Edge Davao 9 Issue 197 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

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Serving a seamless society

ARRIVAL SPEECH. President Duterte gestures while delivering his arrival speech from Auckland, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in Lima, Peru at the Davao International Airport in Davao city on Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr.

DOTC ‘MASSACRE’ 115 corrupt officials fired: Tugade Rody stays off By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

EPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications Secretary Arthur Tugade gave assurance Thursday that the campaign against corruption in the department has been relentless with the dismissal of officials and personnel linked to corruption. In an interview during the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board National Management Conference at Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on Thursday, Tugade said that more than 40 officials in LTFRB while 115 in DOTC have been relieved from their positions by way of “suspension, dismissal and

resignation”. On October, LTFRB announced that its officials, along with stakeholders in the transport sector, visited 14 regional offices (excluding the ones in Cagayan Valley and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). As of October 2016, LTFRB’s rigid campaign against corruption has resulted to the following: • 2 resigned regional directors (RD) (Bicol and Northern Mindanao) • 2 retired RDs (Western Visayas & Davao Region) • 1 suspended RD (Eastern Visayas) • 1 resigned Legal Division

(Central Office) • 1 resigned Acting Chief, Transportation Development Officer (CTDO) (Bicol) • 1 terminated Chief Public Assistance and Complaints Desk (PACD) • 3 resigned Atty. IV (Hearing Officer) (Metro Manila, Bicol, Zamboanga Peninsula) • 1 retired Administrative Officer V (Davao Region) • 1 resigned TDO (Zamboanga Peninsula) • 1 resigned Admin Asst. III (Ilocos Region) • 4 resigned Admin Aide (Ilocos Region, Bicol, Metro Manila, Soccksksargen) • 1 resigned Clerk 111 (Metro Manila)

• 1 resigned Financial Analyst (Bicol) • 19 terminated Taxi Resealers

While the following are under investigation: • 4 employees of Ilocos Region • Regional Director (RD) of Eastern Visayas • OIC RD of Department of Transportation - Cordillera Administrative Region • 3 employees of LTFRB Metro Manila

To recall, LTFRB has issued Memoranum Order 2016-188 designating 3 liason officers to

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fire cracker ban F

ILIPINOS can still welcome 2017 with firecrackers after President Rodrigo R. Duterte said it would be too late to impose total ban on firecrackers this coming New Year’s celebration.

”It’s too late already. Everybody…they all have invested. It would not be fair,” President Duterte said in a media interview after visiting his parents’ tombs at the Wireless Catholic Cemetery

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MOTORING SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Inside

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

Jaywalkers to be fined

REPORTER OF THE YEAR. Henrylito Tacio (center) of Edge Davao receives his Reporter of the Year for Online News Portal during this year’s Globe Media Excellence Awards held at The Marco Polo Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte said he will step down if FM is proven not a president

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday evening addressed anew the controversy over the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos by challenging protesters to disprove if the latter has never served as Philippine president. He defended his action of ordering the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, saying it was his sworn duty to do so as president. Duterte gave a brief speech regarding his two-day attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Lima after landing at the

Davao International Airport. Duterte then dwelt on the planned mass actions against the Marcos interment at the LMB. He maintained he was just abiding by the law. Duterte, however, gave a challenge to anti-Marcos rallyists — who are set to hold a big protest on Friday. “If protesters can satisfactorily answer his two questions in the negative or with a “no,” then he would “gladly — and happily even — step down” as a president. “Was the late Ferdinand Marcos a president? Was he a soldier?” he asked.

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19 upland families evacuated in Koronadal due to landslides

HE city government of Koronadal forcibly evacuated some 19 families from an upland village here due to a series of landslides triggered by heavy rains on Wednesday night. Cyrus Urbano, city administrator, said Thursday they monitored “pockets of landslides” in portions of Sitios Olom-Lao, Oloclofe and Lower Ladol of Barangay Assumption that closed down roads and threatened communities in the area. He said the situation was aggravated by the strong water current from upstream in a creek traversing the village. Owing to this, he said they implemented the forced evacuation of residents at a portion

of Sitio Lower Ladol at around 8 p.m. Wednesday. “Based on our assessment, the situation in the area is very delicate due to the pockets of landslides,” he said in a radio interview. Urbano, who heads the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the forced evacuation was facilitated by rescuers from the Bureau of Fire Protection. The affected residents, which comprise 40 individuals, are currently taking temporary shelter at an evacuation center in Purok Ramos in Barangay Sta. Cruz, he said. The official said the city government provided food

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By RIA VALDEZ

HE chief of the City Transportation and Traffic Management Office yesterday told reporters in yesterday’s I-Speak forum that there is no turning back for his office’ determination to impose fines on jaywalkers. Rhodelio Poliquit, CTTMO chief, said the fines will be based on the anti-jay walking ordinance. His office commenced implementation of the orginance on November 23. “We will fine P100 pesos on the first offense plus four hours of community service,”

said Poliquit. Though the fines for the second and coming offenses are not yet announced, he said there would be no imprisonment for offenders. Poliquit specified the four places where jay walking is strictly prohibited namely Matina Crossing, San Pedro Extension and Quimpo Boulevard, Gaisano Mall Bajada to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), and Ma-a Crossing to Sandawa via McArthur Highway. According to him, the jay walking ordinance was implemented due to increased road

congestion and for the safety of the pedestrians. As for the assessment of the said ordinance so far, there are no reported cases yet. Poliquit also pointed out that senior citizens, persons with disability (PWD), and pregnant women need not to walk to the nearest pedestrian lane for as long as a traffic enforcer would assist them cross the street. “But this should be a public operation. We should assist these people when we see them,” he stressed. He added that they had de-

ployed 15 personnel to monitor jay-walking. In accordance to the ordinance, Poliquit called out to barangays who have foot bridges to exercise proper maintenance. “These barangays know they’re in charge of them,” he remarked. Meanwhile, the CTTMO would also fine P200 pesos for the first offense to drivers of motor vehicles who would not stop before pedestrian lanes. “We need to prioritize the pedestrians’ safety,” said Poliquit.

same order not to fish on the spawning ground because if that’s also theirs, they should guard it – for they say it’s theirs.” “For me that’s ours so don’t destroy it because that’s

Filipinos’ source of food,” he said in Tagalog. Duterte was poised to issue an executive order declaring the contested Scarborough Shoal a marine sanctuary

China must ban fishing in Scarborough: Rody By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday called on China by way of suggestion to issue an order prohibiting its fishermen from operating inside Scarborough Shoal following the lead of the

Philippines. Duterte, who visited the grave of his father early Thursday morning, made the statement in response to questions from reporters. “China should also give the

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

Marine battalion deployed to Sultan Kudarat province

T RAINY DAYS. A man braves the heavy downpour as he crosses the street along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City. Davao City is experiencing rainy days due to a tropical depression “Marcel” which is expected to landfall in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Lean Daval Jr.

HE 500-strong 2nd Marine Battalion, one of the military’s combat seasoned unit, was ordered deployed to Sultan Kudarat province effective Wednesday . The unit, which is commanded by Lt. Col. Jose Marie Santos, underwent rigorous re-training from April until this month. Capt. Victor Donque, Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) spokesperson, said the 2nd Marine Battalion undergone intensified training on both lectures and practical exercises on administrative matters, military tactics, simulated military planning, live-fire maneuvers, marksmanship and rigid physical fitness activities. He added the unit also participated in the recently concluded Philippine and US Amphibious Landing Exercise.

Prior re-training, Donque said the 2nd Marine Battalion has earned numerous victories against lawless elements and terrorists in the southern part of the Philippines. Its major accomplishments include combat operations against the dreaded Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu while equally performed significant non-traditional roles such as civil-military operations that has gained superb appreciation from the natives as well as stakeholders from the said areas. Formal send-off for the 2nd Marine Battalion took place at the Capt. Salvo Pier , Sangley Point, Cavite City. The unit movement is part of the rotation policy of the PMC to retrain and refurbish Marine Battalions in the field. (PNA)

Duterte eyes visit to Russia; Palace to unveil better relations with China manual on FOI By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte in his arrival speech in Davao International Airport late Wednesday revealed he was looking forward to visiting Russia upon the invitation of his counterpart Vladimir Putin. “I have directed the Secretaries of foreign affairs and defense to undertake an advance visit soonest to firm up a substantive agenda with Moscow,” told reporters. He said he could not visit Russia at this time because of

low tolerance for cold weather. “Ang totoo talaga niyan, hindi ako makapunta because I cannot stand cold [weather],” he said. He said he was able to hold separate meetings with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima. Duterte focused on economic cooperation between the Philippines, China, and

