malacanang on September 10, 2014.

This draft BBL became HB 4994 and SB 2408. After their committee hearings, however, the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the Senate Committee on Local Government, filed their respective substitute bills HB 4894 and SB 2408, both titled BLBAR. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

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The arrival of Chinese tourists here have been significant in the past year making it as the top four foreign nationalities flocking the Davao City followed by the Koreans. The top three are Japanese, Americans, and Australians. Meanwhile, this year’s celebration of Chinese New Year is expected to be graced by more than 5,000 Filipino-Chinese and other locals. The event will be held in the Rizal Park. It will be also participated by 10 local businesses who will exhibit their product. Among the exhibitors are Saging Republik, Sanny Sweets and other vendors from the night market in Roxas Avenue. Marques said the event has an allocation of P300, 000 from the private sector and P100,000 from the city government. CHENEEN R. CAPON

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

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service

Case No.2011-XI-00042 PEDRITO C. MULIT, Petitioner

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

AIE... FROM 5

Region has certainly shown robust growth throughout the years. It is because of this unprecedented growth that the Anflo Group of Companies aims to establish itself in key industries in the region, namely real estate (industrial, residential, commercial) and services (port operations). The Anflo Group pioneered the development of leading companies in the region such as Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (TADECO), one of the largest banana plantations in the world; Davao International Container Terminal (DICT), the most modern container terminal in Mindanao; and Damosa Land, Inc., one of the emerging property developers in the region, races to the forefront of Mindanao’s booming economy with AIE. This project will be handled by DLI. The Anflo Group is also working on the development Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service

Case No. 2000-XI-01550 ENRIQUE M. PRIETO, Petitioner

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of Anflo City, a mixed-use development project with residential, tourism and commercial components, which is also located in Panabo City. Lagdameo said the establishment of the AIE can be attributed to the hard work of the company’s late founder, Don Antonio Floirendo, whom he described as “true visionary.” “But, when we think deeper what that vision is all about, I believe it was really pure business acumen. What he really have it mind was really about progress and how he can help the city, how he can help the province, how he can help the region grow, but most specially how he can help the people prosper,” Labgdameo said. “He was really thinking about the people, the generation that will benefit from everything that he does,” he added. Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service

Case No. 2006-XI-00355 ALLAN C. URBIEN, Petitioner

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NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service on the route: CIRCULATION ROUTE 8 and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on September 25, 2016. In the petition filed on January 18, 2016, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Regular Service on the route: BANSALAN (DAVAO DEL SUR)-DAVAO CITY and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on February 1, 2016. In the petition filed on January 19, 2016, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: TORIL-ASTORGA PROPER STA. CRUZ (DAVAO DEL SUR) AND VICE VERSA with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on November 27, 2016. In the petition filed on January 19, 2016 petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

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

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 17, 2016 at 09:20 a.m. at this office at the above address.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 17, 2016 at 09:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 17, 2016 at 09:40 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.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 19th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 20th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

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.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

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EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL

Springtime at the

Hama Rikyu Garden

Springtime is just around the corner and along with the changing of the seasons, one can be sure that many Filipino travellers are planning a trip to visit Japan’s famous gardens. Gardens have always been a part of Japanese culture, with each garden designed to mimic the beauty of nature itself. In Tokyo, one of the more famous gardens to visit in springtime is the Hama Rikyu gardens. Located in central Tokyo right beside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu is a traditional Japanese garden surrounded by the modern skyscrapers of Ginza. Although located at the heart of Tokyo, the garden seems like it was frozen in time.

Originally built as a feudal lord’s Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo Period in the 17th century, it later served as a

strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace before eventually being opened to the public. Today, the garden is known for its large freshwater ponds, historic Japanese tea houses, and landscapes that feature a variety of Japanese plants and flowers that bloom with the seasons. As Japan has four distinct seasons, the garden changes in colour from vibrant pink during the sakura season, to green with pops of lilac purple by early summer, to the rich oranges

Enjoying the view.

Japanese green tea and sweets was served.

Another tea house beside the garden’s pond with modern buildings of Ginza behind it.

and reds during autumn. The garden is also home to centuries-old Japanese black pine trees that are immaculately pruned and pampered. Walking around the gardens in springtime is a wonderful experience. Although I was not able to catch the blooming of

At the garden’s island tea house.

sakura trees, the picturesque quality of the garden and the cool spring wind made my experience enjoyable. Aside from walking and taking in the fantastic vistas all around the garden, the top of my mustdo list at the Hama Rikyu garden is to experience a

traditional Japanese tea ceremony at one of the garden’s four historic tea houses. To sit down, relax, and appreciate the natural beauty of the gardens while sipping on matcha or Japanese green tea was a truly, beautiful experience that should not be missed.

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EVENT

SUN LIFE OF CANADA (PHILIPPINES), INC. brought its nationwide caravan dubbed “#LiveFreePH Freedom Tour” to Abreeza Mall in Davao City last January 24 to 30 as part of its efforts to rally Filipinos to define and pursue their financial freedom. The event featured a string of activities that guides participants as they begin their journey towards financial freedom. This includes #LiveFreePH mall booths where mallgoers can declare their vision of financial freedom via the “Live Free Freedom Wall”. Through the “Brighter Life Index: Social Sentiment (BLISS),” they can assess their current situation and share their outlook for the future, and get to help a community in need while at it. They can also join the “Sun Celebright” promo for a chance to win a free trip to their chosen destination. Sun Life advisors will also be on hand to assist those eager to start mapping their journey towards financial freedom, while those interested in becoming a Sun Life financial ad-

visor will also be accommodated. The caravan culminated in a concert dubbed “Freedom Celebration”, which featured musical performances by Sun Life brand ambassadors Piolo and Inigo Pascual. The two led the movement and gave Filipinos a boost as they strive to reach their financial goals. In an interview with the local press, the father and son duo shared their experience with Sun Life and how they were able to save money to attain and plan for their goals in achieving financial freedom. “I never stopped getting policies (from Sun Life) because I want to be prepared not just for myself but for my son’s future and also for down the line when I can be financially free for anything I will need,” said Piolo. “If you have extra

