Edge Davao 9 Issue 116

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

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Serving a seamless society

Various sectors have raised concerns on the fate of the peace negotiations between the national government and the NDFP, as a series of armed encounters between government forces and NPA rebels took place since August 1 in areas of Davao and Bukidnon.

(Alexander D. Lopez)

The perilous

j urney

to peace Gun battles erupt anew in Davao region, Bukidnon Inside Edge

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

News P3

he Filipino nation is hopeful that the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) will eventually sit down and talk peace.

T

adlopez0920@gmail.com

Archbishop Villegas on drug-related killings: ‘This is too much to swallow’ Indulge A2

Mindanao Bike Night Economy P7

DAR to fast track review of agrarian reform claims

Sports P15

Davao boy wins Aboitiz Invitational Rio sends a message

But such hope has been dampened by the series of armed encounters, ambuscades and harassments perpetrated by the rebel group only days after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Many are now asking: Is the long-awaited truce in peril?

On August 4 and 5, a series of armed confrontations

broke out between forces of the government and the NPAs in Compostela Valley.

Prior to these incidents, the NPAs ambushed members of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Davao del Norte, while reportedly killing a member of a paramilitary group in Kidapawan City and attacking their detachment in Magpet town, in North Cotabato.

In its latest report, the th 10 Infantry (Agila) Division

of the Philippine Army said troopers belonging to 25th and 71st Infantry Battalions engaged the NPA rebels in series of gun battles on Thursday and Friday in the towns of Monkayo and Maragusan in Compostela Valley.

Four soldiers were killed, while twelve others were wounded during these encounters, according to Captain Rhyan Batchar, chief information officer of the 10th ID said in a statement.

Batchar said government troops also recovered the dead bodies of two NPA rebels who were abandoned at the encounter sites, while three of their wounded comrades were captured after two days of intense fighting.

“The first incident hap-

pened at around 1:30 p.m. last August 4. Soldiers from 25th IB were engaged in a 15-minute fire fight with NPA rebels in Km. 56, Barangay Rizal, Monkayo, Compotela Valley.

Two soldiers were wounded on this incident and were immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital for medical attention. Pursuit operations were conducted immediately by 25th IB troopers against the fleeing NPA rebels,” Batchar said.

A 45-minute gun battle again broke out on August 5, at around 7:50 a.m. when troops of the 25th IB encountered around 60 heavily armed NPA rebels in the same area.

Outnumbered, the 25th IB troopers lost three of its

F COVER, 2

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

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COVER p.1 members who were killed in action that morning, as the rebels were equipped with explosive devices (IED) and high-powered firearms.

Ten soldiers were also wounded during the incident and immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Hospital in Davao City.

Batchar said the rebels also carted away the rifles and personal belongings of the dead and wounded soldiers.

A dead body of a female NPA fighter was also recovered by soldiers at the encounter site, while two rebels and a wounded comrade were apprehended.

“The wounded NPA was given first aid by the troops in the area, while the apprehended rebels were immediately turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for proper disposition and subsequent filing of charges,” Batchar said.

A separate armed confrontation was also recorded at around 1:00 p.m. on August 5 when 71st IB troopers chanced upon around 30 NPA rebels in Barangay Parasanon, Maragusan, Compostela Valley.

Batchar said one soldier was wounded during the encounter, and a dead body of an unidentified NPA member was also recovered at the encounter site.

At around 2:00 p.m. on August 5, a separate encounter also took place between the elements of the 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn) under the operational control of 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the army and the NPA rebels in Sitio Kambangon, Barangay Lilingayon, in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Major Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) said the armed encounter transpired after the troops in coordination with the Philippine National Police in the area responded to a report from residents that a fully armed group, suspected to be NPA rebels, had been frequenting their community and forcibly getting food and money from the populace.

The rebels retreated after an intense two-hour gunfight, Balagtey said.

Recovered from the encounter site were nine

high powered firearms composed of two AK47, two M653, and five M16 A1 rifles; one Improvised Explosive Device; eight AK47, three M14, and one M16 Magazines; one Rifle grenade; five gallons of gas; three handheld radios; NPA personal belongings; and subversive documents of high intelligence value.

“The Eastern Mindanao Command under the leadership of Lt. General Rey Leonardo B Guerrero expresses grief for the loss of one soldier while, commending the troops for their vigilance and prompt action in protecting the communities particularly Barangay Lilingayon, Valencia City, Bukidnon which prevented the lawless armed group from carrying out their terroristic act,” Balagtey said in a statement to the media on Saturday.

For his part, Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of the 10th ID declared it was time to end the these skirmishes which victimize mostly innocent civilians.

“It is time for us to stop these senseless and violent confrontations. All those who died and got wounded in these incidents are Filipinos,” General Valencia said as he met with the families of the fallen soldiers.

He added that while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) joins the Filipino people’s cry for peace to in the country, the soldiers will not hesitate to use legitimate force to protect communities and the people from any armed group who will terrorize them.

Punitive action The NPAs in Davao region confirmed the armed confrontations which took place between their group and government troopers last August 4 and 5 in Compostela Valley.

“The 8th Pulang Bagani Company-New People’s Army carried out a series of counter-offensives against the operating troops of the 25th Infantry Battalion, punishing 11 fascist soldiers and seizing six firearms during a raid, an attritive action and an ambush on August 2, 4 and 5, 2016 in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley,” said Rigoberto F. Sanchez, the group’s spokesperson in the

An NPA member was wounded during an armed encounter with the elements of 25th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Barangay Rizal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley last Friday, August 5.

(Photo courtesy of 10th ID)

It is time for us to stop these senseless and violent confrontations.

All those who died and got wounded in these incidents are Filipinos.”

Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of the 10th ID area.

Sanchez added: “The NPA’s punitive action is a just reprisal in the face of atrocities committed by the 25th IB combat soldiers such as ransacking of civilian houses and farms, mauling and intimidation of peasants and Lumads in Monkayo town since June.”

The NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command, Sanchez said, has directed all its fighters to remain on alert status, intensify its base building and base defense work, expand its services in the guerrilla bases and guerrilla zones, punish AFP troops operating in civilian communities, and pursue revolutionary justice for the basic masses who are victims of repression and fascist abuses.

“As it awaits positive devel-

opments in the forthcoming peace negotiations between the GRP and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the Red Army shall defend its ranks and the masses through armed offensives and counter-offensives, foil the AFP’s treacherous and ruthless military operations, and remain committed in addressing the roots of the armed conflict,” Sanchez added.

Legal snags Among the demands the NDFP has laid down prior to the formal opening of the peace negotiations is the release of political prisoners who continue to languish in various jail facilities in the country.

These political prisoners, the NDFP said, were in fact member of their negotiating team.

The new peace panel of the Duterte administration vowed to work for the release of these political prisoners to serve as a gesture of goodwill on the side of the national government before the official start of GPH-NDFP peace talks.

In a surprising turn of events, the Supreme Court on Friday denied the plea of Solicitor General for the temporary liberty and conditional release of political prisoners Tirso Alcantara, Alex Birondo, Winona Birondo, Maria Concepcion Bocala, Reynante Gamara, Alan Jazmines, Ma. Loida Magpatoc, Adelberto Silva, Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Tiamzon.

In the same decision, however, the SC also granted

provisional liberty to Randall B. Echanis, Vicente P. Ladlad, and Satur Ocampo and allowed them to attend the formal peace talks between the government and the NDFP in Oslo, Norway that is expected to start this month.

In its decision, the High Court, said the petition for their temporary liberty or release of the 10 political prisoners should be filed for consideration with the trial courts.

“To grant temporary and conditional liberty to these personalitiese may have the inadvertent but irremediable effect of pre-empting the trial courts’ own determinations in the exercise of their original jurisdiction to try the cases before them,” the highest tribunal in the land added.

As the SC laid down its decision, the government’s chief negotiator, Secretary Silvestre Bello III of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said they will ask government prosecutors to file and respond to necessary motions and manifestations for the speedy release of detained communist leaders based on the proper procedures as mentioned by the SC in its latest ruling.

Despite SC’s decison, Secretary Bello is still confident the detained consultants of the NDFP will be released in time for the formal resumption of the peace negotiations which have been set on August 20.

“The Supreme Court did not dismiss the petition to grant bail or release the NDF consultants. It merely denied the motion for intervention

of the Solicitor General on the grounds of jurisdiction and technicality,” Bello said in a statement to the media on Friday.

He added that the SC “underscored the immediacy of the issue at hand and urged the Regional Trial Courts, which have jurisdiction over the cases, to act with dispatch on petitions that would come their way with regards to the detained NDF consultants so as the peace process could be expedited.”

The Office of the Solicitor General on July 22 filed before the Supreme Court a petition for intervention to grant bail for the temporary liberty of communist rebels who were named consultants by the NDF. The government’s chief negotiator also clarified that the decision to agree on the release of the NDF consultants was an expressed manifestation of President Duterte’s earlier promise to free all political prisoners in the country, and that the same “has nothing to do with any precondition to the resumption for the peace negotiations.”

“We will cooperate and collaborate with the defense counsels of the detained NDF consultants and will not oppose petitions for bail or their temporary release for them to join the peace negotiations,” Bello said, clarifying further that the detained NDFP leaders were detained and charged with common crimes and that certain legal proceedings must be observed before they will be released.

NEWS 3 911 rescued 29 passengers Archbishop Villegas on drug-related from stranded ship--Sueno killings: ‘This is too much to swallow’ I L EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

NTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno on Friday lauded the swift action of 911 agents and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for assisting a small passenger vessel that was stranded at sea last Monday.

Sueno said that with the help of 911, 29 people were rescued and safely returned to their respective families after tug assistance was provided to MV Super Shuttle RORO 3, which encountered engine trouble while at sea.

