Edge Davao 9 Issue 20

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

FROM THE PEAK. A portion of the country’s highest peak, Mt. Apo, shows that the fire started near the peak and cascaded down as shown by the dark patches in this photo taken yesterday by freelance photographer Tomas Inigo Jr.

BELLO QUITS PARTY-LIST To focus on Duterte presidential campaign

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

-BAP party-list representative Silvestre H. Bello III has resigned from his candidacy as No. 1 nominee of 1-AHAPO, a party-list supporting presidential aspirant vice president Jejomar Binay, to focus on campaigning for presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

In a press briefing yesterday, Bello said he gave up his position as one of the nominees of the party-list to help the campaign of Duterte in Lu-

zon areas.

“Kailangan ng ating bansa si Mayor Duterte dahil sa buong Pilipinas, marami sa mga Pilipino na sanay na sa gutom, sanay na kumain ng isang beses sa isang araw. Pero hindi sila sanay sa problema ng kriminalidad, hindi sila sanay sa problema ng droga at hindi sila sanay sa problema ng katiwalian (Our country needs Mayor Duterte because most of the Filipinos are already used to hunger or to eat once a day.

But, these people are not used to the problems of criminality, illegal drugs and corruption),” he said.

Bello said the people wants a leader like Duterte who has a political will to fight criminality, illegal drugs and corruption.

He said Duterte can give hope to the people who wants to end the top problems of country such criminality, illegal drugs and corruption.

Bello said he is support-

ing Duterte because he is just paying his debt of gratitude to the people of Davao City who gave him the seat in the House of Representatives as nominee of 1-BAP party-list. He said the party-list he represented got majority of the votes in Davao City.

“It is high time that I pay back to Davao during the 2013 election because without the vote of the city I would not be a congressman,” he said.

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Fire contained, blaze continues AT A GLANCE: * Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur fire contained by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and other fire volunteers around 1:00 p.m. * No fire out declaration yet, some areas are still affected * Super Huey helicopter poured only 10 buckets because of the strong winds * Total damaged areas as of Day 5: 350 hectares

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ESCUERS yesterday declared the fires in Mt. Apo have been contained but the blaze continue in some areas.

This was bared yesterday by Davao del Sur Provincial Risk Reduction Management officer Harry Chester Camoro.

Camoro told EDGE Davao over the phone, the fire in the area in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur was already contained by the

Philippine Air Force (PAF) and other fire volunteers around 1:00 p.m.

“We are not declaring fire out because we believe that there are still fire in some areas,” he said.

He said during the aerial survey in the area, the team saw another fire within the boundary between Sta. Cruz and Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

UPGRADE. Linemen from the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) transfer the powerlines from the old concrete poles to the new steel posts in Bo. Pampanga, Lanang as part of the company’s upgrading of facilities around Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

P19M in emergency loan to GSIS members, pensioners in Davao Or

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OVERNMENT Service Insurance System (GSIS) allotted close to PHP19 million in emergency loan for its active members and old-age pensioners affected by typhoon Onyok in Caraga, Davao Oriental.

The 129 active members who have no existing emergency loan may borrow PHP20,000, while the 391 active members who still have a loan balance are eligible to a PHP40,000 loan, from which the outstanding balance of their previous emergency loan will be deducted.

Qualified to apply are active members working or residing in Caraga who are not on leave of absence without

pay, are updated in premium contributions, and have no unpaid loan amortizations in the last six months. Also eligible to apply for the loan are old-age pensioners who are residing in the calamity areas .

The deadline for application is April 7.

Active members may apply through any GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosk located in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; 27 Robinsons Malls; and SM City branches in North Edsa, Ma-

F P19M, 10

Labor sector pitches security of tenure bill

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HE labor sector called on senatorial and party-list candidates to present a clear labor agenda to address contractualization in the private and public sectors during the Forum to Address Precarious Work backto-back with a Dialogue with Senatorial and Party-List Candidates Wednesday in Quezon City.

The forum seeks to map out strategies on how to address the continuously eroding job security of government and private sector employees and to examine the platforms of senatorial and party-list

candidates.