Sun Life brings

‘Freedom Celebration’ caravan to Davao

money, it is important to put it aside para at least it will grow. The more mon-

ey you save the more money you will have in time.” The caravan, which also

By Kenneth Irving Ong

made stops in Pampanga and Iloilo, is part of a nationwide campaign called

“LiveFreePH Movement.” It aims to inspire Filipinos to believe that a brighter future is possible, provoke them to think about their own definition of financial freedom, and encourage them to translate their optimism about their financial future to reality with the help of a financial advisor. “Sun Life aims to encourage Filipinos to pursue financial freedom and we have over 7,000 advisors nationwide to help them in their journey towards this new kind of freedom,” said Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa.

UP AND ABOUT

Music and Poetry Nights at Misto AS THE VALENTINE SEASON is up and coming, Seda Abreeza has something in store for its valued guests. The urban lifestyle hotel offers a 3-day Valentine event at Misto, dubbed as “Music and Poetry Nights” from February 1214, 2016, 6PM to 10PM, at P1,580 nett per person. With an aim to provide an exquisite romantic 3-course wine pairing date night, Seda Abreeza’s Misto makes it an experience like no other. The kitchen and F&B teams, led by Sous Chef Giovanna “Bang” Flores and Oliver Evangelista respectively, created an indulging menu – from starter to desserts. The course starts with Morchella, Porcini, Fresh mushroom, Truffle Oil, Arugula soup paired with Chardonnay, followed by Mandarin Orange sorbet.

For main course, the menu includes New Zealand beef tenderloin Braised in Bordeaux Red Wine, Mashed Potato, Haricot Vert, Asparagus and Carrots, Pan-Seared Atlantic Scallops, White Wine and French Butter, Pumpkin and Green Peas Pesto Puree Watercress and Edible Flowers paired with Merlot. For dessert, Seda Abreeza’s specialty cake – Red Velvet White Chocolate Cheesecake – will be

offered alongside French macaroons paired with South African Sweet Wine. Misto will be decorated with blends of classic and vintage accents, providing a vibe just like the books and the movies. The restaurant’s food indulgence and interiors will be matched with performances from a four-string quartet and literary artists from Davao City. These artists are members of the Davao Young Writers Guild, and are set to recite both classic and original poems. This is also one of the hotel’s ways to support the local art scene. Valentine room packages are also offered from February 10-15, 2016, with a Valentine present for those who will book. For inquiries and reservations, please call (082) 322 8888 or email dvo@sedahotels.com.

YOUR LITTLE LADIES CAN NOW DRESS FOR SUCCESS! Take them to the Dresses Sale at the Children’s and Infants’ Wear Departments of The SM Store near you and enjoy great savings of up to 50% off from February 1 to 29, 2016. Hurry, be the first to score those fashionable dresses!

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ENTERTAINMENT

TAPE and WBR Entertainment sign with GMA TAPE Inc. and GMA Network Inc. signed yesterday, January 28, the renewal of their blocktime agreement at the GMA Network Center.

Present during the contact signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, TAPE Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio P. Tuviera, and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Malou ChoaFagar. Also present to witness the contract signing were EAT BULAGA “Dabarkads” Sen. Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon, Jimmy Santos, Anjo Yllana, Ruby Rodriguez, Allan K., Patricia Tumulak, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Pia Guanio, Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards. Other GMA officers present were First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari A. Abacan and Vice President for Corporate Communications

Angela Javier Cruz. During the contract signing, Mr. Tuviera expressed his happiness on their continued partnership with the Kapuso Network. “Many years ago binigyan kami ng GMA ng isang tahanan at iyon ang naging dahilan para maipagpatuloy namin ang pagbibigay ng tuwa at saya sa aming mga manonood. Maraming salamat GMA sa inyong pagtitiwala,” he added. Meanwhile, Atty. Gozon shared his appreciation of the

strong partnership between GMA Network and TAPE. “Matagal na natin silang kasama. There will be more success, more ratings, more friendship and more fellowship.” WBR Entertainment also signed a coproduction agreement with GMA Network Inc. for Willie Revillame’s variety-game show Wowowin which is set to air daily beginning February. “Itinaon talaga natin ito sa umpisa ng taon because we are lining

up the programs for this year. Ngayon, daily na from Monday to Friday and I have no doubt na mami-maintain ni Willie ang ratings ng program. Napakasipag at pinapanood ko yung mga shows niya kaya alam ko,” said Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. WBR Entertainment’s Willie Revillame revealed that the success of Wowowin is because of the viewers who never fail to support him and his program. He’s also looking forward to bring more smiles to Filipino audiences. “Ang bida kasi rito ay yung mga tao. Sila ang nagpe-perform at nagkukwento ng buhay nila. Ang hangarin ng programa ay magbigay pag-asa. Yung success ng programa, hindi lang ito dahil sa akin kundi dahil sa ating lahat kasi tulong-tulong tayo dito.

