Edge Davao 9 Issue 233 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ALL-OUT SUPPORT. Emergency and disaster responders from Davao City and nearby provinces participate in yesterday’s mustering of responders and official activation of Davao Regional Incident Management Team (RIMT) for ASEAN Summit 2017 at the Davao Crocodile Park in Ma-a, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

PM ABE BACKS PEACE PROCESS Says support for peace and development in Mindanao a priority PM Abe visit to spark By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE government of Japan will continue to provide positive support for the peace and development of Mindanao. This was one of the priorities that Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized during his statement in a press conference in Malacanang on Thursday with President Duterte. Japan’s government is a top overseas development assistance donor in the Philippines particularly supporting programs and projects in conflict-affected communities in Mindanao. Since 2006, the amount

of grants provided by the Japanese government intended to support peace efforts in the island-region has already reached over $200 million. Last Thursday’s visit of Abe to the country served as a testament of Japan’s continuing support to win peace and development in Mindanao. President Duterte welcomed Abe, saying that the nation is pleased to host his Japanese counterpart as this is the very first official visit of a head of state under his administration. “This demonstrates the shared commitment to further strengthen our important and

valued strategic partnership. Your Excellency, I look forward to a most productive meeting today,” the President said. The meeting, he added, will provide the opportunity for the two leaders to identify ways of building on agreements that were made in October last year. These agreements include intensifying trade and investments, bolstering defense, securing just and lasting peace and development in Mindanao, strengthening law enforcement against criminality and ensuring maritime safety and security. “Let us continue to work

together to achieve the goals of a more stable and secured region so that our nations and peoples can enjoy more peace, progress and prosperity,” Duterte said. Abe also announced their support to development initiatives in Davao City. “A decision has been taken to start studies for the urban development and flood control of Davao City,” he stressed. For further development of the Philippines, Abe said Japan will create business opportunities through ODA and private sector investments, which together will be over 1

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Davao economic gains By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

INDANAO Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Romeo Montenegro revealed on Wednesday the economic opportunities arising from the two-day visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would benefit both Davao and the island

region of Mindanao. “The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Mindanao brings Philippines-Japan relations to the next level,” he stressed. Montenegro said Philippines and Japan has been enjoying strong bilateral

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ARRIVAL. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila for his state visit to the Philippines on January 12, 2017. ACE MORANDANTE/Presidential Photo

PM Abe’s wife Akie to visit Mintal Japanese cemetery By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

HE wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Akie will visit the Japanese cemetery in Mintal, Davao City’s “Little Tokyo.” Akie will pay tribute to the Japanese soldiers buried there during the Japanese Occupation in 1939-1945 including those who died earlier. Around 300 Japanese soldiers were buried there before and after the World War Two from 1939 to 1945. The Japanese Cemetery was maintained by the city government. Mintal was established as the Little Tokyo of Davao in 2009. It was part of the former Abaca plantation owned by Japanese businessman Kyosaburo Ota, who brought the first Japanese workers in the city in

the year 1903. According to Davao Historian Librada Rufu, the Japanese workers were brought into the city to work on the Abaca plantation; later on they owned the greater part of the Abaca plantations in the different parts of the city. Rufu said that the city was tagged as the Little Tokyo of the Philippines because of the numbers of Japanese here. “The City was called as the Little Tokyo of the Philippines since there are so many Japanese living here because of the Abaca plantations, they also develop the economy of the city,” she said. She said that the economy of Davao started from the Osaka bazaar established by the

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Davao to craft 30-year road, infra blueprint By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

HE City Government of Davao will be crafting a blueprint to address transport and infrastructure development concerns for the next 30 years. City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) chief Ivan Cortez, told reporters city planners will be partnering with some Davao-based consultants in creating the roadmap for transport, infrastructure, and traffic planning. He did not name the consultants.

He said that they would also be coordinating with the City Transport and Traffic Management Office and the City Engineer’s Office in coming up with the blueprint. “The roadmap that would be created with the consultants would give us a direction on what we would want to happen for the city,” Cortez said, pointing out that the projects identified in the plan have to be in place by 2040. The roadmap belongs to the 10-point agenda of

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio which includes the need for a multi-modal transportation system for the commuters. “The best indicator of development is when people use mass transit,” Cortez pointed out, as it would mean that the mass transit is effective and efficient. He told the reporters that the mass transit must be strengthened as they noted that the city is as of now amassed with vehicles as individuals can now buy cars with low reimburse-

ment of auto advances. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), according to Cortez, is also assisting the city government in developing several urban infrastructure plans. Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a press statement that the project would enhance the capabilities of both local and national government personnel on having new methodologies and better practices in implementing infrastructure planning.

the project will push through as JICA responded positively when the city proposed it in a meeting in last year. “The proposal was taken very positively by JICA that it will be undertaken here,” he said, adding that the international agency will just have to finish some of their projects before they proceed with another project. JICA consultants will begin the work within the year once the proposal is approved. Cortez explained that the Davao City needs this kind of project since it is growing fast

with the entry of new investors and migrants. He added that JICA had chosen the city because it is easy to implement a project here. “We have low-lying areas, and most of these are found in the downtown [Poblacion] area; if we want to protect some of the investments already on the ground, we need to have a modern approach to our drainage projects,” Cortez said. It can be recalled that city engineer Joseph Felizarta met with JICA representatives

and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last year to discuss the upgrading of the drainage masterplan. Felizarta said the masterplan needs updating to include the rivers and canals in the suburbs to come up with a better plan for anti-flooding infrastructure projects and that the upgrade would be conducted within the year. Cortez noted that the blueprint might include actions on the informal settlers along the riverbanks, which are considered to be a danger zone. TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

Manang Fely, first elected lady councilor, dies at 95 Joint Davao-JICA study for new drainage plan eyed

ELICIDAD Cendana-Santos, the last of the first Davao City officials elected in 1955, died quietly last Dec. 14 at the age of 95. Manang Fely, native of Urdaneta, Pangasinan, was a lawyer, graduating from the Far Eastern University college of law in 1947. She passed the bar examination the same year. For two years, she worked with the House of Representatives as a lawyer in the Legislative Reference Service-Bill Division. That was her first exposure to lawmaking. She came to Davao City on invitation of her brother Jose

and practiced her profession in the undivided Davao province and neighboring areas. In 1955 when the first election for Davao City officials

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HE City Government of Davao and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency are set to conduct a new study that will pave the way for a drainage master plan of the city. According to City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Ivan Cortez, the study would include a look at the movement and behavior of the city’s riverways and waterways, particularly the water flow from the mountains downhill. Cortez said he is optimistic

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Miss Universe candidates arrive in the Philippines

MORE IN THE DRAWING BOARD. City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) officer-in-charge Ivan Cortez bares that the city government of Davao is planning to build two flyovers, one in Matina Crossing and the

other in Toril, within three years to ease the traffic congestion in those areas. Cortez made the disclosure in yesterday’s I-speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr.

HE bulk of candidates for the Miss Universe 2016 pageant have started arriving Thursday in Manila in preparation for the series of events leading to the coronation night on January 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Miss USA Deshauna Barber was among those who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2. When asked why she should win the prestigious title, she said “I think I have to win because I represent women around the world.” Barber is the first woman actively serving the United States Military Reserve to win Miss USA. Others who showed up together shortly after the arrival of Miss USA were Miss Canada Siera Bearchell and Miss British Virgin Islands Erika Creque.

Bearchell said she advocates for the empowerment of young women in the society as she cites her experience being bullied in her younger years. “I want to win for every young women,” she said. For her part, Creque proudly promoted her country and expressed her excitement to partake in every pageant activity. At around dawn, Miss Costa Rica Carolina Duran and Miss Nicaragua Marina Jacoby also arrived. At least 46 Miss Universe candidates are expected to arrive today from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.. Earlier this week, four candidates -- US Virgin Islands, Guyana, Brazil, and Sierra Leone -- also arrived. Over 80 bets are expected to compete in the world’s most prestigious pageant. (PNA)

HE Supreme Court on Thursday clarified that there is no temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of programs under the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. SC spokesman Theodore Te said that there is no TRO against the RH law but explained that the Aug. 24, 2016 decision of the high court that sustained the TRO earlier issued against the acquisition by the Department of Health (DoH) and distribution of contraceptive products Implanon and Implanon NXT to the public does not refer to the RH law. The reports on the TRO came as President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 12 that mandates aggressive government action in providing universal access to RH programs. Te noted that the high court gave a deadline for the Food and Drug Administra-

tion (FDA) to comply with the ruling and suggested that RH advocates should instead follow up such compliance with the said agency. The SC has likewise ordered the DOH, for its part, to formulate rules for purchase and distribution of the said products and also to generate the complete list of government’s programs and services under the RH law for distribution to all health care service providers. Te said the DOH should likewise be asked about its compliance with such order. The said ruling issued by the high court’s second division rejected the bid of the DOH to proceed with the procurement and distribution of contraceptive implants. The SC also struck down the certifications and re-certifications issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 77 contraceptive

Court says no TRO City Hall is monitoring Supreme stopping RH law programs Buhangin road projects T By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS HE City Government has assured the public that it has been overseeing the progress of construction of the Buhangin-Cabantian-Indangan Road after receiving complaints from the residents and motorists affected by the delays.

