Edge Davao 9 Issue 224

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO

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Serving a seamless society

THE BIG ONE

Rody’s election to presidency topped all stories in 2016

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

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INDANAO, particularly Davao City, quickly came to the center stage of news and events in the Philippines, as its own son Rodrigo Duterte won the presidential race last May 2016 elections.

“All roads now lead to Davao City,” was the famous quote that most newspapers and news outlets use in telling the country of their stories.

Rody, as newspa-

per usually call President Duterte, swept more than 16 million votes and won in almost all regions in the country, including Metro Manila.

During the campaigns, some national and foreign media outlets called him “The maverick anti-crime candidate”; “A brash crime-fighting mayor nicknamed The Punisher”; The anti-establishment firebrand; “The controversial”; “The Filipino Trump”; and so on.

Yet, despite these monikers, which, other analysts said also

helped him capture the admiration of the most sectors in the country – Rody succeeded and was proclaimed the 16th President of the Republic.

Throughout the campaigns, he pushed his main agenda of governance – federalism, equal opportunity to all, and to crush illegal drugs, crimes and corruption.

And in a period of six months after he officially assumed office in Malacanang, Rody brought in reforms that instituted major changes in every aspects of Philippine society, from governance to the economy, culture and foreign relations.

On governance The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported of its sustained crusades for good governance among local government units (LGUs) in the country.

DILG secretary Ismael D. Sueno told reporters in Manila last week that the government has been stirred to do better, to make things possible and to go beyond political divide.

F BIG ONE, 5

THE BIG ONE. The face that currently dominates the Philippine scene which tends to spill over to the international arena.

Photo by KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential photo

2 SPECIAL FEATURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

Stories that made Davao region set to Davao busy this 2016 reach greater heights T A The Tiger that can’t be tamed:

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

Dureza said, “now, you are a free man.”

HE year 2016 was indeed a busy year for Davao City as the former Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was elected as the Philippine President, with the city creating its niche in the national level.

But there were other juicy issues as well. Below are some of the top stories in Davao City this year:

Rodrigo Duterte officially wins Philippines presidency Former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gets more than 16 million votes after campaign pledge to clean the country.

Duterte edged out his closest rival, former Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who was endorsed

by President Benigno Aquino, by more than six million votes.

He had assumed the presidency on June 30 when Aquino’s six-year term ended.

During his campaign, Duterte vowed to kill suspected illegal drug dealers and other criminals if elected president.

Drug cases It can be recalled that President Duterte immediately launched an all-out war against illegal drugs.

Almost a hundred drug charges, as a result, reached the Office of the City Prosecutor and most were forwarded to the court.

The most sensational case was the arrest of lawyer Lorenzo Ballesteros Ta-asan III who was eventually sued for drug charges.

Ta-asan was sued for violating of Sec. 5 (selling of illegal drugs), Sec. 11 (possession of illegal drugs) and Sec. 12 (possession of illegal drugs paraphernalia) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165) as he was arrested in a buy-bust operation inside an apartelle in Barrio Obrero on Sept. 29.

Among the charges, Section 5 carries the stiffest penalty — life imprisonment and a maximum of P10 million fine to any person who sells any dangerous drug, regardless of the quantity and purity involved.

Roxas night market bombing

Army joins fight vs. drugs The Eastern Mindanao Command has joined the fight against illegal drugs aside from strengthening its anti-terrorism operations to support President Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs.

Major Ezra Balagtey, the EastMinCom spokesperson, said this was the order of their commander, Leutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, to other military leaders in a conference at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan.

“Our leader directed his unit commanders to coordinate closely with their local police counterparts,” Balagtey said, and that they were tasked to improve their data gathering on illegal drug personalities and other security threats and to conduct anti and counter-terrorism activities in the area.

He pointed out that the EastMincom and the Police National Police’s Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Eastern Mindanao signed a Joint Action Plan for the matter.

Abducted Norwegian freed President Duterte on September 19 presented the Norwegian-national Kjartan Sekkingstad to the media after he was released on September 17 at Patikul, Sulu to former ARMM governor Nur Misuari and Sakur Tan II, Sulu governor.

Duterte presented Sekkingstad to the press at Matina Enclaves in the city along with Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Jesus Dureza and Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines

Roxas Night Market blast 15 persons died, and 69 others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at the massage area of the Roxas Night Market on the evening of September 2, 2016.

However, according to Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, the measure of the success of terrorism is how long it takes for the victims to stand up, – the city

Freed Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad expresses his appreciation to President Duterte and the people who helped in his release from the clutches of the Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant group

Erik Forner.

He acknowledged the efforts of Peace Secretary Jesus Dureza and former MNLF chair Nur Misuari whom Duterte said they had worked tirelessly and patiently for the release of the kidnap victim.

“I would also like to thank Sakur Tan. It was a long negotiation, and we were able to recover Kjartan alive,” Duterte said.

It can be recalled that Sekkingstad was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Ocean View Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal on September 21, 2015.

Only Sekkingstad and Marites Flor were released while the other victims, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were both killed.

Flor was released last June 24.

Dureza also told reporters that three Indonesians who were also hostages were released and turned over to their representative in Jolo . They immediately left for Jakarta.

Looking at Sekkingstad,

must stand up now.

Davao City has bounced back up just days after the blast, Duterte-Carpio claimed.

The City Government of Davao has provided P4.5 million in financial assistance to the victims and the families of those who died in a bloody explosion.

President Duterte also lent a helping hand to victims and relatives of those who perished in the Roxas Night Market bombing during a simple dinner he tendered for them by providing P250,000 for victims who were permanently disabled by the blast.

The Chief Executive likewise handed out P250,000 each to the families of the 15 victims who died in the bombing while P100,000 cash assistance was also given to each of the victims who sustained minor injuries plus other medical care, including allowances for antibiotics.

The authorities indicated that 14 out of the original number of 22 suspects were charged while the others were acquitted for lack of evidence to support their involvement in the blast incident.

The suspects who will be tried in the Regional Trial Court - Branch 33 were Abubakar Zulkifli, TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Facturan, Musali Mustapha, Datu Masla Sema, Abu Hadid Dilangalen, Jessy Vincent Original, Zack Haron Lopez, Pendatum Coy Mahurom alias Cocoy, Abu Calid, Abu Solaiman, Jackson Usi, and Ausa Mamasapano.

Among those acquitted, meanwhile, were Mohammad

F STORIES, 10

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

TIGER economy is the economy of a country which undergoes rapid economic growth, usually accompanied by an increase in the standard of living. The term was originally used for the Four Asian Tigers (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore) as tigers are important in Asian symbolism, which also inspired the Tiger Cub Economies (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines).

In the Philippines, the election of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to presidency on May 2016 elections has been a historical breakthrough for Mindanao. It has placed Davao City and the whole island region at the center of the universe. Then came to prominence the local saying “Bisaya na pud!” as domestic and foreign industry players are constantly lured by such charisma brought by the Southern pride.

With these promising potentials, the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office XI (DTI-XI) as the implementing agency plays a vital role in ensuring the welfare of Davaoeños through their initiatives to expand trade, industries and investments as the means to generate jobs and raise income for entrepreneurs.

Investment surge During the Preliminary Annual Performance 2016 report and media interface of DTI-XI at Pinnacle Hotel on December 21 attended by DTI-XI executives and provincial directors, the agency has brought good news about the investments Davao Region which surged to more than 60 percent in 2016.

In a data given by Board of Investments (BOI)-Davao reported by DTI, more than P7.6 billion was invested in the region as of October 2016, higher than the 2015 total investment of more than P4.6 billion.

For the regional breakdown, Davao City recorded the highest investment with P2.52 billion or 33 percent of the total investment followed

by Davao del Sur with P2.24 b.illion or 29 percent and Davao del Norte as third highest with P2.06 billion or 27 percent. The rest of the bulk comes from Compostella Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental respectively.

San Miguel Foods, Inc. (Davao del Sur) from the manufacturing cluster recorded the highest investment of P2.24 billion which generated 307 jobs followed by Davao International Container Terminal, Inc. (Davao del Norte) from transportation & storage cluster with P1.88 billion, Damosa Land, Inc. (Davao City) of the real estate activities cluster with P596 million, FTC Group of Companies Corporation (Davao City) of the accommodation & food service activities cluster with P540 million, Euro Hydro Power (Asia) Holdings, Inc. (Compostela Valley) of the electricity, gas,

steam & air conditioning supply cluster with P517 million, PNX Chelsea Shipping Corporation (Davao City) of transportation & storage cluster with P507 million, AVLB ASIA PACIFIC Conglomerate, Inc. (Davao City) of manufacturing cluster with P500 million, Grupo San Pedro Realty Corporation (Davao City) of real estate activities cluster with P372 million, Anflo Banana Corporation (Davao Oriental) of agriculture, forestry & fishing cluster with P342 million, and Cocohaus Corporation (Davao del Norte) of manufacturing cluster with P177 million of investments.

Annual targets achieved, surpassed With the active involvement of if agency’s officials and staffs as well as the cooperation of its public and private stakeholders, DTI-XI has exceeded most of its 2016 target services rendered.

In fact, the target for job generation, MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) assisted, domestic sales generated and client satisfaction has reached more than 100 percent of the expected turn-out.

This is as of November 2016.

For most of the provincial directors, the achievement could be rooted from the skills training, facilitation of investment, and convergence of the agency and stakeholders such as local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and institutions such as the academe.

DTI-Davao Oriental officer-in-charge Jose L. Calub pointed out the success of the provincial office was facilitated by the establishment of Provincial MSME Development Council as well as the initiatives and financial assistance from the DTI Regional Office.

For jobs generated, DTI set a target of 32,000 but achieved 33,718 or 105 percent wherein 3,434 of this are Shared Service Facilities (SSF) jobs, and the rest are MSMEs who benefitted from loans, investments and assistance to large enterprises through training, etc.

For MSMEs assisted, DTI set a target of 9,500 but reached a total of 9,835 or 105 percent; almost half (55 percent) of which or 5,370 are new businesses while 45 percent or 4,465 are existing businesses.

For Domestic Sales, DTI has reported P1,336.01M or 111 percent higher than the P1,200M target. This was generated from trade fair (6%), market matching & facilitation (4%), Pasalubong Center (4%) and monitored sales (86%).

For consumer complaints, 98 percent was resolved within the prescribed time or 103 percent based on target of 95 percent. Out of the 168 consumer complaints received for mediation, 164 (98 percent) complaints were resolved within 10 working days. All of the 5 (100 percent) consumer

F THE TIGER, 10

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

NorCot cops increase visibility to thwart bombing attempts

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OLICE and local officials here activated the police force multipliers to prevent a repeat of the Christmas Eve bombing of a police car in front of the town’s parish Church, Police Supt. Bernard Tayong said Thursday.

Tayong, police chief of Midsayap town in North Cotabato’s first district, said all safety measures are in place ahead of the New Year’s Eve mass at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

He said clearly, the grenade attack that destroyed a police car and wounded 17 persons, including a police officer, was

directed toward the police in retaliation for its successful campaign against illegal drugs.

The police have the CCTV footages of the two men who tossed the hand grenade that went off at 9:30 p.m while the Christmas Eve mass was on going.

The blast site was about 30 meters away from the Church main entrance.

Tayong also told reporters about what President Rodrigo Duterte told him when the latter visited Midsayap on Christmas Day. In that visit, the

F NORCOT, 10

Rody: Martial law will lead to downfall of the country

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte assured on Thursday the Filipino people that he will never declare martial, saying it will lead to the downfall of the country. ”It will lead to the downfall of the country. I will not declare it. I don’t need it,” President Rodrigo Duterte said in an exclusive interview with GMA News.

President Duterte made this assurance amid concerns expressed by some sectors and individuals including Vice President Leni Robredo that President Duterte wanted to declare martial law. ”Why I should do it? I’m already okay with lawless violence,” the President said, referring to the state of lawless

violence he declared after the Davao City bombing that killed 14 people last September.

President said that he even advised the military to develop their loyalty only to the Philippine Constitution. ”I said to the military, do not develop your loyalty to me, develop your loyalty to the Constitution,” Duterte said.