“Top-most in our agenda is the eradication of contractualization and the passage of the Security of Tenure Bill which has been languishing in both houses of congress for such a long time,” said Edwin Bustillos, Sectoral Representative of the National Anti-Poverty Commission’s Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sectoral Council.

“We wish to hear their position on this matter and ask their commitment for its quick and early passage,” he added.

The situation of the work-

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DOT may cancel Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 is considering the cancellation of the annual Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur next month following the forest fires in the mountain range areas which started last Saturday.

In yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, DOT 11 regional director Roberto

Alabado III said as soon as the fire will be contained, his office will assess the situation whether it is still viable to continue or cancel the activity.

“If it is deemed unsafe for our participants then, we have no choice because we are always for the safety of our participants,” he said.

Alabado said aside from the Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, the DOT is supposed to hold a climb mara-

thon in the country’s highest peak as part of the Visit Davao Fun Sale activity.

“Mt. Apo is an icon of our tourism industry here in Davao Region that is why in the Visit Davao Fun Sale we planned to have two activities in the area,” he said.

Alabado also said he is studying the possibility of recommending to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) -

Protected Areas and Wildlife Management Bureau (Pambi) the temporary closure of the trails in Davao Region to give way to rehabilitation.

“We are also looking at the safety of our climbers because there was a forest fire.

There might be some areas that maybe dangerous to our climbers,” he said.

There are three trails identified in the Davao Re-

inquest proceedings before the City Prosecution Office yesterday for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The suspect was arrested by the operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office (PDEA) 11 , Task Force Davao and Toril Police Station in a checkpoint operation in Sirawan around 2:00

p.m. of MArch 29.

During the conduct of inspection of the suspect, the personnel of Task Force Davao seiized from the possession of the suspect the ¼ kilo of shabu with an estimated value of P2,250,000.

The PDEA tagged Nery as one of the elusive drug perpetrators operating in Davao Region.

The suspect is now detained at PDEA 11 detention facility.

Earlier, Paolo C. Egot of

Purok 3, Isla Verde, Brgy. 31D, was arrested in the checkpoint carrying 80 grams of shabu worth P720,000 on the evening of March 24.

Last March 31, Renz Nicole N. Tuban of San Vicente Buhangin,was also arrested in the checkpoint carrying 200 grams of suspected “shabu” worth P1.8 million.

The PDEA classified Tuban, in their report, as one of the big time drug perpetrators operating in the region.

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

F DOT, 10

Another big-time drug suspect arrested with P2.25-M shabu A

BIG-TIME drug suspect in Davao Region is now facing charges after he was intercepted at the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril, Davao City carrying shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride ) worth P2.25 million on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as Ante Q. Nery alias Waray, 35, driver and a resident of San Antonio, Crossing Matina, Davao City.

Nery was submitted for

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

9 ex-rebels get P400T for surrendering arms

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INE former New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in Davao Del Sur received Tuesday PHP405,000 in checks under the government’s firearm remuneration program or the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said the handover of the checks and weapons was held at Arnaldo’s Hotel in Digos City.

The rebel beneficiaries were Rodanny Ansudo, who was got PHP58,000 for turning over a serviceable AK-47 automatic rifle; Banases Mariano, PHP2,000 for surrendering a .357 revolver; Odoy Malbino, PHP45,000

for an M-16 automatic rifle and Bening Mental, PHP30,000 for one M-1 Garand carbine.

All of these men surrendered to troops of the 73rd Infantry Battalion.

While the five other ex-rebel beneficiaries who surrendered to the 39th Infantry Battalion were Roger Parasa, got PHP60,000 after he surrendered an M-14 rifle; Charlie Pasco, PHP60,000 for another M-14, while Roy Parasa, Cornelio Mampo and Guillier Ombaoy, got PHP50,000 for turning over their M-16 automatic rifles.

The amount given depends on the type and serviceability of the weapons, Batchar said. (PNA)

OLICE operatives in Sultan Kudarat province arrested 31 suspected illegal drug pushers and users in a “One Time Big Time” operation on Tuesday.

Sr. Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, Sultan Kudarat police director, said Wednesday they launched the simultaneous anti-drug operations at dawn in the municipalities of Palimbang, Lebak, Kalamansig, Isulan, Senator Nino Aquino, Esperanza and in Tacurong City.

