Edge Davao 9 Issue 260

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES FOR POSTERITY. Ministers representing countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pose for a class photograph during the ASEAN 2017 Labor Ministers’ Retreat held at The Marco Polo Davao yesterday. The Philippines was represented by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III (5th from left). Lean Daval Jr.

DEMOLITION JOB Drama aimed to topple Rody from power, Andanar says

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

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HE on-going political drama at the Senate was meant to destroy President Duterte and to topple his administration. ”

This was the statement made by Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday in the wake of another round of what he described as a “demolition job” against the President.

“Our people are aware that this character assassination is nothing but vicious politics orchestrated by sectors affected by the reforms initiated by the Duterte administration,” Andanar said.

In a press conference in the Senate on Monday, the Free Legal Assistance Group presented SPO3 Arthur Las-

cañas who claimed to be the leader of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Lascañas, during the press conference linked President Duterte into the drug-related killings in Davao City including the killing of broadcaster Jun Pala.

He also affirmed the existence of the Davao Death Squad.

But Andanar said the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Senate Committee on Justice have already cleared the President of extrajudicial killing and his involvement in the Davao Death Squad.

“Bringing change is not an easy task. The Duterte administration has disturbed and disrupted the establishment,” Andanar added.

He also assured the public that the administration of President Duterte remain undistracted in delivering goods and services to serve the people, not just the interest of the few.

Meanwhile, Senator Win Gachalian called on the Department of Justice to file perjury charges against Lascañas for lying before the Senate Justice Committee in a hearing last October 2016.

In the said hearing, Lascañas denied the existence of the DDS. “The Department of Justice should immediately file perjury charges against retired SPO3 Arthur Lascañas, by admitting to lying under oath before the Senate Justice Committee during the October 2016 hearings on alleged extrajudicial killings,” Gachalian

said in a statement.

He added that Lascañas has made a mockery of the solemn proceedings of the Senate and that he should be made to pay for the grave disrespect he has shown to the institution.

“Personally, I find it hard to believe the incredible alternative facts that Lascañas is now asserting. After all, he was singing a completely different tune just a few months ago,” the senator pointed out.

With the different testimony now he is presenting to the public, Gachalian said it is clear that there are serious doubts about the integrity and the credibility of Lascañas.

“Unless Lascañas can provide actual concrete evidence to link the President to extrajudicial killings, I would not rely too much on this retired cop’s tall tales,” Gachalian said.

DOLE leads ASEAN talks on migrant workers’ rights

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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S the leading agency that upholds the rights of migrant workers, the Department of Labor and Employment hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Labor Ministers’ Retreat and 10th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers on February 19 to 22,

2017 in Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

Speaking on Monday, DOLE Secretary Sylvestre H. Bello III expressed his gratitude to host the ministerial retreat saying as the chairman of ASEAN 2017, the Philippines is looking forward to the finalization of the

EDGEDAVAO Sports

BIG FINISH

Escandor sparks Ateneo comeback as Blue Knights bag SM-NBTC title P16

FDOLE, 10

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

VANTAGE VIEW. President Rodrigo Duterte tells his former roommates at YMCA about the government’s war on drugs during the Reunion of the Knights of Galahad at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on Sunday evening. ACE MORANDANTE/Presidential Photo

Real property owners asked to submit sworn statements

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HE Davao City Assessor’s Office has let the world out: henceforth real property owners are now required to file their sworn statements declaring the true value of their lands, buildings, or machinery as part of the preparation for the 2018 proposed General Revision of real property assessments.

The CAO said that under Section 202 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, real property owners are duty-bound to declare the actual value of their properties, whether these had been previously declared or undeclared, taxable or ex-

empted, through their respective sworn statements.

The deadline for filing of the sworn statements was set for June 30 this year.

In the failure of refusal of owners to file their sworn statements, the CAO will have to assess the property and declare its value in the name of the defaulting property owner for taxation purposes.

For compliance and additional information, real property owners are advised to get in touch with the CAO at the Ground Floor of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building along San Pedro St., or the district offices in Bunawan and Toril. CIO

Lascañas’tale meant to divert drug raps versus De Lima: DOJ

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USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday said that the statement of retired policeman SPO3 Arthur Lascañas that President Rodrigo Duterte was behind the socalled Davao Death Squad who was responsible for extrajudicial killings when he was still mayor of Davao City only seeks to divert public attention from the drug charges filed against Senator Leila De Lima.

Aguirre also said the move is also aimed at luring people to attend the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. ”This is diversionary tactic to deflect the seriousness of

the crimes committed by De Lima. This is calculated to orchestrate their call for warm bodies to attend the EDSA anniversary,’ Aguirre said when sought for a comment.

De Lima is facing three counts of drug charges before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC) in connection to her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). ”I do not know Lascañas.

His testimony is a turnaround from his previous testimony at the Senate. He could be another (Edgar) Matobato as he was presented by Trillanes,”

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MBC warns vs adverse effects due to closure of mining firms

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE Mindanao Business Council (MBC) expressed its serious concern on the possible adverse effects of the possible closure of mining operations in the country.

In a statement on Monday, Vicente T. Lao, president of MBC said harmful consequences of the closure of mining firms may directly hit communities and the welfare of the thousands of mining workers and their families.

The MBC, Lao added, “recognizes the importance and huge potential of the mining industry in contributing to the development of

Mindanao and the country.”

The mining industry, he pointed out, is a critical ingredient that will facilitate greater economic growth, attracting investments, creating jobs and reducing poverty, particularly in the rural areas.

A number of mining firms in the country are facing closure following the result of the audit report conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

MBC also called for transparency and fairness in line with the latest audit results presented by the DENR. “While we adhere to the

government’s thrust of sustaining our natural resources and healthy environment, we equally call for procedural transparency, fairness and the observance of the rule of law in the audit of mining operations,” Lao added.

The group, Lao added, has been actively involved in the encouragement of industry investments in Mindanao and in Davao region.

“The MBC continue to clamor for transparency and stronger accountability among the key players in the mining industry as we continue to monitor their social, environmental and economic

performance,” he stressed.

The welfare of the affected families in the threatened mining firms should be considered over the advocacy of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez, he said.

The welfare and livelihood of the millions of poor Filipino families in the affected mining communities should take precedent over the advocacy of a single cabinet secretary who has manifested gross bias against the operation of a lawful industry that has contributed greatly to the upliftment of the lives and future of poor Filipinos in the countryside,” Lao said.

“This is just the opportunity for them to display their artistic abilities,” he said.

Cañedo added the event aims to develop the filmmakers’ skills in movie-making and at the same time, encourage them to use film as a medium to help the city in its tourism campaigns. It also gives them opportunities to gain national and international recognition in the film industry.

As it is an event in cooperation with the City Tourism

Office of Davao, the contest will also be showcasing potential tourist destinations in the city by incorporating shots of these places in the films that will be made by the contestants.

The competition will be a race to different parts of the city where there will be checkpoints and clues with various obstacles that will challenge the participants’ creativity and resourcefulness in shooting a film within 24 hours. Ten competing teams composed of

three members each will be allowed to join the contest.

The first team to finish the race will receive a cash price of P 20,000 plus a trophy while the second and third placers shall receive P17,000 and P15,000, respectively. Finishers of the will take home P10,000 as consolation prize.

The team with the Best Film production will receive P15,000. The checkpoints of the race will be announced on March 10.

Guerrilla Filmathon to be held in Davao

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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S part of this year’s Araw ng Dabaw celebrations, a 24-hour filming contest, dubbed Guerilla Filmathon will be held on March 11-12 in cooperation with the City Tourism Office of Davao.

Dax Cañedo, one of the founders of Guerrilla Filmmaking Workshop/Festival, said that the competition will draw participants from local film enthusiasts who have the passion for filmmaking.

NEWS 3

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Show sincerity in release of captives, AFP to NPAs

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HOW first your sincerity and then we’ll talk.

This was the reaction of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Monday when asked about the Communist Party of the Philippines’ announcement regarding the release of six troopers and security personnel whom the rebel New People’s Army abducted late January and early this month.

“The NPA should prove and substantiate their announcements with clear and sincere actions, not propaganda,” he added.

To be released are Pfc. Edwin Salan whom the NPAs abducted in Alegria, Surigao Del Norte last Jan. 29; Sgt. Solaiman Calucop, Pfc. Samuel Garay, who were snatched in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat last

Feb. 2; PO2 Jerome Natividad who was bagged in Talakag, Bukidnon last Feb. 9; and militiamen Rene Doller and Carl Mark, who were both abducted in Lupon, Davao Oriental last Feb. 14.

“Hence, they should release the soldiers they have abducted immediately without any condition. Doing so would lessen the seriousness of their continuing crimes and add to any goodwill they wish to convey,” Padilla stressed.

The CPP earlier said the release of the six “prisoners of war is their positive gesture to continue peace negotiations with the government.”

They added the government can cooperate by withdrawing all its troops and in and around the areas where the captives will be released.

(PNA)

HE Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Monday has already raffled the three counts of drug charges against Senator Leila De Lima and several others in connection to their alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

DOJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes confirmed that Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero, Branch 205 Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz, and Branch 206 Judge Patria Manalastas-De Leon are set to handle the cases against De Lima, who was charged for violation of Section 5 (sale and trading of illegal drugs) in relation to Section 3 (jj); Section 26 (b), and Section 28 (criminal liability of government officials and employees) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of

2002.

Based on court procedures, the judges need to determine first if there is probable cause to issue warrants of arrest against the accused.

There is no motion filed yet to consolidate the three cases.

Apart from De Lima, those named as co-accused are her former lover and driver Ronnie Dayan and her nephew Jose Adrian Dera, each facing two counts.

Her other co-accused charged with one count each are former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Franklin Jesus Bucayu; Bucayu’s alleged bagman Wilfredo Elli; high-profile Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian; National Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Rafael Ragos; and de Lima’s former aide Joenel Sanchez.

ROUTINE. A police officer from the Highway Patrol Group inspects his motorcycle upon his group’s arrival from escorting ASEAN dignitaries in front of The Marco Polo Davao where the ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Retreat is being held yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Court raffles off drug Sara not ruling out talks charges vs. De Lima with NPAs in Davao City T M F COURT, 10

UNDER WRAPS. Dax Cañedo, one of the founders of Guerrilla Filmmaking Workshop and Festival, discusses the upcoming Guerilla Filmathon, a 24-hour filming contest which will be part of this year’s Araw ng Davao

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

AYOR Sara Duterte has offered a “hand of peace” to the rebel New People’s Army, saying she was willing to listen to the rebels in a bid to arrive at a solution to bring an end to the armed conflict.

Here statement came in

the aftermatch of the recent armed clashes between the rebels and the government troops in the 3rd district of the city that resulted in the killing of two government soldiers.

This despite the fact that her father, President Duterte has ordered an end to peace

negotiations between the Communist Party of the Philippines - National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) and the government panel.

“In light of the recent events in the third district of Davao City that resulted in the deaths of our fellow Filipinos, I

am offering my hand in peace to the New People’s Army,” Sara said.

“I am willing to listen, if the NPA is willing to talk.My only condition, at this point is, I want to talk to them as a group,” she added.

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ing, an ukay-ukay store along Daumar Street, and two still unidentified gunmen.

Police Chief Inspector Gilbert Rollen, chief of the Cogon market police station believes the violent incident has something to do with the rido (clan feud) between the late Pantar, Lanao del Norte Mayor Mo-

hammad Exchan Gabriel Limbona and his political opponent Magondaya Tago.

He said Jabbar Tago sought the help of the Cogon police two weeks ago claiming he received several death threats.

Jabbar, a nephew of Magondaya Tago, ran against

Limbona but lost in the May 2016 elections.

Limbona was killed in an ambush in Sitio Paitan, Barangay Dalipuga in Iligan City on December 30, 2016.

The running feud between these political clans in Pantar town, Lanao del Norte spilled

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Lanao Norte rido spills over into CDO; 3 killed in shootout

BLOODY feud between two political clans in Lanao del Norte spilled over in Cagayan de Oro city Sunday afternoon where a gun battle erupted, killing three persons.

Killed were Mawei Batuintan alias “ Mawi Solaiman,” 28, an employee of Jabbar Market-

celebration, slated on March 11-12 in cooperation with the City Tourism Office of Davao. Cañedo graced yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

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Troops kill ASG spotter in Tawi-Tawi

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OVERNMENT troops killed an Abu Sayyaf Group spotter in a law enforcement operation on Sunday afternoon in Tawi-Tawi.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, identified the slain ASG spotter as Al Abdullah.