Sabi nga sa Eat Bulaga, hangga’t may bata, may Eat Bulaga. Dito hangga’t may nalulungkot, may Wowowin.” Meanwhile, GMA

First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan said that they are pleased to announce that Willie’s program will air daily. “Sa totoo lang nung unang pumasok pa lang si Willie sa amin once a week, nakita na namin kung paano siya minahal ng tao and it translated to ratings at talagang ang lakas ng show kaya naisip namin na kung ganito ang reception ng tao at mas maraming napapaligaya, itodo na natin, from Monday to Friday.

Pia honored in grand homecoming show MISS UNIVERSE 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach finally had her victory walk as she relived her winning moment before her countrymen during the homecoming tribute mounted by ABS-CBN at the Araneta Coliseum.

Wearing her blue Albert Andrada evening gown, Pia took the jampacked crowd back to her winning moment in Las Vegas as she graciously walked on stage with the coveted crown on her head as if she just won Miss Universe. What made the moment even more special was that she shared the stage with Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran. It was indeed a tribute fit for a queen. Aside from Margie, past Binibining Pilipinas winners also

congratulated her the likes of Miriam Quiambao, Nina Ricci Alagao, Bianca Manalo, Venus Raj and Ariella Arida. She was also serenaded by two of the country’s sought after leading men, Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby and sat down with the King of Talk Boy Abunda for a one-onone interview where she answered questions such as her plans on pushing her advocacies, being friends with other Miss Universe contestants, talking to President Aquino for the first time after she won, thoughts on the LGBT community, and how it was being back home so far. Other performers that night include Erik Santos, Yeng Constantino, Gerphil Flores, and Jed Madela.

February 2, 2016

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF ALADDIN / *FATHERS & DAUGHTERS Kev Adams, Jean-Paul Rouve / *Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried PG/ *R13

11:50 | 1:45 | 3:40 LFS / *5:40 | 7:50 | 10:00 LFS

EVERYTHING ABOUT HER Vilma Santos, Angel Locsin, Xian Lim PG

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

13 HOURS / *THE REVENANT James Badge Dale, John Krasinski/ * Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy R13/*R16

12:30 | 3:30 | 6:30 LFS / *9:30

THE BOY Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell R13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

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TRAVEL WHETHER IT’S TRAVELING DEEPER into tourist favorites like Japan and Thailand, or journeying to remote corners of the Philippines, this much is clear: Chinese travelers increasingly prefer to strike out on their own and visit destinations well off the tour-group map. “It is wonderful that more Chinese travelers are planning their own trips and exploring so many new places in Asia,” says Andy Edwards, Global Director of Brand and Communications at Agoda. “We believe in empowering independent travelers by having the best deals on everything from beach bungalows to luxury hotels overseas, so

we’re obviously thrilled to see this growing trend.” Where, exactly, are the places more independent Chinese travelers have discovered in 2015? Here are some of the destinations —many of them surprising—that have seen the most significant increase in Agoda bookings in Asia between 2014 and 2015. Dumaguete, Philip-

Dumaguete tops independent Chinese travellers’ travel list

Lesser-known destinations in Japan and Thailand also see sharp spike

pines: Diving excursions, whale-watching cruises, and riveting cultural sites have put this upand-coming seaside city squarely on the map of Chinese travelers. In fact, compared to 2014 Agoda has seen a staggering 805% more bookings for Dumaguete—that’s almost four times the increase for the next closest destination. Yufu, Japan: Rejuvenating hot springs are the main draw of laid-back

Yufu, a handsome mountain town with a swish town center ideal for shopping, snacking, and strolling. Though still relatively off the beaten track for foreign visitors to Japan, the buzz is clearly growing among adventurous travelers, evidenced by a 239% year-over-year increase in bookings on Agoda. Koh Lanta, Thailand: Phuket and Koh Samui may still be Thailand’s most well-known islands,

but a 219% jump in 2015 Agoda bookings for Koh Lanta proves that beachseeking travelers are delving deeper into The Land of Smiles. Whether lazing on the beach or taking Andaman Sea day trips to spectacular island hideaways like Koh Phi, visitors find plenty reason to linger here. Nha Trang, Vietnam: The first stop for most visitors to fun-loving Nha Trang is its cres-

cent-shaped, white-sand beach, where swimming in turquoise ocean waters and basking in postcardperfect island views is the stuff from which perfect beach vacations are made. Po Nagar Cham Towers, popular with Chinese Buddhists, and Long Song Pagoda, noted for its massive seated Buddha, are two more lures for a destination that has seen 158% more Agoda.com bookings this year.

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

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one of world’s DLS-CSB wins in 1st Aboitiz PIDS best think tanks anew Green Fashion Rev in Manila F

GREEN FASHION. De La Salle-College of St. Benilde was named grand prize winner as well as the winner of five special awards at the first Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution in Manila. University of the Philippines Diliman and Asia Pacific College were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

ITH a striking bluewhite portfolio highlighting the pressing issue of water pollution, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) was declared the grand prize winner at the Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution 2016 last January 30, the first ever to be staged in Manila. Besting the collections from two other schools, namely the University of the Philippines Diliman and Asia Pacific College, DLS-CSB wowed the hundred-plus crowd at SMX Convention Center Aura with its edgy de-

sign concept dubbed “Eiron,” from the Greek word for “irony.” “We wanted to spread awareness of how each and every one of us are killing the waters and suffocating it with pollution. The biggest irony is that we, its caretakers, are the very source of its pain and destruction,” DLS-CSB said. Aside from winning a P50,000 cash prize and the opportunity to implement a corporate social responsibility project in coordination with the Aboitiz Foundation, DLS-CSB similarly swept all five special awards, winning

the Best Clothing Design, Best Accessories Design, Best Bag Design, and Best Footwear Design titles. An annual favorite within Cebu’s college and university fashion circuit for the past four years, the Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution—with the theme “ECOUTURE: Greener Design for a BetterWorld”— successfully debuted in Manila for the first time this year. Some of the country’s eminent fashion icons such as topnotch designers Ma. Rosanna Ocampo and Ito Curata, Philippine Tatler’s Mia Borromeo and People Asia’s