Citing reports from the 911 national operations center, he said the ship departed from Masbate on July 31, but was forced to stop off Malapascua Island, Cebu, the following day due to a series of engine malfunctions.

He said 911 received a call from a concerned citizen who, by chance, saw a Facebook post of her friend requesting rescue assistance.

Upon receiving the call, the 911 agent immediately got in touch with the PCG Action Center and requested them to give the position of the stranded ship.

The action center then coordinated with regional coast guard units and the shipping company, which later helped tow the stranded ship.

The ship arrived and docked at Pier 18 of the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, where the passengers safely disembarked and are in good physical condition.

“The safety of 29 man-

ifested passengers of MV Super Shuttle is one story we are happy to share and inform the public about, because emergency calls such as these are among the pressing concerns we want 911 to help address and attend to immediately. But, we will not be able to do so unless prank calls stop,” he pointed out.

The DILG secretary said that 911 could not only help facilitate a rescue operation, but it could also save the lives of those in need of urgent medical attention, and prevent domestic violence from escalating.

He cited an incident when a woman from Salcedo Village, Makati City called 911 at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 1, seeking police assistance after she found a man standing at the balcony of her condominium, knocking and asking for help.

After being alerted by 911, the Makati Police proceeded to the condominium.

It turned out later that the man at the balcony was the lover of the woman living above the caller’s condominium unit and he was trying to escape the wrath of the woman’s husband.

“We have so many stories already that could attest to the benefit of 911. That is why we continue to appeal to the public to stop playing or testing 911 in your telephones because for every unanswered call, one or more lives are put to risk,” Sueno said. (PNA)

INGAYEN-DAGUPAN Archbishop Socrates Villegas said he could no longer stomach the killings of suspected drug users and peddlers that have made the headlines the past few months.

“I do not have to be a bishop to say this. I do not have to be a Catholic to be disturbed by the killings that jar us every time we hear or watch or read the news,” the prelate said in a statement entitled, “Let the Hu-

manity in Us Speak”. The statement will be read on Sunday in place of the homily during masses in all the churches and oratories in the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan.

“My humanity is in grief.

I am in utter disbelief... This is too much to swallow,” Villegas said.

He noted that it pains him to see a fellow human hurt.

“A portion of my humanity dies when a fellow human dies.

Who can say the killed is innocent or guilty? Both the guilty and the innocent are humans,” Villegas said.

He lamented the sight of a parent and a child grieving over loved ones killed on the sidewalk “or thrown in grassy areas hogtied or masked with tape”.

The Catholic prelate said he fears the country would turn into a “killing fields” nation in its dream to wipe out drug addiction.

Villegas said he agrees that the youth need a safe and wholesome environment without the menace of drugs.

“We share the dream... It is a great dream for young humanity,” he said.

He however noted that the “little voice of humanity in us” that is disturbed by the killings is “drowned out by the louder voice of revenge or silenced by the sweet privileges of political clout.” (PNA)

TECH TALK. Jaja Jesalva, Smart head of postpaid broadband, discusses with members of local media and bloggers community the various data and gadget plans offered by the company during a press conference over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

4 NEWS

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ALL-TIME FAVORITE. A “lechonero” roast two pigs on the sidewalk. There has been a surge in demand for “lechon” over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

2 TESDA execs in NorthCot suspended for misconduct

T

HE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the one-year suspension of two officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) after they were found guilty of “conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service”.

In an 11-page ruling, the Ombudsman found that Cotabato regional director Zeus Ampuyas and provincial director Florante Leona Herrera awarded a training service contract to the Kidapawan Assessment and Training Center (KATC) despite the suspension of its accreditation.

As a result of the award, the KATC was guaranteed payment of service fees amount-

ing to PHP750,000.

Records show that in April 2009, the TESDA granted KATC a Certificate of Program Registration for the conduct of a technical education program.

In September 2009, the KATC was suspended for 30 days after accreditation deficiencies were uncovered.

Despite KATC’s suspension, Ampuyas and Herrera granted the firm another batch of trainings on heavy equipment operation.

The KATC permanently closed after receiving the last payment from TESDA. The Ombudsman said the suspended personnel’s acts “tarnish the image and integrity of the office”. (PNA)

President to soldiers: Finish Abu Sayyaf‘to the last man’

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday night urged soldiers to intensify their campaign against terrorism, including the immediate elimination of the Abu Sayyaf.

“There will be no peace agreement (for the Abu Sayyaf). Tapusin niyo na (Finish them) to the last man,” he said.

President Duterte issued the marching order during a talk with some 200 soldiers at the Bondad Hall of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP-CentCom) headquarters in Barangay Lahug here shortly before 10 p.m.

Friday.

In the talk, which lasted 45 minutes, the President also reiterated his stand that there will be no coalition govern-

ment with communist rebels. ”I will never agree to a coalition government (with communist rebels),” he said.

President Duterte also vowed to increase the strength of the AFP by 10,000 soldiers next year and give the military and the police the best equipment.

He said he prefers a negotiated contract in the purchase of military equipment to choosing the “lowest bidder which results in the lowest quality”.

The President also said the “lowest bidder process turned out to be the biggest source of corruption”.

He further warned that the greatest threat to the country in the next five to ten years is terrorism. ”I want to prepare the country for this,” he said. (PNA)

Sueno to Bato: Do quick probe on vigilante-style drug killings I

NTERIOR and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno on Friday ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to conduct an immediate investigation on the killings of drug suspects in police operations and alleged vigilante-style killings of drug personalities.

Sueno said that while President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has vowed to crush illegal drugs, he has denounced extrajudicial killing as a means to attain his goal.

“Hindi palalampasin

ng administrasyon na ito ang mga vigilante na pamamaraan sa pagpatay ng mga taong suspek sa droga o ng mga kriminal at ang hindi makatarungang pagkamatay nila sa mga operasyon ng mga kapulisan,” Sueno said.

The DILG Secretary directed dela Rosa to remind all police personnel to observe the police operation procedures set forth under PNP Police Operational Procedures (POP) Manual in apprehending, conducting or effecting arrests, raids, searches, and seizures of evidences and

personalities involved in the illegal drug and other criminal activities.

“Ang lahat ng mga naitalang vigilante na pamamaraan sa pagpatay ng mga taong suspek sa droga at iba pang mga kriminal at dapat agarang maimbistigahan,” Sueno ordered.

The PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) was also ordered to conduct investigations of incidents wherein death or any violation of human rights occurred in the conduct of police operations pursuant to their mandate

under Section 39 of Republic Act 8551.

“Ang mga kapulisan na napatunayang sangkot sa mga hindi makatarungang pagpatay sa mga suspek sa droga ay dapat na mapatawan kaagad ng administrative disciplinary action,” he pointed out.

He also ordered Bato to submit an updated report of the investigation to the DILG through the Office of Undersecretary for Peace and Order which oversees the strict implementation of this mandate.

(PNA)

RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte is asking for one hectare from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP-CentCom) in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City where a rehabilitation center could be built for thousands of drug users who have surrendered since his term began.

“Let go of a small space in your camp,” he told CentCom officials when he visited them Friday night.

“Bigyan niyo ako kahit isang ektarya lang, total lagyan ko yan ng barbed wire (Give me even just a hectare. Anyway, I’ll make sure it is fenced with barbed wires),” he said.

The President said it is a

crucial part of his plan to establish a rehabilitation center in each region, to help at least 500,000 recorded drug addicts nationwide who have given themselves up to the authorities.

President Duterte did not name the mayors and other officials believed to be involved in the illegal drug trade, but told the public to just wait.

He said in his speech that began at 9:50 p.m. that he would reveal the names of judges, police and congressmen “in a few hours”.

“It behooves upon me to tell the Filipino people what is happening in this country. You are entitled to know what is happening,” he said.

The Chief Executive said his decision to disclose the names of those believed to be involved in illegal drug activities does not come from any desire to destroy them.

“I will name them not because gusto ko sila siraan (not because I want to bad-mouth them),” he said.

He however said he was sick and tired of illegal drug traders who do not seem to fear the law.

“Ipapatay ko ‘yan. Wala akong pakialam. Di man ninyo ako mahuli. Bakit niyo ako huhulihin? May immunity ako (I will have them killed. I don’t care. You can’t arrest me. Why would you arrest me? I have immunity),” he said.

President Duterte said his priority is to “destroy the apparatus” that allows illegal drugs to destroy families and communities.

He repeated his promise to defend soldiers and police officers who get sued for killing suspects in the course of their anti-drug operations.

“Kaya ko mag-pardon isang libong pulis araw-araw.

Sabi ng Constitution, the President can grant pardon. Yan ang nakita na panglaban ko. Wala pang nakaisip niyan (I can pardon 1,000 police officers every day. The Constitution says the President can grant pardon.

That’s my weapon. No one has thought of that before),” he said. (PNA)

Rody wants drug rehab center in Cebu P

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 5 Pacquiao‘inconsistent’in religious beliefs -- priest

Rody: No letup until drug apparatus is destroyed A P

RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has reiterated his stand that the government will not stop until the apparatus of the drug syndicates has been destroyed and the market for illegal drugs is eliminated.

“That is my sacred obligation to the people. I will be naming the mayors and one congressman maybe and the police who are involved,” Duterte said, noting that since the list is long, he could

not memorize all the names.

The President said he was alarmed by the scope of the drug crisis. It was not until he assumed office that the depth of the drug problem has been fully revealed.

Since the campaign against illegal drugs started, some 500,000 drug addicts and drug pushers have surrendered to the authorities across the country.

The death toll has risen to 400, including a big-time

Chinese drug lord. Several active and retired police generals, a businessman, and several local government officials have been identified as having alleged ties to illegal drug syndicates.

In the intensified campaign, President Duterte has already ordered the military to assist law enforcers in anti-narcotics operations.

Mandatory drug testing for both the military and police have been conduct-

ed to ensure the integrity of the men whom government count on to fight the drug war.

