Edge Davao 9 Issue 106 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 106 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 24 - 25, 2016

Inside Edge

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

EDGEDAVAO www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

News P2

Mayor Sara ends leave, names new dept heads Bayan Muna party-list solon to wear ‘peace’ barong on Rody’s first SONA

Economy P6

Pres. Duterte to DA: Release P300 M funds for palm oil dev’t

Always be prepared financially – health care provider Indulge A1

Cocktails and beats Dengue patient (Photo courtesy of Dr Richard Mata)

Sports P15

Nagayo fires 80, winds up tied for 12th

Batang Gilas gets drubbing

IF BITES COULD KILL!

‘Digong Phenomenon’ invades the academia By Antonio Figueroa

S the country waits in anxiety on what President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, 2016 will announce, silently, the academia, far from the hustle and bustle of media, has added the ‘Digong Phenomenon’ as one of the newest and hottest

political science subjects. This sounds unanticipated but on August 2, 2016, at the Rizal Library at the Ateneo de Manila University, a forum will unfold and is entitled “Doing Digong: Politics in the Wake of EDSA.” The round-table discussion is part of the school’s Kritika Kultura

Lecture Series. Adding glamor and glitter to the event are the high-caliber speakers from higher institutions of learning. 22The jaded lecturers are Carmel Abao, a Political Science instruction at the Ateneo de Manila University; Walden

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By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

L NIÑO’S LONG DROUGHT -which brought famine, hunger, power interruption and even death -- is over. And so here comes the rain. Not just rains but massive rains. It’s a prelude to another forthcoming natural disaster, La Niña. The signs are already visible: floods and the rise in the number of dengue cases. In the Davao region, cases of dengue fever, a

water borne disease, has already “reached alarming proportions,” reported the EDGE Davao in its issues last Tuesday. The Department of Health recorded 4,564 cases as of July. Previously, up until the same month, only 1,850 cases were recorded. What is even more alarming is that dengue-related deaths also rose -from 8 to 40 over the same period. That’s almost fivefold increase, said Engr. Antoniette Ebol, the health

department’s dengue prevention and control manager. More often than not, children have succumbed to dengue. “Please, our son needs help!” pleaded Rina as she carried her son Noel to the hospital. The nurses, who were having lunch that hot Friday afternoon, immediately quit eating and tried to calm the mother of the 9-year-old boy from Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

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2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

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Digong Phenomenon p.1

COVER p.1 “What happened,” one of the nurses asked. Rina then shared this story: Five days earlier, Noel had a fever and was complaining of abdominal pain. The parents thought it was due to cholic because the child had not eaten. The fever, however, was on-and-off for four days. Despite the medications they had given to the boy, his condition continued to deteriorate. That was when the parents decided to bring the boy to the hospital. By this time, Noel’s breathing was rapid and the pulse was beating fast. His skin was cold and clammy. Chest X-rays showed the boy having an abnormal build-up of fluid in the lungs. He was breathing difficulty. Doctors told the parents that their son was in a state of shock. The boy was immediately brought to the emergency department. Inside the intensive care unit, the boy started bleeding profusely despite the blood transfusion done by the doctors. Early Sunday, at about three o’clock, Noel died. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. “Dengue is the world’s most important viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes,” declares Dr. Duane Gubler, health administrator of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on someone who has the virus.” The clinical features of dengue fever vary according to the age of the patient. The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) says dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain be-

hind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue its other name. Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common. A rash usually appears three to four days after the start of the fever. The illness can last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month. Older children and adults are usually sicker than young children. Most dengue infections result in relatively mild illness, but some can progress to DHF. With DHF, the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding in the nose, mouth, and gums. Without prompt treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock. Most people equate DHF with influenza and similar flu-like diseases. “There is usually rash in dengue while there is none in flu,” explains Dr. Allan Schapira, an epidemiologist who was then with the WHO regional office when interviewed by this author. “Fever caused by dengue tends to last almost a week, while that of flu disappear after 3-5 days.” About five percent of DHF cases are fatal; without proper treatment, the rate rises up to 15 percent. Most who die are children, but adults are at real risk too. “Dengue is a big problem among children because it is a major cause of illness and deaths,” says Dr. Lulu Bravo, professor at the University of the Philippine College of Medicine. However, “the risk of dying is higher among older children and early adolescent (5-14 years old).” “You either have a milder dengue fever or a more serious DHF,” explains Dr. Eric Tayag, one of the country’s dengue experts. “Dengue fever does not develop

into DHF!” In the severe form of infection, cells release chemicals that trigger leakage of plasma from blood vessels. “When plasma leaks out, the circulating blood volume is slowly depleted,” says Dr. Tayag. “This is accompanied by abnormalities in the clotting mechanism that results in bleeding.” “Fluids accumulate within the body and affected organs like liver or brain, causing profound shock,” points out Dr. Bravo. “After a dengue patient has gone into shock,” adds Professor Zulkifli Ismail, a Malaysian pediatrician, “it’s usually a matter of time before multi-organ failure occurs and death becomes inevitable.” Death often results from bleeding in the brain, intestines or other organs. The best protection against dengue is not to be bitten by the mosquito carrying the virus. According to Dr. Willie T.Ong, there are several things you can about it. In his book, “How to Live Longer: Practical Health Tips from a Heart Doctor,” he enumerates the 10 basic steps:

Clean up your backyard. Mosquitoes love to stay in the dark and damp areas. So if your garage is littered with boxes and assorted garbage, clean them up or throw them away. Don’t let them become mosquito havens. Schedule a weekend clean-up day.

Empty containers with stagnant water. The dengue-carrying mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. This means that flow-

e r pots, garbage cans, aquariums, unused swimming pools, tires and other piles are potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. So after the rains fill them with water, throw the water away. Next time, keep these containers closed and upside down. Flower vase should also be replaced weekly.

Check your surroundings for stagnant water. Some ornamental plant leaves have this “whorl” or cup-like shape that can hold water. Beautiful to behold but deadly in design. Turn them over and throw the water away. Upturned coconut shells are also notorious for holding water. Non-moving rivers, especially in squatter areas, are full of mosquito eggs.

Close your doors and windows. Some people open their doors in the morning for a whiff of fresh air. They also believe that mosquitoes would leave the house and go into the sunlight. “But my advice is to keep your doors shut at all times,” he advices. If it’s too stuffy, then place a screen door that keeps the flies and mosquitoes outside.

Spray insecticide regularly. To rid your house of mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches, spray insecticides every few days. Make sure you spray those dark corners, crevices, and cabinets. You’ll be amazed at the number of pests you’ll find dead in the morning. Just make sure that household members are not exposed to the insecticide as they are not the target. Just spray selected rooms when people are not around.

Wear pants, pajamas, long sleeves, and socks. Mosqui-

toes are attracted to your breath as you exhale so they know how to reach you even in the dark. “I guess they love bare, plump skin, especially the kids who don’t shoo them away and let them suck as much blood as they want,” Dr. Ong believes.

Apply insect-repellants or use mosquito nets. If your kids are going hiking, camping or off to school, you can apply insect-repellants like Off-Lotion. Kids like to play outdoors and are prime targets of these mosquitoes. You can wipe it on selected areas of the clothing like collars, sleeves and pants. Avoid applying lotion on the eyes, mouth or hands.

Kill those mosquitoes. When it comes to dengue, it’s either kill or be killed. Instruct everyone to kill as many mosquitoes and flies as they can. Once you’ve got them trapped in your bathroom, show no mercy. Mosquitoes belong to the forest, not in your home.

Involve the whole community. The best way to defeat dengue is if the whole community is aware of the threat. Ask your community leaders to schedule a clean-up day. The danger is in those empty houses and lots, which are excellent breeding places for mosquitoes. Become a volunteer to monitor and clean up your surroundings.

Spread the word: Dengue fever is here. You’ll never know where dengue will strike next so better be prepared. Inform your neighborhood. To contain contagion, government must not be left alone to do it. “While government has an important role in dengue control,” says Tayag, “many still deny that it is really the families and communities which have the greater responsibility for dengue control.”

Bello, a former party-list congressman and professor of the State University of New York; Nicole Curato, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Center for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance in the University of Canberra (Australia); and Richard Heydarian, Political Science assistant professor of De La Salle University, in Manila. The event is jointly sponsored by Ateneo de Manila University City and the University of Washington (Seattle) Study Abroad Program. Weeks earlier, as a prelude to the interest generated by the Duterte presidency, the Ateneo Press also launched a book titled “Motherless Tongue: The Insurgency of Language Amid Wars of Translation,” which deciphers the languages and terms leaders use in talking with public audiences in delivering messages. Vicente L. Rafael, a Southeast Asian history professor at the University of Washington (Seattle) who wrote the book, notes: “With Duterte, we have the first president who insists on speaking in a non-Tagalog vernacular, even as he is always switching Tagalog and English. “In other words,” he explains, “Duterte is someone who speaks in tongues. When he opens his mouth, he’s translating, for himself and for his listeners, Bisaya and non-Bisaya speakers alike. To understand him, we—Bisaya and non-Bisaya speakers—have to translate, too.” More emphatically, Rafael says: “When Duterte speaks, he exposes the intractable plurality of the nation, and it is a linguistic plurality that has always resisted attempts by the colonial and republican states to organize into a linguistic hierarchy, adding his ‘improvised idiom’ as “characteristic of creole languages that resist being subsumed into a national language.” If this evolving interest in the ‘Duterte Phenomen’ is something that opens up a new whole universe of research in campuses, it also underscores the significance of a former city mayor slowly making his mark as a global player in the field of Diplomacy and Governance.

