Edge Davao 9 Issue 281

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Sara talks to bars violating ordinances

By Jecia Anne Opiana

M

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio called out bars and other establishments that are reportedly violating the smoking and liquor ban, as well as the selling of liquor to minors in Davao City.

The mayor gathered business owners and managers of bars and establishments for a meeting at the Grand Men Seng Hotel on Tuesday.

A total of 158 registered owners and managers participated in the meeting where Mayor Sara stressed that despite the existence of the ordinances, there are still establishments in Davao that violate the laws.

She particularly singled out bars, videoke houses and night clubs.

She added that she received complaints from concerned parents of bar goers.

Mayor Sara also warned owners and operators of bars and drinking places to follow the laws on the banning of smoking and the limit of the serving of liquors.

She particularly mentioned establishments such as The Brewery, Huckleberry, The Grid, Deck, Bogsers by the Sea and the videoke houses in Times Beach area.

“Dili ko gusto masuko.

I do not want to embarrass other people publicly if I lose my temper mao nang naa ko dinhi para maghatag sa inyo og warning. Dili namo gusto magsara og establishment. We are here to support your business that is why we are guiding you to move forward with us,” Mayor Sara pointed out.

She added that regulation units will be dispatched for inspections and make sure that establishments

will follow the rules and regulations stated in the ordinances.

Mayor Sara said she will issue an executive order that will mobilize the vices regulation unit that will look into violations on anti-smoking, liquor ban and selling of liquor to minors.

The order will come out after her maternity leave on April 3.

Davao City is strictly implementing the Ordinance No. 0367-12, Series of 2012 also known as The New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

The ordinance prohibits smoking of any tobacco product including e-cigarettes, shishas and the like, in all accommodation and entertainment establishments, workplaces, enclosed public places, partially enclosed public places, public buildings, public outdoor spaces and all public conveyances, government-owned vehicles and other means of public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.

Davao City also implements liquor ban that mandates establishments to stop selling liquor and operating from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m.

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

FOLLOW THE RULES. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio appeals to party organizers, bar and club operators to obey the city’s Anti-smoking Ordinance and liquor ban during an information drive held at Grand Men Seng Hotel on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

STERN WARNING

EDGEDAVAO Sports ‘Gold mine’ in Children’s Games: Ramirez P15

Groups call on PCA not to compromise return of coco levy amidst row

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

P

adlopez0920@gmail.com

easant groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Coco Levy Fund Ibalik sa Amin (CLAIM) on Tuesday has called on the leadership of Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) not to compromise the return of coco levy fund to farmers amidst the existing row at the agency.

PCA chief Avelino Andal is presently accused of corruption for allegedly extorting P1.50 per board foot of trees

being cut in the provinces of Quezon, Mindoro,Basilan, and Marinduque.

The Governing Board of PCA passed Resolution No. 027-2017 last week imposing preventive suspension on Andal pending investigation over the alleged corruption.

“We need a solid assurance from the Duterte government that the coco levy fund is intact, secured and safeguarded and will be returned to coconut farmers,” said CLAIM

convenor Jonathan Moico in a statement Tuesday.

Moico pointed out that the coconut farmers “do not know about politics and individual interests” within the PCA governing board.

“All we want is to make clear our position that no entity should dip its hands on the PHP 75-billion coco levy fund,” he stressed, adding that many parties are interested on the multibillion fund.

The peasant groups also

recognized the consultations with coconut farmers’ organizations being conducted by the PCA since January of this year.

The consultations, they added, are in preparation for the National Coconut Farmers Summit with President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The farmers’ organizations have expressed positions asserting that the coco levy fund should be returned to

FGroups, 17

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

WARM WELCOME. President Rodrigo Duterte gets a warm welcome from Filipinos upon his arrival at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday night. KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo

Marine-led offensive ongoing vs NPAs in SK

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massive military manhunt operation against a band of communist rebels entered its second day on Tuesday in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, following the ambush of Philippine Marine troopers on Monday at a remote village in the area.

The ambush staged by the rebels resulted to the death of a Marine trooper and wounding of eight other soldiers.

“The military pursuit operation led by the Philippine Marines is still going on,” Capt.

Arvin John Encinas, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said.

He said the Marines were

conducting patrol in the vicinity of Sitio Tinagdanan, Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat when an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels opened fire, triggering a daylong sporadic firefight on Monday.

Encinas said the name of the slain Marine private was withheld pending official information to his family.

An intelligence source from 1st Marine Brigade based in nearby Lebak, Sultan Kudarat said the NPAs were from the adjacent towns of Senator Ninoy Aquino and Palimbang, also in Sultan Kudarat. (PNA)

Slain barrio doctor, health advocates to receive Health Exemplar Awards

T

he 3rd H&L Health Exemplar Awards will be presented to several public health advocates, including former doctor to the barrio Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas, in a ceremony to be held at One Canvas in Makati on Wednesday.

It would be the second posthumous award for Perlas, who was slain by an unidentified gunman last March 1 in Lanao del Norte. He was awarded the Department of Health (DOH) Bayani ng Kalusugan Award shortly after his death.

The other awardees are Dr. Juan Sanchez, Dr. Richard Mata, Dr. Edgardo Ulysses Dorotheo, Dr. Iris Isip-Tan and the Mu Sigma Phi of the University of the Philippines College of

Medicine. To receive special citations are Dr. Faith Guirnela-Go, Rosamy “Jing” Castañeda-Velasco and the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.

The H&L (Health and Lifestyle) Health Exemplar Awards recognize individuals, institutions, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and media entities that have effectively promoted a specific aspect of a healthy lifestyle, such as diet and nutrition, exercise and fitness, smoking cessation, relaxation and stress control, and hygiene and cleanliness.

Dr. Perlas had served under the DOH’s Doctors to the Barrio program in Sapad, Lanao del Norte for two years.

He was active in various med-

FSlain, 17

PH to restore MOU with Myanmar on media, info C

ommunications Secretary Martin Andanar met with his counterpart Dr. Pe Myint, Union Minister, Ministry of Information on Monday, March 20 to express the Philippines’ intention to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and Ministry of Information of Myanmar in the field of news exchange, radio and television broadcasting, public relations, printing and publishing.

Present during the meeting at the Ministry of Information in Nay Pyi Taw were Maung Pe, Director General, Ministry of Information; U Kyaw Soe, Managing Director, News and Periodicals and Enterprise; U Myint Htway, Director General, Myanma Radio and Television; and U Myint Kyaw, Deputy Permanent Secretary.

The MOU would strengthen the cooperation between Philippines and Myanmar in the fields of cooperation which include: news exchange, radio and television broadcasting, information technology in terms of the use of computers and internet as means of information and dissemination of information, public relations, printing and publishing.

According to Andanar, the two countries will benefit from each other’s experiences in the field of radio and TV broadcasting, print, and the social media.

He said that a natural calamity for instance, may necessitate the help of other countries and governments to spread information on the situation on the ground.

Andanar added that he plans to have an exchange of personnel training between the two countries.

“We will give your people

the necessary training in the Philippines. You can send them and make them work in our broadcast facilities,” he said.

Andanar said the Philippine government is rebuilding the Communications department particularly the Philippine News Agency, People’s Television, Radyo ng Bayan, Philippine Information Agency, Bureau of Communications Services, and the social media.”This government is about institutionalizing reforms,” Andanar said as he outlined his programs in achieving the reforms he seeks to achieve in five years.

Andanar underscored the importance of sharing government information to the public.

“Government information is very important. We must be able to communicate government policy to the people,” he said.

In this age of faster de-

livery information, Andanar mentioned that there are many challenges citing social media and the internet.

“But then again, we look at those challenges as opportunities because it is easier for any government to communicate to its citizenry,” Andanar said.

Andanar mentioned and classified the areas of communications in the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

“We have on-air, which represents radio and tv; online which represents social media; on-ground which represents our communications arms that goes straight to the people.

These are the public information offices. That’s the Philippine Information Agency. And on-print – newspapers that we distribute. Our on-ground which is the Philippine Information Agency,” Andanar said.

(PNA)

tary Paulyn Ubial told reporters during a press conference held at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila.

“One million Filipinos have quit tobacco use -- the biggest decline we have seen in Philippine history, and we can do more to stop the suffering caused by this epidemic,” Ubial said, pointing out that the reduction means at least a million Filipinos now have a lower risk of developing cancer, heart ailments, asthma,

and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

She further reported that the number of victims of second-hand smoke at home has dropped significantly from 54 percent in 2009 to 34 percent in 2015; and in the workplace from 32 percent in 2009 to 21 percent in 2015.

The survey however revealed that exposure to second-hand smoke remains high at 86 percent in bars and night-

clubs; and at 33.6 percent in restaurants.

Ubial said the Sin Tax Law or Republic Act 10351 has made cigarette products inaccessible to the public, especially the poor and the youth.

She also said that progress and achievement in tobacco control policies and advocacy should be pushed further by maintaining the unitary tax excise structure for tobacco products. (PNA)

DOH: 1.1-M Pinoys quit smoking from 2009 to 2015

T

he number of smokers in the country has decreased by 1.1 million from 17 million in 2009 to 15.9 million in 2015, the Department of Health reported Monday, citing survey results.

According to the 2015 Philippines’ Global Adult Survey (GATS), the prevalence of tobacco use among Filipinos 15 years and above has dropped from 29.7 percent in 2009 to 23.8 percent in 2015, Health Secre-

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Cotabato educator among PH’s top‘inspiring’teachers

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TIGHT SECURITY. A personnel of Task Force Davao and his bomb sniffing dog inspect the belongings of province-bound passengers at the entrance of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

n educator from Cotabato City placed third among the country’s top 10 “inspiring teachers.”

Gomercendo Carcueva Jr., currently with the Department of Education – City Schools Division, paid a visit Tuesday to City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani – Sayadi and presented his award to the latter.

The award was given by the Saceda Youth Lead (SYL), a private youth institution under the auspices of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines.

The SYL provides leadership trainings, community service, education to the youth and professionals to help shape them to become effective citizens.

Carcueva was nominated

by his co-teachers for the prestigious title.

As a teacher, Carcueva has initiated several leadership trainings for students in both public and private schools in Cotabato City.

Aiming to help the youth in the city, Carcueva conducted free trainings for students to hone their educational skills and foster their love for service to others.

“I have been in a Marist institution for a long period in my career as an educator, and that has inculcated in me the sincere commitment to public service,” he said.

The mayor urged other teachers to emulate Carcueva.

(PNA)

nterior Secretary Ismael Sueno has enjoined the public to suggest ways to improve the anti-illegal drugs drive of their respective barangays during the Barangay Assembly to be held in villages across the country on Saturday.

“In the Barangay Assembly, the people have a voice… The people also have the duty to help the Barangay Captain by suggesting ways to resolve the illegal drug problem in the barangay,” Sueno said in a news release issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

He said the Barangay Assembly is open to all Filipino citizens, 15 years and above who have

been residents of the barangay for at least six months.

The interior chief encouraged the people to attend the March 25 meeting, saying it is the proper venue to discuss community concerns and learn how barangay officials are spending barangay funds.

Sueno meanwhile called on barangay officials to discuss with the people the MASA MASID program, a barangay-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program that encourages volunteerism at the community level. MASA MASID stands for Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga. (PNA)

their power lines and facilities.

He said the area’s power supplies remain stable based on the current peak power demand of around 142 megawatts (MW).

Socoteco II, which also serves the entire province of Sarangani and two municipalities in South Cotabato, lists around 80,000 power connections in the area.

The city, which hosts a number of industries, accounts for 80 to 85 percent of the area’s daily power requirement.

Sotelo said the National Power Corporation- Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management, which manages the hydropower plants in Lanao and Bukidnon provinces, cur-

rently provides 32 to 40 MW to the electric cooperative.

It gets 70 MW from Sarangani Energy Corporation’s coal-fired power plant, 10 MW from the Mt. Apo geothermal power plant, 32 MW from a bunker-fired power plant here, and 5 MW from Aboitiz Power’s coal-fired power plant in Davao del Sur, he said.

He said Socoteco II has been closely monitoring developments in the city, especially the opening of new companies or industries that require significant power supplies.