In his speech in Pampanga last Dec. 22, President Duterte talked about martial law. ”If I declare martial law and there is an invasion or war, I cannot proceed on and on, especially if there is trouble. I have to go to Congress, I have to go to the Supreme Court if anybody would file a com-

F RODY, 10

DND chief: It is very possible Maute Group, BIFF behind Leyte IED attack

I

T is highly possible that the Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which is now the object of focused military operations in Mindanao, could have conducted the improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Hilongos town, Leyte as means to ease the pressure against them.

This was disclosed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during the sidelights of Friday’s Rizal Day celebrations.

The IED attack in Hilongos town wounded 32 persons, 16 of them severely. “(It’s possible that the IED attack was) done as a diversionary tactic to ease the

pressure against them,” said Lorenzana in Filipino.

Lorenzana said that they have been suspecting for a long-time that the Maute Group and BIFF have formed a tactical alliance of sort to facilitate the transfer of IED technology.

The DND chief added that they are looking into this angle as fragments of an 81mm mortar round was recovered in the blast scene.

IEDs converted from 81mm rounds are the trademark of the BIFF. “It’s not far-fetched as (Lanao Del Sur is the operating area of) Maute Group and (Maguindanao areas) of the BIFF are near each other. There are

F DND, 10

RIZAL DAY. A Philippine flag prominently flies beside the statue of national hero Jose Rizal at Rizal Park in Davao City. The nation, led by President Duterte, commemorated the 120th Rizal Day yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 NEWS

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

PROVEN SAFE. A vendor along Ilustre Street in Davao City calls the attention of buyers by blowing one of his stuffs, a torotot (party blower). Buyers of torotot are expected to increase with the celebration of New Year. Lean Daval Jr.

Muslim, Christian, Lumad leaders sign peace pact in NorCot

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EADERS of three major tribal groups in a remote village here have agreed Thursday to put an end to more than a decade of land dispute by signing a peace covenant initiated by Church leaders.

Representing the tri-people of Lumad, Christians and Muslims, local leaders also planted three Narra seedlings they all nurture to sustain the peace covenant.

“The Narra tree symbolizes our commitment to sustain peace in our community,” said Tri-people group chairperson and Sitio Leader Eduardo Balindres.

“As long as the trees grow, our peace and unity will continue, so all of us will ensure the narra trees will not die,” he added.

At least seven lives were lost when warring groups clashed due to land dispute.

The Narra trees were planted in the “prayer garden/tri-peoples park” to signal unity and an end to bloody skirmishes in Sitio Israel, Barangay New Abra, Matalam, North Cotabato Wednesday.

Balindres said they no longer want more lives lost among Christians, Lumad and Muslim residents.

Formed in 2000, the community was rocked by violence that claimed the lives of innocent civilians.

Before the peace covenant signing, a mass was presided over by Fr. Edmundo Palomar, DCK, Matalam parish priest.

Officials said the covenant signing was even more meaningful since the community was celebrating its fiesta under the theme “Sagrada Familia: Kasama ng tatlong

F MUSLIM, 10

Newspapers advised: ‘Create new readers’

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

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EWSPAPERS in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world must create their own group of readers in order to survive in a digitalizing world, wherein circulation of hard-copy newspapers is dwindling.

This was the advice of Antonio B. Partoza Jr., lawyer, businessman and gentleman farmer, whose family enterprise Dabaw Print Distributors Inc., also known as “Dabaw Periodicals,” had been involved in the distribution of newspapers and magazines among other businesses for three decades now.

Talking to business reporters covering “Wednesdays at Habi at Kape” media forum at Abreeza Mall, Partoza acknowledged the

fact that the print media in general had been losing its circulation to social media.

However, he noted that a few of the print publications whose management and owners have been smart enough to create their own unique groups of readers, seem able to stop their decline in circulation.

Partoza said that the print media should be able to target the millennials (those born sometimes in the 1980s or 1990s) among readers and keep them.

He said going online –having an internet presence—is another smart move. “This is being done now by the country’s leading news dailies,” Partoza added.

ADVISE. Lawyer and businessman Antonio Partoza, during the regular Wednesdays Forum at the Habi at Kape in Abreza Mall expressed concern over the fact that print media in general had been losing its circulation to social media. (Alexander D. Lopez)

Mayor killed, 2 wounded Palace welcomes SWS survey showing 95% in Lanao del Norte ambush of Filipinos to welcome 2017 with hope

A

TOWN mayor from Lanao del Norte was killed while his two police escorts were wounded in an ambush in a village in Iligan City Thursday night, a police report reaching here said Friday.

Town Mayor Mohamad Exan Limbona, of Pantar, Lanao Del Note, was killed when waylaid by unidentified armed men in Sitio Paitan, in the village of Dalipuga, Iligan City.

Police said Limbona’s vehicle, a black Ford Everest, was on its way to Pantar when ambushed by the unidentified gunmen at about 9:45 p.m.

Thursday.

According to the report, Limbona was rushed to a medical facility, but was declared dead on arrival.

Wounded were two of the mayor’s police escorts, identified as PO1 Russel Jay Paltingca and PO1 Saidamen Haji Naim.

The victim’s wife and daughter, who were with Limbona in the vehicle, were unhurt, the police report said.

The police is looking at political “rido” (family feud) as possible motive of the ambuscade. (PNA)

M

ALACANANG on Thursday welcomed a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing 95 percent of the Filipinos are entering year 2017 with hope rather than with fear.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the SWS survey could be indicator that the Filipino people are satisfied with the performance of President Rodrigo Duterte in the first six months of his administration.

“I suppose it’s part of the

whole package, you know.

Based on results, apparently the public is quite satisfied with the performance of the administration,” Duterte said in a Palace press briefing.

The SWS fourth quarter survey conducted from December 3 to 6 found that 95 percent of adult Filipinos has said they are entering 2017 with hope.

The number is up from 92 percent last year under the previous administration of former President Benigno Aquino

III.

Based on face-to-face interviews with about 1,5000 adults, the survey showed that the attitude of hope is widespread in all areas with 97 percent in Luzon, 95 percent in National Capital Region, 95 percent in Mindanao and 92 percent in the Visayas.

The same survey also found out that 50 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the government institutions; 17 percent were dissatisfied and 30 percent undecid-

ed on the performance of the Cabinet of President Duterte.

“It yielded a good +32 percent net satisfaction score,” Abella said.

Last December 24, the SWS also released a survey which showed that 81 percent of the Filipinos have “much trust” in President Duterte. Ten percent are undecided while 9 percent have ‘little trust.’

This gives a net trust rating of +72 or four points below the excellent +76 trust rating.

(PNA)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

President Rodrigo Duterte accompanied by his children

BIG ONE... FROM 1 “The country is in a state of ‘exciting times’ of redefining and elevating public service to excellence” he said.

DILG has been intensifying its campaign for good governance through its flagship program MASA MASID (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga).

MASA MASID’s concept is anchored on the participation of the people in all community engagements of the government.

The program is now working to institutionalize down to the barangay levels the continuing campaigns of the government against illegal drugs, crimes and corruption.

DILG also sustained the drive for LGUs to lead a clean government and perform better by upgrading the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) with a new incentive program called Performance Challenge Fund (PCF), an incentive that will provide LGUs financial grants that can be utilized for development projects.

“Through the PCF, a total of 497 PCF-supported projects (2014-2015) were monitored in which 261 or 53% were already completed and are now benefitting the people in the LGUs. The remaining 236 projects are in various stages of completion,” the DILG said in its Quarterly Review.

The agency also strengthened its partnership with the private sector – one of the results of such initiative was the launching of the first Public-Private Partnership for the People initiative for Local Governments (LGU P4).

LGU P4 was envisioned as a developmental, innovative, change and partnership strategy with the aim to encourage more investments in the provinces, promoting the general welfare, inclusive growth and better quality of life of Filipinos.

Outcomes after the implementation of LGU P4 include the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 2016-120 on September 7 that set the guidelines for the implementation of LGU P4 and the 10-point guiding principles in the implementation of LGU P4 projects.

The DILG also launched the Emergency Hotline 911 that will serve as the government’s reinforcement to anti-criminality programs and to provide emergency assistance to the public.

On illegal drugs campaign DILG also reported the gains on the continuing fight against illegal drugs and all forms of criminalities in the country.

“Big names were implicated in illegal drugs, among them were police generals,” the DILG said in its Quarterly Review, adding that the agency immediately buckled down the generals who were mentioned by President Duterte.

These police generals are now facing administrative charges before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) En Banc.

The DILG is also fast-tracking the investigations of elected officials who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade – at present, a total of 50 local government officials are facing probe.

The intensified Oplan Tokhang also resulted to the surrender of 734,231 drug personalities nationwide; 1,701,647 house visits; 23,852 round-the-clock operations; 681,264 drug users arrested; 22,971 drug pushers arrested; and 1,290 drug personalities killed.

On criminalities The DILG also reported of the 11.11% decrease in over-all crime volume or from 113,122 reported incidents in July to August 2015 to 100,533 crime incidents in July to August this year.

Decrease in index crimes was also reported – 10,915 lower than last year’s figure of 34,223 or a 31.89% decrease.

The DILG also reported of the 58% crime solution efficiency or the number of cases with at least one of the accused was arrested as compared to 51.71% last year.

Crime clearance efficiency which refers to the number of cases where the suspects were identified and cases were filed in court also increased to 69.96% as compared to 64.16% recorded last year.

Fight against corruption President Duterte believes that graft and corruption is pulling down the government and that the fight against corrupt officials must be intensified.

Among the agencies of the government that responded to the President’s call to get rid the government of corrupt officials is the Department of Finance (DOF).

In its recent statement to the media, DOF said the agency was able to act of the cases and took punitive actions against 14 of its erring employees.

“Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has ordered the implementation of separate rulings of the Office of the Ombudsman to either suspend or dismiss from the service the erring officials in just six months into the Duterte administration,” the DOF said.

Secretary Domingues also came out with Department Order No. 049-2016 that mandated local treasurers of LGUs to include in their regular electronic Statement of Receipts and Expenditure (eSRE) reports all payments made by extractive industries along with the detailed account of the shares from national wealth and their LGUs’ expenditures using the receipts/collections from these businesses and from the development and utilization of national wealth.

Other monetary and non-monetary benefits received

by LGUs from extractives industries must also be included in their quarterly eSRE reports to the DOF. “Local treasurers have been required since 2011 to report to the DOF on a quarterly and annual

basis the fiscal and financial operations of their respective LGUs through the eSRE system. This time, Dominguez directed them to expand the scope of their reports to include mining and other extractive industries,” the DOF said.

Local treasurers are also required to submit their reports through a web-based Environment and Natural Resources Data Management Tool (ENRDMT), which is a data management system associated with the eSRE system that is being maintained by the DOF-attached Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).

On health The Department of Health (DOH) is now tasked to maximize its delivery of basic health services especially to the poorest of the poor.

The DOH recently launched its Philippine Health Agenda (20162022) with the aim of bringing together all the stakeholders in the country to work towards improving the people’s access to health services.

Among the first programs implemented by the DOH under the Duterte administration was the Tamang Serbisyo Para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TSeKaP) service package.

TSeKaP is aimed to reach the country’s poorest residents through house-to-house visits and inform them of the free check-ups being offered by the government through its health facilities.

The program also served as a vehicle in calling poor Filipino families to seek early treatment for their illnesses in government hospitals and facilities.

Being poor and indigents, the DOH campaigned that these families can avail of health services by not paying anything as they are automatically covered by PhilHealth.

In its report, the DOH said it has already covered more than 50 percent of the targeted 20 million poor identified by the regional health offices have availed of the TSeKaP package.

DOH is also supporting the fight against illegal drugs in the country.

The agency opened last November 29 the first phase of the Mega Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

The center has 172 buildings constructed inside the 11-hectare tract of land designed to accommodate 10,000 drug dependents.

The buildings were donated

by Chinese real estate billionaire and philanthropist Huang Rulun.

DOH also signed a memorandum with the DILG and the Alliance Global Group for the construction of new rehabilitation facility that will be built on a 6,853-sq. meter land inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The health department also recognized the urgent need to address the alarming rise of HIV cases in the country.