City Planning and Development Office chief Ivan Cortez revealed that a monitoring group composed of city hall officials and representatives from different construction firms in the road construction are checking out the sites. “They [monitoring group]

reported that the construction is 70 percent complete; we see it is true,” said Cortez. He added that he gathered all the contractors involved in the project as their office received reports that the construction has been considered as “burdensome” to the resi-

dents in the area. Cortez said the contractors are reminded to finish the project on time. However, he said there had been a lot of slippage in the project for the past two months due to the severe

GAS station worker was injured when unidentified men tossed a hand grenade at the Shell Gas Station along the national highway here at 11 a.m. Thursday. Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, North Cotabato police provincial director, in his report to Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, Po-

lice Regional Office (PRO) 12 director, said the blast slightly injured Jay Salac, 34, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Pikit. Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr, speaking for PRO-12, said the victim who sustained injuries on his elbow was rushed to Cadulong emergency hospital. Galgo said post blast in-

vestigation conducted by Pikit bomb experts showed the explosive used by still unidentified men was a fragmentation grenade based on pieces of evidence recovered at the site. “A safety lever was found in the perimeter of the gas station,” Galgo said, adding that investigation was still going on.

Police are reviewing the gas station’s CCTV footage that captured the suspects. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Last week, the barangay hall of Barangay Poblacion was also subjected to grenade attack by still unidentified

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Grenade blast rocks gas station in NorCot A

Majority of 10,000 new troops to be allocated to Army -- AFP

AJORITY of the 10,000 additional troops which the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now authorized to recruit will be given to the Army. This was stressed by AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in a briefing Wednesday. Out of the 10,000 additional troops, 8,000 will be allocated to the Army while the remaining 2,000 will be divided evenly between the Air Force and Navy. He also clarified that the additional soldiers will be used to bring to bring up to strength undermanned units. “These new troops will be used to reinforce under strength units. We will not be raising any new divisions or battalions despite being allowed to recruit 10,000 more

soldiers,” Arevalo said in Filipino. He also clarified that the additional 10,000 troops have been long requested by the AFP but was only granted by the incumbent Chief Executive. At present, the AFP numbers around 125,000 troops with an 85,000 allocated to the Army and remaining 45,000 split between the Air Force and Navy. “These additional troops are needed for our various security engagements,” Arevalo when asked on the reason for the new troopers when the government is now engaged on peace talks with various separatist groups. By security engagements, the AFP official is referring to the Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group and other lawless elements. (PNA)

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UPBEAT. Davao City Central 911 officer-in-charge Emmanuel Jaldon delivers an inspirational message before emergency and disaster responders from Davao City and nearby provinces who participated in yesterday’s

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mustering of responders and official activation of Davao Regional Incident Management Team (RIMT) for ASEAN Summit 2017 at the Davao Crocodile Park in Ma-a, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

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National coffee council creation in 2017 pressed

TAKEHOLDERS have expressed optimism President Duterte will sign an executive order this year that will establish once and for all a Philippine Coffee Council to strengthen the coffee industry. Atty. Lucky Seigfred Balleque, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry in Compostela Valley told the Habi at Kape media forum that industry players and stakeholders are looking forward to the signing of the EO this year. “All stakeholders are united in this quest for the creation of a Philippine Coffee Council,” he said in a text message to Edge Davao. Edge Davao has earlier reported the EO concerned the launching of a national coffee brand. Balleque clarified it referred to a national coffee council. “The president is supportive of the coffee industry, that’s why we are pushing for the creation of the Philippine Coffee [Council],” said the provincial director during the forum. The creation of the Philippine Coffee Council will continue the efforts started by Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA) through its Mindanao Productivity in Agriculture Commerce and Trade (MinPact) project funded by the United States Department of Agriculturewhich is about to end in 2018. The provincial director added that DTI will continue to support the coffee industry until the last year of Duterte Administration. Chief of Party of ACDI/ VOCA, Thelonious Trimmell recalled that Philippine coffee was one of the best in the world in terms of quality and one of the largest producers and exporters 1800s and even uplisted in 1950s. However, he said that in

1990’s to 2000, coffee production was reduced due to price depression in the global market, forcing the local farmers to shift to other crops. MinPact project aims to increase the income of 10,600 smallholder coffee, cacao, and coconut farmers in Southern, Northern, and Western Mindanao through increased production, productivity, quality, and strengthening the capacity and services of associations, cooperatives and 600 other value chain players. The MinPact project also aims to transition the island region from a commercial grade coffee grower to a producer of fine Robusta and specialty Arabica coffees, and help Mindanaoan farmers tap into the global market by increasing their exposure and knowledge to international coffee standards. Trimmell added, the Coffee Quality Institute and the Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI), ACDI/VOCA, through the MinPact project, sponsors beneficiary farmers and value chain partners to study the Q Coffee System, a renowned and internationally–accepted coffee indentification and scoring system that engages the industry at the producer level to identify lots for specialty, at the export/import level by certifying individuals to grade coffees, and at the buyer level to offer a consumer-facing product with the Q mark. He explains, the system has resulted in greater opportunity for producers to access the premium price in the market and improve their economic viability. Trimmell said that with their advocacy on educating farmers, buyers and consumers, farmer organizations on specialty coffee, not only the quality of the coffee will improve but also the farmers will have knowledge on prop-

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ALL SYSTEMS GO. Socio-economic Secretary and National Economic Development Authority Director General Ernesto Pernia, in a press briefing in Malacañan on Wednesday announces that President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 12 that will allow government agencies

to fully implement the Reproductive Health law which is stalled due to a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court. ALBERT ALCAIN/ Presidential Photo

Package of infra projects seen under Sara’s tenure By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

PACKAGE of unprecedented infrastructure projects is expected to pour in Davao City within the term the three-year term of Mayor Sara Duterte, thanks to the Department of Public Works and Highways. City Planning and Development Office head Ivan Cortez said that aside from the P40 billion worth of road construction projects that the DPWH will implement this year, two flyovers have been programmed to lessen the worsening traffic congestion in the city. Cortez said that two out of the four flyover request of the

mayor were approved by the DPWH and are set to be implemented in the southern part in the city. “Mayor Sara really requested for the flyovers to lessen the traffic congestions. But the one in Matina Crossing and the other one in Crossing Toril area were the ones approved,” he said. Cortez said the flyovers will be the answer to the traffic congestion in the Southern part of the city. He stressed that the flyovers will be coming from the different budget and not from the P40 billion that the city as previously announced.

In the coming months, the phase 1 of the coastal road constructions is also set to start. The Phase 1 will start in coastline in Toril to the coastline of Matina. The multibillion project will stretched out from Toril to Roxas Ave. Cortez said that they are now coordinating with the DPWH to start the P150 million phase 1 of the coastal road. “The coastal road is very big and heavy, it was decided that we will divide it into 3 phases, the first phase will start this year,” he said. The 35-kilometer coastal road will cost P34 billion.

Former Davao City Mayor now President Rodrig Duterte signed a joint venture agreement with the Mega Harbour reclamation project last year. The project will have an international port, four islands with residential, commercial and tourism areas. Meanwhile, the City Planning vows to pursue the Davao railway system that will travel from Toril to the airport area. Cortez said that they already received 4 proposals for the project; one of them is a Davao based contractor. Cortez though did not divulge any information of the bidders.

TANDARD and Poor’s (S&P) has upgraded its growth forecasts for the Philippines for 2016 and 2017 as it continues to see the economy remaining an outperformer in the region. Based on the debt rater’s Jan. 10, 2017 report, it now sees a 6.6 percent growth for the domestic economy for 2016 and 6.4 percent output this year. These were previously at 6.5 percent and 6.3 percent based on the credit rater’s report in November 2016. The 2018 forecast was maintained at 6.2 percent and the debt rater also announced its 2019 growth forecast, which is an print of 6.3 percent. S&P has an investment grade rating of ‘BBB’ for the country, with a Stable outlook.

It elevated the country to investment grade in May 2013, with a rating of “BBB-” after noting the improvement in the country’s external profile, slowing inflation, and less reliance on foreign sources to funds its programs. It hiked a notch the investment grade the following year after citing that reforms in the structural, administrative, institutional and governance areas have the ability to be sustained in the future. ”The stable outlook balances the Philippines’ lower middle-income economy and diminished policy stability, predictability, and accountability against its strong external position, which features rising foreign exchange reserves and low and declining external debt,” the debt rater said in its latest report. (PNA)

sees 6.6% GDP growth McDonald’s launches new steak product S&P rate in 2016, 6.4% this year A S By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

WELCOME addition to McDonald’s range of filling and affordable rice meals, the new Mushroom Pepper Steak was formally launched by the fastfood chain to Davao media on Wednesday in its Bajada branch, Davao City. It features a juicy burger patty, smothered in a mushroom cream sauce with a hint of pepper, and topped off with sliced button mushrooms. During the launching, Mc-

Donald’s held a New Year’s party featuring parlor games and a taste test of the Mushroom Pepper Steak. Rossielle “Ross” S. Manicad, Account Manager, EON PR said the product was already out in the market by December but it was formally launched on key cities this month starting with Davao City. Manicad also hopes a good reception from the public since this is their first burger steak

with rice product. He also said it is inevitable to be compared with competing fast food chains but what he is confident about is the good comments of their costumers on their steak’s pepper sauce. The one-piece Mushroom Pepper Steak with a regular drink for only P55. It also comes as a two-piece meal with a regular drink for only P89 or with a McFreeze starting at P69 for a 1-pc meal and P99 for a 2-pc

meal. To order the New Mushroom Pepper Steak via Drive-Thru or McDelivery (86-236, www.mcdelivery.com.ph, or the McDo PH app). McDonald’s encourages its costumers to share their photo of the day while leisurely enjoying their STEAKation with the new Mushroom Pepper Steak on Facebook, facebook.com/ McDo.ph or tag @McDo_PH on Twitter or Instagram.