The electric cooperative is a member of the city development council, the area’s highest development policymaking body. (PNA)

Pandulo said the fighting erupted between Commander Morato Felmin and Commander JP Felmin of the MILF’s 105th base command in Sitio Damabago, Barangay Buraro, Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao.

Pandulo said territorial dispute triggered the armed hostilities. “It has developed into a rido (family feud) involving leaders of both groups,” Pandulo said.

Von Al Haq, MILF’s military chair, said the warring groups have agreed to a ceasefire following the intervention of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team.

Elements of the 57th Infantry Battalion and 33rd Infantry Battalion, which both have forces in Sultan sa Barongis, did not interfere with the infighting in compliance with the existing ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF. While fighting have mellowed down, some evacuees refused to return home fearing another hostilities could flare up anytime.

The local government of Sultan sa Barongis has extended initial relief assistance to the affected families now housed in the town’s covered court. (PNA)

DILG urges public to attend March 25 barangay assembly

AFP vows to sustain I momentum vs Sayyaf

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top military commander in Zamboanga City announced on Tuesday that they will sustain the momentum of the offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Western Mindanao.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command

(Westmincom) chief, issued the statement as two members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were neutralized in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu.

“We will maintain the momentum and we will deny this ‘evil’ bandits safe havens and hiding areas with the strong

support of Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, all the governors, mayors and barangay officials of ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) including the traditional and religious leaders,” Galvez added.

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to fin-

ish the Abu Sayyaf within six months, which will end on June 30, the military has killed 30 Abu Sayyaf members during offensive operations.

On Sunday, Absara Mursalin Akbara, alias Talin Amsang, surrendered to the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion in Talipao, Sulu. (PNA)

Co-op assures stable power supplies for GenSan

D

istribution utility South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) assured residents of General Santos City on Tuesday that it has contracted enough power supplies to provide for the needs of industries and consumers in the city and the neighboring areas.

Engr. Crisanto Sotelo, Socoteco II general manager, issued the assurance following complaints raised by residents regarding brownouts these past weeks in parts of the city.

In a privilege hour during the city council’s regular session on Tuesday, he clarified that the recent brownouts were caused by emergency outages and maintenance works on some of

Feuding MILF commanders forge ceasefire

C

ommanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who have been fighting with each other in Maguindanao province agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, police reported.

The infighting has triggered the displacement of an undetermined number of civilians.

Senior Inspector Rasul Pandulo, speaking for the Maguindanao police provincial office, said efforts are underway to bring back the displaced families to their communities after the local MILF leaders agreed to a ceasefire Tuesday morning.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO

STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO RDR Gym and Cultural Center, Mankilam, Tagum City, 13 March 2017

It is with deep humility and pride that I present to you the Provincial Government’s accomplishments for the past year. These would not have been made possible without the unequivocal support and conscious effort of all stakeholders in pursuing our goals.

We have entered a new milestone in the annals of Davao Del Norte at a time when unprecedented change is sweeping the nation. My administration is indebted to the legacy of transformative leadership, which paved the way for us to continue championing good governance. The Dabaonons have chosen us to govern them.

We owe them a debt of gratitude, which needs to be repaid by keeping our commitment to serve their best interests.

Introduction

Today, we take stock of the Province’s towering accomplishments in the past year. The fast-changing socio-political environment prompted us to redefine our priorities and recalibrate our development agenda.

To keep pace with the speeding progress across the country, we expanded the human development agenda of my predecessor, former Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, which we now adopt as the B.E.S.T. P.E.O.P.L.E. strategy.

This is our ticket to the vast opportunities available to us as a result of the increasingly globalizing world.

We crafted the essential road map to prop-

erly implement our ten-point agenda, in accordance with our leadership branding “Abilidad at Malasakit” or “AMA”.

However, our resolve to do even better compelled us to set an even higher bar of excellence. Early on, we set out to immortalize my predecessor’s established high standards by setting up even higher standards of conduct and behavior. This we did in order to secure our vantage position and continued relevance in this extraordinary era of change and growth.

The Province adopted the outcome-driven approach in all our development interventions and processes using the Results-Based Management or RBM approach. This time around, instead of just simply realizing the outputs that we have accomplished, we are now focused on attaining the intended outcomes and impacts of implementing our programs, projects and activities. The RBM is aimed at making our interventions more efficient and effective in transforming our communities.

Taking center stage in all our efforts must be the development, growth, well-being and future of every Dabaonon family. After all, no other institution can provide such a long-term security as the family.

This report, therefore, gives an ac-

count of how we stayed focus in providing opportunities to help household members achieve their full potential.

Ang pamilya mao ang dugokan, dangpanan, panalipod, kahupay sa kasubo, ug tabang sa kalisod. Kini mao ang pinaka-importanteng rason sa atong pagkabuhi.

This indispensability of the family inspired me to pursue a strategic policy direction that hinges on our leadership branding of AMA. This stems from my aspiration to do well, both as a no-nonsense local chief executive and as a responsible father with a heart for all Dabaonons.

It is our goal to deliver welfare provision and afford our people the basic amenities of life, while attaining our most innovative and competitive state.

‘Abilidad’ refers to the Competitiveness Cluster that subsumes the Economic and Governance sectors. On the other hand, ‘Malasakit’ makes up the Welfare Group that covers the Environment and Social Services sectors. We are keen on empowering our people in order to make the most of increasing globalization. At the same time, we intend to deliver welfare provision to our constituents, especially the indigents, by providing the resources necessary for them to live decent lives.

I would like to be remembered as a dependable, compassionate and doting father to the Dabaonons, which is analogous to a father who provides for the well-being and welfare of his own family. However, I cannot do it alone. I am blessed to have a Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by Vice Governor Alan R. Dujali who, together with our hardworking Board Members, is occupied with varied homebuilding chores to ensure the integrity and to sustain the momentum of our official DavNor family.

We commit ourselves to our principal duty of delivering efficient, effective, quality and timely services to our people.

Governance Sector

Ang Pamilyang Dabaonon Nagkahi-usa ilawom sa Maayong Panggobyerno.

We upheld public trust and confidence in fulfilling our mandate. I am grateful that our provincial officials and bureaucracy abided by the standards, reforms and new processes that we carried out.

This allowed us to achieve greater co-

herence among our Capitol offices, which in turn permitted us to engage more effectively with our external stakeholders.

Through our fiscal reforms, we continued to strengthen our local income base in our pursuit of reducing our dependence on the internal revenue allotment or IRA. We increased our total income in 2016 to 1.590 billion pesos, and maintained our IRA dependency to 80 percent. We accomplished this by generating more income from local and other sources. With the aid of the Enhanced Tax Revenue Collection and Administration System or ETRACS, we accrued a local income of 209.9 million pesos.

The Seal of Good Local Governance that we received two years in a row is now the sweet fruit of our labors in pursuing good governance. The award has entitled the Province to access the Performance Challenge Fund or PCF in the amount of 7 million pesos per year for four consecutive years now.

We utilized the amount for the upgrade of our facilities in the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex. Our Good Financial Housekeeping or GFH certification enabled us to avail of national window programs and loans to bankroll our development undertakings.

Last year, we adopted the Provincial Development Physical Framework Plan or PDPFP, mainstreaming the twin-challenges of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in local development and land use. This is crucial in reducing the people’s vulnerability while at the same time increasing their resiliency to disasters.

We achieved the maturity Level-II or Process-Defined stage in implementing the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management or PRIME-HRM. We made progress in establishing sets of defined and documented standard operating procedures, and in automating some of our important systems. It is our dream to ultimately attain Level IV or the Strategic HRM Level in pursuing the program.

We also started implementing e-Governance to bring the Provincial Government closer to our citizens, businesses and all the other sectors by providing online public services. It afforded us the extraordinary opportunity to cut down our costs, and speed up our procedures, which therefore redounded to increased efficiency and responsiveness.

Part of the approach was the web-based Human Resource Information System or HRIS, which strengthened our shift from a transactional bureaucracy to a transformational one. The system improved our service delivery and reduced our operational cost. We used it in the recruitment, attendance tracking, leave administration and payroll management of our employees.

We also launched the Aksyon Gabay tungo sa Repormasyon-Information Management System or AGR-IMS to provide a database for our

drug surrenderees. The system provides reliable data capture that is essential in profiling our Volunteers Submitted for Reformation or VSR for appropriate interventions.

We also conducted last year a random drug test among our provincial officials and employees to ascertain that no one escaped our watch as we intensified our campaign against the use of illegal drugs. The Provincial Capitol is strongly committed to support President Duterte’s war on drugs. On that note, I strongly urge all cities and municipalities to do the same.

It is very auspicious that our brand of no-nonsense good governance has strengthened our pathway towards peace in the Province. On top of providing vital support mechanisms to our military and police forces, we strengthened our programs and increased our spending for education, health care, livelihood and social services that directly help reduce the risk of armed conflict. Our efforts in creating an atmosphere conducive for growth and development helped sustain peace in the Province. This is strongly manifested by the sublime pronouncement of the military declaring seven of our local government units as insurgency-free and peaceful as well as development-ready areas. We kept our social capacity and vigilance to ensure relative peace and stability, as we reiterate our all-out support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s roadmap to genuine and lasting peace.

We are also happy to fulfill the age-old dream of our brother Lumads to have their own institution of higher learning. The launch of the Datu Jose Libayao Davao del Norte State College Extension Campus in Talaingod last year is vital in restoring tribal pride and heritage. Traditional agricultural systems and practices that deeply-rooted them to nature are incorporated in their agricultural technology course. The first batch of 40 tribal youth scholars has started to build a better future for themselves, their families and IP communities.

Padayon ang mga reporma nga atong katam-bayayong aron mahimong takos nga tigdumala sa maayong panggobyerno ug epektibong amahan sa Davao del Norte.

Economic Sector

Ang Pamilyang Dabaonon Naghi-usa sa Pagkab-ot sa Kalambuan.

The Province continues to find ways to increase the income of Dabaonon families to help them thrive and become self-reliant. A difficult growing season caused by the El Niño phenomenon made life difficult for our farmers in the past year.

Yet, our farming communities thrived with optimism, coupled with the interventions that we provided. To rehabilitate the damaged farms, we distributed some 1,000 bags of certified inbred rice seeds, 500 bags of OPV corn seeds and 3,000 bags of complete fertilizers for our high-value crop farmers. We also distributed some 254,000 fingerlings of tilapia, hito and

bangus to assist the fisheries sector.

We managed to raise our rice self-sufficiency to 84.59 percent in 2016, as we expanded productive farm areas to 1,771 hectares from 308 hectares last 2015. We also increased the number of farmers who switched to organic farming by 57 percent. The eco-friendly technology reduced production cost by as much as 30 percent.

We effectively controlled the spread of Fusarium Wilt that is affecting our export Cavendish bananas by 73 percent.

Hence, Davao del Norte was awarded as the Best Province under Category 1 in managing the dreaded banana disease.

Together with the Province, the Municipality of Sto. Tomas and Barangay La Libertad were also recognized as the Best-Managed Fusarium-Infected Farm.

We received P1.745-million as cash prize, which we shall use for the equipment of our Provincial Tissue Culture Laboratory.

Equal attention was also given to our other flagship commodities, such as corn, cacao, mango, coffee, coconut, rubber and vegetables, among others.

The livestock program of the Province continues to widen the income opportunities of our poor farmers. Our dispersal project has already produced 605 offsprings, where some 300 of them have already been re-dispersed to 118 more recipients. Total sales of livestock gained by the beneficiaries were worth a total of 292,010 pesos.

Our Dairy Production Program churned out an overall production of 16,478 liters of milk worth about P1.2 million, which boosted the income of our dairy farmers. We sustained our frozen goat semen processing laboratory, the only one in Davao region. At the same time, our Artificial Insemination Program remains to be the top performer in the Davao region.

Over 1,000 participants availed of our livelihood and skills trainings, of which, many of them have actively engaged in productive endeavors. Entrepreneurs who benefitted from our trainings, marketing and promotion services realized a combined income of 1,183,532 pesos. Through the Davao del Norte Credit Surety Fund, we facilitated collateral-free loan releases amounting to 101.7 million pesos to 22 worthy cooperatives, benefitting 1,087 farmers and entrepreneurs last year. Through this effort, we bested 43 other CSFs in the country, and the Central Bank of the Philippines conferred to us the Outstanding Credit Surety Fund or CSF Award.