Russia and discussed ways on how to broaden and intensify economic aid, but did not discuss anything about military. “We discussed ways to broadening and intensifying economic aid, we didn’t talk about military,” Duterte said, adding that he was eyeing a visit to Russia upon Putin’s invitation. cold [weather],” he said. Duterte added he met with Xi to ramp up the implementation of economic agreements during his visit to

Beijing last month. “President Xi Jinping and I directed officials of both of our governments to use coordinating mechanisms established to ensure the timely follow up and implementation of the agreement,” he said. “In my engagement with foreign business leaders, I also made it clear that the Philippines is now introducing economic and fiscal reforms as part of our neeed approach to make it a world stop investment of choice,” he added.

ry Board (LTFRB) national management conference at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on Thursday, Tugade said that he felt unhappy for losing a “truly professional and decent man from the pri-

vate sector wanting to serve the government”. “Sayang kasi nakakita ako ng oportunidad na kumbitahin yung mga professionals sa pribado to join the govern-

Tugade saddened by Kintanar’s departure D By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ EPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications Secretary Arthur Tugade admitted that he was saddened by the resignation of Transportation Undersecretary Rails Noel

Kintanar, a former Ayala Corporation executive who has been called out for possible conflict of interest. In an interview during the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulato-

Misamis Oriental on alert as typhoon heads for Mindanao

EMBERS of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office here “scrambled” to alert all stakeholders Thursday as Tropical Storm Marce headed for Mindanao. The office went on alert mode as Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano ordered an alert after weather officials raised Signal No. 1 in the entire province Wednesday evening. Emano issued the order in anticipation of heavy rains that might induce flash floods and landslide in certain areas in the province. Head of the PDRRMO, Francisco Dy Jr., said his office is always on alert for any un-

toward incident in the province. He said that the PDRRMO has established communication with all critical areas in Misamis Oriental where personnel provide situation reports on a regular basis. According to Dy, the PDRRMO has equipment and personnel who could be deployed to any part of the province at any given notice. He also said that the provincial social welfare office has enough relief goods that could be distributed to any disaster-stricken area in Misamis Oriental. Provincial health personnel are also on standby for any emergency, he added. (PNA)

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WHERE’S THE PEDESTRIAN? Pedestrians cross a street in Davao City using an almost unrecognizable pedestrian lane that need to be repainted. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ordered traffic enforcers to strictly implement the

FTER 120 days of preparation, Malacanang will officially roll out on Friday its Freedom of Information (FOI) Manual that would boost the anti-corruption campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Policy and Legislative Affairs Kris Ablan announced on Thursday that at least 15 government agencies will serve as pilot offices for the FOI unveiling ceremony to be held at 3:00 p.m. at the Malacanang Heroes Hall. Last July 24, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 2, implementing the FOI in the executive branch of the government. Aside from the turnover of the FOI Manual of online agencies, the electronic FOI or e-FOI facility will also be launched to be

presented to the Office of the President by PCO Secretary Martin Andanar. Among the 10 agencies that have already complied with the EO No. 2 are National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Department of Finance, Parole and Probation Administration, Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Housing Authority, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Land Bank of the Philippines, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. Ablan said the PCO expects compliance from all the government agencies by 2017. ”Apart from ceremonial turnover of FOI manuals,

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anti-jaywalking ordinance to ensure road safety and prevent congestion in the city streets starting December 1. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

Tax reform to fill Infra, education backlog T

HE proposed comprehensive tax reform program will, if approved in toto, let the Duterte administration improve 44,000 kilometers of national and local roads; build 6,700 health centers and hire nearly 10,000 doctors, nurses and midwives; and attain 100 percent health insurance coverage, along with

building 80,000 more classrooms and hiring 157,000 teachers over the next five years, according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Dominguez said President Duterte’s goal of liberating six million Filipinos from poverty by 2022 would be better achieved by implementing

Spending growth in Vis-Min deemed faster than in Luzon

PENDING growth of households in Visayas and Mindanao has surpassed the average growth rate of Luzon and the entire Philippines, according to a world leader in consumer knowledge and insights through consumer panels. Kantar Worldpanel Account Director Ruth Sazon said in a briefing on Thursday that growth of spending among households in Visayas and Mindanao from 2014 to 2016 was at 5.2 percent, faster than the average rate for Luzon at 3.9 percent and for the Philippines at 4.4 percent. Sazon noted that this means Visayas and Mindanao regions are key areas for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). The regions’ growth rates in FMCG such as food, bever-

age, personal care, and household care also grew faster than Luzon. In Visayas and Mindanao, growth in food sector is at 4.7 percent, beverage at 4.6 percent, personal care at 7.2 percent, and household care at 5.9 percent. In Luzon, the growth rates are 2.0 percent in food sector, 2.3 percent for beverage, 7.4 percent for personal care, and 5.8 percent for household care. Sazon said there was huge opportunity for FMCG companies in the central and southern Philippines with the regions’ growth in spending and demographics. Visayas and Mindanao is accounted for more than half of the Philippines’ landmass with 42 percent of the coun-

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these initiatives, because raising productivity and improving competitiveness will, in turn, create more and better jobs—and thereby lift the economic status of the country’s impoverished sectors. However, he said, if the tax reform program fails to get approved in its entirety by the Congress, the six million

Filipinos representing the 21.6 percent still trapped in extreme poverty will be doomed to their fate, GDP expansion will not be sustained at 7 percent, the economy will suffer a credit ratings downgrade, and the benefits of continued high growth will remain exclusive to the rich. “All the above will not be

possible if the tax reform package is not passed,” Dominguez said. “In a word, the 21.6 percent still trapped in poverty will remain there even after we have gone. We have reached the toughest point in poverty alleviation. We are left with what might be called the hardcore poor: those with

no skills and no opportunities. They have the steepest slope to climb,” Dominguez said. “By failing to act boldly at a most opportune moment, we will betray our people. We will condemn our nation to the vicious cycle of high inflation, high interest rates and inhospitable business conditions

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NIGHT MARKET ALIVE. Students from a nearby university flock to the street food section of Roxas night market in Davao City last night. Street food lovers are starting to flock at Roxas night market again more than two months after a deadly blast hit the area. Lean Daval Jr.

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Rody says he owes RP’s oligarchs nothing

HILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte vowed on Wednesday to open up the economy to new corporations to halt graft and protectionism, telling the country’s oligarchs he owed them no favors and to be content with their billions. The outspoken, populist leader said it was high time to change regulations and liberalize sectors like energy, power and telecoms to make the country more competitive, and give Filipinos better services and a share of the wealth. Duterte, who was swept to office in May by a huge margin on a platform tilted toward the poor, said he had consciously shut powerful tycoons out of his election campaign and where his reform plan was concerned they would have to like it or lump it. “The only way for deliverance of this country is to remove it from the clutches of the few people who hold the power and money,” he told a news conference. “I do not owe you anything, that’s precisely why I was avoiding you during the last election. I am not trying to destroy you. You have the advantage, you’re here already, be content with that. But let us open everything.” The mercurial former mayor has shown no qualms about confronting conglomerates who dominate the Philippines economy, which is growing at one of the world’s fastest rates. Despite jitters among investors that Duterte’s volatility could impact policy, the economy expanded 7.1 percent in the July-September period – the first quarterly data of his presidency. Duterte spoke moments after arriving home from a leaders’ summit in Peru of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), whose closing statement committed to fight

“all forms of protectionism”. Investors have long been frustrated at being shut out of some sectors in a market of more than 100 million Filipinos, either squeezed by local monopolies or regulations that limit foreign investments, like in telecoms and utilities. The Philippines currently has 21 billionaires, according to Forbes Magazine, with a record number in 2016. The richest had a net worth of $12 billion.

TIME TO SHARE “You can count on your fingers the power players of this country. I would not say that they are the elite,” Duterte said. “I would like just to send this strong message: it’s about time that we share the money of the entire country and to move faster, make competition open to all,” he said. “You stymie competition and we will always be at the mercy of the corrupt people.” His remarks suggest he is determined to deliver on pledges to thwart protectionism, having already warned the telecoms duopoly of Philippine Long Distance Telephone and Globe Telecom to shape up, or face new competition. Philippines’ data and voice services are ranked among Asia’s slowest and most intermittent, a source of angst for businesses. Duterte said that in the power and energy sectors, the government was looking into regulatory requirements and institutional arrangements “to hasten the entry of new players”. He also said he would be diversifying sources of hardware for his military, bemoaning its use of American “handme-downs” and efforts by a U.S. senator to block the sale of 26,000 new M-4 assault rifles to the Philippines police. — Reuter

BUILDING BOOM. A laborer works atop the metal structure of a building along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City yesterday. New high-rise buildings are sprouting around the city as the real estate development business boom continues. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte: telcos open to foreign companies By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night revealed he was decided on opening up the telecommunications and power sectors to foreign companies to ensure better service for Filipinos. “The only way to make this country move faster to benefit the poor is really to open up communications, the airwaves, and the entire energy sector,” he said in his arrival speech in Davao International Airport. He said this is part of opening up the Philippines to business. Duterte explained that it is about time Filipinos will share

the money of the entire country, move faster, and make competition open to all. He had a press conference after arriving from New Zealand, his stopover from Peru where he had attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting. It was at the APEC summit, where free trade was a central topic, that he strengthened his resolve to make it easier for foreign players to enter the telecoms and power industries in the Philippines. Duterte also addressed the “Ayalas” and “Pangilinans” who have the control of the companies into telecommunications.