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 106 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 24 - 25, 2016

Super body to address poverty reduction in PH By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

adlopez0920@gmail.com

OVERTY reduction is one of the main concerns of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and efforts to alleviate the living conditions of Filipinos must be done through an inter-agency approach. This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo in a press conference at the Haran Compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in Davao City on Friday. She said the government is now working to shift the focus of social protection and poverty reduction that was once under the DSWD, to a super body. DSWD has been support-

ing more than a million poor families in the country under its conditional cash transfer (CCT) initiative, also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps. Taguiwalo said that 4Ps is looking to address three levels - survival, subsistence and self-reliance - in its efforts to uplift the lives of poor families across the country. “They are still on the subsistence level,” Taguiwalo said, referring to the status of the 1.5 million beneficiaries being catered by the 4Ps program under the DSWD. She said the DSWD will continue providing the needs of its beneficiaries, particularly for the education of their children under the 4Ps program, adding “We have the budget

their subsistence this year.” Taguiwalo also told the media that membership in the 4Ps will not yet be expanded despite the recommendation to include another 600,000 poor families in the program. “Hindi natin kakayanin yan,” the secretary said, adding the status of existing beneficiaries will still be restudied, and the other programs of government will be the ones to assist the needs of the recommended 600,000 new beneficiaries. The proposed super body, she added, is included in the Anti-Poverty Cluster created by President Rodrigo Duterte with Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco as its administrator. According to the secretary, the super body, once organized, will focus on complementing the programs of various national government line agencies such as the health initiatives of the Department of Health (DOH), the job creation efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the food sufficiency undertakings of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

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4 NEWS

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HERE TO STAY. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who announced the names of the city government’s department heads, says there’s no truth to rumors that she will resign as mayor. A day after, Duterte-Carpio reported to duty on Saturday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

Bayan Muna party-list solon to wear ‘peace’barong on Rody’s first SONA

AYAN Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate will wear a simple but meaningful barong Tagalog, the country’s national dress shirt, during President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 but with a twist. Made by Davaoeño designer Toto Bahala and hand-painted by social realism artist Eugene Horca, the hand-painted barong “depicts the people’s quest for just and lasting peace”, symbolized by a lumad family, the bird and the word “peace” in different Philippine regional dialects. In a statement, Rep Zarate said that under the new national leadership there evolves “A rare opportunity now is opened for achieving

more gains and victory for our suffering people through the resumption of peace process.” “We particularly laud the determination, goodwill and good faith of the administration of Pangulong Digong (PaDi) Duterte and his peace panel,” headed, saying “the leadership of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and their peace negotiators for jump-starting the long-stalled stalks.” “The success of the peace process, though, requires the active participation of the Filipino people being the main stakeholder, especially now that its (national government) focus is on crafting an agreement on the socio-economic reforms, a key to a possible

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Resumption of GPH-NDF talks to address conflict between Lumad, military

HE resumption of peace talks between government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) will help address the conflict between Mindanao’s Lumads and the military, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said. In a press conference Friday in Haran Evacuation Center here, Taguiwalo said sending soldiers to secure the communities will not solve the insurgency as the Lumads are wary about their presence. “President (Rodrigo) Duterte said during the debates that the insurgency has historical and systemic roots, which could not be solved militarily. I think the resumption

of the process is an important step to address the issue of the Lumad,” she said. She said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) must acknowledge that militarization has forced the Lumad to leave their homes and seek refuge in evacuation centers like Haran, which is run by the United Church of Christ of the Philippines. Some 300 Lumad from Kapalong and Talaingod towns in Davao del Norte and Bukidnon have been staying in Haran for over a year. They have subsisted on support from other groups, while makeshift classrooms had been put up for their children.

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Mayor Sara ends leave, names new dept heads By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

adlopez0920@gmail.com

AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ended her leave from office and reported for duty on Friday, putting an end to rumors she is resigning from her post. “There’s no truth to it,” Mayor Sara told reporters during an interview, saying all the talks of her supposed resignation were false and purely speculative. “I just ignored and enjoyed the comments of both haters and supporters,” the mayor said, referring to the

comments posted on her social media accounts. Upon her resumption to office as the duly elected mayor of Davao City, Mayor Sara promptly filed a leave of absence and designated her brother, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, as acting mayor. Last Tuesday, July 19, Vice Mayor Duterte also went on leave and appointed Councilor Bernard Al-ag as the acting city mayor. “I have personal things to do for my other obligations and I don’t want to do it while

I’m in office,” Mayor Duterte-Carpio explained, noting these were obligations she had to attend to long before she decided to run again for mayor of Davao City. She began her duty as mayor on Saturday and told reporters that as the city’s chief executive, her constituents expect her to serve them 24 hours a week. The mayor also announced the names of those she will be working with under the new city administration.

She said Ivan Cortez will head the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), while Generose Tecson, a former supervising staff officer of Rep. Antonio ‘Tonyboy’ Floirendo of the second district of Davao del Norte, will lead the City Tourism Office. On the other hand, the new city press secretary is Jefrey Tupas, a former correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Mayor Duterte-Carpio has yet to identify her city administrator.

with residents of small island communities in the area that were adversely affected bythe mining firm’s operations while the HMC has been operating in the island since the 1990s but was suspended in 2002 by then DENR Sec. Heherson Alvarez due to complaints filed by the Diocese of Borongan on the negative impact of the company’s mining operations on the community. “We’ve visited the area in solidarity with our community partners impacted by mining operation,” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the PMPI bishop-convenor, said. DENR has recently conducted an audit on the mining

firm’s operations and the initial reports have shown that “400,000 metric tons of nickel ore has been sent to China in eights shipments, which has disturbed the island’s ecology.” “Sad to say”, Bishop Pabilla said, “the stockpiles we saw that could help rehabilitate the gaping pit in the middle of the island have already been shipped to China,” referring to the ore transport permit (OTP) recently released by Mines and Geosciences (MGB) in Region 8 last May, indicating that 35,000 metric tons of mineral were sold to a China-based company. The bishop, however, was elated the environmental sec-

retary shared the sentiments of the people’s organizations (POs) that have been critical of HMC’s operations over the years. “[This] is one of our responsibilities: to protect communities from degradation brought by mining operations, and capacitate them to care for the environment, our common home, as Pope Francis encourages us to do,” the bishop added. For her part, Becky Destajo, a community council member and a leader of the Protect Manicani Island said they are very pleased with the recent decision of DENR over HMC’s

DENR orders another mining firm shut down

“W

E’VE had the same sentiments: Put it back in the

hole.” The Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI), a network of environmental groups, rights movement, faith-based institutions, and people’s organizations, in a statement, said that it was jubilant over the recent pronouncement of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez to finally put a stop to the mining operations of Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) in Manicani, an island off the coast of Guiuan town, Eastern Samar. PMPI) has been working

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EDGEDAVAO

Integrated approach needed to aid youth in illegal drugs

HE Duterte Administration’s intensified campaign against the illegal drug trade will not only focus on going after drug lords and their protectors and peddlers, but will also attend to the welfare of those who have lately surrendered to authorities and pledged to turn a new leaf. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary July Taguiwalo said President Rodrigo Duterte has already formed a task force that will look into the rehabilitation schemes for the thousands of individuals who surrendered across the country. Taguiwalo said the task force will include the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and the DSWD. “We are already discussing the plans on rehabilitation.

Our rehabilitation centers are under the DOH,” Taguiwalo told reporters in a press briefing in Davao City on Friday, July 22, adding the main concern of the DSWD are the minors. The secretary added her agency is also looking for ways in providing community-based rehabilitation programs for the surrendered drug dependents. In the same conference, DSWD Undersecretary Mae Fe Templa said the DSWD is planning to integrate in the rehabilitation efforts a community-based bio-psycho social health program to help illegal drug dependents, especially the young people, in their recovery. “We are already participating in inter-agency meetings to discuss how to deal with people who surrendered and we would like to introduce the community base bio-psycho

ANTI-POVERTY SUPERBODY. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Judy Taguiwalo answers queries from reporters during a news conference at Haran in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte: ‘I’ll have to invade a Rural hospital in Davao now country to catch a drug lord’ using digital tech from Europe A

N improved range of medical services will be made available in a rural hospital here after the deployment of a digital health platform by a Luxembourg-based satellite operator. After three years in the making, Satmed, a range of health tools that medical professionals in remote areas can use to deliver services, was launched on Friday to augment the existing services at the hospital of German Doctors in Buda, Marilog District. This technology, the first of its kind in the country and in Southeast Asia, is created by satellite operator SES, in partnership with the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. “Satmed will allow German Doctors to enhance health care provision and deliver accessible e-health services to remote communities in Mindanao,” said Glen Tindall, SES vice president for sales in Asia-Pacific. Tindall told reporters on Friday that Satmed can improve public health in remote areas by enabling multiple medical appli-

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cations and tools integrated on a single platform over satellite broadband services. “This solution was developed by SES Techcom Services, a subsidiary of SES, and is funded by the Luxebourg Government,” he said. The Satmed in Buda will enable German Doctors to provide better quality health care services when they visit remote villages. The Satmed set of tools allows medical personnel on the ground to to use tablet computers to collect patient data, which can then be sync into its cloud platform. Its communication features will also allow doctors from the US or Europe to be updated with large groups of patients in remote areas. “This enables German Doctors to communicate with doctors and medical experts around the world via video conferencing,” Tindall said. “This also opens opportunities of training and other learning solutions.” (Jesse Pizarro Boga/MindaNews)

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

RESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte said that he needs to invade a country first in order to catch the big fish who are involved in the illegal drug trade. “I have to invade a country to arrest a drug lord. I will not name the country, but you already know it,” the president said after inspecting the Buluan 5 megawatt biomass power plant project in Maguindanao province. The chief executive said

there are only small-time traders in the Philippines because the big ones are operating outside the country, explaining that what authorities are going after are the drug runners so that the “big fish” will have no choice but to halt their operations in the country. “I can’t arrest the big fish here, because they are not here. They are in another country, That is why the police are arresting the[drug] runners. If they will stop their operations

here then the drug lords can no longer operate,” he said. Duterte, however, hinted that he was referring to China when he said that thedrug laboratories are owned by Chinese citizens. Last week, the Philippine National Police raided a floating laboratory owned by a Chinese citizen. Meanwhile, the president has also disclosed that there is no doubt that the crime volume in the country will be

significantly reduced because the criminals are already being contained. He explained that most of the crimes being committed in the country can be connected to the illicit drug trade, as most of the suspected criminals are involved in the distribution of the illegal substances. He also threatened to kill all those people who will try to ruin his country. The president said that he

their camp in Awang, Maguindanao on Friday, July 22. “Under my watch we are okey. Nasa tama tayong lugar. I will take care of you and I will protect you,” Duterte said. He also told the soldiers

of his plan to support their needs, especially in upgrading the medical facilities intended for the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “I am selling the Ang Pan-

gulo yacht and the proceeds will be used to upgrade the hospital for the Armed Forces, particularly the V. Luna Hospital,” Duterte said, adding the plan will involve the upgrading

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Duterte to soldiers:“I will take care of you!” “I By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

WILL take care of you. I will protect you.” This was the message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the soldiers of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army during his visit to

Youth group ask SC to end ‘unjust curfew policies’

EARTHQUAKE-TSUNAMI DRILL. Elementary students from San Juan National High School participate in the city wide full scale earthquake and tsunami drill in Leon Garcia, Agdao on Friday. The drill was initiated by the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. Lean Daval Jr.