In its report, the number of

SPECIAL FEATURE 5

HIV cases has already reached 38,114 in October 2016 from January 1984, more than half of the figure or 19,578 belong to the 2534 age group, and 27 percent or 10,279, to the 15-24 age group.

DOH is also appealing for collective and relentless efforts to make the youth, now considered the most vulnerable to HIV in the country, increase their awareness on how to protect themselves.

Aside from HIV, DOH is also facing more challenges being brought about by the mosquito-borne disease Zika.

Records from the agency revealed of 52 Zika infections in the country, 33 of which were recorded in the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.

Of the total number of infections, 34 are female, three of them are pregnant.

DOH said it will continue to monitor the pregnant women and their babies until two years after childbirth.

To increase the public’s awareness on Zika, the department held a national summit last October 28 that was joined by representatives from various government agencies, the private sector and civil society organizations.

On economic gains Philippines now is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia in 2016, with a 7% GDP growth during the first three quarters.

In a press briefing late last week, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella attributed the country’s economic growth to household consumption, as well as investments in construction, public infrastructure and durable equipment.

“This was supported by low inflation, low interest rates better labor market conditions and the steady growth in the remittances of overseas Filipino workers,” he added.

The government’s assistance program such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provided additional boost to consumer demand.

He likewise noted that the agriculture sector is also starting to recover and finally breaking five consecutive quarters of decline.

Growth in industry, particularly manufacturing, construction and utilities also accelerated while the services sector has improved overall, with stronger expansion in trade, finance, real estate, and public administration.

The employment rate of the country was at 95.3 percent in October of this year, indicating that there are approximately 41.7 million Filipinos employed.

In the same period, the country’s unemployment rate declined to a record low of 4.7 percent.

Abella also reported that approval of 17 infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration – that include Phase 1 of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project; the EDSA Bus Rapid Transit Project; the Plaridel Bypass Road Project; the New Cebu International Container Port Project; the South Line of the North-South Railway Project; and the New Nayong Pilipino at Entertainment City.

“The government is ramping up public infrastructure spending next year, allotting at least 5 percent of the GDP to go to infrastructure projects until 2022,” he said.

The DOF also reported that in the first six months of the Duterte administration in 2016 was a year of heightened efforts by the agency toward regional integration with the country’s Asian neighbors and the pursuit of its advocacies on financial inclusion in tandem with both international and local development partners.

“A defining moment in the government’s quest for greater regional unity was President Duterte’s directive to his Cabinet during his four-day visit to Beijing on the swift pivot to integration with the member-economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) and our trading partners South Korea, China and Japan,” the DOF said.

In Beijing last October, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, who were part of the President Duterte’s delegation on his state visit to China, jointly announced that while the Philippines will maintain its good relations with Western economies, it will now push for stronger integration with its neighbors in the region.

“The Cabinet will move strongly and swiftly towards regional economic integration. This is why the President prioritized foreign trips to ASEAN and Asia,” the DOF quoted Dominguez in the statement, adding the Philippines will maintain relations with the West “but we desire stronger integration with our neighbors. We share the culture and a better understanding with our region.”

The move will also open for countless opportunities for trade and investment in a market of 1.8 billion people across the region, especially now that other ASEAN economies have also committed toward integration and China has pledged to open its capital markets.

In line with the government’s continued efforts to help develop the ASEAN Economic Community, the DOF delivered on the Philippines’ commitment to expand market access in the banking and securities sectors for the 10-nation ASEAN bloc.

“The Philippines’ Seventh Package of Financial Services Liberalization Commitments is expected to widen access to financial services and products for Filipinos, diffuse advanced financial services practices and technologies from major ASEAN financial markets such as Singapore, and create more jobs in the financial services sector,” the DOF said.

The DOF, as chair of the ASEAN’s Working Committee on Financial Services Liberalization (WC-FSL), serves as the oversight body to the Financial Services Annex (FSA) of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement and the ASEAN Insurance Forum (AIFo).

“Under the stewardship of the DOF, the drafting of the FSA, which outlines the commitments in the financial services sector for ASEAN, has seen commendable progress, with only a few more articles still pending consensus from the ASEAN member states,” the DOF said.

The AIFo, which serves as a venue for ASEAN stakeholders to work together toward the integration of the bloc’s insurance sector, is another vital area that the DOF is working on as the high vulnerability of the Philippines and the other ASEAN states to natural disasters makes the integration in catastrophic risk insurance a priority concern.

“Insurance integration in the region also provides support to trade in the form of Maritime, Aviation, and Goods in Transit (MAT) Insurance,” the DOF noted.

The Department is also the chair for the Sub-Working Group on Financial Services that will help realize the envisioned Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which consists of the ASEAN members plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

The DOF-led Sub-Working Group discusses commitments in the financial services sector for the RCEP, which is potentially one of the largest free-trade-areas in the globe, accounting for about 30% of world GDP.

Another area that the DOF spearheaded in 2016 was the Cebu Action Plan, which “seeks to generate concrete cooperative outputs among member economies of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC) and partner international institutions in implementing initiatives on financial integration, fiscal transparency and reforms, financial resilience and infrastructure financing.”

The DOF continued to follow through on its efforts of promoting financial inclusion across the Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC) region through the hosting of two conferences for the Financial Infrastructure Development Network in Manila in 2016.

In 2016, the DOF-National Credit Council (NCC) continued its advocacies on financial inclusion by teaming up with government regulators and concerned agencies, private institutions such as insurance companies and brokers, and donor partners that include the International Finance Corporation-World Bank (IFC-WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and German Technical Cooperation (GIZ)] on various projects towards inclusive growth.

These include partnering with the Insurance Commission on setting up a Health Microinsurance Framework, which aims to offer affordable health microinsurance products to low-income groups.

“The health microinsurance project complements PhilHealth and would cater to the poor by providing them with insurance coverage that would, for instance, include 30,000 assistance for emergency room confinement for only 2 pesos a day equivalent to a P750 annual fee,” the DOF said.

It also partnered with other government agencies in developing plans to address the challenges faced by private insurance firms in developing agriculture-based microinsurance products.

The DOF likewise led efforts to conduct financial literacy workshops on microinsurance and develop microinsurance distribution channels.

In implementing reforms on secured transactions, the DOF-NCC and Land Registration Authority (LRA) teamed up with the IFCWB in harmonizing the Philippine Chattel Mortgage Law and other related status on secured transactions.

“This project broadens the utilization of movable assets as collateral for loans by micro- small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) thus, increases access to credit of micro enterprises,” the DOF said.

The project led to the filing of counterpart bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives that aim to strengthen the Secured Transactions Legal Framework in the country.

“The DOF-NCC also continues to explore possible areas of collaboration with donor partners that are geared towards inclusive growth.

The ADB, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), GIZ, and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) have recently signified interest to support more financial inclusion initiatives of the government through technical assistance,” the DOF said.

Free tuition fee Incorporated in the approved budget for 2017 was the allocation of P8.3 billion that will ensure the implementation of free tuition fee in all state universities and colleges (SUCs) next year.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said the allocation will be used to subsidize the tuition fee to around 1.4 million students of SUCs. CHED is currently working for a scheme to effectively implement measures to ensure that SUC students will be able to avail the program.

EDGEDAVAO

6 ECONOMY BOC issues guidelines on opening Piñol seeks 10-20 year road map alerted balikbayan boxes in Agriculture and Fisheries T VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued a memorandum to all its district collectors and other concerned customs officials and personnel regarding its policy on opening alerted balikbayan boxes.

Based on the memorandum, alerted balikbayan boxes shall be subjected to 100% physical examination, only in the presence of the consignee or his duly authorized representative.

If the consignee or representative cannot personally attend the inspection, a waiver from the owner of the shipment should be submitted.

For balikbayan boxes containing contrabands or items that are possible threats to national security such as explosives, firearms, and illegal drugs, they will be opened only upon the written approval by the district collector of the port concerned.

This latest memorandum follows the earlier policies implemented by the Bureau, particularly regarding the ‘no opening of balikbayan box policy. Under this policy, balikbayan boxes shall not be subjected to random or arbitrary physical inspection, and in-

stead shall only undergo mandatory x-ray scanning. In cases of shipments tagged “suspect” after x-ray scanner, the inspector shall recommend the issuance of an Alert Order.

This series of policies are intended to avoid cases of illegal smuggling through balikbayan boxes. An average of 1,000 containers of balikbayan boxes arrive in Philippine ports every month, and the government loses at least P50 million in revenue due to smuggling.

Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon reminds the public not to abuse the balikbayan box privilege.

“Pabayaan nyo na ang balikbayan boxes. Privilege ito ng OFWs, maganda ito para sa kanila. ‘Wag sanang bastusin ang batas,” Commissioner Faeldon warns possible offenders.

For balikbayan box-related complaints and concerns, the public may forward them to the Bureau’s Customer Assistance and Response Services (BOCCARES) at telephone number (02) 705-6000, email address boc.cares@customs.gov.ph, Twitter account @CustomsPH, and www.facebook.com/BureauOfCustomsPH. (BOC)

A

GRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol admitted here Thursday he wants to leave a legacy that would ensure the continuity of programs and projects in agriculture and fisheries so that whoever will be the next leaders, these programs and projects seeking to ensure food security will remain.

Speaking to agriculture and fishery officials during his visit to the National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center (NIFTDC) in Dagupan City, Piñol said he is pushing for the putting up of a 10 to 20-year National Road Map in Agriculture and Fisheries which shall be put into the law and implemented by whoever will become pres-

idents of the country.

The national road map, he said, will be drawn from the provincial road maps to be submitted by each governor of the country that whoever will be governor, the programs in agriculture and fisheries will be implemented in his or her province.

The sad thing is, whenever a new President comes, a new direction in agriculture and fisheries is set and the officials in agriculture and fisheries cannot say no, he said.

“But if we are able to put up a National Road Map in Agriculture and Fisheries that will span from 10 to 20 years, the programs we had in mind will continue,” he pointed out.

He said even the United

States has a 10-year National Road Map in Agriculture that was enacted into law and President Barack Obama cannot alter or amend it.

Piñol, who is himself a farmer, said the real problem in agriculture and fisheries in the Philippines is politics.

He said with the National Agricultural Road Map in Agriculture and Fisheries, “we can remove the influence of politics into the industry”.

“The national agricultural road map can be improved with the infusion of additional funds but never to alter or amend it,” he said.

Piñol and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Ed Gogona came from Sual, Pan-

gasinan where they distributed bancas and fishing implements to marginal fishermen from 14 coastal towns of Pangasinan.

On his way to Baguio, Piñol was invited by former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia to drop by at NIFTDC, a 25-hectare research facility of the BFAR headed by Dr. Westly Rosario.

While at NIFTDC, Piñol asked Rosario to focus on three essential commodities like tilapia, milkfish, vannamae or white shrimps, sea cucumber and sea weeds which can immediately help the country attain food sufficiency. (PNA)

Pres. Duterte upbeat on PH economy with coming of Chinese investors

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has good reason to be positive about the Philippine economy as more Chinese investors have expressed intention to invest in the Philippines.

“Yes, I’m upbeat to our economy because China is coming in,” President Duterte said in an exclusive interview with GMA News’ Jessica Soho last Thursday night.

The Board of Investments (BOI) has reportedly said 40 Chinese investors are eyeing the Philippines as area for investment opportunities particularly in Mindanao.

“Before we are limited because when was the last time China paid attention on us. It was until my last trip to China to talk to them,” the President said.

Last October, President Duterte visited China and brought home USD15 billion worth of investment projects and USD9 billion financing agreements from the world’s second largest economy.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has said the investment agreements would create at least 2 million jobs over the next five years.

China is reportedly the Philippines’ second largest partner with USD17 billion in total trade between the two economies in 2015.

Aside from trade and investment, China is also helping President Duterte in his strong campaign against illegal drugs.

With regards to territorial dispute West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, President Duterte said he told the Chi-

nese leaders that the time will come within his six-year term that he has to tackle the issue with China.

“I told the Chinese (leaders) when I was there, there will be time during my term that we will have to talk about the arbitral,” he said.