Duterte threw his full support to the men in uniform. “For so long as it is done in the performance of the duty by the soldier or the police, akin yan (that is mine). That is my personal and official guarantee. I will answer for the deed. Order ko yan (That is my order),” he said. (PNA)

CATHOLIC priest has criticized Senator Manny Pacquiao, who on Wednesday filed three bills seeking the reimposition of the death penalty, saying the boxing champ is confused when it comes to his religious beliefs.

Fr. Jerome Secillano of the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Sampaloc, Manila said the problem with Pacquiao is that “he’s a little bit inconsistent” in his convictions.

“If he can assail the LGBT group based on his faith, why file a bill, which I’m very sure goes against this same faith he adheres to?” Fr. Secillano said.

“People will say that faith should not interfere with law-

making. While I may agree with that, I’d like to emphasize that people should not also be fooled by politicians who use their faith to look good.”

He however noted that the lawmaker has the right to file bills that he thinks would be good for the country.

Pacquiao, a Born Again Christian, filed the bills seeking the return of the death penalty for heinous crimes, including those that are related to illegal drugs.

According to the neophyte senator, the imposition of the capital punishment does not go against the Christian Bible.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez was more terse in his comment. “Pray for him. Thou shall not kill,” he said. (PNA)

P100-M ‘shabu’seized in Angeles; Sino nabbed

A

GENTS of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), together with the Police Regional Office-3 on Friday confiscated 30 kilos of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth Php100 million in a raid conducted at a warehouse in Angeles City.

Arrested during the raid was a Chinese national identified as Yiye Chen, an alleged member of a transnational

ECO TALK. John Darwin S. Amag, an IP beneficiary and scholar of National Development Corp. (NADECOR), speaks before the attendees of the launching of Stand Firm, a group of mining, metallurgy and geology

students from various universities and colleges in the country, which is urging the government to define the procedures for responsible mining.

Lean Daval Jr.

Solon wants age of taxpayers’dependents raised from 21 to 23 years due to K to 12 A LAWMAKER is seeking to increase the age bracket of household members considered as tax dependents from 21 to 23 years old, in light of the K to 12 program, which added two year levels to the country’s educational system.

Rep. Eric Olivarez (1st District, Parañaque City) said a person affected by the K to 12 Law is now expected to complete his or her education at age 23 on the average, instead of 21.

Olivarez explained that the family’s income earners would have to sustain the ed-

ucation of their children two years longer than before.

Hence, the need to amend the sections of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) that provide for the age limit of household members who may qualify as tax dependents, he said.

The lawmaker said the NIRC provides certain tax exemptions to avoid burdening a taxpayer who has to provide for household members who are unable to support themselves.

“The State understands that an income-earner has an obligation first and foremost

to his or her family and the latter supports or assists the former by imposing lesser taxes accordingly,” said Olivarez.

In House Bill 183 or the proposed “An Act Increasing the Age Bracket of Taxpayers’ Dependents”, Olivarez proposed amendments to Section 35 items (A) and (B) of the NIRC, as amended by Republic Act 9504 titled Allowance of Personal Exemption for Individual Taxpayer.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

The proposed amendments provide that there shall

be allowed a basic personal exemption amounting to PHP50,000 for each individual taxpayer.

Moreover, there shall be allowed an additional exemption of PHP25,000 for each of four dependents. The additional exemption for a dependent shall be claimed by only one of the spouses in the case of married individuals.

In the case of legally separated spouses, only the spouse who has custody of the child or children may claim additional exemptions. The total amount of additional exemp-

COUPLE of firearms and a car allegedly owned

by Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and his notorious drug lord son, Kerwin, were separately turned over to the local police Friday.

Albuera town police disclosed that a resident of Sitio Tinago, Benolho village named Gerry Todio relinquished a

9-mm pistol containing live bullets and a shotgun with 20 live ammunitions Friday afternoon.

Todio claimed that the Espinosas asked him to hide the firearms.

Meanwhile, a female bookkeeper who requested anonymity also turned over a black Innova, bearing plate

number NQF 431 to the city police Friday night.

She left a signed document proving her willingness to relinquish the vehicle to the police.

The family’s on-call bookkeeper said that after the Espinosas were linked to illegal drugs, she ceased using the car, which her husband drives.

She then decided to turn it over to the authorities for safekeeping.

She disclosed that the mayor’s common-law wife offered her the use of the vehicle a year ago for her bookkeeping work at the Espinosa-owned Zellan Hotel. The hotel stopped operating last April, the bookkeeper said. (PNA)

Gunmen seize couple, son in Zamboanga Sibugay

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OLICE have launched an rescue operations for three people seized in Zamboanga Sibugay late Friday by seven gunmen believed to have ties with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Zamboanga Sibugay police director, Senior Supt.

Romulo Cleve Taboso, said Saturday his personnel are working with military forces to track down the gunmen.

“Nasa laot pa sila (They are still in the high seas),” Taboso told PNA. The other troops are scouring the coastal areas.

Taboso identified the victims as Elmer Romoc, an employee of the municipal treasurer’s office of Payao; his wife, Nora; and, son, Ricson.

He said the gunmen abuducted the victims from their residence in Barangay Kulisap in Payao at about 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The victims, he said, do not belong to a wealthy family since the husband is “only an employee and not the municipal treasurer” of Payao.

He said although the family owns a store in Barangay Kulisap, it is only a typical sari-sari store.

Based on intelligence reports, the suspects belong to the Tahir Ustadz group that have ties with the Sulu-based ASG, Taboso said, adding that they belong to a new crime group that has emerged in the province.

(PNA)

President Duterte promises land, livelihood to Capiz rebel returnees

P ‘Narco’mayor’s guns, car turned over to cops A F SOLON, 10

drug trafficking syndicate.

The raid was made following a tip from a concerned citizen.

After receiving the information, a search warrant was issued by Executive Judge Bernilito Fernandez on Jasmin Street, Hensonville, Malabanas, Angeles City.

Police said an inventory of the seized illegal drugs was still ongoing as of press time.

(PNA)

RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has vowed to give state-owned land and livelihood to 17 rebel returnees so they could start a new life under the fold of the law.

The President met the former rebels during his visit to Camp Macario Peralta Jr. here Friday. The rebel returnees, who were members of an indigenous group, were from the remote town of Tapas.

Aside from land, the President promised to give them

seedlings, fertilizers and farm implements.

According to Nilo Prieto, a former rebel and member of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ executive regional party committee, the President said the communists and the government cannot fight indefinitely and must find a way to attain peace.

The initiative to entice the rebels to surrender is part of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program aimed

F PRESIDENT, 10

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6 ECONOMY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

Level playing field, miners tell DENR

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

M

INING companies have asked environment secretary Gina Lopez to “level the playing field” as the environment agency conducts its investigations of mining firms that are operating in the Davao region, and the rest of Mindanao.

“Mining companies are willing and committed to follow the provisions on responsible mining,” Arvin Carlom, community relations officer of the Mil-Oro Mining Corporation told reporters during an interview in on Friday.

Carlom explained that by levelling the playing field, due process must be given to companies who are under investigation.

“Huwag sana yong ipasara agad kahit walang imbestigasyon. There should be no biases in the conduct of investigations,” he added.

He said that mining companies have nothing to fear with these investigations as long as they adhere to the principles of responsible mining.

“The companies are ready to follow whatever the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will say and things need to be done to improve our operations to ensure the protection of environment in our areas,” he added.

He said Mil-Oro Mining Corp. has not yet received any notification from the DENR informing them of an audit, but admitted that the agency has already conducted three investigations relating to their firm’s operations last month.

“The investigations were in line with the allegations that we were cutting down pygmy trees in Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental,” he said.

Carlom said that after the three investigations conducted by DENR, it found out that the company’s operations did not affect Mt. Hamiguitan as alleged by complainants.

“The DENR found out that we are operating 2.68 kilometers [away] from the buffer of Mt. Hamiguitan,” he added.

Mil-Oro Mining Corporation is operating inside the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area of Austral-Asia Link Mining Corporation under MPSA-1972004-X1, as amended.

It covers the areas of sitios Magum and Salingkumot in barangay Macambol, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

“MPSA granted is 10,000 hectares, but mineralized and areas to be disturbed are only more than one thousand hectares. Other areas outside the 1,000 hectares, even though

F LEVEL, 10

INGENIOUS. Due to the lack of space, a goat is tied by its owner on the bumper of an overloaded province-bound vehicle traversing along Quimpo Blvd. in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

SMB kicks off 7th national tree growing initiative

S

AN Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB), the beer market leader in the country, will be launching the 7th leg of its Trees Brew Life program, a national re-greening initiative.

The activity, which will be implemented during all Saturdays of the month of August, will open with simultaneous tree growing activities in Sapang Bato, Angeles City,

Makati City, Umapad Dumpsite in Mandaue City, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway headquarters in Tarlac City.

“More than 10,000 seedlings of hardwood, mangrove and fruit-bearing species will be planted in identified areas nationwide by officers and employees of the company,” the SMB said in a statement

sent to EDGE Davao on Friday.

The massive re-greening activities will also be mounted in Barangay Matina Pangi in Davao City.

Other areas to be covered by the program include Barangay Estefania in Bacolod City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Nayon ng Kabataan Compound in Mandaluyong

City, and the Nuvali Evoliving Ecopark in the City of Santa Rosa in Laguna.

In the same statement, SMB Inc. President Roberto N. Huang said the project indicates the continued commitment of the company to protect the environment.

“Although our breweries have their respective year-

F SMB, 10

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

DAR to fast track review of agrarian reform claims

ECONOMY 7

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Agrarian Reform is conducting a massive review of its administrative orders in order to fast-track the claims of beneficiaries here in the city and other parts of the country.

However, agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano did not specify which of the administrative orders would be phased out, pending the findings of the agency’s review committee which is expected to come out with its recommendations soon.