Paolo de la Cruz, Celia Elumba of the Philippine Textile Research Institute, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.’s Melissa Aboitiz-Elizalde judged this year’s designs, which were derived from an estimated 200 kilograms of materials from various Aboitiz business units. “We in Aboitiz, have a sustainability mindset of doing well by doing good, always making the right long-term decisions that balance the interest of people, planet and profit. We would like to pass and instill this mindset to our youth, as young as they are, like our participants,” said Sonny Carpio, Aboitiz Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We would like to congratulate all schools that participated in this event. We consider you all winners not only for this event but champions in creating a BetterWorld through sustainable green fashion,” Carpio added. The Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution was the brainchild of a group of Aboitiz scholars during the Aboitiz Scholars’ CSR Summit in December 2011 and was first staged in 2012 through the auspices of the Aboitiz Foundation. Since then, it has been challenging students to create clothing, footwear, and accessories that make use of recycled materials and highlight the importance of the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

OR the fourth consecutive year, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has been recognized as among the world’s top think tanks. In the 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Report and Policy Advice of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania, PIDS was included in the list of best think tanks in seven categories. More than 6,600 think tanks from 198 countries were assessed in this round. PIDS remained the top social policy think tank in South East Asia and was ranked 37thamong the top 100 in the world. Other think tanks from Southeast Asia that made it to this category (social policy) were Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (41st) and Institute for Policy Studies (53rd) and Malaysia’s Center for Public Policy Studies (66th). In 2014, PIDS also ranked 37th among 50 nominated think tanks in this category. PIDS also maintained its rankings as among the top international development think tanks (70th out of 128) and among the top education policy think tanks (33rd out of 65). Moreover, the Institute has been included in four new categories: best think tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, best government-affiliated

think tanks, and think tanks with the best external relations/public engagement program. The East Asian Development Network (EADN) Secretariat, which PIDS has been running since 2010, also made it to the list of best think tank networks. The EADN is a network of institutes and centers in developing countries of East Asia. It sponsors research and capacity-building activities for early career researchers. The Go To Think Tank Index is a comprehensive ranking of the world’s top think tanks and has been described as the premier database and measure of world think tanks. It aims to increase the profile, performance, and impact of think tanks, and to create a transnational and interdisciplinary network of centers of public policy excellence. A total of 4,677 journalists, policymakers, think tanks, and public and private donors from 143 countries participated in the 2015 ranking process. PIDS is a state-funded think tank devoted to policy research. Its Board of Trustees is chaired by National Economic and Development Authority Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, with Romeo Bernardo, Dr. William Padolina, Atty. Raphael Lotilla, and Dr. Gilberto Llanto (PIDS president) as members.

Look for PGS logo when buying at Organic Market

HE Go Organic Davao City (GoDC) welcomed the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO) plan to enforce organic certification even if this will initially reduce the number of organic sellers in the weekly Friday Organic Farmers Market at Rizal Park. “The organic certification is meant to ensure that the fruits and vegetables that local consumers are buying at the Friday Organic Market have been produced following the Philippine National Standards on Organic Agriculture,” said GODC member and IDIS Advocacy Coordinator Chinkie Pelino. Certified organic sellers in the Friday Organic Market will bear the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) logo, which means that the produce they are selling are certified organic by a peer network of organic farmers. “The PGS is a second-party organic certification which is designed for the domestic market. It levels the playing field so that small farmers can participate in the organic market without spending huge amounts for certification fees,” said Nena Morales, chair of PGS Davao, the multisectoral committee which trains farmers and

oversees the implementation of the PGS system. Currently, PGS Davao has nine PGS certified farmers and four of them are regularly selling in the weekly Friday Organic Farmers Market. Morales said that the other sellers in the market are still in the process of complying with the requirements. “While this may mean that there will be fewer sellers at the moment, this will only be temporary since PGS Davao will be assisting those who have yet to process their organic certification. If they are able to pass the inspections, they will be allowed to return to the market,” Morales said. The PGS branding is part of the implementation of the city’s Organic Agriculture Ordinance and will have long-term benefits for the Dabawenyos and the environment, according to GoDC. “Being PGS-certified will mean that organic farmers will not pass on their cer-

The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) logo tification expenses to the consumer, allowing for more affordable organic produce. Keeping prices down will also mean that more and more Dabawenyos will be able to eat healthy and safe foods,” Pelino said. “The PGS logo is also a way of acknowledging that locally produced organic products have premium value, she said. “Hopefully, this will encourage more small farmers to shift to organic farming. This is important because more than providing food security, widespread organic farming is also beneficial in maintaining the integrity of our watersheds,” she added.

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NEWS 13

Who, what killed BBL?

