Edge Davao 9 Issue 145

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

BLAST UPDATES. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria (right) confers with newlyinstalled Public Safety Security Command Center (PSSCC) Chief retired General Benito De Leon during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Camp Domingo Leonor in Davao City yesterday where they gave updates on the Roxas night market bomb explosion. Lean Daval Jr.

MULTIPLE MURDER RAPS VS. BOMBER 31 counts of multiple frustrated murder, 7 counts of multiple murder against suspects

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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ULTIPLE murder charges are set to be filed against the primary suspect in the Sept. 2 Roxas night market explosion that claimed the lives of 16 people and wounded 69 others.

“We identified the primary suspect and we will be filing a case against him today,” bared Davao City Police chief Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria during a press conference in Davao City.

According to Dubria, they have already identified the main suspect through the personal account of eight witnesses who were at the night market at the time of the bombing.

Dubria added the 46 complainants have filed thirty-one counts of multiple frustrated murder, and seven counts of

multiple murder against the suspect.

No link yet between blast and arrested vice mayor Dubria refused to link the primary blast suspect to Talitay, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Abdulwahab Sabal who was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

“We are currently investigating his [primary suspect’s] affiliation as we cannot go on accusing or trying to identify him with any specific group,” Dubria said at a press conference in Davao City.

“That is still an intelligence job, I don’t want to make a premature statement about it,” he said.

Dubria added they have already identified the suspect and will soon release the infor-

mation to the public.

“It’s a higher level of information and as of the moment, I can only speak for myself and locally the Davao City Police.

For the higher level ang case ni Talitay vice mayor,” he said.

Dubria clarified that Sabal was not arrested in Davao but at the Awang Airport in Maguindanao.

TFD and PNP to tighten security protocols Task Force Davao commander Colonel Erwin Bernard Neri has asked the public to cooperate in order to strengthen security measures in the city following the Sept 2 night market blast and continuing terror threats.

Speaking at yesterday’s press briefing, Neri said Task

Force Davao and the Philippine National Police are in the process of tightening security protocols in the city.

Neri did not reveal additional details related to the night market blast, but stressed the need for heightened awareness among the residents, as he urged them to be resilient amid these terror threats.

Neri said TF Davao is currently conducting deterrence operations with the deployment of more checkpoints in the city, including patrols on the streets and the city’s shorelines.

He pointed out these efforts are not enough, as authorities still need intelligence information coming from people in the community.

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Hearty talk with celebrity chef Donita Rose A4 EDGEDAVAO Sports

‘She lifted us all up,’ Gawilan says of Medina P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

BOODLE FIGHT. President Rodrigo Duterte joins a boodle fight with airmen during the 48th Anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday. KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD

Duterte’s transformation into a‘real statesman’could take time - senator

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ENATOR Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday said that it would take some time before President Duterte turns into “a real statesman.”

Lacson was commenting on the former Davao City mayor’s remark to pull out American soldiers from Mindanao.

President Duterte also said the Philippines will not participate in joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Lacson said in an interview that if the President continues to make such statements, which are regarded as national policies, foreign relations could be affected.

“This has an implication on our foreign relations. Frankly, we don’t know what the US

State Department is thinking — their president and ambassador. Maybe it takes time to metamorphose into a real statesman,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino.

He further said that while the President’s credibility to the international community could suffer, it is possible that his credibility to the Filipino people would remain.

“If you say different things and the audience is the international community, credibility will suffer, not only of the head of state but the whole country as well… How can (the international community) deal with a country that changes different policy statements?”

Lacson said.

Asked if President Dute-

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City gov’t to monitor movement of people

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

A

adlopez0920@gmail.com

FTER the powerful explosion that rocked the Night Market in Davao City killing 15 and wounding more than 69 others on Sept 2, the city government is now mulling the implementation of a monitoring system that will check the movement of people in the city.

Initially dubbed by authorities as a profiling system, the proposed scheme aims to monitor the movement of people coming in and going

out of the city, Ivan Cortez, chief of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) said in a press statement released by the City Information Office (CIO).

The monitoring scheme is an alternative to the proposed National ID System, Cortez said, emphasizing that it will oblige owners of apartments and accommodation facilities in the city to record the profile of their tenants and submit information to their respective

barangays.

“Owners of apartments or accommodation facilities should have a system of reporting to the barangay,” Cortez said.

Under the proposed system, village officials will also be tasked to collect data and coordinate with the police and the military if necessary.

“This is also one way of tracking lawless elements and criminals. The system has already been proposed to

Mayor Sara Duterte,” Cortez added.

Authorities in Davao City are still investigating the night market bombing, although the identities of the suspects are already known to the police.

A cartographic sketch of one of the suspected bombers was already released to the public late last week, while a bounty of P3 million was raised by the city government with the support of private and business groups.

other public lands not placed under the jurisdiction of other government agencies.

LAMS is a computerized information system that consolidates land data and records in the country. The system is designed for quick and easy processing, tracking and retrieval of land information.

LMB Director Emelyne Talabis said the new system cuts the approval of land surveys to five working days from the previous six months to one year.

It also guarantees land tenure security for every Filipino, she added.

LAMS has four components, namely: public land

application (PLA); inspection, verification and approval of survey (IVAS); e-survey plan; and client-transaction monitoring (CTM).

A major innovation, CTM enables clients to keep track of the status of the survey and their application electronically --- through the LAMS kiosks located in all DENR regional offices, by text or SMS or via the Internet.

Since CTM is digital, it eliminates any personal contact between LMB personnel and clients and minimizes follow-ups, thus preventing incidents of corruption.

The PLA component evaluates, processes and approves

land applications. It provides efficient storage, analysis and monitoring to prevent the issuance of duplicate titles.

The IVAS is designed to track the verification and approval process of the survey at the regional level. It starts with digital submission of survey returns to digital land survey data (DLSD) generated from e-survey plan.

The DLSD file is uploaded at the front desk of the regional office and forwarded to the verification and projection unit to validate the mathematical, textual and spatial information.

The e-survey allows the

Cops eye several angles in murder of SoCot employee Land titling made faster with new digital system

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OLICE are eyeing several angles into the killing of an employee of the municipal government of Polomolok in South Cotabato inside an eatery on Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Insp. Geovanni Ladeo, Polomolok police station chief, on Wednesday said they are looking into all possible motives in the slaying of victim Nemesis Magalid Miranda, 45, a member of the Civil Security Unit of the local government.

He said the victim was gunned down by an unidentified suspect at around 2 p.m. while having late lunch at an eatery along the national high-

way in Barangay Pagalungan, Polomolok.

Miranda, who is a resident of Barangay Poblacion, died on the spot due to gunshot wounds on his back and head, he said.

Ladeo said the victim’s companion identified as businessman Manuel Magpili Manalang, 57, was wounded in the attack.

Manalang, who is a buyer and trader of vegetables, hails from Talavera town in Nueva Ecija province.

Citing accounts from witnesses, he said the suspect left the scene using a waiting

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ONE are the days when surveying and titling of alienable and disposable (A&D) lands took a long and tedious process.

The Land Management Bureau (LMB) recently launched a new system designed to hasten the processing and issuance of titles on lands covered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The formal launch of the Land Administration and Management System (LAMS) highlighted the 115th anniversary of LMB, the agency responsible for administration, survey, management and disposition of A&D lands and

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Airline crew to undergo immigration inspection

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REW members, including pilots of international airlines that operate global flights in the country, are now required undergo to immigration inspection upon their arrival and departure from the various international airports in the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday.

Commissioner Jaime Morente noted that the new policy has started in August, which is part of the bureau’s efforts to strengthen border security operations.

Under new guidelines, all crew members of commercial airline flights are required to queue at the designated immigration counter for arrival and departure formalities and present their passport or airline identification card for in-

spection.

“We have to ensure that these alien crewmen are indeed bona fide employees of the airlines they represent and that they are not included in our blacklist of undesirable or wanted aliens,” the BI chief explained.

He added the conduct of immigration arrival and departure formalities for airline crew members would enable them to scrutinize their identities and other personal details in connection with the BI’s mandate to regulate and entry and stay of aliens in the Philippines.

Morente added the immigration officer may deny the admission or defer the departure of a crew member, if warranted, such as when the latter is in the blacklist, watchlist or

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OPLAN DOUBLE BARREL. Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office (DOPPO) director Senior Superintendent Harry Espela (right) says the police force in Davao Oriental is already on the second phase of“Oplan Double Barrel”which focuses on

the high value targets. Espela made the disclosure during yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Camp Domingo Leonor in Davao City with new Task Force Davao commander Colonel Erwin Neri (left). Lean Daval Jr.

19 bomb victims P still in hospitals

Rody to critics: Don’t lecture me on HR issues in public

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

T

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE latest monitoring by the city government of Davao revealed that 19 of the 69 injured victims of the powerful explosion at the Night Market in Roxas Avenue last Sept 2 are still confined in various medical facilities in the city.

The explosion killed 15 civilians and the last of the recorded death was that of a sixmonth pregnant victim identified as Vicenta Asperin.

She expired on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

The City Information Office (CIO) said that 10 of the 19 victims are still under treatment at the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC); one at the Brokenshire Hospital; one at the Davao Doctors Hospital; one at the Ricardo Limso Hospital; two at the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF); and five at San Pedro Hospital.

Monitoring of the injured victims is being facilitated by the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO),

the CIO statement said.

The CSSDO also reported that among the19 wounded victims, only Julius Gallardo remains at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SPMC, while the others have been transferred to regular hospital rooms.

Junaib Usman, another victim, recently underwent intestinal surgery and has already been transferred to a private room at the Ricardo Limso Hospital.

The provision of financial assistance to the victims

of September 2 bombing will continue, the CSSDO Chief Ma. Luisa Bermudo said in the CIO statement.

Hospital watchers have been given allowances for 20 days, Bermudo said.

Hospital bills and other medical expenses will be shouldered by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), she added.

Last week, the City Council approved the P4.5 million cash assistance for the victims of the deadly blast.

UKAY-UKAY. Shoppers browse through a wide collection of secondhand shoes at the “ukay-ukay” section of Roxas night market 12 days after the deadly bomb blast that killed 16 people and injured 66 others. Lean Daval Jr.

RESIDENT Duterte said if anyone wants to criticize or lecture him about human rights issues in connection with his anti-drug war campaign, they should not do so in public.

“They have to do it the right way,” the President said during his speech before airmen of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the PAF Multi-purpose Hall in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City on Tuesday.

PRRD was referring to the issue of human rights raised by some world leaders during last week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

The President explained that during the ASEAN Summit, he authorized the release of photographs depicting the horror the Philippines suffered under the Spaniards and the

Americans to show what true human rights violation looks like, and how these atrocities were committed against the Filipinos.

“I said to myself early on that this cannot continue, and I would have to address, if it’s a human rights problem then we must discuss the entire gamut.

And so nandiyan ngayon sa Facebook, ‘yung massacre everywhere,” he said.

President Duterte mentioned that in Samar, Filipinos were massacred by the Americans who got the Balangiga bell, hijacked it, stole it, and never returned it to the Philippines until now.

“It’s the sentimental value that is really attached. It is the massacre that happened to the Filipinos in Samar. Take note about that in the chapters of

FTER weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, another Filipino athlete is set to receive a cash incentive under the new athletes’ incentives law or Republic Act 10699, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said Wednesday.

This after Angara filed a resolution commending Filipino Class 8 table tennis paralympian Josephine Medina, 46, who won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, ending the country’s 16-year medal drought.