He said the operations were backed by operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 12 and troops from the 5th Marine Battalion Landing Team.

The official said they recovered during the raids some 220 sachets of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, 12 assorted firearms, assorted ammunition, a grenade and six undocumented motorcycles.

The seized firearms comprised four caliber .45 handguns, three caliber .38 pistols, three improvised pistols, an Uzi sub-machine gun and a 9mm pistol, he said.

“This is our biggest accomplishment in line with the One Time Big Time operations that we launched since January,” Peralta told reporters.

The official said they launched the operation in line with their enhanced anti-criminality campaign as mandated by the Philippine National Police central office and the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12.

Prior to the operation, he said their personnel conducted a series of briefings, evaluation and validation of the targets in coordination with the PDEA-12.

He said they were able to secure at least 35 search warrants, with illegal drugs as the main objective.

“Most of our targets are

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

FOR THE COUNTRY. 1-BAP Partylist representative Silvestre H. Bello III explains to a group of local media the reason behind his withdrawal as the number one nominee of 1-AHAPO Partylist in the May 9 elections for

representative to the House of Representatives in a press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

31 drug pushers, Barangay officials barred users arrested from partisan political events P T

F 31 DRUG, 10

HE Commission on Elections on Tuesday reminded elected barangay officials to refrain from engaging in partisan political activities during the campaign period for the May 9 polls.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista noted that the law provides that barangay officials must be non-partisan and must not support any political party.

“The law is clear on that aspect. They have to follow the law, mainly the Local Government Code. They should be neutral in the way they provide services to their constituents. And they are not supposed to belong to any political party,” he said in a press conference.

Bautista warned that they are prepared to imple-

ment the law if there are barangay officials that will be found engaging in such activities.

“If it is a criminal charge, then the Comelec is ready to take charge,” he added.

The poll body chief explained that elected barangay officials are not among the officers and employees that are considered as occupying political offices.

Those exempted are the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, as well as elected provincial, city, and municipal officials as they are considered as occupying political offices.

Meanwhile, the Comelec and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Tuesday signed a Joint Memorandum Circular which reminds civil servants that they are not al-

lowed to participate in partisan political activities.

According to CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala the prohibition covers all civil servants in all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the government, including government-owned and –controlled corporations.

“Civil servants are mandated by law to uphold political neutrality in the conduct of our duties during election season,” she said.

Likewise covered by the prohibition are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“An official or employees on leave of absence are still covered by the prohibition on electioneering,” she added.

Plane hijacker’s‘suicide belt’ made up of phone batteries

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MT. APO FIRE UPDATE. Philippine Air Force-Tactical Operations Group (PAF-TOG) 2 deputy commanding officer Lt. Col. Jose Ritchie Pabilonia gives updates on the Mount Apo forest fire and the efforts being undertaken by

the authorities. Pabilonia graced yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

Bautista said violations of the said prohibition is tantamount to committing an election offense, which carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification to hold public office.

“We are supposed to be an independent constitutional commission. We don’t want to be seen as picking on particular government officials or employees. Our neutrality also may be questioned.

So, as much as possible, we would act on complaint if there are ones filed with our respective offices,” he said.

Bala added that administrative sanctions may also be meted with a penalty of one to six month suspension for the first offense and dismissal from service for second offense. (PNA)

HE vest worn by a man who hijacked an EgyptAir plane to Larnaca airport was made of mobile phone batteries and covers in a way to look like a suicide belt, Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said on Tuesday after the hijack incident was over.

The hijacker had branded the belt and threatened the pilot of the Airbus-320 to blow up the plane, demanding to be taken to Istanbul after it took off from Alexandria for an internal flight to Cairo.

But the pilot had to request an emergency landing at Larnaca early in the morning as it was running out of fuel, Kasoulides said.

He added that the hijacker, named by Egyptian authorities as Saif el Din Mustafa had again threatened to blow up his sup-

posed suicide belt in the afternoon if the authorities refused his demand to refuel the plane to fly to Istanbul.

“When he was told that his demand would not be met he decided to surrender,” Kasoulides said.

