Edge Davao 9 Issue 143

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES FEAST OF SACRIFICE. Muslim women participate in the early morning congregational prayer in yesterday’s celebration of Eid’l Adha or the feast of sacrifice in Tionko Field, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

6 PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET BOMB THREATS

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office XI has revealed that six public schools in the city received bomb threats last week, said DepEd Spokesperson Jenielito Atillo.

According to Atillo, the bomb scare among local public elementary and secondary schools started after the Roxas night market bombing last Sept. 2 that killed 14 people and injured 70 others.

Fortunately, he said, no explosives were found in all the schools which reportedly received bomb threats.

The six schools were Mintal Central Elementary school, Daniel

R. Aguinaldo National High school, Lt. Villafuerte Elementary School, Calinan Central Elementary School, Sta. Ana Central Elementary School and Sta. Ana National High school.

Attilo said there were students who even posted on social media wishing their school would receive a bomb threat so that classes would be cancelled.

“Allegedly there was a student of Davao City National High school who posted on social media wishing that his school will receive bomb scares to suspend the class,” Atillo said.

He said the DepEd is currently validating the report so that

immediate action can be taken against the student.

Atillo stressed a bomb joke is “not a joke” under the Philippine constitution.

“We would like to remind the public that a bomb joke is not a joke. We have a law punishing it,” he added.

He said that although the education department takes bomb threats very seriously, classes usually resume once police authorities have cleared the area and declared it safe.

Atillo explained that suspending classes will only prolong the school calendar, as students and teachers will still be required to

make up for the missed classes.

“If the authorities found out that the school is negative from any explosives, we should resume the classes. If we will suspend classes every now and then the classes will also prolong since we need to make up for those days,” he said.

“However, if the bomb scare happened latter on the afternoon, then we can suspend the class,” he added.

Atillo said that since classes resumed after the bombing incident, the police have increased their visibility in schools to ensure the safety of students, school faculty and parents.

EDGEDAVAO Sports Ernie fails to advance in 100-m freestyle P14 Gilas drops to 0-2 after loss to Chinese Taipei P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

GRATITUDE. President Duterte gestures while answering queries from reporters during his arrival at the Davao International Airport from Indonesia over the weekend. Duterte issued a statement yesterday expressing gratitude to Filipino Muslim for their continued support to his administration in time for the celebration of Eid’l Adha. Lean Daval Jr.

Bombing mastermind Rody thanks Muslims for support now known: Dela Rosa

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HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday confirmed that the national police already knew the mastermind in the bombing attack in Davao City that claimed the lives of 14 individuals and injured 70 others last Sept. 2.

Dela Rosa said that although they already knew the identity of the mastermind, however, it could not still be made public because the PNP was still building up the case against the suspect.

The PNP chief also debunked the link of Talitay, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Abduwahab Sabal in the Davao bombing.

Dela Rosa said the arrest

of the vice mayor was in connection with illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

He added that all the news about the vice mayor were all “speculations” only.

As of Monday, Dela Rosa said, there were still no evidence that would link the vice mayor in the bombing incident in Davao City.

“Hindi muna ako magsalita hanggang hindi pa namin ma-connect. We have to connect all the dots to have an airtight case against the suspects.

So hindi ko masabi na sila yung narco-politicians na tinutukoy natin who funded the bombing,” Dela Rosa said. ”We are doing everything we can to have him (bomber) arrested,” he said. (PNA)

as country celebrates Eid’l Adha

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

A

adlopez0920@gmail.com

S the Philippines celebrated Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, President Duterte expressed gratitude to Muslim Filipinos for extending their continued support to his administration.

In a statement issued on Monday, Sept 12, the President extended his “heartfelt and warmest greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters” on the commemoration of Eid’l Adha.

The entire nation honoured the Feast of Sacrifice of the Muslims as Sept. 12 was declared a non-working holiday.

“This occasion reminds us of the virtues that strengthen

the very foundation of Islam.

I join you in commemorating the ultimate obedience and trust of Ibrahim when he submits to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, according to the will of Allah,” President Duterte said.

He added the celebration also invigorates the common aspirations of the Muslims, and rekindles the true significance of their faith.

“I deeply appreciate your support to this government and its programs on the ongoing peace process, especially in our efforts to realize equitable and sustainable development in Mindanao,” President Duterte said, adding that it is his dream “to see our people, re-

gardless of beliefs, join hands in building a united country for our children and the next generation.”

Recently, the government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other Moro groups agreed to implement an inclusive peace process, as they committed to implement all the signed peace pacts with the Bangsamoro people.

“Let this celebration stand as a reminder that real change requires the sacrifice of our personal interests in favor of the common good of our citizens. Together, we can achieve

progress, prosperity and harmony for all,” the President concluded.

tims in lieu of her.

Last Tuesday, the city council approved P4.5 million worth of financial assistance for the victims of the blast.

The family of the deceased received P40,000, excluding funds which were earlier given for memorial services and other expenses during the burial, while the injured received P30,000.

The city will also shoulder the food expenses of patients’ watchers of for 20 days.

Meanwhile, City Social Services and Development Office

(CSSDO) Chief Maria Luisa Bermudo said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) committed to shoulder all the medical expenses of the victims, including their medicines.

Last Thursday, Mayor Duterte-Carpio announced that the bounty for the apprehension of the blast suspects had been raised from P2 million to P3 million.

She said that a Davao based businessman and a law firm gave P500,000 each for the faster apprehension of the suspects.

Senators’ messages Members of the Senate also extended their greetings to the Muslim Filipinos as they commemorated Eid’l Adha.

Seantor Francis Pangilinan said Eid’l Adha is an occasion to reflect on the importance of sacrifice as a pillar of their faith.

“This is also an opportunity for us to join them in reflection, for the spirit of Eid’l Adha can also be found in our willingness to sacrifice for our fellowmen, and to strive for

2 Muslim educators among blast victims 13 of 14 Roxas night market victims laid to rest T T WO high education officials of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Region 12 were among the more than 80 victims of the September 2 bombing of the night market along Roxas Avenue in Davao City.

This was learned from another educator based in Cotabato City who came to Davao City to attend a planning session of the Young Men’s Christian Association in Tagum City last Saturday.

Dr. Peps Macucua, a Maranao CHED (Commission on Higher Education) supervisor in the ARMM, died of shrapnel

wounds as a result of the bombing which occurred at past 10 p.m. of that fateful Friday night.

Dr. Philip T. Cuevas, associate professor of the Cotabato City Polytechnic State College, informed Edge Davao that the other victim was Dr. Jonaib Usman, a director for transition for K-to-12 of CHED Region 12.

Dr. Usman, a Maguindanao, was wounded in that bombing incident.

Both educators were in Davao City to attend a workshop organized by CHED. Except for one, all 14 fatalities in the bombing have been buried, it was reported. (See separate story.)

F RODY, 10

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA HIRTEEN of the 14 victims of the Roxas night market blast were brought to their final resting place more than a week after the bloody incident.

Seven of the victims were residents of Davao City, while the others came from neighboring provinces.

Prior to their burial, the city government of Davao offered to give financial assistance for the funeral services of the victims, including payment for the lot and excavation fee.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

earlier said the city will shoulder all expenses incurred by the victims and their families, regardless of whether they are residents of the city or not.

“The city will shoulder their funeral expenses. Those who were living outside the city were also given assistance.

There were designated personnel who were assigned to them so that the financial assistance will reach them immediately,” the mayor said.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio had designated city hall personnel to attend to the burial of the vic-

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

No‘green light’ on Veloso - Yasay P

GRASSROOTS DEV’T. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez (left) says one of the agency’s priorities is to strengthen its grassroots programs which focuses in producing olympic gold medals

for the country. Ramirez also gave updates of PSC’s other programs with commissioner Charles Raymund Maxey in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

RESIDENT Duterte has not given the so-called “green light” for the execution of Mary Jane Veloso.

This was the clarification made by Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. after reading a news item in the Jakarta Post with an erroneous headline that ran, “Duterte has given green light for Mary Jane’s execution.”

Yasay gave credence to a later paragraph in the Jakarta Post story which said: “Veloso was excluded indefinitely from the list of the third round of executions prepared by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in April, as legal procedures continue in a separate but related case.”

Yasay stressed that her execution has been indefinitely deferred.

The Jakarta Post reported: “Veloso was on the execution list last year but was granted a stay of execution because her alleged boss had been arrested in the Philippines, and the authorities have requested Indonesian assistance in pursuing the case.”

Yasay clarified further that never did Duterte give the green light to the execution of Veloso other than to tell the Indonesian President that he respected their judicial processes and accept whatever the final decision they would arrive at regarding her case. (PNA)

28-YEAR-OLD man from Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, described as the No. 1 wanted drug personality by the local police, voluntarily surrendered over the weekend after a authorities seized about P500,000 worth of prohibited drugs in his house, a police official said.

Supt. Romeo Galgo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12), identified the suspected pusher as Arjay Haden C. Motalib, married but unemployed and a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Poblacion Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.

Galgo told the Philippines News Agency in a phone interview that Motalib surren-

dered through the efforts and negotiations of town Mayor Amirh Musali and Senior Inspector Bernard Francia, town police chief.

Galgo said that before Motalib turned himself in, a police and military team armed with a warrant searched Motalib’s home where seven big sachets of shabu with an estimated market value of P500,000 were found and retrieved.

However, he was not at home at the time.

Mayor Musali and Francia then negotiated with Motalib’s parents to help convince him to surrender.

Motalib is now under the custody of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Sultan Kudarat. (PNA)

PSC to stop funding No. 1 drug suspect in Sultan Kudarat yields erring NSAs: Ramirez A

By RIA VALDEZ

P

HILIPPINE Sports Committee (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has vowed to discontinue funding for the National Sports Authorities (NSA) if these organizations “kept on fighting” or showed irresponsible behavior.

Speaking at the Kapehan sa Davao press conference at the SM City Davao, Ramirez said he had required all athletes and sports associations to sign contracts with the PSC so that they can avail of higher allowances.

He added that under these contracts, due process will also be undertaken in the nomination of national

athletes, as well as in cases of termination against athletes and coaches.

In order to strengthen the competitiveness of these athletes, Ramirez said he had asked these sports associations to, “Give me a program, I will double the budget.”

He stressed that there will be a strict implementation of the “No liquidation, no funding. No plans, no funding, and No target, no funding rule.”

He added that government money spent on these programs must always bear results.

“We would rather focus on genuine grassroots programs than fund interna-

NGO conducts beef sharing

tional athletes,” said Ramirez who criticized NSAs under the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for being irresponsible in handling their funds and finances.

He pointed out that since these associations and athletes are now under contract, the PSC will exercise it authority to investigate questionable transactions and resolve cases of misunderstanding.

“If they continue to fight, I will stop the funding,” said Ramirez.

Meanwhile, the PSC chairman said he will continue to promote programs at the grassroots level that aim to help children become

healthy citizens through community-level sports activities.

This programs, he said, would also be an opportunity to discover new talents whom the PSC could support and eventually become part of the Philippine’s pool of world-class athletes.

And now that the PSC has a budget for international sporting competitions and grassroots development programs, Ramirez said the commission also wants to have a greater focus on “human development.”

He said the PSC would also promote indigenous Mindanaon games, adding, “That is better than funding reckless athletes.”

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

I

N line with the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) handed out thousands of kilos of beef yesterday in simple ceremonies at the Davao City Hall.