Angara, author and sponsor of RA 10699, said Medina is entitled to a P1-million cash incentive under the new law.

Prior to the enactment of RA 10699, winning differently-abled athletes were granted only token incentives.

Medina claimed the second Paralympic medal for the Philippines after beating Germany’s Juliane Wolf 3-0

on Tuesday morning (Manila time).

Reigning champion Jungian Mao of China retained the gold title, while France’s Thu Kamkasomphou took home the silver.

“This is truly one of the noblest intentions of the law--to include our winning athletes with disabilities in the grant of cash awards from the government,” Angara said.

“The term ‘national athletes’ should encompass all athletes including those who are differently-abled as they undoubtedly deserve bigger incentives and benefits,” he added.

Under the new law, Paralympics gold medalists will get P5 million each, the silver medalists P2.5 million each, and the bronze medalists P1 million each, while the coaches stand to get cash in-

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Paralympian Medina to be awarded P1-M A

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4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

Surprise inspection at GenSan jail yields empty‘shabu’, weapons

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OLICE and jail personnel recovered empty plastic sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and improvised weapons in a surprise inspection at the Lanton Reformatory Center here Tuesday.

City police director, Sr. Supt. Maximo Layugan, said Wednesday they found the illegal items inside the city jail’s detention cells and in the possession of some inmates.

He said they scoured the jail’s facilities in line with operation plans “Galugad” and Greyhound, in coordination with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Layugan said they found a number of knives, improvised weapons made of spoons and wood slabs, and a “sumpak” or crude handgun, and removed a number of empty bottles supposedly used by the inmates in craft-related projects.

“We recovered several

(improvised) tooter and aluminum foil, which indicates that some inmates were using shabu,” Layugan said.

City jail warden, Chief Insp. Jesus Singson, confirmed that they seized several plastic sachets that contained residues of suspected shabu.

He noted that supplies of illegal drugs continue to enter the facility despite the rigid inspections done on visitors.

“There were previous instances wherein the shabu supplies were brought in by female couriers by hiding them in their private parts and this could be happening until now,” he said.

The jail official said they have already requested for the deployment of a K-9 unit at the facility to assist their inspections on the visitors.

The BJMP-managed city jail, located in Purok Lanton in Barangay Apopong, has a current population of 1,990 male and about 200 female inmates.

The surprise inspection was the third this year and the second since July. (PNA)

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RTWPB-12 endorses P15 to P20 wage hike T

HE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTPWB) in Region 12 has set a P15 to P20 increase in the daily wages of private workers in the region, bringing the area’s floor pay to as high as P295.

Jessie dela Cruz, RTWPB-12 secretary, said Wednesday the latest wage increase was approved by the board in a meeting in Koronadal City last Friday.

He said they immediately endorsed the proposed new wage order for the region to the National Wages and Productivity Commission “for approval and comment.”

“The board considered the need to adjust the current wage rates since the last increase was set two years ago,” he said.

He was referring to Wage

Order No. RB XII-18 that took effect on Aug. 1, 2014 and set the daily wage rates in Region 12 to P275 for non-agriculture workers, P257 for agriculture workers and P255 for those in retail and service establishments.

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Dela Cruz said the newly-approved wage adjustment mainly integrated the cost of living allowance or COLA set in the previous wage order.

He said workers in the non-agriculture sector will get a P20 increase, bringing their daily wage to P295.

For those in agriculture

and retail sectors, he said they “simplified” the previous rates by eliminating the P2 difference and set them to a uniform P257.

Adding the approved P15 adjustment, he said the daily pay of workers in both sectors will increase to P272.

The RTWPB-12 earlier launched a series of consultations for the wage increase after the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines submitted a proposal in late April for a P143 adjustment.

The board, which is chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment-Region 12 Director Albert Gutib, has two representatives each from the management and labor sectors in the region.

Dela Cruz said they also made comprehensive studies on the region’s socio-eco-

Napolcom awards head of R-12 anti- drugs unit

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EDUCATION SUMMIT. Compostela Valley local officials headed by Gov. Tyron Uy and DepEd learn a lot from the resource persons who share their best practices and inspirations in their education advocacies held at the PICC, Pasay City on September 8-9, 2016. The group is attending the 9th

National Education Summit through the Bayanihan Para sa Karunungan program where Synergeia Foundation is a strong partner. (photo credits: BPSK FB page, IDS Comval)

nomic condition, restoration analysis on the purchasing power of the peso, effects of the changes in the consumer price indices, and the inflation rate.

“We made our decision based on these factors,” he said.

But labor group Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)-Sentro described the new wage adjustment as a “paltry.”

“It is unfair and unjust for our workers here in the region as we were properly consulted before this decision was made,” said Herbert Demos, APL-Sentro coordinator for Region 12.

He called anew for the “abolition” of the regional wage board and for the legislation

by Congress of uniform wage adjustments for workers in the entire country. (PNA)

HE National Police Commission (Napolcom) has awarded the head of the anti-illegal drug unit of Police Regional Office (PRO-12) for his unit’s successful anti-illegal drug operations which led to recovery of P7.9 million worth of prohibited drugs across the region, police officials said.

Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr, spokesperson for PRO-12, said Supt. Maximo Sebastian, chief of the PRO-12 Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (RAIDSOTF) was the given Excellence Award for outstanding anti-illegal drug operations in Region 12.

Since July 1 to Sept. 30, the task force conducted 39 anti-illegal drug operations in

the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Saranggani, and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Gen. Santos.

The said operations resulted in the recovery of about P7.9 worth of prohibited drugs, assorted firearms and shabu paraphernalia.

At least 70 individuals have been arrested and about 15 others were killed upon resisting arrest, including three former police officers in Tacurong City and nine drug personalities in Matalam, North Cotabato who opted to shoot it out with lawmen.

Sadly, Galgo said Supt. Se-

and capability building workshop for school principals, teachers, school nurses, councilors and school planning officers to equip them with the necessary capacity to help improve education in war-torn communities.

To fast track the development of pupils affected by conflict due to evacuation and displacement, the ARMM through the SEERP and DepEd conducted psychosocial support services in schools.

Recognizing the importance of education at the formative stage of Moro children, the ARMM has allocated P13.2 million for support services education recovery program and special education recovery program.

Since ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman assumed office, a huge part of his time has been devoted to the development of the region’s education sector.

He designed “horizontal” and “vertical” approaches.

Horizontal refers to projects like school buildings, houses health centers in war torn communities and vertical refers to road networks, bridges and other infrastructure that will help poor communities recover and move forward.

HDAP has two major components, lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary said. These include humanitarian component and development component.

Beneficiaries of these projects are the towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Salibo, Talitay, Talayan, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Guindulungan, Datu Piang, Rajah Buayan, Datu Unsay Ampatuan, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki and Datu Odin Sinsuat. (PNA)

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South Cot farmer ARMM vows to improve Maguindanao education kills 11-foot snake T A

40-YEAR-OLD farmer in a remote village here overpowered an 11-feet long Diamond snake Tuesday morning after it attacked him, police said.

Gabriel Mulana, a farmer of Barangay El Nonok, Banga, South Cotabato, brought the snake to the police as a warning to those gathering or collecting spiders in the bush.

“The snake could strike at anyone if its habitat is invaded, especially children collecting spiders for games,” Mulana said.

Mulana told reporters that he was clearing the bushes in his farm at about 11 a.m. when he heard a whistling sound.

“I heard ssssssh sounds and when I turned around, I saw a long snake as if standing

and starring at me,” Mulana said.

Instinct dictated Mulana to run for his life toward a small river but the snake chased him, as if flying.

“I grabbed a piece of wood and repeatedly hit the snake which appeared to be a little bit weak because it had huge stomach,” Mulana recalled.

He suspected the diamond snake had just feasted on a chicken or another snake because of its bloated stomach, with its eyes turned on him.

“I can only suspect it wanted to eat me too,” he said, catching his breath.

The snake was still moving though its head has been shattered when Mulana arrived at the town police office with his “defeated enemy.” (PNA)

HE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to improve education in 31 conflict-affected schools in Maguindanao.

Through its flagship initiative Humanitarian and Development Action Program (ARMM-HDAP), the regional government renewed is determination to fully implement the special emergency education recovery program (SEERP) in 31 conflict-affected schools in Maguindanao.

According to Hadja Bai Taya Aplal, Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) director II and focal person of the SEERP, based on the monitoring, assessment, and validation of the regional government’s education cluster, 12,215 students were affected by the conflict brought about by the Mamasapano incident

in January 2015 and other conflict in the province after that.

“There are more than 12,000 affected students after the Mamasapano incident, so with the new program of the ARMM, we conducted several activities to help and encourage students to go to school,” Aplal said.

She said a January 2016 study and assessment of more than 10,400 pupils in Maguindanao’s 31 conflict-affected schools, about 5,380 children were identified as malnourished and slow learners.

The HDAP assessment in January 2016 involving 10,457 students for school year 20152016, a total of 5,389 were identified as malnourished and slow learners in 31 schools in Maguindanao division 1.

Following this discovery, DepEd-ARMM immediately conducted a series of training

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6 ECONOMY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

BAP welcomes FX liberalization T

HE Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) Open Market Committee has welcomed the issuance of Circular No. 925 by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) which amended foreign exchange regulations.

In a media roundtable in Makati City Wednesday, BAP Open Market Committee Chairman Wick Veloso said the new circular is BSP’s ninth wave on foreign exchange liberalization which increased the cap of sales of foreign notes on a no-document basis from US$ 120,000 to US$ 500,000 for retail customers and P1.0 million for corporate and other entities.

“This is a very good development from the perspective of Bankers Association of the Philippines,” said Veloso, who is also the HSBC Philippines president and chief executive officer.

“The benefit to the public

is significant. It allows them to be able to deal with financial institutions instead of any entity that just sell foreign exchange. They are now able to produce foreign exchange from entities that are regulated extensively by the BSP,” he added.

He noted that aside from selling foreign notes, banks can give advisories on foreign exchange hedging.

“It now becomes a complete solution for the customers. It also allows, makes financial system more secure,” said Veloso.

Aside from increasing the cap on foreign exchange, the new circular also allows sameday credit of foreign exchange purchase for foreign currency deposit unit (FCDU) and conversion of loans to peso without prior registration or approval from the central bank.

“The Philippines is now

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PhilJets expanding fleet with 2 new H130 choppers

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HILJETS Group, a local player in the aerospace industry, is expanding its fleet as it placed a new order of two H130 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters Southeast Asia -- a unit of Airbus Group.

The two new H130 helicopters will be operated by PhilJets Aero Charter Corp., the firm’s air transport subsidiary.

PhilJets’ purchase of new units is on top of its order of H130 helicopter in January which is expected to be delivered in October.

The company now operates seven helicopters, with six of those under Air Operator Certificate (AOC) which allow

operators to use their aircrafts for commercial purposes.

PhilJets said its fleet expansion emphasizes the company’s confidence in the continuing growth in Philippines.

It also noted the increasing passenger traffic in Cebu and Davao which the company targets to cater.

“PhilJets also fosters local tourism by developing new helicopter tours and flying offers, with some of them from Davao and Cebu to highlight the natural scenic wonders of the country,” the company said.

PhilJets eyes assets amounting to USD20 million by end of this year. (PNA)

EMBERS of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) agreed in a meeting in Jakarta last week to intensify efforts to promote ASEAN asset classes that could boost region-wide investments.

In its 25th meeting in Indonesia, ACMF views the Modern Index Strategy Indexes’ (MSCI) initiative aimed at developing dedicated ASEAN indexes, could generate greater visibility for ASEAN asset classes that supports ACMF’s agenda.

