Edge Davao 8 Issue 66 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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INSIDE EDGE

HRMO chief defends hiring of contractuals P2 Parago: Hero or villain? P4

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

NFA ASSURES: RICE IS SAFE

No lab result for fake, synthetic rice yet; NFA reminds retailers to be vigilant By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Manny is now manager D of Letran Knights abf@edgedavao.net

O not panic, just be vigilant. This was the advice of National Food Authority (NFA) on the possible proliferation of fake rice in the Davao City market. “People should continue

their normal daily lives but they must be vigilant also because we do not discount the possibility that it could be there,” NFA 11 regional director Dianne A. Silva said in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum.

Silva said also urged the people to inform the NFA immediately if they encounter suspicious-looking rice. “Do not forget to bring a sample of whether raw rice or cooked rice so that we can send it for laboratory analy-

sis,” she said. Silva said the buyer should also point to the store or rice retailer so her office can trace the source to ensure that fake rice does not proliferate in the city.

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Sports 15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

IMPROVISED TABLE. Voters fill up their registration forms on the hood of a vehicle parked in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 11 office inside the Magsaysay Park in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

26,000 residents affected by floods in SOCCSKSARGEN

HE office of civil defense in the SOCCSKSARGEN region Thursday said the flash floods that hit the region has affected 4,436 families or about 26,600 individuals. Region 12, SOCCSKSARGEN region, is comprised of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos City. Jerome Barranco, Office of Civil Defense (OCD-12) deputy regional director, said the inclement weather has affected about 26,000 residents in 78 villages. Barranco, citing OCD monitoring record, said the flash floods and continuous down pour have affected 4,436 families or more than 26,600 indi-

viduals. South Cotabato was heavily affected with two bridges remain impassable and vast agricultural lands destroyed when major tributaries overflowed last week. It also destroyed PHP101 million worth of agricultural crops. OCD said four persons were killed due to landslides last week while five others were wounded. On Wednesday, the Sultan Kudarat provincial board has passed a resolution putting the entire province under state of calamity because of flash floods that destroyed more than PHP300 million worth of agricultural products. To date, the total reported damages to crops and other agricultural products in Re-

F26,000, 10

Women are more adept to multi-tasking than men

WHAT THE?

Scientists have discovered than men’s and women’s brains actually function somewhat differently. When focused on a task, men tend to use only one side of their brain at a time, devoting all of their attention and concentration to the task at hand. Women, on the other hand, tend to use both sides of the brain at the same time, making them more adept at “multi-tasking.” - facts.randomhistory.com

HRMO chief defends hiring of contractuals By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) yesterday defended the hiring of job orders or contractual workers, saying this is the only way the city can provide complete services to the people. Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum at City Hall, HRMO head Erwin Alparaque said the city government has to resort to contractual hiring due to the restrictions imposed by the General Appropriation’s Act, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Local Government Code in hir-

ing regular employees. Alparaque also clarified that the job order employees hired by the city is only 9,338, not 11,246 as reported by the Commission on Audit (COA). “Kaning personal services, kaning mga sweldo, additional benefits of our regular employees, kinhanglan dili siya mosobra sa 45 percent of the annual budget of the local source (The personal services, the salaries and additional benefits of regular employees being drawn must not exceed 45 percent of the annual budget coming from the local source),” he said.

Alparaque said with the hiring of job orders, the city can extend the services to the taxpayers. “The people in the city are increasing as well as the demand for public service so we need people,” he said. He said the job order employees have no employee-to-employer relationship since they are employed on a project basis. Alparaque said the salary of the job order will not be drawn from the personal services which is a violation of some provisions of the DBM and local government code. He

said the salary will be drawn from the maintenance and other operating expenses. “Job orders are considered as other expenses,” he said. He said there are other job orders who are still working in the city such as the traffic enforcers, garbage collectors, medical teams, and peace and order. The COA had earlier questioned the city’s expenditure of P708 million for 11,246 employees in 2014, of whom 4,754 were from the City Mayor’s Office, 6,081 were contractual, and 5,165 were job orders.

es as of June 29. “Most of the common violations recorded were inadequacy of fire exit, small hallways, and use of substandard wiring,” he added. Jimenez said the inspection is a year-round activity for the agency. BFP is targeting to check the compliance of more than 40,000 establishments in Davao City

alone. Meanwhile, BFP-Davao recorded a total of 607 fire incidents in the region for the first six months of the year. “Forty-five percent of the total 607 fire incidents were grass fires,” Jimenez said, while incidents involving commercial and residential infrastructures reached more than 305 incidents.

BFP intensifies monitoring By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Region 11 has intensified its monitoring the compliance of business establishments in Davao City with the fire code following the slipper factory fire in Valenzuela City last May that killed 72 people. “We received a directive from the central office to

conduct massive inspection of commercial, mercantile, industrial, and storage establishments as well as boarding houses and dormitories in Davao City,” BFP Head Fire Inspector chief Nestor Jimenez told EDGE Davao. Jimenez said the BFP has already inspected 276 dormitories and boarding hous-

AGR calls on Senate to craft dynasty bill D AVAO del Norte Rep. Anthony del Rosario (1st District) said Wednesday the country’s congressmen would just be fooling themselves if they approve an anti-political dynasty bill without a Senate version of it. “I have a feeling that if the Senate will not file a bill (on it), I don’t think we’ll move further in the House. What’s the use? We’ll just be fooling ourselves,” he said, citing that the Senate at present has yet no pending bill on anti-political dynasty while the Lower House has some 6 to 7 pending bills on it. “It’s useless for us to approve if the Senate will not have one. There’s also that bicam (bicameral version). If we approve one, that can’t become a law,” he added. Del Rosario told reporters that in the Lower House the anti-political dynasty bills are already in the plenary and have gone past the amendment period “as nobody made a motion for amendment” or

congressmen “have yet no time for the amendments to be prepared.” “The other issue is if the Senate will come up its own version,” he said. “I believe that there has to be some limitations. We should also respect the right of the people to choose who should lead them,” he added. Del Rosario went with Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar (lone district) right after the program of the 48th founding anniversary of the province to visit three establishments – two stores and one rice mill – in Tagum City which were said to have grown from being small and without stable capitalization by availing loans from the State-owned Small Business Corporation, which provides financing for small and medium enterprises engaged in manufacturing, processing, agribusiness (except crop level production) and services (except trading).

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

BACKBREAKING WORK. Laborers carry sacks of vegetables on their backs at the bagsakan area of Bankerohan Public Market yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Family looks to Duterte Diversion road extension to Dvo-Cot. highway starts for justice for slain papa T

HE extension of the Carlos P. Garcia Road, also known as Diversion Road, from a point in Bangkal up to the old Davao-Cotabato Highway inPuan, Davao City has already started. This was learned from the office of Regional Director Mariano Alquiza of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 11. The Diversion Road Extension was conceptualized last year in place of the planned flyover at the Ulas junction of the Davao-Cotabato Highway and Davao-Bukidnon. Alquiza told mediamen earlier that a study found that extending the diversion road from Bangkal to Puan along the old Davao-Cotabato Road is more cost-effective than a flyover. According to Dean Ortiz, DPWH 11 regional public information officer, construction work on the road extension

FAGR, 10

will start near a gasoline station located some 150 meters north of the Bangkal intersection pending RROW negotiations with affected residents and property-owners. The project which is estimated to cost P188 million will be 2.6 kilometers long located above the present Davao-Toril Highway. The project will necessitate the construction of a bridge upstream of Talomo River beside the site Coca Cola Plant. Ortiz said the road will cross the Davao-Bukidnon Highway just above Ulas at a point where the new San Pedro College site and the Maligaya Subdivision are located. It will continue southward to connect to the old Davao-Cotabato Road in Puan. This is the road that connects to Lubogan in Toril area. The diversion extension

FDIVERSION, 10

By JON JOAQUIN

jon@edgedavao.net

HE family of a slain former police officer is pinning its hopes on Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to give them justice. Interestingly, the family is in Quezon City, with no direct links to Davao City. While they are not Davao City constituents, Lea Landrito-Ramos told EDGE Davao her family is hoping that Duterte could help catch the man who killed her father, retired University of the Philippines Diliman Police (UPDP) member Leandro E. Landrito. Landrito, 71, was shot dead in Alabang on June 8, 2015. Ramos said the suspect, who is 54 years old, had worked for her father as a stay-in handyman and

caretaker in their residence in Quezon City. Her father, however, fired him because of “bad behavior.” Ramos said the suspect then moved to Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Unfortunately, some members of the Landrito family also live in Alabang. On June 8, her father went to visit relatives there for a birthday celebration. The suspect apparently learned of his presence there and waited for a chance to shoot him. The victim died of three gunshot wounds. The suspect fled and has been at large ever since. Ramos, who is based in Dubai, said her family filed a case of murder against the suspect on the same day.

The preliminary hearing of the case was scheduled for yesterday (July 2) at the Muntinlupa City Prosecution Office. One of the family members who was present at the hearing told EDGE Davao that the neither the suspect, identified in the complaint as Jose Cagomoc, nor any of his family members attended. A second hearing was scheduled for July 9. The family member said if the suspect does not appear again, the case will go to court and the judge will issue a warrant for his arrest. Ramos said she herself does not know the suspect personally or even how he looks like. She said her father had frequently complained of the suspect’s bad behav-

ior.

In a Facebook post on June 26, Ramos wrote the following: Hindi ba magkakasnap election? Pipilitin kung umuwi para iboto si Duterte (Won’t there be a snap election? I will do my best to come home to vote for Duterte).” Asked to elaborate, Ramos said her family believes Duterte, as President, is the best hope they have of getting justice for her slain father. Duterte is widely believed to be eying the presidency but has so far maintained he is not interested in running for the position. “Duterte should be President,” Ramos said. “And if you have to, use my father’s case to convince him to run.”

Security Bank names new chairman and president T

ALFONSO L. SALCEDO, JR. President and Chief Executive Officer

HE Security Bank Corporation has announced the results of recent elections during the annual meeting of stockholders and the ensuing organizational board meeting. The bank (PSE: SECB) bared on 28 April 2015, Frederick Y. Dy was appointed as chairman emeritus. Elected as chairman of the board was Alberto S. Villarosa, while Alfonso L. Salcedo was named as president and chief executive officer. Also elected to the board of directors were Paul Y. Ung as vice chairman, Diana P. Aguilar, Philip T. Ang (Independent), Anastasia Y. Dy, Jose R. Facundo, Joseph R. Higdon (Independent), James JK Hung (Independent), and Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. as directors. In his message, Frederick Y.