The beef-sharing project was led by the Filipino-Turkish educational group Integrative Center for Alternative Development (ICAD) Foundation, whose mission is to help people in need regardless of their race or religion.

Mustafa Gun, a representative of the ICAD Davao Chapter, explained the festival is similar to the celebration of Christmas, as it aims to provide assistance

to individuals who are need, especially those belonging to underserved and marginalized sectors.

“The [beef] distributions are done in coordination with the different government agencies to ensure the order and convenience of our recipients,” Gun said.

He stressed that through the activity, ICAD would be able to promote the culture of peace, understanding, and unity among people of different ethnicities, religions, and race.

According to Gun, the foundation has reached out to more than ten thousand fami-

F NGO, 10

BEEF GIVING. A City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) staff member hands over two kilograms of beef placed into a plastic bag to a recipient of ICAD Foundation beef sharing 2016 program in time for the celebration of Eid’l Adha at Rizal Park in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

DavNor eyes digital gov’t to boost competitiveness

I

N a bid to strengthen its competitive advantages, the provincial government of Davao del Norte is pushing for electronic-government systems and applications that aim to promote more efficient and effective local governance, increased government accountability and better delivery of public services.

The Provincial Development Council (PDC) has appropriated P17 million to the fund its Comprehensive and Strategic Plan for E-Governance during their recent PDC meeting held at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan, Tagum City.

During the meeting, Governor Antonio G. del Rosario (AGR) pointed out the province is implementing e-Governance as a strategy to boost the competitiveness of the province.

“Our E-governance is something we are focusing on because we want our province to be competitive, we want innovation in our province to

make our jobs easier also, as managers,” the governor said.

Del Rosario added e-Governance would address issue of the unavailability or lack of necessary information which the provincial government needs to make crucial policy decisions, and track the progress of ongoing government projects.

The program is anchored on the provincial government’s Link to the World component of the B.E.S.T. P.E.O.P.L.E. development strategy.

“It’s vital to have e-governance because it will really fast track the decision-making process and the information we want to get so we can decide easily and fast, and for transparency and accountability and accessibility… of course it is anchored on the B.E.S.T. P.E.O.P.L.E’s development strategy of Governor Anthony, particularly on Link to the World ,” Samson Sanchez, Provincial Administrator said. By Gerne Boja (PIODavNor)

OCD-ARMM trains troopers in GIS A

T least 15 personnel of the 6th Infantry Division, 6th Civil Military Operations “Kasangga” Battalion have graduated over the weekend from the 3-day workshop and training course on Geographic Information System (GIS) after earning skills in map reading and analyze important data for combat and disaster response operations, officials said today.

Engr. Amier Ashan Aplal, Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-ARMM), facilitated the training from Sept. 8 at the 6th CMO-battalion headquarters in Cotabato City.

Aplal said as part of the

training course, the participating Army personnel have also engaged in a Metro Cotabato wide “field exercise” where they have applied all the learning acquired during the indoor lectures and workshops.

During the field exercise the group went to various areas, Barangay Tenorio, Masjid at the outskirt of the city, Cotabato City Peoples Palace, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, ARMM Compound, Cotabato City State Polytechnic College Campus, Notre Dame of Cotabato, Cotabato City Cathedral, Sultan Kudarat Municipal Hall, and the Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary.

The Geographic Informa-

F OCD, 10

SHELTERS FOR MANAY. Housing recipients of Manay, Davao Oriental receive Certificate of Occupancy to their new homes built through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP). The 200 family-beneficiaries are from hazardous seaside areas in barangays Zaragoza, San Ignacio and Central

who have been relocated in Purok 13, Barangay Central. Releasing the certificates are [from left] Davao Oriental Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, Manay Councilor Jon Marco M. Dayanghirang and Director of DSWD Mercedita P. Jabagat. Beneficiaries also received Php 22,600 each for CashFor-Work. (DSWD)

Gov. Hataman: Islam for the greater good R

EGIONAL Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday urged all Muslims to be true messengers of Islam.

“As Muslims who live true to the values of Islam, we make many sacrifices based on faith -- faith in ourselves, faith in others, and faith in Allah,” Hataman said in his Eud’l Adha (feast of sacrifice) message.

Malacanang earlier declared Eud’l Adha as a national holiday to celebrate the Islam-

ic feast of sacrifice.

“Today we remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice, one that is guided by his faith in Allah.

It is an example we aspire to live up to as we celebrate Eid’l Adha. Today, we take pause to remember what Islam means to us as Muslims living in a time where many choose turn a blind eye to our sacrifices and in a world where many look upon our faith with prejudice,” Hataman said in his message as Muslims gather in many open fields across the region to celebrate Eud’l Adha.

He said Muslims have

made many sacrifices in the past, adding there were Muslims who were persecuted because of the deeds of others which do not adhere to the teachings of Allah.

“As Muslims, this prejudice is a burden that is familiar to us. We are often persecuted because of our faith, because there are those who sow fear and terror as they claim they are Muslims who follow the path of Islam,” he said.

Hataman said there are people who proclaim themselves as Muslims but are actually not, as they are only

after their personal interests.

“Their so-called sacrifices are nothing but self-serving acts of violence; their socalled faith is nothing but a lie.

Theirs is the work of the devil and they are a disgrace to the Ummah,” he said.

He asked Muslims in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to stand together and unite against what he called as “traitors.”

“We need to stand together and unite against these traitors to Islam and the many

N line with its vision to make sports a way of life among the city’s residents, the City Government of Tagum signed a memorandum of agreement with four private business organizations to launch the City Sports Development Office’s Adopt-A-Sport Program, which highlighted wellness, health and sports tourism.

Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon signed the agreement last Sept. 5 with JHG Trading, Inc., represented by the Promotion Coordinator Ms. Jovilyn Anino; NCCC Mall of Tagum, represented by the Events Coordinator Celestino S. Gandullas; Super Two-T Motorun Center, represented by the owner Christopher Tumaru, MD, and Tagum City Bankers Association, represented by its President Mr. Homer A. Rotulo

Under the agreement, the private partners committed to support the sports programs being implemented by the local government through the provision of scholarship grants for young athletes, as well as sports equipment and financial aid for Tagumenyo athletes who will participate in competitions outside the city.

The signing of MOA was an offshoot of City Ordinance no. 750 or the Tagum City Code on Public-Private Partnership, which aims to build a stronger link between the local government and the private sector through the adoption of a contract management framework concept.

The local government vowed to continue implementing sports activities that are designed to hone the

skills of sports enthusiasts in the city.

Aside from conducting sports clinics, the local government will also launch programs that will spur more community-based initiatives geared towards sports development.

The agreement is expected to create new opportunities for sports enthusiasts and athletes in Tagum City, as envisioned by the EAGLE WINGS Program of the local government which includes sports development as among of its priority thrusts.

Also present during the signing of the agreement were councilors Rey Cyril Alba, Jose Joedel Caasi, Jan Dmitri Sator, Ester Angoy, and Eva Lorraine Estabillo and officers from City Sports Development Office. Roy Banias/CIO Tagum

F GOV, 10

Public-private alliance tapped for Tagum sports development I

ADOPT-A-SPORT. (Sitting 3rd from left) Mayor Allan Rellon and representatives from private business organizations signed a memorandum of agreement last

Sept. 5, to launch the Adopt-A-Sport Program of the City Sports Development Office. Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

PHL continues to prepay foreign debts

T

HE Philippines’ public and private sectors prepaid a total of USD1,541.2-billion worth of foreign loans in the first half of 2016.

This is lower than the USD1,834.2 billion paid in the same period in 2015, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show.

Of the total prepayment as of end-June this year, the public sector paid a total USD1,132.7 billion, lower than the USD 1,321.6 billion it made same period last year.

The private sector paid a total of USD408.5 million, also lower than the USD512.5 million it prepaid in end-June 2015.

Both the public and private sectors of the country continue to take advantage of the high liquidity situation in the domestic economy to pay in advance their liabilities from offshore credit providers.

The local currency, despite

some pull back against the US dollar due to volatilities as a result of external developments, remain resilient and enabled both sectors to continue paying ahead their foreign obligations.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo traced the declining amount of prepayments to sustained efforts by the public and private sectors to pay in advance their foreign loans, He said this started in 2005 when the government prepaid its obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

On the other hand, he said there are loan contracts that do not allow prepayments.For those that allow prepayment, the central bank official said there are prepayment charges.

“On that basis the stock of debt you need to prepay will diminish overtime. Those are the reasons why the prepayments are declining,” he added. (PNA)

COOP AWARDS. FOCCUS’s Lalaine Gepaya (right) gives the details of the upcoming model cooperative network awards with director Imelda Magabilen (left) and JJ Sumatra during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

PH construction industry needs more skilled workers

Inclusive growth signs show in BSP survey I

T

HE government has been pushing for continued and inclusive growth to lift the Filipinos out of poverty.

While actual results remain in question, the outcome of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Consumer Expectation Survey (CES) for the third quarter of 2016 indicated some positive signs.

Aside from the record-breaking results, which posted a positive index for the first time since the survey was conducted nationwide in 2007, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said respondents’ outlook on savings shows how financially-able people are becoming.

Results of the survey showed a slight decrease of respondents who said they have savings during the period at 33.1 percent from 33.2 percent in the survey conducted in the second quarter of the year.

This is, however, still better than the 28.9 percent in the third quarter of 2015.

Guinigundo said what is more important to look at is the respondents’ outlook on their ability to set aside savings in the current quarter.

Figures show that index for the current quarter stood at 41.6 percent, an improvement from the previous quarter’s 39.3 percent and year-ago’s 36.2 percent.

Respondents from the low-income group, or those with monthly income of less than P10,000 posted the highest improvement with 4.6 percentage points increase in index after it rose to 32.2 percent from quarter-ago’s 27.7

percent. Year-ago index is 26.3 percent.

The high-income group, or those with monthly income of P30,000 and up, registered the second highest improvement with 2.9 percentage points to 70.4 percent from quarter-ago’s 67.5 percent. It stood at 68.2 percent in the third quarter of 2015.

A 1.7 percentage points improvement was posted by the index for middle-income group, or those with monthly income of P10,000-P29,999.

The index for this group rose to 49.9 percent from quarter-ago’s 48.2 percent. It was at 45.1 percent in the third quarter of 2015.

Guinigundo said one of the measures of financial inclusion is households’ ability to smoothen their consumption pattern.

He said this shows, among others, households’ ability to have three square meals a day and ability to buy basic necessities for the period even if their income stream did not improve.

This is where the importance of savings suffices, he said.

With results of the CES showing an improvement in terms of the number of people with savings, the central bank executive said financial inclusion is really catching up on the economy’s expansion.

“In other words people are saving and that allows them to smoothen their consumption patterns. That is inclusive growth. They won’t say they can save if they do not have the capacity to do so,” he added.

(PNA)

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ NSUFFICIENT workforce.

This is among the biggest challenges confronting the Philippine construction industry, according to Engr. Ramon Allado, former president of Davao Constructors Association Center, Inc. (DCACI).

Speaking during the opening of PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao 2016 last week, Allado said this is a concern that needs to be immediately addressed by industry stakeholders as he anticipates 2017 to be the “golden era” for infrastructure in the country.

He said that he shares this upbeat perspective with other industry players, as the

Duterte Administration is now fast-tracking infrastructure spending and facilitating investments in the sector, which he believes is expected “to boom on multiple folds.”

“I think the budget for DPWH Region XI in 2016 is about P15 billion… I assure you, next year, it will be more than double,” Allado said.