The caseload of the DAR has been piling up in its Davao, Manila and other area offices.

These included cases in exemptions, exclusions, land use conversions, and cancellations, Mariano said.

“Ang cancellation cases ko pa lang 12,000 cases po ang kailangan nating madesisyonan,” he added.

There was a need to fasttrack the long-overdue award-

ing of CLOAs to thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries, especially with the mandate of the agency to prevent land owners from kicking out farmers from designated ARB areas.

Mariano said there was also a need to review and catalog the awarded CLOAs to determine whether there were still tenants in the areas.

“Kada landholding, tiyak may retention yun. Kaya madadadgdagan pa yung mga bilang ng mga agricultural lessees. We need to know what’s in the contracts,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) here, Mariano told around 150 farmers that they should express a strong desire to claim their lands.

“Mainam yun, dahil yung mismong paghain ng petisyon sa DAR for notice of coverage, nagpapakita yun na sa ating magsasaka, naroon yung han-

OPPOSITION. AMRECO President Sergio Dagooc (right) explains to Davao media practitioners several reasons why his group of 34 Mindanao electric cooperatives continues to oppose moves to privatize the Agus-Pulangui

AMRECO reiterates opposition to Agus-Pulangi privatization

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

T All non-compliant mining firms F DAR, 10

to face closure by end of August

E

NVIRONMENT Secretary Gina L. Lopez wants all mining firms that are carrying out illegal and non-compliant mining activities in the country to cease operations within this month.

Lopez was referring to about 40 metallic mining corporations, which are operating across the country.

These firms, along with 65 other non-metallic mining companies are now being audited by the DENR. Lopez plans to shut down these non-compliant companies by the third week of August, while the rest are scheduled to be shuttered by September if they fail to pass the DENR’s audit.

She said the agency is now evaluating the issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECC) of three mining firms in Mindanao.

“We’ll finish all the au-

Secretary Gina Lopez

diting for Mindanao by next week,” Lopez said, in a press conference Thursday at the sidelines of Mindanao Environment Summit 2016 held at the Ateneo de Davao University.

As of Wednesday, Lopez said she has ordered the suspension of operations of Claver Mineral in Agusan due to various violations, which include conducting activities that resulted in the siltation of the area’s coastal waters; cutting of trees without the necessary permits; the lack of an inadequate siltation control system; and the absence of a reforestation plan.

The DENR is also assessing the operations of Taganito Mining Corp. in Claver, Green Stone Resources Corp. in Mainit,Surigao del Norte and SR Metals Inc. in Agusan del Norte.

F SEC. LOPEZ, 10

hydro-electric power plants (HEPP) complexes during a press conference also attending by MinDA director Romeo Montenegro (middle) at right is EdgeDavao editor in chief Tony Ajero. Contributed

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AMRECO) on Friday reiterated its stand against the planned privatization of the Agus-Pulangi Hydro Electric Power Plants (HEPPs) Complexes in Mindanao, saying the move will increase the effective rates of electricity in Mindanao, rendering the island-region uncompetitive compared with Luzon and the Visayas.

“These hydro plants make it possible for Mindanao, at present, to fairly compete with Luzon and the Visayas in promoting new investments due to its cheap power costs with the abundance water resource in the area,” AMRECO president Sergio C. Dagooc said in a statement during a press conference in Davao City.

He added the privatization of the said power generation

assets will result to the loss of economic competitiveness of the power supply sector of Mindanao, and consequently, lead to the deterioration of the economic competitiveness of Mindanao’s commercial and industrial firms that are energy-intensive.

AMRECO is composed of 34 electric cooperatives in Mindanao.

“We are consistently advocating for the non-privatization of Agus–Pulangui HEPPs Complexes and continue to hold this stand against such privatization to this day,” Dagooc pointed out.

AMRECO’s reiteration of its stand came after the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), through its President Lourdes S. Alzona, declared July 11 of this year the scheduled privatization of said assets by 2017

following initial talks with key cabinet secretaries of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dagooc said that PSALM had already announced the results of its briefing with Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III which stressed the need to hasten the privatization schedule of the state’s remaining power generation assets.

He added that Secretary Dominguez also announced the plan to sell all of the power assets that are still under PSALM’s control within three years as called for by RA 9136 or EPIRA Law. “The rising amount of NAPOCOR (National Power Corporation) debt allegedly still exists after the initial privatization of assets of PSALM, which may have triggered the directives of the new Finance

Secretary to hasten the privatization of the remaining assets,” Dagooc said.

He added the context on privatizing the said plants for the purpose of raising funds that will be used to pay public debts incurred by the NAPOCOR is totally incorrect.

“The Agus and Pulangi Hydro Plants are now debt free. The sale of the generating assets in Mindanao would in effect pay the debts of generating assets in Luzon and the Visayas,” he said.

The Agus and Pulangi Hydro Plants have been supplying around 50 percent of the power and energy requirements of Mindanao, and their costs of production have been less than P1.00 per kWh compared with P5.00 per kWh or larger for oil-fueled power plants and for incoming power plants of

will be proven to have inflicted detrimental ecological imbalance in the area.

“Our concern for the environment and the pursuit of the common good transcends familial and other ties,” Lopez said.

She added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the agency she currently heads, “will look into the issue and that will be fair through the entire process and take into account the concerns of all”.

Lopez’s geothermal plant in Negros Oriental plans to expand its power plant by adding 60 megawatts to its current capacity.

The company already submitted its expansion proposal to the national.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR also reported that it has already conducted public

hearings relative to the proposal.

“Through good environmental governance, we aim to harmonize our economic activities with nature through sound practices that will not only address climate change but ensure the sustainable use of our resources, conservation and preservation,” the secretary added.

Secretary Lopez is a known environmental advocate before President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her to head the DENR. In the same statement, she reiterated that the DENR will not tolerate companies that will violate the environmental policies of the country.

“There is no room for violation,” she pointed out, adding that such will be the “guiding principle, our commitment, our preaching and our practice in our quest for

sustainable development.”

“This is our call to all stakeholders,” she said.

The expansion plan of the Lopez’s geothermal plant in Negros Oriental is now being questioned and opposed by more or less 350 environmental groups in the area led by the Kalikasan People’s Network (KPN), under the coalition-movement Save Mt. Talinis Campaign.

The group expressed opposition to the expansion program of the geothermal plant, saying the 23,565-hectare mountain range plays critical role in the island’s biodiversity.

The said plant’s expansion, the group added, would encroach on the area’s forest range.

KPN and its allies also accused the Lopez’s company of cutting trees in the range as it gets ready to start the project.

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

F AMRECO, 10

Lopez to run after family’s company if proven destructive to environment E

NVIRONMENT secretary Gina Lopez declared that her advocacy to push for responsible mining practices and the sustainable protection and management of the environment will not spare any entity, group or individual.

Not even her family and their companies involved in explorations will be exempted.

In a statement, Secretary Lopez threatened to run after the Lopez’ Energy Development Corporation (EDC) if proven that the current geothermal expansion programs of their plants in Negros Oriental will threaten the biodiversity of Mount Talinis and its surrounding areas.

The secretary vowed to use the full force of the law if the expansion program of their 223-megawatt geothermal plant in Negros Oriental

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

R

Heartwarming Rio

IO’S opening ceremonies is a smashing statement. Brazil showed that in an event as colossal as the Olympics, you do not need lavish extravagance to impress the world.

As people around the world waited in baited breath to see what Brazil has to offer during the opening program in the word’s carnival capital, there was massive anticipation of a grandiose theatrics. Afterall, this is the Olympics and the last ones we have seen have been mind-boggling.

Imagine the grandeur of Beijing’s opening ceremony in 2008 and the high-tech, cheeky inventiveness of London’s in 2012, it is only natural that people would expect Rio to deliver a coup de grâce of its own.

But, to everyone’s surprise, Rio’s was earthier and less swish but more sobering with its gloomy environmental look at the future and deliberate penny-pinching.

Brazil’s opening ceremonies budget, according to creative director Fernando Meirelles, was slashed by half as Brazil’s economic recession bit ever harder.

In the end, Rio spent a dozen times less than London, 20 times less than Beijing.

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The hosts believed that it is not tacky to be overspending, not a good message for the world when 40 percent of the homes in Brazil have no sanitation.

In short, Brazil did not spend money it doesn’t have for the show. But it was successful in driving a powerful message against global warming, climate change and world peace.

Brazil packaged its party with solemnity, lacing the fun and frivolous show with sobering messages about global warming and conservation.

Images of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, swirling in the Earth’s atmosphere were followed by projections of world cities and regions — Amsterdam, Florida, Shanghai, Dubai — being swamped by rising seas.

The peace symbol, tweaked into the shape of a tree, was projected onto the floor of the Maracana Stadium as thousands of athletes from the 207 teams paraded.

Rio caught the world by surprise. In an Olympics already hounded by the threats of Zika virus and Brazil’s apparent inability to match expectations, it sure won the Games’ first gold medal and the most precious of them all.

ANTONIO M. AJERO NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Editor in Chief Managing Editor SONNY L. MENDOZA Associate Editor

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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VANTAGE POINTS

9

How do you converse with the people?

NCOUTH, unbecoming, unpresidential, unfocused, rambling, adlibbing. “Que horror!” exclaimed the richy rich. Such were the words used by Presidents detractors to describe his State of the Nation (SONA) Speech last Monday.

Nonetheless expected from these opposers, the criticism is however balanced with their wish that the straightforward speech should be “well written, well delivered and inspiring.”

But what exactly is the latter, I ask?

How does one define “well delivered?”

Is it the eloquent, deep Tagalog of President Aquino, or the long, data heavy speech of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?

While understandable, the perspective of the detractors were compared with the admiration received from common folk, especially in the

A

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

LITTLE kindness goes a long, long way. But to some people, they expect kindness to be offered to them in silver platter – and without any return.