In meeting hosted by the Indonesia Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan), ACMF also agreed to introduce an annual ASEAN Capital Market Conference as a platform to discuss opportunities in ASEAN capital markets as well as to showcase ASEAN asset classes.

Towards this end, the ACMF vowed to work with its dialogue partners and key in-

dustry participants to launch the inaugural conference in the first half of 2017.

“Discussions with international dialogue partners and industry participants have shown that there is now a confluence of opportunities to promote investment in ASEAN asset classes through the establishment of ASEAN-specific indexes, and creation of an extensive range of investable ASEAN capital market products,” said Ranjit Ajit Singh, the chair of the ACMF. “It is imperative that major ASEAN investors lead the way by creating mandates for investing in ASEAN asset classes.”

During the meeting, ACMF members noted the progress of implementation of the ACMF Action Plan 2016-2020 that will support the objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community. A key initiative in the Action Plan

KAKAOKONEK 2016. An exhibitor inspects cocoa beans during the opening of KakaoKonek 2016. The three-day KakaoKonek will open today at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center where the comprehensive Philippine Cacao Roadmap will be presented. Lean Daval Jr.

Mindanao open to RE projects

By RIA VALDEZ

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HE Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), in partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will be conducting a round table discussion on Renewable Energy (RE) today, Sept. 15, 4 pm to 6 pm at the Hukad Restaurant, SM City Davao.

“We recognize the potential of Mindanao for Renewable Energy projects,” said Francis dela Cruz of ICSC, during yesterday’s Habi at Kape press conference.

“We reached out to MinDA (through the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee) because we wanted to keep track of the energy situation in Mindanao,” said Dela Cruz, who cited the recent power outages in Compostella Valley and Bukidnon.

The ICSC, he said, has been planning to organize a dialogue on how projects under the RE law of 2008 will benefit Mindanao, and how these can help provide power during outages at lower costs

is to foster greater mobility of professionals within the region.

In response to the strong positive feedback received from market participants, the ACMF approved the establishment of a working group on professional mobility to introduce rules to facilitate cross-border movement of capital market professionals on a phased basis.

And given the ACMF’s continued emphasis on capacity building, the meeting endorsed the Capacity Building Plan developed jointly by the ACMF and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

As a starter, a regulatory programme on developing domestic bond markets tailored specifically for members from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV members), will be rolled out in September and hosted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Cambodia.

to consumers while optimizing energy resources in the island-region.

“We have the law but we lack implementation,” said Dela Cruz, He revealed his group’s discussions with MinDA will focus on “how do we move forward with the law” and “how to encourage investments where it is needed.”

Investments range from RE technologies such as solar panels to renewable energy plants, he added.

According to Dela Cruz, ICSC is looking forward to utilizing the 3,000 megawatts MinDA has tracked for the RE project Dela Cruz said he was pleased with Mindanao’s openness to these projects.

“MinDA would have said no if they weren’t interested,” he candidly said.

At present, a total of 260 pending projects on renewable energy across the six regions in Mindanao are being tracked by MinDa.

Regulators intensify promotion of ASEAN assets Economic officials: PHL a regional outperformer M The ACMF also commended the commencement of the ASEAN Young Regulators Programme launched earlier this year with the secondment of young regulators from SEC Cambodia to the Securities Commission Malaysia.

At the same time, ACMF acknowledged the progress of the holistic review of the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard and assessment methodology being spearheaded by the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, the meeting reiterated the importance of corporate governance as a key component of the ACMF’s efforts in promoting the investability of ASEAN public-listed companies.

To date, 14 funds have been recognized as ASEAN Collective Investment

F REGULATORS, 13

G

LOBAL, regional and local fund managers have been assured by the country’s economic officials that the Philippines will remain one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia throughout the Duterte administration.

During a recent conference call with more than 100 fund managers organized by the government’s Investor Relations Office (IRO), senior economic officials said Philippine-based businesses will flourish amid efforts to raise the Filipinos’ living standards.

In turn, an improved standard of living for a greater portion of the population bodes well for higher incomes of businesses, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) officials said.

According to NEDA Deputy Director General Rosemarie Edillon, these efforts include “support for further develop-

ment of the manufacturing sector and for reversal of the contraction of the agriculture sector, as well as higher public spending on infrastructure and social services in areas outside Metro Manila”.

NEDA Director for National Policy and Planning Reynaldo Cancio said, “We have had 17 years of uninterrupted economic expansion. Our challenge lies in the distribution of gains from the economic growth.” He pointed out that the Duterte administration’s socioeconomic development agenda will address this challenge.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said, “The unique growth story of the Philippine economy — one that is founded not only on strength but also on longterm stability and resilience — offers opportunities for business activity to thrive not only

F ECONOMIC, 10

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

3-D PRINTING. NORDE President Allan Hao Chin (third from right) and Managing Director Steve Venn (second from right), together with Councilor Joanne Bonguyan-Quilos (center) HP Singapore’s Melvin Lew (leftmost), Kornit Hongkong’s Raymond Cheng (second from left) and HP Philippines’ Manjo Perez, lead the cutting of ribbon to mark

ECONOMY 7

the opening of Norde Industrial Distributors’ Davao City branch at the Davao Golf Club Road, Quimpo Blvd. yesterday.

Lean Daval Jr.

Firm introduces 3-D printing in Davao

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

A

of 3D printing machines.

Aside from 3D printing, the store also offers a wide range of industrial digital solutions from general commercial printing, publishing, sign and display, color management, to finishing and fabrication.

Norde also supports the needs of industry for labels, packaging and direct-to-garment businesses. It offers brands such as HPKornit,

GMG, Pantone and Esko for business owners who are in need of digital technology solutions.

The company also provides solutions for small to medium size businesses with 2D and 3D printing technologies which begins at the entry level, which is an ideal solution for launching a smallscale digital production firm.

Sectors on manufacturing, print, engineering and ar-

chitecture would mostly benefit from these technologies.

Norde Business Development manager Nina Suarez said, “Our identity is built from the premium machines that we offer and our costumers’ satisfaction.”

Suarez added the company ensures to provide the finest products in digital technology that enhance creativity and productivity in the long run.

Norde President Alan Hao said the company had wanted to set up shop in Davao for quite some time until they finally got the “go signal” to establish their new store here.

“It’s our second branch outside of Manila, we opened the Cebu branch early this year,” said Hao, adding the company no longer has plans to open additional outlets this year.

Steve Venn, Norde management director, explained the company wants to first see how its Cebu branch will perform this year before it decides to set up another store.

Suarez and Venn noted the members of the Davao branch’s marketing team are all from Davao City who will be on hand to provide high-quality customer service that is proudly “Davaoeño.”

HE first Compostella Valley Investment Conference (COMVAL ICON 2016) will be held on Oct. 20 to 2, at the Capitol building’s Social Hall, Nabunturan, Compostella Valley With the theme: “Promoting viable industries for inclusive growth, the two-day conference aims to promote the province’s five key industries - aquaculture, banana, cacao, coconut, coffee - to local investors.

The conference is being organized by the Department of Trade and Industries – Compostela Valley (DTIComVal), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

(BFAR) and the Compostella Valley Freshwater Aquaculture Stakeholder’s Association.

Guesting at yesterday’s Habi at Kape at the Abreeza Mall, Patrick Evangelio and Rochelle Otoc of DTI- ComVal explained that among the main objectives of the event is to “showcase investment areas” in the province.

The event includes a press conference with the organizers; a trade fair and exhibit of major sponsors and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) processors; a plenary session focusing on the event’s theme; and an industry tour-visit to selected

farms and projects showcasing the five industries.

According to Ottoc, each industry will feature five booths, saying “There could be as many exhibitors in each booth.”

She added that conference organizers are expecting 300 participants to attend the event.

Ottoc explained the conference was “the result of various consultations of stakeholders and market players two years ago.”

The organizers, she said, had to assess the readiness of farmers, as well as the investment areas, to ensure a smooth partnership with fu-

ture investors.

Ottoc stressed that the conference will highlight “the positivity and resilience of market players to thrive even after Pablo.”

She noted that despite the destruction wrought by Pablo four years ago, residents of ComVal are determined to strengthen their agriculture sector.

Evangelio, on the other hand, said the event “provides opportunities for Comvalenos to forge relationships between and among key players in the featured industries and form business linkages with key suppliers.”

HE Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC) will start implementing the electronic clearing of checks on Jan. 20, 2017.

This developed after the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) approved the adoption of check clearing via electronic presentment through the PCHC’s check image clearing system (CICS).

The reform initiative is vital in the BSP’s goal of promoting the country’s financial stability.

The CICS process is expected to speed up the crediting of funds to depositors’ accounts from the current three to five banking days to only one banking day.

Under the existing clearing system, physical delivery of checks is required. On the oth-

er hand, only the digital images of checks and their electronic payment information need to be transmitted to paying banks under the CICS. A memorandum of agreement was signed between the BSP and PCHC, in which the central bank will take a more active role in supervising the country’s check clearing system. This would promote fi-

nancial consumer welfare and enhance the efficiency of the domestic payment system.

To ensure faster movement of goods and services in the country through the smooth implementation of this new process, the BSP enjoins the banking community to actively participate in the preparations for electronic check clearing.

(PNA)

OP business leaders, economists and government policy-makers in the country will gather anew at the upcoming Philippine Investment Conference on Sept. 27 at the New World Makati Hotel in Manila.

Bearing the theme, “Sustaining Development in a World of Policy Divergence,” the gathering is seen as timely following last month’s pronouncement by the government the Philippines’ economy grew at seven percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, its highest level in three years.

This is despite the numerous challenges facing most economies globally and the consequences of differing fiscal and monetary policies.

The conference is co-hosted by CFA Institute and CFA Society Philippines where expected presentation highlights will include insights from the country’s primary movers in the business and financial sectors, investors and economists, as they appraise the economic prospects under the administration of President Duterte.

The Duterte administration is generally seen by the

business community as being on the right track owing to its tough stance against criminality and corruption, its priority on infrastructure spending, and other policies expected to generate further economic advancement.

“The Philippine Investment Conference is a major part of our advocacy. We want to create awareness of industry issues, and impart knowledge to inform and benefit those in the country’s financial sector, which ultimately will benefit the Philippine society,” Cristina Arceo, CFA, president of CFA Society Philippines, and the Vice President and Head of the Fixed Income Desk at China Banking Corp. Treasury Group, said.

The CFA Society Philippines is an association of local investment professionals and is a part of a global network of more than 137,000 finance and investment professionals in more than 145 countries and territories. It promotes the highest ethical standards and professional excellence within the local investment community.

“This is also an important

MANILA-BASED company has finally rolled out 3D printing to Davao City, as it launched its newest store yesterday at the Davao Golf Club Road, Quimpo Blvd.

Norde Industrial Distributors offers a variety of brands such as Stratasys, Artec 3D, Lulzbot, Mcor, which are mainly designed for engineers and research development groups who are in need

dev’t tops PH ComVal hosts first investment conference Sustainable investment conference T T

By RIA VALDEZ

F COMVAL, 13

Check clearing goes electronic next year T

F SUSTAINABLE, 13

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

EDITORIAL Ping’s advice

I

N the words of Senator Ping Lacson, President Duterte’s communications team must learn “the art of lying closest to the truth.”

Coming from the lawmaker who rose from his humble beginnings as law enforcer, it means a lot. It is an advice President Duterte’s men could really learn a lot from.