We facilitated the employment of some 28,107 job seekers, raising our job placement rate from 77 percent in the previous year to 90 percent in 2016. This allowed us to clinch the 2016 Regional Best Performing Public Employment Service Office or PESO Award – Provincial Category. Of note, Panabo City further cornered the Best PESO component city category, while St. Mary’s College clinched the job placement office category.

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6 SOPA by Gov. AGR

SOPA... FROM 5

We continued to market Davao del Norte as the perfect alternative destination in this part of the world. This resulted to a significant increase in tourist arrivals with a total of 1.4 million visitors in 2016. To hasten the attainment of our goal of becoming among the top tourism hubs in the country, we have finalized our Provincial Tourism Master Plan that aims to enhance our current tourism activities in order to enrich our offerings. We highlight the active engagement of both the public and private sectors in achieving our shared vision for competitive yet sustainable destinations.

We remained true to our oath of putting into good use the hard-earned taxes of our people. Even with the short break in project implementation due to the election season last year, we have completed roads, bridges, public buildings, water systems, drainage, electrification projects and the likes amounting to 587.2 million pesos, while more projects worth 761 million pesos are still on-going. We also maintained a total of 841.44 kilometers of provincial roads and bridges that facilitated better inter and intra accessibility in the province. As a result, this increased the access of our families to basic facilities and services, as well as reduced travel time of farm produce by 50 percent, thus improving the income of our farmers.

The Province employed the partnership of our communities in maintaining our roads, through our Community-Based Road Maintenance Contracting or CBRMC Program. We take pride in being able to sustain this initiative under the Provincial Road Management Facility.

Some 12 people’s organizations are now serving as community-based service providers in maintaining over 100 kilometers of our provincial roads.

In line with our thrust of capacitating our barangays, we intensified the implementation of the end-of-term stimulus package executed by my predecessor. Out of the 111.5 million pesos stimulus fund, where we allocated 500,000 pesos to each barangay of the province, we completed 147 projects amounting to 70.8 million pesos last year. Over 50 more projects are still on-going, while others are due for implementation this year. This facilitated increased spending within our barangays that further stimulated the pro-

vincial economy.

Our deepest gratitude to national government agencies and official development assistances or ODAs that funded more projects in the Province, with a combined total of 1.2 billion pesos last year.

As a showcase of our strong partnership with our private stakeholders combined with PEEDO’s sound marketing and management plans, our three Provincial Hospitals not only bolstered our delivery of quality health services. They consistently topped our local revenue base, raking in a combined income of 124.6 million pesos. Income generated by our Provincial Blood Bank amounted to 10.1 million pesos, while our Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex collected some 2.7 million pesos.

To shore up our comparative advantage, we pursued a pro-active role in nurturing a culture of competitiveness and innovation. We established the Provincial Competitiveness and Innovation Council to ensure that all our programs, projects, and activities or PPAs are in total sync for the province to attain its most competitive and innovative state.

Davao del Norte continued to be a favorite investment haven in the Davao Region last year.

With the help of the Board of Investments or BOI, some 2.06 billion pesos worth of investments poured into the Province.

Kawang ang tanan natong pag-paningkamot alang sa kalambu-an kung dili kini mabati sa atong pamilyang Dabaonon. Busa, gipalig-on nato ang pagtutok sa paghaw-as sa kalisod, pag-uswag, ug paghatag ug maayong kaugma-on sa matag-pamilya.

Social Services Sector

Ang Kaayuhan ug Kahimsog sa Pamilya Gahum sa Sosyidad.

We summoned our fatherly energy and strength in building up a healthy foundation for our homes to ensure the continued integrity of our big DavNor family.

In keeping with our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, we intensified our maternal, newborn child health and nutrition or MNCHN services to ensure the well-being of our mothers as well as the survival and development of our babies. This resulted to the significant reduction of our maternal mortality rate from 105.16 per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 55.82 last year. Our infant mortality rate also decreased from 5.96 in 2015 to

EDGEDAVAO

4.36 in 2016. We further lessened our under-5-mortality rate from 7.81 per 1,000 live births in 2015 to 7.26 last year.

Since the health of the mothers is essential for the protection and nurturing of the children, we conducted 10 pap smear screening and breast exam outreach activities benefitting over 3,000 mothers. With our stepped-up efforts in combating malnutrition, we reduced our malnutrition rate from 4.11 in 2015 to 3.45 in 2016.

We conducted 10 medical and six surgical outreaches that benefitted over a thousand constituents. Out of hundreds screened in our eye health care program, we performed a total of 25 cataract operations, as well as 8 pterygium operations.

Since there is a high correlation between children’s tooth problems and malnutrition, we utilized the two dental mobile vehicles from the Department of Health to increase our capacity to boost our dental services.

We conducted over a hundred dental outreaches that benefitted thousands of children who suffer from tooth problems.

We pursued universal health coverage by increasing our AGR PhilHealth Sponsored Project to 11,793 recipients last year. This is in addition to the over 100,000 4Ps and National Household Targeting System or NHTS beneficiaries within the province that were sponsored by the National Government.

Some 80 percent of these recipients availed of our PhilHealth expanded primary care package called Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya or TSeKaP services.

We reduced our annual parasite index in controlling Malaria by sustaining our monitoring activities to the remotest barangays. As a result, we still maintained our position as a Filariasis-free Province. However, we reiterate our call for the people to help in our sustained campaign against dengue as cases of H-fever continue to pose a threat to our people.

True to our branding as a caring DavNor family, we provided health services to some 1,812 elderly and differently-abled persons. We also served the needs of some 149 mentally-ill Dabaonons to ease the economic and emotional burden of their families.

The completion of new water system projects in 21 barangays last year increased the percentage of households with access to safe drinking water to 84 percent. This is equivalent to 209,602 families out of 250,768

Dabaonon homes. We further distributed toilet bowls to 1,252 families to combat poor sanitation, which is the leading cause of disease and child death.

As we continued to intensify our campaign against rabies, we provided free anti-rabies vaccines to 2,184 victims of animal bites last year. We also kept our commitment to a 100 percent smoke-free environment at the Provincial Capitol.

The Province has sustained its commitment to the Early Childhood Care and Development or ECCD Program. Last year, we printed 15,000 more ECCD Checklists to help our Child Development Workers track the development of preschoolers around the province.

We also maintained our position as having the most number of Day Care Centers throughout the Davao Region.

We have also extended millions of pesos worth of medical, financial, emergency shelter, food and transportation assistance to about 8,000 walk-in distressed Dabaonons seeking our help. The Bahay Pag-asa Davao del Norte, which primarily caters to our Children in Conflict with the Law or CICL, was accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD last year. This strengthens our capability to provide short-term residential care to facilitate the restoration and integration of our CICLs into the mainstream of society.

Davao del Norte has taken the lead in supporting the President’s war on drugs. Our groundbreaking Aksyon, Gabay tungo sa Repormasyon – Information Management System or AGR-IMS is crucial in determining the right interventions for our Volunteers Submitted for Reformation or VSRs to rid themselves of the deadly drug habit. We successfully tested the system with our convergence service last November in Kapalong. This complements the rehabilitation services we give to the victims of drug addiction, through our Luntiang Paraiso Regional Rehabilitation Center. We are proud that the Regional Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council has cited our system as a model to be replicated in other PADACs in the region.

In building a better future for our youth, we have enrolled a total of 133 scholars to various technical/vocational schools.

We have also provided literacy classes to 175 members of our indigenous communities. Some 97 members of the second batch of our Davao del Norte Learning Institute or DNLI grad-

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

uated last year. Particularly, 74 of them completed Bachelor in Public Administration and 23 in Certificate in Early Childhood Education. The graduates came from 10 LGUs and various national government agencies in the Province.

The Philippine Sports Commission’s plan to make Davao del Norte a Regional Training Center will greatly complement our pioneering Davao del Norte Sports Academy. The great success of the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championships last November sealed our mastery in hosting national sporting events. However, we are gearing up to test our prowess in hosting international events as Davao Del Norte bid’s for the BIMP-EAGA Games in 2018 and the South East Asian Games in 2019.

Isip amahan sa dakong pamilyang DavNor, tulubagon nako ang paghatag sa mga nag-unang pangina-hanglanon nga mohatag sa kaayohan ug mo-panalipod sa atong katawhan.

Environment Sector

Ang Pamilyang Dabaonon Nagkahi-usa sa Pagpanalipud sa Kinaiyahan.

We bolstered our efforts to make the Dabaonon family a protagonist in our conservation efforts to build a better future for the next generations.

Under the Sustainable Upland Development Program, in tandem with our program on Restoration of Forest Cover under the 5% Calamity Fund, we mobilized 460 upland farmers, most of whom are Indigenous People, in planting a combined volume of 48,998 mahogany and forest tree seedlings covering some 58.7 hectares along river banks, watersheds, and landslide-prone areas.

For being involved in our Protection Forest project, the families of more than 300 mostly IP upland farmers are bound to enjoy four to six years from now the fruits of their labor.

These farmers planted a combined total of 170,454 seedlings of falcata, rubber and an assortment of fruit tree seedlings such as durian, lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen and cacao in 388.2 hectares of hilly areas.

Because we value our caves for their big role in biodiversity, we worked with local communities in planting forest and fruit trees, and cacao seedlings in the combined 6.8 hectare surroundings of the caves in the Barangays of Monte Dujali and Mamacao, both in Kapalong town. We also planted maluba-

go, mahogany, narra and bamboo trees to some 12.3 hectares along the banks of the Libuganon and Saug Rivers and other tributaries to make the riverbanks stable, and to protect the nearby agricultural lands during floods. Another combined area of five hectares was planted with high-value fruit trees as part of our barangay and school park re-greening efforts. We further planted mangrove seedlings to a total of 2.9 hectares in the coastal barangays of Panabo City, Carmen and Tagum City identified under our Mangrove Rehabilitation Project.

We intensified our campaign to reduce illegal quarrying and transporting of sand and gravel without delivery receipt, as we also resolved conflicts that arose within approved quarry areas. This translated to a 62.6 percent surge on our sand and gravel income from 6.9 million pesos in 2015 to 11 million pesos last year.

We finally submitted our Provincial Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan or PESWM to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Office. The plan primarily seeks to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. We further provided technical assistance to help five LGUs of the province finalize their Forest Land Use Plans, where three of them have finally submitted their plans to the DENR-XI for approval.

Davao del Norte won last year’s Regional Search for Gawad Kalasag Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or DRRM, for two years in a row now. We continue to heighten our climate change adaption or CCA and DRRM efforts to build the resilience of our people.

Ang atong mga anak ug ka-apuhan ang mag-antus sa mas bagsik nga mga kalamidad kung mapakyas kita sa pag-panalipod sa atong kina-iyahan. Busa, padayon kita sa pag-panlim-basog aron pana-lipdan ang interes ug kauswagan sa kasamtangan ug sa uma-abot nga mga henerasyon.

These accomplishments are not just about the redistribution of wealth and opportunities. All these are geared towards sustaining and empowering our Dabaonon families as the cornerstone of our society.

Future Directions

We have set our sights on further building the human capabilities of our people and cre-

FSOPA, 7

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

SOPA by Gov. AGR 7 Philippines or LPP has given us the privilege to help advance the cause of attaining greater decentralization and more meaningful autonomy. In the same manner, my Chairmanship of the Davao Integrated Development Program or DIDP has presented us the opportunity to usher another golden age for the only local government-initiated economic cooperation in the country. Finally, I am humbled that President Duterte has placed his full confidence in me when he appointed me as the new Chairperson of the Regional Development Council or RDC-XI for the term 2017-2019.

Given this daunting task, we are ready, excited and eager to prove our worth and to work harder in ensuring a bigger share of the national budget to fund our Region’s priority projects and in securing Davao’s lead role in national development.

Challenge

SOPA... FROM 6

ating an enabling environment for them to take advantage of the many opportunities that this rapidly changing world brings.

I am deeply indebted to my official family for staying united and putting the interest of our DavNor family ahead of our own self-interests. Great thanks to Vice Governor Alan Dujali and the Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for being true to our parental duties and responsibilities to the Dabaonon people. Your timely approval of our 2017 Annual Budget means a lot in widening our governance reforms and keeping our promises to the people.