Dy explained that the step up of former President and CEO Alberto S. Villarosa to Chairman manifests the Bank’s focus on ensuring continuity of its overall business strategy and execution. The appointment of Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr. as President reinforces Security Bank’s strategy of growing the Retail business as a third business pillar, complementing the Bank’s existing strengths in wholesale banking and financial markets. Frederick Dy further said, “ while I assume the role of Chairman Emeritus, I personally assure our customers, investors and other shareholders that the Dy Family remains, and will continue to remain absolutely committed as dominant shareholders of the Bank. Our support will be unwavering.”

Chairman Alberto S. Villarosa further stated, “The change in leadership in Security Bank will not affect the Bank’s strategic direction. Security Bank will continue to create value for customers, markets, and shareholders by delivering products vital for this period of economic growth in our country. I am confident that incoming President Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr. has the depth of experience and capabilities to continue the strategy of growing Security Bank’s Retail Banking business. He is a perfect fit for the job considering his stints as former President of BPI Family Bank and BPI Insurance Group, EVP of BPI’s Corporate Clients Segment, and Country Marketing Director and Retail Banking Business Manager for Citibank N.A. Manila, in addi-

tion to his significant experience in consumer product marketing with P&G, SMC and Vicks.” President Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr. noted that he would be coming in at a time when the Security Bank, over the last 2 -3 years, had put the building blocks in place to build the its Retail Banking business with its investment in branch expansion, rebranding, and process improvements efforts to deliver a brand of customer service with a promise and commitment of Better Banking. He further states, “These moves are very appropriate with the expected better prospects for the Philippine economy which will impact on consumer demand. Security Bank’s efforts are likewise focused on a very specific target mar-

FSECURITY, 10

EDGEDAVAO

4 BIGGER PICTURE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

Parago:

Hero or villain? By JON JOAQUIN jon@edgedavao.net

N Army colonel who once had an armed encounter with the group of Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 1 Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC) head Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago has called the slain New People’s Army (NPA) leader “a bandit masquerading as a revolutionary.” “There is nothing noble about collecting revolutionary taxes from the people. It is nothing more than extortion. There’s nothing noble about recruiting underage fighters. That’s a violation of IHL (international humanitarian law),” said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Logico, former commander of the 66th Infantry Battalion based in Compostela Valley Province. Logico, who was a company commander when his unit fought with Parago’s several years ago, said the NPA “has never cared for the people.” “They are only interested in overthrowing the existing democratic government and replace it with a socialist system. And they will not hesitate to use violence to

achieve their means,” he said. Logico, who was not involved in the operation that killed Parago, called the NPA leader’s death a “victory” and said it was “for all the soldiers who died fighting for the people of Davao.” “(It is) for their widows, and orphans. For all the blood spilled on both sides. This victory is for our country and people. Without Parago, Davao has a chance to truly be peaceful. May the violence end with his death,” Logico said. For its part, the NPA Southern Mindanao Region’s Regional Political Department expressed its “most profound salute” to Parago and his medic, Vanessa Limpag aka Kyle who was also killed in the incident on June 28, 2015 in Barangay Panalum, Paquibato district, Davao City. “They have served the masses with all their hearts and have given their lives to the cause of national democratic revolution. They are the people’s most cherished heroes who will inspire us to persevere in the struggle until victory is achieved,” a

Parago

Kaloy Bello not yet sure of mayor’s endorsement

Karlo ‘Kaloy’ S. Bello

Alberto ‘Abet’ T. Ungab

Bernardo ‘Bernie’ Al-ag

Myrna L’ Dalodo Ortiz

S their acceptance in implementing Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) in their respective municipality, 11 local government units (LGUs) agreed to undergo the enrolment process during the recent LGU Forum. These new targeted municipalities are Baganga, Braulio E. Dujali, Lupon,

statement dated July 2, 2015 signed by a certain Ka Simon Santiago said. Santiago said the NPA also condoled with Parago’s wife and children “who have endured the travails of being members of a family of a famous Red fighter.” “They have been constantly maligned, harassed, and subjected to many atrocities by the military, including the horrific death of their young daughter/sibling Rebelyn,” Santiago said. Rebelyn, a substitute public school teacher, was killed in March 2009. She was on her way home in Davao City when gunmen snatched her from a tricycle she was riding. She went missing for more than 24 hours before her dead body was found dumped in an irrigation ditch some 60 kilometers from where she was snatched. Autopsy reports indicated she was raped and stabbed to death. Santiago called on Parago’s supporters to pay their last respects at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Davao City. Parago’s interment is scheduled on July 10.

Contenders include Sid Ungab’s brod, Alberto, Al-ag, ex-Rep. Ruy Lopez, Ortiz

AVAO CITY Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has clarified a news story stating that his choice for candidate for congressman in the city’s 3rd congressional district is Councilor Karlo “Kaloy” S. Bello. Interviewed by Edge Davao’s Armando Fenequito at the Davao City Police Office during the anniversary of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency this week, Mayor Duterte said the prerogative to select the candidate for congressman to take the place of incumbent

and three-termer Rep. Isidro T. Ungab is not his, but that of the members of the local political group, referring to Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod. It was assumed that the same manner of selection will be followed by Hugpong in the two other districts –the first and the second – with the traditional principle “equity of the incumbent” expected to be observed. Pursuant to this time-honored principle. Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano, the incumbent in the second dis-

trict, will again be the group’s candidate, since she is currently still on her second term. The clarification made by Mayor Duterte on the issue has reportedly been warmly welcomed by camps of other Hugpong members aspiring to become the group’s candidate to be known in October, 2016, deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy. They include Alberto “Abet” T. Ungab, brother of Rep. Ungab, who is a chemical engineer who was once worked in the United States of

America and at present acts as Sid’s chief of staff, and City Councilors Bernie Al-ag and Myrna L’Dalodo Ortiz. Al-ag is a second termer councilor, while Ortiz is a veteran city lawmaker has been councilor for more than three terms. Bello is on his third term as topnotcher councilor. Aside from these Hugpong members, former three-term congressman Ruy Elias C. Lopez, son of the late Elias B. Lopez, who was twice city mayor and also congressman of the Third District. AMA

belle S. Jabla, Deputy Regional Program Manager for Kalahi-CIDSS. Jabla added that LGU enrolment is one of the preparatory activities that will lead to the project’s commencement this year. Kalahi-CIDSS is a community-driven development project of the Philippine Government that aims to empower communities through sustainable development, enhanced

participation in local governance, and poverty alleviation projects. According to DSWD XI Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon, Kalahi-CIDSS works to minimize poverty using the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach wherein the communities are taught how to select, design, and implement sub-projects that respond to their most vital need. “These sub-projects are

common infrastructure facilities such as farm-to-market roads, school buildings, potable water systems, electrification, and day care centers,” Director Razon said. Braulio E. Dujali Mayor Lolita A. Moral expressed her utmost appreciation for the program. “We are very thankful for this new endeavour in our municipality. Rest assured that we will give our full support to

DSWD’s goal in empowering communities in far-flung barangays.” Kalahi-CIDSS, which started last 2003, has already served 299 barangays in 16 municipalities in Region XI. A total of 21 more municipalities are set to operate Kalahi-CIDSS in 2015, covering 375 barangays with a total grant of Php 173,980,750. (DSWD/Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos/ccd)

DSWD: 11 new LGUs to implement Kalahi-CIDSS Kiblawan, Jose Abad Santos, Malalag, Sta. Maria, Don Marcelino, Montevista, Sarangani and San Isidro (Davao del Norte). “The officials and department heads from targeted municipalities and stakeholders will be oriented on the conditionalities and enrolment requirements that need to be complied before the approval or acceptance to join the program,” said Ma. Anna-

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

Halal abattoir eyed in Davao

Ayunan: We are targeting to export Halal products three to five years from now By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

PLANS. Newly installed Security Bank president Alfonso L. Salcedo Jr. (left) talks about the company’s planned expansion and the opening of two branches soon in Davao City. Salcedo, executive vice president and corporate

and investment banking head Eduardo Olbes (right), and the bank’s other executives hosted a luncheon press conference with members of media at Lotus Bar of The Marco Polo, Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

AVAO-BASED Escider Inc. will propose to the city government the establishment of the first Halal slaughter house in a 5,000 square meter area in Toril District. “The facility will have a capacity of 1,000 kilos per week,” Escider Inc. president Mims Ayunan said of the abattoir with a proposed budget of P10 million. Ayunan said the slaughter house will be presented to the city government and stakeholders in the first Mindanao Halal Festival slated July 15 to 16 at Abreeza Ayala Mall. The proposed amendment to the city’s Halal Ordinance will also be presented during the activity. The produce of the Halal-certified abattoir is intended to cater to the local and international market, specifically countries in the Southeast Asia.

Ayunan said Davao City has a huge potential of becoming an exporter of halal products because of its proximity to Muslim nations in Asia and the rich culture of Muslims in Mindanao. “We are targeting to export Halal products three to five years from now,” she said. There is still no Halal certified slaughter house or a laboratory in Davao to date which can be utilized in analyzing the composition of food products slated for accreditation. Ayunan said it is important to have a Halal-certified and Shariah law-compliant slaughterhouse and business establishments in Davao to attract Halal investors and Muslim tourists. The two-day Halal Festival is expected to draw around 30 suppliers of Halal products from all over Mindanao.