“Who are the players? Who have the billions? ‘Multi’ is the first name, ‘billion’ is the last name. So why will I think twice? And I do not owe you anything. Precisely, I was avoiding you during the last election,” he said. He told these big companies that he is not out to “destroying” them and that they should make the most of their position in the Philippine market. “You have the advantage. You are here already. Be content with that. But let us open everything para matapos na itong kalbaryo ng Pilipino (so that the suffering of the Filipino can end),” he said.

The President promised they would get the “same protection” as foreign companies. “Now, if you make your price dive down, no problem –I will forget my statement,” he said. Duterte also promised a reduction in red tape for the new companies interested in investing in the Philippines’ telecommunications and power sectors and that he would handle their applications himself. “Just give the application directly to my office – I’ll bring it to the respective departments and will personally pick up the results,” he said in Tagalog.

HE draft for the creation of a banana industry development council (BIDC) by the President of the Philippines is now in the hands of Agriculture Sec. Emmanuel F. Piñol. This was learned from lawyer Israelito Torreon, whose law office has been involved in drafting the proposed executive order (EO) on the BIDC whose purpose is “to promote and sustain the development of banana industry for inclusive growth and environmental protection and allocate funds therefore..” The creation of the council is a long-time advocacy of small banana growers supported by the big ones affiliated with the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), whose members are engaged in the production and exportation of cavendish banana, one of the country’s major dollar-earners for four decades now.

Intended to be based in Davao City, the council shall be composed of the following: Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government; one representative from the roster of registered large banana growers and/or exporters association/corporation/cooperative, or otherwise having an aggregate monthly production of at least 50,000 boxes within the country; one representative from the roster of registered large banana growers and/or exporters association/ corporation/cooperative, or otherwise having an aggregate monthly production of less than 50,000 boxes within the country;one representative from the roster of registered cooperatives, agrarian reform beneficiaries or farmers primarily engaged in the growing of bananas, at least seventy

five percent (75%) of which are grown in any region in Luzon; one representative from the roster of registered cooperatives, agrarian reform beneficiaries or farmers primarily engaged in the growing of bananas, at least seventy five percent (75%) of which are grown in any region in Visayas; one representative from the roster of registered cooperatives, agrarian reform beneficiaries or farmers primarily engaged in the growing of bananas, at least seventy five percent (75%) of which are grown in any region in Mindanao; one representative from registered banana processors. “All private sector representatives shall serve for a period of two years, subject to reappointment, and shall enjoy compensation and benefits as may be determined by the President, pursuant to existing laws. “The Council shall pro-

mote the development and growth of the banana industry by improving production, productivity, quality, and expanding the manufacturing, processing and/or export of banana and banana products. It shall have the following specific functions and responsibilities: “1. Act as the advisory/ policy-making body in all initiatives and concerns relevant to the banana industry, such as the crafting of a Philippine Banana Master Plan which will be responsive to the concerns and challenges of the banana industry; “2. Act as the conciliation, mediation or arbitration body in all disputes affecting the banana industry such that no cases shall be filed in court arising out of such disputes without securing as a requirement thereto a Certificate to File Action from the Council; “3. Act as the national ba-

Draft of banana council EO submitted to Piñol

DTI exec: No price hikes T for Noche Buena items

RADE and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya on Thursday said that prices of commodities are not expected to pick-up during the Christmas season as supply remain sufficient. “I know that we have sufficient supply and SRPs (suggested retail prices) are already out. And I know there wouldn’t be much increases that we foresee,” she said. Maglaya said officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had met with suppliers of Noche Buena products “and they have assured the Department that we have sufficient supply.” She explained that prices of commodities normally increase when there were not enough supply, thus, with the assurance of producers

of dairy products and canned goods, among others, she discounted price hikes. She cited that if ever prices would increase it should be starting now since delivery to retail outlets are on-going in time for the holidays. Asked about the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recent decision to cancel all import permits for meat and plant products to prevent smuggling, Maglaya said this was not expected to increase prices of the affected commodities. She said DA has assured DTI of enough supply of meat, fruits and vegetables. “As they look at the consumption requirement they have said that we have more than enough and we are banking on that,” she added. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

AXA, Ateneo School partner up for first estate planning program

SUPPORT TO BOYS TOWN. Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. together with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. formally turned over the financial support of P 100,000 to Welfare Action Foundation of Davao City also known as Boystown Davao last November 22, 2016 in Davao Light Ponciano Office as support for the education and skills program of their wards. Davao Light

DA-Caraga recognized as best regional team

ARMER’S determination plus right technology plus government support results to quality produce. These what gives Caraga Region an edge over other regions vying for the recently concluded 4th National Quality Corn Achievers Awards 2016. For the third time, the Province of Agusan del Norte set Caraga Region in the limelight as the province emerged as Hall of Fame awardees as an Outstanding Province in the implementation of the corn program. Governor Maria Angelica Rosedelle Amante-Matba with other provincial officials received the award as Agusan del Norte is the lone winner of the said category. Aside from the award of the province, Agusan del Norte Provincial Agriculturist Alvin Aclan also received a Hall of Fame award for being an outstanding provincial

agriculturist while provincial corn coordinator Oscar Tuyor as outstanding provincial corn coordinator hall of fame awardee. Aside from hall of fame awardees from Caraga Region, the Municipality of Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur also emerged as the outstanding municipality while Marlita Cortez was awarded as an outstanding municipal agriculturist, Luzviminda Abellana as an outstanding municipal corn coordinator and Nilo Villamor as an outstanding agricultural extension worker. The Province of Agusan del Norte and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur received a check amounting to P5M and P1M worth of projects respectively while individual winners received cash prizes. Recognizing government’s support to the local government units, DA-Caraga Region has been recognized also as the best regional team.

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EVP and COO Arturo Milan handed the check to Boystown Davao President, Salvador Angala. The event was witnessed by Davao Light Community Relations Manager, Fermin Edillon and Boys Town Davao Treasurer, Rosele Solis with its Executive Director, Fr. Eligio R. Santos. (Davao Light Photo)

XA, global leader in insurance and investments, forged a partnership with the Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB) to offer a course that will equip AXA Financial Advisors with a higher level of proficiency in estate planning. Interest in estate planning has been increasing steadily over the past years. Through the development of a stringent certification program, customers are assured that AXA Financial Advisors are qualified to give sound recommendations and suitable financial solutions that will address both their financial needs and capabilities. The AXA Certified Estate Planning Program (ACEP) is the country’s first comprehensive estate planning program. It aims to provide AXA Financial Advisors with mastery of estate planning through a mix of conceptual discussion and actual

estate plan preparation. The two-day certification program will be conducted at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB) in Rockwell. AXA Financial Advisors who wish to join ACEP need to complete two pre-requisite courses on the basics of estate planning prior to attending the actual certification, to prepare them for the program proper. AXA advisors who successfully complete the program will receive the AXA Certified Estate Planner (ACEP) designation. ACEP is part of the AXA Continuing Education (ACE) curriculum, a company-wide program that provides learning and development opportunities to new and seasoned financial advisors of AXA Philippines. Aside from ACEP, the ACE curriculum also includes courses on investments, personal finance, underwriting, personality development, business communications, and more.

handled by McCann which won the bid to continue tourism promotions during the past administration under then DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. Teo also earlier disclosed that the supposed new slogan would require approximately PHP 650 million, which will be taken from the leftover budget, also from the previous admin-

istration. De Castro, however, did not disclose the reason behind the decision to keep the old slogan. Launched in 2012, the ‘It’s More Fun’ was a brainchild of DOT and local advertising firm BBDO Guerrero. The slogan has won numerous awards including third smartest marketing campaign under global annual ranker Warc 100. (PNA)

DOT says‘It’s More Fun’ slogan to be retained G

IVEN its world-wide success, the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed Thursday that it will no longer be changing the current tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”. “’It’s More Fun’ will stay,” DOT Undersecretary for Media Affairs Kat De Castro told the Philippines News Agency in a text message. “We will upscale

and improve the new campaign using the same tagline.” De Castro said that the decision to keep the old slogan was reached last Nov. 21 (Monday) after a series of meetings with global advertising agency McCann Erickson and other tourism stakeholders. Last Nov 19, DOT Secretary Wanda Teo said that the supposed new slogan will be