I would like to also recognize our indefatigable department heads and employees of our Provincial Capitol for diligently carrying out the reforms in our processes and systems so that we are able to provide the best services to our people.

The unwavering support of our constituents inspired me to pursue with much enthusiasm and vigor my avowed promise to be a responsible AMA to every Dabaonon.

I ask everyone to commit yourselves to the set of values manifested in our Province’s mission and vision statements.

These core sets of values give us a sense of purpose and opportunity to bind ourselves to a greater cause. Let us all stay focused, as we channel our energies and resources to accomplish our goals for this year.

The 2017 Annual Budget of the Province amounting to One Billion Five Hundred Thirty-Four Million Three Hundred Forty-Six Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Pesos is more than just a funding requirement for our operations this year. We shall utilize this budget in further building up our capacity to attaining our goal of balance inclusive growth, and securing a better future for all the Dabaonon families.

We assure the proper and judicious disbursement of our provincial funds. The money of our people shall be accounted for to the last centavo. We have passed this budget with the best interest of our people in mind.

Thus, it is incumbent upon every department to spend their respective budgets within the bounds of accountability, trans-

parency and integrity.

I acknowledge our various local government units for positively responding to the series of public hearings that we conducted to update our Provincial Revenue Code. The existence of the Provincial Government is essential. However, we cannot function well absent the funds necessary for us to finance the needs of our constituents, and to carry on our operations in order to further advance our common objectives.

We are now making more use of our devolved powers and authority to seal revenue leaks and to improve fiscal gaps. This year, the Province will implement the Alternative Government Revenue Collection, Disbursement and Citizen ID Systems. This will not only enhance accountability as we realize more funds for effective service delivery and infrastructure development. It will also be the precursor of cashless transactions in government offices to address bureaucratic barriers.

Some of its features will include a mobile communication system, data gathering system, billing system, payroll processing system and ID system. With this system, long and tedious queues in the Capitol will become a thing of the past. Our micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSMEs will also benefit from this system, as more capital will be readily available to them.

To effectively address malnutrition and to strengthen food security in the province, we recently launched the “Ang Gulayan Revolution”. We intend to implement this throughout our 223 barangays this year. This will subsume and strengthen our Gulayan sa Barangay and Gulayan sa Paaralan programs.

We are scaling up our CCA and DRRM efforts by launching the Alliance of Grassroots Responders this year. We successfully implemented the Oplan Advocacy on Natural Disaster Awareness and Management or Oplan ANDAM program in vulnerable communities. Now, through the Alliance of Grassroots Responders, we shall bring our CCA and DRRM programs to every barangay in the Province.

We further intend to expand the CBRMC in ensuring the upkeep and maintenance of our road networks in the province. Our very low contract prices for maintaining our road

networks has dissuaded private contractors. As a result, we engaged willing communities to further advance the reforms being undertaken by the province under PRMF, while generating short-term local employment.

We received positive feedbacks from our barangay officials that the stimulus fund of the Province has helped a lot in creating jobs and stirring up the economy of our villages. It comes as no surprise that many of them urged us to continue the program. As a good father who listens to his children, I cannot turn a deaf ear to the wishes of our people. So, after conferring with the Capitol executives and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, we decided not to wait until the end of each term before implementing another round of stimulus package. We shall make it a regular program every year, with our barangays receiving 500,000 pesos worth of projects each. Only this time however, due to limited resources, we will have to split our allocation for the 223 barangays within three years. That means, this year we shall allocate 40 million pesos to accommodate 80 barangays.

We have to stay open to new governance trends to stay relevant. Davao del Norte has become a leading advocate of e-Governance in the region, which employs information and communication technology or ICT at all levels of our Provincial Government. To make the most of this age of digitalization, we earmarked 17 million pesos to fund the Comprehensive and Strategic Plan for E-Governance of the Province this year.

Our initial success in implementing e-Governance include the functionality of our web-based Human Resource Information System or HRIS, which automated HR tasks that were manually done previously.

I am directing the remaining offices that have not yet complied with the HRIS to implement the system as soon as possible so we can take advantage of the benefits that the system offers like faster payroll processing, more accurate employee data management, and improved productivity.

Another such system is the AGR-IMS, which we will expand to other local government units.

We have continued vital interventions to help our VSRs stay drug free by providing them with career and employment

coaching. More livelihood and scholarship services are also being lined up for them this year.

Two more systems that are being developed under our e-Governance program are the breakthrough Executive Management Information System or EMIS and Reorganization Information Management System or RIMS. We shall use the EMIS as an important monitoring tool for the RBM strategy that we adopted in implementing our PPAs. Using the results chain, the system shall outline expected results, indicators, baselines and targets against which changes in all levels of the framework are monitored. This is important in determining whether or not our accomplishments balance the pursuit of our standards with the achievement of our development priorities.

I assure everyone that we will be objective in implementing our proposed reorganization this year. The paradigm shift in our governance necessitates introduction of changes and reforms in our organizational structure. Our strategies, resources, structure, and functions must be perfectly aligned for the Province to better attain its vision, mission and goals.

Re-engineering our systems and processes are vital in elevating our standards, while marshaling the capabilities and potentials of our personnel is crucial for adapting to the demands of the changing environment.

This is why we will be implementing the RIMS, which among others, will feature a web-based recruitment, as well as application and documentation components. The system will facilitate a uniform, structured approach in matching requirement profiles with applicants’ corresponding personalities and competencies. Though this system, the perennial problem of redundant functions and misplaced personnel shall now be corrected.

The capstone of our e-Governance initiative is the integration of all our information-related systems in one system loop, dubbed as the Davao del Norte Knowledge and Information Management System or DNKIMS. This umbrella system will link together all the ICTbased systems in the Provincial Government. Individual systems from different offices will be able to integrate and share

information seamlessly with one another to form into one organization-wide application.

This will bring about greater benefits of increased productivity, reduction of costs and increased efficiency in all of our various offices.

I, therefore, ask our Capitol officials and executives to nurture the success of your respective teams, both individually and collectively. It is your duty to keep their morale high. Give them a sense of purpose. Inspire them with your own passion.

Guide them with your vision.

As we hasten our pace and work harder to attain our vision and goals, we must all be guided by our performance slogan, “Basta DavNor, the Best.” We are not bragging about something that we have achieved. Rather, this is our battle cry in our avowed commitment to pursue a culture of excellence in upholding good governance and transformative leadership.

We invoke this battle cry as a solemn pledge to keep high standards of conduct and behavior in doing our daily tasks.

It is our rallying point to instill in the consciousness of our people the value of excellence in every endeavor. We shall never rest on our accomplishments. Instead, we vow to persistently and continuously create better ways of doing things in order to be the best that we can be.

“Basta DavNor, the Best” is a byword that challenges every Dabaonon to make “being the best” a way of life. We must inspire a generation of Dabaonons to make them eager to take on the challenge of making our Province not only better, but also the best. We can only fulfill this if we are able to build a deep sense of pride and identity among our people.

For our people to develop such a deep sense of pride, they must be fully aware of their true identity and sense of history. It is for this very reason that we created the Heritage and Historical Commission of Davao del Norte. This Body is tasked to review, refine and re-frame our beloved province’s rich history and wealth of heritage. We have so much to be proud of, and I hope that we will be able to achieve this in time for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of our Province.

My election as the National Executive Vice President of the League of Provinces of the

Keeping the integrity of our big DavNor family is a gargantuan challenge, especially in the light of the changing socio-economic, political, and environmental setting. It is my responsibility, as your father, to take care of our problems, and to provide a clear vision and direction for everyone to advance to the future. It is my job to nurture every member of our household, and to bring out the best among our people by developing their attitudes, qualities and capabilities, which are crucial if we want them to succeed in life.

I shall never stop loving you.

I want to be a great father, who shall leave a great legacy in the hearts of my Dabaonon children.

Thank you so much for trusting and believing in me. Your allout support, cooperation and subservience to our goals and aspirations further inspire me to do the best in fulfilling my tasks and responsibilities. We are now advancing towards our intended path with much hope, faith and confidence.

No matter where we go, no matter what we achieve, or even if we fail, at the end of the day we all want to go home to our families. The family is always there for us when we need to take refuge. Argue and fight if we must, but in the end we are still a family. No amount of crises can alienate us from one another. The love will always be there and it will keep us together.

This epitome of love, caring and understanding is what I would like to infuse in the hearts and minds of our people. We are one Dabaonon family. Whatever happens, Davao del Norte is your home. Whatever difficulties lay ahead, our officialdom stands ready to take care of you, as well as to help you do and be your best.

This is the very essence of our AMA leadership branding.

Ako ang inyong AMAhan.

Ako kamong tulubagon. Kamo ang akong inspirasyon. Ayaw kamo ug pagpa-nuko sa pagdu-ol kanako. Kay ako andam kanunay sa pagpa-minaw ug sa pagtabang kaninyo, kutob sa akong mahimo.

Ipataas nato ang Davao del Norte. Garbo nato nga kita mga Dabaonon. Duyog kita sa pagkab-ot sa mas maayo nga kaugma-on.

Daghang salamat ug ang Ginoo maga-uban kanato isip usa ka nagkahi-usa ug malambu-ong pamilya.

Sa kanunay, Basta DavNor, the Best!

INdulge!

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EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

WHEN BOBBET MARRIES RONA

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate then when I fall asleep your eyes close.”

Those words – from the pen of Pablo Neruda actually the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet-diplomat and politician Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto – appeared in 100 Love Sonnets.

They came into my mind when I witnessed the parents of Rona – Rolando and Jocelyn Lagumbay – gave away their daughter to Israelito (more popularly known by his nickname, Bobbet) during the solemn wedding held at SMX La-

nang Premier recently.

There were a lot of love in that moment. You can feel the love between two different persons who came from different worlds but united because of that unfathomable and inscrutable thing called love.

The very-handsome Amirhossein Shahamat served as the

best man while beautiful Jowena Lagumbay was the maid-of-honor.

The groomsmen were composed of Christlamb Rae Vicente, Atty. Benito Dangaso, Atty. Jeffrey Pabriaga, John Espino, Andrew Cañete, Joselito Arancan, Rigel C. Oyao and Niño A. Macias.

The bridesmaids were Christhel Torreon, Clarisse Joy Montemay-

ores, Lovely Joy Balonsong, Jessa Faith Dingal, Leonila Villabito, Charrie Jane Villabito and Rhuwelyn P. Pilapil.

The rest of the wedding entourage: Carlos Troy Torreon III as little groom while Kishziah Rich Llouvanie Jamelarine as little bridge; Jeany Pearl D. Alonzo and Amirah Isha Ngoho as flower girls, Victor Felix Alabastro as the Quran bearer, Ryne Jericho R. Nolasco as coin bearer, and Urijan Skyler Ramos as ring bearer.

Relatives, friends and colleagues came to witness the occasion. But the following were the principal sponsors. In the male side, the following were listed: Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, Gov. Esmael G. Mangudadatu, Benjamin Duterte, Datu Ebrahim G. Mangudadatu, Atty. Emerson

Aquende, Dean Nilo Divina, Mayor Joseph Peñas, Mayor Freddie G. Mangudadatu, Vice-Mayor Joselito Piñol, Virgilio Leyretana, Vice-Mayor Datu Akmad Ampatuan, Solomon Carpio, Atty, Raul Tolentino, Gregorio Canada, Dean Macacuna Moslem, Francisco Jose, Virgilio Quilab, Aveline Biore, Jimmy Hefervez and Francisco Hernandez.

Without dropping a name or two, the following were female principal sponsors: Ingrid Canada, Elvira Pang, Eusebia delos Reues, Edeley Tarrazona, Bae Elizabeth Mangudadatu, Att. Alma Naidas Enriquez, Dean Sol Mawis, Gomburza T. Monacillo, Melba R. Sebastian, Atty, Lourdes Perfecto, Perla Barrios, Tarhata Ampatuan, Teresita Olayvar, Atty.

Nena Santos, Dr. Nelia Q. Canada, Bae Sohra M. Moslem, Macaria Jose, Celirina Quilab, Marites Biore, Nene Hefervez and Bae Lolita Tenorio.