He added that by that time authorities were aware that the hijacking was not a terrorist act and that the man making the threats was “a psychologically unstable person.”

The hijacker had passed through the police a letter to his Cypriot ex-wife, the mother of their four children, saying that he wanted the release of 60 women prisoners in Egypt.

But government spokesman said that his real motives will be known when the long letter is translated from Arabic and is examined carefully.

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4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Former rebels receive government assistance

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Rommel Lambas makes a living by weaving baskets in his house in Sitio Matti, Barangay Binaton, Digos City in this photo taken on March 28, 2016. He finishes at least three baskets in one day which he sells for 150 pesos each. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO

IFTEEN New People’s Army (NPA) rebels from various areas of the province go back to the folds of the law and receive cash and livelihood assistance from the national and provincial government of Comval.

The 15 rebel returnees were presented by Colonel Macairog Alberto, commander of the 1001st Infantry Pagasa Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to Vice Governor Manuel E. Zamora representing Governor Arturo T. Uy during the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) at the Social Hall, Capitol building on March 22.

Each of the rebel returnees received P5,000 as immediate cash assistance, food packs and other materials such as mosquito nets, blankets and others, for their respective families.

The rebel returnees were

also given temporary shelter by the provincial government, meals and other livelihood assistance through a “half way village” somewhere in Nabunturan.

Vice Governor Zamora urged the rebel returnees to completely abandon armed struggle and to become productive members of their respective communities and hoping that this will encourage others.

“Salamat nga inyong gireplayan akong pag sampit kaninyo, salamat pud sa pag testing unsay kinabuhi sa gobyerno kay nalipay ko nga nagbalik-loob mo kay makita ninyo nga kaming naa sa gobyerno kanunay nagalantaw sa inyung kaayohan,” Zamora told the returnees in his message.

Provincial Director PSSUPT Albert Ignatius D. Ferro said Filipinos, whether from the government or rebel sides, have been fighting for

O address concerns over increasing difficulty in finding pastures for livestock amid continuing drought, the provincial government of South Cotabato is training farmers on silage-making.

Silage-making, OIC Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Flora Bigot explained, is the process of preparing and storing fodder that can be fed to carabaos, cattle and other ruminants in lieu of traditional fresh grasses, especially during long dry spells.

She said the initiative to train farmers on silage-making is an upshot of clamor among farmers whose usual pasture fields are turning brown because of the drought that started last November.

This condition, she added, is expected to persist for months based on the estimates of DOST-PAGASA that indicated that the current El Nino will continue until June, this year.

“We are training farmers on preparing dried rice

straws, corn stalks and similar materials and mixing these with molasses, which will be fed to animals,” Dr. Bigot said.

The first training was conducted on Monday (March 28) for farmers in Banga followed by training of farmers in Polomolok on Tuesday and farmers in Norala on Wednesday (March 30).

Training team will proceed to Koronadal City (April 1), Sto. Nino (April 4), Tampakan (April 5), Surallah and Tboli (April 6), Tupi (April 7), Lake Sebu (April 8) and Tantangan (April 11).

Each training involves 40 farmers, at least two farmer-leaders per barangay, the provincial veterinarian added.

“These farmer-leaders are under obligation to train other farmers in their respective villages on making of silage,” she said.

After the training, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian will distribute molasses that farmers could use in

more agricultural products.

Worth mentioning also is that our city is known as the banana capital of the country.

Mayor James Gamao represented by Atty. Jamail Lunar Macla cited the importance of using organic products and pesticides for a healthier and longer life.

Meanwhile, an intermission number from the Farmers Field School (FFS) graduates of Gredu Elementary School followed by the audio visual presentation of ACES Organic Farm owner Fran-

cisco dela Peña, PhD and one of the active organic farming advocates in the city. Other testimonies were presented

by Ma. Luisa Murga, Margarita Lanticse, Joemer Millada and Jules Baluran for the Techno-demo Transference.