6 THE ECONOMY

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Trade Expo gets underway Davao MSMEs, startups to showcase products

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

AVAO’S micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups will showcase a wide array of products when the 2015 MSME Trade Expo opens today at the Abreeza Ayala Mall. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) executive director Mary Antonnette Doromal on Thursday said the exposition will be participated by

29 MSMEs and startups. Among the products that will be showcased in the seven-day expo which will last until July 9 are handicrafts, fashion accessories, and processed food products. “This trade expo is a good venue for exhibitors to actually showcase their products and get feedback from their clients,” Doromal said. Exhibitors can utilize

customer’s feedback in improving their products and services to be more competitive, she added. Events like exposition allow small businesses and startups test the market before going into full blown production and marketing. It can also be an avenue for MSMEs to lobby their concerns on access to different financing products of banks and cooperatives and

on the top visitor arrivals, respectively. Bengzon also expressed hope that from its target of 200, 000 Singaporean tourists in 2015, it will build up to 300, 000, and eventually 400, 000 tourists until the country hits the half million mark. Present during the unveiling of Singapore Airlines’ VIP lounge, the SilverKris Lounge on Wednesday, the DOT official said that the event was a significant event since it will be the showcase for Philippine tourism in the global market. SilverKris Lounge measures 450 square meters, with seating for approximately 117 people. It resembles a familial living room with various art pieces made by Filipino artists and sculptors. It also offers food and beverages that are familiarly Filipino including Kaldereta,

photo by H. Marcos C. Mordeno

200,000 Singaporeans to visit PHL by yearend

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing a more diversified tourism market in Singapore following various upgrades on tourism products and services, especially in the airline sector. “We are hoping before the end of the year we can get more than 200, 000 (Singaporean tourists),” DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr. told reporters. According to Bengzon, the Philippines acquired a total of 188, 000 Singaporean tourists in 2014. For the month of April this year, Singapore was seventh on the country’s top 10 foreign visitor arrivals. Korea remained the top market, followed by U.S., Japan, China, Australia, and Canada. Meanwhile, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Malaysia, were eighth, ninth and tenth

on virtual assistant and the demonetization program of the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The organizing team is expecting around 7,000 foot traffic in the seven-day exhibition. The trade exposition is part of the celebration of the MSME week celebration which was organized by the MSME Development Council in partnership with the DC-

CCII. Three years ago, the Office of the City Mayor proclaimed every second week of July as the MSME week “to institute awareness in the primacy of small business in nation-building and in people empowerment.” Meanwhile, the MSMED Council was formally created through Executive Order No. 4, Series of 2014, to support the needs of MSMEs.

F200,000, 10 SLOW DAY. A vendor waits for buyers of his baskets and firewood at the public market in Malaybalay City late afternoon on Saturday, May 16. MindaNews

Competition law to boost investment in Phl - NEDA

HE The landmark legislation ‘Fair Competition Act’ will strengthen the foundations for a sustained and inclusive growth in the Philippines, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “The Competition Bill will not only sustain but bolster a rapidly growing Philippine economy. As the bill levels the playing field among businesses, we can expect an increased level of confidence among the international business community, and thus lead to a surge of investments and economic activity, and an expanded logistical capacity,” said Balisacan. The bill is one of the numerous reforms in governance and the economy that will encourage more investments. It seeks to eliminate unfair business practices

even on product differentiation. Doromal said addressing the concerns of small businesses and startups can help them move forward from being an MSME with small capitalization to an establishment capable of catering to the global market without compromising product quality. Aside from exhibition, there will be a plenary talk

among competitors such as engaging in agreements that restrict market competition by having fixed prices for goods and services, dividing the market among themselves, or controlling production. Moreover, it prohibits the abuse of dominant position, for example, by selling goods and services at a below-cost price, with the intention of driving out competition then increasing the price thereafter, or imposing unreasonable conditions on transactions, and keeping producers at a losing end by enforcing low purchase prices for their goods and services, among others. “The passage of this bill follows NEDA’s advocacy to remove or amend some existing laws and regulations that

FCOMPETITION, 10

Disease-resistant banana not for export

ANAMA-RESISTANT banana varieties are not suitable for export, the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association Inc. (MBFEA) revealed. MBFEA vice president Ireneo Dalayon banana produce yielded from the Panama disease-resistant Giant Cavendish Tissue Culture (GCTCV) 218 and GCTCV 219 from the Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 does not have the quality to pass export standards set by foreign markets despite its high resistance to the disease. “Some five hectares planted with these varieties in small farms of our members were chopped off because their yields were not

exportable,” Dalayon said. Earlier, DA 11 confirmed that banana produced by the new fusarium wilt-resistant Cavendish varieties was not as exportable as the Granine variety, but it can be still exported in a small cluster packaging. According to reports, Davao-based Lapanday Fruit Corporation exported clustered GCTCV219 banana to Japan last year. At present, export markets like China and Middle East are patronizing the Granine variety of Cavendish banana because of its export quality and taste. However, the Granine variety production and Davao Region’ banana industry is endangered by the Panama disease or fusar-

ium wilt caused by a soilborne fungi. DA 11 point person Herna Palma earlier said that their 2013 report bared that total of 701,000 mats were infected with Panama disease. Davao del Norte has the biggest infected number of mats planted either with Cavendish, Saba, and Lakatan variety totaling to 430,256 mats; followed by Davao City with 109,837; Compostela Valley with 91,838; Davao del Sur with 61,780; and Davao Oriental with 7,769 mats. The level of infection in Davao del Norte has gone up to 50 percent, the highest. Next is Compostela Valley at 25 percent level of infection. Davao Oriental

which has the lowest number of infected mats has also the lowest rate of infection. “This is very alarming to the multi-billion banana industry of the Davao Region,” Palma said. For the current year, the DA 11 will embark on a P39.9 million program this year to combat the dreaded Panama disease and prevent the multi-billion banana industry in the Davao Region from suffering further. The allocation will be used by DA 11 in planting a Panama disease-resistant banana variety in 1,177 hectares, a major undertaking of the government agency that aims to decrease cases of the disease in the region. Cheneen R. Capon

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

adventure

Mati’s light wings By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

Have you flown like bird in the sky?

Flying, of course, comes in different ways. You can fly on a commercial plane--a jumbo jet. Or you can fly on light aircrafts like Cessnas. You may also fly on a chopper.

The last three are the more common ways to fly. Now, imagine this. How about flying on something a little more complicated than a sky glider? Say, a glider with an en-

ADVENTURE A4

John and Matt get set to fly with pilot Iking Sievert while Magsy takes over the pilot’s seat before take off.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

ICT HUB

Siri’s sassy self

Facebook to share advertising revenue with video creators

ACEBOOK said it would begin sharing ad revenue with video creators, a move designed to attract more polished content and more ads. If successful, the effort will make Facebook a more serious threat to Google Inc.’s YouTube in online video. Until now, Facebook has slotted video ads into users’ news feeds. The new feature, called Suggested Videos, will include ads between professionally produced content from major media companies, much like TV advertisements. The Wall Street Journal reported that the revenue-sharing model Facebook unveiled Wednesday is similar to YouTube’s, in that Facebook will

keep 45 percent of the revenue. Unlike YouTube, however, video producers on Facebook will have to split their share more ways, potentially leaving them with a smaller cut. The initiative is aimed at smartphones, source of 75 percent of video views on Facebook, the company says. RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney said YouTube shows a similar number of videos, but only about 50 percent of its video views come from phones. YouTube has been far ahead in generating revenue, however. Mahaney estimates that YouTube generated about $4 billion in revenue in 2014; by

contrast, he had been projecting Facebook to generate $1.5 billion in revenue from video ads next year. “Facebook could now be very serious competition for YouTube,” said Jan Rezab, chief executive and co-founder of Socialbakers, a social-media analytics company. “If I were Google, I would watch out.” YouTube declined to comment. Under the new program, mobile users who view a video in their news feed will then be directed to videos that Facebook thinks they might be interested in. Video ads will be interspersed among these videos, much like TV commercials. Initial media partners

include the National Basketball Association, Hearst Corp., Fox Sports, Funny or Die and Tastemade. “There are use cases when someone wants to go into a video consumption experience,” said Dan Rose, Facebook vice president of partnerships. “Scrolling through your news feed is not the most efficient way of doing that.” Early reaction from marketers was generally positive. They said they liked that their ads could potentially be shown alongside the type of highquality content they typically align themselves with on TV, rather than inserted, potentially out-of-context, in the news feed.

THE internet discovered this week that Siri, Apple’s virtual personal assistant, has an arsenal of sassy and sometimes snarky answers to certain questions. When asked “What is zero divided by zero?” Siri launches into a monologue that left plenty of people feeling was a bit personal: “Imagine that you have zero

cookies and you split them evenly among zero friends,” she says. “How many cookies does each person get? See? It doesn’t make sense. And Cookie Monster is sad that there are no cookies, and you are sad that you have no friends.” If you have an iPhone, have fun with these questions:

Are you better than Cortana (Microsoft’s virtual personal assistant)? “That’s like comparing apples and... not apples.” “Hi, Cortana” will also earn you this reply: “Very funny. I mean, not funny “ha-ha,” but funny.” Knock Knock “I don’t do knock-knock jokes.” Am I Pretty? “You’re a very good looking... human.”

Do You Know Tim Cook? “I’m a huge fan.”

Why Am I Single? “I don’t know. Frankly, I’ve wondered that myself.”

What Do You Look Like? “In the cloud, no one cares what you look like.”

What Is the Meaning of Life? “It’s nothing Nietzsche couldn’t teach ya.”

Google mistakenly tags black people as ‘gorillas’

OOGLE’S new Photos app reportedly tagged two black people as “Gorillas,” according to a report published in The Australian. The media oufit said Jacky Alciné, a web developer who happens to be black, spotted the error and tweeted a photo of it. Google apologized and said it is tweaking its algorithms to fix the problem. “We’re appalled and genuinely sorry that this happened,” a company spokesperson said. “There is still clearly a lot of work to do with automatic image labeling, and we’re looking at how we can prevent these types of mistakes from happening in the future.” The report said the gorilla tags turned up in the search feature of the Google Photos app, which the company released a few weeks ago. When users start a search, Google suggests categories developed from machine learning, the science of training computers to perform human tasks such as labeling. The company has removed the gorilla categories, so those suggestions will no longer appear.

“Lots of work being done, and lots still to be done. But we’re very much on it,” Yonatan Zunger, chief architect of social at Google, wrote in a Twitter reply to Alciné. Google is working to improve its recognition of skin tones and will be more careful about its labels for people in photos, he added. When it launched the Photos app, Google acknowledged that it was imperfect. But the “gorillas” tag shines a harsh light on the system’s shortcomings. “We need to fundamentally change machine learning systems to feed in more context so they can understand cultural sensitivities that are important to humans,” said Babak Hodjat, chief scientist at Sentient Technologies, an artificial-intelligence startup. He said machine-learning systems don’t understand the difference between mistaking a chimp for a gorilla, which may be OK, and mislabeling a human as a gorilla, which is offensive. Google’s system may not have “seen” enough pictures of go-

Source: Jacky Alciné and Twitter rillas to learn the differences – and wouldn’t understand the significance of such a mistake, he said. Google said that as more images are loaded into Google Pho-

tos and more people correct mistaken tags, its algorithms will get better at categorizing photos. Google said it released the app in part so that people could feed it more images, to

improve it. Google took a similar approach with its voice-search feature that lets users ask questions verbally rather than by typing search queries. That service

initially had lots of speech recognition errors, but as more people have used the service, Google’s machines have got better at understanding speech.