President Duterte was referring to the arbitration case that the Philippines filed and won against China during the previous administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. Based on the last July’s decision of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the WPS and that China’s ‘nine-dash line’ is invalid.

The President said he will only discuss the WPS issue if China will start extracting the seabed of the resources-rich WPS which is also partly claimed by Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei.

“When you begin to extract the oil, you begin to extract the mineral there, what about me?

You are the owner, I’m also the owner so what’s going to happen to us?” President Duterte said.

President Duterte, however, clarified that war should not be an option in stressing the country’s claim over the disputed territory.

“Even if I’m in fantasy, do you think we will win a war. I will not (declare war) but I will make a noise certainly because I claim to be the owner,” he said.

The President said he prefers to use diplomacy in solving the dispute with China. (PNA)

ROUND FRUITS. Shoppers choose from a wide variety of round-shaped fruits being displayed along Monteverde Street in Davao City yesterday. Filipinos believe that round-shaped fruits will bring luck during the celebration of New Year. Lean Daval Jr.

Bank lending accelerates in November O

Growth of bank lending in November was faster than October’s increment of 17.8 percent.

Bank lending, gross of RRPs, also accelerated by 17.4 percent in November from 16.2 percent expansion in its previous month.

The BSP said growth in bank lending in November was driven

by loans for production activities, which increased by 18.1 percent -- faster than October’s growth of 17.4 percent.

Loans for production activities shared 89 percent of banks’ total loan portfolio.

Strong demands for loans were recorded in sectors of infor-

mation and communication, up by 48.3 percent; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, up by 25.4 percent; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, up by 25.4 percent; financial and insurance activities, up by 13.3 percent; wholesale and

HE cost of damage to irrigation in areas affected by typhoon “Nina” have reached P191.38 million, said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Thursday.

Updated reports showed that damage to irrigation facilities reached P51.58 million for crops and P138.80 million for infrastructure covering 7,748 hectares of farm lands, affecting 8,953 farmers.

Region 5 or the Bicol region suffered major damages with a total of 5,257 hectares of agri lands with an estimated crop losses amounting to P32.05 million and roughly 5,271 farmers were affected.

NIA Administrator Peter

Tiu Laviña said they are closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate actions with thorough coordination with other government agencies.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Billy Andal personally visited the severely damaged areas in Quezon province to monitor the condition of the farmers, communities and the coconut trees damaged by typhoon “Nina”.

Andal, together with Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, PCA Deputy Administrator Roel Rosales and Region-

al Manager Erlene Manohar of Region 4A, surveyed the affected areas especially in the second and third districts of the province particularly Mulanay, San Narciso and San Andres.

“We are here to assess the condition of the typhoon affected coconut trees and farmers; we have to identify the trees that can be saved and the trees that should be cut down,” said Andal. “We also have to know if they need some re-planting or inter-cropping so that we can assist the coco farmers of their needs.”

Strong winds with heavy rain pounded the Quezon province early Monday this week and damaged 3,787,749 coconut

trees with an estimated cost of P69.77 million.

Based on the preliminary report of PCA on the damages to coconut industry brought by typhoon Nina, the estimated number of coconut trees damaged in Camarines Sur covering districts 4 and 5 has reached 3,827,716 while the total damage in Bicol is 9,010,655.

The estimated cost of damage in Batangas has reached P509,920; Cavite, P182,188; Oriental Mindoro, P309,760; and Marinduque, P128 million.

Andal vowed to aid all the coconut farmers affected by typhoon to help them get back on their feet after experiencing the devastating typhoon. (PNA)

UTSTANDING loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), increased by 18.6 percent to P5.84 trillion in November 2016 from P4.92 trillion in November 2015.

F BANK, 10

Typhoon‘Nina’damage to irrigation reaches P191.38-M

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7 SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

1st Agusan entenarian Provincial government in ComVal shares receives incentive, award Christmas with Uswag GK families

L

OLA Conchita Hurod of Barangay Tagbongabong in the municipality of RTR, Agusan del Norte has received P100,000 as a centenarian.

Lola Conchita celebrated her 102nd birthday on December 20 of this year and she was the first centenarian grandmother who received an incentive from the provincial government of Agusan del Norte.

According to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office chief Daisybiel Demavivas, based on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Listahanan Database for Senior Citizens, there are already 17 centenarians in the entire province.

Demavivas said that of the 17 centenarians, only Lola Conchita complied the requirements and managed to claim her incentive and award.

The other 16 centenarians did not process any claims yet, for some reasons that they no longer reside in the area or they don’t have the complete documents yet to support their

claims, Demavivas added.

Lola Conchita received a total of P100,000. The P50,000 came from the provincial government while the other P50,000 was given by governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba. A wheelchair was also accorded to Lola Conchita during the awarding ceremony, which was personally attended by governor Matba and witnessed by the provincial government employees during a Monday convocation held recently at the provincial capitol lobby.

Lola Conchita has four children, namely, Norma, Armando, Filomeno and Carmelita.

As per Provincial Ordinance No. 362-2014, a cash gift of P50,000 shall be given to the Centenarian upon reaching the age of 100 years old in honor of his or her longevity and to encourage other residents to stay fit and healthy. A Certificate of Recognition and felicitation shall also be given to the Centenarian and shall be awarded during the celebration of the Araw ng Agusan del Norte. (PIA-Agusan del Norte)

T

HE look in their eyes is priceless.

They find joy in a pair of toys, set of school supplies and melting ice cream.

Their smiles were genuine, so pure enough to feel their longing for the things they often experience.

Indeed, simple living has never been a hindrance to enjoy life and people who have less always find treasure in simple things.

December is the season of giving. Regardless of status, it has been the tradition of Filipinos to give out wholeheartedly to others. This makes gift-giving always present wherever we go.

This year, over 1,067 Uswag Gawad Kalinga families from 11 municipalities of the Province of Compostela Valley were simultaneously visited by assigned provincial

offices from the month of December 2016.

Provincial Offices were clustered and assigned to 14 GK sites namely: BasiC-Uswag GK in Banbanon and DSWD-MSAP in Kidawa, both in Laak; Andres-Canada GK village in Montevista; New Zealand GK in Nabunturan; Pagsandugan Uswag GK Village in Mawab; Uswag GK Designer Village and DSWD CSAP Uswag GK Village both in Kinuban, Maco.

Other sites also include Ang Bag-ong Malambuong Mabini in Brgy. San Antonio; Uswag GK Bansilaw Village and Kariyawan-Berjaya USwag GK Village in Monkayo; SOP-Kahiusahan-Berjaya USwag GK Village in Compostela; Pag-asa’t Bagong Buhay GK Village in New Bataan; Little Baguio GK Village in Maragusan; and

Lambo Pantukan Uswag GK Village.

Each cluster designed their own program flow and contributed money to make gift giving more special in their assigned GK Village or site.

This tradition started during the time of former Governor, now Sr. Board Member “Chiongkee” T. Uy in 2008 and has been continued by his son, the incumbent Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy. The vision to unite people despite the odds has been strengthened through selfless public service shown not just of the elected officials but also by employees of the provincial capitol.

“There is power in unity. There is power when we express love through giving, even a little of what we have,” Gov. Uy said. The young gov-

ernor emphasized how the power of oneness in building a strong province can withstand the test of time.

“GK Families live a life without filter, maybe because there’s no need to beautify a story that is already colorful.

It takes a village to build a community,” he added.

These GK families were recipient of the “Pabahay Program” of the province through partnership with Gawad Kalinga. Houses were built following the Bayanihan concept and the recipients of this program help each other in building their houses.

There are a lot of untold stories of victories in the GK Villages that can attest how the concept of “Bayanihan” helped them in uplifting their lives as individual and as a community. (Arianne Dacalos/PGOPS, IDS ComVal)

South Cotabato PNP eyes cattle rustlers in cop’s murder

P

OLICE authorities in South Cotabato on Thursday said Army and police personnel are hunting down about four gunmen who shot dead a police officer Wednesday dawn.

Senior Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police provincial director, said the suspects in the murder of Police Officer 2 John Mark Escobillo of Tupi PNP were suspected cattle rustlers.

Escobillo, son of Vice Mayor Noel Escobillo of Tupi town, was heading for home on board a motorbike at dawn when he noticed about four men pulling a cattle along a dirt road.

Alvero said Escobillo stopped and asked what the four men were doing with the cattle during the wee hours of the morning.

But one of the suspects pulled a 12 gauge shotgun and opened fire on Escobillo. They then hurriedly left with the cattle.

Responding villagers rushed the victim to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot wounds in his abdomen.

Escobillo heads the Tupi PNP Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC).

Identities of the attackers remained unknown. (PNA)

PRO-12 deploys more cops as region prepares New Year’s revelry

T

O ensure public safety and thwart attempts by saboteurs to disrupt the Filipino tradition of welcoming the New Year, the police regional office in Central Mindanao will augment police forces across the region, Supt.

Romeo Galgo Jr. said Friday.

Galgo, speaking for Police Regional Office (PRO-12), said each police provincial and city offices will get 60 police force as augmentation ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebration.

The region, composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos, have been rocked by grenade attacks the past seven days, starting with the Christmas Eve grenade blast in Midsayap town in North Cotabato.

It was followed by a road side bombing that injured seven commuters in Aleosan town, also in North Cotabato.

A total of 24 persons have been injured in explosions, 17 in Midsayap and seven in Aleosan.

Galgo said the blasts were isolated and it should not hamper the Filipino tradition of welcoming the New Year. He also assured ample police security in places of worship on New Year’s Eve. Galgo said Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, PRO-12 regional director, has directed all police directors in the region to ensure safety measures are in place starting today.

“His directive was clear, the campaign against illegal drugs should continue without let up,” Galgo said, adding that

F PRO-12, 10

North Cotabato gets P25-M anti-poverty funds from DA-12

T

HE Department of Agriculture in Region 12 has special projects for indigents residents that will help them improve lives and have decent sources of income, officials said today.

Engr. Mila Casis, DA regional director for the SOCCSKSARGEN region, on Thursday handed over a check to acting North Cotabato Governor Shirlyn Macasarte amounting to P25 million as initial fund of Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program.

SOCCSKSARGEN is composed of the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Gen. Santos.

North Cotabato has 17 municipalities and one city.

The release of SAAD fund for North Cotabato came after Director Casis facilitated the fund transfer for local governments of Sarangani and Maguindanao last week.

SAAD is a strategy of the Department of Agriculture

to look at the weaknesses of an area in terms of potentials for food production and livelihood programs.

Casis said the program is in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s thrust to increase food production and alleviate poverty.

It intends to alleviate poverty through increased food production and productivity in the target areas by providing the appropriate technology, financing, marketing and other support services in order to make the farmers

and fisherfolk productive and profitable.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol has repeatedly reminded local government executives that the DA programs aimed at alleviating poverty must be implemented with full transparency and no delays.

Reiterating President Duterte’s policy of no irregularities, Pinol said he expect project implementers to effectively make lives better for farmers to help ensure food sufficiency. (PNA)

uty police chief, identified the suspect as Donny Palic Juanico, 31 and resident of San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato.

Sentinta said the raiding team seized four sachets of methamphetamine hydrochlo-

ride also known as “shabu” from the suspect.

Also seized during the 3 p.m. raid in Antipolo subdivision, Barangay Gen. Paulino Santos, were a digital weighing scale, scissors, aluminum foil

and P500 marked money.

Sentinta said Juanico has been placed on surveillance by police operatives since September after his name cropped up as among the wanted drug personalities in the city. (PNA)

P150,000 worth of‘shabu’seized in Koronadal City anti-drug raid

P

OLICE arrested here Thursday a man engaged in illegal drug pushing during a drug-buy bust operation in a housing subdivision.

Chief Inspector Jomero Sentinta, Koronadal City dep-

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

EDITORIAL

A

Nationwide firecracker ban?

S of last count, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 116 firecracker-related injuries since December 21. Of the total figure, more than half occurred in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The cases actually dropped to a record low in five years.

That is 43 percent lower than the five-year average from 2011 to 2015, and 38 percent lower than the same period last year.