“T

a brighter 2017 ahead for the region as he discussed the priority projects for this year, with poverty alleviation on the top list, also including the issue on security, terror threats, illegal drugs and crimes. “Ang pinaka sentro na

aming tututukan ngayon is on poverty alleviation program. Meron kaming P4 billion intended for poverty alleviation at bibigyan namin ito ng special attention. Una dapat equitable ang buhos ng funds. Second, dapat ang priority dito ay yung poorest of

the poor.” Hataman said. As ARMM bats for 30% poverty incidence rate in 2019, the regional government is undertaking several programs to include the household level “Apat na Dapat” (shelter, energy,

P4-B poverty alleviation program remains ARMM’s priority HE level of transparency in different agencies and department should be more than what we have done from the past year,” said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman. Governor Hataman sees

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7 SUBURBIA

DPWH set to start 2017 infra projects in Panabo T

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to implement the proposed infrastructure projects in the city worth P459 million on the first quarter of 2017. This is based on the letter sent to the city government from DPWH District Engineer, Noel C. Basañes, dated December 12, 2016. According to the City Planning and Development Coor-

dinator, Aurora M. Lauron, the proposed projects include a P230 million bypass road in J.P. Laurel. The project will mitigate the traffic in the city’s major thoroughfare since this will serve as an alternative route for big volume vehicles. A P10M worth of road concreting in Purok 3 Galagala, Barangay San Vicente, will also be implemented in support to the new industrial estate located

in the said area. This industrial estate operated by the Anflo Group is duly licensed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and proclaimed as a Special Economic Zone by the Office of the President. Furthermore, Farm-toMarket Roads (FMR) from Barangay Katipunan to Malativas will be constructed worth P150 million. The existing FMR in Barangay Sindaton will

be concreted worth P3 million, while Barangay Kiotoy to San Nicolas FMR will be rehabilitated worth P50 million. Aside from the improvement of road network, construction of water systems in Kasilak and Dalisay will be included worth P8 million each to provide adequate potable water supply in the said barangays. (Vikki J. Amorio – CIO Panabo)

DavNor PPOC approves P20-M confidential fund

AVAO del Norte Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) approved during its regular council meeting last January 10 the P20-million Confidential Fund for this year. Though the specification of the fund is confidential, DILG Provincial Director Alex Roldan assured the members of the PPOC that the budget would be used accordingly in ensuring peace, security, and stability in the province. “I cannot tell you the specifics of the budget but the fund will be used for different (peace and security) projects.” Roldan said. Vice Governor Alan Dujali, who presided the meeting,

echoed Governor Anthony del Rosario’s thrust of utilizing the fund to pursue good governance and ensure a relative atmosphere conducive for growth and development. The fund, he said will bolster the provincial governments commitment to the presidents relentless war

against drugs and criminality, as well as to his aim of attaining just and lasting peace. Roldan also said that the council could propose for additional budget if needed. The official also revealed during the meeting that the draft of the Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan of the

province is available and will be presented for approval in the next council meeting. Reports were also presented by the police and military indicating that the province of Davao del Norte was generally peaceful during the celebration of Yuletide and the New Year’s Day. (PIO DavNor)

TAGUM TRANSLACION. Devotees swarm around the image of the cross bearing Jesus as it arrives in its destination. (Jay Apostol/CIO Tagum)

Traslacion draws over 5K in Tagum

EVOTEES from all over Mindanao flocked in Tagum City to join the five-kilometer Traslacion of the Black Nazarene in Tagum City last January 10. The two-hour procession started at 5am at the Parish of Christ the Eucharistic King in Rizal St. and culminated in the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Nazareno Parish in Barangay Apokon which is notably where the replica has found its home last December 3. “We follow the same set-

up with the one in Quiapo, which includes the carriage pulled by a rope, with the mass and the pahalik,” said Parish priest Fr. Emerson Luego. Mayor Allan Rellon has also promised to continue the LGU’s support in the coming events if the Black Nazarene. The procession was done in accordance with the traslacion in Quiapo, which is one of the biggest religious events in the world. (MJ de Castro/CIO Tagum)

AVAO del Norte posted a crime volume of only 7,258 cases in 2016, lower by 9.33 percent from last year data of 8,005 cases. According to the report of the Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office, the crime solution efficiency increased in 2016 to 71.93 percent with 5,221

crimes solved from 70.51 percent of last year. Police Provincial Director PSSupt Ferdinand Sifuentes attributed this to the implementation of the project Double Barrel and Double Barrel Alpha. “Most of our crimes in the

DavNor crimes down by 9.33%

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8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

No sacred cows

ORRUPTION has no place in the Duterte administration. This is again evident in the recent filing of graft charges against former and current officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Unit XI in the President’s home in Davao City. The respondents were charged for mishandling of a Davao Oriental lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and other allocations worth P15 million. The Office of the Ombudsman found irregularity in the purchase of equipment and other materials in 2005 without conducting pre-procurement and pre-bidding conferences. They also failed to publish an invitation to bid as required under the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act No. 9184). The officials now face multiple counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019). The case involve more than P12 million of the P15 million fund from the PDAF of Davao Oriental 2nd District Representative Joel Mayo Almario. The remaining was sourced from the lawmaker’s share of the GMA Rice and Corn program implemented under the

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Arroyo administration. The agriculture funds were used for the following: 1. 100 units of multimedia system with computer set - P10 million (from Almario’s PDAF) 2. Water system materials - P2.591 million (from Almario’s PDAF) 3. 81 units of personalized 10x20 livelihood tent with framing - P2.496 million (from Almario’s share from the corn program) Looking at the items purchased, it is very clear that these were “irrelevant” to the increased agriculture production as the funds are allocated for. For example, the tents reportedly bear the image of the politician involved and distributed to barangays, used for funerals, school programs and fiestas. Poor DA officials had to bear the brunt of the irregular transaction. Despite the filing of charges, this should not mean the lawmaker involved here should be spared. He who is primarily responsible for the allocation of the funds should be held accountable. There should be no sacred cows. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

Going colonial by night

OLONIAL mentality is a global phenomenon dating back to thousands of years ago when explorers who discovered new lands brought home as trophies the best the newfound region offered, including their names, as proof they indeed reached those far-flung territories. Historically, this occurrence started to surface in Davao City at the start of the 1960s when the western concept of ‘rest and recreation’ was translated into beer gardens, cinemas, and bars. Few of these nocturnal hangouts survived for decades but eventually folded up with the rise of attractive drinking pubs that offered sophistication and style, not copycats. Old timers who swore to roam the city’s streets by night remember names like El Madrid, El Cairo, Rainbow, and Roxy as some of the significant names in neons. Against the dimly-lit streets of the city, they rose above single-story buildings like beacons. And more than just being businesses, the identities of these establishments reminded residents on how far had western influence been transplanted to local shores. El Madrid, a beer garden at the Acacia intersection in Davao City, oral tradition says, was a tribute to the famous Spanish city where the early contemporaries of Dr. Jose P. Rizal staged their resistance against the friars. True or not, the ciudad de español has along been associated with romance, chivary, and intellectualism. On the other hand, El Cairo, another

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beer lounge FAST BACKWARD at the Acacia junction, was supposedly inspired by the concept of beauteous Egyptian belly dancers prancing and Antonio V. Figueroa wriggling their way around the ogling males during key celebrations. In Old Testament era films, this situation was a key cinematic ingredient that provided the excitement. Where else is Cairo but in Egypt? And who would forget Volare, still at the Acacia area, which was copied from the popular song originally recorded by Italian singer-songwriter Domenico Modugno, and later popularized by Italian-American singer Dean Martin. In Italian, the term means ‘to fly’. Old timers associated the bar with women known as mababa and lipad or prostitutes. A movie that was destroyed by fire but was later rebuilt was Roxy theater, named after a moivehouse in Hollywood. Its last address was near the corner of Jacinto and Uyanguren streets at the end of the old Reolsyl bus terminal. With the influx of bomba (sex-oriented) films, it was forced to join the bandwagon but lost to more daring theaters who showed porno movies.