Smart blankets Davao with LTE

LDT mobile unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has completed its network expansion and improvement program in Metro Davao and surrounding municipalities, resulting in big boosts to its voice, SMS and mobile internet coverage and quality, particularly on its LTE (Long Term Evolution) service. Field tests conducted by Smart showed: · Smart’s LTE outdoor coverage now blankets 98% of Metro Davao, matching the outdoor coverage of its 3G service. · Smart’s LTE indoor coverage increased six times – from 11% to 66% of the Metro Davao area. · Average download speeds of Smart’s 3G service increased nearly 6 times to 6 Mbps, while LTE speeds increased more than 4x to over 17 Mbps. “Smart is rolling out the fastest and most powerful LTE network in the country. This is the cutting edge of our efforts to improve internet services in the Philippines,” said Joachim W. Horn, chief technology and information advisor for PLDT and Smart. “In Metro Davao, the biggest change is the huge improvement in indoor coverage for LTE. This is important be-

cause people use mobile internet services mostly indoors – in their homes, offices, restaurants, coffee shops and the like. As a result, Davao is setting the pace for the country’s major urban centers in terms of mobile internet experience and is the best place to enjoy fast mobile internet services,” he said. “But we aren’t stopping there. Smart is now rolling out the same network improvement program in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. This is part of our three-year plan to bring high-speed LTE all over the country,” said Mario G. Tamayo, the head of network planning for Smart. LTE, a fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone technology, is an all-IP (internet protocol) network that delivers a superior data experience to customers, compared to 3G technologies. It is the fastest wireless data service that is commercially available. Smart was the first operator to offer LTE services in the Philippines, and was also the first to deploy LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) last April. One of the initial deployment sites in Smart’s rollout has shown massive improvement in LTE services. Subscribers in Boracay are now experiencing stronger mobile internet connectivity, particularly indoors, after Smart

implemented a multi-band LTE setup on the island. This involves the use of the lowband 850 MHz frequency and the high-band 1800, 2100, and 2300 MHz frequencies. LTE base stations tripled In Metro Davao, the significant increase in coverage and capacity was achieved by boosting the number of LTE and 3G base stations. The number of LTE base stations, in particular, was tripled. At that the same time, low-band frequencies, specifically 850 Mhz and 700 Mhz, were deployed for the use of Smart’s LTE service; low-band frequencies cover a larger area and provide better indoor signals. As a result of tripling the number of LTE base stations combined with usage of lower band frequencies, subscriber data usage has risen in Davao. In the first few weeks after the completion of the network roll out, data usage on LTE jumped over 40%, Horn said. The very same network enhancements are now being rolled out in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Smart technical crews have already started to deploy more LTE and 3G base stations in the country’s two largest urban centers. In the national capital region and

F SMART, 10

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

Caving in

HE world is caving in on Senator Leila de Lima. Two testimonies from arrested drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa and former driver-lover Ronnie Dayan in separate investigations by the Senate and House of Representatives have dug the lady lawmaker a deep hole. Other than accusations for her involvement in the illegal drug trade, Senator De Lima is also facing possible charges of concubinage for entering into an amorous relationship with Dayan which could also be a ground for immorality and her subsequent disbarment or removal from office, and obstruction of justice by advising Dayan not to attend the House probe. For the damning evidence on De Lima’s advice that Dayan avoid the House probe, Rep. Harry Roque demanded for the

EDGEDAVAO

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senator’s resignation or removal from the upper chamber of Congress if at all to restore the integrity of the august body. All these are staring De Lima in the eye and she can no longer use her usual general denial in fending off these very serious allegations. It is time to confront the accusations and her accusers squarely and to show proof to quash the evidence presented against her. The testimonies may not perfectly fit like a neatly woven mesh, but pieces of evidence even in criminal cases may not necessarily be perfectly connected and in harmony. Unless controverted by more convincing evidence, public judgment may frown on Senator De Lima. As it stands now, only De Lima can save herself.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0948-823-3685 Tel: (088) 852-4894

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

Tough row to hoe for ‘Bato’

HEN at last he decided to go on exile out of the state of Granada (until then the only Muslim state in Spain) in 1492, Sultan Muhammad stopped at a mountain pass, looked back and began to cry. It was said that his mother was not impressed and berated him thus: “Don’t cry like a woman for that which you could not defend as a man.” There will be no such scolding for PNP chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato dela Rosa who was reduced to tears during the Senate hearing after suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinos rattled off the names of several police officers whom he claimed were involved in drug trafficking. Before this, the last time I saw a police officer moved to tears in line of duty was in 2009. This was at the height of Typhoon Pepeng when a mountainside in La Trinidad, Benguet gave way, sweeping more than 20 houses like a pile of tin cans and burying more than 70 people in mud and boulder in the process. The first to respond was the police chief, PCI Mario Mayamnes and his men who took up shovels in a bid to recover the dead or what remained of them. One by one, the dead were unearthed. Many people were in grief and the police chief was among those

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

I saw REVERSED PUNCH whose (GYAKU ZUKI) eyes were bloodshot with tears. “ Yo u can’t help but be moved to tears, manong,” he told Jimmy K.Laking me so and I agreed. If we got the drift correctly, what moved Dela Rosa to tears was the realization that the PNP organization does not only have its share of a few bad eggs, but perhaps a host of them. “I do not know whom to trust anymore,” he was quoted as saying. But to his credit, he said he was not backing down. In fact, it has made even firmer his resolve to cleanse the organization of rotten eggs. It is not his fault considering he was only a few months into the job. The problem has been embedded there without the previous captains of the ship of state doing nothing about it. Dela Rosa can also take comfort that he has solid legislative as well as executive support in his crusade that

more than balances the equation in his favor. Years back, I was invited by a regional police command to serve as a member of its advisory council in its bid to implement a nationwide program to transform police units into instruments of good governance. It was described a new system embraced by successful corporations, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The PGS as it is known speaks of a dashboard that defines the LGU’s or the police station’s mission and vision as well as its objectives, primary drivers (or major activities) and secondary drivers (related activities) to reach its goals of helping provide a community that is safe for people to live, for business to thrive, for students and children, and for people to visit. The simple analogy with the dashboard helped clarify matters. For true enough, one cannot just drive a vehicle from one point to another without knowing if the battery is okay, the motor has oil, the tank has gas, the brake is working, the carburetor has water, and the lights are working (not to mention the capability of the driver). Unfortunately, this year’s national elections interfered and I got lost in

the passing. With Duterte’s assumption, it also appeared that the PNP organization has more pressing concerns to address as the magnitude of the drug problem and corruption emerged with shocking realization. It is a tough row to hoe but Dela Rosa can rest assured that he has a citizenry and this time, an equally-determined President to back him.

achieved MY TWO CENTS’ in the last quarter, the economy is predicted to hit 6.9% GDP this year, it is not far from the 7 percent prediction John Tria of the UA ecisouth@gmail.com and P made in late June this year. (news.uap.asia/index. php/2016/06/27/uap-economistsgdp-grow-7-percent-2016/)

To help answer the question it is helpful to understand the role of government in a market economy. Of particular interest is the impact of increased public spending on infrastructure. We all know that government is the one institution in a country with perhaps the most locally available money. Sovereigns never go under, as they command almost exclusive use of a country’s natural resources if and when necessary to keep its economy afloat. No other economic player can do that. This is why the decision of government to spend has its effects on the volume of business taking place within a certain economy, especially when other drivers like foreign direct investment, agriculture and manufacturing are rather weak or fledgling. Spending on roads, bridges and

ports not only spurs local employment and manufacturing (cement and rebar, for example), but also spurs further economic activity after said structures are built, since investors will be better to able to locate important business like manufacturing when such infrastructure is available. The Philippines is notorious for poor infrastructure, and as the previous administration underspent in this vital sector, the Duterte administrations plans to spend more will definitely give the economy the boost it needs. Almost by itself, but add this to FDI and increased interregional trade, and you have a good mix that makes that 10% GDP “doable.” Check out my FB page at facebook.com/johntriapage/ for an archive of my column

*** In his lifetime, Louie L’Amour has written about 400 short stories and over 80 books mostly on the American Old West. Here’s what he has to say: “Writing is a profession one never completely masters. There’s always something to learn. You’re never there; you’re never trying to be there. You never know enough, and you’re never good enough. You can always say things a little bit better, and you always find ways to do things better. It’s very difficult; sometimes you stand in the desert or in the mountains, or some places like that, and you look across the country and you say, “How would I put this into words?” It seems like an almost impossible task to try and to capture what’s out there and try to make other people see what you see. And that is really the whole thing about writing.” (JKL)

Is a 10% GDP growth achievable? (First of 4 parts)

HE latest economic briefing of the university of Asia and the Pacific (UA and P) strikes many encouraging notes among businessmen and economists, as it asserts that an 8-10% Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDP) is “doable, “ says the UA and P economists in its annual economic briefing, as reported in the Nov. 23 edition of Business World. In the same annual economic briefing the university’s Dr. Vic Abola and Dr. Bernardo Villegas said that the Philippines is poised for 8-10% GDP growth on the heels of the Duterte economic teams 10 point socioeconomic agenda. The UA and P also believes that Foreign Direct investments (FDI), in which we have lagged behind neighboring Indonesia, may hit 7 Billion dollars in 2017. As with the 7.1% GDP already

10% GDP achievable? All these are good signs from esteemed economists that echo the sentiments of many others, but is 10% really achievable?