Galvez said Abdullah was killed in a firefight shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday in the waters of Great Bakungan, Turtle Islands municipality.

The Turtle Islands municipality is located at the south-western tip of the country, at the edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines and Malaysia.

Galvez said the troops conducted maritime security patrol off the waters of Bakungan, Turtle Islands, after they received reports on the presence of kidnap-for-ransomgroup (KFRG) members in the

area.

Galvez said Abdullah, who was invited for questioning, has admitted that he owns the house where the suspected KFRG members stayed and identified them as Musub Baudin, Man Baudi and a certain Absar.

He said Abdullah asked permission to go home and was allowed by the troops.

However, he said Abdullah returned armed with an M-16 Armalite rifle and opened fire, thus, the firefight that resulted to his death.

Recovered from his possession was an M-16 Armalite rifle with several rounds of ammunition.

Galvez said the death of Abdullah is a big setback to the ASG “as we continue to intensify the conduct of law enforcement operations along with police and maximize intelligence monitoring to pre-empt

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Filipinas Port Services marks 40th anniversary

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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HE Filipinas Port Services, Inc. marked its 40th Anniversary on February 16, 2017.

FilPort is known for providing foreign and domestic cargo handling and equipment rental services. It also offers cargo services by means of arrastre, stevedoring and bagging services.

Through the years, FilPort has improved its innovations, including investing in equipment based on its clients’ need. Since its establishment in 1976, FilPort has serviced local and international clients including a foreign vessel with

a Davao-Singapore route.

Harry N. Lopez-Chua, president of FilPort, said that they aspire to be of service to the City of Davao in the years to come and to continue to develop and innovate for the needs of the business industry.

FilPort also aims to become a reliable partner of the government and the Davao business community.

In celebration of their 40th anniversary, FilPort will be holding an awarding ceremony for their loyal employees who have served them throughout the years on February 24 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

MICC review team sets organizational meeting

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MULTI-STAKEHOLDER team of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) that was formed to review existing mining operations that were ordered shut down or suspended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will hold its first meeting this Monday (Feb. 20).

This organizational meeting is a result of MICC Resolution No. 6 , which had resolved to create “a multi-stakeholder team” to “review existing mining operations in consultation with local government units (LGUs), which review shall be based on the guidelines and parameters set forth in the specific mining contract and in other pertinent laws, taking into account the valid exercise of the State’s police power to serve the common good of the poor.”

Resolution No. 6 was approved by the MICC in its Feb. 9 meeting.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who co-chairs the MICC, said the team is essentially a “technical working group” that will review the operations of the mine sites affected by the DENR order.

“The technical working group, (that is) the one going to do the reviews. That was part of the board resolution, so they’re going to implement it on Monday. They will decide what to do, the technical working group,” Dominguez said.

The multi-stakeholder review team shall also include representatives from relevant government agencies and institutions.

Invitations were sent to the co-chairpersons of the MICC-- Dominguez and Regina Lopez of the DENR, along with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Director General Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Also invited to the meeting are Secretaries Ramon

Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Ismael Sueno of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Benjamin Diokno of Budget and Management (DBM), Alfonso Cusi of Energy (DOE), Emmanuel Pinol of Agriculture (DA), Rafael Mariano of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Vitaliano Aguirre III of Justice (DOJ), Silvestre Bello III of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Judy Taguiwalo of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Solicitor General Jose Calida, Undersecretary Ferdinand Cui Jr. of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Chairperson Leonor Oralde-Quintayo of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Executive Director Sandra Paredes of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) are also invited to the meeting.

Earlier, the MICC affirmed the primacy of both “procedural and substantive” due process in the final resolution of DENR’s series of actions on existing mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs).

“As discussed during the MICC meeting last week, there is a need to observe due process. Due process is both substantive and procedural. Substantive due process means that there are valid grounds in law to support the cancellation. Procedural due process means the procedure for cancellation as provided for in the contract or under relevant laws were followed,” said DOF Undersecretary Bayani Agabin, who heads the Department’s Legal Services Group.

MICC Resolution No. 6 stressed that both the DENR and the Council “recognize the requirements of due process in the applicable mining laws, rules and regulations.”

Resolution No. 6 was signed by both Lopez and Dominguez. (PR)

VITAL COGS. Filipinas Port president Harry Lopez Chua says trucking and warehousing are the most in demand in the industry right now. Chua also talked about the scheduled activities for the firm’s upcoming 40th anniversary during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

PBA rep backs proposed Tawi-tawi economic zone

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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BA partylist Rep. and recently designated as caretaker of 1st district of Sulu Jericho Nograles expressed his support to the proposal to develop the province of Tawi-Tawi into the next economic zone (ecozone).

One of the southernmost provinces in the country, Sulu is the neighboring province of Tawi-Tawi which would directly benefit upon the implementation of the project, Nograles told reporters on Friday at Waterfront Hotel Davao.

He said the primary issue faced by the local community of Sulu is the absence of decent livelihood apart from the lack of decent housing and education.

“If Tawi-Tawi will actually be developed into an ecozone, I think what they will focus is on agro-industrial, and also towards fisheries,” said Nograles, This was also pointed out

by Mindanao Development

Authority (MinDa) Chairperson Secretary Datu Hj. Abul Khayr Alonto in a previous interview where he said Tawi-Tawi possesses potentials in the aspects of agriculture as well as a rich aquamarine industry which could offer a lot of products for export such as seaweeds.

Nograles added Tawi-Tawi – Sulu corridor has a very rich marine biodiversity which can compete in the world when it comes to live fish trading.

“When you go to Hongkong, Hongkong has the biggest live fish trading to the tune of an annual USD1.7 trillion in live fish trading alone,” he said.

The representative added, as long as the project will not pose dangers against the environment and will prove to be sustainable, then he will support the project.

In the previous month, Alonto disclosed during a media forum that Tawi-Tawi is seen to replicate and even ex-

ceed Singapore in terms of development, particularly in the free port aspect.

The MinDa chief added that the development will be a comprehensive approach by establishing infrastructures and facilities that will address the livelihood and social needs of the citizens.

Alonto envisions that the TawiTawi free ecozone will surpass Singapore in terms of the number of ships serving neighboring regions in the trade and industry while the straights in Tawi-Tawi could be “the next Panama and Suez Canal without making a canal”.

The MinDa chief said that the project will be open for investors to invest on the shipyard that will be established on the island province to cater to the barter trade that will be re-implemented in the country under the Duterte administration.

Alonto also announced that the project will be in-time

for the recent decision of the Sabah government to lift the banning of the Philippine Muslim traders to participate in the economic activities of the region.

Aside from the free port aspect, Alonto said that the islands of Tawi-Tawi has strong potentials for tourism industry of the country.

Manila on May 3-6 in 2018.

The ADB head also updated Dominguez on the preparations for the Bank’s 50th annual meeting, which will be held on May 4-7 this year in Yokohama, Japan.

In his letter sent earlier to Nakao, Dominguez, on behalf of the government, said that “Following the Bank’s milestone of celebrating its 50th anniversary, it will be [the Philippines’] pleasure to host the succeeding annual meeting and launch the Bank’s proposed vision for the coming years.”

Discussing a wide range of issues with Dominguez during

the meeting, Nakao said he agrees with the DOF proposal to adjust the excise taxes on automobiles and petroleum products and acknowledged that these are “progressive tax measures.”

The Bank also projected that the DOF’s proposed tax reform program would improve the business environment and sustain further growth, and that revenue losses from the proposed reductions in personal income taxes (PIT) will be offset by broadening the value-added tax (VAT) base and increasing oil excise taxes.

“If successfully implemented, the new government’s

development agenda to step up spending on infrastructure, implement tax reforms, and cut red tape will sustain high growth rates and increase job creation,” ADB country director for the Philippines Richard Bolt had said in earlier projecting the country’s 2017 GDP growth at 6.2 percent.

At the onset of the Duterte administration, the DOF immediately buckled down to work to craft a tax reform plan that would make the current system simpler, fairer and more efficient while raising additional revenues for the Duterte administration’s un-

Masterplan Alonto disclosed that the proposal was approved by the President in his recent appointment with the MinDa chief. He added that the agency is now working on the documents to start the development of the said area starting with its consultation with Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Head Charito Plaza.

He added that the agency had been quietly conducting planning and meeting with the president, potential investors and stakeholders on the proj-

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ADB backs DOF’s‘progressive’excise tax reforms

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HE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its support for the proposed reforms in the excise taxes of automobiles and petroleum products being pushed by the Department of Finance (DOF) as these are highly “progressive tax measures” that would help support President Duterte’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda.

In his recent meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, ADB President Takehiko Nakao said the Bank is also looking forward to the Philippines’ hosting of its 51st annual meeting of the Board of Governors that will be held in

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DCCCII monthly meeting to stress member’s views

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UPBEAT. Department of Labor and Employment secretary Silvestre H. Bello III says as the chairman of ASEAN 2017, the Philippines is looking forward to the finalization of the instrument on the protection and promotion of the

ARMOR clarifies list of DENR ruling-hit mines

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HE Alliance of Responsible Miners in Region XI (ARMOR) has clarified that three of its members---NADECOR, ALDEVINCO, King Eagle Exploration and Mining Corporation---are affected by the order of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez to cancel 75 mining contracts in line with her intensified campaign to stop extraction of resources in sensitive areas across the country.

The clarification was made by lawyer Rodulfo A. Palma, president of ARMOR in a letter to Edge Davao in reaction to an earlier news report published in this newspaper.

The report inadvertently placed Apex Mining as a member of Armor.

Palma appeared as one of two guests on Wednesday at the Habi at Kape media forum at

the Abreeza Mall.

Lopez described her order released on February 14 as a “gift of love” to the Filipino people in reference to the cancellation of mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) with mining companies.

But in that forum, Palma said the pronouncement of Secretary Lopez “was not a good Valentine’s gift to the companies and to the host communities.”

“For the mining companies, I think, what we are waiting for are the service of these notices so that the mining companies can also evaluate the specific basis for the cancellation or issuance of such order,” he said.

Palma added that without which, the mining companies will be in “limbo” on what to do, adding that it is not ripe for

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Dominguez optimistic on CTRP approval by Congress

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INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has expressed confidence that President Rodrigo Duterte might not even have to expend any political capital on getting the proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) approved by the Congress, given the inherit merits of this plan to make the current tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient, particularly for the poor plus low- and middle-income taxpayers.

The first package of the CTRP, now pending at the House ways and means committee under a bill filed by its chairman, Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, aims to lower personal income tax (PIT) rates as well as donor and estate taxes.

Cua’s House Bill No. 4774, which is endorsed by the Department of Finance (DOF), also aims to broaden the tax

base by adjusting excise tax rates for automobiles and fuel and plugging leakages in the value-added tax (VAT), but retaining current exemptions enjoyed by seniors and persons with disabilities, among other revenue-enhancing measures.

“If you look at the tax reform package, and see and weigh the benefits and the pain that it might cause, you won’t need to use any political capital because it’s a good package. So he may not even have to spend a single iota [political capital] on this tax package,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said he hoped that the entire CTRP would be passed in six months, “but the reality of the situation is it cannot be done.”

“The last big tax (reform) package took five years to

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rights of migrant workers. Bello spoke before the delegates of yesterday’s ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Retreat held at The Marco Polo Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

HE Quarterly Business Encounter-cum- Second General Membership Meeting of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) on Feb. 23, 2017 will highlight the issues and concerns voiced by members belonging to the various business sectors.

This was learned from DCCCII president Ronald C. Go, who said that the style of holding QBE-GMM is tweaked as part of the Chamber leadership’s effort to hear the voice of members who have not served as officers in the Board of Trustees (BOT).

“We discuss so many concerns in the BOT and act on them accordingly but there is a need to reach out to members to hear their views, said Go, who is in his second

month as DCCCII president.

The QBE-cum-GMM will be held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Thursday starting at 9:30 a.m.

Dubbed as “Sulong Davao: Davao City Business Community Working Together for Prosperity”, the gathering aims to start the year right by hearing the voices of the members, especially on issues and concerns affecting their businesses.

The members will be seated together with fellow members belonging to their sector and their respective sectoral vice presidents will facilitate the discussions.

Before the sectoral discussion, past president Manuel “Bobby” Orig will talk on “Building and Maintaining a High Performing Culture”.