Senator Lacson is a grizzled veteran in advocacy with a masters in covert operations.

His advice should come in handy especially at this time when obviously the President’s men could not get their acts together and speak as one voice in explaining apparently confusing statements of the chief executive.

This is not the first time that a Presidential communications

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team is not working in sync. The past communications team had its divisions. However, this present team is not really a warring, divided team. Their only problem is how to temper the President’s statements and judging at how it has gone in the past two months, it is the most difficult job in the world.

The team groped in the President’s statements on the pullout of United States troops from Mindanao, and remarks about the status of Filipino death row convict Mary Jane Veloso to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Senator Lacson offering a crash course for the Duterte communications team is good. But there could be nothing better than the President himself and his men sit down and talk, strategize and set a game plan.

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C

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Biased media ganging up on Duterte

RITICAL and biased writing penned by the western media are distorting the consciousness of Filipinos on issues that concern nationalism and other domestic affairs.

I don’t know if the more than one hundred million Filipinos know these Machiavellian machinations that have more than just a cultural impact on their lives. I’m afraid they don’t even have an inkling.

Filipinos have been basically wary of the Left, the Communists generally, and China specifically. This mindset has been exploited since after the Second World War when the HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) who fought against the Japanese were systematically eased out from the mainstream socio-political scene.

The USA has been pictured as “Uncle Sam” to the Philippines not only as a title of filial affinity and immensely explored the patrimony of the nation as the “only Ally” the country has known.

Historically, millions of Filipinos today - the so-called millenials especially - are lost searching for the correct Filipi-

P

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

RESIDENT Duterte’s declaration during the campaign period that he would ride a jet ski to the Spratlys Islands and plant the Philippine flag there might have sounded like a big joke to many who have been accustomed to his wry sense of humor. But on closer scrutiny, it was actually a policy statement coming from the then future president; it was his offhand way of saying that he would do anything to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino people in this period of global uncertainty.

It is therefore unsurprising that the President has taken a more pragmatic approach towards China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea. This move is actually a 360-degree turn from the previous administration’s highly combative stance against the Asian superpower.

Analysts were expecting the President to take advantage of the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague’s recent ruling which flatly rejected China’s claim to the whole expanse of the South China Sea. Former President Aquino must be scratching his head in disbelief with his predecessor’s decision not to seize the opportunity of pressing on with the Philippines’ claim to the disputed waters. To recall, it was during Aquino’s watch when the petition with the High Court was filed based on its arguments that China had no legal basis to its so-called Nine Dash Line claim.

But President Duterte believes that

no heritage SPECKS OF LIFE and identity.

Most have ignored the on-rush of American cultural and technological imperialism, allowing Fred C. Lumba themselves to be enveloped and drowned by the overwhelming surge of Western “free-as-a-bird” philosophy without the least suspecting that it was intoxicating their sub-consciousness.

This has resulted into a subservient mentality that got deeply engraved in the Filipinos’ national psyche such that anything American is good and excellent and their ideas are better than anybody else.

The Senate decision expelling the American bases in the Philippines after the abrogation of the Parity Rights in 1991 was a landmark action that, for once, displayed a strong patriotic fervor.

Most Filipinos thought at that time

that the country would be economically crippled due to the Americans’ departure.

Sorry but the Philippines did not drop on her knees. She stood strong and positive that on her own the country would move forward.

I do not remember any Philippine president to have stood up and said “NO” to the Americans.

Here comes Rodrigo Roa Duterte who did not only stand up to the meddlesome overtures of the Western clique but also gave the American head of state a piece of his mind, including a stern comment directed at UN Sec-general Ban-Ki Moon.

Quite naturally, media allies of the US president from all over came o his rescue.

Our president found himself in the eye of the storm but he did not waver.

Duterte has proven to the international community and to all those who have ears that the Filipino is no longer the push-over that he usually was. By his attendance and proclamation at the ASEAN Summit - his first personal participation in an international forum - he boldly proclaimed the independent mind of the new Philippine leadership.

Wow, don’t you like what Pres. Duterte did?

I do. For a long time I have been waiting for a leader who would have the balls to say “NO” to the over-reaching arms of exploiters and scheming sectors of the international community.

Previous administrations have kowtowed to the maneuverings of the Americans whose breadcrumbs-like gifts to the Filipino people are more of charitable acts than anything.

While the former American bases in Subic and Clark were the largest outside of the continental United States, Uncle Sam paid the Philippine government a mere pittance.

So, here they are again. The Western media think they can cow Duterte into submission. They are wrong, terribly wrong.

With an independent outlook, the Philippines can look beyond America for friendship and economic partners.

The ASEAN is one. The EEC is another.

Then, there’s China. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) God bless the Philippines!

there is a VIEWPOINTS better, more productive way of dealing with the Chinese government.

This is not to say the President is willing to give up Sonny L. Mendoza the country’s sovereignty. However, he recognizes the fact that China’s expansionist claims will not be stymied by the international court’s decision, which up to this day it still refuses to recognize.

President Duterte’s decision to appoint former President Fidel Ramos as special envoy to China was therefore a strategic move on the part of the national government. Ramos, who has been known for his astute skills in diplomacy, has already held exploratory talks with Chinese officials as a way of leveling off and testing the waters, so to speak.

Although the former chief executive hasn’t divulged the results of his dialogue with his counterparts in China, the meeting can be viewed as the Duterte Administration’s way of demonstrating to China that it was willing to set aside fiery rhetoric in exchange for more productive dialogue.

Many do not realize it but by opening the possibility of bilateral talks between

the Philippines and China, President Duterte is already providing a glimpse of his administration’s calibrated foreign policy approach. The fact that he and his policy team have decided to adopt a more cooperative stance with China comes from a realization that there is a need to chart a new course in the way the nation conducts its foreign diplomacy.

Being the astute politician that he is, President Duterte knows when to hold his horses and when to push back - hard.

We believe that he too is elated with the international tribunal’s decision favoring the petition of the Philippines. On the other hand, he knows that the court’s decision is not the end all, by all, and will not guarantee that the Philippines will not be subjected to intimidation by China in the future.

By opening a channel for dialogue between the Philippines and China on the sea dispute, President Duterte is reducing the possibility of conflict in the South China Sea. We are sure that he doesn’t want a repeat of the incidents wherein Filipino fishermen were fired upon with water canons by the Chinese coast guard.

Such encounters can perhaps be avoided with cooler heads and diplomats sitting across each other and exchanging proposals, not threats.

The President is also aware that China has been one of the country’s biggest trading partners over the years. Most of the products we purchase in department stores and supermarkets come from

China – shoes, toys, electronic products, appliances. And as a testament of the Philippines and China’s robust trade relations, bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 45.65 billion in 2015, registering a growth rate of 2.7 percent according to Chinese government figures.

When President Duterte stated that he would be willing to talk with China regarding the South China dispute if the Chinese government will invest in the Philippines’ infrastructure development was not a sell-out, as some would like to believe. Again, it was the Chief Executive’s way of telling the Chinese government that his country was more interested in promoting sustainable growth and development than locking horns over an issue that has created a great deal of animosity between the two countries.

It will take a while before the Philippines and China will be able to come up with a workable solution to the territorial dispute. But the President has taken the first step, albeit wary that the national government’s shift in foreign policy, particularly on how it deals with China on the ongoing sea row, will be the subject of intense scrutiny by policy experts. But with the Chief Executive’s declaration of a nationalist foreign policy, we are sure that the interest of the Filipino people will always come first.

Those who think that Presdent Duterte’s diplomatic skills are wanting may have to reconsider their position.

Pragmatist

10 NEWS

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Multiple... FROM 1 Neri said Task Force Davao is focusing on strengthening security in areas that are presumed to be the main targets of terror groups.

“It is important that we need to ‘harden’ these targets,” he said.

Neri said that malls, parks and churches are usually the targets of terrorists, which highlights the need to further beef up security in these areas.

He said that aside from massive information drives, drills must also be conducted to ensure the readiness of all sectors in the community.

“These are proactive measures with the end [goal] to have a peaceful and secured Davao City where the government will pursue economic development and the people will enjoy lasting peace,” Neri said.

PCG: Maritime patrols increased, security at ports tightened The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have also revealed plans to beef up security at the city’s seaports.

PCG spokesperson Restituto Concio Jr. yesterday said they will deploy additional personnel to ensure stricter implementation of security measures at the Sasa and Santa Ana wharfs, and coastal baranggays after the Davao Blast.

“We have augmented our patrol enforcers by about 500.

The PNP also deployed bomb squads and K9 units,” Concio told the weekly AFP-PNP press briefing.

Concio said the PNP, PCG, and TFD will also help in patrolling subdivisions and villages along the coastal baranggays.

ing at Davao City Police Office, PSSCC Head Benito de Leon said his office is still identifying areas in the city where the CCTV cameras will be placed primarily for security-related purposes.

“We will check with our technical people where can we install. If we can put up CCTVs in public schools we will do that,” he said.

De Leon said the PSSCC needs to install 100 new cameras in addition to the existing cameras to cover “blind” spots and some public schools.

He said his office will not disclose where the CCTVs will be installed due to security reasons.

“Our CCTVs in public are for anti-criminality and anti-terrorism and we do not announce where these cameras will be installed,” he said.

He said there is a need for additional equipment such as computers and monitors, as well as additional personnel for the DCPO’s monitoring team.

“There is a need to add our monitoring team. We will hire additional personnel,” he said.

PSSCC to install more CCTV Cameras Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) will install additional closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in key areas in the city.

In yesterday’s press brief-

Davao Oriental beefs up security efforts In the meantime, Senior Supt. Harry Espela, Davao Oriental provincial police director, said in yesterday’s press briefing that his men are focusing their efforts on preventing future of attacks and other criminal activities.

“Governor [Nelson] Dayanghirang ordered the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to intensify the province’s security measures,” said Espela.

Espela explained the Governor wants to tap military reservists, Barangay Peace Action Teams (BPATs), and purok leaders as force multipliers in monitoring activities in the streets and the barangays.

They have also deployed more military personnel to strengthen checkpoints in key areas in the province.

motorcycle, which sped off towards the direction of Koronadal City.

Recovered at the scene were six spent shells from a

caliber .45 handgun.

“It could be personal or work-related. Right now, we are considering all angles,” the police official added. (PNA)

hold departure list of the bureau.

The BI also directed airline representative to submit two copies of the general declaration (Gendec) of the inbound or outbound aircraft, prior to their arrival or departure from the airport.

He said the new policy is also consistent with existing international standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Or-

ganization (ICAO).

In the past, foreign airline crewmen were allowed to just breeze through the airports’ immigration counters.

On the other hand, BI Spokesperson Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said that despite the new rule the sixmonth rule on passport validity and visa requirements for visa-required foreign nationals still do not apply to foreign airline crew members. (PNA)

bastian failed to attend the ceremonies held over the weekend at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Galgo said the award is ex-

pected to encourage members of the police force to continue the performance of their duties as protectors of the people.

(PNA)

Cops... FROM 2

Airline... FROM 3

Napolcom... FROM 4

GREEN BRIGADE. A group of workers plants flowers at Quezon Park as part of the city government of Davao’s greening program. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte’s... FROM 2

rte’s trust ratings could drop, Lacson said it is least likely since the President’s tendency to be politically incorrect was what drew his supporters to vote for him.

The President’s trust rating stood at 91 percent in a Pulse Asia survey released last July.

“He has a different approach to fellow Filipinos.

He has charmed most of our citizens even during the campaign. He defied political correctness because candidates would usually think about being politically correct,” Lacson

said.