NCR ranked first among the regions with 63 cases (54 percent). Manila registered 27 cases, Quezon City had 18 and Mandaluyong had 5.

Of those injured, 108 are males, while 74 are aged 15 and below, 76 sustained injuries to their hands, while 21 suffered eye injuries.

Although the cases have dropped, still it is not in the

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same zone as the firecracker-free Davao City which has long implemented firecracker ban under the watch of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Should the firecracker ban be considered all throughout the country?

That is not remote. When President Duterte was elected, Davao City with its strict restrictive and regulatory measures against smoking, driving speed, alcohol sale, curfew on minors and firecrackers became the new standard for governance.

The cases of firecracker-related injuries may have dropped but still, for as long as there are people who gets injured of firecrackers, not to mention the fires and explosions in firecracker factories, it is still a safer alternative to implement a nationwide ban on firecrackers.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

W

HICH is safer to eat: street foods or those crops with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)?

Local authorities, international organizations and consumer associations are not only aware of the socioeconomic importance of street foods but also of their associated risks.

“With the increasing pace of globalization and tourism,” the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said in a statement, “the safety of street food has become one of the major concerns of public health, and a focus for governments and scientists to raise public awareness.”

A study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) a couple of years back discovered that most of the samples taken from the street foods sold in four urban centers – in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Laguna and University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City – did not pass quality standards.

It must be recalled that the 1990 cholera outbreak in Metro Manila was caused by “pansit” (rice noodles) and mussel soup bought from street vendors. The outbreak of hepatitis A in Masangkay Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila in 1993 was attributed to eating “bola-bola” (fish balls) sold by street vendors.

Microbiological findings indicated the presence of coliforms such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacterae aerogenes, and E. cloacae in both barbecued and deep-fried animal by-products.

This means that the bacteria load of the selected food samples was rather high, ranging from 240 to 2,400 per gram of food.

Now, Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril, the officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) claims those foods that contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) are safer to eat than those being sold in the streets.

The reason: transgenic crops undergo

S

GMOs safer than street foods

stricter tests and THINK ON THESE! environmental assessments and could be much safer and more nutritious than street food consumed daily everywhere.

Unlike street food items that are not regu- Henrylito D. Tacio lated, GM crops henrytacio@gmail.com have been subjected to extensive testing under a biosafety framework regarded as one of the strictest in the world.

This made him wonder why those anti-GM campaigners have been blasting away at GM crops but keeping silent on the safety concerns for street food. It may be because, he surmised, street food items are so common that no one bothers to ask if they are safe and nutritious for hundreds of thousands of pupils and students who consume them daily in spite of threats of microbial contamination.

“We may not all be so assiduous in guarding our rights in this situation, but what about on the food we eat? Are we always concerned with the safety of the food we consume? Is food quality in terms of safety our parameter in choosing what we eat? Do we read labels or are we more concerned with the price of the product we buy? These are the many questions that most consumer behavior researchers undertake,” Dr. Mamaril asked.

“Take for example, why are there so many street food being sold in front of schools and many other busy places? Is the selling of street foods regulated to guard the safety of consumers? The answer maybe is no. And why is this

VANTAGE POINTS

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so? It could be because the types of food sold are those known to be commonly consumed.

Examples are animals’ innards that are processed as fried, smoked or are skewered, eggs wrapped in flour, fish balls, chicken balls, squid balls, taho, and many others. The food quality concern in these kinds of foods could be microbial,” he said.

Now on the other side of the coin. As for GM products, food safety is a real concern. “Under our existing rules and regulations on GM crops, food safety is one the major concerns before such crops are given a biosafety permit. Other biosafety concerns are animal feeds and environmental safety,” Dr. Mamaril pointed out.

Not too many know it but we are already eating foods that are processed from GM crops.

“Our hotdogs may contain protein concentrates that came from soya beans which were genetically engineered to become resistant from glyphosate pesticides,” he said. “The same kind of soya bean is used to prepare taho, tofu, and other soya-based food products.”

Meanwhile, a consumer advocacy group in United Kingdom said that genetically modified soya can be found in bread, biscuits, baby milk, baby foods, breakfast cereals, margarine, soups, pasta, pizza instant meals, meat products, flours, sweets, ice creams, crisps, chocolate, soy sauce, veggie-burgers, tofu, soya milk, and pet foods.

GM crops are products of biotechnology. Bio is derived from the Greek word bios, which means life. Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function.

The methodology for making GM foods

sounds indeed like science fiction. Scientists working in laboratories take genes from one organism – a plant, animal, bacterium or virus – and splice them to the genes of another organism (a food crop or animal) to produce genetically altered offspring that will reproduce for agricultural purposes.

“It’s now possible to do stuff that only writers could imagine before and build up completely new life forms. The argument that we need genetically-modified food to feed the world is complete bull,” said Greenpeace International, an activist group, said in a statement.

But Ismail Serageldin, during his time as vice-president of World Bank, had foreseen biotechnology of playing a crucial part of agriculture in the 21st century. “All possible tools that can help promote sustainable agriculture for food security must be marshaled,” he stressed, “and biotechnology, safely developed, could be a tremendous help.”

Through biotechnology, more crops can be grown on the planet. “At current rates of population growth, conventional techniques may soon be insufficient if farming is to keep pace with the scale of increases required in the 21st century,” wrote Victor Villalobos in an article which appeared in Ceres, a FAO publication.

“We have the technology to meet the need of the future. What we don’t have yet is the will power, the regulatory system to allow use of the technology that we need,” commented Dr. Wayne Parrot, a crop science expert from the University of Georgia, who recently visited the country.

Now, if you are given a choice, will you eat GM foods or not? One sage puts his answer this way: “A man who has enough food has several problems. A man without food has only one problem.” Or as Horace puts it: “Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.”

coming back can be. So what more can be done for our “bagong bayani” so that they are better equipped for a life overseas and importantly, can better share their talents and good fortune on return? Beyond the macro considerations of how to better exploit the windfall in remittances, some localized actions can make a huge difference.

Working with 35 local governments through the Joint Migration and Development Initiative, UNDP has helped establish Migration Resource Centers and local migration committees to better service departees and returnees.

These Centers, guided by the local committees, act as a one-stop hub for passporting, recruitment and other pre-deployment processes, but also in facilitating access to health, education, social security services. They also provide investment advice and business development training. These initiatives, at marginal cost relative to the prospective gains, can be replicated in municipalities, towns and cities that are the source of migrants and overseas workers.

To do so will require legislation that would encourage local governments to act more expediently and responsively to the needs of migrants and overseas workers and require also the provision of funding from the national government to supplement any local allocation for the establishment of the Migration Resource Centers.

The 2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan can be the anchor for such legislation and

it should define specific strategies to ensure that migration can work to the country’s and the overseas Filipinos’ benefit. These include ensuring the protection and welfare of overseas Filipinos and their families, strengthening their engagement in governance including participation in elections, and facilitating the reintegration of repatriated and/or returning overseas Filipinos by offering support services and promoting investment and retirement options. An initiative UNDP supported that could be scaled up is the PESO Sense financial literacy campaign for overseas Filipinos and their families. PESO Sense, through an innovative mobile application, provides saving and budgeting tips, as well as investment and business advice.

Filipinos will take advantage of overseas opportunities that come their way – at times from choice but most often out of necessity. They, the “bagong bayani”, must be given a helping hand so that they can make the most of their opportunity whilst overseas and are the most productive on their return.

(Titon Mitra is the Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines. UNDP is implementing the JMDI programme in eight countries, including in the Philippines, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, International Labour Organization, UN Women, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Population Fund, and UNITAR with funding from the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.)

The “bagong bayani” of the Philippines

IT at any airport in the Philippines and you can palpably feel the pulse of Filipino migration. Overseas workers saying goodbye to their loved ones or returning home to be greeted by an ecstatic family. Every year since 2010, the number of Filipinos leaving the Philippines to work abroad has increased – from 1.4 million in 2010 to 1.8 million in 2015. Today, approximately 10.2 million Filipinos are living and working in more than 200 countries and territories.

With remittances expected to reach USD 28 billion (P1.4 trillion) for 2016, the equivalent of 10% of GDP, the contribution of overseas Filipinos to the Philippine economy is unquestionable. About 20% of all households in the Philippines receive these remittances. Migration has brought immense benefits. One does not have to look far to see the family being supported through remittances that meet their daily needs, pay for their education and health costs, build their houses and provide for the capital to start small businesses.

Filipino migrants also make a considerable contribution to the social and economic landscape in their host countries. They are the thousands of skilled nurses and medical personnel who support the national health services in many countries. They are the seafarers that guide the supertankers around the globe. They are the software engineers whose contributions are largely unsung with the appearance of new technology that make our lives that much

MINDAVIEWS

BY TITON MITRA

easier.

It is why they are and should be called “bagong bayani” (new heroes).

But for each of these successes, there are as many tragic stories that speak of the challenges that migrants and overseas workers face. The many Filipinos that have left unprepared have had to endure trafficking, illegal recruitment, abusive working and living conditions, contract violations, exploitation, discrimination and social exclusion. They are at times deprived of political participation, social protection and retirement benefits. Their children are left to fend for themselves, they suffer broken marriages and disconnection with life in the Philippines.

Perhaps less recognized also are the challenges faced by those who choose to finally return.

Years of savings are underutilized or squandered because of the lack of entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy. Skills and technologies painfully acquired cannot be productively applied owing to the absence of supporting institutions that can match individuals to the markets. Those that left with skills – teachers or engineers – but de-skilled after years of working as domestic workers, now face no employment prospects on return.

Leaving often isn’t a matter of choice but

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‘False and malicious’ Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte broke his silence last October 4 regarding the accusations hurled against him by alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Edgar Matobato.

It can be recalled Matobato claimed that then-mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte, together with the presidential son, ordered the killings of drug pushers, rapists, snatchers, terrorists, political rivals and even

civilians.

“It’s not our responsibility to kill people,” Vice Mayor Duterte said, adding that he never asked anyone to liquidate his enemies.

The vice mayor mentioned that he had never seen Matobato before and it would be unfair for the presidential son to show up in the Senate hearings just because of a “hearsay.”

Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief, described the testimony of Edgar Matobato in the extrajudicial killings during the Senate hearing as “false and malicious.”

“Those are false and malicious statements,” Dubria, said, adding that the accusations are all hearsay and were not supported by evidence.

Matobato also named SPO4 Arthur Lascanas, Supt. Antonio Rivera, now retired Col. Dionisio Abude and Reynaldo Capote as among those in the DDS operations.

“I don’t see any evidence implicating these police officers (to the allegation),” Dubria said.The DCPO chief stated that they don’t tolerate extrajudicial killings in the city.“It is not tolerated since it is illegal,” he said.

Dubria said he doesn’t personally know Matobato, but admitted he had heard the name even before the Senate hearing.

“I’m not sure if he is the same guy,” he said.

For his part, Rivera, now a senior superintendent, who is assigned as Dubria’s deputy director for administration, said he is not a member of the DDS. “There is no DDS,” Rivera clarified.

While admitting that he saw Matobato before, he doesn’t know the self-proclaimed DDS hitman.

also Maute Group members living in Maguindanao and that could be their connection,” he stressed.

In line with this threat, the DND chief urged the public to be more vigilant as these law-

less groups can create trouble anywhere in the Philippines.

“They can travel (anywhere), let us always be careful, vigilant and observant of what is happening in our surroundings,” he added. (PNA)

complaints received for arbitration were resolved within 20 working days.

According to DTI, the natures of most of these complaints were product quality imperfection, product & service warranty, unfair and unconscionable sales act and practice, etc.

Meanwhile, the agency has recorded a client satisfaction feedback of 98 percent (11,484/11,751) or 115 percent higher based on the target of 85 percent.

For other services, DTI may not have surpassed their target but data showed that the agency has achieved the following: 99.83 percent or 14,975 out of the 15,000 business name registered, 86 percent or 12 out of 14 Negosyo Centers launched, and 99 percent or 145 out of 156 Shared Service Facilities (SSFs) provided.