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NEWLY-ESTABLISHED political organization of students filed a formal petition before the Supreme Court seeking to end the vague, unjust and repressive municipal curfews directed at the nation’s youth. Samahanng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), together with their legal counsel, Atty. Jesus Falcis III, asked the high court to issue a certiorari and prohibition of the implementation of the ordinances of the local government units of Manila, Quezon City, and Navotas on the basis of its unconstitutionality. Among the issues raised in the petition are as follows: The Manila curfew ordinances are ultra vires for being contrary to Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act; are unconstitutional under the doctrine of void for vagueness that results

in arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement; are illegal because it suffers from overbreadth by proscribing or impairing legitimate activities of minors during curfew hours; are unlawful because it deprives minors of the right to liberty and the right to travel without substantive due process; and are unconstitutional because it deprives parents of natural and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth without substantive due process. “We are filing for and on behalf of the all young citizens who also have the right to be contributing members of society without being threatened by undue punishment and possible instances of overreaching from authorities like the police,” said SPARK spokesperson Joanne Lim. “We are also crying foul

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EDGEDAVAO

6 ECONOMY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 106 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 24 - 25, 2016

Pres. Duterte to DA: Release P300 M funds for palm oil dev’t

CORN MAN. A trader sorts out corn according to their size before selling them to corn peddlers in Bankerohan, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol yesterday to release “right away” P300 million to be utilized for the development of the oil palm industry in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. “My promise is now good as done because Sec. Piñol said [the money can be released] anytime,” President Duterte said in his less-than-an-hour speech last Friday at the inspection of the country’s first commercial biomass power plant in Buluan, Maguindanao. The 71-year old president said the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat need the assistance most because of the high poverty incidence rate in the area. Duterte said he was envious for the people who have not been able to seize the opportunity presented by the

multi-billion global oil palm industry mainly due to the prevailing insurgency problem in the region. “I was willing to invest [for the development of the industry],” Duterte said, as he recalled an experience when he was still mayor of Davao City. Years ago, Duterte asked former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol to conduct soil testing in Davao’s Paquibato District. Based on the results of the test, the area was highly suitable site for palm oil plantations. However, the plan didn’t push through because of the objections from the New People’s Army (NPA), a rebel group operating in the city\s upland areas. “May objection na sa tingin ko di tama. It could make difference but it’s hard

PERA, otherwise known as Republic Act (RA) 9505, is the law that provides legal and regulatory framework for retirement plans of persons who will invest through voluntary personal savings and investments. The RMO said that “with the engines all set out for the proper implementation of the provisions of the PERA Act of 2008, many employers are expected to take this opportunity to become an agent in furthering the objective of the State to promote capital market development and savings mobilization.” Interested PERA Administrators may apply for accreditation at the BIR’s PERA Processing Office. They will be assessed based on qualification certificate to be issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Insurance Commission (IC). The BIR said PERA contributions shall not exceed Php 100,000 per calendar year per person for those based in the Philippines and Php 200,000 for Filipino workers overseas. (PNA)

“Through an ordinance issued by the local government of Naawan to adopt PES, households were required to pay certain fees for every cubic meter of water that they consume. As a result, the local government was able to raise a sizeable fund that was utilized for the municipality’s reforestation program,” Lopoz explained. The PES mechanism is also seen to enhance the protection of ecosystems that provide en-

Always be prepared financially BIR issues PERA guidelines health care provider advises T port from relatives or resort to taking out loans. Richard Lim, president of Sun Life Grepa, said in a statement that Sun GrepaProHealth “is a health insurance that provides cash benefits to help manage the cost of treatment and recovery for critical illnesses.” Lim said Sun GrepaProHealth provides cash benefits in case the insured is diagnosed with any of the eight minor critical illnesses, and Angioplasty or five major critical conditions covered in the plan, including the top three causes of death in the Philippines, namely heart attack, stroke, and cancer. Based on a survey conducted by Ipsos HK from September to October 2014, an acute heart attack will cost P978,650; a stroke, P1.8M; and

lung cancer (stage 4), P1.8M. Moreover, there are other cost concerns associated with the patient’s post-recovery, such as additional maintenance or preventive care and medication. “With the high costs of treating critical conditions, the only thing worse than getting sick is getting sick without money,” Lim added. A one-million-peso insurance coverage under Sun GrepaProHealth will only cost about P10,000 a year or P833.33 a month. Aside from being affordable, Lim said applying for the plan is also very easy because clients will no longer have to undergo any medical exam. They simply have to answer a few health questions. “Sun GrepaProHealth

helps provide the safety net that would help in making your savings remain intact despite a serious illness. It also provides life insurance coverage to ensure your loved ones are protected no matter what happens,” Lim said, adding, “In this way we empower people to live brighter lives.” Lim said policyholders can focus on getting quality medical care without causing financial burden to their loved ones. Sun Life Grepa is a joint venture between the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) and Sun Life Financial-Philippines (Sun Life). YGC is one of Southeast Asia’s largest conglomerates with over 90 companies, while Sun Life has been a top player in the Philippine market for over 120 years.

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) finally issued on Thursday the guidelines and procedures on the implementation of the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA). According to Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 422016, the five percent tax credit for PERA investors “shall be allowed to be credited only against their income tax liabilities.” For Overseas Filipino PERA contributors, the tax credit can only be claimed if they have taxable income in the Philippines but excludes withholding tax liabilities as a withholding agent. ”However, Overseas Filipino Contributors without taxable income in the Philippines shall also be entitled to a five percent tax credit but will eventually be forfeited in favor of the government,” it said. The RMO pointed out that “tax credits arising from PERA contributions can be used as payment for delinquent accounts but in no case be refundable or convertible into cash or transferable to any other party.”

culture secretary that SEARCA’s research on rice smuggling could be tapped by the Department of Agriculture to solve smuggling problems that have subjected Filipino farmers to poverty. SEARCA recently hosted Pinol’s farmers’consultation at its University of the Philippines Los Banos headquarters. The consultation aimed to present winning technologies that will lure rice farmers to better techniques, particularly hybrid rice, that will uplift them from poverty. Model farmers harvested up to 14 metric tons (MT) per hectare of palay (paddy rice), virtually liberating them from long-time poverty. The highest harvester was Edgardo Marcelo of Guimba, Nueva Ecija who reaped the 14 MT per hectare. He consistently got high yield from hybrid rice SL-8H during the dry season since 2010. From 212 MT per hectare in 2010, his yield consistently increased to 218 MT, 2011; 224 MT, 2012; 232 MT, 2013; 256 MT, 2014; 292 MT, 2015; and 308 MT, 2016.

N incentive-based environmental program in Mindanao was featured as having one of the best practices for reducing emissions at a recently concluded international forum in Hanoi, Vietnam. At the ASIA LEDS Forum 2016, a premier gathering of policymakers, donors, practitioners, and other experts involved in promoting Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) and climate-resilient development in Asia, the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Mindanao was featured as a mechanism designed to maintain environmental integrity in the island-region. Speaking at the international forum, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) introduced PES as one of the government initiatives being implemented to allow Mindanao’s environment keep up with the region’s rapidly growing economy. “As the island-region pursues inclusive socioeconomic growth and development, we believe that it must also sensibly manage its environment and natural resources to sustain them into the future,” said Antonino while adding “we are currently working on the adoption

of the PES among our local government units.” In the implementation of PES, farmers or landowners who have agreed to manage natural resources such as forests, watersheds, rivers, and streams are given incentive payments for rendering ecological services such as replanting of trees and ensuring the survival of the trees planted. The Mindanao PES initiative will form part of the activities under the LEDS Mindanao program,

which MinDA will undertake in partnership with the Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability Project of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) – Philippines. In one of the forum’s deepdive sessions, MinDA’s executive director, Undersecretary Janet Lopoz highlighted the gains of the PES program, particularly in the municipality of Naawan in the province of Misamis Oriental.

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

HILE most Filipinos are trying to adopt healthier lifestyles, it is inevitable that they could suffer from life-threatening illnesses later on in life. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared - financially. In an effort to protect Filipinos from the financial burden brought by high-cost of medical treatment, Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. (Sun Life Grepa) has launched its Sun GrepaProHealth, a convenient and highly affordable health protection plan. This was done after a study conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS), which revealed that only two out of 10 Filipino households are well prepared in case of health emergencies, and those unprepared depend on financial sup-

F PRES. DUTERTE, 10

Int’l think tank offers to link Phils International forum features Mindanao envi payback scheme to vast South East Asian network A

SOUTH East Asian (SEA) think tank has offered to link the government to its vast SEA network even as it hosted Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol’s consultation with farmers on superior rice technologies that made a difference in rural Filipinos’ lives. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has offered Sec. Pinol its technical expertise in agricultural development research. SEARCA’s specialization in agricultural research can play a pivotal role in Philippines’ agricultural programs especially as it enters into the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) era. “We have noted that President Duterte‘s 8-point agenda places strong emphasis on agricultural development. Over many years, we have been providing technical assistance to national government agencies to promote agricultural and rural development,” said SEARCA Executive Dir. Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. in an offer of service to Pinol. Saguiguit informed the agri-

Participants in the Asia LEDS Forum 2016 in Hanoi, Vietnam gather for a souvenir photo. Philippine participants in the forum include Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Un-

F INTERNATIONAL, 13

dersecretary Janet Lopoz, MinDA executive director, Raymond Tejano, MinDA technical officer, and representatives from the US Agency for International – Philippines. (ASIA LEDS Forum photo)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 106 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 24 - 25, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 7

Rody inspects Buluan biomass power plant By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte led the inspection yesterday of the country’s first commercial biomass power plant in Buluan, Maguindanao, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. In his less than 30-minute speech, Duterte lauded the construction of the power plant, which has an installed capacity of 3.5 megawatts (MW), as the facility can become a major catalyst of growth and employment in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). As source of renewable power, the power plant will be fueled by biowaste sourced from the operation of the Buluan Palm Oil Mill of the Agumil Philippines Inc. (AGPI), an affiliate firm of Green Earth EnerSource Corporation (GEESC), which is behind the power project. “We’re targeting to start the testing and commissioning (of the plant) by early September this year,” GEESC BOD chairman Lim Chan Lok said, adding the construction of the power plant started last year as part of AGPI’s waste management plan. Lim said the plant’s biomass steam boiler is designed to burn biomass feedstock like woodchips and rice hulls and by-products of palm oil processing like palm fruit fiber, nut

shell, and empty fruit bunches from the operation of the mill, which has a capacity to process 45 metric tons of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per hour. Installed within the vicinity of the mill plant, the plant will provide for the power requirements of the mill plant, while the excess will be delivered to the power grid through the power lines of the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative. Lim said the agro-mill will be using 0.9MW power generated by the power plant for the milling operation, while the remaining 2.6MW power surplus will be sold under the Feed In Tariff (FIT) under Republic Act 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, for the use of consumers at a competitive price. “We will be able to improve the power situation within the vicinity of our project through this power project,” he said. Not only will the power plant stabilize power supply in the area, it will also provide the additional livelihood to surrounding communities since GEESC will outsource some of its biomass fuel from nearby areas Lim said the project will allow the AGPI to manage its waste properly. The Chinese investor also expressed his intentions of venturing into other businesses within the ARMM region.