“That is how he got many votes — by defying political correctness,” he added.

Lacson meanwhile said that Malacañang’s communication team should by now be able to anticipate the way the President’s mind works.

“Three months have passed. By this time, they should know, they should anticipate the issues that are predictable,” the senator said.

“They should also know what occasions he will be attending wherein they should also be ready.” (PNA)

client, through an accredited geodetic engineer, to submit the survey application online for faster verification of boundaries.

Once approved, the survey

data are saved on the digital cadastral database (DCBD) of approved surveys of LAMS. The DCDB has the textual information of the lot and its scanned image. (PNA)

our history,” he said.

The President urged his critics that if they want to criticize or call his attention about human rights issues, they have to do it in the proper way.

“Ang sinasabi ko lang, do it the proper way. If you want

to criticize me, you bring the matter to the United Nations.

Tapos tawagan nila ang atensyon ko, then I will answer, maybe in writing or send somebody there. But I cannot go there personally,” he said.

(PNA)

centives equivalent to half of the amount the winning athletes will receive.

“This is the first time our Filipino athletes won in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, which is

the counterpart of the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities,” the lawmaker said.

Just last month, Diaz won a historic silver medal and received P5 million in cash incentives. (PNA)

now but well into the future.”

Department of Budget and Management Assistant Secretary Ameenah Pangandaman said plans to ramp up public infrastructure spending would help boost job generation, thus complementing poverty-reduction efforts. Under the proposed national budget for 2017, infrastructure will get P860.7 billion, up 13.8 percent from this year’s allocation.

They reiterated the government’s economic growth target of 6.0-7.0 percent this year, 6.57.5 percent in 2017, and 7.0-8.0

percent from 2018 to 2022. If the targets are realized, the Philippines would continue to outpace growth rates of most Asian countries.

The financial market players who registered for the IRO’s conference call are based in neighboring Asian countries and the European Union, aside from some local fund managers.

Economic officials told them the Philippines is further building on its past economic gains and is poised to realize bright prospects for businesses over the medium- to long-term. (PNA)

Land... FROM 2 Rody... FROM 3

Paralympian... FROM 3 Economic... FROM 6

BIGGER PICTURE... FROM 12

the permission of Pope Pius XII, she founded a new Indian congregation, the Missionaries of Charity, devoted entirely to the poor.

Assuming Indian citizenship, she chose for the fledgling community a habit suited to its mission and locale – a simple, white cotton sari edged with blue.

The RM committee observed of her work at this time: “Mother Teresa and the small group of Indian nuns she had trained started their work with clinics and feeding centers. Soon police and others began to bring to her doorstep children and adults left to die in the streets. Determined that these unwanted must have a place to spend their last days in peace, she founded, in 1952, in an ancient, teeming quarter of Calcutta, the Nirmal Hriday, or Pure Heart – a unique hospital for dying destitute.”

In 2012, the Missionaries of Charity which she founded consisted of over 4,500 sisters and was active in 133 countries. Members must adhere to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, as well as a fourth vow, to give “wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.”

The Roman Catholic nun became known as the “saint of the gutters.” She earned fame and accolades over a lifetime spent working with the poor and the sick, and with orphans, lepers, alcoholics, homeless, and those afflicted with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

In December 1975, she made the cover of the prestigious weekly magazine, “Time,” where she was described as one of the world’s “living saints.” And when she was told that she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, her reply was: “I am unworthy.”

But she did attend the awarding ceremony. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated her Nobel prize to “all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared-for through-

out society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”

The Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award, formerly known as the Mother Teresa Award, is a recognition dedicated to the late Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Nobel Peace Prize Winner in 1979 and known worldwide before her death in 1997 as the “Living Saint” because of her selfless humanitarian work and the ideals which she embodied in her entire life.

In 1983, the AY Foundation, Inc. and the Manila Jaycees launched the Mother Teresa Award – now known as the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award – in her honor. It is dedicated to seek for lay individuals who have fully and selflessly dedicated at least 25 years of their lives to humanitarian work among “the poorest of the poor” and have served, and shall continue to serve, as an inspirational, living example to the world.

The first recipient was Anthony Hoffste, a parish priest of Tondo “who devoted 35 years of his life attending to the physical and spiritual needs of the Hasenites at the Tala Leprosarium.”

In 2004, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin was bestowed the honor “for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden and did not hesitate to voice his opinions when the rights of the poor are trampled.”

The most recent recipient was Divina T. Fabra, a missionary from New Tribes Mission who “gave up her life in the city and lives instead with the Aetas of Banauen, Zambales – teaching them to read and write and improving their healthcare.”

In a 1995 interview she was quoted as saying: “I see somebody dying, I pick him up. I find somebody hungry, I give him food. He can be loved and be loved. I don’t look at his color, I don’t look at his religion.

I don’t look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister.”

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FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

Clockwise from left: A toast with perfectly chilled Muscador Rose. Presenting and serving the Cadet d’Oc Chardonnay. The Malagos cheese platter was a definite crowd pleaser.

The Smoked Eucalyptus Salt-scented Braised US Short Ribs was tender and decadent. The Durian Creme Brulee was a proper sweet finish to a wonderful meal.

GOOD WINE IS GIFT, BUT GOOD WINE PAIRED WITH GOOD FOOD IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. This happened last Aug 24 at the Polo Bistro as Titania Wine Cellar, one of the Philippines’ largest fine wine importers, together with The Marco Polo Davao, held a Wine Dinner event featuring Cadet d’Oc by Baron Philippe de Rothschild from the Languedoc Roussillon region in France. The dinner featured a wonderful five-course meal prepared by Marco Polo Davao’s executive chef Alex Destriza.

While waiting for our dinner to be served, canapés of Gras with Moscatel Relish Brioche, Apple Walnut Jelly with Bleu D’ Auvergne, and Poke Tuna tartar with Poached Quail Egg and Black Lump Caviar were passed around with some Cadet d’Oc Merlot. The Cadet d’Oc Merlot was bright and fruity with berry notes and a silky finish.

As guests settled down, dinner started with the first course, a Lobster Bisque Cappuccino served with a Cognac Lobster and Lemongrass foam and a Lobster and Bacon puff.

The soup was rich and

decadent. Interestingly, no wine was served.

The second course featured a Fillet of Seabass on Celery Leek Ragout with a Sea Urchin Buerre Blanc. The smell of the briny sea brought up images of the seaside. The dish was paired with the Cadet d’Oc Chardonnay, a brilliant golden-

huedwine with subtle peach and floral notes.

The succulent sweetness of the wine paired well with the richness of the seabass with the briny buerre blanc enhancing the wine’s flavour.

After an intermezzo of Spiced Pomelo Sorbet, the second main course of Smokes Eucalyptus Salt-scented Braised US Short Ribs on Truffle Cauliflower puree and Guava Membrillo Glaze was served. This was paired with a light Cadet d’Oc Pinot Noir. The pairing was “okay” with the guava glaze lightening the rich smoky flavour of the short ribs.

Personally, I think the ribs would have paired better with the Cadet d’Oc Merlot served earlier. Thanks to Titania Wine’s Paige Meneses, I

confirmed my suspicion.

The highlight of the evening though was the decadent Malagos Cheese Board with Dried and Fresh Fruits served with Walnut Bread and Truffle Honey. Each cheese paired perfectly with the Cadet d’Oc Cabernet Sauvignon. With a bouquet of spicy black fruits, the crimson-hued Cadet d’Oc had notes of plum, black cherries and a hint of chocolate with a well-rounded silky finish.

To round up our course, dessert came in the form of a Durian Creme Brulee with Pistachio Biscoti and Fresh Cherry sides. This was paired with a delightful Muscador Rose which was bright and sweet, the perfect way to end a wonderful meal.

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

ENTERTAINMENT

KAPUSO PRIMETIME KING DINGDONG DANTES IS BACK ON TV as he headlines GMA Network’s newest series Alyas Robin Hood beginning September 19. The series dramatically showcases an inspiring truth that in each one of us is a hero, able to be of service for the welfare of other people.

A combination of action, drama, adventure and comedy, Alyas Robin Hood revolves around the life of Pepe de Jesus (Dingdong), a man who finds absolution in doing service to his community.

Known to be a prodigal son-turned-bar passer-turned-urban poor advocate, Pepe was framed up for the murder of his own father and was put behind bars. Believed to be perished after a violent prison break, Pepe survives and searches for the real culprit on the devastating death of his father and at the same time he redeems his own name under an assumed identity, Alyas Robin Hood. With the help of a few people he trusts, Pepe as Alyas Robin Hood mediates to seize crimes from happening, thus helping the oppressed as he slowly finds out the truth about who his real enemies are.

Dingdong will surely hook the viewers onto their TV screens as he embodies

Alyas Robin Hood while doing actionpacked scenes. Meanwhile, the Kapuso actor shared his excitement to depict his new character that aims to give inspiration.

“Maganda ‘yung feeling na nagiging part ka ng pag-solve ng isang problem sa lugar ninyo, tumutulong ka sa community. Pero ang mas mahalaga, siyempre, ay ‘yung paghahanap sa katotohanan. I think, isa ‘yun sa main na gustong ma-achieve ng character sa kuwento—malaman kung saan nagmula, sino ang may kagagawan ng lahat. Medyo komplikado.”

Apart from portraying another striking performance, he also shares his enthusiasm to work with the country’s esteemed actors to date. “Ang gagaling ng mga kasama ko dito. Mula sa international best actors and actresses, talagang mga mahal ko sa industriya ang makakasama ko dito. Understatement ang excited.

Sobrang inspired ako ngayon.”

Alyas Robin Hood also stars Kapuso actress Andrea Torres and 2013 Miss World Megan Young.

Joining them are respected TV and movie

E

actors: seasoned actress Ms Maggie Balbuena, Dean’s m powerful PR practitioner w l o r d - ing over the city the politic of his so ning a as D a co cian sible of Pep Pepe wi

EDGEDAVAO

s. Cherie Gil as mother who is a who dreams of by supporting cal aspirations on; award-winactor Sid Lucero Dean Balbuena, corrupt politiwho is responfor the death pe’s father and e’s arch rival ith Sarri; and 2016 Cannes Film Fest i v a l B e s t Actress M s .

Jacly n Jose as Judy de Jesus, Pepe’s u n d e rstanding mother.

T he show also features the spe-

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

cial participation of multi-awarded actor Christopher “Boyet” De Leon as Jose de Jesus, Pepe’s father who from early on tried to teach his sons to avoid conflicts.

Playing equally vital roles in the series are Paolo Contis as Daniel Acosta, Sarri’s older brother and an honest and incorruptible police officer; Gary Estrada as Caloy, Pepe’s older brother; Dennis Padilla as Wilson Chan, a casino businessman who is also Maggie’s partner in her dream for his son’s political career; John Feir as Armando Estanislao, a businessman who deals in seemingly shady business but is actually legit and generous; Tanya Gomez as Adelita Mayuga, a corrupt barangay captain who is one of Wilson’s pawns in the city; Gio Alvarez as Jerico Sumilang, Pepe’s best friend; Lindsay de Vera as Lizzy de Jesus, Pepe’s niece and a daughter to Caloy and Judy; Dave Bornea as Julian Balbuena, Maggie’s second child and Dean’s half-brother and Caprice Cayetano as Jessica Sumilang, Jerico’s daughter.

Completing the powerhouse cast are Rey “PJ” Abellana as Leandro, the father of Venus and Ces Quesada as Cha, the morally challenged vice mayor of the city.