The wedding was solemnized with Islamic (officiant was Shiek Abdulwahid Sumauang Ai-Haj) and legal (by Judge Lope L. Callo, of Regional Trial Court, Branch 33, Davao City) rites.

I came not only to witness the union but also to serve as one of the godparents of the aqeeqah of the couple’s daughter, Fatima Ezra Elle. My friend, Dr. Dante Comedido, came along.

Aside from me, there were 31

WHEN A4

9 economy EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

PH-Thailand relations in upswing

P

resident Rodrigo Duterte arrives in Bangkok on March 20, immediately after a two-day stay in neighboring Myanmar, to start the official engagement with the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha on March 21, followed by a meeting with the Filipino community on March 22.

“This year, we shall be observing 68 years of the establishment of our diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Thailand, at a time that the Philippines is hosting the chairmanship of ASEAN and also, at the same time, commemorating 50 years of the establishment of ASEAN,” said Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon in an interview.

More than 14,000 Filipinos, mostly professionals, are currently working in the Kingdom of Thailand. “Over half of this (number) are Filipino teachers in the English language and principally here in Bangkok,” Aragon said.

About 2,600 Filipinos of the 3,600 registered last year voted for Duterte. The ambassador said that the Filipinos in Thailand are very supportive of the President’s anti-drug campaign.

More than 1,600 Filipinos have expressed interest by registering for the President’s meeting with the Filipino community on Wednesday evening.

‘Doing great’ “He is doing a great job,” said Julie Simeon Macariola, a Filipino high school teacher who came to the embassy to volunteer during the President’s visit, beamed with pride for the Philippine leader.

The popularity of the Philippine president, who turns 72 on March 28, has extended to the locals who consider him a new-found icon for his tough talk and leadership style.

Aragon said that since the Philippine elections in 2016, the Thais have been very excited about President Duterte, and his forthcoming visit. The Thais speak positively of him, and were very touched when he came to pay respects for their beloved King in Novem-

ber 2016.

At least three bilateral agreements, namely on agriculture, tourism, and science & technology are expected to be signed between the two countries during President Duterte’s visit.

The close ties between the two countries were first established during the reign of the former King, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (19272016). Both countries were co-founders of the ASEAN, and the Philippines was able to formalize diplomatic relations with Thailand on June 14, 1949 in Washington DC. “We have also established the mechanism of what we call the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. We are hoping that this year, we can resume the holding of the 6th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. This is where all areas of cooperation will be discussed by the two governments,” Aragon said.

The long history of relations between the Philippines and Thailand may be traced back to the early 1960s when a number of Thai nationals went to the Philippines to study in schools and universities.

Both countries have established areas of cooperation involving security, political, economic, trade, educational, and socio-cultural matters.

“We also cooperate very closely for instance, in the climate change discussions; in the management of disasters, for which the Philippines is always exposed to natural disasters,” Aragon said.

Enhancing intra-ASEAN Aragon views the role of President Duterte as important in increasing intra-ASEAN relationship.

“We would like to have a peaceful resolution for disputes through a code of conduct,” Aragon said, when asked to comment on Duterte’s foreign policy with China. “We all would like to live in peace, because it is only through peace that we can benefit economically. We need peace and stability so we can economically move forward,” she added.

(PNA)

BSP execs remain optimistic PH will hit USD7B FDI target

B

angko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. expects foreign direct investments (FDIs) to sustain its rise on back of broadbased growth in the domestic economy.

Tetangco said the country’s manufacturing sector “is picking up again in addition to the usual sources of growth like the services.”

“This will continue to be an attraction,” he said.

The central bank chief said the country’s economic fundamentals “remain sound” while the economy continued to benefit from “a young population that is economically actively.”

“There is a huge market that can be tapped here in the Philippines. Remember, we have an average age of 23.9 years or so, one of the youngest in the region, and foreign investors are taking a closer look at what are the opportunities here, given that we have a growing economy, young and economically-active population, and sustained macro-economic conditions,” he added.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said FDIs continued to rise and its impact on the domestic economy was for long term since investors were putting up plants and factories instead of just footloose money like foreign portfolio investments. (PNA)

JOINT VENTURE. Cebu Landmasters, Inc. president and chief executive officer Jose Soberano III (center), together with Yuson Comm Investments president and chief executive officer Frederick Yuson (left) and Cebu Landmasters, Inc. chief operating officer Jose Franco Soberano, gives

the overview of the first of several projects under the joint venture Yuson Excellence Soberano, Inc.- the MesaTierra Garden Residences during a news conference at Marco Polo Davao on Monday night. Lean Daval Jr.

Internet speed improving, but intensive capital still needed for infra build: study W

hile average internet connection speed is increasing, a study finds that local telecoms firms must continue to put up large capital costs and significant annual expenditures in order to maintain and upgrade the network infrastructure, as well as invest in new technologies and facilities.

An academic research paper by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Emeritus Epictetus Patalinghug, et al., called an Assessment of the Structure, Conduct, and Performance of the Philippine Telecommunications Industry, explained that the rate of change of average internet connection speed in the Philippines is increasing, and this gap will soon be bridged by new investments in network facilities.

Data from content delivery network services provider Akamai showed that the average connection speed for fixed broadband in the Philippines in Q2 of 2016 increased by 23% over the previous quarter. Mobile broadband fared even better, with almost twice

the average connection speed of fixed broadband in the same period.

Akamai’s Q3 2016 report on the other hand showed further improvement as the Philippines’ average mobile internet speed of 13.9 mbps for the July to September period was the fastest in the Asia Pacific region.

Gaining more ground in broadband speed and service delivery will mean overcoming more barriers however, among them the massive annual capital requirements to continually maintain and upgrade the network infrastructure. Philippine telecoms firms’ investments in major infrastructure programs are expected to continue even beyond 2020.

In 2015 alone, capital expenditures amounted to 29 percent of PLDT and Globe’s total service revenues. This ranked second only to China’s 36 percent globally. In contrast, telecoms firms in the US spent only 14 percent of their revenues on network improvements in 2015.

For 2017, both PLDT and

Globe have raised their capital expenditures for greater expansion of their networks and to improve their quality of service. PLDT reported that it plans to spend P40 billion for capital expenditures this year. The amount will be used for deploying additional frequencies, building-up their fixedline segment, and undertaking a major network expansion to improve the coverage and quality of its voice, SMS, and mobile internet, particularly its LTE service.

On the other hand, Globe disclosed that it had allotted about P38 billion for capital spending in 2017, mainly for deployments of LTE services using the 700 megahertz (MHz) and 2600 MHz frequencies, increased 3G capacities, further expansion of mobile coverage, and deployment of fiber broadband technology for homes.

While local telecoms firms’ capital expenditures have been increasing significantly, this has had an adverse effect on their profitability and cash-flow margins through

the years. Both PLDT and Globe have in fact been earning below the average rate of returns when compared to those of top Philippine firms in other industries.

A look at Return on Assets (ROA) per industry from 1997 to 2014 shows that a department store like SM had an ROA of 14.42 percent, and a beer company such as Asia Brewery reached 12.13 percent, while PLDT and Globe recorded ROAs of only 9.18 percent and 6.70 percent respectively.

The market and competitive analysis of the industry by the research paper points to fierce competition between Globe and PLDT, particularly in terms of price competition and the race to install and upgrade facilities. The market realities of capital intensity, sunk costs, and economies of network size therefore result in lower profitability in the long run. These serve as barriers to entry for new players especially in less populated “last-mile” areas whose infrastructure deployment cost is far higher compared to dense urban areas.

view.

She noted that for business name registration alone, Negosyo Centers have facilitated at least 438,619 clients -- 52,284 entrepreneurs in 2015, 283,487 entrepreneurs in 2016, and 102,848 entrepreneurs for this year.

Under Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, DTI is mandated to establish Negosyo Centers, which are

tasked to assist in business registration, provide business advisory services, promote business information and advocacy, and monitor and evaluate business processes for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The government targets to establish a total of 1,700 Negosyo Centers in all cities, as well as in first- and second-class municipalities in the country.

According to Maglaya, DTI

opened 452 Negosyo Centers as of end-2016.

This covers 100 percent of cities and 50 percent of firstand second-class municipalities throughout the country.

DTI eyes to launch a total of 150 Negosyo Centers this year.

Maglaya mentioned that the department has allocated P530 million for the establishment of Negosyo Centers for 2017. (PNA)

Negosyo Centers serve over 750,000 MSMEs nationwide

M

ore than 750,000 entrepreneurs have been served by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Negosyo Centers nationwide.

“There are 759,223 total clients served to date, to include business name registration and other Negosyo Center services,” DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Zenaida Maglaya said in a chance inter-

EDGEDAVAO

10 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDITORIAL

A

No need to be unfriendly

fter all the furor on the sovereignty issues over the Scarborough Shoal.

To make things clear, the government said it will verify through the Department of Foreign Affairs if indeed China is building structures there.

The DFA is checking on the alleged announcements as the alleged statements do not reflect the official position of China.

The furor was sparked by a reported announcement by Xiao Jie, the mayor of Sansha City, who said that China planned to begin preparatory work this year to build environmental monitoring stations on a number of islands, including Scarborough Shoal.

Sansha City is the name China has given to an administrative base for the South China Sea islands and reefs it controls.

Amid the uproar over the recent issues on Scarborough or the Panatag Shoal, it was made clear by the government that that contrary to media reports, President Rodrigo Duterte does not intend to give up the country’s sovereign rights over Panatag Shoal.

The clarification was a welcome development for those worried that we have eased our grip on the West Philipine Sea issue.

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Jermaine L. Dela Cruz BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Jecia Anne Opiana MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: D. TACIO G.•Deligero • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VidaGOTIANSE-TAN Mia S. Valverde•• NICASIO Fred C. Lumba • Antonio V. Figueroa BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GregORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

the national association of newspapers

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. Ebona OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance RICHARD C. Ebona Marketing Supervisor

It is good that the President’s men have clarified that the President has repeatedly asserted that the Philippine government will not be giving up its claims and our entitlements over the area.

Let that be clear enough. The Palace made that clarification after media reported President Duterte as saying that the Philippines was incapable of stopping China from its reported plan to build structures in Panatag.

It is understandable that President Duterte is keeping things friendly with China in respect to the disputed territory. The Prresident had said that he does not want war with China since China is a friend -- same as with the US and Russia. Likewise, if the country goes to war against China, the conclusion would be predictable.

With regards to the arbitrary ruling the Philippine got from the UN Tribunal, the President stressed he will not raise the UN arbitral ruling for now, but will not hesitate to bring it back to the table when the time comes.

This clarification should make everyone at ease. We are still in control without being unfriendly.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE Cagayan de Oro MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

EDGEDAVAO

I

f you are familiar with the intersecting roads of Barrio Obrero, chances are you’ve heard of Cervantes Street, an access road that starts from Loyola Street, at the back of the University of Southeastern Philippines, and ends at Lapulapu Street, in Agdao District. The road, which is perpendicular to Carmelo Porras and Nicasio Torres streets, is named after Carlos Cervantes.

There are only few available literatures on Carlos. Aside from being the father of Cenon, a former Philippine National Bank (PNB) manager, he was also the grandfather of the late anti-Marcos movie director Benjamin ‘Behn’ Cervantes. Behn was known for his unforgettable films such as the controversial Sakada (1976), Memories of Old Manila (1993), and Alasdose (2001).

The origin of Cervantes as street name is unclear but it could have come about due to his verifiable contribution to the community, as owner of the property where the street is located, marriage to someone in the area with high social status, or as a pioneer in certain endeavor.

In jurisprudence, Carlos is mentioned in a Supreme Court decision dated June 30, 1941 in case G.R. No. L-47342 where his administrator contested the loan document titled Cesion de Derechos en una Venta con Pacto de Retro after his death on

I

remember it right. It was in 1986 when I started writing for Ang Peryodiko Dabaw. I was already writing for various magazines in Manila but never tried contributing for local dailies in Davao.

I used to send my typewritten articles but at one time, I decided to go to the office which was located at Claveria Street to deliver my manuscripts. It was then that I finally met Antonio M. Ajero, the paper’s editor-in-chief.

“So, you’re the Henry who write for our paper,” he greeted me. We talked for a while and before I left, he said: “Why don’t write also for Press Foundation of Asia.” I returned and inquired, “What you mean, sir?”