However, as the government increases its budget for infrastructure, there is a need to complement this move with a skilled labor force that must be available “before the year ends.”

According to Allado, the Philippines currently has around two to three million construction workers, which

is insufficient to meet the increasing demand of nation’s construction companies who operations now are on full swing .

He explained the dearth of skilled laborers in the country is due to the growing demand for skilled workers abroad, as well as salary issues the government has failed to address over the years.

Allado pointed out the government could utilize the services of workers who have recently returned from the Middle East after losing their jobs there.

“The challenge is how do we convince them to stay here in the country,” he said.

Allado said that a lot of

big ticket companies and learning institutions are interested to invest in Davao, as they view the city as among the centers of development in Mindanao being President Duterte’s hometown.

Among those who plan to set up shop in Davao include De La Salle University and Mapua Institute of technology which have expressed interest in setting up satellite campuses in the city, he said.

Other upcoming investments in the city include the multi-billion Mega Harbour Project, and various condominium projects to be undertaken by well-known developers in the country, Allado added.

two Filipino words “labi” and “lugar” which literally means “a place for your appetite.”

Among the guests during the resto’s opening were family and friends of the owners, as well as Davao City 2nd District Councilor Hon. Pilar C. Braga, a family friend of the Macahigs who also served as the representative of Mayor Sara Z. Duterte.

In her message, Braga ex-

pressed the city’s government’s pleasure in having “another partner in the development ion Davao City”.

“The more businesses we have, the more eateries and restaurants we have to cater to the gastronomical delight of our people,” the councillor said.

Braga assured the restaurant’s owners that the city government will be on hand to lend its support.

Rev. Macahig explained that their original plan was to set up a coffee shop and not a restaurant but serendipity took its course.

“It was not our intention to put up a restaurant,” he said, adding that God really works in mysterious ways.

Labigar is located at Door 5, Bormaheco Bldg. 1, Bajada, Davao City. Jermaine L. Dela Cruz

augment its current 27 turbines, each generating 2MW of power.

“If we will use 2MW, we will be adding 20 wind turbines, but if bigger capacity, 16 [wind turbines] only,” Panes said.

The additional turbines are expected to generate a total of 40MW of power.

Panes said the turbines will be constructed in Sibunag town, which is 15 kilometers away from SanLorenzo. The expansion will cover three barangays in Sibunag namely Sebaste, Sabang and Bubog.

Panes said the turbines cost USD3 million each and will be sourced from Spanish turbine manufacturer Game-

sa, which also supplied their existing 27 turbines.

He said the company is targeting to start the expansion this year, however they will have to wait for the new installation target for wind energy from the Department of Energy and environmental compliance certificate from

Filipino resto opens in Davao City A

NEW Filipino-themed restaurant opened its doors to Dabawenyos last Sept 8.

“Labigar” is a joint venture of Rev. Iluminado R. Macahig and Dr. Im Kyung Seop, a Korean dentist working in Sky Deltal Clinic, Bajada.

Maria Chrystel Macahig, daughter of Rev. Macahig explained the origin of the restaurant’s name is a combination of

40MW expansion of wind farm eyed P

HINMA Group’s TransAsia Renewable Energy Corporation (TAREC) is planning to expand its 54-megawatt (MW) San Lorenzo wind farm in Guimaras, Iloilo, a company official said.

TAREC Vice President Danilo Panes said the company is eyeing to purchase additional wind turbines to

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

PAL, Cebu Pac ban Samsung Galaxy Note 7 use in flights

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

T

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE Philippine Airlines (PAL) has joined other airlines worldwide in prohibiting the charging and use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices on board all its flights.

“The flag carrier began implementing the prohibition since September 9, 2016 (Friday) in compliance with the directive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA),” a PAL statement released yesterday to Edge Davao, said.

PAL added the IATA directive stems from the recall order made on these products

by Samsung Electronics Company Limited in line with findings that showed the Galaxy Note 7 batteries and phone units have caught fire during charging prompting the manufacturer to recall all units sold

worldwide.

“Safety remains a cornerstone of PAL operations and as such, the flag carrier will be ensuring full compliance on board each flight and is seeking the full cooperation of its passengers,” the statement said further.

It added that the subject devices are not allowed as checked-in items, but may be hand carried for as long as these are switched off at all times.

“All Samsung Galaxy Note 7 units - whether used or brand new - will not be accepted as PAL cargo shipment,” PAL said.

The other major airline company in the country, the Cebu Pacific also issued a trav-

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) expects the influx of 100,000 Indian nationals into the country as a result of the agency’s recent promotional roadshows in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo noted that India has been one of the major source markets accounting for nearly 75,000 visitors last year, posting 22.36 percent year-on-year growth.

From January to June this year, the DOT recorded 44,294 arrivals, just tailing the top 12 international tourism markets.

“The four Indian cities we targeted are important feeder markets, hence we are working on strengthening our relations with their local travel partners to assure sustainable growth,” Teo said.

The DOT chief further also noted that increased Indian

visitor arrivals are facilitated by the free-entry privilege extended to Indian nationals bearing visas from the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore and United Kingdom.

DOT’s Market Development Group led by Director Verna Buensuceso headed the mission in India, bringing along representatives of hotels, resorts, spas, tourist attractions and tour operators from the Philippines to interact with over 400 Indian trade partners.

Nash Dias, offline sales manager of India’s leading travel agent Stic Travel Group, expressed optimism that the Philippine roadshow will get an excellent response from the Indian market.

Francesca Alberto, vice-president for domestic sales and marketing of Ark

WATCH MEN. Task Force Davao personnel conduct foot patrol near the Davao City’s vital installations yesterday to ensure the safety of Dabawenyos and to bring back the full confidence of investors to the city’s security more than a week after the Roxas night market bomb explosion. Lean Daval Jr.

Investment-consciousness DOT eyes more Indian arrivals among Pinoys pushed by BTr T F PAL, 10

F DOT, 10

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

I

N line with the Duterte administration’s efforts to make government securities available to retail investors and promote investment-consciousness among Filipinos, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has put on the auction block at least P30 billion worth of retail treasury bonds (RTBs) on Wednesday.

In an interview, BTr treasurer Roberto Tan revealed that the agency recorded a “very good turnout” as reflected by the auction held last Tuesday.

“The bids that were submitted to the Bureau of Treasury reached P124B and we accepted P65B,” he added.

The bonds that are set to mature on September 2026,

was offered to the general investing public for minimum denominations of P5,000 starting Sept. 6 to 16, 2016.

Rafael Leandro S. Carreon, treasury operations officer of BTR, explained that the RTB are safe, provides higher yields, are affordable and tradable, and released quarterly.

He added that RTBs represent the Philippine government’s direct, unconditional, and general obligations, and as such, are considered low-risk for local investors.

“The BTr issues the bonds to fund government infrastructure and social programs, diversify the investor base and tap individual investors,” said Carreon.

The 10-year debt paper, the eighteenth tranche of the Peso-denominated retail bond offering of the government, aims to reach a wider retail investor base.

Along with Davao, BTr holds national roadshows for this issuance in different cities across the country, including Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Ilo-ilo, Naga, Batangas, Baguio, and NCR. The BTr has tapped BDO Capital & Investment Corporation, BPI Capital Corporation, the Development Bank of the Philippines, and Chinabank Capital as Issue Managers for this retail bond offering.

Land Bank of the Philippines and First Metro Invest-

ment Corporation were designated as the Lead Issue Manager for the transaction.

Meanwhile, the demand for Philippine government securities is expected to remain strong in light of the country’s sound economic fundamentals, strong domestic liquidity, and recent positive economic growth amidst market volatilities stirred by global uncertainties.

The Philippines has remained one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with its robust gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.0% in the second quarter of this year, ahead of major emerging Asian economies such as China (6.7%) and Vietnam (5.6%).

Airasia gifts free flights to Asean Olympic medallists

A

IRASIA today gave away free flights to all Asean Olympic medallists at a gala event held in the JW Marriot Hotel in Bangkok.

Also in attendance were AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, AirAsia country CEOs, Thailand’s Vice Minister for Tourism and Sports, Associate Professor Chavanee Tongroach as well as government and sports officials from each Asean country with a podium finisher.

Gold medal winners received a lifetime of free flights, while silver and bronze medal winners received five and three years’ worth of free flights respectively.

Medallists were given a special AirAsia BIG card in gold, silver and bronze that allows them to fly to any of the more than 120 destinations within AirAsia and AirAsia X’s extensive network in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, “We are very honoured to be able to present free flights to the men and women who have inspired the region with their sporting excellence.

“Too often, sports is overlooked in Asean but their achievements show we can be the world’s best when we set our mind to it, together with the right support and infrastructure.”

He added, “Athletes will be able to make use of the free flights whenever they want, as many times as they want. No ifs, no buts, no funny conditions. We sincerely hope they will enjoy flying with us.”

AirAsia is Asia’s largest low-cost carrier by passengers carried and jet fleet, with unmatched frequencies. It is also the only airline to fly direct to all 10 Asean countries, including some 60 unique routes in the region.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, AirAsia country CEOs, Asean government officials pose together with Asean medallists at the gala event held in the JW Marriott Hotel in Bangkok today.

A pioneer in travel and technology, AirAsia offers a wide range of innovative products such as mobile app, extensive self-service options, inflight wifi, interactive travel guides, premium coffee,

online duty-free shopping, Premium Flex and FlyThru.

FlyThru allows guests to seamlessly connect to anywhere within AirAsia’s wide network with just one stop at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -

Asia’s low-cost carrier hub and other convenient transit hubs in Thailand and Indonesia, without having to pass through immigration and with their baggage checked through to the final destina-

tion.

Keep up-to-date with AirAsia’s latest promotions and activities via Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/ AirAsia).

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

The return of abaca Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

W

HAT do pili nut and abaca have one thing in common? Both are endemic to the Philippines, that’s what.

But among the two, it is abaca that has already captured the world attention.

“Abaca was so profitable as a business before World War II that huge Japanese companies invested in Davao City and made it the Manila hemp capital of the country,” said Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol of the Department of Agriculture.

But such is not the case anymore. Two other countries, Ecuador and Costa Rica, are now competing against the country. These two South American countries “which got their abaca planting materials from the Philippines are developing their own fiber industry using our very own native abaca,” Piñol said.

But still, the Philippines has the competitive edge in abaca production due to its quality – durable, clean white, and long fibers. In fact, the country exports its abaca pulp, fiber and other products mainly to the United Stated, Europe, and Japan.

“The very durable nature of abaca is not the only quality of this natural fiber that makes it in demand in the market,” said a report. “It’s environment-friendly, biodegradable nature makes manufacturers, especially those in Europe, to use abaca over synthetic fibers.

“Coffee cups and tea bags are among the products that make use of abaca. These food containers highlight abaca fiber’s sanitary nature,” the report added. “Many European institutions had already adopted a policy of turning away from non-biodegradables like plastics.”

The strong fiber of abaca makes it also an ideal material for huge ropes for boats and big vessels. “For a while, the shipping industry shifted to the use of plastic ropes but there are accounts that plastic ropes are not as reliable as the ropes made out of natural aba-

ca fiber,” Piñol said.

Abaca has many uses. For one, the fiber is used for many things including handicraft, high quality bags. “Our sinamay is used as blade for wind mills,” said Dr. Editha O. Lomerio, project leader of Abakayamanan, a project that combines farming of abaca with other crops like coconut. Sinamay is a natural fabric made from abaca.