Filipinos’ fixation for things American and Western was also present in other noctural landmarks that sued to be favorite destinations of nightowls. There was Dux, along Magallanes (now A. Pichon) street, which meant ‘Saxon chief or leader.’ But it was not so. The pub—actually a singing lounge— was named after a Hilton suite with same name in the US where ducks (that’s right!) are given royal treatment, including red carpet treatment during certain hours of the day. Better still, the birds were allowed to take the elevator up the top floor where they had a customized swimming pool. Fiction? Nope. The mark of Hollywood was also present in another beerhouse known as The Rainbow. It was, urban legend says, inspired by the Rainbow Bar and Grill, a bar and restaurant on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. Pianist par excellence Faro Benitez (who later moved to the present Waterefront Hotel at Lanang) used to own a drinking pub at corner Rizal and Anda streets, at the place where a bank now sits, which he named Keyhole. Known as a popular watering hole of media practitioners, the beerhouse copied its name after the Keyhole Bar in Mackinaw City, Michigan. Unlike its American counterpart which has a collection today of over 23,000 keys that cover its wall, the old Keyhole at Davao was the city’s only pi-

ano bar in the eighties. As a consolation, it had a go-go tavern along Claveria (CM Recto) street,which recently closed down was the Tip Top Bar. It was named after the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Of course, nocturnal habitués still remember the fashionable Marrakesh at Matina’s red district, which offered bands, beautiful belles, booze, and, at times, brawl. Owned by a prominent Davao family, the classy bar was named after an imperial Moroccan city which, today, is “a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens.” Down north, there was this Hagar’s Place, at Insular Village, where expats used to congregate with their fiancées and partners. The restobar apparently got its name from the Egyptian handmaid of Sarah, Jacob’s wife, who begot Jacob’s son. Whatever was the inference of the biblical narrative to the choosing of the place’s name, only the owner knew. After all the drinking and singing, the likely destination for inspired partners would be some cozy place to unwind. What comes to mind is Queensland, a motorist hotel (motel) that’s synonymous to fleeting tryst. It’s unclear if it got its name after a place in Australia or due to the fact that this is where lecherous men land their prized catches. And, by the way, SHO-TA, a Tagalog slang popularized in the eighties and nineties,, is a corruption of ‘short time.’

ethics, fairMY TWO CENTS’ ness and accuracy. Hence, much of what c o n s t i t u te s “fake news” in today’s parlance refers to articles that are badly John Tria written, both in fact and in ecisouth@gmail.com style. Many of these do not have factually accurate refrences. Biased media, on the other hand, refer to articles that have a very tick angle supporting or denigrating one or another policy position or person being written about. They may be factually correct, but are slanted to one side of the policy debate.

In the end, if the integrity of the media outlet is tainted, then any information is the poisoned fruit of a dead tree, its spawns reeking with malice and misinformation, trust gone and readership equally lost. Back in the 90s, image consciousness is the currency that made you “mediable” to use a term popular then. People then competed for the attention of the media outlet, the winners landing in the front and second pages, or the specialized pages or sections. This made traditional media viable, and presenting oneself to the public, and getting the right exposure through these lenses became an art for which training seminars were needed, consultants were hired. Traditional media and the “media handlers” helped you control the conversation, and were therefore careful not to rile up too much negative attention. What you said and how it was

relayed mattered more than it did today. Today, any attempt to “handle” media can only deliver temporary results. After a day or two of spinning news, alternate truths start surfacing from people who know or feel otherwise. Social media has become the channel enabling them to push that exchange, giving the alternate view its day in the sun. This has only made news gathering and reportage faster. Online media is 24/7, unlike its traditional counterparts. News and reactions come in real time, and for the new multimedia journalists, multitasking is essential survival. Social media has become the battleground, as more and more people log on to these platforms the moment they wake, as they open their lunchboxes, and before they sleep. News and information now follows new rules. For comments and reactions: facebook.com/johntriapage

Why social media matters in today’s politics (Part 2)

N the other hand, Mainsteam media has gone social. The bayan patrollers of ABS CBN who would contribute videos from their handheld devices got primetime exposure sans the editorializing, given that most of them weren’t schooled in the art of angling. Many media companies are investing heavily in their “new media subsidiaries,” hiring programmers and social media influencers who write facebook posts to support the social media promotion of their online articles. These now form part of the essential staff without which the news articles will receive little engagement and readership. Yet the more important fact to highlight is that social media is not “illegitimate” media as some would suggest. Online journalism is where people get their news. Being online or social media does not absolve the journalist from

10 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

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Ph bolsters fight against child labor T

HE Philippines ushers in the New Year with programmes to intensify its fight against child labour. “Makiisa para sa 1 milyong batang Malaya” (One with the children to end child labour) today featured the launch of three major initiatives against child labour. These initiatives include a first comprehensive project on child labour with set up of helpdesks, a new project on child labour in gold mining, and a new child labour module in the conditional cash transfer programme. The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and BanToxics jointly launched the programmes. The launch was held on 12 January 2017 in Quezon City. According to the 2011 Survey on Children, there are 2.1 million Filipino children in child labour. Findings of the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) in 2015 revealed that the Philippines made significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Despite progress, how-

ever, enforcement of child labour laws remains a challenge. “Child labour is complex and deeply rooted in poverty. Children suffer and risk their health or even their lives to work for their family’s survival. Ending child labour requires strong commitment and collective effort,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines who also managed projects to address child labour in Africa and Asia. The Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) is the first comprehensive project of DSWD on child labour. It will strengthen efforts at the local level, which

will include helpdesks and a local registry on child labour for referral and convergence of support services. SHIELD will focus on areas with high incidence of child labour as priority to create an impact and to make services more accessible to children and their families. Interventions will be based on data from the Child Labor Local Registry. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the conditional cash transfer programme of the DSWD will also launch and integrate a new module on child labour. The 4Ps has a reach of about 4 million households from the poorest of the poor, who are often forced to in-

HE Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) has identified strategic interventions for six priority commodities through its value chain analyses (VCA) report. PRDP is a special project under the Department of Agriculture (DA) with funding assistance from the World Bank, national and local government. The project adopts the VCA approach as to guide local government units and other key stakeholders in crafting investment plans for identified priority commodities. VCA is the whole sequence of activities required from production to marketing to produce a product or to provide a service. The DA in Region XI is conducting rounds this week in various provinces and key cities in the region to present the VCA report on six commodities: coconut (fiber and peat); green coffee beans, fresh mango, processed ban-

gus, swine, and chevon. Speaking in the VCA presentation in Davao del Sur, DA OIC-Regional Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. said these VCAs identify leverage points and key strategies to improve competitiveness of these commodities with regional and national importance. Oñate, who is also the concurrent PRDP project director for Mindanao said VCAs will serve as valuable reference for the local government units (LGUs) and proponent group in crafting their respective commodity investment plans. The competitiveness directions identified by the VCAs include: organized farm clusters, diversified farming, improved farm-to-market links and standards, improved infrastructure, postharvest facilities, and review existing policies and regulations. “PRDP will only fund project proposals through the LGU’s provincial or city investment plan based on the results of the VCA. In this way,

volve their children in work to augment the family income. The 4Ps contributes to putting children in schools through its conditionality on education. Being in school, however, is not an assurance that children will not engage in child labour. The child labour module will be part of the Family Development Sessions to raise awareness on child labour and the role of the family to prevent or to end child labour, especially its worst forms. CARING Gold is a new project implemented by the ILO and BanToxics together with DOLE and DENR and funded by the USDOL. Child labour in mining is considered as a worst form of

child labour but remains unregulated and unmonitored. The project will address child labour in mining at its root cause, which is poverty and vulnerability. Interventions will also include improving working conditions and providing support to establish models for operation that are legal and viable as well as compliant with labour, environmental and health standards. These initiatives overall support the Philippine Program against Child Labor 2017-2022 to withdraw one million children from child labour and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which calls to end child labour in all its forms by 2025. (NCLC)

Groups to stage events Value chain to boost competitiveness of agri commodities for Zero Waste Month T

HIS January, environmental groups and other stakeholders are teaming up to get more people to take the road to zero waste. The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), and the National Solid Waste Management Commission, in partnership with the Zero Waste International Alliance, EcoWaste Coalition, and the Climate Change Commission are staging a month-long Zero Waste Festival in celebration of the National Zero Waste Month. With the theme, On the Road to Zero Waste, the Festival will feature various events, targeting various audiences. The main event is the Zero Waste International Conference to be held on January 25 at the Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The conference will gather local and international speakers and representatives from local government units, non-government organizations, and var-

ious stakeholders to discuss challenges in solid waste management and present solutions and models that have been piloted in communities, both local and international, and have been found to be viable, effective, and safe. “Low-cost, local and lowtech solutions, such as composting, recycling, and reuse of discards conserve finite resources, create green jobs, and do not harm public health and the environment,” said Sonia Mendoza, Chairman of Mother Earth Foundation. On January 27, a Zero Waste Cities Forum will be hosted by the City of San Fernando, Pampanga with several of the speakers at the conference also speaking. Also on the same day, participants will take an eco-tour to zero waste model communities in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, in Brgy. Potrero, Manila and in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. There will also be twin events that aim to involve the