Private sector also contributed to the realization of the activity such as; Pigrolac Agricultural Products, Macondray Plastic Manufacturing and PMC Enterprise. Samuel Anay and Reynaldo Agorde hosted the Program. (jaszparas/CIO Panabo)

3 mountaineers SoCot farmers learn how to make silage behind Apo fire? T T

HREE unidentified mountain climbers who stayed at the peak of the country’s highest mountain were believed to be responsible in the bush fire that escalated into a forest fire at Mt. Apo, according to a group of bikers and trekkers from Cotabato City who witnessed the start of the fire from a distance.

Members of the Cotabato All-Terrain Bikers Association (CATBA) said they believed the fire actually started at the peak where there were three campers who cooked food on Saturday afternoon.

Tutin Sapto, CATBA founding member, said he personally witnessed the start of the unfortunate incident and took pictures from afar after they set up tent in the lower portion of Lake Venado.

“We were told there were three climbers who set up tent at the peak and cooked and

left not knowing there was still fire,” Sapto recalled being told by other mountaineers.

Sapto said he and his colleagues expressed desire to help put out the fire, “but we were prevented from going there. We panicked and in dismay while watching the fire eating up a large portion of the peak,” he said.

“Instead, we were directed to use the Mandarangan trail as our exit route as the fire started to spread,” he added Sapto said his team of 24 climbers used the Kapatagan trail in Digos City, Davao del Sur in climbing Mt. Apo. They arrived at a camp on the Kapatagan side of the mountain in the afternoon of Good Friday and slept there, then climbed to the peak before dawn on Saturday so they could witness the sunrise.

As part of every mountaineer’s tradition who climbs Mt. Apo, the group went down to

Lake Venado on the other side of the peak Saturday afternoon to set up tents.

Lake Venado is the recognized site by the Department of Tourism and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as desired camping site due to the availability of water, installed facilities for sanitation concerns and safeguard from strong wind and extremely cold condition at night.

And then they noticed smoke billowing from the peak of Mt. Apo a few hours after they left the area.

Sapto said that they were scheduled to leave the next morning, on Easter Sunday.

They were supposed to climb back to the peak, then follow their trail back to Kapatagan where they started their climb, because policy requires that mountaineers should exit where they began their climb.

But because of the fire,

they were told by climbing guides that they should divert their route and exit immediately through the Mandarangan trail in the Kidapawan-Makilala-Magpet eco-triangle.

Joey Recemilla, Kidapawan Tourism officer and chair of the EcoTourism Committee of the Mt. Apo Natural Park – Protected Area Management Board, said when there is a reported fire, protocol requires all climbers to take the nearest and safest entry, which in last Saturday’s case was via Kidapawan.

“To be honest, when we were at the peak, the surrounding was really dry and brown, although occasionally there were fogs,” Sapto said.

He said the fire from the peak has spread toward Digos City side of the mountain heading toward Kapatagan trail.

“How sad some climbers were irresponsible and were

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F FORMER, 10

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P50-M KRIS-Mamasapano Organic Agriculture Awareness and Products Display Kicks Off extension irri project opens

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FTER eight months of construction, the Kabulnan River Irrigation System (KRIS) – Mamasapano Extension Project is official operational, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in this region.

Construction of the said irrigation system costs P50 million. It has a potential coverage area of 130 hectares – approximately 30 hectares on the left side (96 meters pipe) and 100 hectares on the right side

(2,360 meters pipe) with the Pimbalkan creek as the source of water.

NIA Administrator Dr. Florencio Padernal and Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM) Sec. Fredelita Guiza led the ceremony at Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano province of Maguindanao on March 21.

Padernal said the irriga-

F P50-M, 10

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HROUGH the Panabo City Government spearheaded by the City Agriculture Office (CAGRO) organized the 1st Organic Agriculture Awareness and Products Display on March 16 at the ARF Gym, Barangay New Pandan.

Various organic products and agricultural supplies were displayed on different booths such as vegetables, fruits, pesticides, among others.

With this year’s theme: “Lawas Pahimsogon, Organikong Pagkaon Palambo-on al-

ang sa Himsog nga Katawhan ug Lig-on nga Katilingban”.

CAGRO head Alejandro Mayato mentioned that this is one of the activities of the 15th Araw ng Panabo celebration. He is advocating backyard gardening and Gulayan ng Paaralan in coordination with the Department of Education.