Roots may be converted into fertilizer and feeds. The roots of abaca are of primary shallow root compared to hardwood trees which have deep roots. These may be uprooted more easily and may be chopped down to be made into fertilizer and feed.

Other products are electrolytic condenser paper, high grade decorative paper, Bible paper, coffee filter, meat and sausage casings, special art paper, cable insulation paper, adhesive tape paper, lens tissue, mimeograph stencil base tissue, carbonizing tissue, currency paper, checks, cigarette paper, vacuum cleaner bag, abrasive base paper, weatherproof bristol, map, chart, diploma paper, non-wovens, and oil blotting paper.

Unknowingly, abaca has also food values. Abaca leaves, for instance, can be used as growing material for mushroom. Coconut extract may be used as soap as it can heal psoriasis. The flower of abaca may be used as hamburger material. “We want to promote it as a zero waste crop,” said Dr. Lomerio.

Because of its economic importance, the government is pushing for abaca’s further development. “We have to push all commercial uses of abaca. Once fully developed, this industry can be a huge driver of economic and jobs growth,” said Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs.

Known worldwide as Manila hemp, abaca is obtained from a tree-like banana plant, scientifically called Mussa textiles. It is indigenous to the Philippines but is also found in Borneo, Indonesia and Central

America.

Manila hemp replaced bark, which was once the primary source of cloth before the Europeans arrived in the Philippines. It was not until 1685 that abaca was known in the western world. In 1820, John White brought few abaca fibers to the United States. By 1825, importation of abaca fiber took place.

Abaca was first cultivated on a large scale in Sumatra, Indonesia in 1925 under the Dutch, who had observed its cultivation in the Philippines for cordage. This was followed up by plantings in Central America sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

With the commencement of World War II, the supply from the Philippines was eliminated by the Japanese. When the war ended, the Philippines again became the world’s biggest abaca supplier.

But on the onrush of modern technology, abaca was relegated to the background.

Only to be brought back again in recent years – thanks to the global shortage of many natural resources and the pollution being wrought by synthetic products on the environment.

Abaca fiber is superior over all other fibers of its class because of its great strength

and its resistance to the action of water. Considered the strongest of natural fibers, it is three times stronger than cotton.

The heyday of abaca in Davao was in the 1900s when Davao could barely be called a bustling town. History stated that Ohta Kyosaburu, a Japanese merchant from Kobe, came to the Philippines in the early 1900s “to arrange the importation of job–seeking Japanese laborers who were readily hired by abaca plantation workers because of dire lack of local hands.”

These days, there are increased demand for abaca “but the problem is the industry collapsed in the major areas which used to produce it,” Piñol reported. He was referring to Leyte, Samar and Bicol, where the crop had been wiped out by a disease called “bunchy top.”

“Bunchy-top” is a disease caused by a virus that’s transmitted by the banana aphid.

It is a persistent disease that thrives permanently on abaca.

Infected plants may remain alive for more than two years, but gradually become smaller until all the leaves and leaf sheaths turn brown and eventually die.

During his nation-wide “Biyaheng Bukid,” Piñol talked

with the leaders of Sogod town in Southern Leyte. They asked him to help them bring back to life the industry which in the past made enough money that they were able to send their children to school.

“When abaca industry was at its height, people had money and life was good in this province,” Sogod Mayor Imelda Tan told Piñol.

Hearing those words, Piñol returned three months later and turned over a P100-million support fund for the rehabilitation of the abaca industry.

“The fund will be used for the establishment of a nursery using the healthy planting materials of a local abaca variety called Inusa,” he said. “The healthy planting materials will be bought from the remaining abaca farmers who have kept their farms free from diseases.”

From these nurseries, healthy planting materials will be distributed to other farmers starting next year with a target planted area of 90,000 hectares by the end of the 6-year term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

To address the issues of abaca diseases, Piñol has engaged a group of experts from Mindanao led by Dr. Remy Baltazar to assist in educating the farmers on how to manage their farms.

“The revival of the abaca industry is expected to earn an estimated P12-B a year for the country,” Piñol said.

Abaca looks like a banana, except that its leaves are upright, pointed, narrower, and more tapering than banana leaves. The leaves are darker and the stem lighter than the leaves and stems of banana.

The plant has a prolific suckering ability; it can develop as many as 12 to 30 stalks

per hill at maturity. Flower buds develop when leaf-sheath formation is complete. At this period, the stalks are mature and ready for harvest. Subsequent harvests are obtained every three to four months in good planting areas and five to seven months under less favorable conditions.

Agriculturists say the country’s agroclimatic conditions are perfect to grow abaca, which many people still mistake for banana plant. In the Philippines, abaca has been found growing in virtually all types of soils and climate.

But it is found most productive in areas where the soil is volcanic in origin, rich in organic matter, loose, friable, and welldrained, clay loam type.

Abaca requires a water table of 80 centimeters with 60-80% saturation and a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Undulating or rolling to hilly or mountainous areas less than 500 m above sea level with deep surface soil with slopes from 200 to 600 are ideal for abaca production.

For normal growth of abaca plants, the soil must contain adequate amounts of organic matter, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Abaca matures 17 to 18 months after transplanting.

It is susceptible to prolonged drought. Plant height may range from three to five meters upon maturity. It bears inedible fruits, with numerous small seeds.

Abaca is easier to manage than most staple crops although it requires regular maintenance and harvest operations. It can be grown as an intercrop with coconuts and other tall, slender trees. It can also establish itself in newly-cleared cogon grasslands, and outgrow them.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

EDITORIAL

What’s in a graveyard?

U

NKNOWN to many of us, not all those who are burried at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani are heroes, former statesmen or soldiers.

There are three Supreme Court Justices, their wives and even a chief of staff, and national artists.

Do they fall under the genus “heroes, statesmen and soldiers”?

If it is so, then perhaps the rule on ejusdem generis applies in this case.

Ejusdem generis (eh-youse-dem generous) is Latin for “of the same kind”, used to interpret loosely written statutes.

And if that is so, there is no prolonged debate needed as to whether or not former strongman Ferdinand Marcos should be buried in the LNMB. So what sets LNMB apart from all other graveyards if indeed there had been those who were buried there not falling under the class of heroes, statesmen and soldiers?

The Supreme Court has moved the period for oral arguments on whether or not Marcos should be buried at the LNMB at the instance of the new administration who wished to proceed with the burial to heal wounds and move on. This could be in anticipation of a long, drawn out legal battle for the controversial burial.

EDGEDAVAO

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Those opposing the move have mainly anchored their argument on Marcos’ atrocious human rights records claiming him in no way falling under the definition of “hero.”

Likewise, his ouster by People Power revolution and his dubious military records have supported against his burial at LNMB. The proposition for a Marcos burial has pinned it on the non existence of a provision in the Constitution determining who is buried there under the ejusdem generis principle.

Those debating under the subject matter are all virtuosos of the law and it is but a matter of time for the Court to lay down its final decision on the matter.

Nevertheless, no matter what the outcome, we are again thrown aback at an unexpected fact unearthed from the graveyard of LNMB that not all those who are buried there are heroes afterall.

While we were sleeping, some people have already slipped in their family’s remains into this supposedly hollowed graveyard as if it is a private mausoleum.

So why the fuss? What are we barking for now?

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

T

HERE are still no cases of Zika virus in Davao City and other parts of the region.

But recent reports that it has already arrived in the Philippines.

The case of the 45-year-old married non-pregnant woman is already the sixth.

Before her, there was a teenaged boy who was positive of the Zika virus. The other four cases happened to foreigners who came to the country.

Actually, unlike the dreaded dengue fever, Zika is not as deadly. The website of the World Health Organization (WHO) gives this bit of information: “Zika virus disease is usually mild and requires no specific treatment.

People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines.”

The “Medical News Today” (MNT) also said: “Infection with Zika virus is rarely severe enough to warrant hospitalization, and it is rarer still for an individual to die as a result.”

So, why is there so much ado about Zika virus?

Nothing except that the virus causes birth defects born to some infected pregnant women. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pointed it out: “Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.

Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.”

One birth defect that is causing concern is microcephaly. MNT defines microcephaly as “a neurological condition where an infant’s head circumference is significantly smaller than the average size for infants of the same age.”

D

AVAO City, the site of a gory bombing on Sept. 2, 2016, is not a stranger to explosions.

On April 19, 1981, an Easter Sunday, San Pedro Cathedral, a century-old landmark, was bombed twice by the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Seventeen church-goers and passers-by were killed in the dusk attack, while 151 were injured a fifth of them seriously. Already a journalist then, I was an eyewitness to the second blast.

Actually, I was inside the cathedral when the second grenade was lobbed towards the church grills but bounced off and exploded on the concrete pavement. When this occurred, police probers were still inside the church where the first grenade was detonated. On the outside a soldiers cordoned the premises adjacent to the cathedral.

To escape harm, I took refuge behind a concrete pillar from where, seconds later, I saw men in uniform indiscriminately firing at passers-by presumably as an overreaction to the second explosion. In order to get the details of the carnage, I proceeded to Brokenshire Memorial Hospital where some of the victims confirmed what I saw.

The following morning, as news director of dxRH, a subsidiary of Manila Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), we wrote an intense (the police described it as ‘scurrilous’) editorial about the carnage for the 7:00 o’clock morning news, centering mainly on our eyewitness account.

The commentary, read on air by Alex

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

Facts about zika virus

VANTAGE POINTS

9

According to medical sci- THINK ON THESE! ence, microcephaly can lead to developmental delays in movement and speech among other complications which include dwarfism or short stature, facial distortion, Henrylito D. Tacio mental retarda- henrytacio@gmail.com tion, hyperactivity and seizures.

But not all infected women will deliver babies with microcephaly. In a “Time” report, author Alexandra Sifferlin wrote: “Doctors still don’t understand why some pregnant women infected with Zika give birth to babies with microcephaly while others do not. They also don’t know at which point during pregnancy the risk of infection is greatest and how likely it is for babies born with the disease to survive longer than a year.”

Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the same kind of mosquitoes that transmit the dengue and chikungunya viruses.

Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the Aedes species “are aggressive daytime biters,” notes the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But they also bite at night and can survive in both indoor and outdoor environments.

The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus disease is still not clear, “but it likely to be a few days,” the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) claims.

The symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections which include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis (red eyes), muscle and joint pain, malaise, headache and vomiting. These symptoms are usually mild and last for 2-7 days.

The Pan American Health Organization says only one in four people infected with Zika virus develop symptoms. But the CDC claims the figure is one in five persons.

While Zika virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, there are some reported cases that it could also be transmitted through sexual intercourse. This happens when a person has traveled to an area where Zika has broken out and got infected while there. Once he or she has return home and made sex with the other person, the partner is most likely to get the virus too.

It must be pointed out that the majority of people infected with Zika virus do not display any symptoms at all. “Right now, there are no commercial diagnostic tests for Zika, so unless you’re pregnant or are a traveler with symptoms, your doctor may not test you,” Sifferlin wrote.

The CDC says there is no vaccine or medicine yet for Zika virus. “There are no approved drugs or vaccines for Zika, mainly because scientists long assumed the virus was so benign that it wasn’t worth the resources required to

investigate treatment,” Sifferlin wrote.

However, the US National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that some of its scientists are tweaking a vaccine that was initially developed for the West Nile virus. “The need for a drug is less compelling than the need for a vaccine,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, was quoted as saying. “Since Zika is an infection that in most people is usually gone within a few days, it may be tough to have a major impact with a drug as opposed to prevention, with a vaccine.”