Recently, I went to Davao City and rode in a bus. In Sta. Cruz, the bus stopped to drop some passengers.

But there were more passengers going to Davao so by the time the bus left, it was fully loaded.

Near to the place where I was sitting, a woman was wondering if someone will offer her a seat.

Being a gentleman, I stood up and the woman took the place. Without smiling at me or even thanking me for what I did, she immediately went on texting.

The incident reminded me of a story related to me by a friend. The same scenario happened in a bus. When the woman felt that no one was offering her a seat, she started complaining loudly.

“Well, those days of gallantry when men gave their seat to women who are standing in a bus,” she said.

And looking at the man who was sitting beside her, she added, “There are men who know a woman needs a seat and he won’t even bother to give her his seat.”

The woman kept on rambling.

Twenty minutes later, the man shout-

provinces.

MY TWO CENTS’ The people of Southern Philippines find it difficult to comprehend the deep Tagalog of Aquino, often stiffly delivJohn Tria ered with a ecisouth@gmail.com flair for the poetic that perhaps the speechwriters and a select few understand and appreciate.

Duterte, on the other hand, prefers to adlib by explaining the more difficult concepts stated in his speech. Like a teacher putting emphasis on things to make sure they are explained well, Duterte does it very well, peppered

with the frank and straightforward statements befitting an honest heart.

That he speaks with a heavy Visayan accent is an endearing trait to many who see a very human and personable Digong, whereas PNOY failed to get that gut connection with the Masa.

Unlike PNOy and Mar Roxas, his manner of speaking, and his use of words and humor present someone not trying to impress. Mar Roxas and PNOY always made you feel as though they are trying to prove something or sound smart, or better than you.

Chips from their shoulders as progeny of presidents, they make this impression that they are worthy of our trust.

His predecessor tries to put on a show, and everybody else dresses the part to be noticed and admired like in some awards banquet for the mutual

admiration society.

On the other hand, the rolled up Barong sleeves and the loosely buttoned collar put forward a realistic, authentic man buckling down to work and engaging the people in an active conversation on how government will govern.

In the end, a “well delivered “ State of the Nation Address does not impress the intellectuals, or the teachers of rhetoric. It gets the message across to the gerater majority, the rest of the people for whom governments care, service and professionalism was illusory- those lining up at dawn to apply for passports, drivers waiting to claim their long awaited licenses and car plates, the Kidapawan farmers, the Lumads, the Maguindanao and Mamasapano kin seeking justice.

No wonder they cheered him.

ed stopped. THINK ON THESE! “Finally, he is going down,” the woman pointed out.

“He could not take already what I have said.”

But before Henrylito D. Tacio the woman henrytacio@gmail.com could say another word, the man asked the conductor to give him his crutches.

He was having a hard time going down and all eyes were on him. The woman, who took the place, pretended to sleep until it arrived in its destination.

In an office of a non-government organization, this passage was posted in an area where everyone could see and read: “If someone were to pay you P100 for every kind word you ever spoke and collect P50 for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?”

“Kindness is more than deeds,” C. Neil Strait once reminded. “It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch.

It is anything that lifts another person.”

There are some instances where a person who has rendered kindness

gets in trouble because of the kindness he extended to the other person. If that sounds equivocal to you, let me share the story of an Indonesian journalist who attended the recent conference in Cairns, Australia.

It was a long trip from Jakarta to Sydney. Now, she was ready to take her final flight from Sydney to Cairns.

She was already sitting for a few minutes inside the plane when the lone seat next to her was taken by a little Australian boy. “Are you alone?” she inquired. The boy answered negatively.

“My father is sitting out there,” he pointed out.

The flight was fully booked and there was no way the father and son could be together. Since it was still a three-hour flight, she stood up and told the father he could take her seat so the two could be together.

They were already flying when she remembered that she placed her notebook computer at the back of the seat where she previously occupied. She stood up and asked the father of the little boy if he saw the computer.

“Yes, I did,” the man replied. “I gave it to the stewardess. I thought it belongs to a previous passenger before this flight.” The journalist answered, “But you know that I occupied this seat before. Why didn’t you bother to ask me

first?”

The journalist went to the stewardess and asked for her computer. She was told that it was left in Sydney because they thought it was left by a previous passenger, as what the man told them.

All throughout the flight, the Indonesian journalist was fuming mad. “And this is what I get for extending kindness to them?” she told herself. It was not until two days later that she took hold of her computer again.

“Constant kindness can accomplish much,” said Albert Schweitzer. “As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”

A few years ago, I was vacationing with my sister’s family in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. One day, I was at the backyard when I saw my two nephews were playing not far from where I was sitting.

Thirty minutes later, I heard Phil shouting for help. “My balloon, my balloon,” he said. But before the balloon went up, Erik was able to grab the string. He gave it to his little brother.

Phil was smiling when he got back his balloon. Without much ado, he told Erik: “Thank you very much. You’re my hero.”

Katherine Francke said it succinctly: “As perfume to the flower, so is kindness to speech.”

A time to be kind

10 NEWS President... FROM 5 at building confidence with those who want to turn themselves in.

It is a joint effort of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the local governments and other stakeholders.

The former rebels, five women and 12 men who surrendered starting 2011, are treated well to show that the government is sincere in convincing insurgents to return to mainstream society, Prieto said.

Aside from meeting the soldiers and the former rebels, the President also had a photo opportunity with them, as well as with camp employees.

President Duterte was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya, Maj. Gen. Harold Cabreros, chief of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Capiz mayors welcomed the Chief Executive as he arrived at the camp. (PNA)

part of the MPSA will not be operated by the company since these are already non-mineralized and no longer included in our operations plan,” Carlom said.

He added the company has already completed the exploration in some of its coverage areas.

Leaders of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs),

environmental advocates and other stakeholders from all over Mindanao attended the Mindanao Environment Summit organized by the Ateneo de Davao in Davao City held from Thursday to Friday.

Representatives of some mining companies were present during the occasion that was graced by Secretary Lopez and President Rodrigo Duterte.

round Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives with the San Miguel Foundation, the Trees Brew Life tree growing project is special as it really mirrors the commitment of our company to be a responsible steward of the environment in a sustainable way,” Huang said.

He added that SMB Inc. believes that the program will not only immortalize the fruits of its hard work, but it will also allow the company give back its blessings to the Filipino nation, “to whom this beer

company owes its 126 years of existence.”

“SMB also hopes to be able to contribute in ensuring the availability of water supply by protecting, preserving and rehabilitating forest covers, regeneration of mangrove areas and propagation of planting materials for an eco-friendly environment,” he said.

The company is also actively involved in programs that promote education, health and basic services and livelihood. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

all types, he added.

The AMRECO president also stressed that the Agus and Pulangui Hydro Power Plants are already fully paid assets of the national government.

“If sold, the new owner will recover their investments by imposing an increase on rates, and in a fashion more disadvantageous to end-consumers,” he added.

To support its continued opposition, the group passed Resolution 34-2016 last July 29, 2016 – a resolution reiterating AMRECO’s strong opposition to the privatization of said hydro power assets.

The resolution, he said will be submitted to the new administration to explain their reasons and justifications in opposing the said move of PSALM. “The past administration has supported the call of AMRECO and other Mindanao stakeholders not to proceed with the privatization of Agus-Pulangi by issuing EO 81, Series of 2012,” Dagooc said.

EO 81 created the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC), a body that will ensure that coordination and monitoring are carried out between key players in the industry to improve the power situation in Mindanao.

MPMC is being overseen by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and

its members include the Department of Energy (DOE); the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC); the National Electrification Administration (NEA); National Power Corporation (NPC); PSALM; the Mindanao Electric Power Alliance (MEPA); and AMRECO. Dagooc said the MPMC has already deliberated on the privatization issue and concluded that the privatization of the Agus and Pulangui hydropower complexes will have an adverse effect on the power Mindanao’s power situation.

Director Romeo Montenegro of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) who heads MPMC affirms Dagooc’s statements during the press conference.

He said contrary to the claims that some quarters, the Agus-Pulangui is not losing money. In fact, it is making money from P7 to P8 billion annually.

Montenegro said that both MinDA and AMRECO are both advocating for the establishment of a Mindanao Power Corporation that will manage the Agus-Pulangui, an idea which had gotten the approval of lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, a consolidated bill on this matter has been overtaken by events, including the just concluded May 2016 national elections.

Level... FROM 6

SMB... FROM 6

AMRECO... FROM 7

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

Comval holds team building and planning workshop for Bayanihan Para sa Kalusugan- Kusina ng Kalinga

T

HE Provincial Government of Compostela Valley under the leadership of Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy held a team building and planning activity for Bayanihan Para sa Kalusugan-Kusina ng Kalinga (BPSK-KnK) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Uswag Gawad Kalinga (Uswag GK) Foundation on July 27 at Dominican Retreat House, Magdum, Tagum City.

The participants of the workshops included provincial department deads, Department of Education (Dep-Ed) officials and teachers, school principals, PTA officials, Uswag GK members and KnK for Mindanao.

According to Ruben J. Reponte, Dep-Ed supervisor, said the pilot schools of the proposed program are the Maco North and South public elementary schools.

In particular, the target beneficiaries are malnourished elementary pupils.

Reponte said the DepEd has allocated a total budget

DAR... FROM 7

for this year of Php18Million from the School Based Feeding Program (SBFP).

“The feeding program is good for one hundred twenty (120) feeding days equivalent to six (6) months and the budget is for the 8,000 pupils as the beneficiaries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Celso Bacalla, head of operation KnK for Mindanao, said the KnK is the new program of the Gawad Kalinga Foundation which aims to address hunger and malnutrition among the poorest of the poor.

garin,” Mariano said.

“Atin din pong pinapagawa... pagrepaso sa mga orders ng DAR pati ng mga adjudication cases,” Mariano said.