F GROUPS, 13

VALUE CHAIN REPORT. Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas (left) receives the Value Chain Analyses (VCA) Report from the Department of Agriculture Region XI Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. The VCAs will serve as valuable reference in crafting the provincial and city investment plan which is a primary requirement for PRDP funding assistance. (Photo by Janelle Flores) needed infrastructure, equipment, or enterprises are identified through science-based data,” he said. Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in her message delivered by City Agriculture Officer Leo Brian Leuterio during the Davao City-leg VCA presentation said the VCA coincides with her

administration of which agricultural development is one of her top priority agenda. “We will craft our [agricultural] plan based on these VCAs over the next three years for the competitiveness of our products and for sustenance and nourishment of our constituents,” Duterte-Carpio said. (Noel T. Provido/DA-XI)

Top 5 SMARTpreneur tips to grow your online business Pag-IBIG cuts processing

time on housing loan

EYOND revolutionizing the way we connect and socialize, the digital age has also opened up limitless opportunities for e-commerce, which allows just about anyone with an Internet connection to promote, market and sell products and services and make a living with just a few taps on his or her device. And to empower young aspiring entrepreneurs to make the most of today’s business tools, Smart has set up SMARTpreneur, a program aimed at arming university students with knowledge and skills to boost their passion in business, and give them the opportunity to kick start their own enterprise even at a young age. For its first SMARTpreneur workshop, Smart

brought together students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines for a day of insightful talks led by experienced digital marketers. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur, or looking

for ways to expand your existing business by going online, SMARTpreneur speakers offer these helpful tips: 1. Define your brand. Your online presence should reflect what your brand and

products stand for so it is very critical that you have a clear brand identity, says renowned fashion blogger and entrepreneur Camille Co, a Smart ambassador.

F TOP 5, 13

AG-IBIG Fund housing loan applicants can now get their loan approval in just 17 days from date of submission of complete requirements and the proceeds of the loan in just 3 days after post-approval compliance. Pag-IBIG Fund made this commitment after it enhanced its procedure for housing loan transactions, effectively cutting the processing time from 27 days to 20 days from application to release of proceeds, and reducing the number of requirements from 14 to 7 documents. “This is in line with the thrust of the new administration to enhance public

service,” Pag-IBIG Fund President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe explained, adding that the Fund continuously reviews its procedures to improve its transactions process for the benefit of PagIBIG members and the public. Pag-IBIG Fund offers the End-User Financing (EUF) Program, which allows qualified Pag-IBIG members to avail of as much as P6 Million loan for home acquisition or construction, and the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) exclusive for minimum-wage earners. Atty. Berberabe encouraged Pag-IBIG members to avail of the Fund’s housing

F PAG-IBIG, 11

INdulge! DOMINION OVER REALITY

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ARTS AND CULTURE

AN UP AND COMING LOCAL ARTIST, Dominick Pilapil, is slowly stretching the boundaries between our reality and his. Part of the Piguras Art Group in Davao City, Dom, along with other members, advocate towards the re-influencing of the great masters of the Renaissance.

“

“Our goal is to support the continuing rise of figurative art in the local art scene through proper and traditional ways of learning the craft. The classical style of art is, in our opinion, the highest standard in terms of producing works and is still unparalleled until today—so much so that people compare every other style of art to it,” explained the young artist. Figurative paintings involve the powerfully dramatic and emotional manipulation of representational art that usually involves animals and especially people. This is not an easy road of practice to take, but of course it can be learned, just as Dominick wasn’t born a good illustrator—according to him, his first inspiration was his own artist father that made Dom decide to enter a Bachelor of Fine Arts program in college. “I was experimenting with

watercolors when I graduated from high school, it made me feel frustrated because I couldn’t seem to portray on paper what I wanted to achieve in my mind. That is why I was drawn to pri-

THEKATCLOSET A4

Dominick’s works simply reflect his character at the time he is painting the canvas and has no given formula.

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A2 INdulge! EVENT

AMIDST THE NEW YEAR PARTIES AROUND DAVAO CITY, Abreeza Mall gave its shoppers a different kind of treat to kick off 2017 with: a grand trivia battle. On January 4, Abreeza Mall and Trivia Nights Pinas turned their popular Trivia Wednesdays event into a bigger quiz night held at the Activity Center—this time with bigger prizes at stake. Close to 200 participants in 20 teams took part in the trivia battle, all showing off their collective knowledge in a diverse range of categories covering everything from world leaders to famous babies, from Billboard chart-toppers to MMFF 2016 winners, from facts about the universe to facts about the month of January, to Abreeza Mall merchants from ground floor to third floor. Making this showdown of smarts even more enjoyable was the atmosphere of play-

ful competition and the teams’ easy banter with the quiz night host that have become trademarks of Trivia Nights Pinas. At the end of the night, Team Beshies emerged as the grand prize winner, with its members winning Ayala Malls electronic gift certificates worth P10,000. Team Elsa followed at second place and won TGI Fridays gift certificates worth P5,000, while Team Megu Magu landed in third place and earned TGI Fridays gift certificates worth P3,000. Team Aunts and Team Clingy earned consolation prizes of 10 Abreeza Mall cinema passes each. Abreeza Mall launched Trivia Wednesdays in February 2016 in partnership with Trivia Nights Pinas, an outfit that hosts

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Trivia geeks battle it out at

ABREEZA MALL

regular weekly quiz night competitions in various establishments in Davao and Makati. Trivia Wednesdays takes place every Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the Ground Floor Restaurant Row (near Army Navy), with the three teams scoring the highest by the end of the night taking home prizes from Abreeza Mall merchants. Since its launch at Abreeza Mall, Trivia Wednesdays has attracted a following of staunch regulars who make it a point to vie for the top spots week after week and enjoy eats and drinks from nearby Abreeza Mall restaurants while at it. For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www. facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @ abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

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UP AND ABOUT

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INdulge! A3

Megaworld to open four hotels in 2017 Three hotels are Megaworld’s local brands, one hotel under the Marriott international brand PROPERTY GIANT MEGAWORLD is set to open four new hotels under its portfolio within the year, in a bid to further boost tourism in its various developments across the country. The company is set to open the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Iloilo Business Park and the Savoy Hotel Boracay in Boracay Newcoast by first half of this year, and Savoy Newport Hotel in Newport City and Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, by the second half of the year. The 15-storey Marriott Courtyard Hotel in the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park township in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, will offer 326 rooms and it will be the first Marriott brand to open in Western Visayas. It is

strategically located beside the iconic Iloilo Convention Center. Last year, Megaworld announced that it is adding the Savoy Hotel brand, alongside Belmont and Richmonde Hotels, as its homegrown hotel brands. The first Savoy Hotel to be opened will be the Savoy Hotel Boracay Newcoast, a 559-room resort hotel in the 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast development. The six-storey hotel will feature the country’s first concert pool arena, which will be capable of hosting events in a pool setting.

The 11-storey Savoy Newport Hotel, on the other hand, will offer 684 rooms and will add to the growing hotel offerings of the 24/7 leisure and entertainment complex of Newport City, which is the home of the renowned Resorts World Manila. In Binondo, Manila, the sixstorey Hotel Lucky Chinatown will offer 93 guestrooms and will mainly cater to Chinese

tourists and businessmen as well as for those who are on a historic tour of Manila. “We see tourism as a potential driver of growth for Megaworld as we draw more people to our developments. Within the next three to five years, we hope to see a bigger slice of hotel earnings in our revenue pie as we open our new hotels,” says Kevin L. Tan, senior vice president, Megaworld.

To date, Megaworld owns three homegrown hotel brands namely Richmonde Hotel, Belmont Hotel and Savoy Hotel. The company is operating three Richmonde Hotels in Eastwood City, Ortigas and Iloilo Business Park; and one Belmont Hotel in Newport City. Three more hotels under its portfolio are scheduled for completion within the next five years in various townships.

Catch the Sinulog Festival through Sky Freeview NOW SHOWING

January 11 – 12, 2017

PATRIOTS DAY Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, J.K. Simmons Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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SINULOG 2017, Cebu’s most festive tradition hits television screens via SKY Freeview starting January 13.

The whole country can be one in viewing the different activities of the Sinulog Festival on SKY Freeview. Watch the Sinulog Festival Queen on January 13 from 7PM to 10PM, the Sinulog Festival Day Parade on January 15 from 8AM to 5PM, and the Sinulog Awarding Ceremonies on January 16 from 1PM to 5PM. SKY subscribers in Mega Manila can watch the festivities on channel 211 in standard definition and 243 in high definition (HD). Subscribers in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Baguio, Davao, General Santos, and Dumaguete can view the festive fun in standard definition on channel 64 and in HD on channel 702. SKY Direct subscribers can watch on channel 45. Subscribers in Cebu can also participate in

the SKY Life Variety and Game Show! Head over to Fuente Osmeña Circle on January 12, 2017 to join in the fun! There will be games, raffles and live performances! First ever Sinulog Idol champ, Jacqueline Chang, will be there to perform the hit song, “Pero Atik Ra.”

Festival goers who post their Sinulog pictures with the hashtag #SinulogLiveOnSky will get the chance to have their photos broadcast during the live coverage of the festival on SKY Freeview. The Sinulog Festival is one of the longest ongo-

ing festivals in the country. It was named Best Festival at the Choose Philippines Awards. SKY brings more bonding experiences for the Filipino family wherever they may be. Celebrate the Sinulog Festival from January 12 to January 16 with SKY.