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

MY CITY, MY SM, MY CUISINE COOKBOOK

WINS 2 GOURMAND AWARDS sure trove of culinary gems from prominent families from each city. In Davao, Mary Ann Montemayor shared her family’s Heritage Creamy Stuffed Chicken, a staple in their family gatherings. Vince Rodriguez was also happy to share his mother’s Cocido Español recipe. Some of these families had heroes for ancestors, and their descendants happily shared the favorite recipes of General Emilio Aguinaldo, Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and

THE My City, My SM, My Cuisine cookbook recently won two Gourmand World Cookbook Awards during recent ceremonies in Yantai, China.

Mariano Ponce; as well as that of food historian Mila Enriquez. Food is also culture, and the book also highlights community cuisine from the Cordilleras, the Aetas of Olongapo, the Manobo and Maranao of Davao, the T’boli of GenSan, as well as Barangay Iponan from Cagayan de Oro. The My City, My SM, My Cuisine book is available at Kultura Filipino stores at SM Aura Premier, SM Makati, the SM Mall of Asia, and SM Megamall.

year.” “A total of 205 countries participated in the Gourmand Awards,” he adds. “All the books listed are truly excellent in very different ways.” If Mr. Cointreau’s name sounds familiar, he was born in the family of Cointreau liquor on his father’s side, and Remy Martin and Cognac Frapin on his mother’s side. A celebration of Philippine regional cuisine, the book is a compilation of the My City, My SM, My Cuisine campaign that SM spearheaded from 2012-2013 in key cities around the Philippines where SM has malls. A joint project with the Philippine Star, the campaign had more than 20 stops in SM’s host cities as far north as Baguio and as far south as Davao. Published by SM through People Asia, the book has a special focus on heirloom recipes, a trea-

The book was honored with a Prestige Award by the International Jury, and placed third in the Local Cuisine category, qualifying it to be among Gourmand’s Best in the World. Founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau, the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards is sometimes described as the Oscars of Food Awards. It celebrates cookbook and wine publishing, and features many renowned chefs every year. This year’s awards drew more than 12,000 entries from 205 countries. “It is a big success to be in the list,” says Gourmand Awards President Edouard Cointreau. “The quantity and quality of entries has reached a new high this

ENTERTAINMENT

SKY opens over 190 channels on 25th Year Anniversary FANS of great TV entertainment have more reasons to celebrate this July 2015. SKYcable digital subscribers will enjoy SKY’s over 190 digital channels, automatically activated on their TVs from the 4th to the 11th of July at no additional cost. After recent launches of SKY exclusives like AXN HD, and international favorites like AFC HD, and Disney HD, this big TV freebie is part of SKY’s way of thanking subscribers for welcoming them into their homes and making them part of their lives. Over the years, SKY has strived to give its subscribers more entertainment choices. Now on its 25th year anniversary, its entire channel line-up is here for everyone to watch as a way of giving all viewers more TV enjoyment this July. SKY wishes to share this special milestone year with every family that helped shape the standard of cable TV entertainment in the country to-

day. Subscribers who miss their favorite films will now have the best channels to revisit the stories they love. Everyone will have access to the entire HBO line up, including HBO Family, HBO Hits, and HBO Signature. An entire movie roster is open to TV viewers with Fox’s channel suite covering Fox Action Movies, Fox Family Movies, and Fox Movies Premium. Viewers craving the latest sporting action will certainly enjoy the All Sports Network, Balls, BTV, Fox Sports, NBA Premium, and the Outdoor Channel. With these channels and more, everyone can catch up on their favorite sporting events and be up-to-date with the latest developments and stats. US shows represent the most critically-acclaimed TV entertainment today. Watch award-winning series and modern greats on AXN, E!, Fox, Sony, RTL-CBS Entertain-

ment, and Star World. Viewers can tune-in to these fantastic channels to enjoy the latest episodes of their TV favorites. Interesting facts and the best tips for everyday life can be found in the cream-ofthe-crop of lifestyle channels. Learn more about the world we live in through Discovery World, National Geographic, and the Travel Channel. Hunting for the best recipe or the latest home styles? Lifetime, the Food Network, and FYI have fun and quirky shows about making our daily lives extra special. The young and young at heart will definitely be excited about this SKY TV treat. The funniest wholesome toons and kiddie shows are showcased in Discovery Kids, Disney, and Disney Junior. Those looking for edgier entertainment and anime will definitely love Animax and the Cartoon Network. Current high definition subscribers will be able to ac-

cess all HD channels for free. Standard definition subscribers who want to experience high-definition entertainment would only need to upgrade to an HD box to enjoy everything that SKY has to offer during this big TV celebration. While some areas may have different channels available, everyone is sure to enjoy this treat from SKY. Only SKYcable provides quality home entertainment with the widest-range of standard and high definition digital channels; with over 190 channels, and other topof-the-line services such as flexible subscription options via SELECT; iRECORD that records, pauses, and rewinds live TV; as well as real-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW. To subscribe and to know more about SKYcable, log on to www.mysky.com.ph, or call the 24-hour customer service hotline at 305-5456.

July 1 – 5, 2015

JURASSIC WORLD Chris Pratt, Judy Greer PG

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

MAX Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church G

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

THE BREAKUP PLAYLIST Sarah Geronimo, Piolo Pascual PG

R-16

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

TERMINATOR GENISYS J.K. Simmons, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney PG

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge!

adventure

EDGEDAVAO

In case the engine malfunctions, this thing would just glide. ADVENTURE A1 gine. Call it an ultralight plane--one that’s powered not by a jet engine but by 200-horsepower four-stroke engine. It’s got seats for you and the pilot, but no floor, roof and window. It’s like you flying naked. Dare? Then head down to Mindanao Saga Flying Club in Dahican, Mati City--a little over two hours of leisurely ride from Davao City. At the cost of P1,600 for an in-

troductory flight, one gets a 15-minute of orgasmic experience flying at over about 2,000 to 5,000 feat above sea level and oggling at Mati’s unspoiled bounties--worldclass beach and lush greeneries. Pilot Iking Sievert, president of MSFC, says a regular dose of tourists come mostly on weekends to try the ultralight plane. “Given a good weather, it should be as smooth as silk up there. However, when the winds are strong or the weather not ideal, I tell the customers to come

and fly another day,” Sievert said. Is it safe? “Yes, very safe. It’s so light and it’s equipped with parachutes just in case it’s needed,” he added. “In case the engine malfunctions, this thing would just glide.” MSFC offers fun trial introductory flight at P1,600 for a 15-minute flight, P2,500 for 30 minutes, and P3,500 for 45 minutes. The Sport 2S costs P1,800 for 15 minutes with a GoPro clamped to the wings to record your memorable

experience. Ultralight plane rentals (for certified MSFC pilots only) costs P2,000 for 30 minutes while an annual membership fee costs P9,000 which includes your logbook, patch, ID, towel and bag. Ground schooling costs P3,000 for the whole course (6 hours classroom and 5 hours simulator time, with handout book). Instructional flight costs P2,500 for 30 minutes. Those who wish to book with MSFC, may call 0915-4901977 or visit MSFC at Mati City Airport, Dahican, Mati City.

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7 AGRITRENDS

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Jackfruit increases milk production, controls golden snail Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

O augment income, Filipino farmers need to experiment. A few of these experiments may be successful but most may fail. The best recourse: learn from the experiments of other farmers. For instance, milk production of cattle can be increased if the animals are fed with jackfruit. That was what the couple from Claveria, Misamis Oriental found out by accident, according to a report released by the National Dairy Authority (NDA). Rodrigo Dumaluan and his wife Magdalena started raising cows in 2006. It was Magdalena’s idea to include cattle in their farm because she grew up in a dairy farm. The couple raised the animals near the jackfruits mixed with other fruit trees. “They noticed that the animals frequently stayed under the jackfruit trees and started eating the leaves and fruits that they can reach. They feed on the fallen fruits on the ground,” the NDA report said. The couple thought that cattle, like human beings, found the fruit delicious. So they started collecting the fruits, chopping them, and feeding the whole fruit (including its rind). Jackfruit became an addition to their usual feeding regimen which included chopped corn, roughage, and concentrates. “They found out that milk started to increase with constant supply of jackfruit in the feedstuff,” the NDA report said. In the past, jackfruits are harvested when they are already matured. “But since they observed that the animals feed on them even when the fruits are not yet ripe, plus the added benefit of increased milk production, they prioritized to supply it as

feedstuff to their herd,” said the NDA report. The Dumaluans don’t know what made the cattle produce more milk. It maybe because of the protein found in the seeds of the fruit or the latex in the sap or the sweetness in the flesh of the fruit. They may not discover the secret but one thing is sure: their cattle produce a good volume of milk. As of the report was written, the couple has 15 dairy animals and 9 milking cows. Most of the animals are way past the peak of milk production and ready to dry -- and yet the herd produces 80 liters of milk -- or an average of 8.8 liters per cow per day. One good thing about raising cattle is that the animals are good sources of organic fertilizer. “The Dumaluan’s application of organic fertilizer from cow manure has decreased their expenses by 50% as compared to using commercial fertilizer,” the NDA report said. Meanwhile, many rice farmers in the country still consider golden apple snail. After all, they feed on anything. They can live for two to six years. Adults mate any time of the day, usually among crowded plants where there is continuous water supply throughout the year. A female snail lays 200 to 500 eggs at a time, and between 1,000 to 1,200 eggs during one month. To control golden kuhol, as it is commonly known, Filipino farmers use pesticides. But in Malaysia, farmers control the snails simply by using rotten jackfruit as bait. This method has proven to be “highly successful.” A paper presented during a workshop convened by the Taiwan-based Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) shares the following steps:

Jackfruit 1. Collect the rotten jackfruit to be used as bait. Select those freshly rotted fruits which have a strong smell. 2. Choose a suitable spot and place the bait. The spot should be a place with running water, populated with golden snails, and not hard when it comes to collecting the snails. Be careful not to submerge the bait. 3. Leave the bait overnight. 4. Inspect the spot in the morning. Collect the snails that have gathered on and around the jackfruit and destroy them. 5. Replace the rotten jackfruit with new bait, if and when necessary. Jackfruit (scientific name: “Artocarpus heterophyllus”) is called a variety of names around the world. The English one,jackfruit, is general-

Ready to eat jackfruit ly cited as deriving from the Malayalam “chakka” or “cakkai” via the Portuguese “jaca,” the name for it used by the physician and naturalist Garcia de Orta in his 1563 book. Like most tropical fruits, Westerners considered jackfruit as somewhat weird and

Rice plants

exotic. It is enormous and prickly on the outside and it looks somewhat like the controversial durian An American journalist describes jackfruit in these words: “The ripe fruit smells like rotting onions from the outside, but the fruit flesh inside smells like ba-

nana or pineapple.” Jackfruit is a versatile fruit that has numerous commercial and non-commercial uses. Its wood is also used for furniture and clothing. It is a cure for some illness. The ripe fruit is used as dessert in the form of sweet delicacy.