HIGH-TECH E-HEALTH SYSTEM. SES Asia-Pacific vice president for sales Glen Tindall (right) gives an overview of the satellite-based e-health platform SATMED which launched its first deployment in the country at the NGO German

Doctors’ hospital in Buda, Marilog District Davao City. Tindall was joined by German Doctors managing director Dietmar Schug in a news briefing with members of local media on Friday at Seda Abreeza Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

RDC 11 commits full support to DSWD’s Listahanan 2

RO XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim expressed the Regional Development Council XI’s commitment to a continuous partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development on the data sharing of the Listahanan 2 initiative in Davao Region. As Acting RDC XI Chair,

Director Lim delivered a message at the Launching of the 2015 Region XI Listahanan Database where she cited the Listahanan’s vital role in bringing about positive change in the lives of poor Filipinos. “It may not be possible to fully quantify the benefits of Listahanan right now,” said

Director Lim, “as the real reckoning is yet to be seen in the future generations, the children of beneficiaries who now have access to quality education and health services for a brighter future -- thus breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty.” In the implementation of the first set of Listahanan

in 2011, the RDC XI collaborated with DSWD through a Memorandum of Agreement, whereby DSWD downloaded Region XI poverty data to the Council for sharing to requesting members. This had facilitated data-sharing as LGUs and RDC XI member agencies no longer

F RDC 11, 10

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EDITORIAL

Understanding the illegal drugs trade

T’S easy to say catch the “big fish” and not the small fries. Of course we know that by “big fish” the term means the drug lords not the small-time pushers and users. So when more than 500 suspected illegal drugs personalities have been reported killed since May 10 (day after the elections won by President Duterte) this year, some critics are saying the authorities are only good with the small fries but not the big fish. Easy to say, isn’t it? If you go to the movies and by chance watched some of those with plots on illegal drugs trade, you would get the idea that illegal drugs involve different activities—for example, there is the production side, the distribution side and there is the consumption side. The production is controlled by big-time traders who commission small and poor countries to do the production. The distribution is another aspect manned by those with MBAs and doctorate degrees in economics and not just ordinary gangsters. The consumption side are the target markets, both rich and poor countries. Imagine this, according to a report, the world market for illegal drugs—some $150 billion retail, involving some 200 million users—is the world’s largest illicit market. Some believe it may be even larger, up to $400 billion all included. It is a huge market even in relative terms: about half the size of the pharmaceuticals market, and close to the tobacco and alcohol markets of $200 billion or so each. Of the $150 billion total, the United States and Europe account for $60 billion each—the two largest markets by far. A report revealed that “like many other businesses, the illegal drug business has begun to reshape itself along the tenets of the new world economy, running more efficiently than ever—particularly when it comes to distribution.” In the book written by Jean-Francois Rischard, he said that the illegal drug trade

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inflicts damage at several levels: “In poor countries that produce the drugs, the revenues often fuel internal conflicts and massive corruption in police, army, and government circles—the sort that can wreck a country’s entire potential for development and poverty reduction. Some of these revenues can end up in the war chests of international terrorist groups, or even finance an entire rogue state. Worldwide, some $80–100 billion ends up channeled in such unsavory directions. Some of Afghanistan’s revenues from the drug trade may have benefited the Al-Qaeda network.” In consuming countries like the Philippines, Rischard said “the bigger damage is from the criminal activity around the drug trade—from the shoplifting, burglaries, and prostitution that so-called chaotic users resort to, and from the vicious circle of marginalization of the generally poor communities that end up suffering most from the trade. About 30 percent of crimes leading to arrests in the United Kingdom had as their motive the need to find money for crack or cocaine. In the United States, drug use is 50 percent more common in households on welfare. Almost all drug-related arrests in the United States are from the bottom of the drug-dealing pyramid, and three-fourths of those arrested are from non-white, impoverished communities—all part of the process that puts more young black men in the United States in prison than in college.” The illegal drugs trade, as President Duterte would admit, is not as easy as one thinks. It is not as easy as having big fishes and small fries. Duterte himself said the big fishes are not found here. They are outside in another country where the production side or the distribution side is controlled. So if you are asking for a drug lord in the country, sorry but you are searching at the wrong place. All we have here are facilitators, not drug lords. It is not an easy war, but at the least, we have a leader who understands deeply this war.

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Pre-war American firms in town

MERICAN businessmen started investing in the old town of Davao within the first decade of US rule in the archipelago. One of those investments was MacLeod and Company, a Chicago-based exporter-importer, insurance broker, and steamship agent. It was the local distributor of McCormick Deering tractors and Westinghouse lighting systems, and was also one of the early firms to lease an edifice in the town proper. In a Supreme Court decision dated Dec. 12, 1911, under case G.R. No. L-6592, MacLeod leased a two-story building owned by Don Cenon Rasay for P150 per month for five years, starting on Jan. 1, 1908. As advance payment, the company paid cash and merchandise amounting to P4,000 “in order to enable him to complete the building, and the four thousand pesos were to draw interest at the rate of eight percent per annum from date from its receipt.” Under the contract, dated July 13, 1907, Rasay issued two promissory notes, one amounting to P500, to be paid on or before April 30, 1908, and the other valued at P3,500, to be deducted from the monthly installments agreed in the lease agreement. But just as the building was nearing completion in March 1908, Rasay sold the building at a judicial sale to Don Simeon Marfori, prompting the American corporation to file a claim for reimbursement, including interest, from the original owner and, by extension, from the new possessor. In its en banc session, the high tribunal, in a verdict penned by Justice Sherman Moreland, affirmed the decision handed earlier by the lower court, where the

“I

VANTAGE POINTS

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do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.” (G. K. Chesterton) ******* Is there a national transformation – attitude and all - going on? I would like to believe so. We are a country so diverse in many aspects – culture, ethnic origin, religious tenets and beliefs, language, even psycho-social mindset and behaviour. Everything that we do in life involves taking a risk. Those who take bold steps risk failure. But even if you don’t do anything at all, you also risk failure. Judging from the Filipinos’ mixed yet positive reaction to the on-going anti-illegal drugs campaign nationwide, I am emboldened to inject such personal sentiment. But before I dwell on this subject, may I just scribe some lines about a person that world history has almost already forgotten. I am referring to Mikhail Gorbachev, the former president of the then USSR, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He turned 85 years old last March, semi-retired but who echoes the Russian peoples’ desire and need to live a democratic way of life.

case was first FAST BACKWARD lodged. Aside from MacLeod there were also other American firms that made their mark in Davao. Roosevelt Antonio V. Figueroa Steamship Agency, Inc., founded and owned by Kermit Roosevelt, son of the late US Theodore president and vice-president of Kerr Steamship Company, opened its Philippine branch in 1924. It opened a monthly service from New York to Davao direct via Suez Canal using its ships Silvercedar, Silverfir, S.S. Wales Maru and S.S. Norfolk Maru. In Davao, the steamship firm was represented by H.H. Boyle & Company, Inc., an import-export firm, which held office in Davao and had postal and cable addresses registered as P.O. Box 173 and LEYBO-DAVAO, respectively. San Francisco-based Heacock & Freer, launched in Manila in 1900, is credited for introducing in Davao world-class jewelry items produced from diamond, gold and silver, ranging from Elgin watches, Simmons chains, Krementz collar and cuff buttons, hollowware and flatware, American clocks and cut glass. New York-based Hanson & Orth, a buyer and exporters of Manila hemp and other Philippine fibers and copra, also opened a branch in Davao. Its main office was housed at 310

Masonic Temple, in Manila. After the war, the firm was renamed Hanson, Orth and Stevenson, Inc. Incorporated in New York in 1903, the Columbian Rope Company opened its Philippine branch in the 1920’s in Davao prior to making Manila its next stop. A wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, it operated as a primary supplier of abaca fiber to its mother office and, limitedly, sold abaca fiber to other buyers. Rambler Shoe Company of New York, on the other hand, was a source of high-end shoes, distributing the items through its Davao branch. The list of American and foreign firms in Davao in 1930’s also included, International Harvester, Luzon Stevedoring Company, Shell Petroleum, Standard Oil Company, Standard Vacuum Oil Company, Saleeby Fiber, Ker and Company, Singer Sewing Machine, and Manila Rope. Originally founded as Patrick Henry Frank, Relatives & Associates on Sept. 24, 1929, Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) was registered only on Oct. 1, 1929 with the primary objective of serving the central section of Davao. It had six American incorporators, three each from Manila and Davao. Each share cost P1.00 or a total of 831, which was worth P83,100 in subscription, or the equivalent of P20,000 in paid-up capital. That same year the power firm was registered alongside Mindanao Sales and Services, one of two flagship firms of Frank. A former New Orleans army private, Frank was originally scheduled to fight in the Spanish-American War in Cuba but at the last minute was ordered shipped to the Philippines; he arrived in the

country in 1898. The idea to establish an electric company was not Frank’s alone. With the help of relatives and confreres, he broached the plan to energize Davao, already home to numerous thriving foreign entrepreneurs. The presence of Japanese investments also posed as an attractive prospect for the power business. World War II, though, rendered DLPC’s power plants heavily damaged; heavy bombardment destroyed the machinery. As a result, the city was plunged into darkness, and the future of the company recovering from the devastation was bleak. Frank was also apprehensive that under an independent Philippines, DLPC would be subject to government regulation and its ownership, being under the Americans, becoming a focus of naturalization under the amendments of Tydings-McDuffie Act. In consultation with his sons and at the urgings of Don Francisco “Paco” Suche, a Spanish engineer who knew Don Ramon Aboitiz, the Spanish ilustrado, Frank sold both the Cotabato Light and Power Company and the Jolo Light and Power Company, which he also owned. On Aug. 23, 1941, Aboitiz and Suche met with Frank to discuss the sale of the Davao power firm. Aboitiz and Frank concluded the sale of DLPC in November 1941 and agreed to sign the deal on Jan. 1, 1942. But this did not happen because World War II intervened when it broke out on Dec. 8, 1941 and sucked the Philippines into the conflict. It was only after the conflict that the deal was finalized based on a gentleman’s agreement.