City Councilor and SP Chair on Agriculture Renante Bangoy emphasized the contribution of the Agricultural sector in the city’s development which is to produce

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Oil prices drop amid ample supplies O

IL prices plunged Tuesday as market expected crude supply to exceed the demand.

US Energy Information Administration (EIA) is scheduled to release the weekly US crude inventory data Wednesday. Traders expected to see crude stockpiles continue to add.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers will meet on April 17 in Doha, Qatar, to discuss the output freeze.

But Iran indicated it won’t participate in the output freeze until its production

reaches 4 million barrels a day, the level before the international sanctions were imposed on the Middle East country.

Traders were speculative about this meeting will lead to any realistic results that will boost to the crude prices.

The West Texas Intermediate for May delivery moved down USD1.11 to settle at 38.28 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for May delivery decreased 1.13 dollars to close at 39.14 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (PNA/ Xinhua)

PHL corn farmers confident of better yields for export

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orn farmers in the country are confident they could tap the export market in the medium term and be very competitive in the forthcoming Asean economic community (AEC).

According to Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (Philmaize) president Roger Navarro, corn producers could be assured of better yields and allowed to export at the proper time.

“With the new JDC (joint

department circular) for biotechnology, local corn farmers have better chances of tapping the export market because we will continue reaping higher yields with Bt corn,” said Navarro in an interview.

In crop year 2014-2015, the country’s corn production was placed at 7.553 million metric tons (MMT), which is slightly lower than the 7.671 MMT recorded the previous crop year, according to the US

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TWIN TOWERS. The Abreeza Place Towers 1 and 2 stand tall among structures along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City. The construction business in the city is still in the upswing as new local and national developers are eager to get a chunk of the market. Lean Daval Jr.

Better system out soon for chemical exporters

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

OOD news for exporters and processors. The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9516 imposing stricter regulations over possession of Philippine National Police (PNP)-controlled chemicals will be out on April 15.

Emma Z. Mijares, deputy executive director of the Export Development Council (EDC), said the IRR will simplify and streamline the process of acquiring license and permit to import, handle and transport regulated chemicals.

“It will cut down the processing period which usually takes two to four,” Mijares told the participants of Tuesday’s forum on the regionalization of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 20152017 at the Microtel by Wyndham-Davao.

Mijares said the new sets of rules and regulations will be implemented by the first week of May, 15 days after publishing.

“Acquiring permits and

licenses have been a common complaint among exporters and food processors,” she said.

Mijares said export industry, which is also importers of raw materials such as chemicals, is looking forward to the issuance of the IRR because it will streamline the process and documentary requirements of PNP license and permit.

The PNP issued a moratorium order over regulated chemicals which include 25 chemicals like Aluminum Granules, Aluminum Powder, Amorphous Phosporus, Barium Chromate, Gallic Powder, Hydrogen Peroxide, Glycerine, Hydroflouric Acid, Hydrogen Chloride, Phosphorus Sesquisulphide, Phosphoric Acid, Phosphorus Red, Potassium Iodate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulphate, Sodium Periodate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonium Sulfate, Glycerol, Hydrochloric Acid, Potassium Permanganate, Potassium Sulfate, Sulfuric Acid, and Toluene.

The moratorium, which

is supposed to end on 9 February 2015, is extended until April 30, this year. During this period, the PNP will not require importers, traders and distributors of the controlled chemicals to secure license, permit, and escort and to submit a consumption report.

At present, the PNP has added 41 chemicals on its master list of regulated chemicals this year to ensure the safety of the public and regulate the possession of chemicals which can be use on the production of explosives.

However, some of the listed regulated chemicals are usually used in manufacturing sector, she said.

“Hydrogen Peroxide, a chemical necessary for processing of banana for export, is included in the master list,” she said.

Mijares identified the IRR as one of the mechanisms under the PEDP which will remove bottlenecks that undermine the growth of the country’s export industry.

measures the greenback against six major peers, was down 0.8 percent at 95.137 in late trading.

In late New York trading, the euro rose to 1.1298 dollars from 1.1206 dollars of the previous session, and the British pound climbed to 1.4386 dollars from 1.4260 dollars.