AMA

Eurotowers awards top sales performers Vivaldi Residences 83% sold

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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UROTOWERS International Inc., the property developer of Vivaldi Residences, has reciprocated by giving back to its partners and stakeholders during the annual Circle of Excellence Annual Awards Night at the Apo View Hotel on February 9, 2017.

Top awards were given to Kenneth Hilario for being the Top Broker: Sales Production & Quality Awardee, Ariel Ighot as Top Sales Manager: Sales Production & Quality Awardee and Genly Ighot - Top Property Specialist: Sales Production & Quality Awardee.

Meanwhile, Genly Ighot won the car raffle draw, the segment of the program where all top performing agents could have the chance

to win a brand new Toyota Wigo.

Another awardee Ariel Ighot, Genly’s husband, described his early days in the company as a sales agent.

He would recall, as sellers in South Cotabato, he and his wife would spend days closing deals with clients living in far flung areas where they were usually met by rain and to their dismay, no vehicle was willing to share them a ride.

“Right before we went here, we (Genly and I) kneeled and pray that God would grant us the car,” said Ighot.

“I personally would like to thank Eurotowers. I resigned from my previous job to work full-time here and these awards, these are only ‘tip of

the iceberg’. I’ve had houses in Camella because of the commissions I received. I have bought not only one but three units in Vivaldi Residences. I could afford to send my children to school and could even spend time with her at the end of the day,” he added.

Meanwhile, Maricar Encarnacion, chief operating officer (COO) of Vivaldi Residences explained the annual awards is a ceremonial event which aims to gather all sellers and bring them good news and inspire those who have just started to improve their performance by recognizing the top performers each year.

“You see, the award is not only the number of units sold but the value as well, the qual-

pension orders on host local government units (LGUs), told the media that three of the municipalities will lose revenues representing over 50 percent of their current operating income if the affected mine sites are shut down or forced to suspend operations.

“One is the municipality of Carrascal (in Surigao del Sur), then you have Tagana-an (in Surigao del Norte) and Tubajon (in Dinagat Islands),” said Dominguez in a recent media forum.

The updated estimates submitted by the Bureau of Local Government Finance

(BLGF) to Dominguez show Carrascal will lose P198.3 million of its mining revenues, which represent 62.3 percent of its total operating income, while Tagana-an will lose P70.3 million or 54 percent of its total operating income. Tubajon will shed P38 million, or 55.4 percent of its total operating income if the DENR order is implemented.

The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) cochaired by the DOF and DENR met last Feb. 9 to discuss the closure and suspension orders, and issued a resolution emphasizing that due process

ity of the account,” stressed Encarnacion.

She added that the sellers have already reached their commission but continues to provide their services to the company, something that is worthy of appreciation.

As the sales reach 83 percent the COO is expecting that the sellers could hit the target they set for 2017.

Project update Engr. Ray Estanislao, Eurotowers director for Construction and Development Group said the project accomplishment is already 25 percent.

“Currently, we’re doing the mat foundation and the basement floors. We have two

F EUROTOWERS, 10

Updated BGLF estimates show potential P821-M LGU losses from closure, suspension of mining projects

T

HE order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to either shut down or suspend the operations of 28 mine sites across the country will cost 17 affected cities and municipalities in 10 provinces over P821 million annually in foregone revenues, according to updated estimates submitted to the Department of Finance (DOF).

DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who earlier directed local treasurers to submit their respective reports on the complete revenue impact of the DENR closure and sus-

will be observed in assessing the status of mining operations in the country..

A multi-stakeholder team was also formed by the MICC to “review existing mining operations in consultation with the LGUs.” The review shall be based on “the guidelines and parameters set forth in the specific mining contract and in other pertinent laws, taking into account the valid exercise of the State’s police power to serve the common good of the poor,” the MICC resolution likewise read.

F UPDATED, 10

6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

of Sarangani Bulawan fest to give free legal Construction hospital nears completion consultations for Comvalenyos T

T

HE provincial government of Compostela Valley is set to provide its constituents free legal consultations in time with the celebration of the 10th Bulawan Festival and the province’s 19th founding anniversary.

The activity, dubbed as the “1st Provincial Legal Aid Service Day” will be slated on March 4, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol.

The upcoming activity will be a joint effort between the provincial government and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley chapters headed by Atty. Gerald B. Racho.

Around lawyers will join the provision of free legal services, including Atty. Arvin Dexter Lopoz, former Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Atty. Richard Liban- Pro-

vincial Legal Officer.

Consultations will include concerns on birth certificate errors and late registrations, criminal and civil cases, and issues on marital abuses or violence on women and children (VAWC).

“The activity aims to provide free and proficient legal service to all Comvalenyos and to make legal service within easy reach for them es-

Drug surrenderers join in clearing Maguindanao of water hyacinths

T

O prove that they are now reformed and productive citizens, more than 200 drug personalities who admitted involvement as pushers and users have joined Moro rebels, police, soldiers, government workers and volunteers in removing water hyacinths under Datu Sajid Piang bridge here.

Clearing operations continue today with more and more volunteers offering a helping hand.

Myrna Jo Henry, speaking for Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMMHEART), said 231 former drug personalities, armed with bamboo poles and machetes, volunteered to help in clearing the river of water hyacinth with “hardened” base that poses threat of flooding in low lying communities downstream of Rio Grande de Mindanao.

For about two weeks, more than 1,000 warm bodies have been removing, using chainsaw, poles and machetes, water plants with six-feet deep soil under it.

If not removed, the river bed will be filled with soil and the river water will find its course in residential areas beside Rio Grande de Mindanao.

Manual clearing of water hyacinth that dries up as days go by have started two weeks ago but workers were rushing against time as more water lilies from upstream continue to build up anew.

Henry said the manu-

al clearing operations are done by batches so the work continues. Over the weekend, more than 700 workers along with 570 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have cleared about 130 by 75 square meters of water hyacinth that posed flooding threats to residents.

Previous clogging of water lilies that were not removed or hopped into pieces had caused floods to nearby communities, including Cotabato City, the downstream of Rio Grande de Mindanao.

ARMM-HEART spearheaded the clearing operations manually in the absence of mechanical equipment to unclog the water plants below bridges in the marshland.

Henry said clearing operations continue every day to save communities from floods.

Participating in “bayanihan spirit,” Henry said, include volunteers from local government units of Datu Piang in Maguindanao and Midsayap in North Cotabato, Department of Public Works and Highways personnel police from Maguindanao and soldiers from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Henry said a two week operation resulted in the clearing of 165 x 105 square meters of water hyacinth with “Kangkong.”

The workers were armed with 10 chain saws from DPHW Engineering Office of Maguindanao, ARMM HEART and private individuals who lend cutters. (PNA)

pecially those who live as far as Maragusan or Laak municipalities,” said Board Member Marie Jude Fuentes-Lopoz, the project coordinator.

Through the activity, she added, residents in the province who are having legal concerns and issues need not to proceed to Tagum City or Davao City to look for lawyers, Lopoz added.

“We are here to assist

them in their legal woes, we bring the lawyers to them in one big event here in Nabunturan, helping them save not only money, but time and effort, as well,” she said.

On the other hand, the Registrar of Deeds in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte will also be present during the event to address the concerns and problems of the people on land titles and deeds.

Municipal Civil Registrars from several municipalities will be also be available during the event to help those who have problems in the correction of errors in their birth certificates.

The event will be a onestop-shop legal consultation wherein people can be helped with their legal concerns, errors in birth certificate, applications in licenses and a lot more that needs legal advice.

(Rey Antibo, IDS Comval)

HE provincial government of Sarangani is pushing for the operationalization by the third quarter of the year of its P250-million provincial hospital in Alabel town.

Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani provincial health officer, said Monday the facility is now about 70 percent finished and they are targeting the full completion of its vital structures’ sections before the planned opening.

He said they will initially operate the hospital either as an infirmary or Level 1 facility, with a capacity of 15 to 20 beds.

Earlier this month, he said they conducted a testing and commissioning of the hospital’s generator sets, elevator and medical gas pipe.

Alejandro said they installed two units of 625 kilo-volt-ampere or kVA generator sets for the hospital, which is being constructed in a 3,500sq. meter area at the provincial capitol grounds in Barangay Maribulan, Alabel.

“It’s so far, so good. But we saw some components that

need improvement before the final turnover,” he said.

The official said the Department of Health (DOH) and the provincial government has already spent around P150 million for the project.

The hospital’s construction started in 2012 through an initial P50-million grant from the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Another P75 million was later released as augmentation.

The agency allotted some P20 million for the acquisition of hospital equipment and P5 million for the construction of a two-story out-patient department and its operating room foundation.

Alejandro said they expect the release in the coming weeks of an additional P200 million from the national government to facilitate the project’s completion.

He said such allocation is through the “facilitative efforts” of Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao.

(PNA)

to where the water pump is located,” she said, saying that children have experienced a hard time getting water as they have to fetch water in a pump located in a sloped area, which exposes children to accidents.“There’s an uncontainable joy in our hearts because of this blessing that we received now,” she said.

The project, which was completed only less than a year from the time when the teachers requested it from the governor, will serve not only the school but also the nearby community as a new hand-operated water pump has also been installed for the residents’ use, “Even a five-year old can pump out water from it as it quickly pumps out enough water without exerting much effort,” she said.

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who turned over the project said it is a testament of the Provincial Government’s genuine service for the people. “This project hopes to address the school’s urgent need which is water,” he said. For the Governor, it is the government’s responsibility to identify the gaps of the communities that needs urgent interventions.

He also encouraged the Local Government Unit of the Barangay to come up with a sound Barangay Development Plan to identify the gaps and interventions in the different sectors in the community. “If the proposed project is feasible and will benefit the majority, I don’t see any reason why we should not provide it,” he added. (Karen Lou Deloso/PIO ComVal)

School gets easy access to water for first time in 30 years

F

OR the first time in more than thirty years, the Pedro Malintad Elementary School now has easy access to safe drinking water, giving respite to the faculty staff and students who are now relieved from the exhausting work of fetching water from the old water pump outside the school.

Parents and teachers, during the turn-over ceremony on Saturday, February 18, 2017, said they are pleased and overjoyed over the newly completed Potable Water System provided by the Provincial Government.

Situated at the scenic coastal village of Lawigan in the City of Mati,the project provides solution to the school’s age-old water problem as it ensures them allday access to water. “I am

truly overwhelmed of the government’s support for this project as it has made a lot of difference in the lives of the staff especially the children,” said School Principal Mary Ann Juezan, noting that the children now will not have to run outside the school premises to get water as there is already water running through the school’s faucets.

Teacher Anifel Lingatong said access to water is one of the many pressing challenges in their area which the government has been addressing. “For more than thirty years of existence of this school, it has never experienced an easy way of getting water. It was never easy for our pupils to fetch and carry pails and gallons of water, climbing up and down

7 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

When the well’s dry Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

(First of Two Parts)

“W

ATER is imp o r t a n t ,” says Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Since when did the money of the mining company become more important than the water our people drink?”

This was the main reason why she decided to have the 23 mining operations in several areas in the countries to be closed and 75 mineral production-sharing agreements cancelled. “We have decided to close any kind of mining operation in functional watersheds,” she was quoted as saying at a press conference.

In a privilege speech on water security last February 6, Senator Loren Legarda, echoed the same concern: “For many years, these mining firms operated in the country and while they may have given employment to some, the cost on our environment is already irreparable. Many of those recommended for closure or suspension have caused the destruction of functional watersheds.”

If, indeed, these mining operations are located in watershed areas, Atty. Antonio Gabriel La Viña wholly supports the environment secretary. “No mines should have been approved in watersheds,” he wrote in his Facebook account. “That’s a no-go area since 1996. I revised the mining rules then and that was clear.”

Atty. La Viña, who is currently the executive director of Manila Observatory, asked: “Are (there) mining agreements contracts that cannot be impaired?” The answered is negative. “The jurisprudence is clear that public interest, especially environmental concerns, prevail over the principle of sanctity of contracts,” he explained. “This is especially true where the mining operations have not yet began and investments are still minimal.”

Now, going back to watershed. The Nature Conservancy defines it as “is an area of land that drains rain water or snow into one location such as a stream, lake or wetland. These water bodies supply our drinking water,

There will be no peace in the world unless we are prepared to insure it now by tackling the problems of water, which in some areas are catastrophic.

– Dr. Roger Berthelot, a consultant of United Nations Development Program

water for agriculture and manufacturing, offer opportunities for recreation and provide habitat to numerous plants and animals.”