Alyas Robin Hood is under the helm of director Dominic Zapata. He said that he is enthusiastic on how Alyas Robin Hood will leave a mark on Philippine TV. “For this show, we always push the story deep-

Add another treasure to your timeless collection! Splurge on the wide selection of diamond, gold and gem pieces at the SM Accessories Fine Jewelry Sale! Enjoy up to 40% off on these luxury pieces. You won’t want to miss it. Available only at SM stores nationwide. Promo runs from September 14 to 30 2016. er. Kaya naman the team promises that we will create something that you will all be proud of. Something that will make a mark,” he shared.

Catch Alyas Robin Hood, beginning September 19, Monday to Friday, after Encantadia on GMA Telebabad.

Get the latest updates of Alyas Robin Hood from the official website of GMA Network www.gmanetwork. com and official Facebook page of GMA Networkwww.facebook.com/GMANetwork

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

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FOOD ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Hearty talk with celebrity chef

THE CULINARY REALM IS A JOURNEY IN ITSELF that gratifies one’s hunger and thirst for knowledge. It is not just about food, ingredients and the process of cooking. It is about conveying the many faces of food, hence, allowing the self to experience a holistic dining experience unlike any other.

Chefs, foodies and food enthusiasts understand that a dish is more than just a dish. The before, during and after of creating a dish symbolizes an endeavour that translates the many emotions of the one manning the kitchen. True for me ... and too holds true for Celebrity Chef Donita Rose.

Known as an international VJ, many are surprised to know that she also has a culinary degree under her belt. That she spent some years behind kitchen doors to fully appreciate and understand the ins and outs of the culinary world. That includes scrubbing the floors, washing dishes and every thing else in between.

Last Kadayawan, Chef Donita gave us a firsthand experience of how she is inside the kitchen and how she is able to come up with dishes that she loves to prepare and eat - until the last bite. Her passion for food and cooking is inevitable. Her mom, who is a Kapampangan, loves to cook. Her dad, who is an American, loves to eat.

She inherited both.

In Davao, she whipped up an appetizing dish that used our very own durian - as a main course. Yup, you read that right. Moving away from the typical use of durian in dishes, she decided to create a dish that’s already familiar ...but with an added twist. Her chicken curry with durian was surprisingly delicious. Not pungent, as we would expect from any dish with durian, and satisfyingly creamy but without the umay factor.

As an ambassador (Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil), Chef Donita is all about creating dishes that are easy to prepare and of course, healthy for everyone to enjoy. Talking to her, she shared that she fancies using ingredients that are readily available.

September 15 – 16, 2016 only

BARCELONA: A LOVE UNTOLD Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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BRIDGET JONES'S BABY

Local fresh produce are the gems for her dishes.

O,h and she has a herb garden too that she always turns to when cooking.

Another factor for

Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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Top: Author together with celebrity chef Donita Rose.

Left: Pesto and Gourmet Daing Pasta.

Chef Donita is using the right oil when cooking.

Be it for frying or sautéing, she says that a good foundation, when cooking, is the oil you are using. Canola oil, unlike our regular vegetable oil, contains Vitamin A and has a paler colour compared to others. It has a light texture and a very neutral taste that makes it perfect for all any kind of cooking.

This I know to be true.

My mom loves to use canola oil and keeps a stash back at home. At first, I thought all oils are the same. When Mom introduced me to canola oil, I found out that it contains the least amount of saturated fats (considered bad fats) and contains omega 3 and omega 6 -- good for the heart.

Personally, what I love about it is that it has one of the highest smoking points. In short, this kind of oil is very ideal for frying. For someone like me

1:30 | 4:10 | 6:50 | 9:30 LFS

who loves to experiment and mimic the recipes I see on Youtube (thank you, MyVirginKitchen, SortedFood and Jamie Oliver), I have become conscious of what kind of oil I use for the type of dishes I cook. Honestly, knowing and using the right oil makes a big difference.

Here’s a recipe that I love and that uses canola oil. This is very easy to prepare and uses minimal ingredients.

Pesto and Gourmet Daing Pasta • Cook pasta according to package. Set aside with a little of the pasta water (to keep it from drying).

• In a pan, pour canola oil. Sauté minced onion until translucent. Add chopped garlic and sauté until a bit brown.

• Add chili flakes and garlic powder. Mix well.

• Add Gourmet Daing

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

and mix. fresh basil.

• Add pesto.

Follow my messy food • Toss in pasta. affair at theroyalchefeats.

• Transfer to plate and wordpress.com or on Insserve with cheese and tagram at @iamleebai.

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE SSS bares position on pension reform

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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59th ANNIVERSARY. The Social Security System (SSS) opened its photo exhibit featuring highlights of SSS’ financial performance, programs and achievements to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the pension fund, which kicked off its month-long celebration on Sept. 1 with the theme “SSS @ 59: Kaagapay at Kabalikat sa Pagbabago.” Photo shows SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. as he leads the ribbon-cutting during the launch of the photo exhibit, which is located at the lobby of the SSS main office in Quezon City. The exhibit will be open to SSS members and the general public. Also in photo are (from left) SSS Senior Vice President

(SVP) for Luzon Operations Group Josie G. Magana, SVP for Information Technology Management Group Joel A. Layson, Vice President for Public Affairs and Special Events Division Marissu G. Bugante, SVP for National Capital Region Operations Group Jose B. Bautista, Executive Vice President for Investments Sector Rizaldy T. Capulong, Chief Legal Counsel and SVP for Legal Services Division Voltaire P. Agas, SVP for Controllership Group Elvira G. Alcantara-Resare, SVP for Administration Group May Catherine C. Ciriaco, SVP for Account Management Group Judy Frances A. See and SVP for Central Processing Group Josefina O. Fornilos.

HE Social Security System (SSS) presented its position during the deliberations of the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization (CGEP) for the P2,000 pension increase and the rationalization of the powers, duties and accountabilities of the Social Security Commission (SSC) during its meeting on Sept.

7, reiterating its position that an increase in SSS pensions is possible as long there is a sustainable source of funding.

CGEP members of the House of Representatives agreed to adopt the committee reports of the CGEP involving the same or similar legislative measures previously approved by the 16th Congress.

SSS Chief Actuary and Senior Vice President George S. Ongkeko, Jr. said the SSS has always been supportive of the proposal to increase SSS pensions as long as provisions on the additional sustainable source of funding will also be included to avoid the shortening of fund life.

“We are one with legis-

lators in their desire to provide higher pensions for SSS pensioners. However, we also have to look after the welfare of other SSS members and ensure that the SSS fund life is intact,” said Ongkeko.

The proposed P2,000 pension increase would require about P56 billion for the first year of implementation.

The SSS expects this required amount to rise as the number of pensioners grow every year.

SSS currently pays benefits to about two million pensioners who yearly receive 12 regular monthly pensions and the 13th month pension. Last year alone, SSS paid about P102 billion in pensions.

“Granting higher pensions without the parallel implementation of provisions on the source of funding can result in billions in annual net losses for the system, especially for proposals such as the P2,000 pension increase,” Ongkeko said.

The 2015 actuarial valuation shows the contribution rate must be increased to at

Youth group to lead does not National Clean-up Day DCWD make solicitations

By RIA VALDEZ

L

ET’S Do It! Philippines Youth (LDIPh) Davao Chapter, along with its other chapters in the country, will host a National Clean Up Day at the Badjao Community, Brgy. 75-A, Matina Aplaya on Sept. 17, 2016.

The Let’s Do It! Move-

ment has enlisted the support of more than 11 million people in over 112 countries, including the Philippines, to promote its advocacy of creating a clean and healthy planet.

Let’s Do It! Philippines Youth Davao Chapter aims to mobilize the youth in the

preservation and conservation of the environment through various activities such as eliminating city waste, promoting disaster risk management, and raising awareness on climate change.

Part of its vision is to make Davao City a cleaner

and greener home to live in.

The event will start at 6:45 am and will end at 12 pm.

The Davao chapter is urging more volunteers to join the activity, as it targets to invite at least 250 participants for the event.

ACOM Co., Ltd. announced the addition of the STU-540, its most advanced and robust signature pad, to its industry - leading family of signature capture devices. Combining the broadest range of connectivity options, user conveniences and top-level encryp-

540 is natively supported in Citrix v7.6.3 and newer. For Citrix v6.5 and other virtualized desktop environments, the new model can be set up to emulate a serial connection over USB. In addition, the STU-540 offers the option, via a separate accessory kit, to add a physical serial connector instead of USB. Wacom also increased the utility and ease of use of these signature pads by incorporating frequently needed features and functions directly into the STU-540. The color screen can be utilized for a variety of uses beyond just signature capture without the user needing to create and implement their own applications. Instead, these built-in functions can be accessed by a simple utility. When not in signing mode, the color screen on the signature pads can display high-quality images for advertising and marketing without a separate application continuously running in

the background. Instead, the images run directly from the signature pad. Additionally, a

customizable keypad feature lets an administrator set up

Wacom introduces featured signature Pads W tion, t h e STU-540 is the premier choice for organizations looking to implement handwritten electronic signature into their workflow.

Wacom’s newest signature pad expands support for signature capture in a variety of environments. In desktop environments, it utilizes standard USB. For virtualized desktop configurations, there are several options -- giving users a range of choices to best fit their requirements. The STU-

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SMART TEAMS UP WITH MONDE NISSIN. Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. has teamed up with leading food maker Monde Nissin (Corporation) for Lucky Me! Lucky Mami Promo, another awesome treat for all the prepaid subscribers of Smart, Sun and TNT all over the country. Under the promo, Smart, Sun, and TNT users can get 70 FREE texts by simply buying and collecting any combination of four (4) specially marked promo packs of Lucky Me! Mami Beef na Beef or Chicken na Chicken at leading sari-sari stores, groceries, and supermarkets nationwide. Subscribers may redeem their 70 FREE texts by bringing four

T

HE Davao City Water District (DCWD) has informed the general public the water utility does not solicit monetary or non-monetary donations, directly or indirectly, from any individual, group, company or entity.

In a statement released to media, DCWD said it had been receiving reports of individuals who are using the name of the water facility and its officials to ask for solicitations.

DCWD denied being involved in these kinds of trans-

F SSS, 13

actions, and assured the general public the water utility is looking into this matter.

“The general public is advised not to give any solicitation to individuals claiming to bear the name of the District or any of its officials and report instances regarding this matter to the DCWD Central Information Unit / Call Center 24-hour hotlines 297-DCWD (3293), 0927-7988966, 09255113293 and 0908-4410653,” the DCWD statement said.

(Katrina Belen M. Roble)

(4) empty promo packs at the nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch until Dec. 31, 2016. Smart’s team-up with Monde Nissin Corporation is the latest in the company’s string of partnerships with industry leaders meant to bring delightful experiences and exclusive perks to subscribers nationwide. In photo are (from left) Smart Retail Partner and Key Accounts Head Louie de Guzman, VP for Smart Mobile Marketing Kathy Carag; Monde Nissin Marketing Manager for Noodles Vivien Dizon; and Monde Nissin Brand Manager for Lucky Me! Mami Charlyn Yu.

12 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 145 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

No longer living but now a saint

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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HIRTEEN years after her beatification and 19 years after she died at the age of 87, Mother Teresa – who was known as the “Living Saint” when she was still alive – was finally made into a saint.

Last September 4, the Roman Catholic nun known as the “saint of the gutters” was canonized by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s square in the Vatican in the presence of 100,000 pilgrims.