The Australian dollar went up

to 0.7637 dollar from 0.7544 dollar.

The dollar bought 112.74 Japanese yen, lower than 113.28 yen of the previous session. The greenback decreased to 0.9661 Swiss franc from 0.9736 Swiss franc, and inched down to 1.3056 Canadian dollars from 1.3173 Canadian dollars. (PNA/Xinhua)

USD lower amid Fed chair’s comments

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HE US dollar decreased against most major currencies Tuesday as Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the central bank planned to raise interest rates carefully.

Yellen said Tuesday the Fed will move cautiously in light of a weak global economy and stubbornly low inflation.

The dollar index, which

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

ADB sees PHL GDP growth at 6% in 2016, 6.1% in 2017

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HE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected that the Philippines gross domestic product (GDP) growth will settle at 6.0 percent for 2016 and at 6.1 percent in 2017.

Based on its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2016 launched here on Wednesday, private consumption will remain the main growth driver for the country this year. However, the pace of increase is seen to moderate.

“Rising employment, higher government salaries, mod-

est inflation, and remittances inflows all point to robust consumer spending,” the ADB said.

“Moving forward, the pickup in government spending that began in 2015 should accelerate this year, lifted in part by spending ahead of May 2016 elections,” it added.

The GDP growth forecast for the Philippines is higher than the projected growth for the region at 5.7 percent both this year and next year.

The ADO is ADB’s flagship annual economic publication for the region. (PNA)

NFA assures rice supplies in GenSan, Sarangani

NEGATIVE IMPACT. Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 director Roberto Alabado III says the forest fire in Mount Apo has significant impact on Davao’s tourism sector most especially the people working in the area

like guides and porters. Alabado was among the guests of yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

Bangladesh ambassador pleased with Senate hearing on stolen USD81-M fund

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ANGLADESH ambassador to the Philippines John Gomes has expressed contentment with the way the Philippine Senate has been conducting inquiry into the USD 81 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank at the New York deposit account and wired to fraudulent accounts in the Philippines. ”We are pleased with what the Senate is doing. It’s very transparent as far as I’m concern because it’s informative.

We are actually very optimistic with the way the hearing is going on and it is very transparent. So, I think it is going to the right direction,” Gomes said in media interview.

Gomes attended the last three Senate blue ribbon committee public hearings where senators have been trying to trace how the stolen money en-

tered the Philippines through the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC).

During the hearing, businessman and junket operator Kim Wong denied hand in the USD 81 million heist, saying two foreigners brought in the “huge” money to the Philippines through RCBC. Wong said Sua Hua Gao from Beijing and Ding Xi Xie from Macao transferred the USD81 million to the Philippines with the help of RCBC Jupiter branch manager Maia Santos Deguito who failed to show up on Tuesday due to health problems.

Wong said USD63 million of the total USD81 million went to the Solaire and Midas casinos while the remaining USD17 million is still with the Philrem Service Corporation, a remittance company used to

convert the stolen funds into peso.

Michael Bautista of PhilRem denied Wong’s claim.

Wong said he picked up a total of Php400 million and USD5 million on three separates dates (Feb. 9, 10 and 14) from Michael ‘Con-con’ Bautista’s house.

Wong has expressed willingness to cooperate in recovering at least USD 5 million and he will also return the Php450 million which Gao paid to him “if they want me to do it.” ”We are very hopeful that we should get back our money.

That is our expectation,” Gomes said in reaction to Wong’s testimony.

Gomes said the Bangladesh government is working with the US government as well as with the Philippine government “to see how we can

the whole step for a full blown development in the said business.

The project was pushed through after its approval by the Board of Directors, according to the Land and Building and ROPOA Committee focal person, Engineer Roy Sodji Dimagnaong who was hands-on in the job.

Funecare 2 features a unique design which according to the immediate past chairperson Norma R. Pereyras looks like a hotel not a funeral parlor.

In the program, Rev. Fr. Bernard S. Banal led the blessing of the groundbreaking area and the whole building from the first floor up to the second level.

Outgoing Chairperson Pereyras expressed in her message the effort made by

the Board of Directors and management in developing the quality of service for the members providing them convenient facilities for their lost loved ones.

