Edge Davao 9 Issue 155

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

EARTHQUAKE DRILL. Employees who are part of Pryce Tower Condominium Corporation quick response team stage a rescue operation during a simultaneous earthquake drill held yesterday to simulate an emergency response to a strong earthquake. Lean Daval Jr.

RAPS FILED VS 2 IN MASSACRE Brothers of lady victim face murder charges EDGE DAVAO Sports

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

C

RIMINAL charges have been filed against one of the primary suspects behind the massacre of the Idar family last Tuesday in Baracatan, Toril, this city.

Police Chief Inspector Ronald Lao, Toril Police Station commander, revealed that charges of multiple murder were filed Tuesday afternoon against Romulo Eblahim Teleron whose case will be handled

by City Prosecutor Peter Paul Tombo.

Murder charges were also filed against Nilo Teleron, Romulo’s brother, yesterday morning.

According to Lao, authorities are conducting hot pursuit operations against Nilo who managed to escape after the killing.

“We are still conducting hot pursuit operations against Nilo Teleron. The case against his brother Romulo is already in the prosecutor’s office, while Nilo’s case was filed through

[regular filing],” he said.

On dawn Tuesday, Percy Angin Idar, wife Carlita and 12year old son John Kiser were killed inside their house by Romulo and Nilo who are Carlita’s brothers.

The two suspects were positively identified by the two children of the Idar couple who survived the massacre.

The four year-old son and teenage daughter of Idar told authorities they saw Romulo hacking their brother, while

Nilo shot their mother.

Romulo, who was arrested at his house after the Idar children identified him, denied his involvement in the brutal killings.

Lao said that based on their initial investigation, a land dispute could be the possible motive behind the murders.

A member of the Teleron family reportedly sold his land, a move which the other sib-

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FACEOFF IN MANILA

World’s top golfers Day, McIlroy to fly to PHL for a face off on Nov. 29 P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

HANDS ON. President Duterte is accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Isidro Lapeña in an ocular inspection of the seized shabu laboratory in Arayat, Pampanga on Tuesday. ALFRED FRIAS/PPD

President gets warm High-profile inmate killed, welcome in Vietnam 3 wounded in NBP melee P C

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA RESIDENT Duterte yesterday met with at least 500 members of the Filipino community in Hanoi, Vietnam, who expressed their support to his intensified campaign against the illegal drug trade.

The President, who arrived in Hanoi from Manila at around five pm (Philippine time), was accorded arrival honors at the Noi Bai International Airport.

President Duterte and his entourage immediately proceeded to the Intercontinental Hotel where he was given a warm welcome by the Filipino community there.

Jun Felix, president of the Filipino community based

in the northern part of Vietnam, believes the President’s anti-illegal drug war is being carried out to ensure the future of the next generation.

“Pabor na pabor po tayo sa ginagawa ng ating Pangulo sa paglaban sa droga dahil para sa susunod na generation iyan,” Felix said, who has been a resident of Hanoi for the past 21 years.

According to Emmanuel Lopez, Filipinos in Vietnam were very excited to see the President.

He recalled that Filipinos in Vietnam celebrated President’s Duterte’s victory by holding parties after the results of the presidential elec-

F PRESIDENT, 10

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

ONVICTED drug lord Jayvee Sebastian was among those injured when a riot broke out inside the Building 14 of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on Wednesday morning, at around 7:40 a.m.

Reports said that aside from Sebastian, two other convicted inmates were wounded during the melee.

They were identified as Vicente Sy and Peter Co who are now in critical condition.

Another high-profile inmate identified as Tony Co was killed during the incident.

In a press briefing prior to his trip to Vietnam as part of the official entourage of President Duterte, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vital-

iano Aguirre II said NBP officials are still investigating the incident.

He said that Sebastian is already in stable condition.

“No written report yet submitted to my office,” Aguirre said, adding that based on initial information he received, a stabbing incident actually happened inside the national penitentiary on Tuesday.

“They are still investigating to determine the cause.

Let’s just wait for the official report,” the justice secretary said.

But initial reports from prison officials said the three Chinese drug lords (the Cos and Sy) were having a shabu session in their quarters before the stabbing took place.

Another inmate, a former police official tried to stop the shabu session but Tony Co attacked him with a knife and in turn resulted to the melee that killed an inmate and injured another three.

When asked by reporters on the reported continuing presence of illegal drugs inside the facility despite the presence of the Special Action Force (SAF), Aguirre said there are still illegal drugs inside the Bilibid that are ingeniously kept by inmates.

“Meron pa talagang shabu naiwan diyan, inmates are very ingenious in keeping it.

Even now may mga nahuhukay from one and a half feet na mga shabu na nakabaon,” Aguirre said.

On Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa announced he will extend the deployment of SAF at the NBP, citing its effectiveness in guarding and keeping the facility.

But to avoid familiarity between the SAF members and the inmates dela Rosa said the PNP will implement the rotation of SAF members assigned to the NBP. Around 300 SAF members are currently detailed at the NBP that replaced the men of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) when investigations on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the said facility commence.

HE Filipino community in Vietnam has expressed their support for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Jun Felix, president of the Filipino community based in northern part of Vietnam, said they believe that the President’s anti-drug war is intended for the next generation.

“Pabor na pabor po tayo

sa ginagawa ng ating Pangulo sa paglaban sa droga dahil para sa susunod na generation iyan,” said Felix, who has been residing and working in Hanoi for 21 years.

President Duterte is scheduled to meet with the Filipino community on Wednesday here as he embarks on a two-day official visit.

Another member of the Filipino community, Emmanuel “Noel” Lopez said that Filipinos in Vietnam are excited to

see Duterte, who only assumed the presidency last June 30.

Lopez, who is a technical manager of Sika Limited Vietnam, one of the largest chemical construction companies in the world, said that the Filipino community in Hanoi has been working with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in preparation for the President’s visit.

Lopez said at least 500 Filipinos are expected to attend the event.

He also recalled how many Filipinos in Vietnam celebrated the victory of Duterte by holding parties following the presidential elections last May. Around 3,800 Filipinos are working in Vietnam with around 900 of them staying in the capital of Hanoi.

Many Filipino engineers occupy high-level managerial positions in infrastructure projects while Filipino managers and supervisors are in

Duterte to Marines: Defend the republic Filipinos in Vietnam back Duterte’s anti-drug war P T RESIDENT Duterte has urged the Philippine Marines to stay loyal to the Republic and help to fight the country’s drug problem.

In his remarks before the elite troops on Tuesday (September 27), Duterte said: “I am now calling you... to also fight drugs.”

He stressed, however, that he is not encouraging them to take the law into their own hands.

Duterte promised to give the soldiers anything they

want and need “to win a fight, to win a war, to win a battle, ibibigay ko sa inyo, walang problema.”

President Duterte also assured the troops that economic benefits “will come if there is a peaceful Philippines.”

Turning to the government’s peace efforts, the President emphasized that he was “not a wartime President. I am a President seeking peace for my people.”

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F HIGH-PROFILE, 10

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Duterte positive on Vietnam visit

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

P

adlopez0920@gmail.com

RESIDENT Duterte’s two-day visit to Vietnam that started on Wednesday, Sept. 28 will be a significant one as the two countries are now commemorating its 40 years of diplomatic relations.

This was emphasized by the President during his departure speech on Wednesday.

“On this introductory visit to Hanoi, I look forward to renewing the ties of friendship between the Philippines and Vietnam and affirm to look closer to achieve shared goals for our countries and our peo-

ples,” President Duterte said.

The President is also looking forward to exchange views and explore opportunities to further improve significantly the economic bilateral cooperation between the country and Vietnam, including the stronger partnership in economic, agriculture, defense and maritime operations.

“We will seek to identify emerging areas of partnership particularly in the fields of maritime security and law enforcement,” he said.

The visit, the President

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QUAKE READY. Employees of tenants of Pryce Tower Condominium Corp. participate in yesterday’s simultaneous earthquake drill to simulate an emergency response to a strong tremor. Lean Daval Jr.

Plight of lumads must be decisively addressed “W

Stop militarization in lumad areas - IPs

By RIA VALDEZ

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HE plight of Mindanao’s indigenous peoples must be addressed and should be made an integral part of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front Philippines (NDFP).

This was among the main consensus points during a dialogued dubbed “Addressing Marginalization: a Media Roundtable Discussion on Indigenous People and Peace Process between the Government and the National Democratic Front,” held yesterday at the Pinnacle Hotel.

“All stakeholders would benefit from this (peace talks) because we are correcting historical injustice,”

remarked Atty. Antonio Arellano, a member of the government peace panel who represented Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Sec. Jesus Dureza Arellano noted that genuine peace is almost at hand, as all of the armed groups that are fighting the government – Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the NDF - have all declared a unilateral ceasefire.

To make the peace process more inclusive, he said the Duterte Administration would push for the active the involvement of the country’s IPs in national governance, particularly with the implementation of the Indigenous

DAY OF RECKONING. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Senior Supt.

Michael John Dubria (left) says some of the officers whose names were mentioned by Edgar Matobato as members of the so-called “Davao Death Squad” during the Senate hearings plan to appear in the upcoming Senate

People’s Rights Act (IPRA).

In the meantime, Marcos Mordeno, chair of Mindanews , one of the main organizers of the roundtable discussion, said Mindanews has organized roundtable discussions specifically with the aim of helping push forward the peace process in Mindanao.

However, Mordeno noted these previous discussions only focused on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

He stressed that it is about time the plight of the lumads must be prioritized because most of the armed confrontations between government and rebel forces take place in lumad communities.

“There are almost 3-4 cases [against Lumads] a day,” he said, adding that the num-

ber of lumad killings have increased over the years.

Mordeno pointed out that the violent acts against IPs were not only reportedly perpetrated by the military, but also by the New People’s Army (NPA) as well.

Moreover, he also raised the struggle of lumads against privately owned corporations who wantonly use the former’s land for their mining or logging activities.

Furthermor, Lumads were also fragmented because of their differing political ideologies, adding the IPRA has not helped improve their living conditions.

Because of the law’s weak implementation, companies have unfairly taken advantage of the IPs ancestral domain.

proceedings to defend themselves against the said accusations. Dubria, who was joined by Compostela Valley Province Police Office (CVPPO) director Senior Superintendent Armando De Leon, made the revelation during yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

E need conversations to stop armed conflict.”

This was stressed by Atty.

Antonio Arellano during a dialogue between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (NDFP) dubbed “Addressing Marginalization: a Media Roundtable Discussion on Indigenous People and Peace Process” held yesterday at the Pinnacle Hotel.

At the same dialogue, Comm. Dominador Gomez, ethnographic commissioner of Region 9 and 10 from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), noted “The impact of the armed conflict we experienced is worse than the impact of typhoon

Yolanda and Pablo.”

According to Gomez, the lumads have struggled with militarization for a very long time.

He lamented that past administrations had attempted to initiate peace talks among the various armed groups, but unfortunately, the lumads weren’t included in the discussions.