10 NEWS DOTC... FROM 1

review cases from provinces and regions in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Meanwhile, Memorandum Order 2016-02 states that the registration of non-employees entering the building will be

heightened to avoid fixers. DOTC Sec. Tugade concluded that the campaign will still go on stressing on the directive of President Duterte to “get rid of corruption” in the agency.

in Davao City early Thursday morning. President Duterte said he is inclined to make the entire Philippines like Davao City where people celebrate Christmas and New Year with no firecrackers for the last 15 years. ”At this time, I’d like to put everybody on notice that I have seriously considered making the entire Philippines like Davao. We observe the Christmas time with solemnity,” Duterte, mayor of Davao City for 23 years before he was elected President, said. The President said another explosion at a firecracker factory that killed two people in Bulacan last Wednesday would be good reason for him to ban firecrackers nationwide. However, President Duterte said he would allow Congress to act first on the proposal to totally ban firecrackers during New Year’s Day revelry.

”That has to be decided, but I would like Congress to act on it first. And if they do not want it, well, I will see if I can do it by executive order,” President Duterte said. ”Anyway, it is the power of the President to come up with measures to protect public property, public interest and safety,” he added. The President said he decided to ban firecrackers in Davao City “because most of the victims are children.” ”In previous years, we used to hit something like 600 serious cases of children going blind, losing a limb, finger and a hand. But now, not a single case in hospital,” he said. For the meantime, the President said he would just issue a warning about the danger of firecrackers to prevent injuries and even deaths these coming Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. (PNA)

where fishing is not allowed and that fishermen will only be allowed to fish in waters surrounding the shoal. Duterte pointed out the Philippines’ victory in its arbitrary case against China over the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea in his plan to declare the shoal as a no-fish zone. “I do not care what China says about their ownership of that. Me as President should claim that in the arbitral [award], so no fishing,” he mentioned. Duterte also informed Chinese President Xi Jinping of his plans on no-fish zone order during the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru last November 20. Scarborough is located off the coast of Zambales province, well within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Duterte also mentioned that it is in the common interest of both Philippines and China to make sure that Scarborough Shoal is a no-fish zone since it is a vital spawning ground for fishes. He explained that “common sense” should tell people not to destroy the source of the life in the sea even if no country will claim the shoal to be their territory, adding that building of any structures in the shoal would disrupt the

spawning of fish. “Nothing should be built there because the fish will be displaced. That’s where they will release their eggs,” he said in Tagalog. It can be recalled that Philippines and China have an agreement on the allowing the fishermen to catch fishes at Scarborough Shoal after Duterte’s state visit to China last October. Filipino fishermen has also claimed that they have not been prevented by Chinese ships from fishing in areas surrounding the shoal. The Chinese Coast Guard has practically occupied it since 2012, after a tense standoff with the Philippine Navy which tried to arrest Chinese fishermen in the shoal. Philippines, on the other hand, filed a case in 2013 before an international arbitral tribunal against China and halted ship patrols in Scarborough. The ruling dismissed China’s sweeping claims over the West Philippine Sea, but fell short of recognizing Philippine sovereignty over Scarborough on the ground that it had no jurisdiction to decide on it. However, it declared the shoal a common fishing ground for Filipinos, Chinese, and other neighboring fishermen.

The awarding ceremony was held in conjunction with the 12th Philippine National Corn Congress at the City of Koronadal, South Cotabato on November 16-18, 2016 with the theme: Sulong Maisan! Sapat na Pagkain ng Bayan. The event was graced by DA Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr., assistant

secretary for operations and national coordinator for corn and rice program. The congress was attended by close to 2000 participants composed of corn farmers, traders, government officials and other corn stakeholders around the country. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

Rody... FROM 1

China... FROM 2

DA-Caraga... FROM 7

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INCONVINIENCE. Motorists traversing along the Davao-Cotabato national highway in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur endure the dust and bumpy road as the rehabilitation along the area is still going on. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte... FROM 2

“Was he a hero or coward? That is not my business – I was not there, I cannot decide in favor of sentiments. You are asking me to violate the law,” he added. Full maximum tolerance The President said that protesters would be given all the elbowroom to carry out their mass actions. In fact, he said, rallies would be allowed in all public

Tugade... FROM 4

places — with no time limit, not even a permit requirement. “Protesters will have my protection also,” Duterte said. He then paraphrased a famous line on freedom of expression, “I may not agree with what you say but I will protect your right to say it. “As your president, you have my word, you have that commitment.” TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

ment (It was unfortunate because I have seen opportunity to encourage professionals from the private sector to join the government)” Tugade added. The secretary added that he recognized Kintanar’s request to save his name and his family’s from “further talks and allegations.” Tugade said that on one of their conversations, Kintanar said that he wanted to stay and prove people wrong but the allegations proved to be heavy-handed for the former transport undersecretary. “He also wanted to give me a free hand to address the needs of the organization,” added Tugade. He stressed that Kintanar’s resignation was not to accept the accusations

thrown to him but only to give the DOTC secretary the authority to handle any and all misconceptions or doubts as to the impartiality and independence of the DOTr in addressing the many issues and concerns on transportation. On the issue of Kintanar’s replacement, Tugade said he will not yet disclose any detail about it although he has been eyeing on some personalities already. Tugade has accepted the resignation of Noel Kintanar as undersecretary for rails on Wednesday which will take effect on November 29. Kintanar was an executive at Ayala Corporation, which was involved in some of the infrastructure projects of the government under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

try’s household are in these regions. “Brands have a tendency to focus on the spending power in Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila. However, our data shows that brands should not set aside the many opportunities that Visayas and Mindanao offer,” the Kantar executive stressed. For FMCG companies to understand the Visayas and Mindanao market, most of the regions’ population belongs to the socioeconomic Class E. “The consumers in Visayas and Mindanao are looking for value of money, more economical price size,” said Sazon. Local companies are winning the Visayas and Mindanao market over multinational firms. Among the top FMCG in

Visayas and Mindanao are coffee powder, snacks, biscuits, shampoo, and cooking oil. FMCG such as cereal beverage, breading mix, breakfast cereal, oyster sauce, scouring pads, toothbrush, yoghurt drink, dishwashing soap, ready-to-drink milk, and powdered tea have the fastest growth among categories, but with market penetration of less than 25 percent. “With more industries opening up in Visayas and Mindanao we expect them to have a little bit more money now as their economy improves,” added Sazon. She mentioned that the growth in spending in these regions is also sustainable with the Duterte administration’s push to promote development in rural areas. (PNA)

Spending... FROM 5

19 upland... FROM 2 and other assistance while concerned residents donated cooking utensils and related items to the evacuees, who are mostly from the B’laan tribe. Urbano said personnel from the City Engineer’s Office will be deployed to the area on Thursday morning to clear the affected roads of debris. He said they have yet to decide whether the affected residents would be allowed to return to the site. Citing their assessment, he said most parts of Barangay Assumption are considered as high risk to landslides. He said the local government, in a directive from City Mayor Peter Miguel, is presently looking for potential

relocation areas for residents settled in the identified landslide-prone areas. Several possible resettlement sites were earlier considered but most of them have conflicts in terms of ownership, he said. Urbano said they are also facing difficulty in terms of relocating the tribal residents due to their cultural attachment to the area. “They lived there for decades and have adopted to the place,” he said. As temporary solution, Urbano said they trained residents on alert systems and response measures in case disasters would hit their communities. (PNA)

that we endured before,” he said. Dominguez pointed out that: “Without the tax reform package, our GDP growth cannot be sustained by at least 7 percent. Without a dramatic increase in investments, the country will be consigned to growth below 6percent—a purgatory for an emerging economy with great potential.” “Our economic simulation studies validate this,” he said. The first package of the comprehensive tax reform program submitted to the Congress last September under the Department of Finance (DOF)-proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act aims to generate a net gain of P174 billion, equivalent to 1 percent of the GDP in 2018. This initial package aims to make the tax system more

progressive through the lowering of personal income tax (PIT) rates to make these at par with those in the region, expanding the Value Added Tax (VAT) base by limiting exemptions to necessities such as raw food, education and health care, while increasing excise taxes on oil and automobiles. Dominguez said the congressional approval of the tax reform plan would allow the government to achieve 100 percent enrollment and completion rates, build 80,066 more classrooms and hire 157,412 more teachers between 2017 and 2020, with the end in view of attaining the ideal teacher-to-student ratio and classroom-to-student ratio under more conducive learning environments for our youth. (DOF)

surrounding provinces, for example, the number of LTE base stations will be increased by over six times. As a result, Smart subscribers will enjoy progressively better mobile data services in the next few months. Smart’s LTE service will be further strengthened as it deploys more 700 Mhz base stations in the metro areas of Davao, Cebu and Manila. Smart obtained access to this frequency band under the co-use arrangement following the acquisition of the telecoms business of San Miguel Corporation in May this year. The use of these frequencies has been integrated into the

three-year rollout plan submitted by PLDT to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) last July. This plan is focused on deploying Smart’s LTE service to 95% of the country’s cities and municipalities by end-2018.