Mariano was referring to CLOAs that were given to the farmers under the agrarian reform law.

However, DAR found out that these farmers were not actually tilling their lands.

Mariano was in Davao last Thursday to speak with farmers who had been processing their Certificates of Land Ownership (CLOAs) for

decades.

According to the DAR regional website, http://www. dar.gov.ph/region-xi, the agency was able to resolve about 240 cases in 2014 in Davao City alone, way above the office’s target of around 150 cases.

In the meantime, Mariano also inspected a Department of Agriculture (DA) project in partnership with Philmech, which will establish a tram line cable system for the transport of agricultural goods in Brgy. Cadalian, Baguio District.

highest monthly remittance during the second half of the 2015 with P1.04 million, which is one of the significant outcomes of the 19 pre-implementation trainings held last year. So far, CARD Inc. has successfully collected a total of P8.82 million in over 2,200 transactions,” Ragel shared.

Based in San Pablo City, Laguna, CARD Inc. also earned SSS accreditation as a servicing partner agent (SPA) in 2013.

The microfinance institution recorded over 14,000 SSS non-collection transactions last year, which was higher by 43 percent from the 10,024 transactions posted in 2014.

Under the SSS Partner Agent Program, CPAs are authorized to receive and collect SSS contributions, loan amortizations and other miscellaneous payments from their members and clients. Meanwhile, SPAs are allowed to receive and screen applications for SSS registration and benefit claims.

“Accredited partner agents also receive P4 for every pro-

cessed transaction and P6 for each collected payment as service fee from SSS, enabling them to generate additional income that they can use to further strengthen their operations and programs for members and clients,” Ragel said.

Established in December 1986, CARD Inc. is a social development and microfinance institution which conducts community-based activities and offers various loan programs that uplift the quality of life of its members and their families. To date, CARD Inc. has 1.15 million members all over the Philippines.

“Interested organizations may call the nearest SSS branch or the SSS Cooperatives and Informal Sector Department (CISD) at telephone numbers 920-6401 local 5755 and 5756 to get the complete list of qualifications and requirements. Any SSS branch office can receive and screen applications and they shall endorse it to CISD for further evaluation and approval,” she said. (SSS)

SSS... FROM 11

The Gawad Kalinga Foundation builds houses in impoverished communities by enlisting the support of various sectors of the community.

He added “the GK found out that for us to address poverty, we need also to address hunger that is why the KnK is started with the GK initiatives in partnership with the Ateneo who provides the module of nutrition and now we hope to share this program in DepEd, LGU and other private stakehold-

Solon... FROM 5

ers who are willing to align or part of the GK to address hunger.”

Bacalla explained that the feeding program started after the typhoon Yolanda hit the province of Leyte, feeding about 3,000 students in the municipality of Alang-alang.

He said that the main objectives of program is to address hunger in communities and promote values formation among residents “because we see that this is not just a feeding program but we hope to educate or to influence the whole family especially the parents because this is a community building program. (Rey M. Antibo, IDS Comval)

tions that may be claimed by both shall not exceed the max-

imum additional exemptions allowed.(PNA)

The auditing team, which started its work three weeks ago, is being undertaken by the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) headed by undersecretary Mario Luis Jacinto.

Lopez said the team will evaluate not only the technical aspect of the companies’ mining operations but also the social and environment impact of their operations on the host communities.

Meanwhile, in its bid to decisively implement the national government’s environmental policies “with the spear of social justice”, the DENR intends to establish a hotline for environmental complaints.

Lopez said complainants can access the hotline by calling 0917 552 9344 or emailing aksyonkalikasan@denr. gov.ph.

The environmental summit, which was also attended

by President Rodrigo Duterte, was participated in by more than 4,000 delegates coming from regions 9, 10, 11,12 and the (Autonomous Regoin in Muslim Mindnao (ARMM).

The participants were composed of representatives from different civil society organizations, as well as students and faculty of the Ateneo de Davao University.

The one-day summit provided participants an opportunity to dialogue with Sec. Lopez and present key environment issues and concerns that need to be addressed by the national government The delegates likewise gave their commitment to help protect the environment. CHENEEN R. CAPON

cial workers or personnel tasked to evaluate the qualifications of beneficiaries; and 3. The DSWD retains sole authority to determine the beneficiaries of the program pursuant to existing guidelines. As such, DSWD social workers or personnel tasked to evaluate the qualification of beneficiaries are enjoined to strictly adhere to MC6 and to existing circulars prescribing guidelines for the implementation of the PSP.

DSWD workers and personnel, cash disbursements shall be conducted only within the premises of the DSWD offices.

“There will be special guidelines issued when and how payment outside DSWD offices/premises may be made. Also, those DSWD staff involved in implementing the PSP are required to report to the Office of the Secretary any threat or attempt to pressure or circumvent the provinces of MC6 so I and the appropriate DSWD office can take the necessary action and provide support to the DSWD social worker or personnel under threat,” Taguiwalo said. (DSWD)

Sec. Lopez... FROM 7

Sec. Taguiwalo... FROM 11

Sec. Taguiwalo also said that to ensure the safety of

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EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

SHDA 2016 showcases the best in Davao’s housing dev’t sector

By Sonny Mendoza Photos by Lean Daval Jr. KEY PLAYERS OF DAVAO CITY’S BOOMING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY GATHERED under one roof to take part in the Subdivision and Housing Developer’s Association (SHDA) Fair 2016 held last August 3 at the Abreeza Mall, Davao City.

The event, dubbed “Go Green, Opening the Doors For Real Change,” was attended by representatives from Davao’s top subdivision and housing developers, banks and other key financial institutions, as well as officials of concerned government line agencies such as the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and Pag-Ibig.

“We put them all together in one venue so they (customers) will be updated on what developers are doing,” said Carmen S. Diano, president of SHDA Southern Mindanao.

The activity, Diano explained, will provide the city’s real estate developers an opportunity to showcase their various real estate products to the people of Davao.

“This event is good for our prospective clients because they can choose [a house] which suites their particular tastes,” she said.

“Therefore, we developers are not only required to meet the minimum standards [of construction], but really make sure we deliver good quality. That is our commitment,” Diano added.

Kristin Lu, chairman of SHDA Southern Mindanao, for her part, pointed out the fair is a” one-stop shop” wherein clients will be able to avail of all housing-related services in one place.

“By holding this event, we want to make everything is hassle-free for our clients,” Lu said.

Asked on the prospects for Davao’s real estate industry, Diano looks forward to a bright future.

“A lot of people are coming in (Davao) now. We expect to have a more robust and dynamic housing industry.”

For her part, Lu believes there are a lot of good things in store for the housing development industry under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We anticipate this to happen especially now that our president is from Mindanao. Davao has now become a showcase for other developers in other parts of the country,” she added.

“Davao’s housing industry is definitely booming this year,” she concluded.

L-R. Engr. Kenneth Yap of Davao Joyful Homes, Inc., Engr. Manuel Cerbo Jr. and Mrs. Myra Cerbo of Prestige Homes, Dr. Lourdes Ledesma and Engr. Ludwig Ledesma of Starlight Ventures, Inc., Councilor Rene Elias Lopez., Mrs. Carmen Soriano Diano of Francisco M. Soriano, Inc., Arch. Kristin Lu of Kisan Lu Lands, Inc., and Engr. Sol Lagmay of Jenson Lands and Development Corp.

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PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

By Leebai Sinsuat Ambolodto WITH A PLETHORA OF DESIGNS SUITED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES, motorcycles occupy a realm it can call its own. In fact, the relationship between machine, rider and the road fuels and foretells a story that goes beyond the planned trail. The camaraderie established and built between and amongst riders, who come from all walks of life, most often exceeds expectations.

Exemplifying the motorcycle culture in Davao takes an army of like-minded individuals who dare to engage the clutch and hurtle themselves forward. One formidable example of this biking culture was the recently concluded Mindanao Bike Night last July 23, which invaded the streets of downtown

Davao.

An annual event, it is more than just a gathering under the Davao sky; the event aims to foster brotherhood between and amongst riders who, first and foremost, consider each other as brothers.

In line with this major biking event, Norminring Motorbikes

also celebrated its 5th year a versary of Premium Multibr Sales and Services. Normin Motorbikes is not only a tru dealer and distributor of pre um bikes, it also offers adeq and high-quality services per for all motorcycle needs. F newbies to riders who wan upgrade their bikes, Normin Motorbikes has everything need.

Leading the pack Norminring Motorbikes P dent and CEO Juan Andre son, who gushed as he spok the achievements of the comp during over the past years.

Joining him were Daniel Su Head of Sales and VP for

DGEDAVAO

annirand nring usted emiquate rfect From nt to ning they

was PresiLacke of pany

unga, Mo-

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

bility, and Manny Perez, Chief Group Advisor. Also in attendance was Norminring Motorbikes Davao General Manager, Arnie Layco, who made sure everyone had a good time.

The event was well-attended by members of the biking community, who came from all over the country. The night provided the participants a chance to catch up and meet people who share the same passion and dedication as rid-

ers.

It was not just a night of fun and laughter; it was full of surprises which kept everyone on their feet. One lucky rider, Dandy Robale of Sunday Riders, took home the grandest prize of the night.

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

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Fun and hip styles at the

Breezapalooza Fashion Show THE ABREEZA MALL’S ACTIVITY CENTER PULSATED with funky beats and colorful fashion last July 30 as Style Origin, the annual Ayala Malls fashion spectacle touched down in Davao. Promising “MAS!” - “more music, art, and style” - the show, dubbed Breezapalooza, headlined celebrity guest Jake Ejercito who walked the runway in on-trend picks from Abreeza Mall merchants.

Jake Ejercito

Aside from Jake, Breezapalooza featured style influencers Daniel Diniz, Iago Faria, Carlo Gonzales, Carlo Guevara, Janina Manipol, Tola Orendain, Miko Raval, Ulrike Reinbold, Hans Weiser, and Jessica Yang.