To address this concern, Gomez said the NCIP has taken cognizance of the IPs struggles, especially with regards to the highly-sensitive issue of ancestral domain.

He added the NCIP and other organizations have established schools for lumad children, but sadly were used as camps by the military.

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PRO 11 answers question on validity of narco-list

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

H

OW valid is the narco-list? Is it really accurate?

These are just some of the questions that Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria and Compostella Valley Provincial Director Senior Supt. Armando de Leon tried to answer in a press briefing yesterday.

After several high-profile personalities were included in President Duterte’s narco list, several of the accused government officials, police officers and drug lords have turned themselves in to clear their names.

Despite several errors that mar the list, de Leon believes the PNP’s list is still highly reliable.

“Ginawa na ang listing before ako inassign as provincial director sa ComVal,” he said.

De Leon added they have also double checked the list to determine its accuracy.

For his part, Dubria explained the steps to verify

whether the people contained in the list should actually be there.

Dubria said they have verified the list during Oplan Tokhang -- the first phase of the national government’s war against the illegal drug trade.

“We [policemen] visit suspected drug users and pushers at their homes to convince them to surrender or submit themselves for drug test,” he explained.

Dubria clarified the people in the list become subjects for police operations and/or rehabilitation once they are found positive of illegal substance abuse.

“They will be monitored for further assessment if found negative,” he added.

In fact, a station commander from Paquibato District has recently been stripped of his authority.

However, Dubria defended the station commander.

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4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

DENR assistance needed to settle NorCot land fued T P

OLICE and local officials in North Cotabato are asking the intervention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the government and Moro rebels ceasefire committees to settle a brewing land dispute involving landed Muslim families in Aleosan and Midsayap towns.

Involved in the land dispute in Sitio Sulok, Barangay Dunguan, Aleosan town and Sitio Bintad, Baliki, Midsayap town, both in North Cotabato are the families of Gian Manalanga and Kadil Sinolinding Sr. Manalanga has been claiming ownership of a lot in the borders of Barangay Duguan and Barangay Baliki which Sinolinding also claimed.

Mayor Vicente Surupia has summoned the warring parties to a dialogue with the police, military, members of

the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ceasefire committee.

Senior Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, North Cotabato police director said the warring groups were advised to refrain from attacking each other, respect the GPH-MILF ceasefire agreement and wait for the ruling of DENR. Peralta said on Monday, at about 4 p.m., a firefight erupted between followers of Giang Manalanga and Kadil Sinolinding who are disputing 16 hectares of agricultural lands.

Peralta said police investigation showed that more or less 70 armed men with assorted high powered firearms under the group of Kiang Manangga allegedly led by commander Kuyo Aliman of MILF 105th based command and Buka Guailel, also of 105th based command, harassed the group of Sinolinding Sr who

has about 40 armed men with assorted high powered firearms led by Pikit Sinolinding and Kamus Sinolinding.

A firefight between the two groups subsided after four hours of sporadic exchange of bullets which sent about 34 families fleeing.

Peralta said as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the warring families have re-positioned themselves and agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

Local police and military officials have created a Joint Ceasefire and Monitoring Task Force (JCMTF) and deployed at the exact location of the contested area to implement the agreed terms for both parties not to enter and develop the area.

Peralta said the JCMTF is composed of two MILF members representatives, two 34th Infantry Battalion, two police from Aleosan police office, two

SouthCot pushes for more wards at provincial hospital

police from Midsayap police office, with Brgy Dungguan officials also serving as member.

A resolution was passed

by Aleosan Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) requesting DENR for a speedy resolution or ruling about the true ownership of the contested land.

Mayor Suropia will convene this week MPOC and task force to continue peaceful and diplomatic efforts with the presence of Manalanga and Sinolinding official representatives.

“The dialogue will impose on the parties to abide temporary (JCMTF) and long term solution (DENR ruling),” Peralta said.

“All these interventions between the two fighting groups were coordinated in order to avoid worsening of the situation,” Peralta added.

(PNA)

HE provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the opening of more wards at the provincial hospital in Koronadal City in a bid to cope with its rising admission rate.

Dr. Conrado Braña, provincial hospital chief, said Wednesday they are targeting the completion by next month of the ongoing conversion of the hospital’s mini gymnasium into a temporary ward.

He said the project is due for inspection by the end of October by the local government’s project monitoring team.

“We’re hoping to open the new ward to our patients

by December,” he said in an interview.

The local government has allocated around P38.36 million for the purchase of additional hospital equipment and supplies.

Such funding was part of the P137,268,906 supplemental budget number 4 approved earlier this month by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board.

It specifically allotted some P20.26 million for the purchase of new equipment for the provincial hospital; P8.4 million for drugs and medicines; P7.8 million for medical, dental and labora-

tory supplies; and, P2 million for additional hospital beds.

Aside from the development of the temporary ward, Braña said the rehabilitation into a ward of the old Research Institute for Tropical Medicine building inside the hospital compound is also ongoing.

He said they are targeting to complete the P17 million project, which is funded by the Department of Health,

by March next year.

The additional ward will increase the provincial hospital’s capacity to 250 beds from the current 150, he said.

“These new wards will mainly help decongest patients at the main building,” Braña said.

During the first half of the year, the provincial hospital posted an average daily occupancy rate of 174 percent or equivalent to 350 patients. In July, the bed occupancy increased to 404 percent.

The hospital’s occupancy reached as high as 446 patients these past weeks based on its daily floor census.

About 40 percent of the patients were from Koronadal City and 30 percent came from the province’s upper valley area. (PNA)

Big time drug pushers arrested in Koronadal ROAD WORKS. Municipal Mayor Michael A. Maruya [in striped shirt] leads the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the concreting of a 380 linear-meter barangay road worth Php 3,253,008.00 in Barangay Baluntaya, Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental. The community project was initiated by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Kalahi-CIDSS. Joining the mayor are local officials, Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinating Team, and some community volunteers. The project will be completed within 90 calendar days.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) is a community-driven development program of the Philippine Government aiming to empower people through sustainable development, enhanced participation in local governance, and management of poverty alleviation projects. The program presently operates in 21 municipalities in Region XI. (DSWD)

DENR-12 rolls out mobile app for forest monitoring

T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 12 has started the rollout of a web-based mobile application that was designed to address threats on the area’s natural forests and biodiversity.

Datu Tungko Saikol, DENR Region 12 director, said the agency’s forest rangers and technicians are now using the mobile application LAWIN (Landscape and Wildlife Indicators) Forest and Biodiversity Conservation System (LFBPS) in their operations.

He said the system mainly enables forest rangers as well as forest and wildlife law enforcers to access critical information in real-time.

“It also allows them to im-

mediately share information about what they observe in the field,” the official said.

DENR-12 earlier trained at least 120 forest rangers and forest technicians in the region on the use of the mobile application.

Saikol said the LFBPS is an innovative system that would do the tasks of their field personnel easier and efficient.

“It has features that would help identify the threats to our natural forests and biodiversity, and enable us to address them effectively,” he said.

A briefer cited that the system enables alerts on illegal logging activities and the clearing of wooded areas.

Through the system, forest rangers may immediately upload to web-based databases

and social media sites their observations and photos.

“They can be sent to law enforcement officers and can be used as evidence for necessary actions,” Saikol said.

LAWIN was developed by the DENR and the Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience or B+WISER program of the United States Agency for International Development.

It mainly records data on wildlife indicator species for healthy forests to determine how the forest ecosystem is responding to management interventions.

The system operates through a web-based, open source software called “cybertracker” for the data collection

interface, and the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool for data analysis, mapping and report generation.

Data can be transferred to Google maps and other tools for creation of doable reports which facilitate decision-making.

Rodolfo Aragon, B+WISER land evaluation specialist, said the system “will tell you that you have to go and patrol the forest.”

“Our forests are under threat so we have to eliminate them (threats). The system will only work for you if you go to the forest,” he said “It will be your eyes on the ground but it is also useless without enforcement,” Aragon added. (PNA)

P

OLICE operatives arrested two alleged “big time” drug pushers in a buy-bust operation at a lodging house in Koronadal City on Wednesday morning.

Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City police chief, identified the suspects as live-in partners Ariel Espeja Pascual and Mecaela Mohammad, residents of Osita Subdivision, Barangay Zone 2 Poblacion in Koronadal City.

He said the suspects initially sold a sachet of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride to a police officer who posed as a buyer.

The two were nabbed at around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in a rented room at the La Cabina Traveller’s Home along Morrow Street, he said.

Condes said they seized from the suspects two heatsealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, three P100 marked bills and various drug paraphernalia.

“They were able to flush an undetermined volume of shabu at the toilet bowl before our operatives entered their room,” he said.

The police official said they earlier got wind of the illegal activities of the suspects through a tip from a local informant.

He said Pascual is included in the city police’s drug watch list and long been the subject of surveillance operations.

Pascual had reportedly used Mohammad, who originally hails from Zamboanga City, in transporting shabu from western Mindanao to the city.

Condes said the illegal drug operation was witnessed by barangay officials and local media workers.

He said they immediately sent the recovered evidence to the Police Regional Office 12’s crime laboratory for proper examination and valuation.

The suspects, who are currently detained at the Koronadal City police station, would be charged for violation of sections 5 and 11 or selling and possession of dangerous drugs, under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. (PNA)

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Weaker peso making PH attractive to BPO investors

T

HE country is becoming more attractive to business process outsourcing (BPO) investors with the weaker currency, said Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) President Benedict Hernandez.

In a press conference during the 11th International Contact Center Conference and Expo at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, Hernandez said BPO companies here are now benefitting from the weakening of peso.

“The currency has been stable over the years and we see this weakening. In reality, we are export oriented.

Weaker peso is actually to our favor,” he said.

“You’re earning your revenues in dollars and then you’re spending in peso.

There is some optimization, efficiency that we achieve because we are an export business,” he added.

About 70 percent of operation cost of BPO companies

is labor cost.

As for India, the country’s competitor in the BPO sector, its rupee has stayed for 60 and above level to a US dollar in the past years.

“If you will recall peso to dollar and Indian rupee to dollar, then they were exactly the same back in 2011. It was 2012 when we started a new direction. The peso started to strengthen and Indian rupee is staying at the 60 and above level,” Hernandez noted.

He added that despite the currency difference, the Philippines’ BPO sector has maintained growth over the years.

“But we are not basing our business decisions on the trading of peso and dollar,” the CCAP chief pointed out.

“In the contact center industry, our strength is the quality of Filipino services.

Regardless the currency, the clients will always have a preference for Filipino professionals to service their customers and clients,” he added. (PNA)

PARTNERSHIPS FOR DEV’T. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist Rachel Remitio explains DTI’s partnership with the Philippines Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.-Go Negosyo

(PCE-GN) for the implementation of the “KAPATID ANgat sa Lahat” which will be launched on Oct. 7 at the Marco Polo Davao. Remitio graced yesterday’s Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

Inactive Davao SSF to be reassigned

Jollibee launches mobile app with AR T

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

F

ILIPINO fast food chain Jollibee has launched a mobile application that uses augmented reality (AR).