Tax... FROM 5

Smart... FROM 7

More LTE handsets Smart is complementing its network roll out by working with leading handset manufacturers to bring more affordable LTE handsets to the Philippine market. It has struck partnerships with Myphone, O+ USA, Oppo and Starmobile to introduce LTE handsets that utilize the 700 Mhz frequency band.

INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

Damosa Nights and Open Table under the moonlight

WHAT PERFECT WAY TO END A TIRING WEEK than to spend some time under the glowing night sky. Though, like the rest of the world, we have an unpredictable weather, still, that does not stop us from having fun after a week of deadlines and meetings. And fun we need.

Damosa is not just a foodie compound of flavours and eats. At Damosa, celebrations also include a night of acoustic music from local talents. Damosa Nights Payday Fridays transforms the Damosa Complex to an awesome outdoor venue of music, flavours and celebrations. What’s more, you get to enjoy dishes from your favourite restaurants -- al fresco dining style. Participating restaurants include Burgers and Board Games, Haruno Isakaya, Open Table, Caffe Firenzo and Ristorante Spirale. Music under the moonlight has never been this fun. Gather your friends and enjoy munching on some grilled-to-perfection burgers or plates of colourful Japanese dishes as you sing your hearts out. If fusion dishes and wines are your thing, then you can go all out with Open Table’s delicious menu or have an interesting antipasti night from Ristorante Spirale. If coffee and pastries is your cup of tea, then go ahead and make it a Caffe Firenzo kind of night at Damosa. Damosa Nights Payday Fridays at the Damosa Business Center, Damosa Complex starts at 7:00 pm on the following dates: November 18, 2016 and December 2, 16 and 30, 2016. Since its payday and the next Damosa Nights Payday Fridays is just around the corner, tag along as we explore deeper into the many other gastro places of Damosa. This time, let’s spend the night at Open Table and satisfy our cravings for international flavours without changing zip codes. Open Table (at the Damosa Business Center) Open Table, one of the most sought after foodie dining places in Davao, is located at the Damosa Business Center. Foremost an Asian Restaurant, their menu is a smorgasbord of choices that’ll have you salivating in an instant. At Open Table, it’s like touring the whole of Asia without leaving the city. Open Table is known for exquisitely flavoured dishes cooked and prepared to make you smile from ear to ear. With them, it’s always a holistic gastro experience. Satisfying your growling tummy at Open

“

Yes, despite the intimidating facade, you’d be surprised that you can enjoy a gastronomic experience without breaking the bank. Table is no problem. Their menu, as mentioned, holds a treasure chest full of dishes that reminds you, one way or another, of your travels abroad. More so, allows you to reminisce and relive moments as though they are happening now. Many rave of their All-Day Brunch meals of eggs benedict, salmon and spam to name a few. For the night owls and those who prefer nibbling on some savoury faves, they love Open Table’s Pork Skewers, Shrimp Pasta and Crispy Steak Tacos. Open Table also has an array of dessert choices perfect for anyone’s sweet cravings. Feast on a plate of Catalan Chocolate Mousse, Table Glazed Banana cake or a plate of Carrot cake on any given day. Want more? Try their Cheesecake with

Salted Caramel Glaze and your palate will thank you later. One other notable thing about Open Table is that they are very affordable. Yes, despite the intimidating facade, you’d be surprised that you can enjoy a gastronomic experience without breaking the bank. Not only do you make your tummy happy -- but more so, make your wallets happy too -- if only it can talk. Open Table is located at Damosa District, Damosa, Lanang (beside Cafe Firenzo), Davao City and is open fromMonday to Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 am. For inquiries and reservations, you may call them at (082) 285 2046. Follow them on Facebook at OpenTableDavao. What’s your Damosa Nights story?

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! TRAVEL

VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016

CAMPAWAN CURTAIN FALLS Davao Region’s widest waterfall

ies, go to one side and take that selfie shot for yourself. Campawan Curtain Falls is now considered as one of Davao Oriental’s must-visit destinations. So, when you visit the eastcoast of the Province, include it in your list of places to see. In fact, most of those who visit Aliwagwag Falls, they also make way to visit the Curtain Falls. Doing so, you get to see and experience not only the highest waterfalls in the Philippines but also the widest falls in the whole Davao Region.

By Olan Emboscado AMONG THE FIVE PROVINCES FOUND IN THE DAVAO REGION, the Province of Davao Oriental is considered as the Water Wonder. White sand beaches are dotting the shorelines of the Province. A number of beautiful islands can also be found here. It also boasts of its unspoiled lakes, pristine riverine system and even hot springs. And when it comes to waterfalls, Davao Oriental is the place to be. The highest waterfalls in the Philippines and considered as one of the most beautiful is found in Davao Oriental, the Aliwagwag Falls of Cateel. Now adding to the list of the most beautiful falls in the entire Davao Region is the CURTAIN FALLS located in Barangay Campawan in the town of Baganga. CAMPAWAN CURTAIN FALLS has come to fame when the doors of tourism in the eastcoast of Davao Oriental opened last year. For many years, this water wonder was kept preserved and only the local residents living

nearby got to enjoy its natural beauty. But with its tourism potential, the roads going to Campawan were cleared and widened giving the way for other locals in nearby towns to come and see the town’s hidden water gem. When a number of photos of Campawan Curtain Falls broke out in social media, many have mistaken it as Tinuy-an Falls found in Surigao Del Sur because of its similarity to the later. Like Tinuyan Falls, Campawan Curtain Falls boasts of its wide water curtain extending to a width said to be the widest in the whole Davao Region. Being situated in the heavily forested hinterland of Baganga, getting to the Curtain Falls entails a long travel from either the town proper or from the town of Cateel. The road is not yet concrete and others may find it uncomfortable. But the green

and forested sides that can be seen along the way assured fun and adventure. From the parking area, you need to cross a river and walk for about 5-10 minutes to get to the area of the falls. And the moment you get there, the unparalleled view of the waterfall will keep you in awe as you marvel at its magnificent beauty. The absence of modern developments around the waterfalls plus its remoteness from the highway promised that Campawan

Curtain Falls is still a natural beauty to behold. Unlike Aliwagwag Falls Eco Park, there are no concrete developments made in the area yet. Although there are stores and cottages, one can tell that the place is still unspoiled retaining its natural splendor. There is no entrance fee. You only pay for parking fees in the area where owned privately. The cottages can be rented as low as 150 pesos. If you’re going there and you intend not to rent a cottage, that’s

not a problem. There are shaded places where you can leave your things and enjoy the scenic view right in front of you. Taking a natural shower under the falls and swimming in its shallow basin is among the best way to enjoy the waters of Campawan Curtain Falls. Getting closer to the cascading water is very easy and accessible. Everyone who goes there take time to come closer to the falls and enjoy its cascading waters. If you’re into self-

HOW TO GET THERE: The best way to get to Campawan Curtain Falls is through the towns of Baganga or Cateel. Both towns can be reached by taking a bus or van from Davao City via the Compostela Valley Road or Mati City Road. Buses and vans are on daily schedule located at Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT). When you get to Baganga or Cateel, you can take a habalhabal and tell the drivers to take you to Campawan Curtain Falls. You can hire the habal-habal for Php 500.00 for one day.

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Manny and Pie Calayan open Davao clinic NOW SHOWING

November 23 – 29, 2016

THE UNMARRIED WIFE Angelica Panganiban, Dingdong Dantes, Paulo Avelino Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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DA B AW E N Y O S CAN NOW LOOK MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN EVER with the opening of celebrity beauty doctors Manny and Pie Calayan’s Clinic at the second level of SM Lanang Premier.