Golden apple snail

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Don’t panic

S the country’s staple food, rice is a commodity that one does not mess around with. It is such a sensitive product that anything that disrupts its movement, price, and availability is addressed immediately – at least ideally. With virtually every Filipino basing his or her every meal on the grain, rice is rightfully seen as the stuff of life, and it keeps an entire population going even during the toughest of times. More than any food item, it is rice that we protect the most. Which is why the possible entry of fake rice into the Philippine market – specifically Davao City – is such a big deal. The warnings about eating such counterfeit food have been dire, ranging from people falling ill to dying outright. The matter is so serious that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte himself angrily told anyone caught knowingly importing or retailing that he will force them to eat the fake rice. The problem apparently lies in the difficulty of identifying the fake product from the real one. The current fear is that we may all have partaken of it at one time or another without our

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knowing it, and that the dire effects could be felt shortly. The National Food Authority (NFA) has urged the public not to panic and instead be vigilant about the issue. While fake rice maybe hard to spot, it can still be identified if one takes care to observe it upon purchase or even during or after cooking. This is apparently what happened with the alleged fake rice purchased somewhere in Davao City, and the person who turned it over is to be commended for nipping the problem in the bud. The NFA is still waiting for the results of the laboratory tests that are being done in the national office, but it pays to follow its advise. At this point, panicking is the worst thing we can do because it will serve to disrupt the availability and price of rice – something we can ill afford at this time. It could also cause unnecessary stress on our health system as people begin to imagine that they have been stricken by an illness brought about by eating fake rice. Let us wait for the result of the test – and then decide what the next step should be. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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EDGEDAVAO

The love and respect I learned from the weekend

HIS is a continuation of my last article on the things I learned during the last weekend. Many of these realizations are a result of probing the instant and obvious phenomena to try to make better sense of these. In the fast-paced world of today, taking time to reflect on the long term impact and effect of current phenomena requires a lot of reflection, and needs sufficient opportunity.

Conscience is formed by a mature intelligence It takes a mature intelligence to understand concepts that are alien, much less adverse to your own. It takes an even greater maturity to continue to discuss adverse and sensitive topics with adversaries without resorting to name calling, ranting, and other unnecessary emotions that will only serve to cloud our judgment and make us fall into to common traps of fallacy. The current backdoor negotiations between China and the Philippines are a case in point. I can just imagine the amount of restraint and cross analysis taking place between the ladies and gentlemen involved in these discussions. Diplomats get my congratulations!

Granting a right to marriage is a policy action, but can it bring happiness? A friend joked thus: It seems weird to him that those unmarried avoid getting married, and those who legally cannot marry seek the right to get married. Of course, it is admitted that half of all US marriages end in divorce,

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

and in the PhilMY TWO CENTS’ ippines, there are more than 10,000 cases of marriage annulment filed annually, double that of ten years ago. This raises the question on whether, statisJohn Tria tically, the marecisouth@gmail.com riage between gay couples will survive longer than that of heterosexual couples. What needs to be dispelled here is that getting married by itself does not and cannot guarantee happiness. As a lifetime commitment, marriage is a significant part of our existence, but by no means the only part. Being a strong married couple today requires much more than a nice well photographed wedding with all the well prepared food, the cute and solemn rituals, a house, and a car. It’s the daily life of the couple and their resulting family that requires constant empowerment, love, and affection. In the words of someone who just celebrated her golden wedding anniversary: Daily Love and hourly respect. But how well are marriages supported in society? The high cost of living, lack of locally available income opportunities, expensive education, drug prevalence, and lack of adequate housing all confront married couples and their families. If our

policy makers and government officials focus on empowering the family, then we will have a naturally happier and contented people.

As we have become more connected, we are also more intolerant 25 million Facebook profile pictures out of the estimated one billion users were reposted in rainbow colors, indicating a support for the recent US Supreme Court decision removing the ban on gay marriage. These whopping numbers indicate that the world surely is connected in many ways. Moreover, suffice it to say that gay marriage has received widespread support across the US and in many countries. Of course I expected the negative emotions and bashing from those who disagree with gay marriage. Already, civil registry clerks in several US states have refused to process gay mar-

riage applications out of their own conviction against gay marriage, with a few quitting their jobs. Nonetheless, it was just as surprising to also find out that those with rainbow photos gave the same kind of negative energy, with one poster being “irritated” at those who simply said that they are happy with traditional marriage and that they voiced their disapproval of the US Supreme Court decision out of their religious beliefs. In fairness, the poster reacted strongly to explain that their religious beliefs will not be affected by the Supreme Court decision. I was a bit disappointed, since it was replete with insults. Honestly, I expected a lot of sober magnanimity from the gay marriage advocate. I would think that the role of the advocate for a change in the system is to gently and slowly enlighten the mind and heart to let other see the culture and the positive nature of the perspective. The intolerant advocate gets little traction here. What took the cake is the story of erstwhile gay couple Dolce and Gabbana, who famously declared their support for traditional family and voiced their disapproval of gay relationships, thereby earning a boycott call from Elton John and other celebrities. My, such an intolerant world on many fronts. We just have to live with the fact that people are different and view the world differently. It only matters that such are based on their conscience, which we are all entitled to whether we disagree with them or not. The adequate response to differences in the world is a simple one: love and respect.

come the heart and soul of marketing. The idea revolves around a fundamental trend in consumer behavior (where) today’s buyers are highly self-directed and research-driven. By the time that they reach out to your organization’s sales team, they’ve likely made a decision about whether or not to do business with your brand.” They go on further to explain that, “when executed correctly, content becomes a brand asset (that) lives on the internet forever and has the potential to generate leads for years. Write one amazing article, and it will appreciate in value by gaining momentum through search engine rankings and incremental exposure through social channels — as audiences discover great content, they’ll feel inclined to share it for years to come.” The importance of content in marketing, particularly in building your brand, makes it imperative that you have someone in your organization who understands what he or she is doing. Content creation can be one of the most difficult things to do for any marketing campaign, and it is not made easier by the practice of most businesses of delegating the work to people who are not qualified for

the job. While in the short term it may appear more cost-effective to just let someone from HR or sales write your company blog or tweet about your new product, in the end it will cost you more in wasted efforts and lost opportunities. Companies that are serious about using social media to build their brands and sell their products are therefore best served by investing in the right resources for the purpose. This means getting great writers who can create original content that will allow them to tell their firm’s “unique and compelling story” while demonstrating “expertise” on the subject matter in a way that will both “entertain and educate audiences.” In practice, this means that you should start with your company’s story and how it intertwines with that of your customers. By doing this, you engage them in meaningful conversations and not just those tired and worn-out sales pitches that you used to give. According to Pulitzer Prize-winning audio historian Studs Terkel, “People are hungry for stories. It’s part of our very being. Storytelling is a form of history, of immortality too. It goes from one generation to another.” Businesses that are able to build on the common touchstones that they have with their customers become an integral part of the community and its history. Companies also strengthen their brands when they demonstrate their usefulness within the community by directly sharing their areas of expertise with their customers. Says Aaron Shapiro, author of the book

Users, Not Customers: Who Really Determines the Success of Your Business, “brand awareness and sales are achieved not through traditional advertising, but by developing brand-relevant programs that help users accomplish the task at hand.” This shift in focus from the detached promotional efforts of the past to today’s more hands-on approach towards customer interactions is a key element in building relationships between your company and your clients. Lastly, instead of talking about your product, try to talk more about the people who build and use them. It is a simple fact of social media that the most popular posts or tweets or photos are those that reveal something about the person (or persons) behind it. The sooner you understand that your customers are less interested about the latest bells and whistles in your new thingamajig than they are about the behind-the-scenes drama that went into its making, the faster you will be able to win their hearts, minds, and wallets. The lessons we have learned, and continue to learn from social media shows that – above all else – people love to connect with other people. Whether it is simply to express a point-of-view or to talk about how much they love or hate something or someone, it is these personal connections – these investments in sincerity – that generate the most response from others in the community. And those companies that are able to grasp this quickly might be the only ones that will succeed in a future dominated by social media.

Homosexuality deserves to be studied more by those seeking understanding With the recent ruling and the euphoria on it attracting the support of major US corporations and government agencies, it is curious to understand how and why homosexuality evolved over the years into what it has become today. Long described as a psychological disorder, this label was lifted in 1973 by the American Psychiatric Association, which decides on other psychological phenomena and behaviors. Nonetheless, those seeking to understand will do well to access the myriad resources on the internet to help them judge for themselves whether they agree with homosexuality or not.