G o r SPECKS OF LIFE bachev was USSR’s head of state during the Cold War years against the United States and its Western allies and Fred C. Lumba the man responsible for ending that climate of fear worldwide. Today, Gorbachev is being blamed for the USSR’s disintegration, 25 years after its collapse. He is a critic of the present regime under Pres. Vladimir Putin whose government media network reviles him. Gorbachev has been recognized for leading the work towards free speech, free enterprise and open borders. An editor of an independent newspaper Dmitri Muratov says of Gorbachev in a published report: “Some love him for bringing freedom and others loathe him for bringing freedom.” Russians in general blame Gorbachev for shattering and losing the Soviet empire that

rendered them second-class citizens while others recognize his efforts in establishing a new democratic horizon for the next generation. In a recently published book “The New Russia,” Gorbachev criticized Putin for the latter’s “self-assuredness.” Gorbachev keeps harping that if “democracy is firmly rooted, if it is based on elections, if people have the chance to elect leaders at regular intervals…That is the basis for stability in foreign and domestic policy.” Well, as we continue to read about the directions Russia is taking these days under the Putin government, we get to analyse and appreciate just how valuable our democracy is in comparison even if its foundations seem to be shaky at times. In this vein, critics of the Duterte administration forget the abysmal situation the country is now mired, given the hard fact that more than 120,000 drug users, dependents and pushers residing even in remote villages and barangays and towns have voluntarily surrendered to authorities amidst the unwavering drive against the illegal drug menace that has engulfed the country. Don’t they see the wave of positive social

transformation sweeping across the broad section of Philippine society, a willingness to turn a new leaf? Don’t they perceive an attitudinal change among the people who have endured the inadequacies of the previous government for the last six years? Unless it is pointed out comparatively, these critics tend to push aside manifestations of change in their daily life because of the cynical approach they themselves have been accustomed to heap on issues of national concern. We are still living in a democracy, lest we forget. Criticism is an integral part of freedom and democratic thinking. That is why there is great hope. The present government is indeed moving towards consolidating these remarkable gains achieved in less than a month to unify this nation polarized by political splits. Inclusive in its approaches, the present regime envisions a corrupt-free bureaucracy, a country rid of crimes and criminals and a progressive-thinking people that harbour no bias against ethnic origin, religion and belief. One people, one nation, one goal. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.). God bless the Philippines!

Transforming a nation

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Super body... FROM 3 Moreover, the body could also provide support to agrarian reform beneficiaries, and help strengthen the anti-poverty cluster that was created

under Secretary Jun Evasco. The cluster, she said, will also provide support for programs intended for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

political settlement of still ongoing armed rebellion in our country,” party-list lawmaker added. During the 2013 SONA, artist Horca also designed the politically-charged barong Tagalog of then neophyte congressman Zarate, which depicted the effects of destructive large-scale mining in Mindanao. Zarate’s first fashion statement also reflected” the con-

tinuing struggles of the Moro, lumads and majority settlers in Mindanao against largescale plunder and exploitation of the island’s remaining resources.” Known for their creativity, the militant members of Congress often use important legislative events in bringing the public sentiment on issues and advdocacies with far-ranging ramifications in the nation’s policies.

“Hopefully, the peace process, the resumption of the peace talks which the president has initiated will contribute to the kind of peace that our people need, not only for the Lumad in our communities but also for the Moro people, in Luzon and Visayas,” she added. Taguiwalo said the Lumads are only asking for an end to military operations in their communities, and to be recognized as owners of the ancestral land that must not be sold to companies like those engaged in mining. “That’s what they are ask-

ing, so we want to give what they want. We have to act on it, but it should made clear to the military,” she said. She said Duterte knows the concerns of the Lumads and reported to him “the kind of action we wish to do.” “It’s not for me to talk to the military about this. It is up to the president to organize the kind of dialogue with respective authorities. How fast is he going to answer that? When is he going to do that? We shall wait and see,” she added. (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)

operations. “We thank ma’am Gina very much. But the fight is not over yet for us. We will wait until suspension order has been served, and until their mining permit is cancelled,” she explained, adding that they are looking forward to the state’s decision to put a stop to all mining operations on the island. PMPI National Coordinator Yolanda Esguerra also expressed relief the DENR had finally conducted an audit on the mining company’s operations. “The stockpiles hauled from the island for export are hot items. They were only allowed 250,000 metric tons in their MPSA 9Mineral Production Sharing Agreement]. In several reports, however, and discussions [made] during multi-stakeholder meetings the stockpiled nickel ore in the area reached 1.2 million,” she said.

Esguerra saidthere are many legal and environmental issues surrounding the firm’s operation, and it is only proper that the DENR look into the matter. Last June 8, Manicani residents filed the Writ of Continuing Mandamus against the previous administration’s MGB and DENR officials, which earned the support of the Social Action Center of Borongan, PMPI-Central Visayas. Several organizations including Alyansa Tigil Mina and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice are also supporting the campaign against mining in the island. Lawyers Mario Maderazo and Aaron Pedrosa of SANLAKAS served as the PMPI’s counsel. The writ was filed due to the inaction of some concerned agencies on the continuing operations of HMC despite the suspension order issued by the DENR.

had to sign individual MOAs with DSWD Central Office to access the needed information. Director Lim assured DSWD that RDC XI shall sustain its support for the Listahanan 2 sharing process. The DSWD conducted a second round of household assessment for the Listahanan in 2015. The agency reported that out of 836,567 households assessed in Davao Region, about 34 percent or 280,325 households were identifed as “poor” in the following provinces: Compostela Valley (52,811); Davao

Oriental (52,542), Davao City (46,599); Davao Occidental (42,454); and Davao del Sur (41,230). The Listahanan 2 launching event was graced by DSWD Undersecretary Florita Villar, World Bank Senior Economist Pablo Acosta and Davao Region’s local chief executives, municipal planning officers, representatives of government agencies, civil society organizations and the media. The activity was capped by a manifestation of support by the Region’s stakeholders.

Bayan... FROM 4

Resumption... FROM 4

DENR... FROM 4

RDC 11... FROM 7

TRAVELLING GOATS. A livestock trader tugs on a herd of goats upon their arrival at the Sta. Ana Wharf. The goats came from the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) and were delivered to a public market in Agdao, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte... FROM 5

will be consistent on saying he will kill those who will destroy his country and the future of the nation’s children.

Just this week, around 10,000 drug suspects in Pampanga surrendered themselves to authorities.

to the facilities and equipment of the medical center. The plan to sell the presidential yacht was one of Duterte’s proposals when he was still campaigning during the May 2016 elections. But since there are still no takers on the sale of the presidential yacht, Duterte said he is now exploring other sources of funds to upgrade the medical facilities for the soldiers. “We are losing around P300 million a day in ports all over the Philippines. In BIR around 200 million and that is around 500 million,” the president said, explaining the monies collected will be enough to fund the rehabilitation of the medical facilities.

“I asked (Nicanor) Faeldon (the commissioner of the Bureau of Customs) na hanapan mo ng paraan para magamit sa mga sundalo natin,” Duterte said. Available funds will also be used to pay for doctors to be trained as specialists. “If these specialists are paid P300,000 a month, I will offer them P350,000 a month to join the medical services for the Armed Forces,” the president said. But if the presidential yacht cannot be sold, Duterte said he will convert it into a floating hospital which can provide medical assistance to the major camps of the Armed Forces.

ignore the livelihood of Filipinos,” the president said. The rebel group said the project will allegedly destroy water systems in Davao City. For his part, Piñol, who had been a long-time advocate of palm oil farming, encouraged farmers in the area to go back to oil palm planting to jumpstart the growth of the industry. Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia are among the largest palm oil producers in the world. Piñol identified the volatility in the price of palm oil as one of the major problems confronting the industry. “I have scheduled a meeting for palm oil operators from all over the country because I want to ask them on their low buying price and why there is smuggling of palm oil,” he said. Piñol noted that there is a P2 difference in the prevailing local buying price of local traders here which is between P3.60 to P4, and the buying price in Malaysian markets which ranged from P4.60 to P6. “P2 could be small but if you have a one ton, that’s already P20,000. That’s big for the farmers,” he pointed out. Piñol also encouraged

local government units to implement interventions such as loan programs for farmers. This will help farmers obtain the capital they will need to invest in oil palm farming. Meanwhile, Duterte said that representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development will visit the two provinces to survey and assess the poverty situation there. CHENEEN R. CAPON

Soldiers... FROM 5

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social health program that will be implemented in partnership with the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and People’s Organizations (POs)” she explained. Templa said the DSWD would be utilizing its resources as most of the rehabilitation centers nowadays are already devolved to the local governments. “With this particular development, we would like to invite the schools of social work and psychological societies to be involved in the comprehensive and community-based bio-psycho social program,” she added. Under the program, DSWD will endeavor to learn indige-

nous practices in communities that can help in developing approaches that can be used in the recovery and rehabilitation of illegal drug dependents, especially the minors. “Since this is community-based, the family is also included in the efforts of rehabilitating illegal drug dependents,” Templa added, saying the community-based program will be the main contribution of the DSWD in the effort to rehabilitate the surrenderees whose numbers have already reached in the thousands. Ancheta added the program will also be utilized for children who are also victims of other forms of abuse and violence. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

on the unjust detention of the youth’s parents if their children are apprehended during curfew hours,” she added. Lim was referring to Quezon City Ordinance No. 2301 of 2014 implementing a curfew on minors from 10pm to 5am. The said ordinance stipulated that “the parent or guardian of the curfew violator will be penalized for allowing the minor to go out during this period, either ‘knowingly or by insufficient control.’” As penalty, the ordinance decreed that “a minor found violating the curfew for the first time will be referred to the nearest barangay hall or police station. The parent or guardian

will be fined PHP2,000 or be required to render community service for 48 hours.” “As we have previously mentioned, these ordinances are implemented without due consideration of various important factors such as housing conditions of affected areas, hardships encountered in transportation, and the late shifts experienced by affected students,” she added. The petition recounts the experience of Clarissa Villegas, a minor who is a student of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, whose classes end at nine in the evening and travels daily from her school in Manila to her home at Quezon City for almost two hours.