Water – there lies the importance of watersheds. Perhaps the words of American inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin should be heeded: “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”

“Let us not wait for that day to happen,” Legarda pointed out in her privilege speech. “We need to strengthen water security.”

But it’s already beginning to hit home. During summer, some parts of the country are without water. Even in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, which is located near the Mount Apo, there are instances that where residents have to wake up very early morning in order for them to get some water from their faucets.

Others have to sleep late just to have their pails and other containers filled with water.

“The wells are now running dry – not just in drought-prone areas but also in areas not traditionally associated with water scarcity,” Elizabeth Dowdeswell issued this statement when she was still the executive director of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

At that time, she predicted that one-third of the world’s population will suffer from chronic water shortages. And it did happen. In Beijing, water tables beneath the city are falling by one to two meters a year, leaving one-third of the city’s wells without water. In India, villagers must walk a long distance to fetch water.

“While droughts capture headlines and grab our attention, the far greater threat posed by our escalating water consumption goes largely

unnoticed,” deplored Sandra Postel when she was still connected with the Worldwatch Institute.

The human body is composed of more than 65% water. An Indian mystic supposedly once fasted for more than 80 days without food, yet no one can survive more than a few days without water. A person relies upon it to quench his thirst, brush his te e t h ,

Waterfall

Lake take a bath, and wash his clothes. People also use water to grow rice, vegetables and other crops, clean their cars, and cook their food, among many others.

Declarations coming out of three decades of conferences to discuss the global water situation have confirmed water’s special status: “All people have a right to have access to drinking water” (Mar del Plata, 1977) and “Some water for all rather than more for some” (New Delhi Declaration, 1990).

Agenda 21, the final

River declaration approved by the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, recognizes that all human beings have basic right of access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price.

Viewed globally, there is enough water. About 97% of the earth’s water is salt water. Of the remaining three percent, only a fraction is accessible for use.

The world’s annual renewable fresh water supply is 40,000 cubic kilometers, of which about 14,000 cubic kilometers, are exploitable each year as stable sources settled in rivers, lakes and aquifers.

“Over the last three centuries, the growth in the volume of water withdrawn from freshwater resources for human use has been much more rapid than the growth in population,” points out the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

UNEP agrees. “We put our freshwater resources to an enormous number of uses,” said Walter Rast, who used to be the deputy director of UNEP’s Water Branch.

“We use water for quenching our thirst, cooking our food,

and cleaning our clothes and homes. We use it to grow food, livestock and fish, as a basic ingredient in industrial processes, and as a means of removing wastes and by-products.

“We use it to produce hydroelectric power, to move many of our products and commerce, and even to put out fires. Freshwater is also used for many recreational purposes, including fishing and swimming, and has aesthetic functions, providing breathtaking vistas for human consolation,” Rast further said.

Freshwater – either for basic human survival or for economic development – has virtually no substitute. One cannot make paper with milk, or produce steel with orange juice; both processes need adequate supplies of water, as indeed would producing milk and the orange juice in the first place.

Water is life, so they say.

We need to protect our watersheds. We need to conserve our water resources.

Meir ben Meir, who was then the water commissioner of Israel, said it bluntly: “It’s simply a question of survival.

Thirst for water is an ignition to violence.” (To be concluded)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

EDITORIAL Tainted with politics

B

Y initiating the Walk For Life mass action against extrajudicial killings and the restoration of death as capital punishment, the church has practically set the stage for another state-church confrontation.

Although this is not the first time that the church, led by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), is rising up against the state, the means remain the same.

The new mass action is timed with the forthcoming anniversary of the EDSA Revolution which is being exploited to the hilt by pro-Aquino groups, including some personalities of the CBCP known to be close friends of the Aquinos.

Obviously, the church wants to rekindle the EDSA People Power spirit in order to strengthen its action. This has always been the easy scapegoat to draw people in and because of this, People Power has lost its true spirit. When you tend to

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abuse the natural force that drew people to unite in 1986, it significantly kills it until it loses its full worth.

This is what is happening now.

It did not help as well that Senator Leila De Lima joined the Walk For Life and the church allowed her.

Everyone knows the beleaguered lawmaker is facing looming arrest for her alleged involvement in illegal drugs and the church, for the sake of propriety, should not allow itself or its mass action to be used by politicians to advance their own interest or protect them from the law.

By allowing into their ranks Senator De Lima, who just defiled the name “political prisoner” by calling herself one, the whole action is now tainted with politics.

This mass action is losing its value and exposes its political bias.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

C

HESS is widely played the world over. Although soccer is the world’s most watched spectator sport and is the national pastime of three-fourths of the countries in the world, chess, is arguably the most challenging game there is today.

FYI, our own native-bred chess warrior, GM Wesley So (although now wearing the colors of the US Chess Federation), is now the world’s second highest rated player, behind current world champion Magnus Carlsen.

Thus, I can understand why our politicians are now applying tactical strategies that have relevance to weaving a mating threat on the opponent’s king.

If I may recall, in the James Bond film “From Russia With Love,” a Russian chess master was utilized by the world-wide criminal organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E. for his brilliant and creative mind.

Now, now, if you carefully observe how the political scenario is now evolving eight months into the Duterte admin-

I

N some high-end restaurants, an order of stewed native chicken, the tinolang manok, is expensive. At Bankerohan Public Market, Davao City’s biggest souk, bisayang manok (literally, Visayan chicken) costs nearly double per kilo than the feeds-induced chicken served at your nearest food chain. In fact, soup from free-range chickens is good for colds if served piping hot.

When Portuguese-born explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition arrived in the Philippines, one of the observations Italian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta wrote in the voyage’s diary was the fondness of the people from Islas de Pintados (tattooed people) for cockfighting. Of course, Islas de Pintados refers to the Visayas and cockfights belong to roosters.

But there’s more to chicken than just food and sport. The animal, wild or domestic, has its roots in the country. In 2014, the American journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences came out with a definitive article claiming the origins and dispersal of Polynesian chickens have been traced to the Philippines, and that there’s a likelihood our archipelago could be the “ancestral homeland of the Polynesians whose forebears colonized the Pacific about 3,000 years ago.”

The linguistic similarity of Polynesians to the Bagobo dialect was already observed in 1914. Helen Herron Taft, wife of US governor-general in the Philippines Howard Taft, in her Recollections of Full Years wrote of an incident which caused her to comment on “the relation between the Polynesian language of Samoa and the vernacular of the hill tribes

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

The Trillanes’ Gambit istration, SPECKS OF LIFE you might agree that aside from the grandstanding, there is this inimitable display of braggadocio and bravado Fred C. Lumba that will put to shame all the combined James Bond feats.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes, for the second time, has accused the President of illegally amassing wealth and like a wounded tiger, roaringly challenged Duterte to reveal the “huge deposits” in his bank accounts.

In law, they say he who accuses must produce the evidence because on his shoulders lie the burden of proof.

Pres. Duterte, quite amusingly, mocked Trillanes, saying if the latter can

find the billions, the former would readily step down from his Malacanang perch.

Trillanes, who placed embarrassingly last in the 2016 vice-presidential derby, announced to the world that he would also give up his senate seat if Duterte could show proof that he is a liar.

In this verbal exchange, notice that Trillanes exploited the fact that he was being widely covered by the tri-media.

Considering that his allegations were merely a rehash and which were taken as pure hogwash by the man he was pointing his finger at, Trillanes pushed his luck farther.

He applied the Queen’s gambit, a seldom-used chess opening nowadays, offering a pawn for nothing. He was hoping that his chess opponent (Duterte) would bit the offer, and give Trillanes the chance to grab the initiative and seize power in the center, the main arena of combat in the 64-square game.

But the senator is just two and a half years away from ending his second six-

year term in the Upper Chamber. If Duterte and his boys can patiently endure his “yaw-yaw” here and there, like a pesky fly, he would soon be gone and hopefully forgotten come the 2019 midterm polls.

I bet you this is not the last time the public would hear from Trillanes. He appears to have been chosen, though unofficially, by the political opposition – thus overshadowing the weak VP Leni - as the man who could, like Brutus, fatally thrust that dagger on Duterte’s unguarded behind.

Many political pundits adhere to the oft-quoted cliché that you can’t beat City Hall, the Establishment for that matter.

But Trillanes is a fool-hardy man who keeps on barking and barking, perhaps believing that a dog who barks towards the dark alley is the place where a bad man is hiding.

Unfortunately, the dog is only barking at a stray cat walking stealthily by. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

around the FAST BACKWARD Davao gulf.”

A summary of the study done by an international team of researchers from the Australian Center for Antonio V. Figueroa Ancient DNA (ACAD), at the University of Adelaide in ScienceDaily. The scientists mapped out the origins and dispersal of the early migrations of the Polynesians and the chickens they brought along in their voyage.

“Polynesian seafarers explored vast areas of the Pacific and settled nearly every inhabitable island in the Pacific Ocean well before European explorers arrived in the 16 th century. However, the ancestral relationships of people living in the widely scattered islands of the Pacific Ocean have long puzzled anthropologists. The predominant theory is that the Polynesian people are a subset of the sea-faring Austronesian people who have their origins in Taiwan, having arrived there through South China about 8000 years ago. From there it is believed that the spread out across the Pacific to Polynesia, a sub-region made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean.

“It is thought that by roughly 1400 BC, the ‘Lapita People’, so-named after their pottery tradition, appeared in the Bismark Archipelago of northwest Mel-

anesia. This culture is seen as having adapted and evolved through time and space since its emergence ‘Out of Taiwan’.

Within a mere three or four centuries between about 1300 and 900 BC, the Lapita archaeological culture spread 6,000 km until it reached as far as Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.”

The observation was reached after tracing the old genetic signature of chickens to belong exclusively to the Philippines and neighboring regions. While they argued the islands could be only a stopover for ancient mariners, the migration patterns recently posited almost conclusively point out that Polynesians could be migrants from the Philippines.

Of course, some chickens are endemic to the Philippines. Like the domestic chicken which has been traced as a progeny of the red jungle fowl, the Pinoy freerange chicken has been bred to infuse speed and create better fighting strains for fighting cocks. For a country that has been host to the World Slasher, the Olympics of cockfighting, cocks or chickens in general have been part of Filipino culture long before the art of cockfighting made it to the books.

Among the popular native chicken species are the banaba from the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal; the bolinao from Pangasinan; the camarines from Bicol; the darag from Panay Island and certain islands in the Visayas; the joloanon from Sulu; the parawakan from Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon; and the patani, a rare chicken with black meat that herbularios use for treating persons afflicted with

bad spirits.

There are five main chicken species, namely: the red jungle fowl, green jungle fowl, grey jungle fowl, Ceylon jungle fowl and the extinct Sumatran jungle fowl.

Once found in the eastern part of India, the lower parts of the Himalayas, in Indochina, from the middle of to northern China, and southern and eastern regions of Asia, the wild jungle fowl’s population has spread fast and its easy domestication has made them the favorite animal for breeding in farms.

Finally, there’s one caution when eating the modern-day poultry, the kind that regularly lands on your plate and sold in food chains; they are high in estrogen. Dr. Mark Rosenberg of Food-Trients says several of his patients, as a result of eating chicken injected with fast-growing medicines, have been experiencing “estrogen dominance,” the condition when the body gets too much estrogen that causes “a whole domino-effect of problems.”

He advises: “Too much estrogen in a woman’s body can increase her risk for breast and endometrial cancers, fibroid tumors and ovarian cysts and disrupt normal menstrual cycles,” adding that the same experience affects his male patients.

In fact, estrogen dominance imbalances in male results in “erection difficulty, depression, the gaining of belly fat, increased male breast tissue, or ‘man boobs’. Worse… too much estrogen in a man’s system puts him at higher risk for developing prostate cancer as well.”

According to urban legend, estrogen is blamed for the growing ‘gay population.’

Of chicken, cocks and estrogen

10 NEWS DOLE... FROM 1

instrument on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers.

“I am very pleased to note the level of commitment that our senior officials demonstrated in yesterday’s retreat as well as the support via the ASEAN Secretariat and each member state’s respective technical teams have exerted,” said Bello.

“What we have decided to submit to the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers as an output brings us closes to the fulfillment of what we have sown in Cebu 10 years ago,” he added.

According to the DOLE Secretary, the declaration, which was a ground breaking note to address the issue of

migrant workers in the ASEAN region, was signed on January 13, 2017 during the 12th ASEAN Summit held in Cebu.

In an interview, Bello disclosed the highlights of the discussion conducted on February 19. He mentioned issues concerning working hours, exemption from payment of terminal fees and waiving of recruitment fees of the migrant workers.