Called the JolliDance Showdown app, this mobile app is interactive and lets the users create an avatar of themselves.

They can watch Jollibee dance to pop, electro and rock beats, or watch their avatar having a dance showdown with this famous character.

It is free for download in iTunes and Google Play Store.

To use the app, users need to scan Jollibee’s face in the Jolly Joy Box (free with every Kiddie Meal purchase) to see Jollibee transform in the dance platform. For the avatars, users just need to take a selfie.

Other characters (Hetty, Yum, Popo and Twirlie) can also join in the dance showdown by scanning the Jolly Kiddie Meal promo board located at the store counters.

The app was developed by Trigger, a Los Angeles-based mobile innovation agency.

According to Trigger team, the app aims to engage kids with augmented reality. “It’s more than just having (Jollibee) characters appear. It’s interactive and gives a much deeper experience,” the team explained.

“Getting friends involved and getting your own avatar involved, that’s the most fun part. You can’t help but smile when you do it,” described Ja-

son Yim, Trigger president and executive creative director.

For his part, Francis Flores, Jollibee Global brand chief marketing officer, noted that Jollibee is the first local fast food chain that came up with this kind of augmented reality game.

“We give our customers the opportunity to interact in a fun way using their mobile phones and tablets through this augmented reality,” he said.

Promoting Filipino heritage Meanwhile, as a tribute to Filipino culture, Jollibee has also introduced the “Jolly Pinoy collectibles”, which customers can avail of until Nov. 14.

For P150 each, customers can have the following: * Jollibee Jeepney - showcases Jollibee standing beside the popular Filipino public transport * Twirlie Pinoy Sorbetes inspired by the neighborhood ice cream (sorbetes) vendor * Yum Kalesa - creates the sound of kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) * Popo Carabao - features the carabao working in the rice fieds * Hetty Vinta Getaway lets the customers hear the sound of the waves The company said these collectibles aim to promote the rich Filipino heritage among the kids and kids at heart.

(PNA)

HE Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office 11 (DTI-11) plans to reassign non-operational shared service facility (SSF) to other Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Region XI. Guesting in yesterday’s Habi at Kape media forum at the Abreeza Mall, Rachel Remitio, DTI-XI SME Development Services division chief, revealed the main reasons why some SSFs have not been maximized.

“Ang problem doon is the (un)availability of power lines,” said Remitio, who explained the equipment provided to the SSF beneficiaries

need a three-phase connection to be fully operational.

However, she said the SSF beneficiaries only have access to one-phase lines.

Moreover, Remitio said project beneficiaries are required to provide an area wherein the SSF facility will be housed.

However, certain project proponents have failed to meet this requirement, forcing DTI to withdraw the equipment.

Due to these challenges, Remitio the DTI is eyeing potential MSMEs within the region as well as from neighbouring areas who will be able to demonstrate their readi-

ness to operate and maintain SSFs. The non-operational SSF in Region XI is among the 160 non-operational and underutilized facilities identified throughout the country.

DTI records show that from 2013 to 2016, 64 SSFs were established in Region XI, benefiting 16,580 individuals.

The SSFs had a total project cost of P68,898,325.00.

Davao City was the biggest SSF beneficiary, receiving P21,225,246.10 in funding; followed by Davao del Norte with P20,310,777.45; Davao del Sur with P9,166,993.81; Davao Oriental with P8,719,471.94; Compostela Valley with

P8,336,509.74; and Davao Occidental with P1,139,325.48.

Since its implementation in 2013, the SSF Project has assisted 2,936 MSMEs, while generating 16,580 jobs.

One hundred sixty four SSF projects have been sponsored under the coconut industry cluster with a total project cost of P10,568,990.00.

The SSF Project was launched by DTI with the objective of mobilizing the increase of production, expansion of variety of product lines, improvement of product quality, expansion of markets, generation of more jobs, and increase of income of MSME beneficiaries.

Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

More importantly, said Chua, “while the peso has moderately depreciated in nominal terms in recent weeks, the peso in real terms is still very strong, which deters competitiveness.”

“This means that the depreciation in recent weeks is welcomed as it will help improve export competitiveness and value of remittances, which benefits around 40 percent of the economy,” he added.

Another finance undersecretary, Gil Beltran, said “the peso is just seeking its appropriate value, given that it has appreciated significantly in previous years.”

“The GIR (gross international reserves) at USD 85.6 billion, which is equivalent to 10.5 months of imports, is

higher relative to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and should not be a cause for alarm,” Beltran said.

Chua said the movement of the peso was in line with the global currency market, as the local currency’s depreciation of about 2 percent was even lower than the fall in the value of the Malaysian ringgit (3.5 percent), British pound (2.7 percent), Australian dollar (2.2 percent) and Japanese yen (2 percent).

“Compared to these currencies for the same period, the peso is broadly in line with the market,” said Chua in reaction to the peso’s depreciation by 2 percent against the greenback from the USD 1:Php 47 rate last July 1.

But Chua said “we should be prudent to ensure that vol-

atilities are managed.”

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data over the January 2010-August 2016 period showed, meanwhile, that “the real effective exchange rate, which shows the purchasing power of the peso, appreciated by 1 percent against developing-country trading partners and by 17.7 percent against advanced-country trading partners.”

In a report, the BSP said that “emerging market economies like the Philippines could experience bouts of volatility in asset prices, including exchange rate, amid uncertainties on the timing and potential impact of further US rate hike, slowdown in China, seesaw of oil prices and, more recently, the unfolding of BREXIT (Brit-

Peso remains very strong, says DOF T

HE Philippine peso remains “very strong” in real terms and the current movement of the local currency will actually help improve the competitiveness of our exports and the value of our dollar remittances, which benefits around 40 percent of the domestic economy, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

DOF undersecretary and concurrent chief economist Karl Kendrick Chua said the Philippine peso was expected to remain “broadly stable” over the medium term as it was propped up by solid macroeconomic fundamentals along with the steady stream of remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and dollar receipts from the Business Process

F PESO, 10

6 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

PCC to probe cement, power industries

T

STREET FOOD. Customers choose from a display of chicken entrails, chicken legs, pork meat and hotdog at a barbeque stall in Davao City’s Roxas night market.

Lean Daval Jr.

MinDA, partners to expand economic opportunities

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

T

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has partnered with the Board of Investments (BOI) Davao and the Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) in a bid to further expand economic opportunities in Mindanao.

Ernie Tomas, division chief of MinDA’s Investments Promotion Division, said his team recently met with BOIDavao’s Gil Dureza and identified three key strategies MinDA will focus on to spur development across the island-region.

The first strategy, Tomas said, is to enhance Mindanao’s business environment in order to make it more conducive for employment generation.

To realize this goal, he

said MinDA’s focus will be on infrastructure development, agriculture and agri-business, tourism development, increase investments in IT-DPM, and manufacturing.

“We need to be ready with our facilities in manufacturing, we need to focus on pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and steel industry,” Tomas stressed.

The second strategy, he explained, is optimizing global opportunities and strengthening local government units (LGU) to facilitate the ease of doing business.

As the host country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2017 Summit, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be facilitating ASEAN-related

activities for both the private and government sectors.

“We know that Mindanao and Palawan are members of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA),” Tomas noted.

The third strategy that MinDA, BOI and DCIPC have agreed to adopt is to implement various capacity-building measures that would help local government units in Mindanao improve the ease of doing business in their respective areas, he said.

According to Tomas, President Duterte has directed LGUs to streamline the process of business requirements particularly for entrepreneurs.

“The local government

units are a very important part of investment promotion facilitation,” he noted.

However, Tomas clarified that that the strategies he mentioned are still in the initial planning stage and will have to undergo several consultations before they are implemented.

Meanwhile, Tomas disclosed that MinDA will spearhead the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials Meeting in Puerto Princesa City from Nov. 28 to 30 in Palawan.

He also bared that Davao City will host three major activities next year which include the launching of “ASEAN at 50” in January, and two business and investment conferences slated on March and July.

EOPLE looking for job opportunities will now have to go to the new home of the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) inside the compound of the Davao City Recreation Center, also known as the Almendras

Gym. PESO manager Philip Nidea said new office is located on the ground floor of the Sports Development Division building.

The former office located at the City Hall’s Room 28 is

now occupied by the Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program (STEP) Office. The old office of STEP, meanwhile, is now occupied by Assistant City Administrator for Operation lawyer Lawrence Bantiding.

PESO is an employment service facility of the government, connecting job seekers and employers, including schools and universities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

CIO

to prepare that it (QR) will be lifted by June 2017,” Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Reina A. Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Assistance System told reporters.

Valdez noted that removing the QR on rice requires the amendment of the law, which the NEDA is currently drafting as mandated by economic cluster.

She is referring to Republic Act (RA) No. 8178, otherwise

known as the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996.

Valdez said the country may also amend Presidential Decree 4 which created NFA under the name National Grains Authority (NGA).

The NFA is now vested the functions of ensuring the food security of the country and the stability of supply and price of the staple grain.

In response to the initiatives on globalization and as

part of the efforts to trim the national budgetary budget, the government in the last five years has been looking into the possibility of restructuring, streamlining or privatizing certain activities of the NFA. “If the QR is lifted, there is a need to modify the role of NFA to conforme to that. The economic cluster is looking to retain its regulatory and buffer stocking functions,” Valdez added. (PNA)

ATTENTION JOBSEEKERS:

PESO moves to Almendras Gym compound P

PH gears up for removal of rice import restrictions

T

HE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is working to amend a law placing the rice import quota, as the country prepares for the removal of quantitative restriction (QR) on rice imports next year, said a high-ranking government official.

“My personal opinion is, it’s too late to renegotiate (for another extension). We have to be forward looking, we have

HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has trained its sights on the cement and power industries for possible violations of the antitrust law.

This comes after the PCC became operational in June and immediately started a probe on the sale of San Miguel Corporation’s telco assets to telecommunication giants PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc. During the competition watchdog’s first press conference on Tuesday, PCC Chair Arsenio Balisacan said the agency still had a long way to go in making Filipinos understand the value of fair competition. “We always get asked if our work is related to sports,” the former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary said.

After flexing its regulatory muscle in fighting the telecom duopoly, the PCC is now investigating the power industry following a series of blackouts that hit Luzon in the first two months of the Duterte administration.

“We intend to exercise our enforcement powers in a way that is envisioned under the law, which is a muscular agency, not a paper-pushing,

rubber-stamping agency,” PCC Commissioner El Cid Butuyan said.

According to PCC Commissioner Johannes Bernabe,”We look at it from the prism of competition and whether the elements of collusive practice, which would qualify as anti-competitive agreements, are present.”

On the other hand, the cement industry is under investigation after a private citizen filed a case with the PCC. Butuyan said that the complaint came from a former government official who wanted to investigate the practices of cement players for possible abuse of dominant position.