“For the honor of the Blessed Trinity… we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata) to be a Saint and we enroll her among the Saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church,” said the pontiff as he elevated her to Roman Catholicism’s celestial pantheon.

In “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light,” she was quoted as saying: “If I ever become a Saint – I will surely be one of ‘darkness.’ I will continually be absent from Heaven – to light the light of those in darkness on earth.”

Filipinos got to know her personally when she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding in 1962 for “her merciful cognizance of the abject poor of a foreign land, in whose service she has led a new congregation.”

In her acceptance speech, she said: “I am very happy to be here today, to join with you in thanking God to have given to the world, torn with suffering, a man like Ramon Magsaysay, who loved and served his people so well. This award which is given to me and through me to the young Congregation, to the countless benefactors and to our poor in India, will be a new source of encouragement for us to love and serve the poor as Ramon Magsaysay did with our whole heart and soul.”

Mother Teresa, as she was then known, further said: “Our Con-

gregation is totally dedicated to the Service of the Poor, to serve Christ in His distressing disguise. Therefore, our home for the dying, the home for the crippled and unwanted children, our care of lepers, our slum schools, our clinics, all come from that Source and aim at the same idea, to give wholehearted free Service to the Poor for the Love of God.” The Ramon Magsaysay Award is considered the No-

bel Prize of Asia. In 1979, the Norwegian Nobel Committee bestowed the Peace Prize to Mother Teresa. In choosing Mother Teresa, the Committee wanted to remind the world of the words spoken by Fridtjof Nansen: “Love of one’s neighbor is realistic policy.”

Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu was born into an Albanian Roman Catholic family in the Yugoslavian town of Skopje. She became Sister Teresa when, at the age of 18, took her vows in

the Institute of the Virgin Mary in Ireland.

This was what the Nobel Committee said of her: “Mother Teresa… relates that at the age of twelve she felt a vocation to help the poor.

A few years later she listened to accounts of conditions in Bengal, as related by missionaries, and decided there and then that she would work as a missionary in India. At the age of eighteen she joined the Irish Loreto order, whose sisters ran a mission station in Calcutta.”

From 1929 to 1946 she taught at the girls’ school run by the order in that city. In 1946, she applied for permission to go out and work among the poor in the slums of the city. She felt this to be a fresh vocation, a vocation within a vocation, as she herself has expressed it.

“She had a glimpse of the poverty and squalor of the slums, of sick people who remained untended, of lonely men and women lying down to die on the pavement, of the thousands of orphaned children wandering around with no one to care for them,” the Nobel Committee said.

“It was among these people that she felt a call to work, and to spend the rest of her life, in daily contact with them. She left the sheltered world of the convent and the fashionable girls’ school behind her. Her plea to be allowed to go out into the slums and work there was granted,” the committee added.

Called by the misery of bruising poverty in the surrounding slums, her petition to help in a more direct way was granted in 1948. With

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BAP... FROM 6

a safer place to transact since you are able to deal with financial institutions. It’s now

safer and more convenient,” the BAP official pointed out.

(PNA)

He hopes that investments will be poured into the cacao and coconut sectors.

Asked to comment on the global competitiveness of ComVal’s products, Evangelio said “We’re working on t.”

According to Evangelio, Cavendish banana and virgin

coconut oil remain as ComVal’s leading export products since 2012.

Evangelio pointed out that ComVal’s agriculture products have the potential of penetrating the global market with the help of established key industry players.

avenue of discourse for our country especially in light of divergent policies in the global economy and in addressing the challenges and opportunities of the Philippine business and investment community,” Arceo added.

Amando Tetangco, Jr., governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is slated to deliver the keynote speech and Mark Matthews, head of Research of Asia Julius Baer, will share his insights on the global economic outlook.

The topic on Asian Geo-Political Trends will be discussed by Manu Bhaskaran, the director of Centennial Group and chief executive of Centennial Asia Advisors Pte. Ltd, while Budget secretary Benjamin Diokno will present the Duterte administration’s “New Budget Dynamics.”

Dr. Richard Hokenson, an

economist and independent consultant of the Hokenson & Company, will give a talk on “Changing Global Demographics and Its Investment Implications.”

Notable panelists during the conference will include, among others, Ernest Cu, CEO of Globe Telecom, Joey Lim, president and CEO of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation Inc. Jeffrey Lim, EVP of SM Prime Holdings, Eduardo Francisco, president of BDO Capital and Investment Corp, Smith Chua, senior vice president and CIO of the BPI Asset Management and Trust Group, and Dr. Andrew Stotz, CFA, chief executive officer of A. Stotz Investment Research.

Corporate partners in this conference are Metro Pacific Investments, Jollibee Foods Corp, D&L, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (PNA)

ComVal... FROM 7

Sustainable... FROM 7

EDGEDAVAO

Regulators... FROM 6 Schemes (CIS) under the ASEAN CIS Framework, with five funds having been successfully offered.

The meeting recognized the on-going work led by SEC Thailand to further enhance the framework by expanding the number of signatories, harmonizing disclosure standards, as well as relaxing investment restrictions.

ACMF also acknowledged the importance of green finance in supporting sustainable growth in the ASEAN region and the increasing amount of global capital seeking green investments.

ACMF said it will take a leadership role in identifying green finance standards that can be applied in the region.

(PNA)

configurable on-screen keypads or soft keys that can be used to collect a myriad of different types of information to support different workflows.

The STU-540 continues Wacom’s tradition of providing strong encryption to protect signature data transmitted between the signature pad and workstation or terminal. The STU-540 features proven and secure AES256 / RSA2048 encryption.

“With the launch of the STU-540 signature pad, Wacom brings our customers state-of-the-art features to support their integration of handwritten electronic signature into their workflow as part of their move toward paperless processes. We offer industry-leading encryption options for our signature pads to meet our customers’ high expectations for a secure eSignature process. The available connectivity options ensure users in different environments are able to deploy these

pads, and if their needs change the STU-540 can adapt with them,” said Shigeki Komiyama , Executive Vice President of Wacom Co., Ltd. “Beyond that, we have introduced innovative features that allow our customers to expand how they use this product in their business.”

The STU-540 features a 5-inch, high-resolution color LCD displa y with an anti-glare surface that provides an enhanced viewing experience in all lighting conditions and also provides better tactile feedback while signing. It also incorporates Wacom’s digital inking technology -- WILL (Wacom Ink Layer Language) -- to produce an on-screen signature that looks clean, crisp and visually replicates pen on paper signatures.

Wacom’s Signature SDK (Software Development Kit) and STU SDK are available to integrate support for Wacom’s signature devices into native applications.

Wacom... FROM 11

SSS... FROM 11

least 17 percent to implement the pension increase, while maintaining the financial status of SSS. At present, SSS funds are projected to last until 2042 but will be shortened to 2025 if the increase will be effected without the additional source of funds.

“We made computations for all the different legislative proposals on the across-theboard pension increase. All of it, including those with proposed gradual or staggered pension increases, should have a corresponding increase in contribution or an additional and sustainable source of funding,” said Ongkeko.

For instance, every P500 pension increase requires a 1.5 contribution rate increase equivalent to an average of P5 additional contribution every day.

Representative Prospero Pichay Jr. from 1st District of Surigao del Sur said that instead of the contribution rate increase, he is looking at the government providing subsidy to SSS to cover for the huge pension hike being proposed.

“SSS contributions were money entrusted by the people to SSS, hence, the need to protect it. Pag nagsara ang SSS, maybe, the Congress will be blamed,” he said during an interview with reporters after the committee meeting.

“We are also amenable with the proposal of Congressman Pichay for government subsidy. We have always supported any benefit increase provided there is a sustain-

13 able source of funding,” said Ongkeko. In his presentation, Ongkeko showed actual cases of SSS pensioners who have received pension benefits that were 29 to 35 times the equivalent of their SSS contribution.

Aside from the pension increase, the committee also tackled the proposal to rationalize the powers, duties and accountabilities of the SSC to equip it with the tools to address the political, social and economic challenges confronting the SSS. The SSC is comprised of representatives from the employer and labor sectors, the government and the general public.

Based on House Bill 2158, the SSC will have the authority to fix and determine the minimum and maximum monthly salary credits, the schedule and rate of contribution, condone penalties imposed on contributions and loan amortization, and amend the penalty for delinquent contributions without the need for prior approval of the Philippine President.

“With these twin bills, SSS will have a cushion which will enable it to implement the clamor for pension increase and at the same time, effect the necessary changes to have additional source of funding to avoid the depletion of SSS fund life,” said Ongkeko.

There are a total of 15 bills filed proposing an increase on the monthly pension of SSS pensioners and nine bills proposing various amendments to the SSS Charter.

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WHERE IS THE LOVE? Butch hits Tab for abandoning Gilas for Ateneo P

HILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez did not hide his disappointment over the coaching shuffle at the Gilas PIlipinas.

In a report by Spin.PH, the PSC head slammed the decision of national coach Tab Baldwin to stay with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP rather than lead Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the ongoing Fiba Asia Challenge 2016 in Tehran, Iran.

The report said although Ramirez recognized the developmental aspect of the trip for a young national side left without PBA players as well as former college stars Kiefer Ravena and Rayray Parks, the PSC chief said the team would’ve been better off with Baldwin calling the shots and evaluating the players.

There also has to be continuity in the Gilas program, beginning with the coaching aspect, he added.

“I know it was a developmental (team), pero it has to be a long-range program from the team manager to the coaching staff. Hindi pwede yung iba ngayon, iba sa susunod na tournament, parang cramming yan eh,” said Ramirez.

“Importante rin ‘yung pag-

mamahal mo sa bayan, kasi kung mahal mo ang bayan, sakripisyo mo ‘yung ibang bagay,” he added. “Kawawa yung team natin.”

Asked what his initial reaction was upon learning that Baldwin delegated the head-coaching job to young assistant Josh Reyes for the Tehran showpiece so he can focus on the UAAP campaign of Ateneo where he is an active consultant, Ramirez shook his head.

“Ibalik natin sa NSA (national sports association) bakit ganun, ‘anong klaseng liderato ba tayo meron?’ Kasi importante din ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Kasi kung mahal mo ang bayan, di mo titignan ang sweldo, yung commitment mo sa iba,” said Ramirez, a former basketball coach of Ateneo de Davao in the nineties.

“Even if I am an Atenean, I would have applauded him if he prioritized the country first rather than our school,” he said.

Ramirez also stressed that the mandate of President Duterte for Philippine sports is very clear.

“He wants to modernize sports and alisin na ang lahat ng mga maling gawain. We want to change the game, it’s

for our own good,” Ramirez said.

The soft-spoken PSC chairman insisted that a national team position should be a fulltime job and should be the top priority, especially when an international competition is ongoing.

“I found it (decision to prioritize Ateneo) inappropriate kasi if you bring (represent) the hundred million Filipinos and seven thousand islands, you are bringing the best athletes and the best coach of the country,” the PSC chief said.

“Itanong mo yan kay Tab at sa namamahala dyan. I don’t want to judge it, pero ako, mahal ko ang bayan. Klaro sa akin, I have to make my decision very clear,” he added.

“If you bring the Philippines’ name to another country, ang dala mo Philippine flag, hindi Azkals, hindi Gilas.”

Asked if his statements betray his opposition to the hiring of foreign coaches, Ramirez made it clear he was neither against foreign coaches nor Fil-foreign athletes.

“Ako, I am not against foreign coaches, I am not against mestizo athletes, but I would like to invest in Filipino athletes, and I would like to invest in the Filipino coach,” he said.