A4 INdulge! ARTS AND CULTURE THEKATCLOSET A1 marily work with oils,” Dom thinking back. Despite this, he was part of the semi finalists for the 2011 Metrobank exhibition in the watercolor category and has been part of a handful of significant art exhibitions both abroad and locally. Although the young artist is still unable to personally label his art style and is still discovering his inner trademark, I am biased in loving his artistic subjects because they are mostly of the feline variety. His paintings of cats in a somewhat surreal application, that also tinkers in

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the world of magic realism, is the kind of achievement that I have been wanting to see in my own artworks—but of course, how would that ever happen if I do not paint everyday for six to eight hours like Dom does! “I almost exclusively paint classical figures, portraits and cats—they are my favorite, because cats are like people to me, even better! And I was kind of a stubborn kid and was a frequent visitor of the guidance counselor and the principal’s office, maybe that’s why I love to put anomalies and glitches in some of my works. I believe that I’m part of the “free to

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be you and me” generation,” Dom playfully states. Dominick’s works simply reflect his character at the time he is painting the canvas and has no given formula. The works speak for themselves and the artist couldn’t care less what the audience might have to say about them, therefore, he leaves them to come up with their own creative assumptions. “Being an artist made me grow more patient and laid back, but still, I am having a hard time relating and grasping my own spirituality. Nevertheless, I am sticking to my credo of being a freethinker and to just continue making a living through what I love,” Dom states. His artistic future is so full of possibilities and more wonderful weirdness given his talent and technique! Who knows, he might even develop his own coined style someday: “Magic Surrealism”—that can dominate any artistic reality.

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Figurative paintings involve the powerfully dramatic and emotional manipulation of representational art that usually involves animals and especially people.

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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PM... FROM 1

trillion yen over the next five years. The joint committee on economic cooperation and infrastructure will be launched through which both the public and private sectors can work together for nation building, he added. Abe also recognized that both countries share common values and strategic interests and will work hand-in-hand

for the stability of the region. “We welcome the signing of the exchange of notes on the provision of high speed boats as a part of the measures on security and counter terrorism,” he said. Japan will also extend support to the on-going war on illegal drugs in the country by improving facilities and the formulation of treatment programs.

economic ties for several years and that has evolved into a strategic partnership both countries sharing common strategies in democracy and market economy. Montenegro emphasized that Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is among the largest or one of the largest official development assistance (ODA) partner of the Philippines citing JICA’s USD 3.3 billion ODA to the Philippines. “JICA alone accounts for the 24 percent of the total ODA portfolio of the Philippines and that’s a big bulk of support from the Japanese government to transform many areas in Mindanao in terms of governance, health services, infrastructure, as well as investment,” explained Montenegro. The deputy executive director also mentioned that a discussion on the Mindanao Railway System (MRS), now undergoing a feasibility study, will be done between the two countries since Japan will play a major role in the implementation of the project. “The MRS study is currently progressing…but the previous study that we did, we learned that the MRS for a total of 1500 kilometers will be having an investment cost of around USD 9billio,” said Montenegro. He also said that with Japan as one of the leading trad-

ing partner of the Philippines, importing banana produce of Philippines’ local farmers and exporting many Japanese products in the country, the visit of the prime minister would indeed raise the partnership of the two countries to a new high level. According to Montenegro, the number of Japanese investors included in the delegation is not yet certain but there will be a “substantial number” of Japanese investors as well as their Philippine counterparts. “For the visit of the Japanese prime Minister we would be expecting a delegation of economic managers of the Japanese Government plus the private sector. We understand that there is going to be an activity also where there is an opportunity for investment interaction among Japanese delegation and Mindanao government and business sector sometime on Friday,” said Montenegro. The deputy executive director expects the Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) to present investment opportunities of Davao City as well as those in the regional scale by the Department of Trade and Industry while the greater Mindanao macroeconomic investment picture will be provided by MinDa. Montenegro added that the private sector will also lay down potential opportunities for Japanese investors.

weather condition. Cortez said contractors would no longer allow their workers to render services under the rain since the weather makes them prone to flu. “Aside from being prone to illnesses, the rain delays the drying of the cement,” he explained. Railways, new flyovers Cortez revealed that the city government would venture on more road and flyover construction this year. He said the construction of the first phase of the coastal road from Toril to Agdao and the two flyovers in Matina Crossing and Toril, respective-

ly would be implemented this year. “The mayor wants that all projects initiated by her administration will be finished before her term of office ends,” Cortez explained. He mentioned that the first phase of the Coastal Road would run from Toril to Matina while the second phase would be from Matina to Roxas Avenue and from Roxas Avenue to Agdao. The city government, according to Cortez, mulls of having a railway from Toril to Lasang aside from having Mindanao Railway System (MRS). “The city mayor is studying four proposals to this effect,” he said.

motorcycle-riding men. Fortunately, the explosive failed to go off. Earlier, Mayor Sumulong Sultan has asked the Phillippine National Police for augmentation force as crimes are

on the rise in the town due to intensified police operations against illegal drugs. Police could not say if the grenade attack at the gas station was part of extortion activities of lawless elements. (PNA)

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NOT AN IDLE MOMENT. International Youth Fellowship (IYF) general secretary Cho Gi Chun provides the details of the organization’s upcoming activities including the 2017 IYF world camp set on February 8 to 12 at the

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Japanese along the corner Anda and San Pedro st. Rufu said that the first printing press of the city was established by the Japanese in the old public market in the city which is now the Boys Scout compound. “The economy of the city was really started by the Japanese, aside from those Abaca plantations, bazaars and other businesses, the Japanese also put up a hospital in Mintal. They even employed Filipino workers to work there,” she said. Most of the Japanese occupants in the city lived Mintal since the Guianga District has a huge Abaca plantation. The city government also

started during the Japanese era. Rufu said that the National government was alarmed by the large numbers of Japanese in the City that they made the Davao as a chartered city with appointed officials. “All officials were appointed since they feared that if the officials will be elected through election, the Japanese supported candidate would win,” she said. Until now, there are still several Japanese constructions that are still standing, like the Board of liquidator’s building in Daliao Toril. The Building was part of Yoshiso Furukawa’s administrative building before the world war 2.

drugs and devices - including Implanon and Implanon NXT - for violation of constitutional requirement of due process. The Court has found that the agency certified and administered 77 contraceptive drugs and devices “without the observance of the basic tenets of due process, without notice and without public hearing, despite the constant opposition of petitioners.” “The Court is of the view

that the certifications and re-certifications and the distribution of the questioned contraceptive drugs should be struck down as violative of the constitutional right to due process,” read the ruling penned by Associate Justice Jose Mendoza. While the SC sustained the TRO and voided the certifications, it has remanded the case to the FDA for processing of new certifications. (PNA)

province are drug related; so in addressing the drug problem, it also addressing the other crimes connected to drugs,” PSSupt Sifuentes said. Sifuentes also disclosed that from July 1 to December 31, 2016, the police stations in the province conducted a total

of 7,571 operations related to combating illegal drugs known as Project Double Barrel and Double Barrel Alpha. He noted that with the operations, 15,983 surrendered, 166 were arrested and 30 were killed in legitimate police operations. (PIA-11, Michael Uy)

loan programs. “The Pag-IBIG housing loan programs come with great features including the market-competitive interest rates, which can be as low as 5.5% per annum for the EUF and 4.5% for the AHP. Up to three borrowers may qualify for a single loan while a single

borrower can avail of multiple loans at the same time subject to eligibility,” Atty. Berberabe said. She further explained that the 5.5% interest rate is for a 1-year repricing period, while the 4.5% rate for affordable housing is subsidized for 10 years. (PR)

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University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr.

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was held, she ran and won in the ticket of the late mayor Carmelo L. Porras. Before then, the mayor, vice mayor and councilors of Davao City were appointed. Porras won three times as did Santos, known to close friends as ”Manang Fely.” Very popular among young people and women, Councilor Santos kept on winning elections even after Porras lost to Vice Mayor Elias B. Lopez in 1967 and Mayor Lopez was defeated by the late Luis T. Santos in 1971. In 1978, Manang Fely was drafted as the only lady candidate for the Interim Batasang

Pambansa. That election was held in the three Davao provinces, Surigao City, Davao City, General Santos City and South Cotabato. She again won with nine others and served until 1984. Out of politics, she concentrated in the country’s Girls Scouting Movement wherein she was a recognized pillar, serving in the Davao GSP Council Board for 46 uninterrupted years. She left numerous projects, mostly infrastructures, ordinances and laws, as legacies of her half a century of public service.

er pricing of their produce to avoid being deceived by buyers who take their lack of information as advantage to buy coffee for a lower price. Also attending the forum were the four newly-licensed Q graders who underwent the Q Grader Program of MinPact, a comprehensive and rigorous six-day training and exam

consist of 20 different intensive courses that test their olfactory and sensory skills and knowledge in coffee cupping and other skills necessary. According to Trimmell, they were the only passers out the 15 participants. Q grading kits were handed to the licensed graders during the forum.

water and livelihood) and ARMM HELPS (health, education, livelihood, peace and security and Synergy) in the barangay level. The Apat na Dapat program started in January 2016 with P240 million budget for 600 target families as beneficiaries and additional 5,000 target families to benefit from the program in 2017. As a banner program of the Office of the Regional Governor, ARMM-HELPs, on the other hand, established in 2013 seeks to establish peaceful and secure region by providing basic social services-health, education, livelihood, good governance and peace at the barangay level. Both programs are designed to address the roots and causes of poverty in partnership with local government units (LGUs) in the campaign to reduce poverty in the autonomous region.