This was vehemently denied by the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, with its President Ernesto Ordoñez saying, “We believe competition motivates manufacturers to give the best they can offer, as well as benefits the consumers by giving them the opportunity to get what best serves their needs.

We follow very strictly the competition law and are very confident we can answer any allegations to the contrary.”

(PNA)

Country slips in Global Competitiveness Report

T

HE slip in the Philippines’ ranking in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) 2016-2017 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has been “disappointing” in spite of efforts to improve competitiveness, an official of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) said.

“Our score dropped minimally from 4.39 to 4.36 out of seven but it was enough to bring us down by countries.

The world is so competitive that even small changes make a big difference in ranking,” said NCC private sector co-chairman Guillermo Luz in a statement.

The Philippines fell 10 notches lower in the competitiveness ranking. From last year’s 47th rank, the country slipped to 57th out of 138 countries included in the report.

The GCI measures a country’s competitiveness -- or the set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine its level of productivity -through 12 pillars.

Among the 12 pillars, the country has low rankings in goods market efficiency at rank 99, infrastructure at rank 95, and institutions at rank 91.

The Philippines has notable rankings in macroeconomic environment at 20th place and market size at 31st

place.

The recent GCI noted most problematic factors for doing business in the Philippines such as inefficient government bureaucracy, inadequate supply of infrastructure, and corruption.

Luz said the latest ranking has brought the country away from its goal of being in the top-third of global rankings.

“We will need to focus even more on our challenges – bureaucracy, infrastructure, technology, and innovation – to make the country more competitive,” Luz said.

Aside from the Philippines, rankings of other Southeast Asian countries have also declined.

Malaysia drops out of the top 20, falling seven places to 25 from last year’s 18th place while Thailand drops two notches to rank 34 and Indonesia falls four places to 37.

“A consistent theme for all the region’s developing countries is the need to make inroads into the more complex areas of competitiveness related to business sophistication and innovation if they are to break out of the middle-income trap,” the report noted.

Meanwhile the top 10 countries in WEF’s GCI 20162017 are Switzerland, Singapore, United States, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong, and Finland. (PNA)

7 BIGGER PICTURE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Mindanao,

my Mindanao Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

W

HEN I was growing up, I usually read a big billboard that welcomed me whenever I came to Davao City that said: “The Land of Promise.”

That was what I all remembered. I didn’t know if the billboard was referring to Davao City or Mindanao. But reading the glossy book, “Philippines,” written by Richard Z. Chesnoff, I now think the billboard was describing Mindanao.

“Mindanao is the future,” Chesnoff wrote in the book first published in 1978 – that’s six years after then President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law. “Vast, with some areas still unchartered, it is an island of fertile plateaus and mineral-rich mountains, mighty waterfalls and towering rainforests. It is also blessed with a climate free from typhoons that rage across most of the Philippines. The result is a promised land of enormous economic potential.”

Mindanao – named after the Maguindanaons who constituted the largest Sultanate historically – is the second largest island in the country (after Luzon) at 104,630 square kilometers. It is the eighth most populous island in the world. The island of Mindanao is larger than 125 countries worldwide, including the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ireland.

“The Environment and Natural Resources Atlas of the Philippines” described Mindanao in these words: “A land of towering mosques and of cultural communities whose tales of bravery are as colorful as their tapestries.”

Muslim tribes, which account for about 10 percent of the island population, represent the largest minority in Mindanao. “The stilt houses and many-colored ‘vintas’ boats of the seafaring Moros line the southern coast,” Chesnoff wrote. “The white-domed mosques and intricately carved ‘torogan’ houses of the proud Maranao people guard the shores that surround the azure waters of Lake Lanao.”

Mindanao is also home to the collective group of indigenous tribes known as the Lumad. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Lumads controlled an area which now covers 17 of Mindanao’s 24 provinces, but by the 1980 census, they constituted less than 6%

Pujada Beach in Mati City Philippine eagle

Harvesting onions of the population of Mindanao and Sulu.

Heavy migration to Mindanao of Christians from nearby Visayas and as far as Luzon, which were spurred by government-sponsored resettlement programs, “turned the indigenous Lumads and Muslims into minorities,” noted “Islam and the Politics of Identity,” published by the Center for Philippines Studies at the University of Hawaii.

Someone commented: “Mindanao is the most culturally diverse island in the Philippines where people of different languages, tribes and races meet. As a melting pot of different cultures, it creates a more distinct culture which is not present in other island groups in the country.”

The convergence of cultures of various inhabitants has caused certain conflicts, and at times bitter warfare has raged between Christian and Muslim Filipinos. As a result, cycles of displacement have affected various areas in the island. In Central Mindanao, for instance, cycles of displacement have peaked during the first decade of the 21st century.

Norwegian Refugee Council, in its 2009 report, “Cycle of conflict and neglect: Mindanao’s displacement and protection crisis,” noted that after decades of “low intensity conflict” in Maguindanao between

1976 and 2000, President Joseph Estrada’s “All Out War” strategy declared in 2000 led to the displacement of more than 930,000 individuals. The decade that followed has been marked by a cycle of violence and resumption of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that sought to establish an independent Islamic state in Maguindanao.

A World Bank report said that between 2000 and 2010, four out of ten households (41%) reported having experienced displacement: 29% reported displacement caused by armed groups’ movements, 9% identified ridos (blood feuds), and 9% identified other causes, such as economic displacement (3%) or natural disasters (2%).

Armed groups’ movements were by far the most frequent cause of displacement and also the most damageable, according to the World Bank report. Some provinces were more affected than others, including Maguindanao (82%), Lanao del Norte (48%) and Lanao del Sur (47%). Other forms of violence have also been prevalent. For example, in Maguindanao, 45% of the total population reported the destruction of their house.

Other forms of violence reported in that province include the destruction of goods (37%),

being attacked by someone with a weapon (20%), witness looting (32%), and witness killing (16%).

“The conflict did not only come with a high cost to human lives,” noted Dr. Rainer Werning, a German political and social scientist and current affairs commentator specializing on Southeast Asia and East Asia.

A study done by World Bank in 2002 concluded that the expenses associated with the seemingly never-ending conflict ran up to P30 million a day, or P10 billion a year (the same amount that was defrauded from the government

by Janet Lim-Napoles and her cohorts).

“These projections did not factor in the loss and destruction to property, foregone investment opportunities, and conflict-related trauma and stress, let alone the ‘collateral damage’ on the collective psyche that resulted in strong feelings of hate, reinforced stereotypes, calls for vengeance, and discrimination among the affected populations,” wrote Dr. Werning in “Mindanao: Rich in Resources, Rich in Conflicts,” a chapter in the book, “HandLand of fruits

book Philippines.”

Mindanao is also a hotspot for clans, particularly those running in the politics. The world was shocked when 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, were killed on broad daylight on November 23, 2009. The fatalities were on their way to Shariff Aguak to file the certificate of candidacy of vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu as governor of Maguindanao.

“What kind of animals are these killers?” asked then chairperson Leila de Lima of the Commission of Human Rights. “We are so shocked and enraged. This is beyond words. It is most despicable.

This is the work of someone who is not human. It is a bestial act of the highest order.”

But there is more to Mindanao than just war and conflict. “Mindanao is also a nature-lover’s paradise,” the atlas pointed out. “Camiguin island enchants with its white-sand beaches and volcanic chains.

Zamboanga has pink-sand beaches and rolling greens.

The home of endangered Philippine eagle and the site of large historic caves, Davao promises adventure for spe-

lunkers and enhancement for lovers of tropical fruits and orchids.

“The country’s highest peak, Mount Apo, is in Davao del Sur. Pineapple plantations blanket Cotabato. Citrus orchards cover Bukidnon. Lanao del Norte is home of the legendary Maria Cristina Falls while Lanao del Sur, the center of Island in the south, is the site of majestic Lanao Lake.”

Marit Stinus-Remonde, in an article she penned for “The Manila Times,” wrote: “To someone based in Cebu City, Mindanao is a vast and diverse place. In my six days of travel, I managed to appreciate why Mindanao is truly the land of promise. Not the promise of huge fortunes and business ventures or of future military battles and bombings as we are conditioned to believe by the few loud voices talking about Mindanao. No, the promise is rather the promise of hope and possibilities. The promise of hope can be as gentle as I found it in the Transfiguration Monastery in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Or it can be loud as in the beat of the drums at a jazz concert in Davao City.”

Yes, this is my Mindanao!

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

EDITORIAL

When a weakening Peso is good to the economy

V

EERING away from politics means visiting the economy.

But what haooens when the economy is very much affected by politics? Take the case of the Philippine peso value in the foreign exchange. It has by far gone down to a record low in years.

Could it still go further down? Yes, if the turmoil in the political front continues.

Which leads us to the question: What is the implication of weak peso to Philippines economy?

There is always the good side and the bad side of weak peso.

However, it should be remembered that exchange rate is the result of demand and supply. As simple as that. When demand for Peso is high, meaning more people would want to hold Peso currency than foreign currency (Dollar), then the value of Peso is also high.

When value of Peso is high, Dollar can be purchased at lower price. For example, today Peso is weak at 48.28:$1, after three months Peso exchange rate could bounce back to a normal record, say 43:$1.

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According to economists, a weak Peso is only harmful if Philippines is purely import-dependent to one supplier country.

Hence, when Peso is weak, purchasing a Dollar is expensive, thus, price of imported goods will increase. However, in the current state of things in the market, finding a substitute good is no longer a problem because of globalization. Which means that if one company finds that the price of imported goods from the US is increasing, then it can easily shift to other suppliers from a country that offers goods at lower price, say China.

Nevertheless, it is not always a down side.

On a positive note, economists say a weak peso is good because a greater portion of the society is heavily relying on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Remittances.

This means that a weak Peso expands that value of Dollar remittances. The weaker the Peso, the greater the remittances.

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

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ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ KENNETH IRVING K. ONG JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS MEGHANN STA. INES RIA VALDEZ NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN Reporters FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • EDCER C.B. ESCUDERO • ATTY. EMILY ZEN CHUA • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO JOHN CARLO TRIA • BORBONCARLOS • MARYMUNDA ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO•AGUSTIN • EMILY VIDA S. VALVERDE C. LUMBA • HENRY J. SCHUMACHER • VANESSA KATE MADRAZO• JONALLIER Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG ZENMIA CHUA • CARLOS• FRED MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG M. PEREZ

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tThis means that you need 48 Pesos to purchase one Dollar today and after three months if Peso became strong you will only need 43 Pesos to purchase one Dollar.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

I

T is not surprising that President Duterte’s opponents have blamed him for the fall in the peso value against the US Dollar. This is bolstered by the quick opinion of many “analysts” and “brokerage houses” that believe that recent strong statements interpreted as being against the united States government and the European union in response to their criticisms of his was on drugs.

They are all, however, careful to use that reason as a rider to the real reason: the United States Federal Reserve’s oft repeated proposal to raise interest rates.