According to the WHO, protection against mosquito bites is a key measure to prevent Zika virus infection. “This can be done by wearing clothes (preferably light-colored) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as window screens or closing doors and windows, sleeping under mosquito nets; and using insect repellant.

“Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly. Travelers and those living in affected areas should take the basic precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

“It is important to cover, empty or clean potential mosquito breeding sites in and around houses such as buckets, drums, pots, gutters, and used tires. Communities should support local government efforts to reduce mosquitoes in their locality. Health authorities should may also advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out.”

Now, you know!

Roldan, now FAST BACKWARD provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of Davao del Norte, was heard by police officers. A jeepload of cops Antonio V. Figueroa was promptly dispatched to the radio station at the second floor of a building at corner of Anda and Rizal streets to ‘invite’ us to the Ecoland police station.

The short trip to the police detachment was deathly scary. A Philippine Constabulary (PC) sergeant named Carlos Parojinog pointed a gun close to Roldan’s head and threatened the anchorman with harm if he did not stop talking, The cop hollered: “Ihulog na lang nato ni sa Bolton Bridge!” (Let’s throw this guy overboard at Bolton Bridge.)

At the police barracks, a PC major (his name escapes us now), his right hand wielding a 45 caliber handgun, threatened us with ‘salvaging.’ The intervention of Army intelligence captain Sebastian Bonghanoy and human rights lawyer Silvestre Bello III, now labor and employment secretary, saved the day for us.

Then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, when told of our predicament, issued a state-

ment in the Bulletin Today (Manila Bulletin) on April 23, 1981, saying: “If there are alleged seditious statements uttered by anyone, the proper thing to do is to conduct investigation and file appropriate charges in court against the persons concerned and not to threaten them.”

An investigation was later held at Insular Hotel (now Waterfront) in Davao City, but nothing came out of that public hearing.

The cathedral bloodletting took place three months after military rule in the country was lifted on paper on Jan. 17, 1981. A day later the New York Times headline screamed: “Marcos Frees 341; Lifts Martial Law.” On that same day, 341 prisoners were released, 159 of them charged for violating national security and public order edicts and 182 deemed common criminals. The gesture was linked to two events: the assumption into office of Ronald Reagan as US president and the awaited visit of Pope John Paul II a month later.

A similar bloody assault would be staged twelve years later in Davao City by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), an MNLF breakaway group. On Dec. 28, 1993, the same church was bombed, resulting in seven deaths and the injury of 157 innocent churchgoers.

The New York Times headlined the event: “6 Killed and 130 Are Wounded In Blasts at Philippine Cathedral.” Similar to the 1981 blasts, this incident took place on a Sunday when Catholic churches are usually packed with weekend churchgoers. The bombing, erroneously reported to happen in a mosque, was attributed

to the “long-smoldering Christian-Muslim conflict on Mindanao island, regarded by the country’s Muslim minority as their ancestral home.”

A decade later, the worst attack to hit the city occurred. On March 4, 2003, Davao International Airport at Sasa, in the eastern sector of the city, was bombed, leaving 22 casualties, including a foreign missionary, and injuring 159 others. The massacre of innocent bystanders and passengers was again blamed on the MILF. A month later, Sasa Wharf, a bustling international container port, was also bombed on April 3. The attack was timed just as the passengers of a docking ship were exiting the harbor. Seventeen lives were wasted, and 56 persons were wounded. The death list included four policemen and a nun. Again, the MILF was targeted as the culprit.

Fast forward, on Sept. 2, 2016, an improvised explosive device (IED) was exploded at the packed Roxas night market at Roxas Avenue, resulting in 145 deaths and 71 persons wounded. The explosion was initially ascribed to the terrorist band Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), also known as the Al Harakatul Al Islamiya, but was later blamed on its ally, the Daulat Ul Islamiya.

This gruesome episode was highlighted as significant because it happened in the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte and it occurred just days after the Palace ordered the annihilation of the ASG, which, in response, promised to start its own offensive on Sept.

1, the day before the market bloodbath took place.

A city under threat

10 NEWS Rody... FROM 2

the aspirations that bring us together as one people,” Pangilinan added.

“May the sacrifices of our predecessors serve to inspire us to stand stronger together and work towards unifying our nation and pursuing the welfare of our people,” said Senator Grace Poe in her message.

For her part, Senator Leila De Lima said Muslim communities in the country observe the sacrifice of Ibrahim, as he

demonstrated his strong faith and submission to the will of Allah.

“This meaningful feast reminds us all of the importance of solidarity and compassion for one another toward the achievement of our shared vision and goal. May the virtues of this solemn occasion continue to inspire the entire nation as we build an inclusive, just, and humane society,” De Lima added.

tion System (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface.

GIS can show many different kinds of data on one map.

Apparently, this enables people to more easily see, analyze, and understand patterns and relationships Aplal was is elated that the group was able to hit the objectives of the workshop and training course.

“We have oriented and taught participants on the proper use of GIS software such as QGIS and Google Earth, demonstrated the proper and basic functions of the software, and guided them in producing their own base maps,” said Aplal.

Gilmar Lao, OCD-ARMM

information chief, said Aplal pointed out that with the GIS technology, people would be able to compare the locations of different things in order to discover how they relate to each other.

“One good example, by simply using the GIS, the same map could include sites that produce pollution, such as gas stations, and sites that are sensitive to pollution, such as wetlands,” Aplal said.

“Such a map would help people determine which wetlands are most at risk,” said Aplal.

The graduates are expected to re-echo what they have learned during the training to their comrades in different battalions and operational units under the 6th ID area of operation. (PNA)

other evils that try to tear us apart,” he said.

Even Prophet Muhammad has experienced sacrifices as he preached Islam.

“As the Prophet Muhammad once walked the earth and preached Islam, he himself faced great doubt and persecution. He endured great sacrifices so that he can carry with him the true message of our faith,” Hataman said.

The regional governor, a devout follower of Islam, said Muslims are now faced with a greater challenge.

“The challenge now, more than ever, is to be true Muslims and be messengers of Islam ourselves -- to genuinely speak, act, and live by our faith. In the midst of noise, let us speak with a clear voice. In

the midst of strife, let us act with compassion. In times of darkness, let us live with light and warmth for others,” he stressed.

“Our actions as Muslims must always take root in a shared humanity guided by faith, and Islam encourages us to always share with those who have less, serve those who are in need, and stand together with the oppressed. In the hands of the true faithful, Islam will always be for the greater good,” he said.

“Today, as we celebrate the Eid and remember the sacrifices we have made along the way, we are reminded of the many reasons why our faith must never be taken in vain. Not in our name,” Hataman said. (PNA)

the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“But we are [already] preparing. So once it’s there, it’s a go for us,” he said.

Aside from Sibunag, TAREC is also looking at possible expansion of its wind farm in Nueva Valencia but Panes said Sibunag is more feasible in the immediate term.

He said the expansion will take a year to be completed.

The San Lorenzo wind farm started its commercial operation in December 2014.

It spans 14 kilometers across four barangays such as Cabungahan, Cabano, Suclaran and M. Chavez.

It is the first wind energy project that has secured approval to connect to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) main

grid after passing all technical requirements stated in the Philippine Grid Code including delivering quality, stable and reliable power to the grid.

The wind farm supplies power to the Visayas grid through NGCP’s 2.8-kilometer submarine cable passing through Guimaras Strait to the NGCP feeder in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

TAREC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PHINMA Energy Corporation, formerly TransAsia Oil and Energy Development Corporation.

The Del Rosario-led firm earlier revealed plans to expand its power portfolio to 1,000MW in the next 10 years.

The company targets to increase its attributable capacity to 500MW this year from 200MW last year. (PNA)

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FEDERALISM PUSH. Federalism advocate Architect Florencio Gavino III provides updates from the recently-concluded federal convergence forum initiated by “Kilos Federal ng Pagbabago” during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

US military forces have to leave Mindanao – President Duterte P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that United States military forces have to leave Mindanao to prevent being targeted by kidnap-for-ransom groups, particularly the Abu Sayyaf. ”I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go.

The Americans, they (bandits) will really kill them. They will get ransom and they will kill (hostages),” President Duterte

said in his speech during the oath-taking of his 43 new appointees in Malacañang. ”So those (US) special forces, they have to go. There are many white there. They have to go,” he added.

President Duterte said he was supposed to raise the issue when he attended the recently concluded ASEAN Summit in Laos. ”But I did not speak about

lies in five different cities in the Philippines over the years.

“This is because through the activities of ICAD Foundation, more people were able to know the Philippines better and extend their assistance to the country through the Foundation,” he said.

Gun noted that it is the second time for the organization to hold a beef sharing activity in the city.

“We bought around two thousand cows from Bukidnon and divided them into 1,635 beef bags,” Gun said.

Meanwhile, Gun related that the ICAD Foundation began its beef sharing initiative in 1997, wherein they initial-

ly shared 20 heads of cows among beneficiaries Aside from extending assistance to the less fortunate members of society, Gun said, “the foundation has reached out to educate students in the country.”

“The foundation believes that peace and understanding among people of different nationalities, religion and diverse cultural backgrounds can also be achieved through quality and contemporary education,” Gun emphasized.

Gun added: “It is our commitment to fulfill our social responsibility through different means of charitable works and services to the community.”

el advisory on Sunday prohibiting the use of the same Samsung product while on flight.

“In light of the recent recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices due to safety issues, Cebu Pacific (CEB) advises passengers that the usage and charging of the device are prohibited onboard all CEB and Cebgo flights beginning today, September 11, 2016, until further notice,” the advisory said.

Cebu Pacific added that Galaxy Note 7 devices must also not be stowed in checked baggage, but may be hand-carried as long as the device is turned off at all times inside the aircraft.

“We sincerely hope for our passengers’ full cooperation, as the safety of everyone onboard our flights remains our utmost priority,” the advisory said.

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it out of respect,” Duterte, the country’s first president from Mindanao, said.

Recently, the Philippine government increased its military presence to almost 10,000 troops in Sulu to crush the Abu Sayyaf.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella released a media statement to clarify President Duterte’s call for the US forces to leave Mindanao. ”The statement reflects PRRD’s (President Duterte’s) new direction towards coursing an independent foreign policy. He has made reference to the unrecognized, unrepented and un-atoned for massa-

cre at Bud Dajo in Sulu by the Americans, hence our continued connection with West is the real reason for the ‘Islamic’ threat in Mindanao,” Abella said. ”The American silence on the matter lacks congruence with its ‘moral’ position, in the light of actions taken in the past by the Germans who confessed and made atonement for the Holocaust, and Japan which made reparations for the atrocities it perpetrated among the peoples they conquered. Mr. Duterte is on morally firm ground by breaking up walls that cover dark corners in US-RP relations,” he added. (PNA)

Travel Express, said, “The market has high potential for luxury and honeymooners. Quality of agents here are good and they are gaining more knowledge about the Philippines.”

Abhay Maheshwari, India

district sales manager of Thai Airways said, “At present, we have ten flights servicing the Mumbai-Bangkok-Manila route, and in October, we are going to increase the number of flights.” (PNA)

the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, and improving maternal health.

In attaining these objectives, the program provides

cash assistance to augment the school and health needs especially of children aged 0 to 14 years old. The beneficiaries will need to comply with the sets of conditions required of them to claim their cash grants.