“Indonesia has proposed that the instruments should be ‘legally binding’ but since now our country is not prepared to it, I proposed the term ‘morally binding’,” said Bello.

The Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN 2017, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN regional community, is anchored on the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

Lascañas... FROM 2 Aguirre said.

Contrary to his earlier statement, Lascañas said his conscience led him to allegedly tell the truth and back the claim of self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato stating that the group was real.

In a Senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings held on

Sept. 15, 2016, it was Matobato who allegedly claimed that the DDS was formed when Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was still Davao City Mayor.

Matobato earlier said the group was allegedly responsible for extrajudicial killings in Davao City from 1988 to 2013.

(PNA)

over into the streets of Cagayan de Oro near the Cogon public market.

Rollen said at least two gunmen and another suspect driving a red Honda XRM motorcycle approached Batuintan at the corner of Yacapin and Daumar streets Sunday afternoon.

He said the two gunmen pumped 18 caliber .45 bullets at Batuintan, killing him instantly.

Rollen said after killing Batuintan, the gunmen and their driver made a mistake by escaping towards the direction of Jabbar Marketing, an ukay-ukay store along Daumar Street.

“We believed Batuintan’s companions at the store fired at the gunman as they tried to flee,” Rollen said.

Rollen said when they interviewed those who were in the store, nobody came forward to say they saw the incident.

Batuintan was Jabbar’s store employee and nephew.

Cogon police investigator PO1 Neil de las Alas said Batuintan sustained 18 bullet wounds with the two gunmen emptying their caliber .45 pistols as he lay dead on the street corner.

De las Alas said the gunman who was wearing a blue shirt sustained 11 gunshot wounds while his driver sustained five gunshot wounds.

The two were found dead slumped over the red motorcycle a few meters in front of the ukay-ukay store.

A caliber .45 pistol with an empty magazine was found on the unidentified gunman who was wearing a blue tshirt, along with a spare single-stack caliber .45 ammunition clip from the left pocket of his denims, 200-peso bills and a 20peso bill The two gunmen carried no identification papers.

Forty three empty caliber .45 shells were found at the crime scene, proof of how violent the gunfight was, de las Alas said. (Froilan O. Gallardo / MindaNews)

the affected mining companies as of the moment to take immediate action without receiving the notice.

Palma also added that the companies should wait for the bases cited by DENR for the cancellation of MPSAs. “Because as we all know, MPSA or mineral production sharing agreement has its own conditions that should be complied with by the contractors, as it is a contract between the company and the government represented by DENR,” he said.

In the same forum, Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief

Atty. Wilfredo Moncano said that it was a sad day for the industry because announcing to the media the abrogation of 75 MPSAs all over the country means “slowly, the industry is being killed”.

He further recalled the pronouncement of President Duterte on the direction of the country towards industrialization, stressing that mining is an important component of industrialization.

“It will really be a direction that is contradicting to the direction of the President,” said Moncano. (30)

Lanao... FROM 3

ARMOR... FROM 5

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

WHAT AND WHY. Philippine Information Agency 11 director Efren Elbanbuena talks about the objectives and advantages of putting up ASEAN kiosk at the Davao International Airport during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Court... FROM 3

The charges were filed after the DOJ panel of prosecutors also issued a 52-page resolution dated February 14 on the consolidated criminal complaints filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC); the NBI; former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Rule Lasala; and high-profile Bilibid inmate and self-confessed drug trader Jaybee Sebastian.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Viataliano Aguirre II said that the Muntinlupa RTC has original and exclusive jurisdiction over the three cases filed, re-

gardless of the high position of De Lima as respondent. ”On the matter of jurisdiction, it is the RTC that has original and exclusive jurisdiction over the three cases, regardless of the high position of the respondent. Trading in illegal drugs has no connection with the performance of her duties as Secretary of Justice,” he explained.

He noted the warrants could be released if the judge who will handle the cases determines that there is probable cause to proceed with the arraignment. (PNA)

kidnappings within our joint area of operations.”

“Then again, it is proven that the direct involvement of the communities would put

up pressure on the ASGs and constrict their movements.

This will further help stop the group from creating havoc in the province,” he added. (PNA)

precedented public spending on infrastructure, human capital and social protection for the poor.

The first package of the DOF-proposed tax reform program is contained in House Bill No. 4774, which was filed last January by Rep Dakila Carlo Cua, who chairs the ways and means committee.

HB 4774 consists of a significant reduction in personal income tax (PIT) rates plus a corresponding set of revenue-compensating measures,

which include lowering the rates for estate and donor’s taxes, expanding the value-added tax (VAT) base but retaining exemptions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and adjusting automobile and fuel excise taxes.

In the meeting, Nakao also expressed his deepest condolences to the victims of the recent earthquake in Surigao and reiterated ADB’s offer of assistance in mobilizing resources to help the affected communities. (PR)

basements and then by April, we’ll be able to see the ground floor already” he added.

Estanislao assured that the project is still on track with its target date of completion of its structure slated on January 2018 although he admitted there were some upgrades on the amenities of the residential project.

“We upgraded the size of the swimming pool, the jogging area and also the resto,” he said.

According to Tony Atienza, Marketing Manager of Vivaldi Residences said they still have the same client profile - majority are aged 31 to 45

followed by 46 to 60, majority are married, majority are female and mostly are investors and professionals.

Envisioned to be Davao’s tallest building, the 37-storey Vivaldi Residences is designed to be Davao’s safest with its record- breaking bored pile foundation depth of 59 meters, deepest in Mindanao.

With a floor area 36,000square meters, 1034 units, the building also offers high-speed elevators, centralized fire protection, smoke detection, paging, and CCTV systems with 24-hour building security for the convenience of its residents.

Troops... FROM 3 ADB... FROM 4

Eurotowers... FROM 5

Sara... FROM 3

The younger Duterte though clarified that she will not be accepting individuals who are willing to surrender to the government.

Sara stressed that her offer is only limited to her area of responsibility since she does not have any authority outside Davao City.

“I have a plan but I want to listen first to what you have to say. My offer is limited by my authority over the area of my responsibility,” she said.

She said that she hopes that the rebels will think about her offer since it will be for the betterment of the entire city and to them as well.

“In the event that you will decline my offer, I can only pray that there will be no more deaths and leave everything to AFP and to God,” Sara said.

Last week two soldiers were killed while 18 others were wounded in Calinan District this city after a landline exploded.

ects and programs for Mindanao over the past few months and still continues to do so.

Alonto said that the government has been consulting the “greatest minds” in the country to craft the masterplan for the next few months.

According to Alonto, the developments will also cover the neighboring islands Sulu and Basilan where the MinDa chief has been negotiating with the local leaders.

“We are calling upon the good leaders of the island provinces. The government cannot do it alone,” said Alonto who added that the local leaders must strengthen the law enforcement as well as the cooperation of the community in their respective area to ensure

the safety and security.

To jumpstart, Alonto said that connectivity projects such as the circumferential road in Mindanao with a budget of PhP60 million.

The MinDa chief who is also the Philippine Signing Minister and current chairman of Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) said that the connectivity in Mindanao which serves as the “gateway” of the Philippines to other BIMP-EAGA member states is one of the priorities pursued by the agency in the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025, the roadmap to achieve a resilient, inclusive, sustainable and economically competitive sub-region.

MICC’s technical review team is set to hold its organizational meeting today (Feb. 20) The latest estimates, which is an increase from the initial P653 million submitted by the BLGF, is based on the 100 percent compliance to Dominguez’s directive of city and municipal treasurers in the affected LGUs. BLGF’s estimates do not include yet the projected income losses of the LGUs that host 75 mine sites whose mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) were ordered cancelled by the DENR last week. “…the Bureau’s updated estimates on the impact on local finance of LGUs hosting mining firms ordered for suspension and closure by the

DENR…..constitutes 100% compliance of local treasurers ordered to submit [Fiscal Year] 2016 LGU data,” BLGF acting executive director Nino Alvina said in his latest report to Dominguez.

“The total estimated potential revenue loss from the direct payments of mining firms and the shares from mining taxes of affected LGUs amounted to P821.13M,” Alvina added.

Alvina said that of this amount, local collections of the affected LGUs from mining firms amounted to P340 million, comprising real property taxes (RPTs) of P53.54 million, P263.13 million from business tax, fees, charges and other local charges, and P23.29 million from provincial revenues. (PR)

PBA... FROM 4

Updated... FROM 5

INdulge!

MY OWN VERSION OF ENDLESS SUMMER - chasing waves along the east coast of Mindanao starting from Davao City to the nearest surf spot, Dahican in Mati City, Davao Oriental. After waiting for the low-pressure area (LPA) swell to move away from Mindanao, we packed our boards and bags up north for the rest of Davao Oriental and Surigao del Surf.

Lianga, a third class municipality in Surigao del Sur which is 301 kilometers or five hours away from Mati City was our next destination. Recently, an eco-surf camp just opened for the surfing public and tourists alike in Lianga. I have heard a lot about Gran Ola Eco Surf Camp and Lianga’s waves so I was really excited to see it for myself.

Before arriving in Lianga though, we had to pass through 9 municipalities. Six municipalities in Davao Oriental and 3 in Surigao del Sur. I’m in love with Davao Oriental. Especially passing through the coastal road is so breathtaking, you

shouldn’t even think of stuffing your camera back in the bag.

The six municipalities in Davao Oriental: Tarragona, Manay, Caraga, Baganga, Boston and Cateel are visual feasts for sea lovers. With waves for days literally on almost every coast, my eyes were totally glued to the car window.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAO

Beautiful BAGANGA

TOP: Baganga’s Sunrise Boulevard was a long red strip of shoreline that featured whitewashed mangroves beautifully scattered along red strip. Perfect for photos and for just taking in all the beauty Mindanao had to offer. Photo by Sandy Santos.

LEFT: There were a lot of mangroves here. I wonder what this place might have looked like pre-typhoon Pablo. We arrived here at around noontime but I heard the views were more awesome during sunrise as the name of this place suggests.

Back in 2012 Davao Oriental was devastated by Typhoon Pablo and when I was still working with AboitizPower, I was part of the first teams who immediately responded to calls for relief operations in the area.

I recall how desolate and painful it was to see everything in a broken mess in the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo. I’ve had the opportunities to again pass by

MERMAID A3

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

EVENT

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Valentine’s Day at the Pearl Farm

PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT celebrates the Love Month with style.

The premier destination in Mindanao (also known as the only 5-star Resort in the entire region) has geared up their Couple’s special occasion as they hosted the event with Games, Photo booth, extravagant decors and fireworks display.

The Heart-shaped decorations on the boardwalk added to the

beauty of the entire resort. The famous Parola served as a distinctive regal setting for Valentine’s day.

Cocktails were also offered on the boardwalk as Guests had fun playing the ‘Kissing Game’.

Illuminated by native capiz balls and the cool breeze, guests enjoyed the night away with the atmospheric experience. Dinner was served presenting authentic and innovative cuisines and wines. All foods have a hint of heart beautifully designed by the prestigious

NOW SHOWING

chefs.

Entertainment of the night was by Zhalia- group of talented women who serenaded the Guests with their astonishing voices. They played and sang a list of well-liked love songs as they also accepted song requests.

Fireworks display served as the best view and the perfect way to end the night. The event was successful as it truly realized what its purpose is- to weave authentic experiences for the Guests.

UP AND ABOUT

Mindanao Film Festival Roadshow goes to Tagum

February 15 – 21, 2017

A CURE FOR WELLNESS Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

R16

1:00 | 3:55 | 6:50 | 9:45 LFS

MY EX AND WHYS Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

PG

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

ARRIVAL Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

PG

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

JOHN WICK 2 Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

R16

11:45 | 2:15 | 4:45 | 7:15 | 9:45 LFS

THE FILMS of the 12th Mindanao Film Festival will be screened in Tagum City this February 22-24 at the Cinema 2 of Gaisano Mall Tagum.

About 60 films from different filmmakers across Mindanao will be exhibited in the three-day roadshow organized by the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation Inc. (MFTDFI), the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Regular ticket prices (P135) will apply, and screening schedules are based on themed film blocks.

Among these blocks include Filmathon DavNor films, Nabunturan Independent Film

Exhibition (Nabifilmex), Ohana (films about Family), Population Development Films, Bahaghari (films tackling LGBT issues), Crime Does Not Pay (films that delves about crime and their repercussions), CineReal

(documentaries), Amigo Ta (films about friendship), Estudiante Blues (films about student life) and Nagmahal, Nasaktan (films about love and heartaches).