DTI-XI Regional Director Maria Belinda Q. Ambi CESO V pointed out that aside from the fact that the President is coming from Davao City, Duterte’s socio-economic agenda has been a factor on the boost of investment particularly his agenda on inclusive growth and MSME prioritization.

Meanwhile, Asst. Regional Director Edwin O. Banquerigo said 2016 is “much better than 2015” because of the key projects launched in the region.

Chenikandiyil, Joab Balicas alias Abrar, Abu Shuhada, Daniel Abu Utman and Jing Pagayao for lack of probable cause.

The suspects, aside from multiple murder and multiple attempted murder, were also indicted for the commission of terrorism under Section 3 of the Republic Act 9372 otherwise known as the Human Security Act of 2007 involving Destruction under 324 of the Revised Penal Code.

TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Factural, and Musaili Mustapha were arrested last October 4, and police seized the mobile phone containing the video footage before the bombing.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil alias Datu Boi, Jackson Mangulamas Usi alias Abu Mansor/Jam, Zack Villanueva Lopez alias Haron, and Ansan Abdulla Mamasapano alias Abu Hamsa were also arrested on October 29 after being tagged in the terror attack.

Police Officer Jessy Vincent Guinto Original, along with Arumpac Ibrahim Pandita, Hamsa Bagul, Musa Rasamal and Mohammad Said Jamla was also apprehended last December 22 in a police-army checkpoint in a town at Maguindanao.

DND... FROM 3

The Tiger... FROM 2

Year for industry clusters 2016 is also the year for the region’s priority industry clusters as big ticket events were conducted in the city such as the Kakao Konek 2016: Asia Pacific Cacao Conference, National Coffee Summit and National Banana Congress which gathered domestic and foreign stakeholders and served as platform for

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BEAUTIFICATION. Workers commissioned by the city government of Davao beautify the center island of a major thoroughfare in Barangay Pampanga, Davao City yesterday as part of the beautification program of the city. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody... FROM 3

plaint to look into the factual [basis of the declaration],” the President said.

“But what if the world is in chaos? That’s why there is martial law, so that only one person would be giving directions. That’s why I want to change that. But there is a safety measure there. I’ll tell you later,” he added.

The President’s statement drew flak with Robredo saying “this is a battle we will not take sitting down.”

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella has said the Vice President was merely “amplifying” concerns to make it appear as if President Duterte was actively planning to declare martial law. (PNA)

tribu ang Lumad, Kristiyano at Muslim, nagkakaisa tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”

Datu Mama Mantawil of the Muslim sector, Datu Espino Bandara for Lumad

and Eduardo Balindres for Christians signed the peace pact and vowed to prioritize peaceful solution to any misunderstanding that may arise in the future. (PNA)

the twin blasts in North Cotabato were the handiwork of illegal drug syndicates who have been hit hard by anti-drug operations.

Galgo added that public places will be secured by joint police and military personnel such as public terminals, Churches, malls, public markets, public gathering and village centers.

Road security personnel are also deployed along major

highways, especially in South Cotabato where burning of buses have been reported since November.

On Wednesday night, suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) tried, but failed, to bomb the Maguindanao police provincial office in Shariff Aguak town.

Two hand grenades were tossed at the provincial office but both did not explode.

(PNA)

local farmers to showcase their product for and entrepreneurs to learn and earn at the same time.

Aside from that, other initiatives that were taken by DTI were spearheading the technology benchmarking mission of Davao Oriental Rubber Industry Cluster Stakeholders at R. Testado’s Farm in Pres. Roxas, Cotabato Province which resulted to the establishment of a village-type rubber sheet production facility in Sitio Malig, Brgy. Don Mariano Marcos, Lupon, Davao Oriental.

the launching of 12 Negosyo Centers in the region which is 86 percent of 14 NCs target to be established. Negosyo Centers serve as the training ground for those who want to engage in the business sector. As of November, Negosyo Centers were established in San Isidro, Davao Oriental (Apr 20), Gov Generoso, Davao Oriental (June 27), Malita, Davao Occidental (July 13), Baganga, Davao Oriental (Aug 8), Davao del Sur Provincial NC (August 16), Compostela, CompostelaValley (Sept 13), Padada, Davao del Sur (Sept 22), Toril, Davao City (Sept 23), Tagum City, Davao del Norte (Sept 29), Monkayo, CompostelaValley (Sept 30) , Bansalan, Davao del Sur (Oct 27), and Lupon, Davao Oriental (Nov 8).

For Region XI MSMEs, the big ticket events for this year include Negosyo, Konsyumer, Atbp. on April 25 to 27 at SMX

Muslim... FROM 4 PRO-12... FROM 7

MSME development Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99 percent of the country’s total labor force, according to DTI. Thus, the president puts a strong emphasis on the prioritization of MSMEs in his 10-point socioeconomic agenda, DTI backs this initiative by

NorCot... FROM 3 President handed over medical assistance to blast victims, five of whom remained in the hospital.

“His directive was clear, that is, we should continue the anti-drug operation and not be cowed by retaliations from drug syndicates,” Tayong quoted the President as telling him.

“There should be no let up in your campaign against illegal drugs, I am behind you,” the President told him and other police officials in the province.

“It is good we have a President who is supportive of our duties as protector of the people,” Tayong said.

He assured residents the police are on top of the situa-

tion and that their cooperation is necessary for the campaign against lawlessness to succeed.

The anti-drug operation in Midsayap has weakened big time drug syndicates operating in the borders of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

High powered firearms and illegal drugs were seized when police raided the village of Lomopog in Midsayap, including cal. 50 machine guns, assault rifles and mortars.

However, drug syndicate leader Renz Tukuran and his men eluded arrest and vowed to get back at the police.

“He was our primary suspect in the grenade attack,” Tayong said. (PNA)

retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, up by 12.6 percent; and manufacturing, up by 9.2 percent.

“Bank lending to other sectors likewise expanded during the month except for public administration and defense, compulsory social security, which declined by 5.6 percent,” the central bank mentioned.

Likewise, loans for household consumption rose 24.5 percent last month from 22.2-percent growth in October.

Bank lending for household consumption remained robust in November with the continued growth in credit card loans, motor vehicle loans and salary-based general-purpose loans.

“Going forward, the BSP will continue to ensure that the expansion in domestic credit and liquidity conditions keeps pace with overall economic growth while remaining consistent with the BSP’s price and financial stability objectives,” the central bank said. (PNA)

Lanang Premier, Davao City, National MSME Summit 2016 on November 10-11 and the Kapatid, Angat Lahat! launching October 7, 2016 Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City SMX Lanang Premier, Davao City.

BIMP-EAGA Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Cluster Meeting which finalized the cluster goals, objectives, strategies, and realistic projects that will be included in the BIMP-EAGA Vision (BEV) 2025. The agency also discussed cross-cutting issues with the BIMP-EAGA Agri-business Cluster. Moreover, DTI participated in the BIMP-EAGA 25th Senior Officials Meeting and 20th Ministerial Meeting and Business Networking Session as well as endorsed the BIMP-EAGA Vision (BEV) 2025.

Bank... FROM 6

Gearing for global competitiveness Davao Region is also geared towards global competitiveness as DTI attended the 1st BIMP-EAGA Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum, shared and set standards on TVET qualifications in order to conform with the global requirements and address the needs of its stakeholders as well as encouraged multi-sector collaboration in technical education, training, and vocational industries within the sub-region through the sub-region’s TVET leaders.

DTI also presided the 5th

Nowhere but up With the overwhelming interest shown by potential investors as well as the unyielding support of the local government units, non-government organizations as well as the academe, surely, the projection of Davao Region’s development is nowhere but up.

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ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

80s idols reunite in GMA’s ‘Meant To Be’

THIS 2017, GMA Network is all set to captivate viewers’ hearts with the romantic drama Meant To Be topbilled by Kapuso star Barbie Forteza with her four leading men Ivan Dorschner, Addy Raj with Jak Roberto and Ken Chan. Aside from their fresh team up, Kapuso viewers are also looking forward to the much-awaited reunion of the popular group the Triplets Manilyn Reynes, Sheryl Cruz, Tina Paner - with Keempee de Leon in this primetime soap.

After more than 30 years, the Triplets join forces to add star power to GMA’s opening salvo for next year. Manilyn, Sheryl and Tina are all equally excited to work with each other and with the rest of the cast members.

They promised that this reunion project will be loved by their fans and will make them happy.

“Sa social media, they are really looking forward to watching us,” Manilyn said in an interview.

In the early 2000s, they got separated because Sheryl decided to lie-low in her showbiz career

and lived in the United States while Tina stayed in Spain.

Even though they’ve been apart, they are still close to each other. “Hindi pa rin naputol ‘yung friendship namin. And your friends will always remain friends lalo na kapag nasa loob ng puso niyo ang bawat isa,” said Sheryl.

The actresses are really thankful to GMA Network for bringing them together to star in this drama series. “I was just hoping and praying na sana one day ‘yung Triplets mabuo. Thank you to

GMA for this opportunity, “Tina said.

In the series, Manilyn plays the role of Amelia, Billie’s mother (Barbie) and twin sister of Suzy (Tina) who works as a municipal clerk. Because of a misunderstanding

with husband Wilton (Keempee De Leon), she will bravely raise her children on her own.

Tina is Suzy the mean and pushy mother of Mariko (Mika Dela Cruz) and Amelia’s fraternal twin. Since they were

young, she has always been jealous of Amelia which made her hate her and her niece, Billie.

Meanwhile, Sheryl plays as Ethan’s (Ivan) driven and goal-oriented mother, Beatriz. She works as an assistant in a

lifestyle magazine based in London but returns to the Philippines to head her own publication.

Amelia, Lucy and Beatriz were best of friends during college and a trio singing group back then.

Unfortunately, their group disbanded and they took different paths in their lives.

Kempee plays a vital role as Amelia’s husband, Wilton, the cool and naughty father of Billie.

After his separation with Amelia, he changed himself and became responsible until a big problem came his way.

Will Amelia and Wilton get back together? Or will things just get worst?

How are these characters going to affect the story of Billie and her handsome princes: Ethan, Jai, Macoy and Yuan?

Know their stories and catch Amelia, Lucy, Beatriz and Wilton in Meant To Be soon on GMA Telebabad.

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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STYLE

VOL. 9 I

Dazzling in

GREEN COLOR FORECASTER, Pantone is predicting that 2017 will be the year of greenery. From grass, to leaves, to apples and matcha, the fresh and zesty hue never fails to evoke fresh spring days when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew.

And what better way to start the new year than with a bit of sparkle and zing with bright jewels and accessories that not only evoke the color of regeneration and renewal, but with semi-precious and precious stones that emit positive vibes and and are refreshing to the eyes.

I visited the showroom of Davao jeweller Emilia Sitjar Jewellery Collection at the second level of the Abreeza Mall and here are some of the more interesting green baubles that caught my eye and I am sure will be the right shade of green for a prosperous new year.

Happy New Year everyone and may the color of lush greenery bring good fortune as well as a more relaxing and rejuvinating year for all of us!

This Burmese Jade ring with pastel colored sapphires never fails to catch one’s eye.

Add a touch of color with this pair of Carved Rubelite, Carved Emerald and a rare perfect pair South Sea Pearl drops, this piece can be worn in 6 ways.

Be sparking and splendid with this pair of Tsavorite and diamond earrings.

Bautiful Rose-cut Colombian Emeralds with Rose cut and Brilliant cut diamonds.

Feel refreshed and revived with this pair of carved jade, coral and diamond earrings.

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UP AND ABOUT

Six Filipino kids get exclusive training with FC Barcelona in Spain Bring back the good old days with this Art Deco inspired necklace made with smokey quartz, citrine, peridot, aquamarine and amethsyt beads.

Green Emerald Ear Climbers are sure to make a statement at any party or gathering.

AFTER 89 YEARS SINCE LEGENDARY FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR PAULINHO ALCANTARA RETIRED FROM FC BARCELONA, homegrown Filipino booters will once again step on the popular La Liga team’s pitch but this time for an advanced training and schooling with some of the Spanish club’s most revered coaches and trainers.