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By Leebai Sinsuat Ambolodto Photos courtesy of Jeffrey Wee OPENING THEIR STYLISH DOORS TO THE PUBLIC, the night was the epitome of perfection as guests and friends from the media gathered together for a night of endless laughter, music and great food served with that authentic Frog Kaffee signature. Gracing the weekend event last July 16 was Davao’s premier singer-songwriter Maan Chua, who serenaded everyone with a powerfull enigmatic performance which only Maan can deliver. Maan Chua, foremost Dabawenya artist, is a musician, independent singer, songwriter, percussionist and guitarist who explores the many depths of Mindanao with her performances. An all around artist, she transcends the norm in delivering powerful messages through her music. Welcoming everyone to their al-fresco space, Kaffee Lounge (2nd floor), guests enjoyed an elevated view with the wind on their cheeks, as Maan belted some original tunes. Aside from their aromatic coffee and mouthwatering cakes, Frog Kaffee introduced an array of new cocktails and a line of imported

beers for its patrons to enjoy. Now, you need not travel far to savour that taste you’ve been craving for. FROG Kaffee and Roastery, a pioneer 3rd wave coffee shop in Davao, offers high quality coffee perfect for an anytime coffee indulgence. The shop also has some of the best tasting cakes and dishes that pairs well with every cup of coffee. Coffee buffs will surely find a new pairing that will have them craving for more. Be it sweet or savory, you are sure of a gastronomic indulgence every single time. Maan’s performance is one of many live performances at the Kaffee Lounge. Follow them on their official social media accounts for their schedule. Fresh Roast Of Great (FROG) Kaffe and Roastery is located at Prime Square II (fronting Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant),F. Torres Street, Davao City.

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“THE FEELING IS SO SURREAL,” says Peter Ian C. Buaya, the choirmaster extraordinaire who headed the University of Mindanao (UM) Chorale that won the grand prize at the 9th Orientale Concentus International Choral Festival 2016 held at the School of Arts Singapore and Esplanade Concert Hall. Being one of the country’s delegates to the prestigious choral competition, he admits, is already a privilege. “We feel so blessed because we have worked hard for this and have sacrificed a lot,” he points out. Hard work paid off. “We didn’t expect (to win the grand prix) because other contenders are so good, too. On the actual competition, we haven’t had the chance to listen to other chorale groups.” Orientale Concentus, one of the world’s coveted prizes, was organized in 2008 with the aim of promoting culture and arts through choral music. Unlike other competitions, all contenders were not given a contest piece. “We were given the opportunity of choosing our piece which we believe would help us win the coveted prize,” Buaya says. About 29 choirs joined the choral competition. Among the countries represented were Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,

Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines among others. In the final rounds of the competition, the UM Chorale had to pit against the top choirs from Indonesia, Australia and Singapore. In the grand prix, the Philippine delegation sang two songs: ‘A nap fiverenek Imaja’ and ‘Gapas.’ The first one is the Hungarian translation of the prayer of St. Francis set to music by Bucz Magor. The second one is an Ilocano translation of the verse from the Holy Bible that is found in Mark 4:20; the song was arranged by Eudenice Palaruan. “We have selected these pieces because the two songs best represent us,” Buaya says. The UM Chorale joined in three categories: In Church Category, its entries were: ‘Pater Noster’ (Our father), ‘Libera Me’ (Deliver me), and ‘Exultate Deo.” In the Chamber Category, the choir sang ‘We beheld once again the stars,’ ‘Dieu! qui la fait bon regarder,’ and ‘Gapas.’ Only two songs

were hymned in the Folklore Category: ‘Koyu no tebulol’ (T’boli song) and ‘Pokpok alimpako’ (Muslim chant). It was the first time the Philippines won the competition. Past winners were from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and South Korea. According to Buaya, the competition is their very first -- in international arena. “The organizers sent the invitation which was addressed to the president of our university,” he says. The award-winning UM Chorale has 27 members. Singing sopranos are Juliet Bahala, Keith Irish Metillo, Karla Mae Angel Makiling, Maylona Librea, Lois Layne Ramos and Dawn Faye Dela Cruz. The altos are Elaine May Samson, Jacqueline

Praise Calba, Kisha Le Rivera, Lady Ann Ayon, Evegail Ybanez, Charmine Decena, April Jean Cabrera and Rima Magoncia. The group of tenor is composed of Jan Karlo Gotas, Daniel Arno Hiquiana, John Lester Tibay, Christian Dominique Garay, Hector Aguilar and Dale Vincent Soliva. And the basses are Timothy Paul Atencio, Orland Escobillo, John Ezekiel De Asis, Jeric Telen, Jonard Garilba, Mark Joven Gucor and Jaspher Rivera. There is no gain without pain, so goes a saying. Practice makes perfect, says another adage. And that was what the UM Chorale did. “We practice daily, we have a music room in the University of Mindanao,” Buaya says. During the practice, he

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An article written by Via Mia S. Valverde, which appeared in EDGE Davao last January, gave some background about him: “In high school, (Buaya) was part of a churchbased caroling group. It was his scholarship to UM, however, that truly honed his talents. It was his there that he sharpened his skills and sen-

sitivity to the beauty and rigors of music. “Scholarship may have been the primary objective, but this has deeply flourished Peter’s passion and hard work for music. He credits his mentor, Dr. Edgar Eleguen, for pushing him to higher levels, and eventually passing on the directorship of the UM Choir to him.”

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between me and the singers.” According to Buaya, he is a singer, too having started singing when he was still a child. But being a conductor is a different story. “Being a conductor is a tough job,” he admits. “You need to be very familiar with the songs that a choir will perform. A simple mistake by a conductor would really affect the singers even if the singers know their parts pretty well. I choose to be a conductor because honestly, I am not a good singer.” Actually, it was his father who influenced him to be musically-inclined being.

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says he wanted his singers to be serious. “I don’t like it when my singers are not attentive during rehearsals most especially if they would bring with them their music pieces,” he says. Oftentimes, Buaya always reminds his singers to vocalize. “Before we would start our rehearsals, I urged them to vocalize first and I let them stretch their body. Proper breathing technique and right vocalization is the key,” he discloses. Buaya allows his choir to give their piece of mind, too. “I consult the group if they can give the demands of a certain piece,” he says. “I also ask them if they like the song and if we can interpret it with emotions without faking anything. It has been always a collaboration effort

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Awards gathered health, wellness, and beauty brands at the SM Aura, Convention Center last May 27. The event highlighted the outstanding products that deserved to be recommended by the Watsons among its chain of stores nationwide. DMI Medical Supply has established good relation with Watsons over the years. The company is therefore honored to be trusted by the largest health and beauty care store in Asia. At present, MX3 leads the market in carrying

DMI MEDICAL SUPPLY CO. INC, MAKER AND DISTR IBU TOR OF THE ORIGINAL AND ALL-

NATURAL MX3, was once again recognized as the Food Supplement of the Year. Bringing forth the lead-

ing brand of nutritional supplement packed with the phytonutrient Xanthone extracted from the pericarp

of Garcinia mangostana, MX3 was named by Watsons as the top food supplement for 2016. The Watsons HWB

high amounts of potency and health benefits from Xanthone in its products that aim to help achieve optimum wellness and fitness among its users. The company strives to inspire Filipinos and foreign clients with the goodness of locallymade natural and organic products. All these were recognized by DMI as blessings from the Lord. As the company put forward its “Business with a Mission” goal, it is committed to serving the best interests of its loyal users.

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Search is on for LEAD Awards 2016 T

HE LEADavao Awards is considered as one of Davao City’s most prestigious awards for outstanding citizens. It seeks to recognize Dabawenyos who have made outstanding contributions to the development and growth of Davao City, thereby making it a better place to live in, and who have brought pride and honor to the city by excelling

in their business, profession, calling or trade. Specifically, the LEADavao Awards aims to recognize outstanding Dabawenyo leaders and achievers, 35 years old and above, who best exemplify the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Creed. These traits include faith in God, brotherhood among men, economic justice

through free enterprise, government of laws, human personality, and service to humanity. “Living the Legacy” is the chosen theme of this year’s LEADavao Awards. “Davao has already produced the country’s President. We hope that by identifying more outstanding Dabawenyo leaders, we can share their inspiring stories,” JCI Sen. Steve Laurence M.

Arquiza, this year’s Overall Search Chairman, said in a statement For his part, JCI Sen. Richard Tandoc said that, “The rigorous search process has created much prestige to the award, that in 2015, we were fortunate to work with a very able search committee and board of judges that have ultimately produced three distinguished and truly deserv-

ing LEAD honorees namely; Southern Philippines Medical Center Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega, Retired Superintendent Dionisio Abude and Dance Maestra Lourdes Carmen Locsin.” Any individual or organization can nominate Dabawenyo citizens for this year’s awards. Nomination forms are available at the Lead Davao Facebook Page

(@leadjcisenatedavao). Project Chairman Steve Arquiza may be contacted thru email stevearquiza@yahoo. com or thru mobile numbers (0917) 5488853 and (0917) 5486298. This annual institutionalized search project is organized by JCI Senate Davao, in partnership with the Davao Jaycee Senate Foundation. (JCI Davao)

NLINE Car Classified Carmudi formally announced its third scholarship program that aims to help third and fourth year undergraduate students who are academically outstanding but economically challenged. The Scholarship Program is a bi-annual search that provides scholarship grants for deserving students in the country. It is open to all incoming senior college students of the participating universities and colleges. Carmudi PH holds this program as one of their many ways to uphold the company’s continuing concern for the socio-economic development of the country. The scholarship program targets students from the fields of Economics, Business, Marketing, Communications, Media, IT, Engineering, and other relevant majors in the university. A financial aid worth of P30,000.00 per semester will be given to the grant sole recipient.