Manila’s top models Sam Ajdani, Stefano Churchill, Julian Flores, Alaiza Malinao, Lou Muñoz, and Cassy Naidas, together with Davao’s own personalities from the fashion, media, and blogging communities, strutted across the Breezpalooza runway.

Over 30 Abreeza Mall merchants of men’s and women’s apparel, kids’ and teens’ wear, active lifestyle picks, footwear, bags, and

accessories showcased their latest styles at Breezapalooza; namely, Artwork, Bambu, Bratpack, Burrp!

Tees, CLN, Collezione C2, Columbia Sportswear, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Esprit, Flossy, GAP, Gingersnaps, Herschel, Ipanema, Just G, Mags, Mango, Mango Kids, Mango Man,

FROM LEFT: Carlo Gonzales, Ulrike Reinbold, Tola Orendain, Stefano Churchill.

Marks & Spencer, Mendrez, Nike Athletic Club, Nurlika Pearl Shoppe, Onitsuka Tiger, Original Penguin, Plains & Prints, Promod, Robinsons Department Store, Samsonite, Sneak-

FROM LEFT: Sam Ajdani, Alaiza Malinao, Iago Faria, Julian Flores, Daniel Diniz, Cassy Naidas, Carlo Guevara, Lou Muñoz, Hans Weiser. er Club, SOUL Lifestyle, Springfield, Res Toe Run, and Wrangler.

Rounding out the music and art treats at Breezapalooza were wicked beats

by DJ Nina Saputil and themed art by young Davao artists displayed at the GIF photowall near the Activity

Center.

Ayala Malls Style Origin 2016 was presented in partnership with The Philippine STAR YStyle, TIGER 22 media corporation, and Starworld. The hotel sponsor for Abreeza Mall’s Style Origin Breezapalooza was Seda Abreeza Hotel.

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Sec. Taguiwalo issues circular on Protective Services Program

D

EPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo has released Memorandum Circular No. 9 (MC 9) titled ‘Supplemental Guidelines on the Implementation of Protective Services Program” (PSP).

Dated August 1, 2016, MC 9 has already been circulated to the entire DSWD body for strict implementation and adherence, according to a statement released by DSWD. The office of Sec. Taguiwalo has been receiving various informal complaints and requests for clarifications on her new policies and directives on the implementation of the DSWD’s PSP in relation to the Supreme Court (SC) decision declaring the unconstitutionality of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). In response, Sec. Taguiwalo released MC9.

In particular, MC9 was vissued to: 1. Guide the DSWD Field Offices (FOs) nationwide in the implementation of the PSP, particularly their treatment of referral letters from individuals, groups of individuals, or organization, including public officials whether national or local executives, legislators, members of the judiciary, or constitutional commission; 2. To ensure adherence to the

decision of the Supreme Court which declared the PDAF unconstitutional and the Commission on Audit Memorandum; 3. To enhance the DSWD’s performance of its mandate as the government’s frontline agency in social protection; 4. To uphold the dignity of DSWD social workers and personnel involved in the implementation of the PSP, as well as ensure their physical safety; and 5. To promote the fair and equitable implementation of the PSP.

Sec. Taguiwalo explained that MC9 covers the implementation of PSP by all FOs and offices, bureaus, services, and units (OBSUs) that are, or in the future may be tasked to implement the PSP. Moreover, MC6 clarified that: 1. Referral letters from individuals, groups of individuals, or organization, including public officials whether national or local executives, legislators, members of the judiciary, or constitutional commission are not integral to the implementation of the PSP; 2. While referral letters may be considered, they are not binding on DSWD so-

F SEC. TAGUIWALO, 10

Mindanao to host first EAGA cultural fest A

FESTIVAL that will showcase the cultural diversity of the Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is slated to take place in various Mindanao cities in the Philippines next year.

Dubbed as the 1st Budayaw BIMP-EAGA Festival on Culture and the Arts, the week-long festival aims to promote appreciation of the sub-region’s rich heritage and culture of its neighboring ASEAN countries. It will showcase the creative works of more than 300 cultural practitioners from the sub-region.

The conduct of the festival was one of the agreements sealed during the recently concluded BIMP-EAGA Socio-Cultural and Education (SCE) Cluster Meeting, in which key officials and representatives from the sub-region gathered here in the city to develop initiatives that will create greater understanding and solidarity among the multi-cultural populations of the BIMP-EAGA. Gerardo Reynaldo, development management officer of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said

the Budayaw Festival aims to feature the cultural movers from the BIMP-EAGA by giving them a platform that will honor their significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of the sub-region.

“We are looking at establishing networks of stakeholders that will help leverage the works of these artists to a more prominent scale,” Reynaldo said.

The festival will be divided into several sub-events, focusing on the fields of visual arts, photography, film, music, dance, and theatre.

Among the highlights of the week-long event is a show-

case of traditional weaving techniques from master “ikat” weavers across BIMP-EAGA. “These events will take place simultaneously and will capture the colorful panorama of cultures that BIMP-EAGA has to offer,” said Adelina Suemith, executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Budayaw is a combination of the Bahasa word “buda” which means “festival” and the Filipino word “dayaw” or “celebration”. The Budayaw Festival will be held in September 2017 across key areas in Mindanao including General Santos City and Sarangani Province. The

event will also be in line with the commemoration of the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN cooperation.

Formally established in 2014, the SCE Cluster was endorsed by the Philippines to specifically cultivate a “people-centered” regional cooperation within BIMP-EAGA through opportunities that can promote human resource development and cultural diversity within the sub-region.

BIMP-EAGA was established in 1994 to address the socioeconomic development gaps within and across the sub-region particularly in less developed areas of the participating countries. (MinDA)

accredits CARD DCWD lab rated‘excellent’anew SSS as collecting agent

T

HE Davao City Water District (DWSD) laboratory maintained its excellent rating in the Proficiency Testing Scheme for Water Microbiological Testing Laboratory for CY 2015.

DCWD lab obtained the same excellent rating during the national proficiency tests conducted in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

The Proficiency Test (PT) is required for the renewal of accreditation of all water testing laboratories in the country as mandated by the

Department of Health (DOH).

It is administered by the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), in coordination with the Health Facilities and Service Regulatory Bureau.

DSWD water quality division manager Hydie R. Maspiñas explained that in the actual testing, the NRL provided three unknown PT sample packets containing viable microorganisms traceable to reference cultures that were verified by the NRL. These samples were then

analyzed by a DCWD medical technologist under normal laboratory conditions.

“Our laboratory’s excellent rating means that our responses were perfect or had zero error,” Maspiñas noted.

DCWD general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado also stressed the importance of the consistent excellent PT rating for the clients of the water utility, saying “It vouches for the safety and quality of water we give to our customers as well as the accuracy of the results of the

services offered by our laboratory.”

The Certificate of Proficiency conferred by the DOH was presented to the employees during the monthly convocation in July. The DCWD management congratulated the production department’s laboratory staff for its exemplary performance.

DSWD customers who are interested to avail of the laboratory services may call 221-5132 for additional details. (Jamae G. Dela CruzDSWD)

DCWD lab rates gets excellent rating. DCWD general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado, together with the laboratory staff headed by Water Quality Division manager Hydie R. Maspiñas (4th from L) present the Certificate of Proficiency conferred by the Department of Health during the DCWD employees convocation in July.

T

HE Social Security System (SSS) has accredited the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Inc. (CARD Inc.) as one of its collecting partner agents (CPA) as part of the agency’s efforts to create new channels for SSS payments and to promote active SSS membership in the informal sector.

SSS Assistant Vice President for Cooperatives and Informal Sector Department Ma. Nympha M. Ragel said the organization’s nationwide operations and rapid network expansion are among the distinct advantages of CARD Inc. as CPA. “CARD Inc. has over 900 branches nationwide where Luzon has the largest number with 446, followed by Mindanao and Visayas with 296 and 239 branches, respectively. We select organized groups that are trustworthy and capable to handle SSS transactions and have shown their dedication to assist the SSS in bringing much-needed social security protection to informal sector workers,” Ragel said.

As part of their memorandum of agreement (MOA), SSS and CARD Inc. collaborated in conducting pre-implementation trainings for both parties from May to September 2015.

Over the five-month period, more than 1,500 SSS and CARD Inc. employees attended trainings in 19 CARD Inc. branches nationwide.

“The pre-implementation trainings aimed to familiarize all of the concerned parties with the specific provisions of the MOA and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, including the scope of services, target clients and collection process.

We want them to know all the program aspects by heart to better fulfill their obligations as new partner of SSS,” Ragel explained.

It only took two months after the final leg of the pre-implementation trainings for CARD Inc. to start with its collection and remittance of SSS contributions, besting the usual three-month period needed by newly-accredited CPAs. “CARD Inc. recorded the

F SSS, 10

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

Matina Enclaves braces for scheduled turnover

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

E

SCANDOR Development Corporation (Esdevco) is gearing up for the scheduled turnover of its first condominium building inside the sprawling Matina Enclaves.

The first of the multi-building The Residences (condo sector) of Matina Enclaves will be due for turnover on December and at the rate construction has progressed, project head Gerald Kent Garces has enough reason to be excited.

“We are right on the spot for the turnover and the rest of the construction works are also catching up,” Garces said.

As of August 1, 86 percent of the structural works have been completed and 18 percent of the ceiling works are done. Interior planting has also reached 24 percent coverage, wall partition is already at 89 percent and the tile works at 13 percent.

For the garbage chute, Esdevco reported a 30 percent completion with fabrication on progress.

The Matina Enclaves’ adult and kiddie pools are also almost complete at 91 percent.

Over at the Building 2 construction, works have also been on schedule with the micropiling and bored piling have reached 98 percent complete.

Completion of piling works for Building 2 and the start of the structural works is due by August.