In the first quarter of 2015, ARMM’s poverty incidence was recorded at 53.4% with the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Sulu posting 70.2% and 61.8% poverty incidence respectively. Through convergence of programs and services thereby improving the living conditions of households, ARMM government commits to reduce in three years the region’s poverty incidence to 30% from 53.4% in 2015. Since 2014, the ARMM regional government has allocated a total of P13.7 billion for poverty alleviation interventions including the P4 billion budget for 2017. Meanwhile, the governor also explained the cause of delay in the release of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which he said is due to the ongoing validation and monitoring of the lists of beneficiaries. (PIA)

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NEWS 13 SSS contribution hike is not invalid, illegal

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More than coming up with a catchy name and logo, defining your brand means identifying what makes your product or service special, what specific needs you aim to address with your offers, and what set them apart from the rest of the products that are already in the market. 2. Understand your consumer. It is easy to get lost in the many possibilities offered by today’s digital tools, but to effectively wield their power, an entrepreneur should know his or her target customers, according to Anthony Villa, Digital Accounts and Strategy Associate at Voyager Digital Agency. You should know who they are, what they do, what are their digital habits - are they the type you can reach by email or Facebook, or the type you can move with a YouTube video or an informative article or interesting testimonial story? It is only then that you can determine the right tools and strategies to make your product known to them. 3. Determine the right platforms for your products. With tons of brands and products vying for the attention of consumers online, it is important that you identify the proper digital platforms to expand the reach of your business. “For example, an official website carries all the information about your product and services, while an official Facebook page lets you en-

gage your audience and market your products organically. An Instagram account on the other hand serves as an online portfolio and a visual diary of what your brand stands for,” said Co. 4. Engage with consumers. Now, more than ever, it has become a lot easier to get online queries and feedback from netizens, so entrepreneurs should be ready to reach out to customers and think of creative ways to excite and engage them from time to time, such as through featured products, discounts, promos and contests. 5. Stand out with your own online store. Consider setting up your online store with a trusted platform, such as TackThis!, according to Becca Ricalde, AVP for Digital Commerce at Voyager Innovations. A user-friendly online store creation platform, TackThis! lets you create your online store with customizable themes, complete with helpful features such as instant notifications for purchases and tracking of pending and fulfilled orders. TackThis! also lets you choose your own payment methods and schedule deliveries with partners. Interested to be a SMARTpreneur and learn more valuable tips and tools for today’s young entrepreneurs? Check out the Smartpreneur program for university students and sign up at http://smart. com.ph/smartpreneurs. (PR)

EDGEDAVAO

OCIAL Security System (SSS) refutes statement of Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon that the hike in SSS contributions is “invalid and illegal.” Social Security Commis-

sion Chairman Dean Amado D. Valdez said that the P1,000 increase in SSS pension effective January 2017 will be financed by current contributions and investment income. The additional contri-

bution hike by May 2017 will be used to enlarge the Investment Reserve Fund, to generate higher yields for investments, and to further strengthen the viability of the pension fund for future obli-

gations. Dean Valdez stressed that the SSS is mandated to promote social justice by providing meaningful benefits to its members when they retire. (PR)

HE Department of Finance (DOF) was at the forefront of the Duterte administration’s drive in the second half of 2016 to dramatically cut red tape in the bureaucracy in order to speed up the delivery of essential public services and make businesses more attractive to both local and foreign investors. With Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at the helm, the DOF was also at the frontline of the new administration’s program to privatize state assets to further trim the

fat off the bureaucracy and help raise enough revenues for its priority growth and poverty-reduction programs. As chairperson of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), Dominguez also fast-tracked the approval of infrastructure projects. As of this writing the ICC has so far given the go-signal to 17 big ticket projects in just the first six months of the Duterte presidency, more than what the previous administration had approved in its entire term. For 2016, the total remit-

tances of the Privatization Management Office (PMP) to the National Treasury amounted to P261 million, exclusive of approved and authorized retention amounts, the DOF said. The Department was also able to secure a P21.5 million grant from the German development bank KfW Group last year to implement a separate anti-red tape initiative that would simplify processes in submitting documentary requirements for imports and exports, along with harmonizing these systems as part of

the Duterte administration’s efforts to ease the way of doing business here and facilitate the country’s integration into the regional community of Southeast Asian economies. Under anti-red tape czar Gil Beltran, the DOF’s chief economist and undersecretary for policy development and management services, the Department significantly reduced documentary requirements and streamlined procedures in at least eight frontline services offered by the government to individuals and businesses. (PR)

youth in environmental issues, particularly on solid waste management. The first is the Zero Waste Caravan in participating schools nationwide from January 3 to January 28. The second is the Youth Convergence, which will gather student leaders from different universities on January 26 at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila City. The festival will also put the real heroes of the zero waste movement—the waste workers—on the center stage.

Often neglected, waste workers play an important role in model Zero Waste communities in the Philippines. “By doing door-to-door segregated collection, recycling, composting, and creative reuse of some materials, waste workers allow barangays to divert up to 92% of their waste from dumpsites and landfills, thereby saving cities millions of pesos in collection and transport cost, and millions more from avoided tipping fees,” said Froilan Grate, Exec-

utive Director of GAIA Philippines. In recognition of their contributions, two events shall be devoted to waste workers. The Waste Workers Congress will focus on waste workers’ rights and their current working condition, with the goal of gathering inputs for policy recommendations to relevant government agencies. The second event is the Waste Workers’ Appreciation Day where around 300 waste workers will gather for a day of fun, free

medical and dental services, and games with exciting prizes. Finally, a Zero Waste Fair will feature arts and crafts demonstrations and an exhibit of recycled and repurposed products. Now on its third year, the event will be held at the Quezon City Circle. It will run from January 26 to 28 and is open to the public. In 2014, then President Benigno Simeon Aquino III issued Presidential Proclamation No. 760 declaring January as Zero Waste Month. (PR)

DOF spearheads anti-red tape, privatization programs in 2016

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Horn just a pawn in Manny’s game?

EFF Horn’s fight with Manny Pacquiao on April 23 is his Rocky moment. Not just for the fact he is the underdog like Balboa, but because the opportunity mirrors the plot of the Academy Award winning film. In the movie, long shot Philadelphia local Rocky Balboa is given his chance at world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Creed’s promoter seeks a local fighter who will capture the public’s imagination and provide an entertaining fight — without being any real threat to the world title. A similar scenario is at play here. Sure, Horn’s promoter Duco Events has done an incredible job by securing the fight, but it’s Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum who needed the most convincing. Manny Pacquiao remains the promotional company’s prized fighter. No one contracted to Top Rank brings in the kind of revenue the Filipino senator does — even as his career winds down — and plans are being put in place to secure one giant final payday before the boxing legend hangs up the gloves. Arum is in the process of rebuilding Pacquiao for an anticipated return fight with Floyd Mayweather. It’s been the talk of boxing circles for the past few months and is seen as a matter of when, not if they’ll get back in the ring. That is plan A. The initial fight between the two best fighters of the past decade made those involved hundreds of millions of dollars but it didn’t exactly leave the viewing public wanting more. But there’s some angles being created in an attempt to help sell the fight. Pacquiao sighted a shoulder injury as the reason for his poor performance against Mayweather, something he says is behind him. A devastating victory over Jeff Horn will highlight that. Mayweather also wants to create history by getting his record to 50-0, eclipsing the great Rocky Marciano. A compelling narrative on its own. Promoters have their work cut out in creating interest in a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch. But there’s also a plan B, Terence Crawford. Many expected the tough American to be Pacquiao’s next fight. But Bob Arum said this week Pacquiao would not fight Crawford, at least not yet. A multitude of reasons were given. Arum doesn’t want to make Pacquiao’s next fight

pay-per-view in America and there’s a feeling Crawford isn’t enough of a crossover star to warrant the risk. The latter is probably closer to the truth. Pacquiao isn’t fighting Crawford next because he’d probably get beaten. At 38, Pacquiao is on the downswing of a distinguished boxing career. I saw it firsthand. I sat ringside at his fight with Jessie Vargas in November. It was a comfortable night for the Filipino, but Vargas is not an elite fighter. Pacquiao captured the WBO welterweight title, but he didn’t light up the boxing world. Sure he won comfortably but he didn’t look like stopping the former champion, instead choosing to cruise to a points victory. Floyd Mayweather sat ringside — the first time he has ever attended a Top Rank promotion featuring Manny Pacquiao. His presence fuelled rumours of a rematch, which was the intention behind his appearance. Had Pacquiao made a statement against Vargas that night, we may be sitting here now discussing that fight. Instead, that’s what Top Rank and Pacquiao hope Horn will accommodate. The Brisbane man is a stepping stone in a four fight plan for Pacquiao and Arum, a “farewell tour” as the promoter described. The first is Horn, before a fight in Russia in July, Europe (likely Scotland’s Ricky Burns) in September and a final December fight — either Mayweather or Crawford. The Australian could throw an almighty spanner in the works, but the Pacquiao camps aren’t suspecting that. He’s just like Balboa. An entertaining fight, low risk for high return. “The Hornet” improves with every fight. His most recent, a devastating win over Ali Funeka in Auckland, allowed him to capture the Pacquiao date. But Horn hasn’t really fought anyone near the class of the eight division world champion. His team have been stepping him up all the time, giving him great seasoning and increasing the class of opponent. But this next one is a big jump. As Anthony Mundine and Danny Green prepare to farewell the sport next month, many wondered who would come along and fill the void. It seems Horn will do more than that. For all Mundine’s hype, Horn has achieved something he couldn’t, landing a megafight, by doing his talking in the ring.