At present, Carmudi Philippines has already granted 2 scholarship program from University of the Philippines Visayas and Ilocus Sur Polytechnic University. Aljohn T. Torreta who is a son of a fisherman and a vendor was the first scholarship grantee who recently graduated as a Summa Cum Laude, while Kristine Ian De Guzman—a single mother—was chosen as the second scholarship recipient for her academic excellence. With the Philippine automotive industry growing at breakneck speed, Carmudi Philippines supports the Filipino consumer by empowering them with widest choices, best prices and authoritative reviews, all at their fingertips. The company serves as the guaranteed safest marketplace for car selling and buying. To know more about the scholarship program, visit www.carmudi.com.ph or go directly to www.carmudi. com.ph/scholarship.

Car Classified Carmudi opens Smart unboxes innovative services Online 2016-2017 Scholarship Program to empower digital Filipinos O

OLLOWING its rebrand last month, Smart, the country’s leader in mobile, has unboxed its latest slew of innovations that aims to change the way Filipinos connect, enrich their passions, and ultimately optimize their digital life. “Smart has built a legacy of bringing mobile innovations into the life of all Filipinos, and with the digital wave upon us, we have come up with innovative products and services to bring the real-life benefits of connectivity to as many Filipinos as possible,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan. “Our multi-pronged efforts range from bringing the smartphone to the hands of more digital newbies, to providing the most awesome content for young digital natives, to making sure that everyone will enjoy the best data experience. Our goal is to make sure no one gets left behind by this digital shift,” said Smart Wireless Consumer Operations Head Katrina Luna-Abelarde, who led the aptly titled Smart Unbox presentation at Shangri-la at the Fort.

Kick starting the digital life Championing digital inclusion, Smart introduced its bigger and better Smartphone Prepaid Kit at only P1,288, making it easier for Filipinos to connect to mobile Internet and get accustomed to using online apps and services. For those with multiple gadgets, sharing connections is also now lot easier with Smart Bro Pocket WiFi, available at only P888. Because speed and size matter in the online world, Smart also announced its Super Speed LTE SIMs as well as Giga Surf 50, its biggest data offer with 1GB data for surfing and apps, plus free 300MB for video streaming on YouTube and

iflix, valid for three days at only P50. As an innovative feature, this 1GB data can be shared with other prepaid subscribers through the Smart’s Pasadata service.

Putting customers first Keeping customers at the center of everything it does, Smart has teamed up with Twitter to further enhance its customer experience via @SMARTCares with live feedback and a faster response system. Smart is the first brand in the Philippines to use Twitter as its main Customer Service touchpoint for customer care needs and account inquiries in real-time. To help subscribers maximize their data experience, Smart is powering Marty the Smarty, everyone’s go-to guy for all kinds of questions and concerns about mobile data and the Internet, accessible via his website www.martythesmarty.com and official account on Twitter @martysmarty.

Creating rich digital and real-life experiences To create rich experiences for subscribers, Smart unveiled its “Own It” campaign, a platform that encourages everyone, especially the youth, to share their passions to the world,

Smart’s recent rebrand comes with substantial changes in Smart’s data network and products, says PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan at the Smart Unbox event.

ing content creators to fly to LA for a once-in- a-lifetime experience of collaborating with the biggest YouTube Stars. Along with MCA Music, Smart also kicks off Smart Music Live! on July 14 in a free-for-subscribers concert featuring Ely Buendia, Up Dharma Down and Nathan Sykes at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Smart Music Live will also feature perks and meet and greet events for upcoming concerts of hit artists like Selena Gomez’s on July 31; In the Mix featuring Third Eye Blind, Panic! At the Disco, James Bay, Elle King and Twin Pines on August18; and Shawn Mendes’ in October. Rounding off Smart’s major announcements is the Smart Life app, a breakthrough app featuring daily exclusive digital perks, videos, music, and games for mobile users. Currently on its initial phase, the app will roll out exciting new functionalities as well as host top-rated content from D5 Studio, feature sports coverage such as FIBA and the upcoming Olympics, and other compelling digital content created

for and by users for even more delightful experiences. Most extensive and datacapable network “At the center of all these new products and services is our effort to transform our

networks into the country’s most extensive and data capable infrastructure, so we are able to deliver faster, more reliable and more affordable Internet services across the country,” Pangilinan added.

Smart Wireless Consumer Operations Head Katrina Luna-Abelarde gives a rundown of the telco’s latest data products for digital Pinoys, such as GigaSurf 50, Smart’s biggest data offer with 1GB for open access plus FREE 300MB for streaming on YouTube, iflix and more, valid for 3 days at only P50. Smart also further enhanced its My Smart mobile app so prepaid and postpaid subscribers can manage their accounts 24/7 – anytime and anywhere. Downloadable on Google Play Store and iTunes, this simple and convenient app also allows subscribers to register and check the status of promos, load up their account and even redeem perks.

giving them a voice larger than themselves. Under this campaign, Smart has teamed up with YouTube for Smart Launchpad, a program to help budding content creators upload their own work and broadcast it to the world via Upload Stations all over the country. Smart will be tapping industry experts for workshops that will lead to a selection of the most deserv-

Head of Wireless Consumer Business for PLDT and Smart Ariel P. Fermin officially launches the Smart Life app, a breakthrough digital discovery platform that offers perks, mobile videos, music and games for all Smart subscribers. The app is now downloadable for free on Google Play Store.

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Wheelchairs for PWDs & Senior Citizens in Comval

PSC to inspect DavNor sports O complex for SEA Games A

TEAM from the Philippine Sports Commission will arrive on July 28 to check Davao del Norte’s capacity to cohost the Southeast Asian Games in 2019. “Karong 28 sa Hulyo, next week, moabot ang team gikan sa Philippine Sports Commission aron sugdan ang pag-inspeksyon sa atong sports facilities agig pagpangandam sa 2019 SEA games,” said Giovanni I. Gulanes, Assistant Provincial Administrator and Provincial Sports Coordinator, during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo media forum on Thursday. The official revealed the bid for “joint sponsorship” of Davao City and Davao del Norte to host the international sporting event, since the province has a state-ofthe-art sports complex. In his meeting with members of the Davao Region Multi-Media Group (DRMMG), Governor Anthony del Rosario assured the readiness of the province to host the SEA Games. “We are definitely ready,” he assured the members of the media. It can be recalled that the province successfully hosted the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, which was mainly staged at the spanking Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DNSTC).

READY AND EQUIPPED. Provincial Sports Coordinator and Assistant Provincial Administrator Giovanni Gulanes gives the assurance that Davao del Norte is capable of hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Officials, athletes and spectators tagged the national games in the province as the “Best Palaro Ever” for its superb organizing of all the events and programs for the duration of the games. DNSTC also played host to other big ticket sporting events, to include the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet, Regional and National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Meets, among other Mindanao and region-wide sectoral sporting events. Gulanes is excited with the prospect of hosting the SEA Games an the positive expsosure it will create for the province.

“Kung ang Palarong Pambansa grabe kaayo ang dungog sa Davao del Norte sa Region XI, unsa na lang kaha ni nga SEA Games nga pagaapilan sa mga nasud sa entero Southeast Asia. Mailado gyod ang Davao del Norte (Davao del Norte earned praises for its excellent hosting of the Palaro. How much more with the SEA Games which pit the countries in Southeast Asia against each other),” Gulanes said. Along with the thrust of fortifying its increasing prominence as the “Sports-Tourism Capital” in the region, the province also strengthened its comprehensive sports development

program that serve other sectors. This include the Musabaqah sports program for Muslims, DavNor-Talaingod Runners program, women in sports program, geriatics sports program for the elderly and sports program for the persons with disabilities (PWDs). Sports competitions among PWDs were among the highlights of the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week in the province. The Davao del Norte Regional Sports Academy also started to cater to 45 students, who will be groomed to become sports champions and professionals.

OVERNOR Nelson L. Dayanghirang is pushing for the establishment of a long-term and efficient emergency communication system that will further strengthen disaster preparedness and response here in the province. During the courtesy call of the Kabalikat Civicom -- a volunteer rescue group operating here in the province, Gov. Dayanghirang stressed the importance of having a good communication system before, during, and after a disaster or emergency. He said there is a need to provide and maintain reliable communication especially in times of emergencies and disasters. Gov. Dayanghirangsaid he wants to fast track the establishment of a communication system dubbed as Province-wide Communication Network to be facilitated by the Provincial Law Enforcement Communication System and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). Operating under ‘Very High Frequency’, the said sys-

tem uses a ‘repeater backbone’ communication system that consists of three radio repeaters as transmitter and a base radio in every municipality and one at the command station at the Provincial Captiol. “Using the said system, communication at very long distances using merely handheld radios would be possible without any problem,” said PLECS Operator Rene Leopardas.

NE hundred brand new wheelchairs were handed over by the Ateneo De Davao University (ADDU) through its University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC), in partnership with the Knights of Columbus (K of C) and American Wheelchair Mission, to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens of the Province. The wheelchairs were handed over last June 20 by Compostella Valley Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy and officials of the ADDU and UCEAC to the beneficiaries during the provincial government’s regular employees Monday convocation program. Also present during the turn-over ceremony were Ms. Josephine Frasco, Department Head of Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office PSWDO), and UCEAC Head Atty. Romeo Cabarde. According to UCEAC Head Cabarde, “This is the fourth year that we have con-

ducted this kind of activity by giving mobility assistive devices to the PWDs and Seniors Citizens and we already have a total of more than 1000 PWDs as recipients.” He added: “This is the first time that we give wheel chair assistance in Davao City. For this year, we include other provinces near the City to be the recipients of this, and we choose to allocate 100 wheelchairs for Comval Province for their PWDs and Senior Citizens in the province. Among the project’s recipients was Martin Quibol a resident of Purok 6, Banagbanag, Montevista who was very happy with the assistance he received. “Nalipay gyud kaayo ko ug dako kay niabot na gyud sa amua ang maong wheel chair sa dugay ng panahon nga amu kining gihulat kay dili gyud me basta makapalit niini kay dako baya ni ug kantidad ug nagpasalamat mi ug dako kay makatabang kini ug dako labi na sakong anak nga disabled,” Quilbol said. (IDS Comval)