PRODUCT INCREASE. National Dairy Corporation Mindanao area manager Marilyn Mabale says the agency is aiming to increase the ready-to-drink dairy products’ Mindanao production by 20% this year. Mabale graced yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) under LOYOLA PLAN issued to the following planholders, to wit; PH NAME 1. ERLINDA L. GUYO 2. GLORIA P. FAUSTINO

CPF NO. 45783

21022525

CONTRACT NO. 455978-7

NNN 130004955

were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

2/2,9,16

HE January 25, 2015 Mamasapano tragedy is to blame for Congress’ failure to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Senate President Franklin Drilon said. “Let’s put the record straight. We were on the way to the approval of the BBL. The committee hearings were going smooth until the Mamasapano incident took place,” Drilon told ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday. Mamasapano became a game changer in the 18-year old peace process, 17 of that in negotiations to forge an agreement, the rest on implementation. Before the tragedy, both houses were eyeing to pass the law by February and March 2015 to give sufficient time for the ratification and what was supposed to be at least a yearlong transition period before the election of the first set of officials of the Bangsamoro government on May 9, 2016. According to the peace roadmap of the government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the

Bangsamoro would have been inaugurated on June 30, 2016, the same day President Aquino would step down from his six-year stay in office. “In fairness to the legislature, we did our best but you can operate only in a political environment conducive to the passage of this bill. Unfortunately, after the Mamasapano incident, the environment became very toxic. I can say that I think the BBL is the 45th victim in Mamasapano,” Drilon said. Sixty-six Filipinos, not only 44, were killed when the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police launched ‘Oplan Exodus,’ a dawn operation to arrest a high-value target without coordinating with the military and ceasefire mechanisms of the peace process: 44 from the SAF, 17 from the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces and five civilians. Dean Antonio La Vina of the Ateneo School of Government agrees with Drilon’s assessment. “The Mamasapano incident killed the BBL. After

that, the political terrain became difficult.” But Lavina added that “many killed the BBL, including self-inflicted ones by the government and the MILF.” Biggest casualty Within the week of the tragedy, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, the Archbishop of Cotabato, had warned that the biggest casualty in the Mamasapano tragedy, was not only the lives lost, but “the future.” “The future is represented by the Bangsamoro Basic Law. If it falls by the wayside, the future is unthinkable. Where else can we go without its promise of a just and lasting peace? Where else do we go after many, many years of discussion?” In his keynote address before a gathering of Mindanao and Manila media in Cotabato City in July, Quevedo said that at the legislative hearings to investigate the Mamasapano tragedy, “several of our legislators expressed the biases, prejudices, and mistrust of the Christian majority against Moros in general and against the

BBL in particular.” “These biases were sown during the period of colonization when relationships between Moros and Christians were characterized by continuing conflict, negative experiences with Moros, the diversity of religious beliefs and culture. Dormant through many decades and occasionally rearing its head as in the Ilaga-Barracuda armed conflicts during Martial Law, bias and prejudice suddenly erupted into the open in the wake of the Mamasapano tragedy,” he said. In July 2003, Quevedo, then President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines delivered a paper before the 27th General Assembly of the Bishops’ Businessmen’s Conference on injustice as the root of conflict. He focused on three forms of injustices to the Moro “among the many” that he saw: injustice to the Moro identity, injustice to Moro political sovereignty, and injustice to Moro integral development. CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS

the Police Officer I in the PNP which has Salary Grade 10,” Cruz said. He said that they are working out to increase the guards’ monthly salaries from P16,500 to P45,000, retroactive when the law was approved in 2013.

Cruz thanked all stakeholders and particularly the TADECO, which through a joint venture on banana production has contributed “about 2 percent of the entire BuCor yearly income.” For his part, acting superintendent Padilla briefly

traced the history of Dapecol and how the colony struggled to be developed through the decades since 1932. He also thanked BuCor executives and other officials attending like BE Dujali Mayor Lolita Moral and Sto. Tomas-based 1003rd Infan-

try Brigade new commander Colonel Ricardo Nepomuceno for joining the anniversary celebration. Dapecol, including the adjacent Correctional Institution for Women, has more than 6,000 inmates. Cha Monforte, Correspondent

Dapecol... FROM 4

14 COMMUNITY SENSE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Panabo PESO bags best regional PESO award

DONATIONS FROM INDONESIA. Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Alberto D. Lina and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Regional Director for Administration Ma. Vilia L. Vigil inspect

donated goods from Indonesia at Sasa Wharf on Wednesday last week. Consisting of 740 brand new blankets and 2,450 tents, the donations were subsequently turned over to DSWD 11 by BOC. (DSWD)

AYOR James G. Gamao congratulated the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for winning the Best Peso in Region 11 under the component city category during the Monday convocation on January 25 at the New City Hall lobby. The actual awarding ceremony was conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 11 headed by Regional Director Joffrey Suyao held last January 11 at the Big 8 Corporate Hotel in Tagum City. PESO manager Cherelle Espinosa said the Panabo City will represent the region for the best PESO in the Philippines in October 2016 at Cebu City. Among the special awards recognized were: Best in the implementation of Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and Pre-Em-

ployment Seminar for Local Applicants (PESLA), Best in National Skills Registration Program (NSRP) and Best in Implementation of Special Recruitment activity. According to Espinosa, the PESLA program provides basic steps and information to local applicants by conducting an orientation on filling of requirements for their employment, while SPES give student-beneficiaries a chance to earn and this will help them with their educational expenses. Meanwhile, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Head Jeanette Lamoste presented the certificate of 100 percent Excellent Financial Liquidation on Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) cycle 4, which is awarded to LGU Panabo last December 2015 at the DSWD Regional Office, Davao City. (jaszparas/CIO Panabo)

HE city government of Tagum recently donated around 500 books for the benefit of the reading public of the hillside barangays of New Balamban and San Agustin. Spearheaded by the Library Section of the Public Information Division, the event was conducted on the premise that a variety of reading and reference materials should be readily made available to readers who are residing in remote areas. The activity was part of the Assistance to Barangay Reading Center Program of the local government in which the City of Tagum, through its City Public Library, taps several book donors from around the world to donate different types of books to the City Library which would then be turned over to the barangays for the use of its constituents. City Librarian Enrique H.