The only branch in Mindanao and only the second one outside of Metro Manila, the clinic promises to give Dabawenyos the same personalised and caring treatment that have endeared the doctor couple to their patients, both in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country. “We’ve gained global

expertise and valuable experience from our US stint and this enables us to bring our practice to a whole new level, and make these available to Filipinos,” says Dr. Manny. Dr. Pie Calayan, a vegan herself, yoga practitioner and advocate of alternative treatments, has focused on a holistic approach into their practice, providing patients with care that goes beyond physical procedures and addresses their entire sense of well-being – body, mind and psyche. “It’s no longer just about looking good on the outside, but also feeling good on the inside,” she shares. “For instance, when patients come to me for acne treatments, we don’t just address the obvious symptoms. We unravel every factor that could be causing their breakouts—dietary, environmental, even spiritual—and aid our patients in addressing these root causes.” The same approach is also employed with patients undergoing Dr. Manny’s cosmetic procedures. “We provide them with recommendations on how they can maintain their

post-surgical figures for long-lasting and sustainable results,” adds Dr. Pie. The 150-square meter clinic has all the facilities for simple facial and botox services to the more complex rhinoplasty and liposuction procedures. “Our clinics are complete, with consultation and treatment lounges, as well as an operating room and a recovery room for the patient.” added Dr. Manny. “We do all the major procedures ourselves and will actually be here in the Davao clinic to take consultations as well as do scheduled procedures every Friday of the week.” After twenty successful years in the business, Drs. Manny and Pie still con-

tinue to provide personalized dermatological and surgical service to their patients. Dr. Manny reiterates the importance of relationship-building and gaining the trust of every patient. “Our patients come to us hoping to find a better option, improve their life…and I do empathize whatever are their reasons. We are here to help them step by step in their personal journey.” In keeping with this personal commitment, the power couple, also widely renowned as “celebrity doctors to the stars,” continue to maintain the trust and confidence of their growing multi-generational clientele.

11 SCIENCE EDGEDAVAO

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Understanding liver cancer By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ELEBRITY Chef Hasset Go was known as “Master of Sweets.” Months after his brother, Rowden, was diagnosed with liver cancer, he found himself that he, too, was suffering from the same disease. Like his brother, who died a few hours after he married his longtime girlfriend and fiancée Liezel, Hasset also succumbed to liver cancer. He was only 29 years old. The Philippines has to prevent more Filipinos from dying of liver cancer. Twenty years from now, if liver cancer is not prevented, the number of deaths due to the disease will be doubled to the current average of 20 people a day. Dr. Samuel So of Stanford’s Asian Liver Center was quoted as saying by Rappler’s Jee Y. Geronimo. The projection was based on latest estimates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for the Philippines. According to Dr. So, liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the

country. It is second among Filipino men, and the fifth among women. Around the world, liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer, with 750,000 people diagnosed every year. It is the third most common cause of death from cancer. With 80%, Asia has the highest incidence of the disease. The American Cancer Society (ACS) points out that a person cannot live without his liver, a football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach. Because it has many necessary jobs: breaks down and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestine; makes some of the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding from a cut or injury; makes bile that goes into the intestine to help absorb nutrients; and breaks down toxic wastes in the blood, which are then removed from the body. “Because the liver is made up of different types of cells, many types of tu-

mors can form in the liver,” the ACS says. “Some of these are cancer and some are not. The outlook for your health or your recovery (prognosis) depends on what type of tumor you have.” Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of the liver. “The most common form of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other types of cells in the liver can develop cancer, but these are much less common,” the Mayo Clinic says. But not all cancers that affect the liver are considered liver cancer. “Cancer that begins in another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer,” Mayo Clinic explains. “And this type of cancer is named after the organ in which it began — such as metastatic colon cancer to describe cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.” The reason why liver cancer is deadly is because most people who may have it don’t have signs and symptoms in the early stages. By the time they know they have it, it is already too late. The Mayo Clinic says that when signs and symptoms do appear, they may include the following: losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain,

nausea and vomiting, general weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, yellow discoloration of skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice) and white, chalky stools. If you experience any signs or symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your doctor, the Mayo Clinic advises. It’s not clear what causes most cases of liver cancer. But the leading cause of liver cancer globally is infection due to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which accounts for 53% of primary liver cancer cases. “Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of liver cancer around the world,” says Professor Mei-Hwei Chang, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei. “Although hepatitis C virus is the most prevalent cause of liver cancer in some countries where HBV infection is not prevalent, HBV is still the

most prevalent cause worldwide.” The HBV may be found in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and saliva. It is transmitted the same way as HIV. That is, through sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal), use of contaminated needles, unsafe blood transfusion, and from mother to child. Most people who get HBV fight off the infection by themselves, but the HBV antibodies “will be present in their blood for the rest of their lives,” writes Dr. Alan Berkman, author of Hepatitis A to G: The Facts You Need to Know About All The Forms of This Dangerous Disease. Like most hepatitis viruses, HBV is all too easy to catch. It is more common than the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and far more infectious: HBV is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV. But hepatitis B is not transmitted casually. The virus cannot be spread through

sneezing, coughing, hugging or eating food prepared by someone who is infected with HBV, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, you cannot get HBV from mosquitoes. Prof. John S. Tam, of the Department of Microbiology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong explains: “All viruses which are transmitted by a mosquito must go through a replication before sufficient viruses is available for infection. HBV do not grow in mosquitoes.” Ninety percent of the people who get Hepatitis B recover spontaneously with their body’s defenses. “The remaining 10% who maintain the infection for six months or longer and who do not produce an effective antibody response are considered chronic carriers,” explains Dr. Ernesto Domingo, a national scientist who is a liver specialist. (Photos taken from the net)

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Palace... FROM 4 we’re also unveiling and launching the e-FOI wherein citizens are able to lodge their applications online,” Ablan said. He clarified that e-FOI is still on beta program, hoping to improve it by 2018. “We’ll have a government-wide implementation of electronic FOI because this is a best practice we adopted from other countries,” he said. Ablan said 15 agencies are on board for e-FOI implementation. These are Department of Budget and Management, Justice, Health, Transportation, Finance and Information Technology; Philippine Statistics Authority, National Archives of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, PhilHealth, Office of the Solicitor General, Presidential Commission on Good Government, OGCC and Public Attorney’s Office. ”Starting Friday, citizens who have queries on FOI can lodge their queries online on the website which is www.foi.gov.ph,” Ablan said. Contrary to earlier reports that the Palace-prepared FOI is useless due to its 166 exceptions, Ablan clarified it has only nine exceptions “as recognized by the Constitution, existing laws or jurisprudence.” The list of nine exceptions include:

-- Information covered by Executive privilege; -- Privileged information relating to national security defense or international relations; -- Information concerning law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety; -- Information deemed confidential for the protection of the privacy of persons and certain individuals such as minors, victims of crimes, or the accused; -- Information, documents or records known by reason of official capacity and are deemed as confidential, including those submitted or disclosed by entities to government agencies, tribunals, boards, or officers, in relation to the performance of their functions, or to inquiries or investigation conducted by them in the exercise of their administrative, regulatory or quasi-judicial powers; -- Prejudicial premature disclosure; -- Records of proceedings or information from proceedings which, pursuant to law or relevant rules and regulations, are treated as confidential or privileged; -- Matters considered confidential under banking and finance laws, and their amendatory laws; and, -- Other exceptions to the right to information

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Draft... FROM 6

nana data bank center regarding all banana-related data or information; “4. Act as the Governing Board of all bureaus and the Secretariat, including the Philippine Banana Research and Development Center; “5. Promote investments in public and private lands, joint ventures in banana planting, processing, and banana products processing or manufacturing; “6. Implement a certification system as a mechanism to access grants, low interest financing and other incentives and support from Official Development Assistance (ODA) and market access of bananas; “7. Make available a support program which shall include, among others, the provision of socialized credit and farm management, technical assistance and professional services; “8. Promote and coordi-

under laws, jurisprudence, rules and regulations. Ablan said the list of exceptions “shall periodically be updated” by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General “as the need to do so arises.” He said agencies which will not comply with the regulation maybe charged administratively. Ablan said the PCO will do the monitoring of compliance, pending the approval of Administrative

nate with the national agencies on nationwide support programs for the banana industry such as research and development, technology upgrading, human resource development, domestic and export market development, long-term and low interest financing, infrastructure, and land access; “9. Advocate for supportive policies including the provision of banana industry development funds, long-term finance, private equity, and investment incentives; “10. Accelerate the transfer of improved banana technologies to farmers and other stakeholders through information dissemination and seminars; “11. Upgrade the skill of development facilitators and banana farmers through training courses, seminars and workshops on farming techniques, banana production