Advertising in the age of social media

IX years after Mashable first declared June 29 as the official “Social Media Day,” businesses all over the world are still learning to embrace the growing power of this new platform in influencing how people make their buying decisions. After decades of having no other choice except radio, television, or newspapers, the explosion of all these amateur mass media outlets has led to a lot of confusion about how they can be used effectively in areas of marketing and advertising. In the early years of Friendster, Multiply, and Facebook, most companies treated social media as just another place to promote and sell their products – no different from any of the other outlets that they used in the past. What they failed to realize was that, instead of the traditional audiences made up of “listeners,””viewers,” and “readers,” this new medium had communities, which were founded on common interests and more prone to resent and reject ads that were obtrusive or did not fit into their virtual neighborhoods. Over time, and as familiarity with social media dynamics grew, several rules have emerged on how companyies can engage with their audiences effectively, while staying within the context of what is acceptable. Among the most important of these has to do with “branded content” and its primacy in any marketing or advertising campaign. According to “The Ultimate Guide to Branded Content,” by newscred.com, “it’s an understatement to say that content has be-

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DON’T PANIC. National Food Authority (NFA) 11 director Dianne A. Silva urges the public to not panic and instead be vigilant as reports that fake rice has reached Davao City. Silva, together with provincial manager Virgilio B. Alerta, discussed updates on the agency’s investigation on the matter in yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr.

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Silva said there is nothing to worry about yet since there is still no proof that the rice bought from a store in Matina Aplaya on Friday last week was fake. “Nothing is conclusive as of the moment since we are still waiting for the laboratory result,” she said. Silva said the rice was sent to the NFA Food Development Center in Taguig City last Monday for testing. The result is expected to be released today (Friday). She said the NFA also did not receive any complaint of food poisoning brought about by fake rice. Silva said the NFA cannot launch an inspection on the warehouses in the city while the result is still pending. Silva, however, said NFA personnel are now conducting a series of inspections on rice retailers in public markets. “In the light of controversy, we ask the rice retailers as much as possible to check with their suppliers because there are some private companies that are importing rice from other countries,” she said. “They must check also the quality of their imported rice

to make sure that no fake rice will proliferate,” she added. Silva said NFA is also sending letters to the rice wholesalers to ask if the NFA can check their rice stocks. The issue came out after Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said in his weekly television program that he had learned of the possible presence of fake rice in the city. Duterte warned importers and retailers against selling fake rice in the city, saying he will force these people to eat it. The mayor also ordered the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to conduct an investigation in coordination with NFA and the City Agriculturist’s Office. In an earlier report, a certain Carmen Grenio, a resident of MatinaAplaya, turned over a sample of the alleged fake rice last week. She said the rice was bought by Grenio’s sister-inlaw in a store in Cabantian and was cooked by Grenio. The rice was allegedly sold to the store by a distributor from Bansalan, Davao del Sur. But when the NFA checked the distributors’ warehouse it found nothing.

Bicol Express, and Singaporean such as Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, among other dishes. “The fact that we are able to deliver on this kind of quality experience is a good base for us in promoting the rest of the Philippines,” Bengzon said.

“More than any other country in Asia, the Philippines is most dependent on air access. Every time we get upgrades on products and services, it is always a welcoming development for tourism,” he added. (PNA)

government. For example, agencies now prepare their own final Annual Financial Reports (AFRs) for auditing by the Commission on Audit. Meanwhile, the DOF has already released its Tax Expenditure Report (TER) for 2011 early this year, which addresses the issue of transparency in income tax incentives and other tax expenditures. On the other hand, the Development Budget Coordinating

Council (DBCC) annually releases the Fiscal Risk Statement (FRS), which includes information on government guarantees. With the government gathering the list of guarantees per Government-Owned-or-Controlled Corporation (GOCC) and the DOF computing for contingent liabilities, the resulting data—together with information on non-explicit guarantees—can be readily be included in the FRS.

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gion 12 has reached PHP401 million. It also reported that 46 houses were partially and totally damaged. On Infrastructure, the OCD

reported that seven bridges have been affected, two were totally destroyed, two flood control projects damaged. All roads remained passable, though. (PNA)

Villar was the co-guest of honor during the along with outgoing Department of Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, who resigned from his post end of last April but is still holding his position until President Aquino finds his replacement. During the anniversary program at RDR Gym, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario joked that both Petilla and Villar came from “political dynas-

ties.” He said the same of Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio, Jr. and a few officials. The governor said the important thing in the political dynasty issue is that “the election is democratic.” The three Davao provinces, including Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur, had their respective founding anniversary celebrations on Wednesday.

project is expected to decongest the Ulas junction which had been identified as a traf-

fic bottleneck for a number of years now, he said. ANTONIO M. AJERO

have become irrelevant or unenforceable. It is also aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) which identified this law as a measure that will improve the country’s business climate,” said Balisacan. “While this bill will certainly help us move forward, our efforts will remain focused on implementing key reforms in the country. The task at hand is to increase investments, address gaps in our economic system, and reduce barriers hampering productivity and growth in the country. These will allow

us to increase opportunities for shared prosperity, sustain our gains, and lead us to an even higher growth path,” he added. The competition bill is considered to be one of the longest running congressional bills in the country, first introduced in the 8th Congress and has remained pending for 24 years since. It was only on June 10, 2015 that the bicameral conference committee overcame the hurdles concerning contentious provisions. The bill now awaits the President’s signature, which would enact it into law.

“We make sure that our drivers know that GrabTaxi appreciates their hard work. Through this basketball tournament, our drivers can relax and enjoy after keeping their passengers safeand convenient,” said Ceballos.

GrabTaxi also sees this tournament as a venue to give orientation for newly-registered Grab drivers and encourage more drivers to join GrabTaxi. As of now, there are 1,377 drivers registered with GrabTaxi in Davao.

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ket and these moves make the Bank strategically positioned to service the requirements of the country’s growing middle class or emerging mass affluent market.” During the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, in his report of 2014 operations, Villarosa noted that Security Bank turned in a strong, solid and well balanced performance in 2014 in the key aspects of earnings, balance sheet strength, and growth in core business. Net income for 2014 amounted to Php 7.2 billion, representing a growth of 43% from 2013, resulting in 16.3% return on shareholders’ equity, the highest among the private domestic universal banks. Growth was contributed by a 33% expansion in net interest income, 43% growth in 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.2001-XI-01615 RENATO S. CAJEGAS, Petitioner

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

non-interest income due to higher trading gains and feebased income, versus a 17% growth in operating expenses due to investments in people, branches and re-branding activities. Total assets grew by 14% to Php 397 billion. Loan growth was at 17% driven by expansion of the corporate, middle market and consumer portfolios. Asset quality remained firm and healthy with net non-performing loan ratio and NPL cover at among industry best at 0.28% and 200%, respectively. Deposits increased by 20% supported by a wider network of branches and intensified customer sales. Branch network stood at 256 branches. Capital funds stood at P47 billion with capital ratios well above regulatory minimum requirements. 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-02111 BRENNIE M. CUAJOTOR, Petitioner

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING

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: MATINA with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on June 6, 2016. In the petition filed on June 16, 2015, petitioner requests 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 Ordinary Regular Service on the route: TAGURANO 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 June 6, 2016. In the petition filed on June 16, 2015, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JULY 27, 2015 at 09:10 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 16th day of June 2015 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JULY 27, 2015 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

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

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11 MOTORING

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

Off-Roading with Isuzu D-Max

HE local pickup truck segment is tightening and the one that’s starting to feel the pinch is long-time leader, Isuzu. For years, the D-Max has enjoyed brisk sales, but the increased competition from within the segment has caused its sales to plateau in recent months. Knowing quite well its importance to its line-up, the D-Max had to learn to sing a different tune from the “dependable workhorse” formula it has known from Day One. Earlier this year, Isuzu has done just that. They introduced the 2015 version of the D-Max, a timely upgrade that the company hopes will lure weekend warriors and lifestyle-oriented buyers to join the long list of satisfied Isuzu customers. The launch of the 2015 model at the Clark International Speedway last April seemed odd. However, now, the D-Max has finally moved from the smooth tarmac of the racetrack to its home turf: the great outdoors. And you can’t get more outdoors than the

lahar beds of the Sacobia River surrounding Mount Pinatubo. Driving a bone-stock Cobalt Blue 4x4 LS M/T, there were apprehensions at first to its abilities; after all, it was neither the biggest nor the most powerful pickup out there. But those were all laid to rest this day. Of course, before heading to its off-road playground, it first had to make its way from the confines of Manila to Pampanga. From the meeting point in Greenhills, San Juan, the convoy of D-Max pickups made its way to the North Luzon Expressway. Tucked under its hood is the new 2.5-liter 4JK1-TC common rail direct injection diesel engine with variable geometry turbo. Shared with the mu-X, it makes 136 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 320 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 2,800 rpm. In plain numbers, it’s certainly down against the competition, but from behind the wheel, it doesn’t feel it; at least when it’s paired with the 5-speed manual. There’s ample punch from the

drivetrain and thanks to the slick and easy operation of the shifter and clutch, it’s an easy vehicle to adjust to. The gear ratios clearly emphasize acceleration more than top speed as 100 km/h comes in at a relatively high ~2,500 rpm. Still, it achieves 13.88 km/L. From the Clark Freeport, it’s a further 20-minute drive to the start of the trail heading up to the Puning Hot Springs. Those in the group riding 4x2 units boarded specially-modified open-top 4x4 jeeps, while the two D-Max 4x4 including this Cobalt Blue unit, proceeded deep into lahar bed country. The question is: can the Isuzu handle it as well? Certainly. As the GPS navigation started showing blank fields as opposed to roads, it was time to engage the 4WD system via the 4WD Terrain Command Select Dial. The rotary dial located near the shifter allowed it to shift from 4x2 to 4x4 Low or even 4x4 High even at speeds up to 100 km/h. A small caveat is that you had to, at least in the M/T variant, stop completely

and shift to neutral and clutch in for the 4x4 to engage. Once the 4x4 system comes online, nothing seems to stop the D-Max. Aside from its robust 4WD system, it also comes with Limited Slip Differential or LSD allowing it to climb higher obsta-

cles with ease and even if one side of tires is off the ground. Plus, it has a 235-mm ground clearance, one of the highest in its class. The 255/65R17 all-terrain tires also provide a good balance between grip and comfort. Plus, you could actually go through obstacles al-

most head on with its 30-degree approach and 22.7-degree departure angles. The suspension system, composed of Double Wishbones upfront and over-slung leaf springs at the back, provided generous suspension travel enabling it to absorb large bumps.