This matters because when US rates increase, US securities become more attractive to investors as yields on these go up quickly, and as far as Philippine stocks are concerned, they may find local yields weaker compared to what they can get in the US when interest rates go up. They have flocked

W

HEN the President Ferdinand E. Marcos launched Bagong Lipunan (New Society), he initiated several programs and initiatives. Perhaps one of the most popular slogans during that time was: “Sa ikakaunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.” It can be literally translated as: in order for a country to progress, discipline is needed.

“Why is discipline important?” asked John F. MacArthur Jr. “Discipline teaches us to operate by principle rather than desire. Saying no to our impulses (even the ones that are not inherently sinful) puts us in control of our appetites rather than vice versa. It deposes our lust and permits truth, virtue, and integrity to rule our minds instead.”

If you love football, then you probably know Jerry Lee Rice. To the uninformed, he was an American football wide receiver who played 20 seasons in the National Football League. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history and among the greatest NFL players overall.

There is an interesting anecdote on how he became such. In Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know, author John C. Maxwell relates this story: “People who knew him well say he is natural. Physically his God-given gifts are incredible, yet those alone have not made him great. The real key to his success has been his self-discipline. He works and prepares -- day in and day out -- unlike anyone else in professional football.

“During practice in high school, Rice’s coach, Charles Davis, made his players sprint twenty times up and down a for-

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Currency crazy to emerging MY TWO CENTS’ markets since rates here are higher, but when US interest rates rise, the all flock back. Hence the US Stock market becomes more attractive John Tria than others.

Portfolio in- ecisouth@gmail.com vestments are meant to be that fluid.

This is why when Philippine stocks did go down, it only did so along with the stock indices and currencies of other countries.

Duterte politics may not be the major factor after all.

What is ore of a factor is the US Presi-

dential election outcome. The stakes of this election are high in what is perhaps the most hotly contested in recent memory, with a devoted iconoclast in Trump against an internationalist like Hilary Clinton having a big impact on how these US interest rates will be decided after 2016. The US economy may recover slowly, but may not be as robust as it was in the 80s and 90s, when the stock bubbles were still on the rise due to the low interest rate regimes that spurred borrowing and consumption.

Of course, currency values are the basis of many valuations of purchases made by locals of foreign goods and services, and o foreign buyers of our goods and services.

A weaker currency allows foreign or overseas buyers to buy more Philippine goods and services. This is good for exporters and overseas Filipino workers. A strong currency favors importers of finished prod-

ucts and raw materials, as these allow them to buy more from abroad.

So before we get all jumpy about a weaker peso, know that there are benefits and risks to such an outcome. It just matters how our economy is structured and organized, since such a status determines whether the benefits outweigh the negatives.

Apart from the US presidential election, what is most unnerving is the penchant for stock analysts like Bloomberg and credit rating agencies like Moody’s and Standard and Poor to comment on politics as the basis of stock and currency trends.

The main issue is that the things they say affect investor sentiment, so much so that any “predictive” comments tend to create the predicted outcome. They should tell us more about how markets and people’s buying decisions proceed and behave than what politicians say.

ty-yard hill. On THINK ON THESE! a particularly hot and hungry Mississippi day, Rice was ready to give up after eleven trips. As he sneaked toward the locker room, he realHenrylito D. Tacio ized what he henrytacio@gmail.com was doing. “’Don’t quit,’ he told himself. ‘Because once you get into that mode of quitting, then you feel like it’s okay.’ He went back and finished his sprints, and he has never been a quitter since.”

And so, Rice became a professional football player -- and was so famous, too. “Even in the off-season, while other players are fishing or lying around enjoying downtime, Rice is working, his normal exercise routine lasting from 7:00 am to noon,” Maxwell wrote.

Discipline -- that’s what separates Rice from good to great. Leonardo da Vinci puts it this way: “You will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself... the height of a man’s success is gauged by his self-mastery; the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment. ...And this law is the expression of eternal justice. He who cannot establish dominion over himself will have no dominion over others.”

According to Maxwell, in order for us to develop a lifestyle of discipline, we have to accept challenge and eliminate any tendency that makes us to come up with some excuses. “Alome up with some excuses. “lenge

and eliminate any tendency that make us to most all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them,” French classical writer Francois La Rochefoucauld wrote.. There’owntime, Rice is working, his normal exercise routine last In creative writing, discipline is a prerequisite. Michael Chabon said, “You need three things to become a successful novelist: talent, luck and discipline. Discipline is the one element of those three things that you can control, and so that is the one that you have to focus on controlling, and you just have to hope and trust in the other two.”

This is what author H. Jackson Brown said, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”

“No success was won without self- determination and self-discipline,” wrote Lailah Gifty Akita in Pearls of Wisdom: Great Mind. William Cullen Bryant rewrote Thanatopsis a hundred times. Edward Gibbon rewrote his Autobiography nine times. Plato wrote the first sentence of his Republic nine times. Virgil spent 12 years writing his Aeneid.

Practice makes perfect, so goes a popular saying. That is what discipline is all about. “I believe that we learn by practice,” Martha Graham, American modern dancer and choreographer, believes. “Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same.

“In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achieve-

ment, a sense of one’s being, a satisfaction of spirit,” Graham further said. “One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart also said: “It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.”

When asked by a fellow pianist if he could be ready to play a recital on short notice, Jan Paderewski replied, “I am always ready. I have practiced eight hours daily for 40 years.”

“I wish I had been born with such determination,” the other said. Paderewski answered back: “We are all born with it. I just used mine.”

Even if in the beginning you fail, just go on. Discipline yourself no matter what happens, you will be able to attain what you want. An assistant of American inventor Thomas Alva Edison was bewildered when he found out that he did 50,000 experiments before he succeeded with a new storage battery.

“Results?” Edison told him. “Why man, I have gotten lots of results. I now know 50,000 things that won’t work.” “... A disciplined pursuit of less will keep us focused and make the greatest impact,” wrote Tim Hiller in Strive: Life is Short, Pursue What Matters.

Discipline is the key

10 NEWS EDGEDAVAO Sebastian being prevented from testifying: Alvarez VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday said there are forces trying to block high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian from testifying in the House probe on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Alvarez made the statement as he expressed grief over the riot inside the national penitentiary which killed a high-profile inmate and injured

three others. ”That is sad. Apparently, there are forces na ayaw na mag-testify iyong Jaybee Sebastian. Tignan natin yung motibo kung sino ang ayaw na malaman siguro ang katotohanan (That is sad. Apparently, there are forces preventing Jaybee Sebastian to testify. We’ll look into the motive of person/s behind the concealment of truth,)” Alvarez said in an ambush interview.

lings objected to.

Percy sustained a gunshot wound in the neck, Carlita was

shot in the face, while their 12-year-old son was hacked in the nape.

Of the four victims on Wednesday’s stabbing incident, it was Sebastian who appeared at the hearing of the House Committee on Justice that looked into the involvement of government officials in the illegal drug trade.

Inmates who testified at the House investigation also implicated Senator Leila De Lima into the narcotics trade inside the NBP. Peter Co, one of the inmates injured during the stabbing incident, was among those named during the hearing who handed to De Lima P5 million cash for the release of his niece.

“Ang patutungohan ng imbestigasyon ay ang conviction ni (Senator) De Lima dahil malakas ang ebidensiya la-

ban sa kanya,” Aguirre added during the press briefing.

The claims of De Lima that the government is forcing Sebatian and other inmates to speak at the House hearing are false, he added.

“Yan ang talagang kasinungalingan at wala na sa katuwiran,” Aguirre described of De Lima’s statement, adding the government wanted Jayvee (Sebastian) alive.

“Sino ang gusting patayin si Jayvee (Sebastian)? Kung mamatay si Jayvee, sino ang magbe-benifit? Hindi ba si De Lima kasi mawawalan na ng connect sa kanya,” Aguirre said.

Reports coming from the NBP also revealed that Sebastian was rushed and stabbed by a still unidentified inmate.

demand in leading local and international companies in the garment manufacturing industry.

There are a sizeable number of professionals working as English teachers and doctors in international hospitals

based in Vietnam.

“Filipinos are very happy in Vietnam. They are treated well. Dito namin naramdaman kung paano kami iginalang.

They (Vietnamese employers) acknowledge the contribution of Filipinos,” said Lopez.

During his dialogue with the Marines, Duterte reiterated his plan to seek closer ties with China and Russia.

He also announced that he would be visiting these countries soon to discuss trade and commerce.

“This Republic will rise, this Republic of the Philippines will continue to be great… We will survive on our own. We will fight our wars on our own and we will win as a country,” Duterte told the soldiers. (PNA)

tions were officially declared.

Around 3,800 Filipinos are working in Vietnam, with about 900 of them staying in the capital of Hanoi.

Many Filipino engineers occupy high-level managerial positions in infrastructure projects, while Filipino managers and supervisors are in demand in leading local and international companies in the garment manufacturing industry.

There are a sizeable number of professionals working as English teachers and doctors in international hospitals

based in Vietnam.

Duterte was accompanied by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Department of Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez, Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Presidential Communications Operation Sec. Martin Andanar, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Noel Servigon, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Francis Escudero.

RAPS... FROM 1

The riot in the highly-secured Building 14 resulted in the death of convicted drug lord Tony Co, while the three injured were his fellow inmates Vicente Sy, Peter Co and Jaybee Sebastian.

Prior to the incident, Sebastian who was allegedly the “favored” convict of Senator Leila De Lima, was set to testify in the next hearing of the House justice committee on October 5.

Several inmates who testi-

fied in the House probe on the proliferation of illegal drugs at the national penitentiary tagged Sebastian as the alleged point man of then justice secretary De Lima in raising funds for her senatorial bid through the drug trade.

Alvarez said the stabbing does not appear to be a regular case of violence among inmates inside the NBP, noting that there were no reports of riots involving high-profile inmates

in the NBP in the past few years.

Alvarez added there is a possibility that the NBP riot is connected to the ongoing House investigation, particularly targeting the intended resource person of the justice committee.

The House Speaker, however, assured that the lack of testimony form Sebastian will not hamper the House panel as there are other witnesses it may summon to establish the facts

regarding the NBP drug trafficking operations.

A lawmaker from the minority bloc echoed Alvarez, saying “there are forces that would want to prevent Jaybee Sebastian from testifying in Congress”.

Kabayan Partylist Rep. Harry Roque urged law enforcement agencies to look into the possible involvement of De Lima in the prison riot, which deprived the justice committee of a material witness. (PNA)

High-profile... FROM 2

Filipinos... FROM 2

Defend... FROM 2

President... FROM 2

SECURITY UPDATES. Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesperson Major Ezra Balagtey shares updates on the authorities’ peace and development program and other issues during yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

Stop... FROM 3

In the meantime, Kerlan Fanagel, chair of PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao, also highlighted the need to create new laws in line with the Indigenous People Rights Act (IPRA) in order to protect the lumad people’s ancestral domain.