At present, the program has over 294,000 beneficiaries in Region XI. (DSWD)

“All our athletes won,” said Arellano, adding the Davao delegation was composed of six dancers - two pairs for the Junior Division (11-15) and

a pair for the Juvenile (6-10) who won two silver medals, a bronze, and scored two fifth place finishes in the competition. Ria Valdez

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TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAO

RIGHT: Dusk presents the contrast to the silhouette of the iconic huge cross at Camiguin’s Sunken Cemetery. Just before sunset, tourists flock to witness the sky change colors as the sun goes down and before it gets completely dark.

TOP: With a 700-meter wide sandbar of powdery white sand, White Island is the perfect backdrop for photos of all kinds. Like in the background, random driftwood can be found along the stretch of this sandbar, only accessible during low tide.

THE LITTLE VOLCANIC ISLAND OF CAMIGUIN IS THE SECOND-SMALLEST PROVINCE IN THE PHILIPPINES. It is well known for its gorgeous scenery and relaxing white beaches. Just 10 kilometers off the coast of Northern Mindanao, floating in the middle of the Bohol Sea, the province of Camiguin is another jewel that we Mindanaons can be proud of. With photogenic beaches all over this pearl-shaped island, Camiguin has to be part of any beach lover’s itinerary.

I hate to admit that it took me too long to visit Camiguin Island.

BOTTOM: Accessible by kayak, stand-up paddle (SUP) board or by swimming, this anchored bamboo raft a few meters off Mantigue Island is the perfect hangout for those who adventurers daring to swim further out to enjoy the underwater views.

I was only able to visit the province just this February 2016 during the Chinese New Year Holiday and as expected, we weren’t the only ones who took advantage of the long weekend.

According to locals, Camiguin is still teeming with tourists, especially during weekends. A good sign, I thought to myself. I hope it stays this way.

The whole province of Camiguin is made up of its main island, Camiguin and two islets, the famed White Island, which is west of its “downtown” Mambajao and Mantigue Island south of Mambajao. Each mini-island has its own distinct attractions.

Mainland Camiguin is mostly dedicated to trekkers, staycationers, waterfall-chasers, foodies and freshwater mermaids where one can relax in natural springs like Ardent Hot Springs. There are also a few man-made attractions like the Bura Natural Soda Water Pool, which unfortunately I wasn’t able to visit simply because I’m not such a big soda fan. The iconic landmark of Camiguin, the Sunken Cemetery where all the tourists flock to when the sun is about to set, is located near Benoni Port.

If you’re on a food hunt, the municipality of Mambajao is the place to start. With increasing number of foreigners who have

fallen in love with Camiguin, a number of restaurants with international cuisines have unsurprisingly sprung up. If you’re a pizza lover like me, try going around Mambajao on a pizza trip and find out for yourself if Camiguin’s best pizza label lives up to its promise.

Now, for the beach bums and mermaids, the two islets – Mantigue Island and White Island are the top destinations. The easiest to visit is White Island, which is a 10-minute outrigger boat ride off the shore of Brgy. Yumbing in Mambajao. Do take note that these little boats strictly accommodate only six people, which is actually a tourism regulation

Mermaid A4

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LEFT: With a seating capacity of only six (plus the boatman), this small outrigger boat ferries tourists daily from Brgy.

Yumbing to White Island The whole trip only takes around less than 10 minutes.

With photogenic beaches all over this pearlshaped island, Camiguin is has to be part of any beach lover’s itinerary.

”

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

EVENT

EVERY JOURNEY STARTS WITH THE FIRST STEP. TODAY, MOST JOURNEYS – whether planned or spur-of-the moment - often starts with the purchase of a plane ticket to a place you’ve long included in your bucket list. Although most airline companies already have online booking systems, the experience of booking with a welltrained and knowledgeable ticketing officer takes out all the jitters and doubts associated with travel, especially when visiting a new, unfamiliar destination.

Living up to their promise of being a true five-star airline, Philippine Airlines (PAL) recently inaugurated their newly-renovated Davao ticketing office. Located at the ground level of Ateneo de Davao University at the corner of Roxas and J.P. Laurel Avenues, the event was attended by PAL’s top management headed by its president and COO, Jaime Bautista, Department of Tourism secretary Wanda Teo, Presidential Communications Office secretary Martin Andranar, award-winning movie director Brillante Mendoza, and Davao’s travel and tour operators.

Sporting the new modern design of the airline, the ticketing office is comfortable, bright and cheery, and now reflects the colors of PAL. The walls behind the counter manned by smiling receptionists now features

all the destinations serviced by the airline in a spectacular panoramic vignette. The PAL office is now open on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that the company lives up to its official tagline “The Heart of the Filipino.”

Congratulations to Philippine Airlines and their Davao team on a job well done!

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

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TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT Mermaid A1

in the area. Also, White Island is not really an island. It’s an uninhabited 700-meter white sandbar, spare for two “instant” sari-sari stores that seemed to have magically popped up from nowhere to cater to salty tourists seeking food and shade from the rising sun.

Mantigue Island, situated on the other side of mainland Camiguin, is a wonderful example of responsible ecotourism where the natural environment like the canopy of

trees were creatively used as a shady al fresco dining area for tourists. I’m happy they didn’t cut down the old trees to make way for concrete roofs.

Aside from the usual go-to activities such as old snorkeling and kayaking, we also took advantage of stand-up paddle (SUP) boards for rent that we used to go around the island.

Just be mindful that there are currents in the area, and if you don’t feel confident about paddling farther out, just stay in comfortable waters. The current further out Mantigue Island is quite

EDGEDAVAO strong and can drag you and your board, though if you can swim and can maneuver the board, the current won’t be a problem.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of the attractions one can enjoy in Camiguin. And I still haven’t talked about in detail the other places to visit and eat in this beautiful paradise. Watch out for a more in-depth story of our visit to Mantigue Island in the next installation of this Camiguin series! In the meantime you can follow the action in Instagram: @ ferinasantos.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

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FARMERS’ GRADUATION CEREMONY. SM City Davao Annex hosted the Graduation Ceremony on September 7 of the 109 farmers from Marilog, Davao City who completed the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training from June to August. Messages were given by Lynette Lopez of SM City Davao, Arsenio Barcelona of Harbest Corp., Ricardo

UIC to host Timyas, Tinig, Musika concert

A

FREE concert dubbed Timyas, Tinig, Musika will be held on Sept. 13, 5 pm to 8 pm, at the UIC Main Campus, Fr. Selga Street.

This was announced by Mary Jane Barluado, a researcher of the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Davao press conference.

The concert aims to promotion the recipients of the 2016 Timyas, Tinig, Musika awards who will also be performing at the concert.

“This award is bestowed on Mindanaoan music artists who had contributed to the vibrancy of music in Mindanao,” Barluado explained.

The event was organized by the UIC Research, Publication and Innovation Center, in coordination with the UIC Music Program.

The performers include Renan Limjuco, a teacher of

the UIC music program, Jocelyn Bajenting Eyao, Eric Dao, and Elnora Hassa, the first Mindanaon artist to win the international singing competition “Super Wheel” in the 1980s.

Musical director, Mary Jane Balibay, a student of the music program in UIC, noted the concert is designed to showcase UIC’s music program.

“The concert will not only highlight the recipients, but also the capability of the music program in UIC,” said Balibay.

“A lot of people don’t know that we offer this program,” pointed out Marluado, who bared that UIC plans to hold the concert in different schools in the city, as well as create an association for Mindanao music artists.

UIC is the only college in Davao that offers a degree in music. Ria Valdez

Davao City group to host nat’l dancesport contest

A

LFA Dance Sport Team Davao, Inc. is spearheading the First Davao DanceSport Open Competition to be held on Sept. 24, at the Event Center of SM City Davao.

The highly-anticipated dance competition is being organized in partnership with the city government of Davao and the Dance Sport Council of the Philippines, Inc. According to Lillie de Claro Arellano, president of ALFA Dance Sport, the event will be attended by around 300 participants from different parts of the country.

Arellano said the participants will come from Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Tagum, Cebu, Manila, Quezon City, and Bulacan.

The contest will have two categories: Modern Standard Discipline and Latin American

Discipline.

The competition will also feature five age brackets: Juvenile (7-10), Junior (11-16), Youth (17-21), Graded Adults (21-35), and Senior Adults (60 years old and above).

Aside from being the first nationwide dancesport competition, Arellano said it will be the first time for a dance contest to have professional licensed adjudicators as judges.

The panel of judges, he said, include Edgar Borromeo, president of the Professional Division of the Dancesport Council of the Philippines, Inc. Meanwhile, Arellano also recognized members of the ALFA Dance Sport Team Davao who recently won in the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Open DanceSport Championship 2016 and 9th Dancesport held in Cebu City.

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Oñate of DA-11, Mercedita Jabagat of DSWD-11, DA Usec. Evelyn Laviña, and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. The Graduation included a visit to SM Supermarket where their produce will be displayed for sale.

Islamic foundation holds 3-day exhibit

By RIA VALDEZ

A

LTHOUGH Davao City may be considered one of the most culturally and religiously diverse areas in Mindanao, the Islamic faith remains to be misunderstood.

In a bid to address this concern, the Mercy Islamic Center (MIC) held an exhibit to promote the mission, vision and virtues of Islam Sept.

9 to 11 at the SM Ecoland in Davao City.

According to Abdul Malik Estomi, an Islamic propagator of MIC, the exhibit was organized in line with yesterday’s observance of Eid’l Adla, an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

The exhibit included post-

er-sized infographic materials portraying different Islamic practices and holidays. Volunteers of MIC were on hand to explain each poster to viewers of the exhibit.

Estomi said that aside from the exhibit, MIC also organized a community-led prayer last Monday at the Agro field for all the Muslims in Davao City, which was held simultaneously with similar assemblies in other parts of the country.

During the prayer gathering, he said, a cow or goat will be slaughtered as a symbol of thanksgiving to Allah.

Estomi said that people’s participation to the event was free and welcome to non-Muslims.

“We want to propagate the truth about the teachings

of Islam,” said Estomi, as he explained MIC’s advocacy, which is to provide Islamic lectures for those who are interesting to learn more about the Islamic faith.

MIC already, he said, has a TV channel called Mensahe TV which can be viewed on Cignal channel 89.

“We want to remove all misconceptions [about the Muslim faith],” he stressed, noting that some Dabawenyos may have developed certain prejudices against Muslims simply because they do not understand the Islamic faith.

In its fight against Islamophobia, Estomi said MIC called for a press conference last Sept. 3 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel specifically to shed light on the claims made by

alleged Abu Sayyaf Group members that they were responsible for the Roxas nigh market bombing incident.

Estomi cited some media outlets who reported that the ASG claimed responsibility for the horrific attack, but failed to show proof of the group’s assertion.

He explained that if a member of the Muslim faith commits an act that goes against the tenets of Islam such as killing innocent people, then he or she “is only a Muslim by name.”

Estomi added that being a Muslim meant “more than just your blood or the province you came from.”

He also urged Muslim and non-Muslims to be thankful for the blessings they receive from Allah.

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) introduces the new grievance hotline of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Pantawid beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries alike may now send their concerns regarding the program to 3456 which caters to all networks - Smart, Globe, TNT, TM, Sun and others. The

standard text rate is P 1.00.

Beneficiaries may use the text format DSWD <space> 4Ps <space> Name of Beneficiary <space> Message (Example: DSWD 4Ps Juana dela Cruz kulang ang natanggap na payout sa Matina, Davao City) and send it to 3456.

“It is important that this text format should be correctly followed to ensure all SMS

sent to 3456 will be directed to the 4Ps inbox,” said Pantawid Pamilya Regional Grievance Officer Odyssa Esther K. Matas.