Donayre said the program contributes in shaping the reading habits of the school children living in far-flung areas, contributing to the decrease and eradication of the illiteracy rate in the city which is part of the 10-fold development thrust of Mayor Allan L. Rellon. Donayre said the city library has to extend its services beyond the four corners of the Rotary Park, Pioneer Avenue building that houses it in order to ensure that the readers from the outskirts of the city benefit from the government facility. Barangay Captain Orlyn Oring of San Agustin and Barangay Captain Dionisio Suico of New Balamban accepted the donated books and other reading materials from Mayor Allan L. Rellon and other city personnel during the turn-over ceremonies. (Richi Gulle/CIO)

dentists Dr. Sarah Importante and Andrew Colon-Murillo. The City Health Office’s Dr. Emelda Tan-Bendijo, Dr. Dyma Iris Veler, Assistant Provincial Health Office, Dr.

Eleanor Salva, and Panabo City Dentist Dr. Kristin Garcia were also present extending their efforts for the mission. Renel E. Balsabas/CIO Panabo

N. Cotabato receives dental bus from DOH T

2 Tagum brgy reading centers get new books

ORTH Cotabato’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) recently acquired a brand new dental bus courtesy of the Department of Health (DOH). The mobile dental facility is intended for the provincial government’s outreach program. Jessie Enid, provincial focal Person for legal matters and health, said the ceremonial turnover was took place in Manila on January 23. The provincial government’s “Serbisyong Totoo” advocacy delivers much-needed services, including health missions, to its constituents, even

those in most remote communities, Enid said. “The dental bus is a kind of reward the province received from DOH because of our diligent performance in providing health services to the constituents particularly the series of dental outreach programs we are conducting,” he said. IPHO officer-in-charge Dr. Eva Rabaya and DOH 12 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Francisco Mateo received the vehicle from DOH officials. “This vehicle will spell the difference in delivering dental services to the villagers where the activity (dental missions)

is usually conducted in barangay halls, multi-purpose buildings or in some open spaces,” Enid said. The air-conditioned dental bus is equipped with two dental beds, basin, compartments for medical equipment, and medicines. At the turnover ceremony, Dr. Rabaya lauded the efforts of the efforts of the provincial government to institutionalize its medical-dental outreach missions. She said in 2015, close to 80,000 individuals were served in the medical-dental missions that offered free services such as checkup, tooth

extraction, circumcision, medicines and vitamins. Governor Emmylou J. Taliño-Mendoza thanked DOH for donating the bus which she said is very useful in implementing the health programs of the provincial government. “We are committed to give prompt and ingenuous social health services to the constituents. This vehicle will strengthen more our dedication to serve especially the poor,” Taliño-Mendoza said as she assured DOH officials that it will be used for its intended purpose. (JSta. Cruz-Cotabato PGO Media Center/DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

EP. Antonio Lagdameo Jr. gave a birthday treat to Panabo residents with the support of Panabo City Mayor James G. Gamao through a joint Medical and

Dental Mission Outreach Program held in Barangay New Visayas. Those who attended the program were given medical and dental check-up as well

as medical supplies. Some of the medical teams that offered their services where from AOF Foundation, Tadeco, City Health Office of Panabo, and Baran-

gay Health Workers (BHW) of New Visayas. Also present contributing to the mission where medical doctors Dr. Joy Ponce de Leon, Dr. Maurita Calumba, and

Lagdameo celebrates birthday with medical, dental mission R

BIRTHDAY TREAT. Panabo City residents avail themselves of free medical and dental services courtesy of Rep. Antonio Lagdameo

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

Warriors blow out Knicks T looked back to normal after a sluggish win Saturday in Philadelphia. Green, who leads the NBA in triple-doubles, matched Hall of Famer Tom Gola’s total from the 1959-60 season. Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost for the fifth time in six games. ‘’In the third quarter, they just took it to another level of intensity,’’ Knicks coach Derek Fisher said. ‘’We were right there and they went to more of a level that they’re capable of getting to and got some separation.’’ A night after managing just 17 points in the fourth quarter and needing Harrison Barnes’ 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left to rescue them in a 108-105 victory over the 76ers, Golden State’s high-powered offense was still stuck in neutral to open the game. The Knicks ran off 14 straight points, helped by eight Warriors turnovers in the period, and led 20-18. ‘’Coach Kerr got on us pretty good,’’ Thompson said of the clipboard toss to start the second quarter. ‘’He was very animated on the

sideline and we responded well to it. He told us we were playing very embarrassing and just to pick it up.’’ Despite the Warriors’ brilliance, Green said it’s not unusual for Kerr to lose his temper. ‘’You’d be surprised,’’ Green said. ‘’He expects perfection and we’re never there.’’ They got pretty close in the second quarter. The Warriors hit the Knicks with a 14-of-17 onslaught for 37 points - with Curry not even taking a shot. Thompson, who took only one shot in a scoreless first quarter, was 7 for 8 in the second and finished 14 of 18. Green, headed to his first AllStar Game, dominated his matchup against Knicks rookie star Kristaps Porzingis, who committed two fouls and headed to the bench 90 seconds into the game. The Knicks were within 13 early in the fourth before the Warriors put it away with 10 straight points, including Thompson’s 3-pointer that made it 102-79. ‘’They’re a championship-level team and that’s what they did tonight,’’ Porzingis said.