Fanagel also presented the IP Agenda they would submit to the government and NDFP peace panels.

He said the agenda, among others, calls for non-discrimination against members of the lumad tribe.

Meanwhile, Jimid Mansayagan, governing council chair of the LumadMindanaw People’s Federation, shared

his sentiments regarding militarization, describing it as just the “in-between of armed conflicts.”

Regarding the conduct of peace dialogues, Mansayagan said “Misinterpretation is our common problem.”

He pointed out that such dialogues only cater to the majority and not the minority.

Arellano, however, cited the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by the MNLF, MILF, and NDF, as a move that could pave the way for long-lasting peace to take root in the country.

“We need to put an end to war so that programs would be implemented,” he said. Ria Valdez

added, will also help find ways to advance collaboration in the campaigns against illegal drugs’ trade consistent with the goal of realizing an ASEAN drug-free community.

“We will work with Vietnam and the rest of the ASEAN in suppressing the proliferation of illegal drugs for us to secure a better future for our generation and the generations to come,” he said.

As maritime nations with rapidly developing economies, President Duterte said the Philippines and Vietnam will acknowledge the convergence of their economic interests, broadening cooperation, collaboration and solidifying strategic partnership.

Part of President Duterte’s official entourage to Vietnam include Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay, Department of Trade and Industry secretary Ramon Lopez, Department of Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, National Security adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Presidential Communications Office secretary Martin Andanar, Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco, and Philippine ambassador to Vietnam Noel Servigon.

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Escudero also joined the the trip.

The official delegation arrived at past 4 in the afternoon on Wednesday at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Duterte... FROM 3

PRO 11... FROM 3 “Paquibato District has processed more than 220 volunteer surrenderees,” he said, adding that so far, there have been no reports of illegal substance abuse or trafficking in the town.

According to De Leon, the implementation of Oplan Tokhang is almost 100 percent complete.

His men have recovered

200 grams of shabu during their operations at Mount Diwalwal.

De Leon revealed the street price of the illegal substance has gone up from P300 to P500 per gram.

“Our operation is still ongoing as long as we are supporting President Rodrigo Duterte in his war against illegal drugs,” de Leon said.

ish exit from the European Union).”

“Nonetheless, the peso is expected to remain broadly stable over the medium term, supported by the country’s solid macro fundamentals as well as by the steady stream of remittances from overseas Filipinos and dollar receipts from the BPO sector,” it said.

The BSP said the temporary depreciation of the local currency is likely to have “minimal” impact on macroeconomic conditions also over the medium term, as it takes a permanent drop of P1 in the peso’s value against the dollar to raise inflation by about 0.15 to 0.20 percentage points over a two-year period.

Thus, it said, “This limited impact on the price level gives flexibility for monetary policy to refrain from reacting aggressively on such movements of the peso.”

The BSP pointed out that as a result of the depreciation trend, “the peso gained ex-

ternal price competitiveness against its trading partners.”

This is reflected, it said, in “the recent decline of the peso’s Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) index against the basket of currencies of all trading partners (TPI), trading partners in advanced (TPI-A) and developing (TPI-D) countries.”

For the period Jan. 1 to Sept. 20, the central bank said the year-to-date average of the REER index fell against the basket of currencies in the TPI by 3.01 index points (3.2 percent) to 89.97 index points from 92.98 index points a year ago.

The REER index likewise averaged lower by 6.11 index points (6.7 percent) against the TPI-A and by 0.78 index point (0.7 percent) against the TPI-A. “A decrease in the REER indices suggests that the peso gains external price competitiveness while an increase indicates otherwise,” the BSP said. (PNA)

Peso... FROM 5

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Bormaheco Inc. inaugurates Phase 1 of real estate project

The company owners, personnel and stakeholders pose for a photo after the ground-breaking ceremony. In photo are Fransico Cervantes (fourth from the right), Cynthia Cervantes (left to Fransico Cervantes), Japanese Consular in Davao Director Tomoko Dodo (left to Cynthia Cervantes), Modesto Cervantes (7th from the right) and Jonathan Cervantes (7th from the left)

By Jermaine L. Dela Cruz

BORMAHECO INC. HELD A BLESSING CEREMONY TO FORMALLY INAUGURATE ITS FIRST REAL ESTATE PROJECT, the three-storey BI Zone Phase 1, at J.P. Laurel Ave. last September 24, 2016.

The inauguration was preceded by the ground-breaking ceremony of the second phase of the venture also located in the one hectare Bormaheco Compound.

The event was graced by the company’s owners headed by its Chairperson Modesto N. Cervantes, his son Jonathan Cervantes who is the general manager of Logicall, Inc. and one of the Board of Directors at Easycall Communications Philippines, Inc. and Bormaheco, Inc. The company President Francisco N. Cervantes, his wife Cynthia and their daughter, Danica, were also present in the event.

Also in attendance were other officials of the company namely Executive Vice President for Business Development Hernane P. Losanes, Bormaheco Inc. Legal Counsel Atty. Alarico Mundin and company branch managers and staff from Davao, Butuan, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro. Among the witnesses of the

event were Japan Consular Office in Davao Director Tomoko Dodo, Security Bank Senior Bank Manager Janice B. Tan, and representatives from China Bank, Sky Medical & Dental Clinic, Labigar Cuisine, Mystic Electronic Repair Center, SES Davao Diagnostic Inc., HDMFPAG-IBIG Fund, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp., Pulse85 Fitness Playground, and FWD Life Insurance who are among the lessees of BI Zone commercial building Phase 1.

The contractor of the real estate project, Engr. Mendrado Canusa III was also present in the ceremony along with Engr.

Mendrado L. Canusa of Riezl Landcare and Construction and Arch. Rudy Navotas.

According to the company’s chairperson, Modesto N. Cervantes, they will invest PhP15,000 per square meter on the development of the real estate project.

“We did not expect that much demand,” said Cervantes as he explained why they have doubled the height of the second

Japanese Consular in Davao Director Tomoko Dodo, Bormaheco Chairperson Modesto Cervantes, Bormaheco president Fransico Cervantes and Janice B. Tan, Senior Bank Manager of Security Bank, lead the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.

Bormaheco President Fransico Cervantes takes part in the ground-breaking ceremony. phase as compared to the initial phase that was only three storeys high.

He said the six- storey commercial building will offer a larger area to its future lessees.

The company, he added, has no plans of expanding its real estate business in Mindanao as of the moment.

In the meantime, Cervantes recalled the humble beginnings of BORMAHECO. He said the company was established at the Manila-Makati border where the

Border Machinery and Heavy Equipment Co. Inc. (BORMAHECO) took its name.

Founded on 1950, the machinery and equipment business has been operating for the past 50 years.

It entered the real estate business 20 years ago, and since then has mainly leased out offices, factory, and warehouses.

Bormaheco Inc. remains to be one of the trusted leading brands in machinery and heavy equipment services in Davao City and continues to thrive in the arena of real estate business.

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 201

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

FOOD

Time for some bisc TRIANGULAR CRACKERS. SHORTBREAD COOKIES. FILLED BISCUITS. CINNAMON COOKIES. Belgian-spice cookies. With the many choices available, it is not easy to have a favourite. From regular plain crackers to fibre-rich ones and the ever prevalent, chocolate flavoured biscuits, snacking on these munchies is and will always be part of life.

Let’s elevate the moment. Biscuits and crackers are not just your plain snack staples anymore.

Nowadays, biscuits and crackers are inevitable sources of additional flavours and textures for dishes.

Sweet or savoury, they have been an option for many kitchen enthusiasts to use.

How do I love my biscuits and crackers? Let me ignite your imagination and let you crave for a bite.

Enjoy!

AVOCADO TOPPING This is one of my latest fave. It’s creamy yet savory and textured. I love that you can use this also as a dip. My fave biscuit for this? Marks&Spencers Rich Tea Biscuit and other

plain crackers.

Procedure Mash avocado, add salt, pepper and a little lemon juice.

Finish with a hint of chili flakes and garlic powder and spread the mixture on biscuit. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil.

MY GO-TO-NO-BAKE CRUST I love mine with a combination of textures and flavours. Most often, I mix and match biscuits to create a new taste. And yes, I love my crust a bit chunky.

Go for salty crackers and sweet biscuits and you’d thank me later.

Crush some graham crackers, Biscoff biscuits. and Oreo biscuits (filling removed).

A ed extr I eve cru into side

DIY H Do bisc fave her fres rob C In a lic p thin teas

16

EDGEDAVAO

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cuits and crackers

Add some melted unsaltbutter, sugar, and vanilla ract.

In a food processor, mix erything. Pulse until fine umbs form. Press evenly o the bottom and up the e of a pie plate. Set aside.

Y TOPPINGS Having some friends over? o this. Get some crackers/ cuits and top with your e flavour combo. The idea re is to mix and match sh ingredients for a more bust gastro experience.

Cucumber-Garlic Mayo a bowl, mix mayo and garpowder. Top cracker with nly sliced cucumber and a spoon of garlic mayo mix.

Sprinkle a bit of paprika.

Gourmet Daing-Tomato Rings - In a bowl, mix 3 tablespoon of Gourmet Daing (orders and inquiries: 0943 480 5677) and a teaspoon of pesto. Add paprika and ground pepper. Top biscuit with fresh tomato ring and dollop of daing-pesto mix.

Salsa-Cheese-Onion - In a bowl, mix salsa (La Parranda Salsa), grated cheese and garlic powder. Top biscuit with a dollop of cheesy salsa and diced white onion. (heat up your cheesy salsa to melt the cheese) EASY TO PREPARE DIP CHOICES Crackers and biscuits

make for a best dipping partner. Normally, I prepare plain crackers and tea biscuits and experiment on what I have inside my pantry. Go for a combination of flavours and textures. Do not limit yourself with the usual – go ahead, mix & match.

In a bowl, mix any of the following: Cheesy Dip: warm rice milk, powdered cheese, grated cheese, garlic powder and ground pepper.

Easy Guac: mashed avocado, diced tomatoes, diced native onion and salt and pepper.

Green Love (a personal fave): pitted green olives, chopped scallions, drained

capers, chopped garlic, mustard and extra virgin olive oil.

COFFEE CAKE This is my new favourite.

Admittedly, I love coffee – who doesn’t? – and what better way to have coffee than as a cake. I got the recipe from Food Network Magazine and tweaked it to suit my taste.

Procedure Preheat oven to 350. Line baking dish with parchment paper.

In a bowl, whisk ¾ c flour, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp

THE ROYAL CHEF A4

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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Serving a seamless society

EDGE DAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

FOOD ENTERTAINMENT THE ROYAL CHEF A2 cinnamon powder and salt.

Add 5 tbsp room temp butter. Rub between fingers until well incorporated.

Stir in ¼ cup crushed Biscoff, ¼ cup crushed Marks&Spencer Rich Tea biscuit, ¼ cup finely chopped salted nuts and 2 tbsp crushed tablea.

For the batter, whisk 2 cup sifted flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp baking soda. Add salt.