ANCY a trip to visit MINI’s Oxford assembly plant in the United Kingdom? Well, dream no more as British United Automobiles, Inc., the exclusive distributor of MINI automobiles in the country is offering you the chance to travel to the MINI Oxford plant with the MINI Plant Oxford Experience: MINI. DRIVE. FLY. And the best part? All you need to do is to buy any participating MINI model until August 31, 2015. From now until the 31st of August, buyers of the MINI Cooper 3-door hatchback, Cooper 5-door hatchback, and Cooper Countryman will automatically avail of the MINI Plant Oxford Experience (good for one). Make sure you check the fine print below and head over to any of the MINI Showrooms nationwide: Global City, Greenhills, or Cebu. Promo Mechanics: Promo is open to all brand new buyers of MINI Cooper 3 Door Hatch, MINI Cooper 5 Door Hatch and MINI Cooper Countryman. Offer is applicable for all MINI Cooper 3 Door Hatch, MINI Cooper 5 Door Hatch and MINI Cooper

Countryman available in the Philippines during the promo period. Promo duration shall be from 1 July – 31 August 2015. Participating MINI dealerships in the Philippines: MINI Global City - 5th Avenue cor. 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, MINI Roadshow Greenhills - 324 Ortigas Ave., North Greenhills , San Juan, Metro Manila, MINI Cebu - A.S. Fortuna Street, Bakilid, Mandaue City, Cebu For every purchase of MINI Cooper 3 Door Hatch, MINI Cooper 5 Door Hatch or MINI Cooper Countryman, the buyer is entitled to one (1) slot to MINI Plant Oxford Getaway with FREE Roundtrip Plane Ticket, Hotel Accommodation, MINI Plant Oxford Tour. (Airport transfers will be shouldered by MINI Philippines; Meals, securing VISA related documents, Travel and Insurance taxes expenses will be for participant’s account). Travel to MINI Plant Oxford in United Kingdom will be on the following dates via Philippine Airlines: Flight Batch 1 - November 8-11, 2015, Flight Batch 2 - November 9-11, 2015

Have MINI, Will Travel F

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE EDMUND D. RENDON Marketing Specialist Mobile: (Smart) 0930-669-3018 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509 DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601

GO BOLD

GO COLOUR

• All text • Telephone Number (bigger point size) • Bold Header

• Background • Text

Price: 100.00

Price: 175.00

ADD-ON • Pictures/Logos • Graphic Elements Price: 230.00

VOL. 8 ISSUE 66 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS13

LPA intensifies into TD named Egay T

HE low pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsiblity (PAR) has intensified into tropical depression locally named "Egay", the fourth tropical cyclone to affect the country this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday. In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris

Perez said that as of 10 a.m. tropical depression Egay was located at 520 km East of Virac, Catanduanes (13.8°N, 129.1°E) packed with maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. It is Forecast to move North Northwest at 5 kph. He said tropical depression Egay has slim chance to make landfall and also is not directly affecting the country as no public storm warning

signal has been raise in any part of the country. However, Perez noted that with the presence of tropical depression Egay, it will enhance the west monsoon that will induce rains in Visayas and Mindanao. The estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 300 km diameter of the tropical depression. Fisherfolk are advised not

to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas. With continues movement at north northwest at 5 kph, Perez expects the tropical depression will stay longer inside the country due to its slow movement. Tropical depression Egay is expected to be at 485 km East of Virac, Catanduanes by Friday morning. By Saturday morning is

forecast to be at 650 km East of Casiguran, Aurora and be at 640 km East of Tuguegarao City by Sunday morning. By Monday morning is expected to be at 570 km East of Tuguegarao City and be at 530 km East of Calayan, Cagayan by Tuesday morning. Perez said the weather bureau continues monitoring the tropical storm with international name Chan-Hom and the other LPA outside the PAR.

He said that either the tropical storm or LPA will enter the country next week but will not affect directly the country and will also enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains in the country. He said the track of the tropical storm will be upward and will exit as soon as it enters PAR and not expected to make landfall but will enhance the southwest monsoon. (PNA)

Coast Guard (PCG) Ormoc District Commander Pedro Tinampay. The PCG Ormoc station reported that 129 passengers have been rescued. Some were brought to different hospitals in Ormoc. About 21 passengers remained missing as of 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Tinampay said. The banca, with 178 seating capacity left Ormoc port for Pilar town in Camotes Island east

of Cebu province around 1:15 p.m. The vessel, owned by Joge Zarco, is manned by boat captain Warren Oliverio and 16 crew members. All passengers were wearing life vest when inspected by the Coast Guard personnel, but they took it off when the vessel departed the port. Rescue operation is now ongoing led by PCG and the local government of Ormoc. (PNA)

At least 36 dead after passenger banca capsizes off Ormoc T

HIRTY-SIX persons were confirmed dead and 21 others went missing after a passenger banca capsized off the water of Ormoc past noon on Thursday. M/V Nirvana, with about 180 passengers, was making a maneuver just 800 meters away from the Ormoc port when rough seas broke its outrigger and caused the vessel to flip over, according to Philippine

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CANINE HANDLERS TRAINING. Security personnel from The Royal Mandaya Hotel and Davao Allied Security and Investigation Agency (DASIA) underwent a Canine Handlers Training Course last June 27 at the Mamay Inn and Resort.

EastMinCom gets excellence award T

HE AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under Lieutenant General Aurelio B. Baladad received the highest excellence rating for Leadership, Morale and Discipline (LMD) among the six Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) unified commands from the Office of The Inspector General (OTIG), AFP yesterday, July 2. The award was received by Baladad from Chief, OTIG Major General Benito T. de Leon who heads the weeklong annual inspection. The annual inspection aims to check the performance of every unified command on matters about readiness condition; finance and logistics management; and leadership, morale and discipline. It also evaluates over-all capability based on the given mission. Officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees of the command were eval-

uated based on their job description, office function, and accomplishment. De Leon said EastMinCom is on top for LMD rating among the six unified commands inspected. “This award speaks about the excellent leadership of your Commander Lt. Gen. Baladad. This command has accomplished much more than our expectation at higher headquarters,” de Leon said Baladad said he is satisfied with the excellent rating. “This award speaks about the dedication and commitment of Team EastMinCom troopers. By all means, we will concentrate winning the peace here in Eastern Mindanao,” he said The AFP’s unified commands are NOLCOM based in Tarlac; SOLCOM in Lucena City; WESTMINCOM in Zamboanga City; WESCOM in Palawan; CENTCOM in Cebu; and EASTMINCOM in Davao City

GrabTaxi holds sportsfest for drivers in Davao City

ILIPINOS have an undying love affair with basketball. Filipinos see the sport as a form of exercise and entertainment. It serves as a way to build friendships and develop one’s ability to strategize and work with a team. For Filipino men, a basketball game after a long day’s work is a good way to unwind. GrabTaxi, in its mission to promote camaraderie and physical fitness among taxi drivers, is holding a basketball tournament in Monteritz Gym, Diversion road, Davao City from June to September. “GrabTaxi finds it important for the drivers to have some physical activity as they spend long hours behind the wheel. We want to conduct a fun activity for the drivers where they can

unwind and at the same time, exercise, so we decided to hold a basketball tournament,” said Poch Ceballos, GrabTaxi Product Head. Twelve teams composed of at least 10 drivers each will be joining the tournament. Two teams from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will also participate. The games will be scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, 6-9 p.m. from June 20 until September. Teams will be divided into two brackets and the top two teams shall advance to semi-finals round or best of four. The champions will win up to P50,000 in prizes.

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Tripadvisor recognizes White House restaurant T

HE world’s largest travel site, Tripadvisor, has recognized Davao City-based fine dining restaurant The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge for excellence for the year 2015. Tripadvisor awarded the White House the 2015 Certificate of Excellence recently based on the good reviews the restaurant is getting from the travel site’s guests. The White House got an average of 4 out of 5 in the customers’ rating. Marc Charron, president of Tripadvisor for Business, said White House earned the pres-

tigious award through consistent great reviews published in Tripadvisor’s website. “For five years, Tripadvisor has shared this award on behalf of travelers across the globe. Today, whether you’re a first-time recipient or a five-time winner, we hope you’re proud to see White House Restaurant recognized by customers as one of the very best in the business,” Charron said. With the recognition, White House part owner and chef Cathy Binag expressed gratitude for the recognition. She said the award was unexpected considering that White House

is only three years old. White House turned three last June 29, the same day it received the excellence award from Tripadvisor. Binag said the coincidence only indicates that they are on the right track in their goal to bring great food at affordable prices to Dabawenyos. Binag said she is more inspired now to have more projects in Davao. Her latest would be the Filipino Comfort Food which will soon open at the Damosa Gateway in Lanang, Davao City. FCF will offer Filipino food of the same quality as The White

House’s but at much more affordable prices. Binag’s other projects are the Posh Nail, MadHatter Tea and Crepes, and Ferinos, all located at the Abreeza Mall.

Phl gets high scores in IMF fiscal transparency evaluation T

HE Aquino administration’s goal of instituting sustainable public financial management (PFM) reforms for greater transparency and accountability is expected to gain more ground with the country getting a favorable score in the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Transparency Evaluation (FTE). While the IMF also emphasized the need to close the remaining gaps in the Aquino administration’s strategy to fulfill the 36 principles of the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code (FTC), administration officials expressed confidence in addressing these issues. “Through Daang Matuwid, we sought to reform public fiscal management and bring greater transparency and accountability

to it. The IMF is a valuable partner in our fiscal reform efforts, and working with them and other stakeholders has allowed us to cover the gaps in our PFM reform road map,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said. “At the same time, however, we have to resolve some longstanding issues in our fiscal management practices. From the DBM’s end, for example, we need to strengthen budget planning so that the resulting National Budget can properly support our growth and development targets. There’s a lot of work to be done as well in making sure that agencies spend their allocations quickly and efficiently,” Abad added. According to the FTE report, the Aquino administration scored

well among the 36 indicators— Advanced in 7 indicators, Good in 16, and Basic(minimum) in 8. These scores range across the three pillars of the FTC, including fiscal reporting, fiscal forecasting and budgeting, and fiscal risk analysis management. “Unprecedented fiscal transparency under this administration’s core belief that ‘good governance is good economics’ has been a bedrock of our sound fiscal strength. We continue to strive for openness, as public finance reform allows us to better enhance the management of every hardearned taxpayer peso,” Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said. “As a priority of the government, enhancing fiscal transparency stands as one of four pillars in our Asia-Pacific Economic Co-

operation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Process (FMP) Cebu Action Plan (CAP) for inclusive and sustainable economies,” Purisima said. The DBM, the Department of Finance (DOF), and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) pushed a number of reforms that helped the country secure a high score. Expenditure reforms include Performance-Informed Budgeting, Bottom-Up Budgeting, and the timely release of the GAA. The FTE report likewise issued a number of recommendations that would address the gaps in the country’s transparency practices. Some of these items have already been addressed via reporting improvements across

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FRIENDLY SERIES. Players of the City Mayors Office led by Christopher “Bong” Go and Anflocor led by Cary Lagdameo, brother of Congressman Anton Lagdameo, pose for a photo-ops following the opening game of their Friendly series on Wednesday night at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. CMO won 84-65.