He told me that most of those articles I had written seemed to be written for the foundation which released a weekly dispatch called DEPTHnews and circulated throughout Asia and the Pacific region.

That was how I started writing news features – thanks to Sir Tony.

In 1999, during a friendly conversation, he asked me to fill-up the form for a journalism contest in Manila. I did and forgot about it until I received a telegram asking me to attend the awarding ceremony at the Manila Hotel.

The Rotary Club of Manila was named me as Journalist of the Year.

Other winners that year were ABSCBN’s Ces Drillon, Siyasat Team of

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

The Cervantes family of Davao

September 7, 1933. He lost the case to Ramon Echevarria to whom the property was mortgaged.

Carlos was married Carlota de los Santos and had 16 children. Two of his sons were Cenon and Tiburcio, a four-time (1948-51) postwar Davao City councilor. His forebears were originally from Luzon but migrated to Cateel first and later moved to Caraga, in Davao Oriental, where they settled before moving to the old town of Davao and acquiring lands in the process.

Cenon, credited for saving the vital documents of PNB during the Japanese occupation, married Rosario Elizabeth Holcombe of Zamboanga, with whom he had eleven children.

A Mason, he started working as a lowly employee of PNB in Davao City in 1918 but was promoted to bank manager in Dagupan City before the war.

After World War II, he was appointed by Manuel A. Roxas as chairman and general manager of the National Abaca and Other Fibers Corporation and later, at the instance of President Elpidio Quirino, tapped as technical assistant to the PNB President. Following his public service stints, he moved to New York to accept the offer to manage a sugar-sales operation (1952-58).

Upon his return to the country, he became manager of sugar centrals

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa and became comptroller-treasurer of Trans-Philippines Investment Corp.

He was very active in socio-civic engagements and once served as president of Central Philippines University (CPU) in Iloilo and chairman of Central Iloilo Mission Hospital. He died on December 1, 1978, at age 75.

Like his brother, Tiburcio, the politico in the family, was also an active Mason; he was a Senior Warden of the Davao Masonic Lodge No. 149. A lawyer by profession, he was one of the sportsmen credited for introducing Davao basketball Olympians like Francisco Rabat and Loreto Carbonnel to the Manila collegiate leagues in

Manila, a legacy that was later recognized.

Tiburcio also figured in the land dispute involving his father’s land.

On June 18, 1937, as family envoy, he sent a letter to Echevarria expressing intention “to pay you the P3,000 due you under the contract executed on October 3, 1931, between you and [my father]” and “to prepare the necessary papers for the transfer of the property in favor of the heirs of said Carlos Cervantes.” His remains are interred at the Davao American Veterans and Masonic Cemetery.

But the most popular and high-profile Cervantes scion was the late Benjamin Roberto Cervantes, son of Cenon, who was thrice incarcerated during the Marcos dictatorship, namely Camp Crame (1975), Bicutan (1977), and Fort Bonifacio (1985).

Known as an activist and stage actor, Behn, as he was fondly known, was one of the country’s best film directors.

Born on August 26, 1938, in Cabanatuan City, Behn, who came from a middle-class family, finished Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama (1962) from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and later completed Master of Fine Arts: Drama and Theatre (1967) from the University of Hawaii.

For over two decades, he taught at UP while serving in concurrent

capacity as artist-in-residence in UP (1974-76) and the University of Hawaii (1991). A passionate lover of the theater, he founded the UP Repertory Company and was a founding member of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Filipino.

In recognition of his contributions to drama and theater, Behn was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), an Aliw Award for Life Achievement in Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Centennial Award, Palanca Award (1997), and Gawad Urian (1976 and 2012).

Best remembered for his theater plays, Pagsamabang Bayan and Sigaw ng Bayan, Behn also acted in over 200 productions (plays, musicals, operettas, revues, cantatas, and street theatre) directed over 120 plays, operas, musicals, cantatas, and street plays, appeared in over a dozen featured roles in films (Filipino and French), wrote national columns, and was cited as one of the five outstanding Filipino stage directors of the last 50 years.

Immortalized in the iconic Bantayog ng mga Bayani monument for his contribution in the fight against the dictatorship, he died on August 13, 2014, at age 75 due to pneumonia and diabetes.

only hijada.

“Fresh from college, in the late 1960’s, Tony and I were both delegates to international forum on Nationalism and International Understanding in Tokyo and later in Korea. Last July and August, we too were delegates to an international media forum One Belt, One Road in Beijing. Tony attended numerous other media forums that honed his skills in journalism. He is the man.”

– Serafin Ledesma, Jr. “Manong Tony is my go-to-guy in the media world. He is a towering institution in Davao tri-media, respected not only by his peers but even politicians and the common tao. He writes his articles with such clarity and conciseness that you need not get the dictionary to understand what he wants to convey. He is widely considered as the most respected media practitioner in Davao City.” –Atty. Israelito Torreon “Tony is one of the most hardworking journalists of Davao, helping chronicle the growth of the city from the ‘60s to the ascension of one of our own to the Presidency. He is a fair, humble and conscientious person, characters that worthy of emulation. He is truly a living media institution. We love to see him with many more healthy years, and read his insightful accounts of life of the ordinary and the famous alike in our city and country.” – Peter Tiu

Lavina “AMA (Antonio M. Ajero) is a father figure, editor, walking Google and handy craigslist in the newsroom all rolled into one. For journalists, especially the younger ones, a stint with AMA should help polish your skills and help you get around the beat. Consider yourself an AMA student once you are under his wings and thank God you for that.

He’s been around and he knows every journalistic molecule in this universe. As a mentor, you won’t find anyone like him... and for free. But here’s the catch...you also have to be ready to take some fireballs if you do not do your job well. At the end of each day with AMA, you will find yourself learning new things and if you get lucky, he’ll spoil you with his favorite food right across the street.”

– Neilwin Bravo “He is the grandfather I never had! Always full of amazing stories of his amazing youth and life that never fail to make my every talk with him full of inspiration. Not to mention he’s actually millennial at heart too!” – Ferina Santos “He is father to everyone that why he is called ‘daddy cool.’ He is a very patient boss who imparts his knowledge in a very comprehensible way. I owe him a great part of my editing skills.” – Gigie R. Arcilla Now, you know why people love him.

Happy birthday, Sir Tony!

Happy birthday, Sir Tony!

DWIZ, Conrado de Quiros of Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Again, thanks to Sir Tony, who nominated me.

From time to time, I met him when I visited the office that was transferred to Agdao. Since it was too far from the heart of the city, our encounter was far and in-between.

Until finally, I heard that he retired the paper.

But you can’t retire a good journalist like him. A few years later, he launched a business local paper called EDGE Davao. From completely unknown paper, it was getting attention from the readers and advertisers. Under his direction as editor-in-chief, the paper started to win national awards.

It was just a matter of time that I joined as a contributor – writing some features, particularly science and travel. Later on, I decided to write a regular column, “Think on These,” which he approved without much ado.

Last year, we were together in China, where we visited two key cities: Beijing and Shanghai. We were together with other journalists from Davao and Manila. Just like a seasoned journalist, he was able to keep up with the younger ones.

I still have to so many things to say about the man whom I admired since I saw his byline in the now-defunct Asiaweek. But I want to give some space for those who also

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

know him through the years: “Tony is the best writer alive in Davao City today. Our bonding started decades ago when we were college mates in MC now UM. We actually did not encounter each other in campus. We were both boarding in neighboring houses in Ponciano Reyes St. Many mornings we would see each other in the ‘batalans’ of our respective boarding house while washing our clothes. We were both working students. Thinking of those years when Tony’s waistlines and mine were unmistakably undernourished I am awed how it has grown to a rich man’s belly and equaled only by his enormous success. His only daughter Ann is my

11

12 economy

EDGEDAVAO

Smart, Ateneo launch Operation Smile app T he Operation Smile Patient Mapping App, developed

by Smart Communications (Smart) and Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center, is now available as a free download on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The newly enhanced app was launched recently to coincide with the 35th anniversary of Operation Smile and is accessible to anyone with an iOS or Android mobile device, With the theme “Until We Heal,” Operation Smile seeks to eradicate the backlog of cleft lip and palate conditions worldwide through the help of global leaders, influencers and even the youth, such that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines have been tapped to help map patients through the use of the app.

“It was Operation Smile’s 30th anniversary and they wanted to come back here. Through Smart, we met with the doctors involved in the mission and created the first version of the mobile app in 2012.

As technology evolved, we started developing the mobile app in Android and later on, in iOS,” said Christine Amarra, project manager at Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center. “Five years later, here we are,” Amarra added.

The mobile application aims to map cleft patients, digitize their medical information and store it for future reference and further research. Users can simply download the app, create an account, take a

photo of the cleft patient, encode relevant information and save the data. It can also be used without internet connection, but the user has to be online to send the reports to the patient database.

Submitted information will be stored in a central server, which can be accessed by authorized Operation Smile personnel, who will then use the data to locate the patients, digitize their information and track their treatment history.

Operation Smile can also use the information to determine if a city or municipality can be a venue for a medical mission based on the number of cleft lip and palate cases reported in the area.

“The enhanced Operation Smile app will help provide relevant information that can help the foundation roll out medical missions with maximum impact,” said Jill Lava, public affairs manager at Smart. “By having a patient mobile application that people can download for free, anybody can help track patients and aid in mobilizing their treatment.”

Bill Magee, Operation Smile founder and chief executive officer, commended Smart and Ateneo for developing the app. “I think the partnership is spectacular,” Magee said. “It opens up a myriad of opportunities not only for the average person out there but for companies, who can then give it to their consumer base, and say, if you know anybody, in your village, let us know.” (PR)

DCWD resolves setback, daily water rationing back

D

avao City Water District makes good to its promise to the City Mayor that additional water tankers will be deployed to Deca Homes and Emily Homes in Cabantian by March 15, 2017.

However, the 20-tonner water tankers had difficulties maneuvering inside said subdivisions owing to narrow roads. Eventually on March 18, the water tanker provider requested for the cancellation of contract to supply water tankers. Thus, the daily water delivery had to be temporarily alternated between Deca Homes and Emily Homes using DCWD water tanker.

With this circumstance, DCWD had to look for another water tanker provider, which it had contracted on March 20. Water service delivery resumed on same date and will continue on the next days following the schedule earlier announced by DCWD. Again, the DCWD management explains that the

water delivery in the two subdivisions is a temporary measure while the bidding for the lease of tankers to pour 800 cubic meters of water into DCWD Cabantian Reservoir is on process. If the bidding goes smoothly, water supply for Cabantian Water Supply System will be increased by 800 cubic meters daily around third week of April 2017.

Pending this, the 24hour rotational water supply scheme in Cabantian Water Supply System remains in effect alongside the daily water deliveries in Deca Homes and Emily Homes.

For clarifications and other water updates, the general public is advised to visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293), 0927-7988966, 09255113293, and 0908-4410653.

(Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

INFO DRIVE. Party organizers, bar and club owners and managers listen attentively to the presentations of representatives from various agencies of the city government of Davao during an information drive held at Grand Men Seng Hotel on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

IGaCoS wants to develop old wharf at Sasa Km. 11

T

he local government unit of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) is mulling the idea of modernizing the old Davao City-Samal wharf at Kilometer 11 in barangay Sasa which was used by motor boats and launches plying between the island and Davao City. Otherwise, the island city will have to find a new site suited for the purpose.

This was bared by City Councilor Charles Ligan in an interview after the session of the City Council Tuesday morning.

He said that he recently reached out Davao City Councilor and newly-elected PCL national president Danilo Dayanghirang for the development or transfer of the Sasa Onse wharf for lanchas.

The latter committed to immediately work for it thru a “joint project”.

The Sasa Onse wharf for

wooden hauled lanchas has been a subject of complaints from Samal passengers for having narrow, dirty, wet, fish-stinky and “unsafe” alley.

It has been that bad for nearly 20 years, and it is now time to have a developed wharf, Councilor Ligan admitted.

As to the planned ferry boat fare increase from P10 to P20 on Wednesday, it would not push through after Mayor Al David Uy wrote Mae Wess owner Eduardo Bantayan to stay the increase “which was decided

by Marina,” Ligan said.