The six young Pinoy footballers aged 10-12 who luckily punched a ticket to the 12-day Astro Kem Bola Overseas Training Programme in Barcelona, Spain this month are Lance Lawrence Locsin, Jared Alexander Peña, Ryan Philip Johansson, Astrid Heiress Ignacio, Mikaela Jacqueline Villacin and Jasmine Cassandra Agustin.

The team was the product of a two-month long TM Football Para sa Bayan (TM FPSB) talent search organized by Globe Telecom in July and August. Globe was tapped

by Malaysian media and entertainment powerhouse Astro to be its partner in discovering talented young athletes and helping them further harness their craft.

Globe Director for Citizenship Fernando Esguerra expressed elation over the selection of the

six players especially after going through tough competition against other footballers from the South East Asian region. The six were among 12 Filipino players who qualified for the Astro Kem Bola Advanced Training Programme held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia two months ago which was also participated by 60 players from Malaysia and Singapore.

“We are so happy with the turnout, to think that this is the first time that Globe has partnered with Astro in this international activity. We are looking forward to being part of the Astro Kem Bola program again in the succeeding years,” Esguerra said. “The TM Football Para sa Bayan is now beginning to turn out quality players after four years of incubation.

Hopefully this will be an avenue for furthering the football development in the country. This is just the first step albeit one big, giant step.”

The Philippine players will join 22 kids from Malaysia and four from Singapore to train with coaches from FC Barcelona.

Datuk David Michael Yap, Astro Vice President of Community Affairs said: “Astro is committed to championing sports and sportsmanship to aspiring athletes within the region. We continue this commitment through Astro Kem

Bola.”

“Nothing is more rewarding than seeing potential turn into reality. In a special way for these young kids, the experience gives them a unique opportunity to really see how far their talent can develop at such an early age. I’m sure they will do us proud,” added Ray Guinoo, TM Portfolio and Brand Head.

TM FPSB technical director and Green Archers United coach Hans Peter Smit was not surprised with the naming of six to Barcelona.

“I personally saw the potential of these kids having supervised the program and try-outs in Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao and Muntinlupa a couple of months ago,” said Smit.

“This is a chance of a lifetime for these very young players. I wish that these kids will take it all in and savor the experience and use what they will learn to their advantage!

What they will learn is a win- win situation not just for them personally but for Philippine youth football.”

The kids were selected not only based on talent but also on other criteria such a teamwork; discipline, behavior and sportsmanship; communication on and off the pitch; positive attitude towards teammates, volunteers, and coaches; ability to listen to instructions; and good personality.

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EDGEDAVAO KORONADAL PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

TOP SELLING. The Matina Enclaves township of Davao-based realty firm Escandor Development Corporation had a banner year in 2016 having sold out two condominium buildings. In two years since sale of the prime property commenced, five buildings have been sold out making it the most sought-after property in Davao City.

IP Community Energized using Solar Facility

L

AST December 22, just before everyone started celebrating the most wonderful time of the year, Davao Light and Power Co. officially turned over a Solar Charging Station to the Indigenous Peoples of Sitio Malambuon in Malabog, Paquibato District, Davao City, which is roughly 15 to 20 kilometers away from the nearest Davao Light pole.

The 40 direct household beneficiaries also received solar power or deep cycle batteries that they will use to power up

small household appliances and lights.

The 72 kilometer distance from downtown which is a two hour travel where one hour is a very bumpy ride were not hindrances for the Davao Light team as headed by Daniel Cabigon, Manager of Streetlights and Pole Utilities Department and Fermin Edillon, Community Relations Manager to deliver a Christmas gift to the community.

It took Davao Light team almost two months to erect

SOLAR CHARGING STATION. Davao Light and Power Company made the celebration of the Yuletide season even merrier as it recently turned over a Solar Charging Station to an IP Community last December 22, 2016 at Sitio Malambuon, Malabog, Paquibato District, Davao City. In photo are Davao

the structures and prepare the houses ready for the solar electrification. With the help of many Davao Light employees who volunteered to do the house wiring and putting up of LED bulbs, switches and outlets in the 40 dispersed identified households, success was ensured.

Davao Light’s project partner, Ateneo de Davao’s Mindanawon Initiative for Cultural Dialogue will do the capacity training to the community to make the project more sus-

tainable.

The community prepared a simple salo-salo to celebrate their appreciation. A tribal ritual was also performed called “padugo” or sacrificing of a duck, which they did to bring prosperity to their land and to show value for the gift that they have received.

“The smiles in the faces of the Indigenous Peoples of Sitio Malambuon painted a picture of a bright and meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.” said Cabigon.

Light’s Community Relations Manager, Fermin Edillon, and Streetlights and Pole Utilities Department Manager, Daniel Cabigon handing over the LED bulbs that will used by the beneficiaries. (DLPC Photo)

GSIS allocates over P150-M emergency loan facility for calamity victims

O

VER P159 million worth of emergency loans has been allocated by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its active members and pensioners in areas affected by recent calamities.

GSIS said that the loan will be available for residents in municipalities in Pangasinan and in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat who were affected by typhoons Karen, Lawin and heavy rainfall and flooding.

Active members working or residing in the said municipalities, not on leave of absence without pay, have no

arrears in paying premium contributions, and have no unpaid loans for more than six months may apply for the loan.

Qualified members may borrow P20,000. Those with existing emergency loan may renew their loan amounting to P40,000, with their outstanding balance deducted from the new proceeds.

Old-age pensioners residing in the areas may apply for P20,000. However, those who are also active members (retired government workers who have been reemployed) may apply for the loan only

once.

Carrying a 6 percent interest rate per annum computed in advance, the loan is payable in 36 monthly installments.

The loan is covered by a loan redemption insurance which is deemed fully paid in case of a member’s demise, provided the loan repayment is up to date.

The deadline for loan application is January 21 and January 22, 2017 for Pangasinan municipalities and Kalamansig, respectively. Pensioners may apply over the counter at any GSIS branch office.

Members may apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GW@PS) kiosks in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; Robinsons Malls; and selected SM City branches in North EDSA, Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and SM Aura in Taguig.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS eCard or unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card. (PNA)

DOLE, OWWA welcome OFWs

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EPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello lll, together with Undersecretary Ciriaco A. Lagunzad and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac led the team of government officials and personnel who welcomed the returning and vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the traditional “OFW Salubong”.

The event was dubbed as “New Year’s OFW Salubong”, in time for the country’s year-end celebration. Three lucky OFWs from Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait received P50,000 each.

Aside from the lucky recipients, three other OFWs from Taipei, Doha, and Kuwait received a 32- inch television set apiece, while all returning/vacationing OFWs from the identified flights were serenaded by rondalla and were given tokens. The festivities started at 3 o’clock in the afternoon

at the NAIA Terminal 1 on Wednesday, December 28.

All of the prizes, cash and tokens came from OWWA. The OWWA Team started to meet and greet returning/vacationing OFWs in time for the Yuletide season which started last December 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and December 26 where five OFW winners from the identified flights were picked at random, each of whom received grocery items.

“Although we have a simpler celebration this year, we wish to brighten the day of our OFWs especially those who are spending the holiday season with their loved ones.

For DOLE and OWWA, this is the most appropriate time to make the OFWs’ homecoming a day to remember from DOLE-OWWA with love,” Administrator Cacdac said.

“In our small way, we wish all OFWs and their families a blessed and bountiful New Year,” the OWWA chief said. (PR)

Workshop for young researchers set

T

HE Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST_PCHRD), in partnership with DOST Cagayan Valley, will hold the 11th National Medical Writing Workshop and 4th Writeshop for Young Researchers on January 30-31 in Cauayan City, Isabela.

The workshop aims to enable selected health researchers on preparing scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals.

All participants are required to submit their draft journal articles for pre-evaluation. Evaluated articles will be revised during the smallgroup workshop exercises under the guidance of the faculty

and mentor-facilitators.

PCHRD said the workshop mentors are medical research writing experts here and abroad such as Dr. Jose Florencio Fabella Lapeña, Jr., Dr. Wilfred CG Peh, , and Dr. Cecilia Maramba-Lazarte.

Three months after the workshop, participants are expected to publish their improved journal manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to the dissemination of Filipino research information.

Held twice a year, this workshop is a product of PCHRD’s partnership with Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editor (APAME) and the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors. (PNA)

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

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This 2017, look 10 years younger – without surgery!

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

D

URING a beauty contest held in a historic hotel in Manila, the host asked one of the contenders: “How do you see yourself 10 years from now?” With confidence, she replied, “I am now 18, plus 10. I will be 28!”

Her answer may be funny but there’s more truth to it. Every day, we grow older. We cannot defy age. There are those who die younger like James Dean as a result of an accident. Some who were lucky died of old age like the Oscar-wining Paul Newman.

Each day should be counted as a blessing because we don’t know if we will still be alive the following day. Pop superstar Michael Jackson was busy preparing for his comeback concert when the Grim Reaper took his life; he was 50.

While some people welcome birthdays, there are those who dread them. The reason: another year is again added to their age. This is especially true among women. As Kathy Lette pointed out, “Age to women is like Kryptonite to Superman.”

At one time, a thirty-something woman applied for a job. The receptionist gave her an application form and one of the queries was about age. The woman wrote: “Nuclear.”

Individuals deal with aging in different ways. Some adjust to it; they plan for the “golden years,” and accept their decreasing vitality as inevitable. Others deny; they are always looking for “the fountain of youth.” They try to alter their appearance with make-up, hair coloring or plastic surgery. This must be the reason why beauty salons and clinics are sprouting all over the country.

Unknowingly, there are now ways to make younger without resorting to surgery. Thank to surgery-free techniques, you can now look

ten years younger than your real age. But of course there is always a price to pay.

Heading the list is botox, the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Small, diluted amounts when directly injected interrupt the connection between nerve and muscle, causing the surface area – frown and forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eye) and neck creases – to relax.

“The results are dramatic – with frown lines disappearing, forehead wrinkles smoothed out, younger brow positions, bigger double eyelids and eyes, and a lot more,” says Dr. Chua Jun Jin, a rejuvenative cosmetic and laser surgeon at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Center in Singapore.

Before you begin, be sure to choose only an experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Never settle for anything less. The first treatment lasts three to four months. The effects from botox may last up to six months. As muscle action gradually returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to re-appear and wrinkles need to be re-treated. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are being trained to relax.

Among the reported adverse events of botox from cosmetic use includes headaches, focal facial paralysis, muscle weakness, flu-like syndromes, and allergic reactions. But the most common side effect is bruising at the point of injection.

Botox is not recommended for all. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a neurological disease should not use botox. Since botox doesn’t work for all wrinkles, especially those caused by sun damage and gravity, a consultation with a doctor is recommended.

Another age-defying technique is retinoids. These are used in the treatment of many

diverse diseases and are effective in the treatment of a number of dermatological conditions such as inflammatory skin disorders, skin cancers, and disorders of increased cell turnover (example psoriasis).

Natural compounds derived from vitamin A, retinoids treat brown spots and superficial wrinkles. Studies have shown that topical creams containing retinoids tretinoin and tazarotene are highly effective.

When used regularly, retinoids can reduce fine wrinkles, rough skin and other signs of ageing. “It may take one month or so before seen,” says Dr. Ivor Lim, a plastic surgeon at the Camdem Medical Center in Singapore.

According to Dr. Andrew Khoo, a plastic surgeon at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Center, prescription-strength retinoids are stronger, more effective and produce results faster than over-the-counter products. Common side effects include irritation, such as redness, flaking and skin sensitivity.

For those with sagging skin, the thermage procedure is the answer as it tightens the skins without incisions. “It’s especially great in men who don’t like the idea of cosmetic surgery and don’t like people to even suspect they’ve had it,” says Dr. Lim. Some patients notice the results soon after the treatment, although in most patients they will appear gradually over 2 to 6 months.

Here’s how it works: Radio frequencies heat and damage collagen. In turn, the collagen contracts, then rebuilds and strengthens, tightening and lifting skin.

Thermage is new, so long-term results are unknown. Each time treatment is delivered there is an immediate cool sensation, followed by a brief hot sensation, followed by a cool sensation. The attending physician may offer anesthetic enhancement to increase the comfort.