In a separate bowl, beat 1 stick of room temp butter and 1 c granulated sugar.

Mix well until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time. Pour 2 tsp vanilla extract.

Add dry ingredients in batches and 1 cup sour cream – beginning and ending with flour.

For the filling dilute 2 tsp espresso coffee (or instant coffee) with tepid water. Make it not too thin and not too thick – just spreadable.

Spread half the batter onto the dish. Using a brush or the back of the spoon, spread your filling.

Sprinkle half of your topping. Brush another layer of your filling.

Spoon remaining batter evenly. Spread remaining topping.

Bake until topping turns

golden brown or for 55 minutes. Or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

So, how do you like your

biscuits and crackers?

Follow my messy food affair at theroyalchefeats. wordpress.com or on Instagram @iamleebai.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Silkair launches new mobile app, exclusive launch fares

S TSI President and COO Sebastian R. Lacson (far left) leads the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly constructed barangay health center in Brgy. Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Joining him are (L-R left) Sta. Cruz Mayor Alexis Almendras, Brgy. Inawayan Captain Romulo C. Elula, and TSI Plant Manager Engr.

Valentin S. Saludes III.

Therma South turns over new brgy. health center T

HERMA South Inc. (TSI), a subsidiary of AboitizPower, turned over a new Barangay Health Center to Brgy. Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on Sept.

17 The donation is in line with efforts to help improve health services for residents in the company’s host community.

“Through this new health center, we hope that those living in Barangay Inawayan and neighboring communities will have better access to health care services by the government,” said Sebastian R. Lacson, President and COO of Therma South Inc. The construction of the

new Barangay Health Center is part of the Community Health Enhancement Program, a collaborative effort between Therma South, Inc. (TSI) and the barangay officials of Inawayan which was developed during an annual planning session held in 2015.

“This project aims to improve the health center of Inawayan being identified as the most frequently used facility of the barangay. The former health center of Inawayan is dilapidated and is still in the old location of the barangay hall, which is around 300 meters away,” said Jason C. Magnaye, TSI Corporate Social Responsibility Manager.

Magnaye said that provid-

ing the barangay with a new health facility does not only address the various health requirements of residents in the community, but also gives pride to the equally dynamic barangay health workers.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Therma South, who has been supporting the community since they came here. The support you have given to us will never be forgotten,” said Sta. Cruz Mayor Alexis C. Almendras.

“We saw that since AboitizPower started operating here, we can say that there have been positive changes in the barangay. Not only in the employment but also to the local businesses surrounding

us,” said Romulo C. Elula, Inawayan Barangay Captain.

The health center is funded by TSI, Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI) and the Municipality of Sta. Cruz.

Aside from the building, the Community Health Enhancement Program also includes an information, education campaign (IEC) for the host communities of TSI. The IEC campaign focuses on proper health and safety measures, particularly on respiratory health and basic sanitation practices.

The IEC roadshow will also be re-echoed in Brgy.

Darong in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and in Brgys. Binugao and Sirawan in Toril, Davao City.

SSS 59th anniversary program held last Sept. 2 at the Ramon Magsaysay Hall of the SSS main office in Diliman, Quezon City.

BISAG is composed of eight informal sector groups with a total of 775 SSS members who are mostly farmers, fisherfolks, and home-based workers residing in Baganga,

Davao Oriental, which was among the areas devastated

by Typhoon Pablo in 2012.

Photo shows BISAG Coordinator Rev. Fr. Darwey C. Clark (3rd from right) receive the special citation from (L-R) SSS Senior Vice President for Account Management Group and Balikat ng Bayan Awards Committee

Chairperson Judy Frances A. See; Social Security Commission members Ibarra A. Malonzo, Daniel L. Edralin, Eva B. Arcos, Diana Pardo-Aguilar and Bienvenido E. Laguesma; and SSS Assistant Vice President for Cooperatives and Informal Sector Department Ma. Nympha M. Ragel.

Davao-based advocacy group cited as SSS AlkanSSSya Program partner T

HE Social Security System (SSS) bestowed a special citation to the Baganga Integrated Social Action Group (BISAG) for supporting SSS in bringing social security protection closer to informal sector groups during the Balikat ng Bayan Awards last Sept.

2, which coincided with the

ILKAIR, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, has launched a new mobile app which offers travelers greater convenience - from booking to boarding. Designed to be fast and intuitive, the mobile app aims to provide users with a functional and seamless user experience.

Key features of the mobile app include flight booking and itinerary management. For a limited time only, from now till Oct. 31, 2016, ‘app-clusive’ launch fares will be offered to new users who download the app.

All-inclusive fares start from USD180 to Singapore, USD750 to Europe, USD660 to Australia amongst other destinations.

Users can personalize the SilkAir mobile app home screen to show relevant flight updates and information, while push notifications can also be enabled to receive prompt check-in reminders for upcoming trips.

Travellers flying from Singapore Changi Airport can also enjoy the Mobile Boarding Pass feature which allows for

more efficient flight check-in.

Additionally, the mobile app will allow KrisFlyer members to view their membership details such as miles and tier information in an easy-to-read design.

“SilkAir is constantly improving and enhancing our various digital touch points to keep up with the changing landscape of the travel industry. With the SilkAir mobile app, customers can expect greater control and convenience when it comes to planning their travel itineraries.”

Said SilkAir’s Vice President Ryan Pua. Built in conjunction with MTT, a Travelport Company and leading provider of digital travel solutions, the new SilkAir mobile app is now available for free download at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

The mobile app is compatible with iOS 8 and 9, and all Android versions released after 4.0.3 respectively. Users can look forward to more features that will progressively be added in future updates of the SilkAir mobile app.

Business opportunities, latest tech at VIETSTOCK

O

N Oct. 19 to 21, 2016, all roads will lead to Vietnam for the country’s biggest feed and livestock show -- the VIETSTOCK 2016 Expo and Forum which will be held at the Saigon Exhibition Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development since 2004, the bi-annual holding of VIETSTOCK has grown bigger and better in each edition. And this year, the show has expanded by 40 percent with the participation of more than 300 international and local exhibitors who would welcome nearly 9,000 visitors comprised of livestock farmers, animal nutritionist, feed millers and other industry players from over the world, especially from the CLMV area (Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar , Vietnam).

VIETSTOCK 2016 will be a special edition, as features the launching of Aquaculture Vietnam 2016 Conference.

Themed “Sustainable Aquaculture in Practice,” this conference provides a platform for Aquaculture members to keep their skills and knowledge up to date through a variety of papers and discussions led by top renowned experts.

In addition, another highlight of this year is “Business Matching Program” -- a free application to connect exhibitors and visitors and allows them to schedule their meetings at the

show in advance.

“Participants can request direct meetings to specific industry people. This way, they can maximize their time during the show by exploring business opportunities through significant business conversations.” shared Ms Rungphech (Rose) Chitanuwat, business director of UBM ASIA .

Pre-registration at www.vietstock.org is required in order to access the “Business Matching Program” Holland , Taiwan, South Korea, mainland China and the Czech Republic will lead the foreign pavilions where local guests will be able to explore the latest innovations in feed, livestock and aquaculture production being offered by these countries.

“For three days, we will provide a unique livestock platform for industry players where they can approach the latest products and technology from the leading exhibitors in many different countries as well as the foreign pavilions,” said by Ms. Rungphech (Rose) Chitanuwat.

“Furthermore, the participants will maximize their business opportunities by meeting with suppliers, distributors and those who are involved in the industry chain. Face-to-face interaction will be the best way to communicate and deliver clear messages to expand networks and develop business partnerships,” Chitanuwat added.

12 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

drug dealer Bato: Riot to create distrust ASG arrested in Zambo among high-profile inmates T

P

HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief, Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Wednesday the riot at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City will create distrust among the high-profile inmates at the national penitentiary. ”That (riot) will create distrust among them. So magkakaroon sila ng pagdududa sa bawat isa (there will be doubts among them), who is who now inside the bilibid. Mas maganda yan para mag-ingat sila, hin-

di sila kampante sa kanilang palibot (It would be better so that they would be cautious and they would be mindful of their surroundings),” dela Rosa said in reaction to the riot at the NBP on Wednesday morning.

Asked whether Jaybee Sebastian should now talk because of the incident, the police chief said, “I don’t know. You better ask him. Hindi ko siya kilala, hindi ko alam ang nasa loob ng utak niya (I don’t know him, I don’t know what’s in his

mind).”

Authorities are investigating the incident. ”I hope they will come up with a very good investigation, result in their investigation kung ano ang nangyari doon (on what really transpired there),” dela Rosa said.

The PNP chief also expressed surprise that the high-profile inmates are now killing each other.

The riot at the NBP on Wednesday morning claimed the life of Tony Co and injured

Vicente Sy, Peter Co and Sebastian.

According to Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Acting Dir. Gen. Rolando Asuncion, Tony Co, Peter Co and Vicente Sy were allegedly seen by an inmate taking shabu at the back of the kitchen of Building 14.

The inmate then informed former police Chief Insp. Clarence Dongail, also an inmate there, about the matter.

Dongail questioned the group of Co. (PNA)

HE police have arrested a drug dealer of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in an anti-drug operation in downtown Zamboanga City.

Senior Supt. Debold Sinas, deputy regional director for operations, identified the arrested suspect as Arnisar Ismaluddin alias Alih, 34, of Martirez Drive, San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Sinas was arrested in an anti-drug operation around 12 noon Tuesday in the vicinity of the historical Plaza Pershing along I. Magno Street, this city.

Sinas said the arresting team seized from the suspect’s possession one medium-size heat-sealed plastic sachet of

No mall registration for 2017 elections, say Comelec

T A DESANDER IS BUILT. Hedcor, the largest developer of a run-of-river hydropower plant in the country, is building four desanders for its 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich Hydropower Project in the province of Bukidnon. One of the components of a typical run-of-river hydropower system is a desander, which is located after the intake weir. As the flow of water slows, sand and other particles settle into the desander. Water that is diverted to produce power goes back to Tagoloan River in a much cleaner state. By the third quarter of 2017, Hedcor’s Bukidnon project will tap the rivers of Tanaon, Guihean and Amusig, enough to produce 360-GWh of clean and renewable energy every year for the Mindanao grid.

methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as shabu, one small-size heat-sealed plastic sachet of shabu and P300 marked money consisting of three P100 bills.

Sinas said Ismaluddin is involved in the illegal drugs transactions of the ASG and in the killings of soldiers, policemen, and civilians in Jolo, Sulu.

He said the suspect belongs to the group of the late ASG-Urban Terrorist Group (UTG) sub-leader Mohammad Said alias Ama Maas based in Patikul, Sulu.

He said Ismaluddin was detained while appropriate charges are set to be filed against him. (PNA)

HE Commission on Elections will leave the decision to conduct satellite voters’ registration in malls for the 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to Election Officers (EOs).