He added that 10 years ago he and Vice Mayor Orly had arduously worked on for the stoppage of the original plan of increase by Marina.

It was only recently that they discussed the same issues again including the issue of overloading of passengers in Mae Wess ferry boats

DEED OF EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE INTESTATE STATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FLORENCIA LIGTAS CAULIN has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate With Waiver of Rights leaving motor vehicles executed among her heirs, per Doc. No.232; Page No.47; Book No. CCXV; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC LEO J. CORDOVA 3/15,22,29

which earned strict measures from the Coast Guard.

During the session, the City Council moved to amend its earlier resolution naming Development Bank of the Philippines as the bank from which the City Government will borrow P150 million to initially fund the construction of the new City Hall at sitio Mag, Penaplata.

The SP finance committee chaired by Councilor Ligan and the legal committee chaired by Michael Robledo recommended the Land Bank of the Philippines to source the loan being more beneficial and advantageous to the City Government.

Ligan added that Land Bank has offered 4.5 percent interest rate, which is lower than the usual 5 percent.

On the other hand, earlier in the session, the supposed third and final reading of the ordinance amending

City Ordinance 2013-223 on Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of IGACOS has to be moved on the next week’s season following question of Councilor Ligan on the designated smoking area provision in the amendment proposed by Councilor Robledo.

Lugan said that the designated smoking area should be put in place and the “100 meters away” provision might have the designated areas encroached on private property, making the ordinance difficult to implement.

Ligan said he observed that smokers in the City Hall just smoke hiding in the corners, adding that a vacant area within the City Hall or in any beach that passed the standards might just be the designated smoking area than having all violate the ordinance.- Cha Monforte, Correspondent

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF STATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FLORENCIA LIGTAS CAULIN has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate With Waiver of Rights executed among her heirs, per 233; Page No.47; Book No. CCXV; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC LEO J. CORDOVA 3/15,22,29

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A2

EVENT

Beauty and the Beast on IMAX wows Dabawenyos Special guests were treated to a magical night by Disney, SM Lanang Premier and the SM Cinema last March 14 at the IMAX premiere screening of the much anticipated live-action movie adaptation of the Disney fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.

The screening happened 2 days in advance of the regular movie showing date.

Guests walked on the red carpet leading to photo spots with an installation featuring the movie’s rose iconic rose in a glass case and the castle stairway.

Aron Dalaza, SM’s group brand manager, welcomed the guests in a short program prior to the movie screening. Dalaza said that the same premiere screening was also being held simultaneously in SM Seaside

NOW SHOWING

March 20 – 21, 2017

LOGAN Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

R16

1:15 | 4:05 | 6:55 | 9:45 LFS

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Cebu. It is the first Disney movie premiere screening that Mindanao is hosting.

Kids and the kids-at-heart alike were delighted with the film starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast in the quaintly nostalgic re-telling of the 1991 animated movie of how two rather peculiar characters fall in love. The guests were also able to enjoy the movie in 3D and see 26% more image, compared to non-IMAX platform. SM Lanang Premier houses the only IMAX theater in Mindanao.

The movie is available in 2D, 3D and IMAX. For screening schedules and reservations at SM cinemas, moviegoers can visit SM Cinema website or call (082) 2850943 for SM Lanang Premier and (082) 297-6998 for SM City Davao.

Park Inn by Radisson Davao receives Gold Circle Award from Agoda.com Park Inn by Radisson Davao bags this year’s Gold Circle Award from Agoda.com, one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites. The award is given to accommodation partners who work closely with agoda to go above and beyond the standard internet offering. The selection criteria to determine award recipients include consistently glowing customer reviews; competitive pricing in the

Emma Watson, Dan Stevens Guaranteed Seating & One Time View ing Only

G

11:20 | 2:00 | 4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

GET OUT Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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11:45 | 1:45 | 3:45 | 5:45 | 7:45 | 9:45 LFS

KONG: SKULL ISLAND Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

PG

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

marketplace; diligent utilization of Agoda’s custom-built YCS (Yield Control System); and a willingness to work with agoda to create faster, easier bookings worldwide.

Just last February 23, 2017, Park Inn by Radisson Davao was recognized for this award for the year 2016.

Hotel Manager, Ms. Emelyn Rosales, expresses her delight over the

good news. “The entire management and team are elated with this recognition. It indicates that we are following the right track in meeting guest expectations. Customer focus is our main objective, together with value for money.”

Visit www.parkinn.com/hotel-davao for more information on the hotel’s facilities and special offers.

A3 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

STYLE

Simply Shoes opens in Tagum

By KENNETH IRVING ONG Shoe lovers in Tagum City now have a mecca with the opening of Simply Shoes at CitiMall Tagum. An affiliate of SM Retail, Simply Shoes goes back to SM’s roots as it offers a one-stop shoe store offering a wide assortment of shoe selections for women, men, and children. Simply Shoes carries an assortment of brands, both for everyday and special occasions including SM’s iconic Parisian brand, which offers trendy yet affordable footwear and bags for the ladies. Solemate completes the casual get-up with its collection of fabulous flats.

For men, Simply Shoes carries Milanos, SM’s trendy shoe line, as well as Easy Soft, Duralite, Islander, Toeberries, Beachwalk, Sprint and Kicks for the active and casual lifestyle. There are also Grab Bags, Summit backpack and Salvatorre Mann Bags.

Kids also have their fair share of feet candy with an assortment of shoe styles from Sugar Kids, Tough Kids, Sofia the First, Avengers, Planet and Spiderman.

Simply Shoes’ Tagum store is the 24th store of the chain. Aside from the Tagum store, Simply Shoes will be opening a store in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro on the 3rd quarter of the year and stores in Dipolog, Laman, Ozamis, Zamboanga and Surigao by the end of the year, bringing more shoe choices to more Filipinos.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A4

EVENT WHEN A1

others. The list was headed by Police Chief Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa and Assemblyman Khadafi Mangudadatu. Then, there was Judge Rufino Ferraris, Board Member King Jazzer Mangudadatu, Mayor Marop Ampatuan, and Superintendent Matthew Baccay.

Since Bobbet is the dean of law of Jose Maria College, it was not surprising that a number of them were lawyers, too: Atty. Henry Aquende, Att. Abubakar Catambak, Atty. Yasser Lumbas, Atty.

Benito Dangaso, Atty. Victoriano Alabastro, Atty. Allan Lozare, Atty, Julian Soriano. Atty. Rene Alexis Villarente, Atty. Julius Francie Rizada, Atty. Khalil Paolo Elbanbuena, Atty. Harvey Cardeo, and Atty. Salvador Diputado.

The rest of the male godparents: Teodato Parpan, John Oropeza, Robert Soriano, John Togonon, Christlamb Rae Vicente, Elben Pang, Zandro Torreon, Dr. John Greg Ramos, Joselito Arancan, Peter Laturgo, and Felix Esperanza.

The female godparents, howev-

er, were outnumbered. There were five lawyers listed: Atty. Jacqueline Garcia, Atty. Dimpna Dulay, Atty.

Rseci Angelli Rizada, Atty. Gen-

evieve Paulino, and Atty. Imelda Scheider.

There were also two doctors: Dr. Brenda Villegas and Dr. Karen

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

Padilla. The rest of female godparents: Marivic Paulo-Villaraiz, June Genevieve Sebastian, Jean Dayaganon, Pearl Angel Canada, Sarah Jean Entring, Bernice Piñol, Clerr Spenceley, Alleah Duay, Isabel Esperanza, Jowena Lagumbay, Gaye Cañete, and Hilda Bacalso.

To end this piece, allow me to quote the words spoken in the movie, When Harry Met Sally: “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

16

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2016 must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction scheduled stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang SAN PEDRO RSY, AGDAO RSY, G-MALL DIAMOND BY: RSY, TAGUM DIAMOND PALACE., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag expired sa bulan sa DESYEMBRE , 2016. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga alas 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES AUCTION DATE SAN PEDRO APRIL 15, 2017

TEL. NOS. 227-2465

AGDAO

APRIL 15, 2017

321-4480

G-MALL

APRIL 15, 2017

282-2951

TAGUM

APRIL 15, 2017

546-9524

Groups... FROM 1

NEWS17

coconut farmers and rejected efforts of some quarters pushing for the privatization of the coco levy fund,” Moico said.

He added that farmers’ groups reached an agreement for the declaration of the coco levy fund as a Genuine Small Coconut Farmers Trust Fund and the creation of a Small Coconut Farmers Council that will manage the fund.

“Coconut farmers are the rightful owners and benefi-

ciaries of the coco levy fund.

Coconut farmers have clear proposals on the return and utilization of the coco levy fund. The PCA or even Malacanang do not have the right to make their own decisions on how the fund shall be utilized,” he emphasized.

The groups said they will continue their strong nationwide efforts to demand the return of the coco fund.

Andal on Tuesday down-

played allegations of corruption, adding that he would continue to assume his duties and functions despite the issuance of board resolution for his preventive suspension.

The resolution, he said, did not follow procedural due process as it has yet to be confirmed during the PCA board regular meeting.

The PCA board regular meeting is set on March 22, Wednesday.

ical missions and emergency response teams at Northern Mindanao’s regional health office and was one of the early responders to care for patients affected by Typhoon Pablo in Boston, Davao Oriental; the Nunungan Ambush in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, and the MILF standoff in Zamboanga City. While in Sapad, Perlas had successfully lobbied for the renovation of the old rural health unit, which was also granted equipment, supplies and medicine.

Dr. Sanchez, a surgeon, has earned the moniker “Doctor on Wheels” for his innovative Mobile Surgical Unit. For the past 10 years, he has led monthly medical-surgical missions in many underserved areas in the country, performing various types of surgery for free.

Dr. Mata meanwhile has helped curb the rise in dengue cases in the country with his nationwide health education

seminars and workshops for health workers and community leaders.

An outspoken advocate for the sin tax reform law and the inclusion of graphic health warnings in cigarette packages, Dr. Dorotheo has been actively involved in various global campaigns for tobacco control.

A specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology, Dr. Isip-Tan’s expertise in health informatics has helped her harness the social media to promote health literacy and positive health-seeking behavior among the public.

The first and biggest medical sorority in the Philippines and in Asia, the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority will be recognized for its various projects for indigent patients. It has also promoted various health education campaigns, among them the Women Empowerment and Literacy through Health Education (WEALTH).

Dr. Guirnela-Go will be commended for the public education forums she has helped organize in her hometown in Oroquieta City, as well as other towns in Misamis Occidental, under the auspices of the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases, (FLEHD) Inc., while popular broadcast journalist Castañeda will be given a special citation for her strong advocacy for a healthy lifestyle and other health-promotion programs.

The Hepatology Society of the Philippines will also be cited for effectively addressing the lack of public knowledge on Hepatitis B, which has led to misconceptions that cause stigma for those who carry the virus, and to delayed treatment leading to liver cancer and endstage liver disease.

Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial will deliver the keynote address during the awarding ceremony. (PNA)

Slain... FROM 2

18 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Premier mall bags Lunhaw Award L

ast March 17, SM Lanang Premier was awarded a Lunhaw award for its sustainability program. The mall was recognized for its permeable pavements and parking spaces and was cited for the Green Building category. The ceremony was held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City.

SM Lanang Premier is the second SM mall in the city. It opened in September of 2012 with green operations considered in its design and architecture. The permeable pavers applied in its open parking and the open grounds minimizes rainwater runoff. The feature also allows rainwater to infiltrate underground. Further, it

helps maintain natural ecosystem permitting grass to grow in the paver gaps.

Apart from the permeable pavements, the premier mall’s building is also designed to be energy efficient with its utilization of skylights and louvered shades. Vestibules, exterior finish system and aluminum composite panels also help in the mall in minimizing energy consumption. The mall operates with a variable speed drive and focus enterprise activation system for its air conditioning system, and utilizes LED and compact fluorescent lamps which further promote energy conservation.

The mall practices proper

solid waste management and conducts the regular Trash to Cash recycling market fair every first Friday and Saturday of the month. Water is conserved with the mall’s sewage water treatment facility, allowing the mall to re-use 70-80% of its wastewater for its cooling tower and toilet flushing.