South Cotabato town under state of calamity due to dengue

FFICIALS have declared the entire municipality of Tupi in South Cotabato under a state of calamity due to the rising cases of the deadly dengue fever. Emil Sumagaysay, Tupi Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) chief, said Friday the Sangguniang Bayan or municipal council made the declaration earlier this week to assist the local government’s ongoing interventions against the spread of the viral disease. He said such move was based on a recommendation issued by the Tupi MDRRM Council headed by Mayor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. Citing a report from the Tupi Municipal Health Office (MHO), he said the number of confirmed dengue cases in the area already

reached 297 as of July 14. He said this figure is up by about 48 percent compared to the same period last year. Sumagaysay said four fatalities due to dengue complications were recorded in three of their 15 barangays since April. Two of the cases were from Barangay Poblacion and one each in barangays Bunao and Acmonan, he said. “There are a number of new cases that emerged these past days as reported by our MHO and local hospitals,” he said in an interview over radio station DXKR. At the Roel I. Senador Memorial Hospital, which is run by the local government, patient admission has so far exceeded its 30-bed capacity due to the rising dengue cases. (MindaNews)

While the province has been a long-time Gawad Kalasag Awardee for being one of the best disaster-prepared provinces in the region, Governor Dayanghirang emphasized the need to further strengthen Davao Oriental’s disaster management system, especially now that it is aggressively promoting its tourism sector. Considering that the province remains prone to natural disaster, as evidenced by Super

Typhoon Pablo and Low Pressure Area Agaton in 2012 and 2014, respectively, the governor said he wants Davao Oriental to become fully equipped with a province-wide communication network. He said that the investments in equipment and facilities in disaster response and preparedness underpins efforts to strengthen the critical communication system. (Karen Lou Deloso)

Mayor Tessa: Tagakaulo Gov pushes for long-term emergency communication system Museum soon to rise! G

AYOR Atty. Maria Theresa D. Constantino recently announced the planned construction of another B’laan museum that will serve as a gallery and repository center for the cultural Tagakaulo minorities that occupy the northern part of Sarangani’s only landlocked town of Malungon. The implementation of this long awaited project is a “a dream come true” for every Tagakaulo who came to celebrate Brgy. Upper Lumabat’s 3rd Tribal Day dubbed “ Sa Panaghiusa sa Tribu, Makab- ot ang Pagbag-o which was held last week. Constantino said the local government aims to preserve the cultural heritage not only of the Blaan tribes, but the Tagakaulos as well. The project to establish another B’laan tribe’s museum in this IP-populated district of the province, particularly in the adjacent villages of Panamin, Upper Lumabat and

San Juan, seeks to preserve the tribe’s past for the future generations. Meanwhile, Constantino urged the people of Malungon to lend their continued support to the local government. This will enable the LGU to secure a stronger connection with the indigenous peoples, specifically in enhancing the existing condition of those who are living in the far-flung barangays. “I am looking forward to the establishment of more government projects. Then let us go on our unity and cooperation to supplement that common desire to uplift the living condition of those who are holding out in the impoverish barangays,” said the lady mayor. Constantino also graced on the same day the inauguration of the new set of tribal leaders led by tribal chieftain Matikadeng Chiquito Angonia, (MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE)

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vironmental goods such as food, freshwater, fuel, and other natural resources that are used as inputs to the production process that help move the economy. In addition to the PES initiative, the delegation from Mindanao also presented the One Stop

Facilitation and Monitoring Center (OSFMC), a project designed to encourage the development of renewable energy (RE) sources in the region. The center aims to accelerate the application process of permits needed for the establishment of RE projects in the region.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) under LOYOLA PLAN issued to the following planholders, to wit; NAME

CFP #

ROSITA SANTOS

10004468

ANGELINA BONGHANOY

1003763

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

ERRATUM

In the June 26 and July 3, 2016 issues of the Edge Davao the Notice for Publication of Home Developmental Mutual Fund or Pagibig Fund of Marissa Agravante married to Arman A. Agravante, EJR-REM Case No. 15,938-, has been inadvertently omitted, it should be EJR-REM Case No. 15,938-16. Our Apologies Editors

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12TH PLACE FINISH Froome survives crash, retains lead Nagayo fires 80, winds up tied for 12th HOT DAY. Amidst 110-degree heat, Ella Nagayo hits from the fairway of the scenic Angel Mountain Park.

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

LESSANDRA Christine “Ella” Nagayo narrowly missed a Top 10 finish but gained the respect of her peers at the end of the 2016 World Junior Stars of Golf Las Vegas. Attacking the greens with impunity on a blistering summer heat, the 12-year old Nagayo, daughter of former city councilor Rachel and Australia-based nurse Danny, crashed in several fairways of the tough Angel Park Mountain course going down instead with nines of 41 and 39 for an eight over par 80, still her best score over 54 holes. “It’s just too hot. Around 110 degrees. The final round was really energy-sapping,”

said Rachel Nagayo who acted as bag-toter for her daughter. Together with earlier rounds of 84 and 82, Nagayo finished with a 246 total for a tie for 12th in the tough girls 11-12 division won by Thai phenom Phanarai Meesom-us who finished with an amazing six-under par 63 for a (70-69) 202 total. Nagayo opened with a bogey and had two more in the 8th and 9th and a double on the 5th. She momentarily regained touch with a par-parbirdie start in the backnine but succumbed to another double bogey and two bogeys. Fresh from a rousing

PAL LADIES INTERCLUB. Captains of 28 ladies golf teams, including golfers from Australia and Port Moresby, gathered at Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio for the 1st team captains meeting of the 11th PAL Ladies Interclub golf tournament to kick off October 4 to 7 at the Camp John Hay golf course,

week in the IMG Academy World Junior Golf Championships in San Diego, Nagayo thus ended her three-tournament stint with a previous 8th place finish in the FCG International Golf Tournament in San Marco, California, and tied for 23rd in the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego. She is set to enter a golf scholarship in Melbourne, Australia. Ella’s younger brother Daniel Luis Nagayo finished 24th in the Boys 9-10 division with 39-46-43 in three days. The tournament was played in an amazing layout at Angel Park Mountain course which plays a regular Par 71

over a distance of 6722 yards. Taking inspiration from the striking views of the nearby Red Rock and Spring Mountain ranges, The Mountain Course is a golfer¹s dream that stretches through rolling terrain and native high-desert vegetation. Creative design elements and the stylish use of hazards present an aesthetically pleasing and challenging test of golf. The Mountain Course is particularly treacherous around the greens. The par-4 tenth hole requires an approach over desert to a crowned, well guarded green of modest size. Wayward approach shots tend to find trouble which leads to a challenging up and down.

Chinese-Taipei in the FIBA Asia U-18 tournament.

off the pace with one competitive stage left on Saturday, a 146.5-km mountain ride from Megeve to Morzine. “I’m on cloud nine. That’s instinctive bike racing. There was no plan. I rode up the climb as fast as I could,” said Bardet, whose move forced his rivals to take risks in the descent. Seeing that Froome, who wore a bandage on his right knee on the podium after the stage, was struggling, several rivals attacked but the Briton gritted his teeth and limited the damage, losing only 10 seconds or less on Italian Fabio Aru and Quintana. Australian Richie Porte, Froome’s former lieutenant at Team Sky who now rides for BMC, also attacked several times but on each occasion sat up as if waiting for his ex boss. Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, one of the favourites for the Olympic time trial in Rio next month, also crashed with about 62km left before pulling out with a “severe wrist trauma”, according to a race doctor. Pole Rafal Majka virtually secured the polka dot jersey for the mountain classification when he was first at the top of the Montee de Bisanne, a 12.4km climb averaging 8.2 per cent. Frenchman Pierre Rolland and Swiss Sebastien Reichenbach were also among those who crashed on slippery roads.

with the theme ‘Glam on the Greens’. Photo shows the colorful team captains with (seated center, from left) tournament director Henry Arabelo, Camp John Hay Golf Club general manager Tim Allen, PAL tournament officials Dina May Flores, Eric Tan, Pinky Custodio and Kookai Silverio.

Batang Gilas gets drubbing The Taiwanese turned a mere HE Philippine national youth basketball team failed 19-18 lead into a 40-20 cushion to have a winning start to after just five minutes into the secits FIBA Asia Under-18 Champi- ond quarter. Batang Gilas trailed onship campaign as Batang Gilas by 20 points at the half, 49-29. After being down by as much got demolished by Chinese Taipei, 88-74, on Friday (early Saturday as 25, Batang Gilas showed some morning in Manila) in Tehran, fight in the fourth quarter after cutting the deficit to just 12, 83Iran. Jonas Tibayan led the way for 71, thanks to a 10-2 spurt with the Filipinos with 15 points, but 3:07 remaining. But the Taiwanese responded no other Batang Gilas breached the double digit mark. Rendell Lee with a triple to douse the uprising. The Filipinos have a chance to and JV Gallego had nine markers apiece while John Bryle Bahio bounce back when they face Iraq scored eight points and eight on Saturday evening. boards. Fran Yu and team captain Jolo Mendoza each made seven points. Joshua Sinclair tallied six points and nine rebounds. After a tight opening period, Batang Gilas was shackled by Chinese Taipei which suddenly broke the game wide BAD START. The Philippines’ U-18 team lost 88-74 to open.

HRIS Froome has hit the deck but retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey in the Tour de France on the 19th stage, a crash-marred 146-km mountain trek won by Frenchman Romain Bardet in vintage style. The Briton fell about 13.5km from the finish on a slippery descent and ended the stage on a team mate’s bike with cuts and bruises on his back and right elbow. Shortly after the 25-yearold Bardet then lit up the race with an attack on the tricky descent towards the foot of the final ascent to Le Bettex, Froome crashed on a right-hand bend. He was quickly back on Geraint Thomas’s bike and held firm in the favourites’ group. Bardet, who gave France its first win on this Tour, quickly caught early attacker Rui Costa in the climb, a 9.8km effort at an average gradient of eight percent and went solo with 3.5km left. Froome, who crossed the line 36 seconds behind Bardet, now leads the Frenchman, who moved up from fifth to second overall, by 4:11 minutes. Dutchman Bauke Mollema, who started the day in second place overall, also crashed and eventually lost a massive 4:25. Colombian Nairo Quintana, runner-up in 2013 and 2015, is now third overall, 4:27

SO KIM CHENG SPORTS AWARDS. Athena Jillian Bravo, daughter of Edge Davao managing editor Neilwin Joseph Bravo, receives the plaque from So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation and the Dabaw City Sports Council as

SURVIVOR. A battered Chris Froome crosses the finish line alongside teammate Wout Poels. GETTY IMAGES: MICHAEL STEELE

recognition to media partner Edge Davao. Another plaque for Fast Fridays, which Bravo is hosting, was also awarded during the ceremonies on Friday night at the Apo View Hotel.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 106 â&#x20AC;¢ SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 24 - 25, 2016