Meantime, Building 3 piling will start on the fourth quarter of 2016.

Across the street for the Arcadia project, the ongoing excavation and structural preparation has also started.

Arcadia is a recreation and amusement complex complete with state-of-the-art sports and physical fitness facilities.

Matina Enclaves is the initial venture into real estate development by the Escandor business empire under the Esdevco division.

The Davao-based conglomerate is also into security services, and hotel business.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016

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14 CLASSIFIEDS

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EDGEDAVAO Sports 15 Rio sends a message

FIREWORKS. Fireworks lit up the sky of Rio de Janeiro on Saturday for the opening ceremonies of the 31st Olympics.

W

RAVE IN RIO Pinoy athletes march in with the world’s best

S

OME of the world’s best athletes gathered at Maracana Stadium, with Greece leading off the parade of nations and Filipinos taking a share of the limelight on Friday in Brazil (Saturday, Manila time).

The Philippine delegation was led by table tennis player Ian Lariba, with the flag passed on to taekwondo jin Kirstie Alora towards the end of the march.

The parade featured stars such as former world No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Rafael Nadal, although there are a number of absences led by the world’s

fastest man Usain Bolt of Jamaica.

skipping the event for various reasons.

T h e Games will also miss several top players such as 17-time grand slam tennis winner Roger Federer, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy and Fil-Australian world No. 1 golfer Jason Day, who are

Though most nations at an Olympic Games enter the opening ceremony in alphabetical order, there are exceptions.

Greece goes first given its role as the birthplace of the

namets, Inc. Bayron, who honed his skills as a caddie at the Apo Golf and Country Club, also won the inaugural Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu in 2011.

Though the two-shot swing on No. 15 fueled his title bid, the ace Davaoeño shotmaker said it was his chip-in birdie from 30 yards on the ninth that keyed his victory. He bagged US$17,500 (P822,500).

“That was the turning point. In the first few holes, I was looking for something to inspire me and that chip-in birdie was the answer,” said Bayron, who bucked an opening hole bogey with birdies on Nos. 4 and 9 and made up for his other bogey mishap on No. 11 by making birdie on Nos. 13 and 15.

Green carded a 69 for a 284 total, bagging worth

US$11,500.

“I had to hit a birdie. Too bad it did not happen,” rued FROM APO TO ASIA. Davao’s Green.

Jay Bayron tips his cap after Thailand’s Rattanon Wan- sinking the final putt. nasrichan also shot a 69 and wound up in third at 285 for US$7,000.

Tony Lascuña carded a 71 for 286 for joint fourth with Indonesia’s George Gandranata, who shot a 70. Each received US$5,000.

Paez, who held on to the lead despite a 74 in the third round, stumbled with a 77 for joint sixth at 288 with Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who matched par 72, and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski, who shot a 73. Each got $3,133.

Olympics.

The host nation are last, Brazil waiting until the end of the parade to make its grand entrance. In 2004, when Athens hosted the Olympics, the Greek athlete delegation entered last as well.

Another quirk for the opening is that the local language is used to alphabetize, meaning Portuguese this year.

So the United States of America — 198th in English alphabetical order out of the 207 participating teams — will enter 69th, since in Brazil the country’s name translates to Estados Unidos da America.

Davao boy wins Aboitiz Invitational D

AVAO’S Jay Bayron fired a two-under 70 to win the Asian Development Tour’s Aboitiz Invitational by two strokes on Saturday at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s East Course.

One stroke off leader Nicolas Paez at the start of the round, Bayron hit a solid drive and superb approach shot on No. 15 then made a delicate birdie putt from six feet.

Malaysia’s Green, who rallied from three strokes down to tie Bayron with four holes left, muffed a four-footer for par.

Green closed in with a pressure-packed birdie on the par-3 No. 16, but Bayron made par in the last three holes to seal the win on a six-under 282 aggregate event in the co-organized by Asian Development Tour and Pilipinas Golf Tour-

Suarez kicks off PH campaign C

READY TO RUMBLE. Boxer Charly Suarez of Davao del Norte was set to fight a British boxer on Sunday night.

HARLY Suarez gets going the Philippine boxing team’s quest for an Olympic medal as he plunges into action on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) against Joseph Cordina of Great Britain at the Riocentro Convention Center here.

Suarez is making his debut in the quadrennial meet, one of 28 fighters entered in the men’s 60 kg. class.

From the looks of it, he’ll have his hands full right away on opening night.

Against Cordina, the 28-year-old Suarez will be facing a bigger and younger opponent, who only last year won the gold in the European Amateur Boxing Championships.

Suarez has yet encountered Cordina, 24, other than seeing clips of his past fights in youtube.

“May kaliwa tsaka kanan na suntok. Tapos matangkad siya,” said the Filipino medal hope when asked to describe his British opponent.

ITH fireworks forming the word “Rio” in the sky and supermodel Gisele Bundchen shimmering to the tune of “The Girl from Ipanema,” Rio de Janeiro jubilantly welcomed the world on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) to the first Olympic Games in South America.

After one of the roughest-ever rides from vote to games by an Olympic host, the city of beaches, carnival, grinding poverty and sun-kissed wealth opened the two-week games of the 31st Olympiad with a high-energy gala celebration of Brazil’s can-do spirit, biodiversity and melting pot history.

The low-tech, cut-price opening ceremony, a moment of levity for a nation beset by economic and political woes, featured performers as slaves, gravity-defying climbers hanging from buildings in Brazil’s teeming megacities and — of course — dancers, all hips and wobble, grooving to thumping funk and sultry samba.

But Brazil also packaged its party with solemnity, lacing the fun and frivolous show with sobering messages about global warming and conservation. Images of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, swirling in the Earth’s atmosphere were followed by projections of world cities and regions — Amsterdam, Florida, Shanghai, Dubai — being swamped by rising seas. The peace symbol, tweaked into the shape of a tree, was projected onto the floor of the Maracana Stadium that filed with thousands of athletes from the 207 teams.

“The heat is melting the icecap,” a voice intoned. “It’s disappearing very quickly.”

The crowd roared when Bundchen sashayed from one side of the 78,000-seat arena to the other, as Tom Jobim’s grandson, Daniel, played his grandfather’s famous song about the Ipanema girl “tall and tan and young and lovely.”

In a video preceding the show, UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon said the games “celebrate the best of humanity” and appealed for an Olympic truce, calling on “all warring parties to lay down their weapons” during the two weeks of sporting achievement.

There were times after the International Olympic Committee selected Rio ahead of Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid in 2009 when it seemed that the city of 6.5 million people might not get its act together for the world’s greatest sporting mega-event.

The spreading health crisis of the mosquito-born Zika virus kept some athletes away. Promises to clean up Rio’s filthy waters remained unfulfilled. The heavy bill for the games, at least $12 billion, made them unpopular with many. Heavily armed security stopped a small group of protesters from getting close to the stadium ahead of the ceremony.

But with more than a dash of “gambiarra,” the Brazilian art of quick-fixes and making do, Rio is ready.

Just.

“Our admiration is even greater because you managed this at a very difficult time in Brazilian history. We have always believed in you,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.

The honor of officially declaring the games open fell to Michel Temer, Brazil’s unpopu-

lar interim president, who was loudly jeered and faced shouts of “out with Temer.” He was standing in for suspended President Dilma Rousseff. Her ouster less than four months ahead of the games for alleged budget violations was one of many spanners in the works of Brazil’s Olympic preparations and impacted the opening ceremony itself. Fewer than 25 foreign heads of state were listed as attending, with others seemingly staying away to avoid giving the impression of taking sides amid Brazil’s leadership uncertainty.

The cannonball-shaped cauldron was lit by Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima. At the 2004 games, an Irish spectator wearing a kilt, knee-socks and a beret tackled de Lima while he was leading the Olympic marathon. Instead of gold, he fell back to take bronze.

Greece, the historical and spiritual home of the games, led the march by athletes into the stadium. They were joined by a first-ever Refugee Olympic Team of 10 athletes, displaced from Syria, South Sudan, Congo and Ethiopia. Their flag-bearer, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, fled war in South Sudan and ran her first race in a refugee camp in northern Kenya. Only Brazil’s team, which marched last, drew a louder roar from the crowd than the refugees.

The athletes were given tree seeds, plus cartridges of soil.

When they sprout, they will be planted in a Rio park.

With “USA” emblazoned on the back of his jacket, Michael Phelps carried the flag for the US team, the largest with 549 competitors. At his fifth and last Olympics, it was the first time the record holder of 22 medals had marched in an opening ceremony, having skipped previous ones to save energy for competition.

On behalf of all 11,288 competitors (6,182 men; 5,106 women), Brazilian two-time Olympic champion sailor Robert Scheidt pledged that they won’t take banned drugs — an oath likely to ring false to fans after the scandal of government-orchestrated cheating in Russia. As a consequence, Russia’s team was whittled down from a hoped-for 389 athletes to around 270.

Iran picked a woman, archer Zahra Nemati, as flag-bearer for its team made up overwhelmingly of men. Another woman pushed Nemati’s wheelchair.

She was paralyzed in a car accident as a teenager.

Shoals of samba dancers flowed in a rainbow of colors, but many showed less flesh than normal for Brazil, seemingly mindful of their global TV audience.

After the grandeur of Beijing’s opening ceremony in 2008 and the high-tech, cheeky inventiveness of London’s in 2012, Rio’s was earthier and less swish but more sobering with its gloomy environmental look at the future and deliberate penny-pinching. Creative director Fernando Meirelles said their budget, slashed by half as Brazil’s economic recession bit ever harder, “is 12 times less than London, 20 times less than Beijing.”

“It is pretty tacky to be overspending,” he said. “It is not a good message for the world.

When 40 percent of the homes in Brazil have no sanitation, you can’t really be spending a billion reals for a show.”

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 116 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8, 2016