“It is SM’s mission to be a socially responsible corporate citizen, by ensuring environmental sustainability thru various programs on energy, water and air conservation,” mall manager Therese Lapeña-Manalo shares.

Its sister mall, SM City Davao, has also won numerous awards for its green initia-

tives including the WWF Best Environment-Friendly Practices in 2009, Lunhaw Award Green Building Award in 2014, and the Don Emilio Abello energy efficiency award which made the malls’ program an official entry to the ASEAN Energy Awards.

Earlier in the year, SM Aura Premier received the prestigious LEED Gold certification after meeting the standards set by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). SM Aura achieved LEED Gold by following and exceeding international standards in indoor air quality, thermal comfort, as well as energy and water efficiency. (PR)

LUNHAW AWARD. SM Lanang Premier Mall manager Therese LapeñaManalo and building administration officer Ed Plasus at the Lunhaw Award ceremony. (SM Photo)

Aboitiz Cleanergy Park recognized by LGU Davao

T

he Aboitiz-owned outdoor biodiversity Cleanergy Park, which is jointly managed by Davao Light and Power Co., Inc and the Aboitiz Foundation Inc., was given a recognition by the City Government of Davao last March 13, 2017 during the Pasidungog: Garbo sa Dabaw at the Royal Mandaya Hotel,

Davao City.

The recognition was given to the Aboitiz for its invaluable and unwavering support to the City Government of Davao in the field of Environment and Beautification through the Cleanergy Park. Also, the park has been considered as an essential partner in the development of the city of

Davao.

Shown in photo (from left to right) are City Environment and Natural Resources Department Head Elisa Madrazo, City Administrator Atty.

Zuleika Lopez, Davao Light and Power Co.’s AVP for Retail Services Group Arnold Arsolon and Community Relations Manager Fermin Edillon. (PR)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

SPORTS 19

EDGEDAVAO

Ramirez: Real gold mine in Children’s Games for OSYs

P

CEREMONIAL BALL. Mans Carpio led the ceremonial toss before the Alab Pilipas- BLOCK. Alab Pilipinas Lawrence Domingo blocks Hong Kong Eastern HK Eastern Long Lions game at USEP Gym, Davao City on Sunday night. Contributed Long Lions’ Marcus Elliot during the ABL regular season game at USEP photo Gym, Davao City on Sunday night. Contributed photo

Malacanang Kamao bares line-up

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

M

njb@edgedavao.net

alacanang Kamao bared its complete line-up on Tuesday for the 80th Araw ng Davao Inter-Commercial Basketball League which gets going on Thursday.

Team coordinator Asssistant Secretary Joseph Encabo submitted the team’s line-up to tournament director Cholo Elegino as the sixth team in the short but highly competitive league that runs from March 23-26.

6-9 import Jimmy Brown will lead the squad along with 6-8 ex-pro Mark Andaya to

S

even years ago, the Davao City National High School(DCNHS) School Sports Development Program was launched by national games campaigner-turned-teacher Jose Alther Rivera and his team of educator-athletes.

Their program is designed to provide opportunities to student-athletes for academic development while being in sports, teach them value formation, enhance their talent and skills of their chosen sports discipline and once identified, mold them to become top-caliber athletes.

form the squad’s twin tower combination at the slot.

Completing the line-up are 6-4 Arden Guiyab, 6-4 Ian Vincent Garrido, 5-9 Michael Ignario, 6-1 Roverick Abalos, 5-7 Mc Jour Luib, 6-2 Eric Dela Cuesta, 6-0 Visnu Das Javier, 6-5 Macapagal Mercado, , 6-0 Rocy Acidre, 6-4 John Michael Jimenez, 5-9 Gerry Gadong, and 6-3 Norberto Farochillen. Also in the lineup are Secretary Bong Go and Presidential Assistant for Sports Glenn Escandor.

The coaching staff will be headed by Luis Jose Gonzalez

with assistants Rafael Esteban Gonzalez, Melvin Verches, Romano Felix Fernandez, and Aljabez Ogahayon.

Defending champion The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO De La Salle University Green Archers will be the top favorite with tough challenge coming from UAAP squads University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and National University Bulldogs, Montana Pawnshop of Davao and Pacman Warriors of Gen. Santos City.

DLSU, the reigning UAAP champions hot town on Tues-

day, two days before the start of the tournament to be held at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The tournament, which will be free to the public, will have two groups playing single round robin. The top teams after the eliminations square off for the championship.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas 11 under SBP Board of Trustee member and Presidential Assistant for Sports Glenn Escandor.

Clean slate

too. First you have to hurdle your academic requirements and keep yourself 100 percent ready for the tournaments.

Rivera, who is a proud Holy Cross of Davao College Crusader and one of the best athletes Davao City has ever produced, thought of this program, it’s all because he himself has experienced the pains and gains of being a student-athlete.

This is a noble task of preparing high school student-athletes in a public school where many of them cannot simply afford to buy original sports shoes de-

hilippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez on Monday said that the Davao Children’s Games for out-ofschool youths (OSYs), which will be launched here in April as part of the national sports agency’s Mindanao Sports for Peace program, is the real “gold mine”.

Ramirez, in a meeting with Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) Davao coordinators at a local restaurant, said the Sports for Peace program that he started sometime in 2008 through the Mindanao Children’s Games will be relaunched here and will have stops in Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City and Zamboanga Peninsula.

“Mao ning klaro nga gold mine dili ang Olympics. Diri klaro atong gold, mareporma ang mga bata og mainspire nato sila nga mueskwela kay ang mga out-of-school youths mao ni sila ang mga future kidnappers, robbers and criminals.

Ang Sports for Peace kay apil sa atong anti-drug education program, atong tabangan ang mga kabatan-onan nga mulikay sa mga bisyo. Pinaagi ani, mahimo nato ang gusto ni President nga di makalimtan ang mga pobre, muabot sa mga komunidad ang tinuod nga grassroots development (This is the real gold mine not the Olympics. The gold is clear by means of reforming the children and inspiring them to go to school and study since these are the future kidnappers, robbers and criminals. The Sports for Peace is part of our anti-drugs campaign in helping kids do away with vices like illegal drugs. Through this, we will accomplish what President Rodrigo R. Duterte wanted to remember the poor and bring

sports development in the grassroots),” the PSC chief said.

In the Davao series, Ramirez said basketball, volleyball and running events will be featured as well as Bisaya Dabaw oratorical contest.

“We will ask policemen to coach the teams and officiate the games. We will also invite the Church, the City Mayor’s Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) and Association of the Barangay Captains, athletic directors, and coordinate with them to make the Children’s Games a success,” he said, adding that 20 barangays will be identified with the help of the ABC to participate in the inaugural edition of the sportsfest for 13 years old and below OSYs. Oration participants will also be provided with coaches.

Free shirts and shorts will be provided as well as meals and transportation subsidy for barangay teams. No cash prizes will be given, according to Ramirez, but they are considering giving away mobile phones, among other items, aside from a tour to Malacañang or at the Presidential Guest House in Panacañang here.

He added that meeting President Duterte will be a bonus for the children.

The Sports for Peace is part of PSC’s grassroots development program that supports the human development, anti-poverty alleviation and anti-drug programs of the Duterte administration.

Ramirez is eyeing to hold the opening ceremonies at the Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents or at a public barangay park or gym.

SPORTS FOR PEACE. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, addressing representatives of Mindanao local government units (LGUs) during a Directional Meeting at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites in Davao City last March 16, is bent on relaunching the Mindanao Sports for Peace program through the Davao Children’s Games in April. PHILIPPINE SPORTS INSTITUTE photo

Support the City High Sports program

So far, City High has produced medalists in the Cebu Batang Pinoy National Games like Dave Torres and Roshua Daclan, silver and bronze, respectively, in dancesports, or John Lloyd Cananon and Daphne Bactor, gold and silver winers in arnis, plus a team silver in girl’s volleyball.

Having the biggest population among public schools, City High has the advantage of identifying and selecting potential national athletes.

But this is not an easy undertaking. That is why I would like to commend the

By Moses P. Billacura builders of the program, specially the coaches for having the dedication of taking care of student-athletes. On the part of the athlete, it is not an easy task

signed for high level competitions.

For those who will survive the program, luckily, sports directors from the university and colleges are actually always on the lookout for outstanding high school student-athletes for recruitment to the program. I’m not being biased but if you happen to be recruited to the University of Mindanao sports program, you’ll be one lucky student-athlete.

Anyway, should there be any business owners, companies willing to help the high school sports pro-

gram, please call Mr.Rivera at 0929-176-6869. You’ll not just be exercising corporate citizenship but believe, they will forever be grateful specially their families.

Ahh, reminds me of the Davao City Sports Council Inc. What have they been doing these days?

My snappy salute to the teachers and supporters of the City High sports program. *** Happy birthdays to Grace Plata, Al Pepito, and to idol Jasper Huang’s wife Maricel.

20 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 281 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

WORLD NO. 1 Fil-Am fencer Lee Kiefer is now world no.1

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

ANOTHER GOLD. Lee signals two for her second straight Grand Prix title.

F

ilipi no-American fencer Lee Kiefer became the first US women’s foil fencer to earn a world no. 1 ranking after winning the gold medal at the Absolute Fencing Gear FIE Grand Prix Long Beach on Saturday.

The 22-year old Kiefer, daughter of a Dabawenya doctor Teresa Orpilla and neurosurgeon Steve Kiefer, reached the unprecedented feat with her fourth consecutive Grand Prix medal and third straight international podium finish.

The two-time Olympian moved past erstwhile no. 1 and archrival Arianna Errigo of Italy.

With three international titles and six medals within the last 12 months, Kiefer’s latest gold medal allowed her to move past the 2012 Olympic silver medalist.

The Fil-Am foilist has an impressive record of two Olympic stints, three NCAA titles, six Pan-Am titles and now, four Grand Prix titles.

Although Kiefer and Errigo did not fence each other in Long Beach, Kiefer now holds a 2-1 record against the seven-time Senior World Champion in their last three meetings with wins against Errigo at both the Shanghai and Havana Grand Prix tournaments in 2016.

“Besides an Olympic medal, obtaining a world number one ranking has always been my dream,” said Kiefer in an interview with Fencing USA. She won a bronze medal at the Senior World Championships in 2011 as the second U.S. women’s foil fencer in history to reach the individual podium at the event.

“I remember when the U.S. Foil Team was the youngest team with a lot of talent.

It was hard to image the day that we would reach our potential and be the people to beat,” she said.

“Lee now Ranks #1 in the

RISING TO THE TOP. Lee Kiefer (second from left) at the top tier of the podium.

World! Congratulations for the historical results you did for yourself and team USA! Thanks to Lee and everyone who helped make this happen. Its a dream come true!,” coach Amgad Abd El-Halim Khazbak posted on Facebook moments after Kiefer’s triumph.

Kiefer’s aunt and avid supporter in Davao, Dr. Janice Bacani-Carandang, told Edge Davao: “Your Davao family is very proud of you Lee! You just keep doing one amazing thing after another.

We thought then that you already reached the peak when you competed in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games and we cheered you on from halfway across the globe.

But turns out you are destined for more- and now you’re ranked #1 in the world and at the top of your game! Couldn’t be prouder. We give you the same support and love we always gave. We’re always closely following your career.

Keep reaching for the stars.”

Kiefer is one of only a handful of Americans to reach the top position in the world and joins Alexander Massialas who holds the World No. 1 for men’s foil.

“I am very honored to be among fencers with such amazing accomplishments. I finally feel some satisfaction with my fencing but know that I still have a lot of work to do,” Kiefer said.

For Kiefer — whose mother, Teresa (a psychiatrist), immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines as a child — fencing is family affair: Her older sister Alexandra fenced while attending Harvard University and is a former NCAA champion, while younger brother Axel is currently on the men’s foil team at Notre Dame. Kiefer’s father, Steve, a neurosurgeon, once headed the fencing

team at Duke University.

In addition to Kiefer’s ascent to the top of the world rankings, the latest FIE lists have five fencers from four continents holding the top position.

While Kiefer and Massialas are the top foilists in the world, the epee positions are held by Sara Besbes (TUN) and Sanyoung Park (KOR). The No. 1 saberists are Yana Egorian (RUS) and Junghwan Kim (KOR).