The Filmathon DavNor films are eight short films

shot in Tagum City during the Guerrilla Filmathon, a 24-hour filmmaking race which was held in Tagum City last year.

Also two feature length productions, the 2015 Busan International Film Festival Mecenat awardee “Crescent Rising” by Sheron Dayoc and the Marilog-shot “Baboy Halas” by Bagane Fiola which was recently screened in Rotterdam, Netherlands will also be shown during the roadshow.

“We hope to promote Mindanawan filmmakers thru the roadshow and also we hope to develop and audience for Mindanawan films.” Says Lou Raphael Cañedo, president of the MFTDFI. The MFF Roadshow is also part of the celebrations of the National Arts Month this February.

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TRAVEL MERMAID A1

the places that the typhoon hit hard. Though I’ve never ever been further than Mati City before from the photos I saw, I believed that just like Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental was able to rise up from that catastrophe.

Baganga Sunrise Boulevard particularly stood out amongst the scenic views along this coastal route. There was a certain beauty to the whitewashed mangroves that have stood their ground against the

EDGEDAVAO

onslaught of Typhoon Pablo’s wrath. An eerie kind of beauty, almost worshipful could be felt looking at the mangroves.

We arrived around noontime so I couldn’t see clearly whether these mangroves were still alive (I couldn’t see any green leaves). This place felt surreal and perfect for photos.

There is no entrance fee here and you could just park your vehicle along the highway.

Baganga is around 2-3 hours away from Mati City and like the other municipali-

INdulge! A3 ties of Davao Oriental, white sand beaches are a common sight. You can just park the car at the side of the highway and go for a dip on the beach right next to it. Commuting to Baganga and other municipalities are also easy as there are commuter vans and buses plying this route.

Since we were literally just passing through, I’m sure we

have missed other amazing attractions in Baganga. One day, we’ll go back and beyond searching uncrowded waves and secret spots, we’ll go look for islands where mermaids can play all day long.

Read the earlier part of this trip series on my blog at www. millennialmermaid.com and show some Instagram loving at @ferinasantos

The dead-looking mangroves and eye-catching driftwood along the shores of Baganga’s Sunrise Boulevard demanded us to step down from our vehicle and explore a little.

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A4 INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

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11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

DENR-XI VISITS 10TH ID. DENR-XI Regional Director Ruth M. Tawantawan during her courtesy call with the 10th Infantry Division headed by Major General Rafael C. Valencia (5th form left), seeking AFP’s support to curb illegal logging activities not only in Compostela Valley Province but in the whole of Region XI. With them are (L-R) DENR-XI’s

Enforcement Chief Victor T. Billones, Isabel C. Parilla, Jaqueline Pulpulaan, CENR Officer of MonkayoAlberto Bandiola, CENR Officer ofMacoMartinianoRotol, Col. Manuel V. Sequitin, Lt. Col. Apollo Jun F. Lamatonand Lt. Col. Banjamin Daniel D. Tiangco. (DENR Photo)

gets wide support DENR seeks AFP’s help drive DOE for WESM Mindanao vs illegal logging in Davao G

I

N her efforts to stop illegal logging activities in Region XI, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Director Ruth M. Tawantawan is seeking the support and assistance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which she has emphasized during her meeting with Major General Rafael C. Valencia of the 10th Infantry Division in Mawab, Compostela Valley Province.

With just two weeks upon her assumption as Regional Director of DENR-XI, Tawantawan immediately arranged the said meeting as the military plays a vital role in the Department’s campaign against illegal logging particularly in Compostela Valley Province where, as reported, perceived to be one of Region XI’s hotspots for illegal logging.

“To curb illegal logging ac-

tivities is one of the marching orders of our DENR Secretary Gina Lopez. We are very serious on this drive the reason whywe are intensifying our campaign and to further strengthen our partnership with the AFP once again so we could solicit their supportin battling illegal logging activities in this region,” she said.

Valencia, on the other hand, expressed his full support not only in curtailing illegal logging but also illegal mining activities especially within their area of responsibility stressing that he has close coordination with the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau-XI. One of the preventive measures that were discussed during the meeting in order to stop illegal logging activities is the establishment of DENR-AFP checkpoints in the area. “Our focus will be in areas within Compostela Valley

Province particularly in Laak and some areas in Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental. We will jointly conduct IEC in each barangay to prevent cutting of banned species,” Tawantawan stressed.

Moreover, DENR-XI will also be conducting a refresher course on environmental laws and regulations as well as orientation on proper documentation in terms of apprehension of illegally-cut trees for the AFP personnel.

Prior to her meeting with the 10th ID, Tawantawan had a courtesy call with Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo B. Guerrerro of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City and discussed to him the different Programs and Projects of the DENR and at the same time, solicit EASTMINCOM’s support in the implementation of these programs especially in the campaign

against illegal logging activities in the region.

Aside from the military, Tawantawan also urged all the employees of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Compostela Valley Province to help out in intensifying all the campaigns of the Department especially that there are reports that Comval Province has a high rate of illegal logging activities.

“All of us must exert more efforts in eliminating this reputation and change the perception of the people about Comval in terms of illegal environmental acts. We can apply several ways like strengthen our IEC campaigns and inform the people of the various accomplishments of the DENR through press and photo releases or through radio and TV broadcasting,” Tawantawan said. (PR)

services, Intensify child protection campaigns on violence against children especially children of OFWs; Conduct regular consultations and monitoring thru the Family Welfare Officer for the immediate clarification and resolution on issues and concerns raised by the clients; Provide relevant information on specific cases of OFWs, when necessary; assist in the distribution and dissemination of the Child Abuse and Exploitation information materials thru its OFW Family Circles (OFCs) and OFW Help Desks; Integrate/include the Child Abuse and Exploitation module prepared by the DSWD in its regular conduct of trainings and orientations for OFWs and their families; and report to DSWD, DOJ and other law enforcement authorities suspected child abuse activities and/ or brought to its attention in the course of implementation of its programs and services, such as PDOS, community organizing, community meeting/ orientation, family counseling,

among others.

On the other hand, DOJ shall conduct preliminary investigation on child abuse and exploitation cases; rovide legal advice/assistance to the child/family; Coordinate and monitor the status of referred cases filed at the Prosecutors’ offices and in courts; Ensure child-friendly, child and gender sensitive investigations of cases as stipulated in the DOJCSPC Protocol for the Management of Child Victims of Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation; conduct speedy preliminary investigation/resolution of referred cases; Participate in the case conferences on cases referred

by OWWA; and Participate in the convergence program of the OWWA, DSWD, LGU, and POEA. In the meantime, DSWD shall provide assistance, shelter and protection on the children of OFWs who are victims of child abuse and exploitation in coordination with the LGUs; coordinate with the agencies covered by this MOU regarding

the process of reporting complaints and assistance as well as undertake case management of all cases referred by OWWA and provide status report of such; Participate in the prevention campaign against Child Abuse and Exploitation and enter in a convergence with OWWA, DOLE, LGU, DOJ, AFI; Make available on request resource speakers on Child Abuse and Exploitation; provide information materials on the campaign against Child Abuse and Exploitation such as brochures, pamphlets, posters as well as copies of recent child abuse laws and regulation for distribution in their respective constituencies; Provide other forms of assistance, pursuant to its mandate under Executive Order No. 221 and Executive Order No. 1 that define the mandate, roles, powers and functions of the DSWD and its implementing Rules and Regulations, and for other purposes, as may be requested; Take the lead in the conduct of psy-

OWWA bats for more protection to kids of OFWs

T

HE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) forged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the full protection of the children of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against any form of abuse by those individuals left behind to look after their welfare.

Signatories to the MOU to be held at the DOLE office in Intramuros, Manila, were Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello lll who represented OWWA, as the agency’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre ll for the DOJ, and Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo for DSWD. Under the Agreement, OWWA shall provide orientation on its programs and services, procedures and processes in availing of programs and other guidelines that may deem necessary for the swift delivery of its programs and

FOWWA, 13

IVEN the excess in power generation capacity in Mindanao, preparatory activities for the launch of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao are being undertaken by the Department of Energy (DOE).

This is in coordination with the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

The DOE has already completed two public consultations this month in Cagayan de Oro and in Zamboanga City.

It focused on a draft circular that will govern the operation of WESM Mindanao in fulfilment of the DOE’s mandate to ensure the security, reliability and availability of transparent and reasonably-priced electricity in the country.

The above-mentioned mandate of the DOE, under the stewardship of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, is underlined in Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

The two public consultations on the draft circular “Declaring the Launch of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market in Mindanao and Providing for Transition Arrangements” gathered together energy experts and power industry participants, as well as investors, consumers, members of the academe and other stakeholders.

The consultation participants were united in expressing confidence that with a stable and competitively-priced energy source, Mindanao can experience and sustain an economic boom under the Duterte Administration’s 10-point socio-economic program.

The establishment of WESM in Mindanao is a high priority agenda of Cusi targeting its commercial operation

by June 26, 2017. The DOE is set to conduct three more public consultations in Davao City on Feb. 21, Butuan City on the 28th, and General Santos City on March 7.

For decades, Mindanao has lagged behind Luzon and the Visayas in economic

development under the past Administrations with their Manila centrist policies which the Duterte Administration has seen as one of the root causes of poverty and strife in Mindanao.

The objective of the public consultations is to solicit the views of all stakeholders on how to improve the circular which will lay down the policies for the establishment of WESM Mindanao.

To be able to reach more participants, the DOE forged a partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority which, together with the PEMC and NGCP, will undertake an intensive and massive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) drive.

The information drive will help more Mindanaoans better understand WESM and to appreciate the benefits it will bring about in sustaining investments in Mindanao, which needs a robust power sector to support a booming economy.

In 2016, Mindanao had an additional generating capacity of 782 megawatts (MW) and is expecting the commercial operations of additional 1,208 MW this year.

Despite the additional supply, there remains power interruptions in Mindanao especially in the franchise areas of distribution utilities which do not have sufficient power supply agreements to cover their increasing demand for electricity.

In the absence of such contracts, power generation companies are hesitant to operate their plants without an approved supply contract or any compensation mechanism duly approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Thus, the establishment of the WESM will serve as the mechanism to efficiently tap the excess capacities in the area to avoid rotating brownouts and ensure 24-hours continuous electricity service.

From the two consultations, the DOE recognized that most of the concerns were operational in nature rendering the need to move forward with the IEC drive. (PR)

12 COMPETITIVE EDGE

MINDANAO SCHOLARS IN KOREA. Scholars from Mindanao complete their 14-day training program on Building Strategy for Economic Development through Corridor Approach conducted from February 5 to18, 2017 in Seongnam, Korea. The training program was implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, a development aid

Japan Ambassador confers Order of Rising Sun on Drilon

O

N February 16th, Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa hosted a reception at his residence to celebrate the conferment of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Honorable Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin M. Drilon.

Approximately 80 guests gathered for this special occasion. Senator Drilon was awarded the Japan’s highest decoration in recognition of his vital role in nurturing warm and friendly relations as well as economic cooperation between our two countries.

In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Ishikawa praised Senator Drilon’s great

contribution to promoting active interaction between political leaders of both countries as well as cementing today’s Japan’s status as the largest trade and investment partner of the Philippines.

Last November, the Government of Japan announced six foreign nationals to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. Two of them were Former Prime Minister Cesar Virata and Senator Drilon. Senator Drilon attended the Conferment Ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the decoration was bestowed upon him by His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan on November 8th 2016. (PR)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

agency founded in 1991 which has been actively promoting sustainable development, strengthening partnerships with developing partners, and enhancing the local ownership of beneficiaries among developing countries. (KOICA Photo)

Mindanao scholars complete 14-day course in South Korea A

DELEGATION of Mindanao scholars from government agencies and development organizations completed a 14-day course on corridor development on Friday in the city of Seongnam in South Korea.

The 24 participants from Mindanao underwent a series of training and lectures on Building Strategy for Economic Development through Corridor Approach from February 5 to 18 funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

One of the main objectives of the program is to enhance the capacity of the participants in preparing strategic policies that will contribute to the economic growth and development in Mindanao. KOICA is a development aid agency founded in 1991 to maximize the effectiveness of Korea’s grant aid programs for developing countries.

Among the expected output from the training is an action plan on establishing sustainable economic devel-

opment policy in Mindanao, enhancing the capacity of public officials, as well revitalizing the regional or rural economic development in the island-region.