DSWD has always been keen in encouraging the public to help by reporting anomalies, disparities or inconsistencies with regards to the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

“Pantawid Pamilya, like

any other programs, has a margin of error. The DSWD, however, exercises transparency and accountability to correct mistakes and further improve program implementation,” said DSWD Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat.

Pantawid Pamilya is a social development program which focuses on meeting

H

eration BSS, BES (Business Enabling System).

Built on a digital native architecture, BES Cloud leverages global cloud infrastructure as well as flexible and scalable platform to offer a highly configurable suite of OOTB (outof-the-box) software features.

To meet the needs of the digital economy Huawei’s solution helps to accelerate digital transformation across a global footprint.

The system can be deployed and go live in 3 months whilst reducing TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) by up to

45%.

In addition to driving operational efficiencies, BES Cloud supports IT and business agility with seamless upgrade paths and an integrated feature set of best practices that shorten the time

DSWD introduces new grievance hotline T Huawei Announces BES Cloud

UAWEI announced its BES Cloud solution in HUAWEI CONNECT 2016. BES Cloud represents Huawei’s ongoing commitment to the development of industry leading BSS solutions through provision of a SaaS based model for its new gen-

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Davao inventors win in nat’l tilt

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N invention that could treat medical waste; a research on waste water treatment; and a study which produced an oxo-biodegradable plastic made from kamote rejects – these were all made by Davaobased scientists and engineers who were recognized and awarded for their innovative ideas in the recently concluded National Invention Contests and Exhibits (NICE) held last July 31 at the SMX Convention Center.

Aezer Cajegas of Hydrophilia Technologies Inc. whose research entitled “Reddopac the Highly Polymerized Cationic” won third prize for the Likha Award (Outstanding Creative Research). Meanwhile, Engr.

Roderick Dayot of RAD Green Solutions placed second in Tuklas Award (Outstanding Invention) with his Pyroclave Non-Burn and Water-Free Medical Waste Treatment Technology. The study entitled “Sweet Potatoes (lpomea batatas) Starch: A degradation catalysis Component of Biomate Added High Density Poly-Ethylene Plastics” of Neil Anthony Jamili from the University of Mindanao bagged the first place in the Sibol Award (Student Creative Research for College).

Reddopac:A product stemmed from his passion to save water As a kid, Mr. Aezer Cajegas was already exposed to the outdoors. He was just three years old when his older siblings tagged him along during camping trips.

“Didto ko nagstart ug appreciate sa environment. Didto na pud ko nagka interest in science,” said Cagejas In college, he pursued BS Chemistry at the Ateneo de Davao University. Back then, his thesis focused on monitoring the pollution levels in the river. It was his thesis that eventually led him to work for a water treatment company in Manila.

Living and working in Manila for years, he noticed that bodies of water were getting murky. He was curious if something could be done to help clean the polluted waters. Knowing that there is no specific chemical suited for all types of water treatment, and that certain chemicals are made for certain purposes, he researched until he learned that in order to remove the pollutants from the water, coagulants should have high amount of cations.

Relying on his own savings, he quit his job and decided to pursue his research.

He kept on reading, searched

Mr. Aezer Cajegas (second from the left) receives his Likha Award 3rd prize from DOST Sec. Fortunato T. Dela Peña (third from left) the internet, and asked people for help.

His research produced what he now calls the Reddopac, a formulated cationic coagulant for water and waste water treatment.

According to Cajegas, to clean a jar filled with a liter of waste water, only 0.2mL to 0.4mL of Reddopac is needed, while other highly commercialized products would need 10mL to 20mL. He explained that the theory behind this is Van der Waals’ forces, which basically means the attraction of forces per molecule.

After winning the Likha Award 3rd prize, more people became interested in his work. One of them is Palawan Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who paved the way for him to meet the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez.

During their brief meeting, Lopez asked him if his invention could help clean Pasig River. He nodded to affirm that it could clean the river. In fact, he responded to the secretary’s request with a video of him getting water samples from a canal.

Hopeful that he could contribute to cleaning the polluted waters in the country, Cajegas believes that the younger generation can do great things for their communities.

“Go. Discover. Explore. At your age, you can find better than what I have,” he said.

“Wag kayong matakot tumuklas. Wag kayong matakot magtanong. Pag may nalaman kayong bago, ipagpatuloy niyo. Ask the experts. Wag niyong solohin. Explore. Wag lang puro laptop kasi you cannot find answers from the laptop alone. You can’t have inspiration from the internet.

You get inspiration outside your room,” he added.

Pryoclave: The future of medical waste treatment

While most countries use incineration as a waste treatment process, the Philippines’ the Clean Air Act (RA 8749) has banned its use.

Since then, autoclaving has been considered as the more friendly solution to waste treatment.

However, according to Engr. Roderick Dayot, vice president for engineering of RAD Green Solutions, autoclaving consumes a lot of water in its treatment process and will only produce waste

From sweet potatoes to oxo-

ognized because he was still a student. But nothing could stand in his way to achieve his goal, as he was determined to finish what he started.

“It’s very useful. The world needs it. It’s not just the Philippines that needs it. It’s a plastic out of kamote, and rejected kamotes [can be found] are everywhere.” said Jamili, explaining why he pursued his study.

His study which produced a plastic that is stronger and degrades faster than the commercially sold plastics, landed him the first prize for the Sibol Award (Student Creative Research for College).

Opportunities have kept coming since he won the

Neil Anthony Jamili bested other contestants and bagged the Sibol Award first prize

Engr. Roderick Dayot show off his invention Pryoclave during the National Invention Contest and Exhibit water in the end.

With only a few options for waste treatment, Dayot together with his partner, Ivan Lim, developed the Pyroclave, a technology that answers the need for a nonburn and water-free technology, especially in treating medical waste.

“Medical waste is a special waste that really needs to be treated. Government and private institutions should put attention to it. If not properly treated, we will suffer the consequences later on,” Dayot said.

Pyroclaving treats infectious, pathological and genotoxic waste. The beauty of this technology is that it is fully integrated. It has its own shredder which turns the waste into smaller pieces.

It also has an airlock feature which minimizes oxygen in the thermal chamber. The waste will be heated by a burner. It will then travel for around seven minutes before

their operations in Manila and Cebu. They are also open to the possibility of penetrating the international market.

“We’re working on that, and there are agreements which are on their way for signing,” he mentioned.

Currently, Dayot is pursuing his doctoral in Mechanical Engineering and if there’s something he could advice the future generation he simply said, “Always have the attitude to explore. Never give up. Always appreciate the value of trying new things and do not be afraid to fail because that’s part of the process.”

cooling. After the process, the waste volume is reduced to 50% and weight to 30%.

They founded the RAD Green Solutions in 2010, but it was only in 2012 when they developed and produced the Pyroclave model which is ready for commercial use. In the same year, they got their first client.

“We collect the medical waste, and we transport it to our facility,” said Dayot.

The treated medical waste is then transported to a medical waste cell centralized facility in New Carmen, Tugbok, Davao City. They also have centralized facilities in Bulacan and Tarlac.

Participating and winning in the NICE has given the Dayot and Lim more opportunities to promote their invention and at the same time, connect with fellow scientists, inventors, and engineers.

In fact, Dayot and his partners are set to expand

biodegradable plastics When the City Government of Davao implemented a ban on the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, it ignited an idea in the young and inquisitive Neil Anthony Jamili to come up with a solution to the problem of waste disposal.

The 20-year old Chemical Engineering student of the University of Mindanao was only in his first year when he came up with the idea of creating plastic out of sweet potatoes. He opened up the idea to his teachers and eventually, his proposal qualified for institutional research.

The university, along with other sponsors, supported and funded his study.

Although he used rejected sweet potatoes for his research, which he could actually get for free, he preferred to buy them for P5-P10 per kilo to help farmers earn.

His quest to produce his potato-based plastic wasn’t an easy task, as he initially thought it would be. He struggled mainly on the financial aspects of the research. The resins were also very expensive. If it weren’t for his sponsors, he wouldn’t have been able to come up with the final product. He also had doubts about himself, as he began to feel the pressure of the task at hand, and the need to be rec-

award. Foreign investors have shown great interest in his product, and have asked him what he needs for his study.

He is also looking forward to patenting his research.

With a burning passionate for research and innovation, Jamili said he won’t stop looking for more ideas for his research work. At present, he’s working on his 27th research on agar, a medium for bacterial culture.

“If something bothers you, go research on it. Connect with someone who’s older than you who have knowledge on the matter.

You can do something,” Jamili replied, when asked what he would like to say to students like him.

His professor and adviser, Engr. Abner Olivar, also encouraged him to continue what he’s doing.

“Keep on doing research.

These days we really need innovative researches. Lalo na ang environment natin marami ng untoward calamities. Sa ganoong paraan, makalessen and minimize ng degradation ng solid waste,” said Olivar.

The National Invention Contests and Exhibit (NICE) was organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI). (DOST XI S&T Promotions) Photos from Mr. Aezer Cajegas

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

NEWS 13

DoJ to present 20 witnesses at NBP narco trade hearing

A

September 8 – 13, 2016

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BOUT 20 resource persons and witnesses will be presented before the Congressional panel investigating the illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday.

Aguirre, who is set to appear before the panel at the House of Representatives on Sept. 19 and 20, assured that he would continue to interview witnesses to sift through the details and build up their case as more information continued to come.

“Bumabaha kasi sa impormansyon (It is flooding with information),” he said.

Aguirre said three inmates at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) were executing their affidavits linking former Secretary of Justice and now Senator Leila de Lima and her former driver and alleged lover Ronnie Dayan in the illegal drugs trade at the

national penitentiary.

The House probe into the alleged NBP drug trafficking operations was sought by a group of solons led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Minority Leader Danilo Suarez shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte implicated Senator Leila de Lima and her former lover and driver Ronnie Dayan to the illegal activities.

The House Committee on Justice is expected to lead the congressional inquiry although the Committees on Public Order and Security and on Illegal Drugs may also be tapped.

Earlier, Aguirre said they had evidence and witnesses against De Lima and former Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, who were both linked by no less than President Duterte to the operation of illegal drugs syndicates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

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Aguirre said they had now several sworn statements executed by individuals against de Lima and Baraan though he clarified “it all involves the cause of the proliferation and the neglect that they did, why the prohibited drugs proliferated at the NBP.” Both de Lima and Baraan have denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade with the former saying she was even the one who initiated the inves-

tigation and raids against the high-profile drug lords at the NBP in December 2014.

Meanwhile, Juustice committee chairman and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali said that Dayan had been tapped as the principal resource person, whose presence in the hearing is indispensable.

However, De Lima has already expressed her intention not to appear before the House probe.

to market for launching new products and services whilst enabling innovative new business and engagement models.

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Commerce Cloud, which can be integrated to existing on premise systems, is an agile and light solution that addresses the challenges faced by operators as they tran-

sition to a digital operating model.

With a customizable UI and web-front end, Commerce Cloud features a cloud based multi-tenant architecture that employs flexible meta-data driven modeling and auto-scaling.

Building on an extensive set of embedded best practices, Huawei’s absolute focus on customer centric design principles is a critical factor in its mission to deliver solutions that enable an optimized customer experience over digital channels.

By supporting personalized customer interactions, Commerce Cloud helps to improve NPS at the same time as helping to increase order conversion rates in a fully orchestrated omni-channel environment.