AC Belo finally took charge for a Gilas Pilipinas side that couldn’t buy a win in the Fiba Asia Challenge 2016, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead the team past Kazakhstan, 98-86, on Tuesday in Tehran, Iran.

Belo, easily the biggest name in a national lineup left without PBA players as well as amateur stars Kiefer Ravena and Rayray Parks, stamped his class as Gilas ended a run of three losses to India, Chinese Taipei and China.

Gilas got off to a scintillating 22-7 start but had to fend off a late-game rally by Mikhail Yevstigneynev-led Kazakhs to barge into the win column after dropping their first three games against India, Chinese-Taipei, and China.

The victory also gave a ray of hope for the Filipino ballers, who need at least two wins to advance to the quarterfinals of the continental meet.

Yevstigneynev instigated the furious 18-5 rally to close the third period and allow Kazakhstan to close in, 70-66. But he fouled out with 2:57 to go and Gilas

started to pull away, enjoying a 90-77 lead on Kevin Ferrer’s triple. The former UST star followed it up with another booming triple to take the fight out of the already eliminated Kazakhstan side.

Ed Daquioag contributed 17 points, while Russell Escoto added 12 for Gilas, who next faces Jordan in a mustwin situation to enter the quarterfinals.

Pavel Ilin had 18

points while Nikolay Bazhkin added 17 for the Kazakhstan team that’s winless in four outings.

The Scores: PHILIPPINES 98 – Belo 30, Daquioag 17, Escoto 12, Ferrer 8, Perez 7, Cruz 6, Javier 6, Tolomia 6, Pogoy 3, Gotladera 2, Van Opstal 1, Pessumal 0.

KAZAKHSTAN 86 – Yevstigneyev 23, Ilin 18, Bazhkin 17, Micheev 17, Kuanov 4, Konyssov 3, Kozhanov 2, Savchenko 2, Gubashev 0, Maidekin 0.

Quarters: 27-15, 47-37, 70-66, 98-86.

Gilas rips Kazakhstan 98-86 M

TOP SCORER. Mac Belo led Gilas PIlipinas with 30 points.

COUNTRY FIRST. PSC chairman Butch Ramirez (left), Gilas 5.0 ccoach Josh Reyes (middle) and Gilas national team coach Tab Baldwin (right).

Torre wins bronze in Olympiad, So bags gold for champion USA

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RANDMASTER Eugene ipinos skidding to 58th place Sports Commission, however, Torre provided the sil- overall with 12 match points could have made it to the Top ver lining in the Phil- - one of the worst finishes by 10 at best and 18th at worst ippine men’s team’s lacklus- the country in the meet. with a final round win but ter performance in the 42nd GM Julio Catalino Sador- ended up absorbing a 1-3 loss World Chess Olympiad in ra, who turned 30 years old to 12th seed Lithuania.

Baku, Azerbaijan by snaring a on Wednesday, split the point Catherine Secopito delivbronze medal on board three. with GM David Smerdon on ered the lone win by stunning The 64-year-old Torre the top board but GMs John WIM Salomeja Zaksaite on eked out a marathon win Paul Gomez and Rogelio Bar- board three while Janelle Mae over International Master cenilla, Jr. fell to GM Zhao Zong Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Moulthun Ly of Australia to Yuan and IM Anton Smirnov Shania Mae Mendoza fell to finish unbeaten as he scored on boards two and four.

GM Viktorija Cmilyte, IM Dei10 points out of the possible Sadorra, who didn’t play in mante Daulyte and WFM Dai11 on nine victories and two the third and rounds after he va Batyte on boards one, two draws. was confined in a hospital due and four, respectively.

Torre emerged with the to headaches, held his ground Frayna nonetheless made highest total by any partici- on top board and finished history by becoming the first pant in the 11-round bienni- with five points in eight games Filipina to obtain the Woman al event but settled for just a including a surprise draw with Grandmaster and men’s Inbronze since tournament reg- reigning world champion GM ternational Master titles in the ulation gives the gold to the Magnus Carlsen of Norway in same event after scoring seven chesser who ends up with the the sixth round. points in 11 games all made up highest performance rating.

The women’s squad for everything.

That honor went to for- wound up with a better effort “We’re excited about the mer Philippine team top board as it landed 34th overall with future especially in women’s player GM Wesley So, who 13 points, surpassing its 64th chess,” said GM Jayson Gonzarepresented eventual champi- place performance in Tromso, les, the NCFP executive direcon United States. He emerged Norway two years ago. tor and women’s captain. with a performance rating of The Filipinos, whose trip The Filipinos are expected 2896, beating silver medal was bankrolled by the Phl to arrive on Thursday night. winner GM Zoltan Almasi of Hungary (2845) and Torre (2836).

To r r e ’ s bronze, however, shone like gold as the many-time Olympiad veteran took his first medal since snatching a silver in the 1974 edition in Nice, France where he also became Asia’s first ever GM. To r r e ’ s mammoth effort couldn’t save the Philippines from GOOD FOR BRONZE. With nine victories and two draws, GM Eugene Torre emerged with suffering a 1.5-2.5 the highest total by any participant in the 11-round biennial event but settled for just a bronze since tournament regulation gives the gold to the chesser who ends up with the loss to Australia highest performance rating. that sent the Fil-

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SW-Masters ladies try to extend PAL Interclub reign in Baguio

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ANILA Southwoods-Masters, the most dominant force in Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies Interclub history, shoots to extend its unprecedented reign in the centerpiece Championship Division to a sixth straight year next month when the 11th edition tees off at upand-down Camp John Hay in Baguio.

The Carmona-based parbusters will be fielding in a rock-solid squad and will be leaving nothing to chance, with a slew of young international campaigners led by Pauline del Rosario and Sofia Chabon taking the cudgels for the team in the absence of Abby Arevalo Arevalo, who won the individual championship in Bacolod last year and powered Southwoods-Masters to a one-point victory over Cebu Country Club on the strength of a tournament-best fourunder-par 68 at Marapara, is in the United States on a golf scholarship with San Jose State University.

But that doesn’t mean that SW-Masters will be lacking in talent, with Mikhaela Fortuna also in roster for the fourto-play, three-to-count event

spread from Oct. 4-7.

Cebu CC will also be without its top gun last year, Lois Kaye Go, who is also studying in the US as the club pins its hopes on sisters Irina and Junia Gabasa and Riko and Ryoko Nagai.

Del Rosario looms as top favorite in the individual race, with her talent and skill level ripe for a stint in the pros despite being a teener.

Last week, Del Rosario narrowly lost in a four-player playoff for the ICTSI Ladies Sherwood Hills Challenge won

by Princess Superal, a former teammate in the Philippine Team who won her debut as a pro.

Del Monte, another perennial contender for the title, will be fielding in a relatively unknown team even as a total of 32 teams, counting three international sides, will be seeing action in four total divisions including the Founders, Sportswriters and Friendship brackets.

Luzon will be represented by a total of 17 teams with the Lady Eagles of Australia fielding in two squads. Port Moresby will be the third international team.

ONE ON TWO. Stan Pringle of GlobalPort tries to shake off Carlo Lastimosa and Art dela Cruz of Blackwater during last night’s PBA Governor’s Cup game.

“I

SPORTS15

League to honor late cage patron Boy Cua launched

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

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njb@edgedavao.net

RESERVING the unconditional love of the late Regino “Boy” Cua for the sport, the family of the revered basketball leader-patron has launched a developmental basketball league aimed at harnessing local talents from the city.

Tournament director Rico Biliran formally announced the decision of the Cua family to remain active in the development of the sport this side of the country by launching the Regino “Boy” Cua Cup yesterday on the occasion of the 66th birthday of the late head of the Samahang Basketball

ng Pilipinas (SBP) Region 11.

“This tournament is held in honor of the late SBP Regional Director Regino “Boy” Cua who was known as the Godfather of Davao Basketball,” said Biliran.

“Before his demise, Director Cua was a staunch patron of the sport and indeed made a substantial contribution to the growth of basketball in the country,” added Biliran who was Cua’s chief implementor of basketball programs.

The tournament will begin on Saturday at 9:00 am at the Goldstar Gym. According to Biliran, the

event is aimed at keeping the passion and drive of Director Cua for the sport and live his large dream of a lasting genuine basketball program that would help Davaoeno basketball players achieves their full potential.

The categories are Mini (12 years old and under) and Cadet (15 years old and under).

Biliran said it was Director Cua who gave birth to the two categories in Davao City by inserting it in the then Gaisano South Cup program.

There will be eight schools in each categories

which will be announced later.

“On the 66th birthday (today/Sept 14) of the late Regino “Boy” Cua, we are proud to announce the creation of Regino “Boy” Cua Cup, a developmental basketball league. It will open on Saturday, Sept.

17, with 16 school teams in the fold. Boy Cua showed an improbable love to the sport and it is fitting to continue what he has been devotedly doing in the later years of his life. With this undertaking, He will surely look down with great pride,” read a statement issued by the family.

BASKETBALL PATRON. The late SBP regional director Regino “Boy Cua (left) shown here with his successor Glenn Escandor (middle) and Secretary Bong Go of the Presidential Management Staff (right).

‘She lifted us all up,’Gawilan says of Medina

NANGAT din niya kami lahat sa panalo niya,” an ecstatic Ernie Gawilan told Spin.PH after fellow Paralympian Josephine Medina won a bronze medal in

table tennis in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

“Naging inspirasyon sa sa amin (She became our inspiration),” Gawilan said of Ate Jo, as Medina’s teammates call her.

Gawilan, a paralympic swimmer from Davao, said Medina’s triumph was felt by everyone in the pocket 5-man Philippine delegation.

“Salamat lapay kaayo ko

sir kang ate Josephine kay bisag lisod jud kuhaon ang medal pero nakuha gihapon niya apil napud mi sa iyang kadaogan kay apil nami niya gi-angat sa pag taas sa flag nato (We are

INSPIRATION. Ernie Gawilan(extreme left, front row) with Josephine Medina (second row, extreme left) and the rest of the Philippine delegation in their opening parade uniform.

very thankful for Ate Josephine who overcame the odds to get a medal. We are very much a part of her victory because she also lifted us up as she flew our flag here),” Gawilan, who did not advance past the heats in his two events in swimming, said.

Medina easily got past Germany’s Juliane Wolfe, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) to claim the bronze medal in table tennis women’s singles Class 8 in this quadrennial showpiece for athletes with disabilities.

It was the first ever medal for the country in the Paralympics since 2000 in Sydney when Adeline Dumapong also claimed bronze in powerlifting.

Gawilan said although his first stint in the Paralympics was fruitless, he was thankful for the support given to parathletes.

“Una sa tanan sir no magpasalamat ko sa Ginoo na naa gihapon mi nadala ug nahimong successful among pag anhi sa Rio mag pasalamat

ko sa PSC sa suporta nila sa delegation sa para athletes na nagdula sa Paralympic ug sa mga tao na nag salig sa amo ug suporta (First f all, I thank God who brought us all here in Rio and I thank the PSC for the support to the delegation and for the people who kept their faith in us),” Gawilan said.

The 25-year old parathlete, who was born with underdeveloped extremities and orphaned at a young age, said he will go home to Davao upon their return for a short break before resuming training in November for next year’s Southeast Asian Para Games in Malaysia.

With the prospects of the country’s hosting of the SEA Games and Para Games in 2017, Gawilan said he hopes that the plan of President Duterte to make Davao as the main venue will push through.

“Nindot unta para mapromote sad ang Davao (It would be nice so that Davao will also be promoted as a destination),” he added. NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

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