“This training will enhance further the skills of our scholars and employees who will play key roles in pushing our initiatives to establish economic zones in Mindanao through the corridors program,” said Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

He added that the region is currently looking at a holistic approach in which Mindanao’s agriculture and its component sectors such as fisheries and aquamarine culture are crucial to Mindanao’s development, following the thrust of strengthening the corridors approach to development.

The training included study visits to some of Korea’s industry facilities and historical sites including the Busan Port, Korea Expressway Corporation Traffic Center, Sam-

warned Dean Valdez.

The release of the list of delinquent employers is part of the crackdown being undertaken by the SSS to remind companies of their obligation to the agency as well as to warn them that SSS will not stop until there is full compliance of the law.

Aside from naming convicted delinquent employers, the SSS together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) has also started serving warrants of arrest to erring employers last month.

As a result of the crackdown against delinquent employers, Victor A. Caluag and his 83-year old mother Conchita, owners of Stream Publishing Corporation, are

still in prison for non-remittance of contributions after they jumped bail and failed to attend hearings despite due notice. They will both serve a minimum of six years imprisonment and pay SSS the amount of P1,608,837.45 million for unpaid premiums as of December 15, 2011.

“We have been requested several times by different people to intervene on this case to allow Ms. Conchita to go out of jail given her old age.

But this case is beyond SSS because it was already decided by the Makati Regional Trial Court with finality. In fighting for the social security protection of our members, we will be relentless because

SSS warns delinquent employers of possible arrest

“Y

OU can run, but you cannot hide,” Chairman Dean Amado Valdez of the Social Security System (SSS) said before the Rotary Club of Makati West as he released the list of the first batch of delinquent employers with convictions based on decision of various Regional Trial Courts.

“The courts have already issued final and executory decisions on these companies for violation of the SS Law. Some have already made partial payments but discontinued payment of the remaining balance while others are still at large and have not paid their obligations,” said Dean Amado D. Valdez.

Included in the list of the

first batch of companies with court convictions due to violation of the SS Law are: NIDF Corporation, Information Technology Solutions Int’l.

Inc., Caps & Crown Enterprises, Stanley Fine Furniture, Niovis Shipping Co., FVA Manpower Training Center and Services, GDS Security Investigation Agency, Dr. Joel Mendez, and Holy Cross Learning School of Nabua, Inc. “We will continue to release names of convicted delinquent employers to seek the assistance of the public to locate them so that they could be held accountable by the courts. This should also serve as a warning that SSS will not stop until they pay what is due our members,”

FSSS, 14

sung Innovation Museum, and Cheongpyeong Temple. It is also part of the continuing efforts to strengthen cooperation in trade between Philippines and Korea.

“This was a great opportunity for us to see for ourselves Korea’s regional economic development strategies and best practices, which we can also apply in Mindanao,” said Gerardo Reynaldo, MinDA’s chief of the Central Mindanao area office and the head of the Mindanao delegation to Korea.

Reynaldo added that the lectures and on-site education from the training provided sufficient insights on how to better pursue the Mindanao Development Corridors Program, as well as the Mindanao Ecozones Development. Also joining the MinDA participants are representatives from the local government units, academe, non-government organizations, and ecozone agencies.

The delegates also took part in the unveiling ceremony of the Asia-Pacific & Africa Cooperation Academy (APACA)

led by its Head Dr. Un-Seong Jeon and Director Joanne E. Jeong.

The APACA is an institution at Kangwon National University designed to specialize in various leadership training programs for individuals in Korea and abroad.

Some of these programs are implemented in cooperation with KOICA, which has been actively promoting sustainable development, strengthening partnerships with developing partners, and enhancing the local ownership of beneficiaries among developing countries.

“We are looking forward to applying the action plan we crafted here, with the help of our professional experts in Korea, to our respective offices once we get back home. There are still so many potentials to be tapped in Mindanao,” Reynaldo said.

The 24 Mindanao scholars included Arvin Chua from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

FMINDANAO, 14

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE with DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PEPITO CONSTANTINO DE LEON who died on November 1,1997 in Davao City has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE with DEED of ABSOLUTE SALE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No314; PageNo.63; Book No. 31; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ANTONIO L. LAOLAO JR. 2/7,14,21

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of Marketing Assistant Qualifications: • Graduate of business or any other related courses • Female • With pleasing personality • Fast learner • Can work with minimum supervision

Dominguez... FROM 5 pass, two Congresses. I hope to finish it in one Congress, three years,” he said.

The DOF’s timetable is to get Package 1 passed by June 2017, so that it can be partially implemented by the second half this year, and the entire plan, including the cuts in PIT rates, by 2018.

Dominguez said the benefits of Package One for low- to middle-income taxpayers far outweigh the minimal spikes in inflation and prices that would result from the implementation of this tax plan.

He said that for middle-income taxpayers, the PIT reductions under Package 1

“will probably save anywhere from P25,000 to P30,000 a year off the bat.”

“We can handle the inflation rates because our inflation rates have been really low, it’s below two percent last year. The extra expense they’re going to spend for, let’s say, cost of transportation, is nowhere near what they’re going to save in taxes, nowhere near. So what political capital do you have to spend on that? It’s good,” Dominguez said.

Besides lowering PIT rates, Package 1 shifts the tax burden to affluent taxpayers by taxing their consumption

so that additional revenues raised from this effort can provide targeted transfers to indigent and vulnerable households and support the Duterte administration’s unprecedented public spending on infrastructure, human capital and social protection for the poor.

HB 4774 earmarks some P48 billion for targeted transfers that would benefit the bottom 50 percent of the population and shield them from the impact of the fuel excise tax hikes and other revenue compensating measures, according to DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua. (PR)

cho-social interventions/referrals and case conferences on cases referred by OWWA; and integrate issues and concerns of children of OFWs in the Family Development Sessions (FDs) and Parenting Effectiveness Sessions (PES) modules.

The MOU complements Republic Act No. 7610, “An Act Providing Stronger Deterrence and Special ProtectionAgainst Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination”, and Republic Act No. 9262, “An Act on Violence Against Women and their Children” (VAWC).

The government is quite alarmed by the national baseline study on violence against children initiated by the Council for the Welfare of Children and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which

states that migration is one of the reasons of physical, sexual, or psychological violence to children citing the following: Two (2) out of three (3) children reported to have experienced any form of physical violence; one (1) out of four (4) children reported to have suffered from any form of sexual violence; and three (3) out of five (5) children reported to experience peer violence or bullying.

Further, `tall tale’ reports of children of OFWs, notably the `heart wrenching’ case of the death of the two-year-old boy, son of an OFW in Hong Kong, who succumbed to death due to cruelty inflicted on him by no less than his mother’s `trusted’ relatives disguised as ‘caretakers’.

“The bolt-in of the three government agencies, DOJ, DSWD, and OWWA, to bolster the well-being of the children of OFWs serves as a balancing act between the desire of OFW parents to provide the needs of their children by working abroad on one hand, and to ensure that their children are in the `safe hands’ of the people they have chosen to look after the well-being of their loved ones. Hopefully, thru this MOU among our partners, we will be able to realize a zero-victim/casualty of any form of abuse to children of OFWs. After all, we do now wish to see a double-whammy situation; an absent parent and an abused child, ”, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said. (PR)

Accounting Clerks (2) OWWA... FROM 11 Qualifications: • BS Accountancy Graduate • Female • Can work with minimum supervision • Experience of at least one year

Account Executive Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate • Male/Female • With pleasing personality Send your application letter and resume to: Ella P. Tingzon HR/Admin Supervisor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City Or email at edgedavao@gmail.com or ella_tingzon@yahoo.com

NEWS13

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Ford invests in Argo Al F

ORD Motor Company announced it is investing US$1 billion during the next five years in Argo AI, an artificial intelligence company, to develop a virtual driver system for the automaker’s autonomous vehicle coming in 2021 – and for potential license to other companies.

Founded by former Google and Uber leaders, Argo AI is bringing together some of the most experienced roboticists and engineers working in autonomy from inside and outside of Ford. The team of experts in robotics and artificial intelligence is led by Argo AI founders Bryan Salesky, company CEO, and Peter Rander, company COO. Both are alumni of Carnegie Mellon National Robotics Engineering Center and former leaders on the self-driving car teams of Google and Uber, respectively.

“The next decade will be defined by the automation of the automobile, and autonomous vehicles will have as significant an impact on society as Ford’s moving assembly line did 100 years ago,” said Ford President and CEO Mark Fields. “As Ford expands to be an auto and a mobility company, we believe that investing in Argo AI will create significant value for our shareholders by strengthening Ford’s leadership in bringing self-driv-

ing vehicles to market in the near term and by creating technology that could be licensed to others in the future.”

The current team developing Ford’s virtual driver system – the machine-learning software that acts as the brain of autonomous vehicles – will be combined with the robotics talent and expertise of Argo AI. This innovative partnership will work to deliver the virtual driver system for Ford’s SAE level 4 self-driving vehicles.

Ford will continue to lead on development of its purpose-built autonomous vehicle hardware platform, as well as on systems integration, manufacturing, exterior and interior design, and regulatory policy management.

Argo AI will join forces with

Ford’s autonomous vehicle software development effort to strengthen the commercialization of self-driving vehicles.

Argo AI’s agility and Ford’s scale uniquely combine the benefits of a technology startup with the experience and discipline of the automaker’s industry-leading autonomous vehicle development program.

“We are at an inflection point in using artificial intelligence in a wide range of applications, and the successful deployment of self-driving cars will fundamentally change how people and goods move,” said Salesky. “We are energized by Ford’s commitment and vision for the future of mobility, and we believe this partnership will enable self-driving cars to be commercialized and deployed

at scale to extend affordable mobility to all.”

The collaboration supports Ford’s intent to have a fully autonomous, SAE level 4-capable vehicle for commercial application in mobility services in 2021.

“Working together with Argo AI gives Ford a distinct competitive advantage at the intersection of the automotive and technology industries,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, Global Product Development, and chief technical officer. “This open collaboration is unlike any other partnership – allowing us to benefit from combining the speed of a startup with Ford’s strengths in scaling technology, systems integration and vehicle design.”

Also complementing the

ond issue is what impacts on the sale of vehicles.

The second issue is the more pressing one, but is often lumped together with the first issue and because the public has gotten used to lax implementation of the law.

This second issue is the strict implementation of the No OR/CR, No Travel rule.

In the first paragraph of the memo in which it cites Republic Act 4136 or the Traffic Code of the Philippines, the LTO will apprehend and fine drivers using an unregistered vehicle, be it a two-, three-, four-, or even six- or eightwheeled vehicle.

The exact words the memo uses are: “to ensure that only registered motor vehicles are used or operated on any public highway”.

This is the most critical part of the memo and it is much too overlooked.

RA 4136 specifies that only registered motor vehicles can be operated on Philippine roads. People think the conduction sticker allows use of a car. That’s inaccurate because even on theLTO’s website it says: (1.a.a.1) Issuance of Conduction Sticker – Conduction Stickers are only issued to accredited assemblers and importers of whole MV for road testing and delivery.

The conduction sticker is used to allow legal utilization of motor vehicles prior to its initial registration.

The legal use referred to in the above is road testing and delivery.

Adding to the wrong impression about Conduction Stickers allowing use of a vehicle, is the idea that it is allowed for 7 days. This too is wrong.

The 7-day window for a dealer to register a sold vehicle with the LTO is merely the penalty-free window within which the registration must be processed. (RA 4136. Chapter V. Sec. 56. A.) This doesn’t mean that a vehicle can be operated without registration.

In fact, RA 4136 also penalizes driving a motor vehicle without registration. (Chapter V. Sec. 56.

D.)

Are these memorandums affecting Metro Manila only or is it nationwide?

This is nationwide.

LTO rules drivers need to know

S

TANDARDIZED temporary plates? No OR/CR, No Travel policy? Confused with all this? Get all the answers to your questions here. For ease of reading, we have indicated key words in bold.

What is this new issue with the Land Transportation Office (LTO)?

Well, aside from the backlog when it comes to the issuance of new number plates and driver licenses, there are two new issues here: The first one deals with a memorandumissued by the Assistant Secretary of the LTO last January 11, 2017 and is already in effect. It has to do with the standardization of temporary plates by using the MV file number for motorcycles and a combination of conduction sticker and MV file number for anything with more than two wheels.

It’s the memorandum requiring all vehicles released on or after February 15, 2017 onwards to have a certain temporary plate format for “unity and ease of visual recognition.” And the memorandum put on vehicle dealers the obligation of attaching on the vehicle the unified temporary plate format with complete information before delivery or release to the buyer.