AMES RheyBantugan, Chris Maynard Ampon and Ghian Michael Aleria shared top honors in the Davao Chess Challenge Grand Finals held Saturday at the NCCC Mall Davao. Bantugan of Davao City scored 4.5 points to rule the Under 18 category. Second was Davao’s Daniel Rome Borinaga, who carded 4.0 points followed in third by Japheth Aaron Caresosa (3.5) of Panabo City. The 4th to 10th placers were Gino Angelo Asuncion (3.0), Alberto Diolola Jr. (3.0), Earl Rhey Mantilla (2.5), Honey Grace Buenafe (2.0), Kurt John Placencia (2.0), Carl Jason Huliganga (2..0)

and Francis Xavier Guimalan (1.0). Ampon of Tagum City dominated the Under 14 category with scoring 4.5 points. Second was Irish Yngayo (4.0) of Toril followed by Jude Nathaniel (3.5) of Davao. Completing the top 10 placers are Alritz Jefferson Amor (3.0), BiancheEllyzBongato (3.0), Queen Peralta (3.0), Jeff Daniel Vitor (2.0), Niel Sebastian Enoc (2.0), Prinncess Rose Mamparo (2.0) and Lorraine Yngayo (1.5). Aleria of Panabo City won the Under 10 division after besting in a tiebreak Wesley Jovan Magbanua of Tugbok, Sean Kenneth

Amor of Panabo and Aliyah Rae Lumangtad. All four of them had identical 4.0 points. Aleria, however, got the better quotient points followed by Magbanua, Amor and Lumangtad. The 5th to 10th finishers were VneshdylBureros (3.0), John Dale Fernandez (3.0), Angel JhoannaHalangdon (3.0), Irish Mae Vitor (2.5), Jacki Lou Andoy (2.5) and Christian AnjoDumogho (2.0). The event was organized by the Davao Chess Community with Gogo Albas as the tournament director. RA Joseph GenerPalero and CA CecilioAcas were the chief arbiter and deputy arbiter, respectively.

ORDAN Spieth finished runner-up at the Singapore Open on Monday after South Korea’s Song Young Han held his nerve to beat the fast-finishing world number one by a single stroke. Among 13 players back at Sentosa Golf Club at the break of dawn after Sunday’s final round was suspended because of a thunderstorm, Spieth sank a five-foot birdie putt on the last hole, where he had marked his ball overnight, completing a final round of five-under 66 to finish at 11-under 273. Song, resuming on 12 under and playing two groups behind Spieth, drained a tricky 12-foot par putt on the 16th then made par at the last two holes to win the co-sanctioned Asian and Japan Tour event. China’s Liang Wen-chong, who completed his final round on Sunday, finished outright third at 10-under. Miguel Tabuena capped his campaign with a 68 for a nine-under 275 total and a share of fourth with Japan’s Shintaro Kbayashi, who carded a 71. He bankrolled US$45,500 (around P1.5 millon). No. 1 on the Philippine Golf Tour, Tabuena continued his fine play with four birdies against a bogey to finish just three strokes off the winner. Juvic Pagunsan, a former Asian Tour No. 1, had a sizzling

67 to finish at three-under 281 to jump from 44th to joint 21st. Tony Lascuna had a closing 71 to finish in joint 29th at 283, while three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que woud up tied for 38th at 285 after a final round 74. “I had my first perfect round today,” Spieth joked about his one-shot day. “Everything was absolutely perfect. I didn’t miss one shot and I made everything I looked at. “It was tough to sleep on that putt. Even though it wasn’t the most challenging putt, it was still a very nerve wracking one to hit knowing that you have to make it for what you think will be a playoff.” Ranked 204th in the world, Song had led the tournament from the second round and was five in front of Spieth heading into the final round but had to retain his composure in the closing stages as the American narrowed the gap. The 24-year-old said he had a restless night thinking about the putt on 16 and spent hours practicing the shot in his hotel room. “I felt like I was going crazy,” he said, speaking through a translator. “The putting line wasn’t that bad but the situation made me nervous.” Normally one of the best putters in the game, Spieth had struggled on the greens all week

HE shooting and passing weren’t good, though apparently coach Steve Kerr’s clipboard toss was impressive. ‘’He broke the clipboard, then threw it,’’ Draymond Green corrected. Either way, Kerr had no reason to be mad much longer. Klay Thompson woke the Warriors from their slowest start of the season with 17 of his 34 points in the second quarter, Green tied the franchise record with his ninth triple-double and Golden State beat the New York Knicks 116-95 on Sunday night for its seventh straight victory. Green made all nine shots as the Warriors (44-4) wrapped up January at 40 games over .500 even with a quiet 13 points from Stephen Curry. Playing with a nasty cut on his forehead, he was 5 for 17 from the field on a court where he once scored 54 points. Green finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Warriors, held to a season-low 18 points in the first quarter. They charged back with 64 over the middle two quarters - the Knicks had only 65 through three - and

Bantugan, Ampon, Aleria rule DCC finale

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors shoots against the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Top Pinoy golfer finishes 4th at Singapore Open Lakers skid hits 10 T J

Top Filipino golfer Miguel Tabuena comes up with rounds of 69-67-71-68. AP in the stifling humidity of Southeast Asia. But the 22-year-old got his game together in the final round to mount a late challenge, reeling in six birdies to put pressure on Song, who was chasing his first win as a professional after two second-place finishes on the Japan Tour. Song managed just two birdies in his final round of 70 and dropped a shot at the seventh after an erratic drive but made a string of clutch saves to par the last seven holes, finishing with a simple tap-in at the 18th to secure the title and deny Spieth a

chance of a playoff. “I fought hard in the final round but I was just a little bit too far back,” Spieth said. “I missed a few putts (earlier in the tournament) that I normally make.” “I had a lot of tough breaks. You have them both ways but this was one week where we definitely got the bad end of some bounces. “My game’s pretty close. Ii held it together pretty solid but I didn’t have as many looks as I normally have on a weekly basis and that led to a little bit of a lack of trust in the reads.”