Order which will create an inter-agency committee to monitor the FOI programs. He said concerned agency which complain will be lodged has a non-extendable 35 working days to process the requested information. The PCO official is hoping that both the Senate and the House of Representatives will pass an FOI law that will cover other branches of government including the legislative and judiciary. (PNA)

NEWS13 and post-harvest handling and processing; “12. Conduct continuing research, through the establishment of Philippine Banana Research and Development Center, on developing productive, high-yielding, disease resistant and good varieties of bananas by, among others, establishing, maintaining and upgrading germplasm collection and gene bank for banana and banana strains, as well as conduct research on banana diseases (such as the Panama Disease) and how to efficiently address the same; “13. Coordinate with local government units, non-government organizations and private sector groups and interests involved in the development of the banana industry; “14.Serve as the point of contact of the national policy makers of the banana industry and represent the country in all international banana con-

ferences; “15. Receive and manage grants, aid, donations, or any kind of assistance or gratuity from donors, either foreign or domestic to achieve BIDC’s objectives; and “16.To exercise rights and powers relating to a corporation as provided in Section 36 of the Corporation Code.” Also proposed for creation is a Philipine Banana Research and Development Center, to be under the BIDC and the Department of Agriculture “to provide research and development techniques for banana improvement, protection, production, post-harvest handling, and the maintenance of gemplasm collection and gene bank that are capable of producing better quality varieties of bananas.” The proposed BIDC was discussed by stakeholders during the Banana Congress in Davao City recently. AMA

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CRACKING THE WHIP FIBA to sanction players who refuse to play for national teams

IBA will be starting to crack the whip on players who turn their back from the national team in an effort to assure that in future international tournaments, countries will feature only the best talents. Under the new rule, FIBA will have the power to mandate the federation concerned to suspend a player who will skip the national team despite being called up. Officials of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas have already been told about this rule, according to Magesh Mageshwaran, head of FIBA Asia’s

national federations and sport, who is currently in the country to meet with the Philippines’ top basketball officials. “FIBA’s direction is really to make sure that the best players should play for the national team,” Mageshwaran told InterAksyon.com. “The wisdom of this ruling is that playing for the national team should be a priority.” The rule is akin to what FIFA has implemented over the years. In international football, teams are required to release players called up by the national team during an international window. Non-com-

pliance means sanctions from the body. Starting next year, FIBA will open the six-window qualifying tournament, patterned after FIFA, leading to the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The flag versus club issue has bugged many players and national teams in the past. One classic example was Hall of Famer Oscar Schmidt who, despite being drafted in the 1984 NBA Draft that included included the likes of Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton, didn’t sign a contract offered the New Jersey Nets due to the club’s

refusal to release him to the national team. “That’s one among the many examples,” Mageshwaran said. The Philippines is also no exception. Through the years, Gilas Pilipinas has faced numerous problems acquiring the best players from the PBA, with the rivalry between the league’s top team owners, San Miguel Corp. and the MVP group which bankrolls the national team, believed to be an issue. The PBA is a stakeholder of SBP and has four allocated seats in the latter’s board.

BIG NIGHT. Kawhi Leonard had 30 points against the Hornets.

Spurs stay perfect on the road

GILAS. Ray Parks Jr., who played in the NBA D-League last season, suited up for the Gilas Pilipinas.

Kramer suffers mild stroke

ETERAN big man Doug Kramer revealed that he had a mild stroke last October and will need to rest for three to six months before returning to the court. In a lengthy Instagram post, Kramer detailed his ordeal which he didn’t publicize until Wednesday. “Oct 10 I had a mild stroke after doing an exercise at home. I felt extreme dizziness and lost my balance. I never passed out or fainted. In fact I remember everything that happened clearly. I was confined in the hospital for 6 days. After the results of the MRI were found, the cause of the mild stroke was the priority. I was thinking how could a healthy guy like me go through something like this at such an early age,” said the 33-year-old Kramer who is currently a member of the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Upon examination by doctors, Kramer was diagnosed with a “miniscule congenital hole” in his heart. He underwent surgery to close the hole and was discharged on October 15.

Kramer, whose “Team Kramer” family is a social media star, admitted being worried about the future of his loved ones after learning his condition. “When all of this happened, I really thought of my family. How Chesca had to take care of me, and thinking Kendra, Scarlett and Gavin are still so young. I’m so blessed that through modern technology and great doctors, I’m able to still play in the right time and most importantly to still enjoy every moment with my beautiful family,” he said. Kramer said he wants to suggest to the PBA to include echocardiography in players’ mandatory medical checkups to detect complications involving the heart which “can definitely save a person’s life once you’ve found out early.” Known as a bruiser inside, Kramer entered the PBA in 2007 after a stellar career at Ateneo. He has bounced around in the league, and during the off-season was traded by GlobalPort to Phoenix.

AWHI Leonard scored 30 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Charlotte Hornets 119-114 on Wednesday night for their seventh straight victory. LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and seven rebounds, and Danny Green had 16 points as the Spurs improved to 8-0 on the road. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Frank Kaminsky had 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench, but the Hornets lost their third straight game after starting the season 8-3. The teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 84 in a tightly contested game that included 28 lead changes in

the first three quarters. Aldridge gave the Spurs the lead for good with 2:53 left on a pair of free throws. Green knocked down a 3-point after an extra pass from Tony Parker and Leonard then hit a baseline jumper to push the lead to 108102. The Hornets would battle back and pull within 112111 with 50 seconds remaining when Walker converted a 4-point play and then scored on drive to the basket. But Aldridge’s free throw and a 3-pointer from the left corner by Parker pushed the Spurs’ lead to five with 22 seconds left. Parker iced the game with four free throws in the final 10.2 seconds.

3-pointers in the first quarter. He made his first six shots with five 3-pointers. James had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists for his second triple-double this season. He also passed Guy Rodgers for 17th place on the career assist list. Damian Lillard scored 40 points for Portland, including 25 in the second half.

Cleveland, which made its first nine 3-pointers, led 46-31 after one quarter and scored 81 points in the first half, two short of the franchise record. Love missed his only shot in a scoreless second quarter, scored six points in the third and was scoreless again in the fourth. He made 12 of 20 shots, including 8 of 12 3-pointers.

Love fires 40 as Cavs drop Blazers

EVIN Love scored 40 points, including an NBA-record 34 in the first quarter, LeBron James recorded his 44th career triple-double, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-125 on Wednesday night. Cleveland also set a franchise with 20 3-pointers and showed no signs of being

rusty in its first game since Friday. Love fell three points shy of the league record for points in any quarter, set by Golden State’s Klay Thompson, who scored 37 in the third on Jan. 23, 2015. Love, who set a team record for points in a period, made 11 of 14 field goal attempts, including 8 of 10 on

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) signed a memorandum of agreement Thursday, that would pave way for a program of partnership that would define the creation of the Gilas Pilipinas national team. Present in the MOA signing are the PBA Board

of Governors headed by board chairman Mikee Romero (seated 4th from L) and Commissioner Chito Narvasa (seated 3rd from R) and SBP President Al Panlilio (seated 3rd from L) who is likewise a governor for the Meralco Bolts.

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MARCHING THROUGH Dabawenya netter advances in Phinma-PSC Int’l Juniors D AVAO’S Shaira Hope Rivera hurdled the first round of the tough Phinma-PSC International Juniors Week 2 on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Rivera outplayed Japanese qualifier Kanon Yasumoto, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to advance against third seed Taiwanese Kuan Yi Lee, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Indonesian Samantha Nanere. Another Philippine netter Frances Angelica Santiago also advvanced past Round 1. Santiago won over qualifier Tameka Peterson of Trinidad and Tobago, 6-4, 6-1, to arrange a second-round meeting with

sixth seed Chinese Xuanjin Li, who scored a 6-2, 6-1 victory over American Skyler Holm. Second seed Japanese Rika Tanaka and compatriot No. 5 Risa Fukutoku also marched into the next round of this Grade 4 event sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The world’s No. 283 Tanaka outclassed local Monica Therese Cruz, 6-0, 6-1 while Fukutoku, ranked No. 530, w o n over Russian Mariya

TO THE NEXT ROUND. Shaira Hope Rivera is through t the next round of the 2016 Phinma-PSC International Juniors. (FB photo)

Polishchuck, 6-0, 6-3. Ange Oby Kajuru joined her fellow Japanese in the second round after eliminat-

ing No. 8 Taiwanese Ting-Pei Chang, 6-2, 6-2. Other first-round

winners were American Jordan Harris over Rafaella Jean Villanueva, 6-1, 6-2; Taiwanese Chao-Yi Wang over Janella Carmela Llavore, 6-2, 6-2; and Chinese qualifier Jing Jing Yang over local wild card Gennifer Lyssandra Pagente, 6-2, 6-1. (PNA)