Now, the MV file number appears only on the Certificate of Registration (CR) which one gets only upon completion of the registration process. And thus the sec-

So why exactly is needing an MV file number and not being able to use an unregistered vehicle going to impact on the buying experience?

Well, if registration happened within the day of purchase, there would be no issue. The impact comes from the fact that it takes anywhere from 14 to 90 days to complete registration.

These completion times are based on transmittal receipts held by vehicle dealers.

Is it possible to complete the registration process within the 7-day period prescribed?

Oh yes, it is possible to complete registration within even 1, 2, or 3 days, but these usually happen when there is public scrutiny or special considerations like “SOP” or high connections.

Where can I see a copy of these memorandums?

You can check out the memorandum on the standardized plates here. As for the No OR/CR, No Travel Policy, you can refer to the Traffic Code of the Philippines.

If it’s taking the government so long in issuing plates, why don’t we just use the Conduction Sticker numbers permanently?

As mentioned above, Conduction Stickers serve a very specific purpose. It’s issued to accredited assemblers and importers of whole motor vehicles (MV) for road testing and delivery only. The conduction sticker is used to allow the legal use of a vehicle prior to its initial registration. The LTO is only “enforcing the law” that requires motor vehicles to be registered before its release.

What about these Virtual Plates?

Because of the backlog in getting the permanent plate numbers, the LTO is issuing socalled “Virtual Plates”. Virtual Plates contain the car registration numbers issued for a new vehicle; it’s just that the assigned plate number isn’t available yet. Having a virtual plate helps in the release of your permanent plate number in the future.

Now, this is where it gets

Mindanao... FROM 12 (OPAPP), Leah Tarhata Mehila from the Regional Economic Zone Authority-ARMM, Sukarno Baraguir from the Regional Board of Investments-ARMM, Gilbert Gordo from the University of Southeastern Philippines, Eileen San Juan from the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Marie Angelique Go from the City Government of Zamboanga, Norhayna Diamla from the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur, Christopher Lawrence Arnuco from the Zamboanga Ecozone Authority, Lucio Jamero Jr. from the The Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation, Abdul Gaffur Mad-

ki Howard Alonto II from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Region X, Abner Caga from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-CARAGA, Ameen Andrew Alonto from the Regional Legislative Assembly-ARMM, and Gerardo Reynaldo, Lordilie Enjambre, Makmod Pasawilan, Ana Marie Bless Labor, Yvette Valderia, Marjorie Apurado, Carlos Cerezo, Renato Buhat Jr., Iris Mae Ferraris, Ambrojoe Daud, and Heidi Villanueva from MinDA. The delegation was also joined by KOICA Philippines Program Manager Francis Afable. (PR)

no one is above the law,” Dean Valdez said.

Similarly, warrants of arrest were also issued against Dr. Joel C. Mendez,who cannot be found at his given address.

On a positive note, Dean

Valdez said that several employers have approached SSS offices to settle their delinquencies. “I hope this will also raise awareness among employers that they have an important responsibility to fulfill with SSS” he said. (PR)

SSS... FROM 12

relationship will be Ford Smart Mobility LLC, which will lead on the commercialization strategy for Ford’s self-driving vehicles.

This includes choices for using autonomous vehicles to move goods and people, such as ride sharing, ride hailing or package delivery fleets.

Ford will be the majority stakeholder in Argo AI. Importantly, Argo AI has been structured to operate with substantial independence. Its employees will have significant

equity participation in the company, enabling them to share in its success. Argo AI’s board will have five members: Nair; John Casesa, Ford group vice president, Global Strategy; Salesky; Rander; and an independent director.

The $1 billion investment in Argo AI will be made over five years and is consistent with the autonomous vehicle capital allocation plan shared last September as part of Ford Investor Day.

tricky.

The law actually prohibits the making and/or using of improvised plates. It has corresponding fines unless you have an Authority to Operate with the Use of Improvised Plates. With that in mind, if you plan to use your Virtual Plate number, always have a copy of your OR/CR with you and a copy of the Authority to Operate with the Use of Improvised Plates.

hicle Sales Invoice or Delivery Receipt, does not work anymore.

There was never a 7-day legal usage window in the first place. It came about from misinterpretation and “nakagawian”. You can be fined P 10,000 for using an unregistered vehicle. If registered to another owner, the owner is fined P 10,000 and the driver, P 1,000.

If I bought a vehicle before February 15, 2017, how does it affect me?

If you have your OR/CR with you, then these two memorandums don’t affect you much. You can be pulled over by authorized LTO personnel, yes, but there are no fines involved. All you need to prove is that: first, you bought the vehicle before February 15, hence not needing the standardized temporary plate; and second, that you have the OR/CR with you to prove ownership. In other words, if you don’t want the hassle, just ditch those “Euro” or “JDM” look temporary plates and go for the standardized format.

If you don’t have an OR/CR yet, you cannot use your vehicle.

The 7-day window using the Ve-

If I bought a vehicle on or after February 15, 2017, how does it affect me?

Your vehicle should have been released by the dealer with the standardized temporary plate already attached. It should indicate details such as the Conduction Sticker number, dealer name, and MV File Number.

And since the MV File Number is only generated once your vehicle has been registered, you should also have your OR/CR too.

If you still don’t have your OR/CR, you cannot use your vehicle. Even if you use the standardized temporary plate, but don’t have the MV File Number, you are considered an unregistered vehicle. You can be pulled over and fined. The fine is also P 10,000 to the owner and P 1,000 to the driver.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

70th PAL INTERCLUB TEES OFF. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol leads the ceremonial tee-off at the 70th PAL INTERCLUB TEES OFF. Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Jaime J. Bautista leads the ceremonial teeRancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club to formally open the Philippine Airlines 70th Interclub Golf Tournament (Seniors off at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club to formally open the Philippine Airlines 70th Interclub Golf Division), with the theme “The Turf of Legends” from Feb. 22-25 in Davao City.

Tournament (Seniors Division), with the theme “The Turf of Legends” from Feb. 22-25 in Davao City.

SENIORS INTERCLUB. The 2nd team captains meeting of the PAL Seniors Interclub last Feb. 19 at Rancho Palos Verdes Golf & Country Club signaled the start of the 70th edition of the country’s longest running team golf

championship that unfolds this year in Davao City. Photo shows PAL and tournament officials with captains of the 90 teams seeing action in the 31st Seniors Interclub at Rancho Palos Verdes and Apo Golf from Feb. 22 to 25.

SRAA GAMES. Department of Education (DepEd) 12 director Arturo Bayucot (left) says 4,000 athletes from four provinces-South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and North Cotabato- are competing in various athletic events in this year’s Soccksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) at the Cotabato Sports Complex in Amas, Kidapawan City. Bayucot, together with Board Member Omar Cadungog (right), interacted with the press during a news conference over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

Ginebra-Star series goes to Game 7 SRAA in Kidapawan B

ARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel overcame a sluggish start to stomp the Star Hotshots, 91-67, and set up a deciding Game Seven in the Oppo PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Sol Mercado led the Ginebra attack with 21 points, while LA Tenorio scored 19 markers to pace Ginebra which pulled away in the second half.

Joe Devance also scored all of his 14 points in the third quarter in a heroic effort. Jervy

Cruz had another productive night with 11 points, while Japeth Aguilar posted 11 points and 10 boards.

Game Seven is scheduled on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena, with the winner facing either the San Miguel Beermen and TNT KaTropa who will also slug it out in their own Game Seven on Monday.

The Gin Kings fell to a 13-4 deficit in the fourth quarter after the Hotshots showed their desire to finish off the series in just six games.

But Ginebra was quick to

recover, going on a 14-0 finishing kick to the opening period behind Tenorio to snatch a 2522 lead.

The Gin Kings extended their run to 19-0 as Tenorio, who had 15 markers at the half, continued to wax hot.

The Hotshots however had their own run, blasting 13 unanswered points to take the lead back, 39-38, at the half.

Two unlikely heroes lifted Ginebra in the second half. Devance, who is playing through a foot injury, suddenly exploded for 14 points in the

third quarter, including backto-back triples that helped Ginebra grab the lead back, 50-46.

In the fourth quarter, the Gin Kings then relied on Cruz who scored seven straight points early in the fourth frame to help the Gin Kings build a commanding 69-57.

Mercado then scored 10 straight points to deliver the dagger as the Hotshots just failed to have an answer.

Marc Pingris made 14 points and 10 boards to spearhead Star in the losing effort.

CHAMPS. Ateneo de Davao University will represent the city in the SMNBTC National Finals on March 11-16 in Manila. NBTC Davao photo

BIG FINISH... FROM 16 with 24 points while Escandor, who had only two points before that fourth quarter outburst, finished with 17.

Angeles added 16 while Dariel Manliguez chipped in 10.

The Warriors were led by Sumugat with 22.

The Blue Knights will represent Davao City in the National Championships on March 11-16 to be played at

the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The scores: ATENEO (75): Doromal (24), Escandor (17), Angeles (16), Manliguez (10), Cane (4), Barrientos (2), Weill

(2) ACD (73): Sumugat (22), Vistal (13), Royo (10), Omaña (9), Salvame (9), Penion (4), Malano (3), Velarde (3) Quarter Scores: 16-16; 3535; 47-53; 75-73

on penultimate day

K

IDAPAWAN CITYThe Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) meet enters its penultimate day today with some 4,000 athletes and their officials hopeful that the regional games will produce champions in this year’s Palarong Pambansa to be held in the Visayas.

Arturo Bayucot, regional director of the Department of Education, told mediamen during the meet’s opening ceremonies at the sprawling provincial sports complex located at the Cotabato capitol grounds in Barangay Amas, this city, that the athletes and officials are also excited about the entry of billiards, futsal and wushu as regular events in the regional athletic meet for the first time.

Bayucot led games officials in holding the press conference inside the office of Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza .They answered questions of media practitioners

from Region 12’s four provinces and five cities about security, accommodation and training of the athletes.

Bayucot said winning teams and individuals in the SRAA meet will immediately be trained in the various Palaro games with the help of a former Olympian hired by DepED. He thanked Governor Mendoza for accepting the challenge of hosting the regional games last held in Kidapawan years ago.

Provincial board member Omar Cadungon said the Cotabato LGU allocated P2.5 million for the hosting.

Cadungon said the hosting will benefit the province in terms of tourism and the local economy as there will be an increase in the number of visitors and money in circulation in the locality.

Mrs. Mendoza hosted the Governor’s Night in the evening of the games’ opening last Saturday.

AMA

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

BIG FINISH Escandor sparks Ateneo comeback as Blue Knights bag SM-NBTC title

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

G

njb@edgedavao.net

REAT players come up big when the game is on the line.

With a crushing defeat looking at him in the eye, Ateneo de Davao University coach Miggy Solitaria looked out at the end of his bench then pulled out a huge gamble in the fourth quarter and his team down by 8 points.

Solitaria called out his goto-guy who was lingering on the bench with four fouls, tapped his shoulder and whispered, “give it what you got.”

With that, Ateneo forward Francis Gabriel Escandor jumped onto the floor like a man possessed.

The next five minutes saw the six-foot-two Escandor strung up five straight pressure-packed three-point shots and just like that, the Blue Knights wiped out that lead and took the SM-NBTC Davao title 75-73 over defending champion Assumption College of Davao on Sunday at the ADDU Jacinto Gym. “I know it’s a big risk but I needed a last card to overcome that lead,” said Solitaria after the Blue Knights took its first ever NBTC local title while denying three-time champion Assumption College of Davao a rare four-peat.

“He (Escandor) just played

awesome in the clutch and the rest of the guys also played with their hearts out. I’m so proud of my boys,” Solitaria added.

The two teams battled to a tight first half which ended in a 35-all deadlock.

With Escandor sitting on the bench with three fouls beginning the second quarter, the Blue Knights were left with prolific combo guard Axel Doromal and Ayon Angeles on the scoring end.

The Warriors took the third quarter 53-47 and stretched that to eight in the early going of the final period.

With the Warriors headed for another title conquest, Solitaria pulled his biggest gambit.

The Warriors still led with two minutes remaining 68-67, but Escandor, who hit five of six from beyond the arc in the fourth alone, struck another booming triple to give Ateneo the lead 70-68.

Doromal paced Ateneo

FBIG FINISH, 15

DELIVERY. Francis Gabriel Escandor delivered the goods in the fourth period with 5 straight triples. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 260 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017