HE road-weary Charlotte Hornets were making the final stop on a four-game trip after back-to-back losses. They were missing four key players due to injury. Against a better team than the Los Angeles Lakers, all of that might have mattered. Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 19 points and 12 rebounds apiece, and the Hornets sent the Lakers to their franchise record-tying 10th consecutive defeat, 101-82 on Sunday night. Kemba Walker had 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Hornets, who hit 13 3-pointers and had a 59-42 rebounding edge in a decisive win over the Western Conference’s worst team. Charlotte led for all but one possession, cruising back home even with four of its top eight scorers sidelined. ‘’We just wanted to end the road trip the right way, and the ending was great from the jump,’’ Walker said. ‘’The energy and intensity was all there. We did everything we wanted to do.’’ Kobe Bryant scored 23 points in 23 minutes, but the Lakers matched the 1994 team for the longest skid in the proud history of a franchise that’s won 16 NBA championships. Los Angeles dropped to 9-41, guaranteeing three

straight non-winning seasons for the first time since 1961. ‘’Honestly, it doesn’t really matter,’’ said Bryant, the 20-year NBA veteran. ‘’I mean, does it make a (lousy) season less (lousy)? You just want a win, no matter what.’’ While Bryant hit four 3-pointers and excelled in his first 20-point performance since Jan. 7, his teammates received loud boos from a Staples Center crowd finally growing tired of their poor play in his farewell season. ‘’I think the fans are just as frustrated as we are,’’ Lou Williams said. ‘’Hopefully the boos weren’t because of a lack of effort, because I thought our guys played all right. We just missed shots. Once we started missing shots, I think we just got demoralized. ... I think we’ve got a lot of guys in there right now with a lack of confidence, and we have to somehow get that back.’’ Jordan Clarkson scored 13 points and Lou Williams added 11 for the Lakers, who finished January with 14 losses in 15 games since their only winning streak of the season. ‘’The Navy SEALs have a way of taking guys to the bottom of the pool,’’ Bryant said. ‘’Sometimes, you’ve got to go to the bottom of the pool, man, and figure it out. We’re almost there, gasping for air.’’

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 221 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016

SUPREMACY

Novak Djokovic kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after the Men’s Singles Final during of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.

Djokovic dominates Murray to win Australian Open W

ORLD number one Novak Djokovic hammered a misfiring Andy Murray in straight sets to win a record-equaling sixth Australian Open title and strengthen his grip on men’s tennis on Sunday. The Serbian world number one swept to a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) victory in two hours, 53 minutes to hand Murray his fifth defeat in the Melbourne Park final. Djokovic equaled the tally of Australia’s Roy Emerson, who won the tournament six times between 1961 and 1967, an achievement that had gone unmatched in the 49 years since. It was also Djokovic’s 11th Grand Slam title, putting him in

equal fifth place on the all-time list alongside Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, behind leader Roger Federer’s 17. “It’s an incredible feeling, especially because of the fact that I managed to make history tonight and equal Roy Emerson’s record of six Australian Opens,” Djokovic said. “This trophy is even more unique for me tonight and when you have an opportunity to make history it adds to the motivation and incentive before you come out on the court.” Djokovic underlined his status as the dominant force in Melbourne, after downing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his first major title in 2008 and beat-

ing Rafael Nadal in an epic final in 2012, along with his four wins over Murray in 2011, 2013, 2015 and now 2016. Djokovic also extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 21 matches. He has not lost a match at the majors since he was defeated by Stan Wawrinka in last year’s French Open final at Roland Garros. While Djokovic was further enhancing his reputation, Murray has the unwanted statistic of becoming only the second man in the post-1968 Open era to lose five Grand Slam finals at any one major. Ivan Lendl, Murray’s former coach, lost five finals at the US Open in 1982-1984 and 1988-

1989, before winning at Flushing Meadows in 1985-1987. Murray had tears in his eyes at the presentation when he thanked his pregnant wife Kim Sears, who is due to give birth to their first child in the coming weeks. “You’ve been a legend for the last two weeks. Thank you so much for all of your support and I’ll be on the next plane home,” he said in a faltering voice. Djokovic won 24 more points than Murray, 123-99, in the final, while Murray made a total of 65 unforced errors -- including 28 off his forehand and 29 off his backhand. Djokovic faced a break point in his opening service game

but then went on a blazing run, breaking Murray’s serve twice to claim the opening set in 30 minutes. Murray survived four break points to hold serve in a marathon 12-minute third game as he tried to stay in the second set against the pressing Serb. But Djokovic gained another psychological breakthrough with a service break in the seventh game after Murray overhit a forehand to trail 4-3. Fighting Murray broke back in the following game with his backhand clipping the baseline, which was confirmed by Djokovic’s challenge. Murray fought off two break points in a fiercely contested

ninth game in a war of the attrition between the two long-time rivals, who have known each other since their junior days. But Djokovic fought back from 0-40 down to break Murray’s serve for a fourth time, in a game featuring one exhausting 36-shot rally, to lead 6-5 and serve for the second set. The Serb claimed a two sets to love lead after winning an 80-minute battle for the second set, leaving Murray with it all to do. Djokovic tightened the noose with another service break in the first game of the final set, with Murray’s task looking herculean to take the final to five sets.