Pagdanganan leads PH Ladies Open F

LEADER. Bianca Pagdanganan surges ahead with a 66.

ILIPINO ace shotmaker Bianca Pagdanganan on Wednesday sizzled with 6-under par 66 enroute to a two strokes lead over her compatriot Pauline del Rosario (68) after the first round of the 55th Philipp i n e Ladies Amateur Open at the W e s t Course of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club (GC) in Mandaluyong. Pagdan-

ganan assembled nines of 3333, highlighted by seven birdies against a lone bogey for 66. Del Rosario who scored 68 is in second spot while another Filipina parbuster Yuka Sato and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand submitted an identical 70s for third spot. “I am happy with my round. My driving was fine and I was hitting my approach shots pretty well. My putting was even better, ” said Pagdanganan, a sophomore student of Sports Management at Gonzaga University in Spokene, Washington, USA. The 19-year old Pagdanganan started her fairway assault with a sterling birdie shot in Hole No. 10, par 5 (413 yards). She parred the succeeding three holes (11th,12th and 13th). The determined Filipina

hotshot, who actually started in Hole No . 10, scored two more birdies on the par 3, 14th and par 4, 16th for a three-under par 33 at the back nine. At the turn, Pagdanganan blasted four more birdies capped with her three consecutive birdies in Hole Nos 6th, 7th and 8th to show her supremacy against the other 81 parbusters in their quest for top honors. “My driving was pretty good, it lifted my game,” said the 18-year old Del Rosario adding, “Wack Wack is a challenging course- its not wide, however, the greens don’t bite.” Harmie Constantino of host Philippines, scored 71 to compose the group of five players who scored an under in the annual 54-hole tournament organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines. (PNA)

Clippers 5-0 since New Year

HE Los Angeles Clippers are still without Blake Griffin. The way they’ve started 2017, it’s hard to tell. J.J. Redick had 22 points and hit five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers hold off the Orlando Magic 105-96 on Wednesday night, improving to 5-0 since the year began. ‘’We feel like we can keep piling up wins,’’ said Chris Paul, who added 18 points. Marreese Speights scored 10 of his 13 in the fourth, including three 3-pointers, on a night when the Clippers committed 21 turnovers. DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds (to go with 10 points) for his NBA-leading sixth game with 20 or more. ‘’Mo plays with a lot of energy and excitement, and we feed off that and it gets everybody going,’’ said Paul, who

had five turnovers. ‘’I can’t stand them,’’ he said. ‘’That’s five opportunities we didn’t get to score. It could have hurt us down the stretch.’’ Aaron Gordon had 28 points, 18 in the first half, to lead Orlando, which has lost four in a row and six of seven. Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his teamhigh 18th double-double. Gordon scored 33 points in 40 minutes, both career highs, in a win over the Clippers on Dec. 14. ‘’This is a game that I thought we should have won by the way that we played,’’ he said. ‘’We had a couple of breakdowns here and there, a couple of lapses in defensive execution, a few too many turnovers and it leads to a loss.’’ The teams kept it close in

the fourth, when the Clippers never led by more than nine. Their bench carried them, with Redick and Paul the only starters who scored in the period. ‘’It felt like we just couldn’t get away from them,’’ Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said. ‘’We just kind of hung in there.’’ With his team down 7573, Jamal Crawford got fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three shots. ‘’That was huge,’’ Paul said, ‘’and then we started getting some stops.’’ The Magic got to 92-90 on Gordon’s 3-pointer before Speights and Redick answered with consecutive 3s. That steadied the Clippers, who got seven points from Paul down the stretch. ‘’We’re playing with the right spirit and a lot of ener-

gy,’’ said Paul, who recently returned from a strained hamstring. Orlando controlled the first 1 1/2 quarters behind Gordon’s scoring and the Clippers’ early turnovers. Los Angeles took over with a 20-8 run to close the half leading 56-51. Paul got the offense going with backto-back baskets, Redick hit consecutive 3s and Jordan had two one-handed dunks in a row. His first came on Paul’s alley-oop pass, and on the second he took Austin Rivers’ pass and went flying through the lane. ‘’We have to have a defensive identity,’’ Orlando coach Frank Vogel said. ‘’We have to rely on our defense and that can carry you when shots are not going. We are continuing to try to establish that, but it hasn’t taken shape yet.’’

AYA, one of the most successful football clubs in recent history, formally confirmed its participation in the inaugural season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) by naming Makati as its home city. In a statement on

Wednesday, Kaya will now be known as Kaya-Makati and will use the University of Makati Athletic Field as its turf for the PFL, which will likely begin in March. Kaya is one of only two clubs that won the United Football League(UFL) title

thrice, the other being Global, which earlier joined the PFL with Cebu as its likely home. Kaya barged to the Asian Football Confederation Cup playoffs last year, which became the club’s shining moment. Five other clubs, all com-

ing from the UFL, already made their intent of joining the PFL, which will now serve as the country’s top-tier football league, already satisfying the minimum number of clubs needed to form a national league, which is six. (PNA)

Horn (16-0-1) is a former schoolteacher who first took up fighting to protect himself from bullies. He fought at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and has quickly risen through the ranks as a professional,

sitting at No.2 in the WBO’s welterweight rankings. Pacquiao, 38, is the WBO champion in that division and has a 59-6-2 record, while also juggling a career as a senator in the Philippines. Horn - who is a decade

younger - has already been installed as a rank outsider by bookmakers but believes he has what it takes to beat Pacquiao. His trainer, Glenn Rushton, said it would be a “tragedy” if the fight happened anywhere

other than Brisbane. “We really hope the Queensland government and so forth will feel the same way,” he said. “It just makes sense, but also for the future. This can reinvigorate boxing in Australia.”

Kaya-Makati enters PFL

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Jeff Horn plans to put Manny Pacquiao on his back.

SPORTS 15

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SEALED. Australian Jeff Horn (left) is fighting Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao (right).

LOCKED IN Aussie fight for Pacquiao vs Horn in April sealed By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

ERTH, Australia – It’s a done deal. Legendary Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao’s next fight will be in the land Down Under against Australian welterweight Jeff Horn in April in what could be the nation-continent’s biggest boxing promotion in history. Horn’s promoter Duco Events is reportedly on a mission to ensure the bout takes place on home soil in Brisbane where the 2012 Olym-

pics quarterfinalist Horn is a hometown hero. The deal, which according to reports was sealed on Wednesday in Las Vegas, will have the Aussie fighter face Pacquiao on Sunday, April 23. There is one detail left undecided though and it could bring in a storm of negotiations which, to promoter Bob Arum’s liking, will fan the cash in. It’s the fight venue that’s been left open and the takers

are huge. From the Australia side, there’s Melbourne and Sydney and from overseas there’s the darkhorse United Arab Emirates and even the United States. With the venue for the fight still up in the air, both Australia’s major cities and the cash-rich Middle East under consideration - depending on who can come up with the funding – are in the mix. Reports said Suncorp

Stadium in Horn’s hometown of Brisbane is the clear preference but unless sponsors and the Queensland state government come to the table, it could move interstate or overseas. Duco did not provide a figure for the total funding required, but meetings with potential backers - among them Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and sports minister Curtis Pitt - will take place over the coming weeks,

THE FIGHT AT A GLANCE • The fight, if it happens in Australia, will be the biggest boxing fight ever in the land Down Under • Fight locked in for Sunday, April 23 • Competitive tender process set to begin for hosting rights • Brisbane preferred option, but Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide expected to bid • Bout could be moved to Middle East or USA if funds can’t be raised in Australia.

reports said. “The preference for all parties is for the fight to be held in Australia, and we are working towards this outcome,” said Duco director Dean Lonergan, who met with Arum to broker the deal, in a report. Arum said he wants the fight to take place at an outdoor stadium. According to the Top Rank supremo, the fight would be beamed into 159 different

countries, including the US, where it would be shown in a primetime Saturday night timeslot on free-to-air TV. “I would expect 3-4000 Filipinos to fly from the Philippines for this fight down under,” Arum said. “It will be the biggest fight in Australian history but, until the money is secured, we have to keep our options open, including looking at the Middle East and USA.”

F LOCKED IN, 15