Injectable skin fillers have added new dimensions to the field of cosmetic dermatology, allowing new forms of facial rejuvenation and wrinkle treatment without surgery. Injectable skin and wrinkle fillers are used to increase tissue volume (as with lip augmentation), reduce wrinkles, and improve skin’s overall contour.

There are over 40 different varieties of skin fillers available in the market, made from substances such as bovine and human collagen and cadaver tissue to body fat and calcium. Collagen, a natural

protein in the human body that supports the joints, bones, ligaments, and skin has been used since 1976.

Fascian is a long-lasting wrinkle filler that some studies indicate may actually stimulate the production of natural collagen in the body. After Radiesse is injected, thin tissue forms around the microspheres, filling wrinkles and creating a semi-permanent support structure for the skin.

Results may last up to two years or more, though touchup procedures may be needed.

For people having problems with dull, yellow teeth, solution comes in the form of teeth whitening.

Many teeth whitening systems are available, including whitening toothpastes, over-the counter gels, rinses, strips, and trays, and whitening agents obtained from a dentist.

“For those who want immediate results, like someone getting married in a few weeks, I usually recommend ‘power bleaching,’ which uses a light-emitting diode lamp to hasten the bleaching process,” says Dr. Zosima Reyes, chairperson for the Department of Dentistry and Oral Medicine at St. Luke’s Medical Center. “Dramatic results are obtained in an hour.”

Store-bought strips, which whiten teeth in one to two weeks, may be all that’s needed for some people.

How long any treatment lasts varies, depending on the daily oral habits. Over the counter-products can be effective for up to a year, while laser treatments can last from six months to two years.

Teeth whitening is ideal for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings) and gums. Individuals with yellow tones to their teeth respond best. By the way, bleaching may cause temporary tooth sensitivity and gum irrigation. (Photos taken from the net)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

SPECIAL FEATURE 13

Davao Tourism and ‘Duterte magic’

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

D

AVAO Tourism surges against the odds.

The so called, “Duterte magic” never fails Davaeños as Rodrigo Duterte’s election to presidency spurred to overwhelming opportunities for Davao City and for the whole Region XI. Despite the incident that shook the Davao City on September 2, contrary to the expectation of many, Dabaweño’s resiliency has, in fact, played a vital role in increasing economic and tourism opportunities in the region.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office XI headed by Regional Director Roberto P. Alabado with the support of Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Eden Josephine L. David, local government units and stakeholders has made the tourism boost possible.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Investments Promotion Division Chief Ernie Tomas has also expressed optimism with the wave of stakeholders tapping the agency to invest in Mindanao especially in Davao

City.

The Roxas avenue bombing on September 2, 2016 which left 15 dead and 66 injured has carved a deep scar in the hearts of Dabaweños but also proved the city’s disaster preparedness and capacity to rise up against terrorism.

For this year, a number of big ticket events, both local and international, were held in the region geared with the implementation of Department of Tourism’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) Program. In the “Let’s Meet in Davao MICE Program Report” given by MICE Execom Chair Kennedy V. Kapulong, he stated that one convention held once in every two months of 2015 has increased to one convention for every month of 2016.

MICE is one of the top priority programs of Department of Tourism with the objective of marketing the Philippines as a major convention destination in Asia, taking charge of attracting, promoting, facilitating, and servicing large-scale events, international fairs and conventions, congresses, sports competitions, expositions and the like.

With the partnership of tourism stakeholders, Davao region has catered to local and national sectoral conventions such as Cocolink 2016 with 500 delegates and the National Coffee Summit with 500 delegates all held in SMX Convention Center and even levelled up to cater international conventions such as Kakao Konek: Asia-Pacific Cacao Conference bringing 800 delegates and BIMP-EAGA International Halal Congress.

Aside from MICE-initiated events, other happenings brought a wave of visitors in the region such as the National Batang Pinoy 2016 held at Tagum City, Davao del Norte this December.

A promising 2017 With the launching of Davao Metro Shuttle’s Go Mindanao Bus, people can expect more boost in the tourism industry of Davao region as well as its neighboring areas.

With MICE’s incentives, a number of conventions have been slated on 2017 such as Knights of Rizal Convention and PAL Interclub Golf Tournament on February, the International Ballroom Event Asia-tour on March, Presi-

Photo by Lean Daval Jr.

dent’s Cup (Football Tournament) on April and Asian Raptor’s Conservation Conference on October.

For 2017, Kapulong has announced that aside from tourism packages, MICE has expanded the cover of its incentives to spa and wellness and entertainment particularly videography and photography as well as additional tourist attractions for the Duterte Tour.

For January 2017 alone, the ASEAN at 50 will be launched in Davao City which will gather local and foreign delegates to see what Mindanao especially Davao Region could offer. Also, the

Mindanao Tapestry Fashion Show of Miss Universe 2017 will also be held in Davao City.

Aside from that, with Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) tying up with DOT, agencies involved in crafting program towards an “integrated and globally competitive Mindanao”.

To kick-off, the Mindanao Development Corridors Joint Planning and Programming (MinDC-JPP) succeeded the MOA signing event which was attended by provincial tourism officers from all over the island region and served as platform for tourism officers to present their propos-

als for tourism development for 2017 and beyond which will focus on the biodiversity and ecotourism cluster to the pannel consists of DOT, MinDa and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

Chain reaction Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo once stressed that tourism boost will also lead to economic opportunities within a community. Thus, a healthy relationship between stakeholders and government would be beneficial for the region and the country as a whole.

14

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 9 ISSUE 224 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 1 - 2, 2017

CHAMP. Filipino junor bantamweight champion Jerwon Ancajas is set to defend his title against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez on January 29 in China.

CHINA DEFENSE

Ancajas to defend title vs. Rodriguez in China

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UNIOR bantamweight world titleholder Jerwin Ancajas, the first Manny Pacquiao-promoted boxer to win a world title, will make

his first defense against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez on Jan. 29 at the Studio City casino resort in Macau, China, Ancajas adviser Sean Gibbons told ESPN on Wednesday.

Ancajas (25-1-1, 16 KOs), a 24-year-old southpaw from the Philippines, won a 115-pound title belt by dominant unanimous decision from then-undefeated McJoe Arroyo, of Puerto Rico, whom he knocked down in the eighth round, on Sept. 3 in Manila.

“This fight with Rodriguez has been in the works for the last few weeks, and now it’s time to get Jerwin busy,” Gibbons said. “He is one of the best at 115 pounds in the world, and with a little more experience, he’ll be right there with all the top guys in the division, guys like [titleholder] Roman Gonzalez and [former titlist Carlos] Cuadras. He just needs a little more experience.

“A lot of people may not

3 Pinoys lauded in Asia Boxing Awards

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SIAN Boxing Confederation President Serik Konakbayev of Kazakhstan announced Wednesday the winners of the Asia’ Best in Boxing Awards for 2016, which included three Filipinos.

ABAP’s 2014 discovery Criztian Pitt Laurente, 16 years old of General Santos City, was cited as Best Junior Boxer in Asia for 2016 for his spectacular Gold Medal win in the Children of Asia Tournament held in Yakutsk, Russia last July. Laurente won the only gold medal for the Philippines in that competition, where Filipinos competed in 9 different sports.

Criztian Laurente

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Laurente comes from a family of boxers-his father Cristino is one of Gensan’s foremost boxing coaches, elder brother Criz Sander is also a national team member, mother Rosalinda is an ABAP National Referee-Judge.

Long-time ABAP head coach Patricio Gaspi was acknowledged as the Best Asian Coach. Gaspi, a former national boxer, is the Chairman of the ASBC Coaches Commission and is a certified AIBA 3-Star Coach (the highest level) and is also a certified AIBA Coaching Instructor. He is also a member of the AIBA Coaches Commission.

2016 Best Supervisor in

Patricio Gaspi

Asia is Maria Karina Picson, who passed the ITO (International Technical Official) Course and Examinations in Antalya, Turkey in 2011 and the AIBA Supervisor’s Course and Examinations in 2015 in Almaty Kazakhstan.

She is certified for all three AIBA programs- AOB (AIBA Open Boxing, the Olympic program) WSB (World Series of Boxing, a team tournament fought in 5 rounds) and the APB (AIBA Pro Boxing, fought over 12 rounds). Picson is also a member of both the AIBA and ASBC Women’s Commissions.

ABAP President Ricky Vargas sent a congratula-

tory message to the three awardees calling them “Asia’s Best, Philippines’ Pride”. He encouraged them to continue to strive for excellence in their respective roles and to inspire everyone in ABAP to do the same.

There were 14 awardees in all including Danita Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan as Best Male Elite Boxer, China’ Yu Jin Hua (Best Woman Elite Boxer), Hayato Tsushima of Japan (Best Youth Boxer), Asian Discovery of the Year Shakhram Giyasov of Uzbekistan, Kuok Veng Vong of Macau as Best Asian ITO and Kazakhstan as Best Asian National Federation for 2016.

Maria Karina Picson

PH to host Asian junior slugfest

HE Philippines will host the Asian Junior Boxing Championship in August next year.

This was announced on Thursday by Association of Boxing Alliance in the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson after the ASBC

Asian Boxing Confederation awarded the hosting to the Philippines during its executive committee meeting recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

According to Picson, ABAP president Ricky Vargas told officials during the meet-

ing that the Philippines is ready to host the tournament on Aug. 3-8, with Davao City as the possible venue.

It will be the second time that the ABAP under the leadership is hosting an ASBC-sanctioned tournament since the 2013 Asian Youth

Championship in Subic.

The hosting of the Asian Juniors next year is part of ABAP’s program to intensify its talent recruitment and training to boost the medal chances of young Filipino boxers in local and international tournaments. (PNA)

give him the credit he deserves for the win against McJoe Arroyo, but Jerwin beat one of the top-four guys in the division. Arroyo was undefeated going into the fight. That was a real fight. This kid just needs some exposure. He’s good, he’s exciting, and he’s left-handed with power just like his promoter, Manny Pacquiao. He likes to mix it up and engage and give fans a good fight.”

Gibbons said that though nobody will fill Pacquiao’s considerable shoes once he retires, he thinks Ancajas has a chance to become the Philippines’ top fighter and somebody who can excite fans all over.

“Somebody will step out of Manny Pacquiao’s shadow, and I believe Jerwin has the type of ability,” Gibbons said.

“He just needs more exposure and needs to get to the U.S., where HBO is doing fights in that division with Gonzalez.”

The fight with Rodriguez

will give Ancajas his first American television exposure. Gibbons said it will air on Spanish-language cable sports network beIN Sports Espanol on tape delay.

Rodriguez (32-4, 19 KOs), 27, of Mexico, briefly held an interim junior flyweight title in 2011 and early 2012. He has won three fights in a row since dropping four of five bouts between 2012 and 2014, including a sixth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Kazuto Ioka in a fight for a vacant junior flyweight world title.

The fight will be Rodriguez’s second in the Philippines. In 2013 in Manila, he lost a unanimous decision to Milan Melindo, who last month won an interim junior flyweight title.

In the co-feature, heavyweights Bogdan Dinu (16-0, 12 KOs), 30, of Romania, and Raphael Tronche (8-0, 4 KOs), 27, of France, will square off in a scheduled 12-round bout for a regional belt.

Andray Blatche

Blatche wants to return to Gilas

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NDRAY Blatche has hinted on social media about his interest to play for Gilas Pilipinas as its naturalized player in international competitions next year.

Blatche made the comment through the Instagram account of returning Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, who made a post related to TNT point guard Jayson Castro being the best point guard in Asia.

Castro had announced at the end of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila that he was retiring from the national team, but Blatche encouraged him to return to Gilas. “@jaywill_17 come on back,” wrote Blatche, using his

@draylive Instagram account on Thursday, “and while yal at it bring back Blatche,” he added.

Earlier this month, Gilas officials said they are looking at a Plan B in the event Blatche isn’t available to play for Gilas in international tournaments next year.

Blatche is currently playing out a three-year contract with the Xinjiang Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association, whose schedule may conflict with the reformatted Fiba calendar.

However, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) made it clear the former Brooklyn Net is still the first option to beef up the national team.

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