Huawei... FROM 11

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

ERNIE IN RIO. Ernie Gawilan of the Philippines (foreground, lane 8) gets off the blocks in the 100-meter freestyle S8 event.

Ernie fails to advance in 100-m freestyle

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

S

njb@edgedavao.net

WIMMING in one of the toughest heats in the 100-meter freestyle, the Philippines’ Ernie Gawilan placed 8th and last to crash out of the finals in the men’s S8 swimming competitions of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

The 25-year old

Dabawenyo, the country’s lone swimming entry in the quadrennial showpiece, bowed out in the second of his three events in Rio on Sunday (early Monday Manila Time).

Gawilan clocked 1 minute 6.64 seconds to wind up eighth in the heat won by

China’s Wang Yinan in 59.03.

Compatriot Song Maodang (59.68) made it a 1-2 China finish with Ukraine’s Bodan Hyrnenko finishing third in 59.82.

Yinan earlier won bronze in the 400-meter freestyle where Gawilan finished fifth in the heats clocking 4:54.24,

ARLY in what would become a tight test of a U.S. Open final, Angelique Kerber sprinted forward to somehow reach a drop shot and scoop a down-theline winner that landed in a corner of the court.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd roared, and Kerber celebrated by raisi n g her right hand and wagging her index finger in the air, as if to remind opponent Karolina Pliskova and everyone else ‘’I’m No. 1!’’

Yes, she is.

And a two-time Grand S l a m champion, too.

Kerber won her first U.S. Open

PH wins 3 golds in Dragonboat World Championship in Moscow

T

mixed 200m category in 50.853 seconds to overcome Russia (52.490) and Canada (53.654).

The Philippine team in the 20-seater senior mixed 200m race clocked at 43.641 seconds to beat Russia (45.541) and Thailand (45.559).

It was a tight race in the 20-seater senior mixed 500m after the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation team checked in at one minute, 55.992 seconds, just a 0.083 second difference over Russia (1:56.075).

Thailand got bronze with a time of 1:56.346.

ug nakat-unan diri (I still lack more training. I am still far from the Olympic pace but I am learning a lot here),” Gawilan told Edge Davao in an interview.

“Naa pay isa ka event. Ako lang gihapon paningkamotan na maimprove akong time (I still have one more event and

I will strive to improve my time),” he added.

Great Britain’s Hynd Oliver won the gold medal in the 400-m free shattering the world record in 4:21.89.

Gawilan will next compete in the 100-meter backstroke S8 on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila Time).

ti-

help from a mental coach. ‘’Of course, now everybody will try to beat me and have nothing to lose,’’ Kerber said. ‘’I will try to take this challenge.’’

On Saturday, the No. 2-seeded Kerber trailed by a break at 3-1 in the third set before coming back against the 10th-seeded Pliskova, who hadn’t been past the third round at a major until this tournament. ‘’It didn’t look good,’’ Beltz said about the deficit. ‘’But I think that’s also her strength.

Because ... if she sees she still has a chance, she’s grabbing it and she goes for it.’’

Kerber is the first woman from Germany to win the U.S. Open - and the first to get to No. 1 - since her idol and mentor, Steffi Graf, who got in touch via text message before the final.

It was Pliskova who guaranteed Kerber’s ascension in the rankings by beating Williams in the semifinals, ending her streak of 186 consecutive weeks at the top, which began in February 2013 and equaled Graf’s mark.

Kerber, who collected $3.5 million in prize money Saturday, lost to Pliskova the last time they met, just three weeks ago in the final of a hard-court tournament in Cincinnati.

Kerber wins US Open title, rises to no.1 E

HE Philippines claimed three gold medals to finish third overall in the 2016 International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championship in Moscow.

The national squad also won one silver and two bronzes in the competition ruled by host Russia, which tallied 32 gold, eight silver, and seven bronze mendals.

Germany was second with a 4-16-10 gold-silver-bronze mark.

Two gold medals were won by almost a two-second gap as the Philippnes won in the 10-seater junior

7 seconds off his personal best. Overall, Gawilan finished 10th in that event.

In that first race, Gawilan complained of losing steam in the latter part of the race and his muscles tightened.

“Kulang pa jud sa training sir. Layo pa kaayo ta sa pace sa Olympics pero daghan ta

NO. 1. Germany’s Angelique Kerber celebrates after winning a point.

tle and the second major trophy of an out-ofnowhere breakthrough season, taking five of the last six games to beat a fading Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday. ‘’It means a lot to me.

When I was a kid, I was always dreaming to one day be the No. 1 player in the world, to win Grand Slams,’’ said the 28-year-old Kerber, who will move up one spot from No. 2 and replace Serena Williams atop the WTA rankings on Monday. ‘’I mean, all the dreams came true this year.’’

Never a Grand Slam finalist before 2016, Kerber beat Williams for the Australian Open title in January, then was the runner-up to her at Wimbledon in July. Adding the championship at Flushing Meadows was further proof that all of the changes Kerber has made are paying off.

The better fitness, via extra time in the gym and longer, more intense practice sessions; an improved serve and a new willingness to attack during points, rather than mainly counter-punching, via instruction from coach Torben Beltz; a more positive attitude on court, via

VOL. 9 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

THIRD SETBACK China deals Gilas its third beating C

HINA capitalized on its size advantage to down Gilas 5.0, 7565, in the second round of the Fiba Asia Challenge in Tehran, Iran on Monday (Manila time).

Jinqiu Hu did most of the damage for the rejigged Chinese side, which put away Gilas for good with a 10-2 run in the opening minutes of the fourth period to open a

67-53 advantage.

With the 6-foot-11 Hu dominating inside, the Chinese pounced on the undersized Gilas and built a commanding 7257 cushion with 2:30 remaining.

The Filipinos never recovered from there.

The 18-year-old Hu made his presence felt the entire way and finished with game-high 21 points

and seven rebounds. His 13 points in the first half allowed the Chinese to take a 39-26 lead at halftime.

Gilas, though, refused to fold and sliced the deficit to five, 43-38, on Mac Belo’s throw down late in the third period.

Belo continued to be the primary weapon of the Gilas side but his effort has not translated to a

win so far for the Filipinos, who remained winless in three outings since the start of the continental meet.

The former Far Eastern University standout did almost everything for the new-look Gilas as he led the team with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.

Roger Pogoy added 11 markers.

Wawrinka wears down Djokovic, wins US Open

S DETERMINED. Kevin Ferrer challenges the mighty China defense. Roger Pogoy also had a big game but the Gilas eforts went to naught against the taller Chinese.

Pinoy pugs win Asian titles

H

ARD-HITTING Romero “Ruthless” Duno and Reymart “Gensan Assassin” Gaballo both knocked out their Thai opponents to capture the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Boxing Council Confederation (ABCO) titles Saturday night at the Tupi Gym in Tupi, South Cotabato.

The 20-year old Duno showed no mercy in stopping Paiboon Lorkam in 2:14 of the second round to bag the WBC ABCO super featherweight crown in the main event of the “Battle in Tupi”.

Duno first knocked down Lorkam at the corner in the opening round with a solid body shot. In the second round, Duno downed Lorkam in the same corner before he finally pummelled to submission the elusive Thai.

Referee Ramil Ovalo counted out Lorkam to give Duno his 10th knockout victory of his 11 wins against only one loss. “”Duno is a tough fighter and we are looking for a world class opponent in his next fight,” said Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, chief executive officer of the Sanman Promotions.

Sanman presented the boxing card sponsored by Tupi Mayor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. in celebration of the 63rd Foundation Day of the municipality of Tupi.

“Gaballo is really a hard puncher. He’s the only Filipino boxer to knock down my boxer,” said Thai matchmaker Narung Hengtrakul.

Lorkam, 37, also bowed but

only by unanimous decisions to Filipino boxers AJ Banal, Juan Martin Elorde and Jack Asis.

Gaballo, on the other hand, captured the WBC ABCO bantamweight crown by knocking out Manot Comput in 1:49 of the first round. Gaballo first bombarded Comput with left-right combinations that saw the Thai backpedalling.

Comput tried to land his left jabs but could not hit Gaballo, who later connected a left-right combination to send the Thai down on the canvas. Referee Alberto Heramil counted out Comput, who was still lying down.

“Gaballo showed how great he is. We just need to develop something and he will sure be a problem in his weight class,” said Manangquil.

Gaballo stopped Comput’s two winning streak and gave the 33-year old Thai’s 14th defeat against 12 wins.

The 20-year old Gaballo is already set to fly to United States next month together with fellow Sanman boxers Mike “Magic” Plania and John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde, who also both scored knocked outs in the undercard.

The three undefeated fighters will be training already with Cuban coach Moros Fernandez at the Moros gym in Miami, Florida next month.

“I’m sure Coach Moro will develop Gaballo,” said Manangquil.

Plania, a World Boxing Federation International bantamweight champion, connected a solid left

TAN Wawrinka is the first to acknowledge he hasn’t always been the most consistent player - or the strongest mentally. That’s why, when he shows his mettle during a match, he likes to point his right index finger to his temple.

That signature gesture got a lot of use in the U.S. Open final Sunday, when Wawrinka surprisingly managed to wear down Novak Djokovic and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 for his first U.S. Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall. ‘’He was the better player. He was tougher mentally,’’ said Djokovic, offering two of the highest compliments a tennis player can receive from the talented and sturdy Serb ranked No. 1. ‘’He knew what to do. And I was just unlucky in some moments.

And that’s it.’’

The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest U.S. Open men’s champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970, and entered Sunday having spent almost exactly twice as much time on court as Djokovic during the course of the tournament: about 18 hours vs. about 9 hours. ‘’I played quite a lot of tennis these two weeks.

I am completely empty,’’ said No. 3 Wawrinka, who noted during the trophy ceremony that Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

By breaking in the final game of the second and third sets, and by saving 14 of 17 break points he faced, Wawrinka already had gained the upper hand by the time Djokovic clutched at his left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth.

Djokovic was granted the unusual chance to have a medical timeout at a time other than a changeover.

He removed both shoes a n d socks so a

trainer could help with

toe blisters. Wawrinka complained about the 6-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologized. Later, Djokovic started limping and received more treatment. ‘’We played almost four hours,’’ said Djokovic, ‘’and I think I can speak in the name of Stan, as well: We both felt it.’’

Wawrinka has won only five of his 24 career meetings against

of his own Grand Slam titles, including in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals and 2015 French Open final.

Before this matchup, Djokovic praised Wawrinka as ‘’a big-match player,’’ and, boy, is he ever. Wasn’t always, though: Playing in the shadow of his far-more-accomplished Swiss countryman and good pal, Roger Federer, Waw r i n k a needed until his 35th appearance at a major, at age 28, just to get to the semifinals for the first time.

Djokovic, but has now beaten the 12time major champion on the way to each WINNING FORM. Stan Wawrinka returns a backhand to Novak Djokovic in the US Open Finals.

o n t h e midsection to drop John Rey de Asis in 39 seconds of the second round. The 19-year old Plania improved to 12 straight wins with five knockouts.

On the other hand, the 22-year old Moralde, the reigning WBF International featherweight champion, hit a left body shot to down Habigis Quinones in 2:57 of the first round only.

Moralde, also a former Philippine Boxing Federa-

tion (PBF) super b a n t a m weight title-holder, remained unbeaten with 17 straight wins with 8 knockouts.

Moralde, a native of Davao City also won the WBC ABCO featherweight crown on March 14, 2015 via a convincing unanimous decision against then-undefeated Australian Brayd Smith in Queensland, Australia.

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