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said that it is not necessary to conduct mall registrations in barangay elections because of the smaller number of voters and the long registration period. The Chairman, however, added that it is the discretion of the EOs if they want to hold registrations in malls. Satellite registrations for the May 2016 National and Local elections were held in nine malls in Met-

ro Manila where a total of 5,299 people registered. The Commission will also conduct mandatory satellite registrations at least twice or more, whenever necessary, in barangay halls, public or private schools, detention centers, and areas with indigenous communities. The continuing voters’ registration is set to start on October 3, 2016 and end on April 29, 2017. Applications for registrations at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) will be received from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, except on November 1, December 24 and 25, December 31, January 1, and April 13 and 14, 2017. (Comelec)

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13 PROPERTY

Property Providers Group:

Gearing up for challenging times

By SONNY L. MENDOZA

T

HE Property Providers Group of Realties conducted a PRC-required accreditation seminar for its latest members last Sept. 25, at the Bahay Allumni, Brokenshire College, Davao City.

Attended by around 60 new real estate agents from Davao City and from different brokers of their group, the seminar aimed to provide the participants with the essential sales and marketing skills that would qualify them for Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) accreditation.

According to Property Providers founder Engr.

Fernan Maturan, it is crucial for today’s real estate agents to upgrade their sales and marketing skills to make them more competitive.

Also, they must be updated on the latest projects and developments not only by investors, but also on developments initiated by the City Government that might align with the interests of their prospects and clients.

Speakers during the seminar included Engr.

Jose Froilan Rigor, head of the Davao City Government’s plans and programs division; Marivic Chi Parian, head for home loans of Banco de Oro-Mindanao; Sonny Mendoza, Associate Editor of Edge Davao; and Engr. Clarence Clark Dela Serna, a PRC-accredited Lecturer and the seminar’s main speaker.

“This seminar has given our members the opportunity to learn the latest sales and marketing skills including updates that would make them better real estate agents,” Maturan told Edge Davao.

In light of recent developments in the real estate industry, he pointed out that property agents must be able to market their products more efficiently to get the best results.

“These are exciting times for our industry,” Maturan said, as he cited the fast-paced growth of the property sector in Davao City.

“Davao’s property sector has really grown tremendously over the years.

We need to ride this wave,” Maturan said.

He stressed that the key to thriving in this business

is not only by being updated on the latest marketing trends developments, but more importantly, empowering its members - both real estate brokers and agents.

“Everything starts with a conversation. Thus, we want to make sure that when our agents present to their clients, they would be able to highlight the best we have to offer in the best manner possible,” Maturan said.

“It should always be a win-win situation,” he said.

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

REVing it up in WA

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

I

njb@edgedavao.net

HAVE never really appreciated an electric vehicle having seen only a few of them running in Philippine soil mostly the types of club cars and trikes.

After ogling at a bevy of cars and other commuters on display during the 2016 EV Fest at the King’s Square in Fremantle here in Perth, West Australia, my appreciation level revved up the way these machines are.

One example is the green Lotus Elise car project of the University of West Australia (UWA) which was one of the many cars on display during the electric cars show last Sunday in chilly Freo.

First, let’s begin with the hypothesis. The project is aimed at arriving at a conclusion whether or not a sustainable vehicle project is possible in the future. That is where the project began.

According to its proponents, the UWA Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV) hopes to “revolutionise personal transport” by building zero emission vehicles, powered by electricity from renewable sources, charged from any plug point and viable to both the performance and commercial markets. REV is tackling the problems created by rising fuel prices and vehicle pollution head-on. The REV team is comprises Engineering staff and students from the University of Western Australia, fuelled by a passion for a sustainable future. REV provides a unique opportunity for students to learn and develop multi-disciplinary teamwork plus innovative, design, leadership, management, marketing, fi-

nance and practical skills.

“In 2008, we have completed our first EV, the REV ECO, a fourwheel, five-seater commuter vehicle, designed for sustained performance over typical commute distances. In 2009, we have converted the REV RACER, a two-seater performance car using a high performance AC motor and regenerative braking. In 2010, we have built a dual motor driven Formula-SAE race car. In 2013, we are developing a four-motor driven Formula-SAE race car with wheel-hub motors, an electric jet ski and an autonomous SAE race car,” says the official website of the UWA REV project where I was referred to.

About REV

What is it about the REV project?

The UWA proponents said “vehicles that clutter our freeways today are completely dependent on fossil fuels, which create major pollution issues and are fast running out. In recent years, the price of those fuels has also risen sharply. Hence the development of renewable energy technologies — that is, ways of powering a car without relying on petrol or diesel — has become crucial.”

The UWA experimented by creating vehicles for the said project. “The vehicles that we are developing are specifically designed to be low-weight and are highly aerodynamic. This will make it highly efficient in its use of energy, without sacrificing convenience, performance or style. All our cars are road registered, meaning

they can be driven using a standard driver’s licence,” the project statement said.

Unlike other ‘concept’ electric cars that never amount to more than prototypes, these UWA REV project cars are ready to drive and look very much like any other car you might find on the road. To prove this, the project is using existing production cars like Lotus as a base and converting them to use an electric motor as its sole source of propulsion.

REV was re-started in 2008 by Professor Dr. Thomas Braunl (UWA Robotics&Automation, UWA Elec. & Comp. Eng.) and Dr. Kamy Cheng (UWA Mech. Eng.) after a precursor project had looked at hydrogen technologies. In recent years the viability of a hydrogen economy has been questioned and it seems that electric vehicles are stepping up to the role. Electrical cars are far simpler, more cost effective and easy to charge from any ordinary power point.

What do they aim to produce out of the REV project?

The UWA wanted to demonstrate the viability of using renewable energy sources for transport, display the abilities of students from throughout The University of Western Australia, and create a series of vehicles appropriate for the personal transport needs of the

Australian public as well as a performance series capable of demonstrating

the capability of electric vehicles on the racing circuit.

Imagine that, electric racing cars? An so we thought only electric RC cars are bound to race?

These ones are bound to be the real deal.

The project likewise hopes to develop vehicles for as little outlay as possible, and using Australian components, suppliers and manufacturers in order to make it cheap.

EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 9 ISSUE 155 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

FACEOFF IN MANILA

THE FACEOFF. FilAussie Jason Day (left) versus Rory McIlroy (right) is set on Nov. 29 in Manila.

World’s top golfers Day, McIlroy to fly to PHL for a face off on Nov. 29

T

WO of the top three golfers today will be in town for a head-to-head clash.

Fil-Australian World No. 1 Jason Day and World No. 3 Rory McIlroy will take on each other in a charity match called “Jason vs. Rory: Battle for a Cause” on Nov. 29 at the new Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga.

The match was announced through a press conference at the Shangri-la at the Fort Hotel on Thursday.

“Our agency, the Creative Artist Agency Sports has direct access to both players’ management, so we partnered with them to commit the players to come to the Philippines,” said Valerie Floro, the event director of CAAS, the organizer of the golf event.

The one-on-one stroke play game is the highlight of a three-day golf showcase where the proceeds will be given to the Alagang Kapatid Foundation.

“On Nov. 28, we have

a gala dinner and charity auction where we hope to raise funds for the Alagang Kapatid Foundation. On the third day (Nov. 30), we will have the course ready for amateur players to play the same course as how Jason and Rory did,” Floro detailed the other activities lined up for the special event. (PNA)

Sunang wins long jump bronze Bosh career in

R

IO Olympian Marestella Torres-Sunang bagged the bronze medal in the women’s long jump event on Tuesday at the 5th Asian Beach Games in Da Nang City, Vietnam.

Sunang registered 6.10 meters to finish third behind Vietnamese Bui Thi Thu Thao (6.32 meters) and Nguyen Thi Truc Mai (6.11 meters) in the competition held at the Son Thuy Beach.

Over at the Bien Dong Park, Annie Ramirez failed to advance to the semifinal of the women’s open weight division in jiu-jitsu after bowing to Jordanian Rana Hatem Sharif Qubbaj in the quarterfinal

Miami likely over

round. Jenina Kaila Napolis had earlier lost in the roundof-16 of the women’s open weight division while Gian Taylor Dee was eliminated in the men’s open weight round-of-16 category.

In kurash, Gilbert Ramirez bowed to Muhammet Temirov of Turkmenistan in the men’s -81kg. round-of-16 while Eunice Lucero lost in the women’s -63kg. quarterfinal round.

In volleyball, the tandem of Regine Anne Arocha and Roxanne Gorre was beaten by Vietnamese pair Le Thi Bich Vi and Tu Thi Thu Van in the preliminary round competition at Mye Khe Beach. (PNA)

M

BRONZE. After failing in the Ro Olympics, Marestella Torres-Sunang won a bronze in the Asian Beach Games.

Photo by PSC Comm. Charles Maxey

IAMI Heat president Pat Riley said Monday he believes Chris Bosh has played his last game for the team after his failure of a physical exam following long-running problems with blood clots.

Riley told reporters the Heat were planning for a future without their star forward, who has missed large parts of the last two seasons.

The Heat announced on Friday that the 11-time All-Star had failed a physical, but did not explain the reasons, citing medical confidentiality.

Asked if the Heat were expecting Bosh to return at some point in the future, Riley replied: “We are not.”

“I think Chris is still open-minded,” he added. “But we are not working toward his return. We feel that, based on the last exam, that his Heat career is probably over.”

Riley would not be drawn on whether he felt Bosh’s entire NBA career may be at an end.

“That’s up to him,” he replied.

Bosh has been battling back to fitness, desperate to persuade the Heat he is ready to resume playing. However, the team were preparing to leave for a training camp in the

Bahamas on Monday without him in their party.

“It’s pretty definitive from us, in our standpoint, that this is probably going to be a t i m e where we really have to step back,” Riley said, denying that salary cap issues had played a factor in the handling of Bosh’s case.

“His health, playing and economics — it’s been health, health, health,” he said. “Whatever the cap ramifications are, they are there, but we never ever thought about that.”

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra meanwhile said dealing with Bosh’s case had been wrenching.

City Sports contribution to the anti-drug campaign, he added.

“This is a way to get everybody active in sports, especially now that there’s an aggressive campaign getting everybody out of illegal drugs,” he said. “It is one way

of starting them correctly.”

A total of 12 teams are competing in the Barangay Officials Division that started September 26, while 12 teams registered for the Residents’ Division that is expected to start in the next few weeks.

City holds basketball tourney for barangay execs, residents

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HE City Sports Development Division (City Sports) has organized a basketball tournament for the city’s barangay officials and residents.

Dubbed Duterte Basketball League, the basketball tournament is sponsored by

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte thru the City Sports.

City sports chief Michael Aportadera said the tournament aims to get everybody into physical workout, and promote camaraderie and teamwork among barangay officials and residents in the

city.

The tournament, he added, is composed of two divisions – for barangay officials, and for barangay residents from the city’s 12 political districts especially drug surrenderers.

It is also in line with the

IT’S OVER. Chris Bosh’s career in Miami isover after failing medical tests.

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