CMO outduels Anflocor in Friendly match opener

ITY Mayors Office turned back Anflocor, 84 – 65, to draw first blood of their Friendly Series on Wednesday night at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. Hotshot Christopher “Bong” Go fired a game-best 46 points as the City Hall dribblers took a 1 – 0 series lead. Glenn Escandor and Eugene Labor chipped in 13 and 12 points respectively for

CMO. The Anflocor squad led by Cary Lagdameo, Damosa Land executive and brother of Congressman Anton Lagdameo, showed a more balance attack with four players finishing double digits. Miller led all Anflocor scorers with 18 as Calma, ToOng and Mejorada finished with 18, 15, 13 and 10 in that order.

ANNY Pacquiao’s manager Bob Arum is declaring war on Floyd Mayweather’s promoter -- claiming the guy is “rigging the boxing industry” ... and taking aim at everyone, including Jay Z ... this according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports. Arum’s Top Rank boxing promotions company just filed a $100 MILLION lawsuit against Al Haymon -- who many consider the most powerful man in boxing. According to the suit, Top Rank claims Haymon has been using unsavory tactics to monopolize the boxing industry -- including illegally blocking fights, blocking venues and freezing out other promoters, including Top Rank and Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports company.

Top Rank claims Haymon -- who “famously runs his empire from an old school flip phone” -- is leveraging his impressive client list (which includes Mayweather, Adrian Broner, Danny Garcia and more) to monopolize the boxing industry. For example, Top Rank claims Haymon cajoled one of his fighters -- Peter Quillin -- to turn down a $1.4 million payday in 2014 (the biggest payday of his career) because Jay Z had won the right to promote the fight and Haymon didn’t want to let Roc Nation get his foot into the boxing game. Top Rank is going after Haymon and his financial backers, the Waddell & Reed investment group for fraud and conspiracy.

Arum sues Floyd’s promoter for $100M M

UPSET WINNER. 23-year-old American CoCo Vendeweghe defeated No. 11 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 7-6, 6-4 to advance to the third round.

NEW JOB. As if his commitments are not enough, Manny Pacquiao is taking the manager’s reins at the Letran Knights bench.

Pacquiao now Letran manager L

ETRAN has gained a major boost in its NCAA Season 91 campaign after boxing legend Manny Pacquiao officially assumed the position of team manager of the Knights. Rumors started to swirl about the boxing icon’s involvement in the perennial NCAA contenders after Al-

din Ayo, part of Pacquiao’s coaching staff with Kia Carnival in the PBA, was named coach of the school last December. Athletic director and NCAA management committee representative Fr. Vic Calvo O.P. broke the news to Spin.ph on Wednesday night. “The (signing is a) big

boost financially and psychologically to the Letran community,” Calvo said in a phone conversation straight from Pacquiao’s house in Forbes Park, Makati Wednesday night where the contract signing was held. “Knowing his passion for sports, he will be involved.” The length of the con-

tract was not disclosed, although Ayo is signed on for four years. Pacquiao, named second highest-paid athlete in the world recently by Forbes, has been known for his generosity. He is known to give out bonuses from his own pocket to Kia players for every games the team wins.

and now it’s time to get back to work.” Love’s announcement came on the first day of free agency for the 2015-16 campaign. Players can talk terms with clubs and make deals but no contracts can be signed until July 9, meaning most news will come from reports and unnamed sources until confirmations come next week. Love had opted out of a deal that would have paid him $16.7 million next season to test the free agent waters, but ESPN reported he was cashing in for a maximum money deal with Cleveland.

After years wishing he could play on a title contender, Love was not unhappy accepting a reduced role to play for a team that was a championship threat. “After game one of the NBA Finals, that’s when it really struck me,” Love said. “Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win … it was clear Cleveland was the place for me.” Shumpert, Thompson back In addition to Love and superstar LeBron James, who

is a free agent but unlikely to leave the Cavaliers, Cleveland will welcome back guard Iman Shumpert and forward Tristan Thompson. According to multiple reports, Shumpert agreed to a four-year deal worth $40 million while Thompson was expected to negotiate a deal worth $80 million for five years. Paul Pierce returned to his Southern California home and reunited with Doc Rivers, who coached him to an NBA title with Boston, as the 37-year-old forward reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $10 million with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cavs retain Love, Bulls keep Butler

EVIN Love announced Wednesday he will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, with the 26-year-old power forward reportedly agreeing to a five-year deal worth $110 million to remain in Cleveland. Love, obtained last year from Minnesota in a major trade, suffered a separated left shoulder in the first round of the NBA playoffs and could only watch as the Cavaliers lost to Golden State in the NBA Finals. “I’m going back to Cleveland,” Love said on the Players’ Tribune website. “We’re all on the same page and we’re all in. We have unfinished business

Vandeweghe scores big upset at Wimbledon

OCO Vandeweghe is on to the third round at Wimbledon after pulling off one of the biggest upsets yet on the women’s side. The unseeded 23-year-old American defeated No. 11 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 7-6, 6-4. Vandeweghe – the granddaughter of former New York Knick Ernie Vandeweghe, niece of Kiki Vandeweghe, and daughter of former Olympic swimmer Tauna Vendeweghe – also advanced to the third round at this year’s Australian Open, the first time she made it beyond the second round at any Grand Slam event. To best her Australian Open performance, she’ll have to get past 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur, who is the 22nd seed.

Fellow American Madison Keys also won on Wednesday morning, finishing out her first-round match against Stefanie Voegele. The match had been suspended on Tuesday evening due to darkness. Keys won 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, to become the eighth American woman to reach the second round. Keys’ 21 aces were the most for any woman in the tournament so far. No. 4 Maria Sharapova had only one ace, and eight double faults, in her second-round match, but still defeated qualifier Richel Hogenkamp, 6-3, 6-1. Britain’s Heather Watson advanced to the third round for the first time since 2012. The hometown favorite, she is the only British woman left in the draw.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

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ITH everyone “feeling hot, hot, hot” at the All England Club on Wednesday it was little wonder that Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams were eager to escape the Wimbledon furnace as quickly as possible. Spectators sitting under the searing sun on Wimbledon’s Henman Hill were h e a r d breaking out into

TURN UP THE HEAT

Djokovic, Serena, Sharapova advance

the Buster Poindexter anthem that aptly summed up the hottest day of the year in Britain -- with the mercury hitting 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Champion Djokovic was spared the worst of the heat on the partly covered Centre Court as he kept things simple in a 90-minute 6-4 6-2 6-3 second-round demolition job that ended the Wimbledon career of seasoned Finn Jarkko Nieminen. His opponent in the next round, Australian Bernard Tomic, will be hoping the weather eases for their Friday showdown after complaining it was “too hot”. “I was starting to get dizzy out there with the heat hitting me... I was very dizzy out there,” Tomic said after beating Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6(3) 6-4 7-6(5). The blazing sun was the least of Sharapova’s concerns, however. “It’s much much warmer in my hometown in Longboat Key, Florida,” the Russian fourth seed said after subduing Dutchwoman Richel Hogenkamp 6-3 6-1. What would have concerned her though is her misfiring serves. The 2004 champion was left red-faced as she fired down three successive double faults to surrender her serve at 4-2 up in the first set but survived that blip to win eight of the next nine games. Court Two also hosted the other half of tennis’s golden couple with Sharapova’s boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov, the 11th seed, outlasting American Steve Johnson 7-6(8) 6-2 7-6(2). “Everyone was talking about it’s hot, it’s hot. To me it was just such good weather today,”

said the 2014 semi-finalist who will next take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Williams might want to drop Marin Cilic and Ricardas Berankis a thank you note after the duo’s five-set thriller meant she did not have to step on to Centre Court till almost 7pm. However, the slightly cooler conditions did not mean the American world number one wanted to hang around longer than necessary as she took another step closer to winning her fourth successive major. She whooped in delight after completing a 6-4 6-1 pummelling of Hungarian Timea Babos. NISHIKORI OUT While U.S. Open champion Cilic was relieved to be still standing following a 6-3 4-6 7-6(6) 4-6 7-5 win over Lithuania’s Berankis, the same could not be said of his Flushing Meadows final victim. Fifth seed Kei Nishikori spared his battered body further punishment after he pulled out of his second-round match against Santiago Giraldo with a calf strain. “I was hurting too much,” said the man whose exit will be a huge blow back in his Japanese homeland. Nishikori was not the only one needing medical attention on day three of the championships as a ballboy had to be wheeled off Court 17 after collapsing during American John Isner’s 6-2 7-6(8) 6-4 win over Australian Matthew Ebden. “I saw him on the ground. It was a very scary situation,” said Isner. “I’m not a doctor, but it looked like an epileptic seizure. It was very scary. I have heard that he’s doing much better, which is great.” French Open champion Stan Wawrinka was in cruise control during a 6-3 6-4 7-5 win over Victor Estrella but Milos Raonic was kept on Court One longer than he would have liked by the oldest man in the singles draw. The Canadian seventh seed hurled down 29 aces, including one clocked at 145 mph, to secure a 6-0 6-2 6-7(5) 7-6(4) victory over 37-year-old Tommy Haas. Women’s seventh seed Ana Ivanovic became the second top-eight woman to fall as the Serb followed third seed Simona Halep out of the tournament, beaten 6-3 6-4 by 158th ranked American qualifier Bethanie Mattek Sands. Heather Watson made sure Britain did not suffer a wipeout in the women’s draw as she made it into round three with a 6-4 6-2 win over Slovakia’s former world number five Daniela Hantuchova. Next up for her? A certain Serena Williams.