The new Chairperson of the Board of Directors (BOD), Monica L. Salido also said in a message that Tagum Cooperative continues to develop projects which would benefit the general membership.

New Vice-chairperson of the BOD Fe J. Adlawan along with the members of the BOD namely: Miriam R. Baloyo, Eduard C. Amoguis, Evelia R. Sator, Edgardo T. Silagan, and Nenita R. Malbas came to grace the occasion.

Treasurer Rosalina S. Argent and General Manager Juris D. Perez also supported the activity. (Tagum Cooperative)

Tagum Coop set to develop Funecare 2

T

AGUM Coop is all set to develop its recently acquired Funeral Home called TC Funecare 2 located along National Highway, Visayan Village, this city.

This was made evident during the Groundbreaking of Tagum Coop Funecare 2 A1 Viewing Room and Front Façade Renovation on March 27, 2016 which was attended by the Coop’s officers and management.

Tagum Coop acquired the Funecare 2 formerly known as Topaz Funeral Homes in March 2015 after the clamor of members for an accessible funeral facility location to serve its members.

Since only minor renovations were made in the property, Tagum Coop took

work together.”

Gomes said he was also pleased that the PhilRem remittance company expressed willingness to return the Php10 million it earned as handling fee of the USD 81 million.

The Bangladesh envoy said he got information that they were trying to reach out Sri Lankan government on how the USD 20 million of the total stolen USD 101 million was saved and “yet the one that came to the Philippines was not frozen and why even after our Bangladesh Bank governor talked to the bank governor here. ”And before that, as a matter of fact, we have come to know that Federal Reserve, they have also contacted the Philippines to freeze the money,” Gomes told the media.

(PNA)

T

HE National Food Authority (NFA) allayed fears of a possible rice shortage here and the neighboring areas in the wake of the noted drop in palay harvests as a result of the continuing long dry spell.

Edegary Roncal, NFA Sarangani-General Santos provincial manager, said Tuesday they have standby “food security” rice stocks that may be tapped to augment the supplies in the local markets when necessary.

She said their current rice inventory stands at 14,500 metric tons, which is equivalent to around 289,000 bags.

“We have sufficient food security stocks so there should be no worry about any rice shortage in the coming days,” she said.

Roncal said they have properly prepared for the onslaught of the dry spell, which is spawned by the prevailing El Nino Phenomenon.

She said the NFA central office had laid out a comprehensive plan to ensure the availability of enough rice supplies in the markets during the El Nino, which was predicted to last until June.

The agency has been stocking rice supplies in their

warehouses in the area since late last year in preparation for the intense dry weather, she said.

The El Nino, which started in October last year, has significantly decreased palay harvests in this city and in Sarangani Province in the last three months.

Both areas have already been declared under the state of calamity due to the El Nino, which has destroyed more than P200 million worth of agricultural crops.

In case the rice inventory in the local markets would drop in the coming weeks, Roncal said the NFA central office has allowed them to draw supplies from the neighboring areas.

She cited that while the palay harvests here have already stopped, there are localities in parts of Region 11 or the Davao Region as well as the Caraga Region that have standing crops.

Roncal specifically noted farm areas in Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and the Agusan provinces.

“Some of our traders here have been also buying palay there so this means additional commercial rice stocks in our markets,” she added. (PNA)

Tagum Coop Officers and Staff join hand in hand during the Groundbreaking of TC Funecare 2 on March 27

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE A big, bold night at Acer ePinnacle Awards 2015 EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

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VERYTHING went bold and big, and all who were present went high spirited as Acer Philippines, Inc. feted its top distributors and resellers during the 2015 edition of the Acer ePinnacle Awards, Acer’s annual awards rites in honor of its top sellers.

It was grand and swanky as guests went in their best and boldest black attire at the upper-class Chaos Club of Crown Hotel Manila in Parañaque City. The Acer ePinnacle Awards, now on its 8th year, have always been the perfect venue for the top IT giant to thank its partners for making the global tech brand remain a top IT brand in the Philippines despite stiff competition from other more established brands.

Entitled “Bo1d. Celebrating 10 Years of Leadership,” the event was the ultimate “time to shine” for a few distinguished Acer partners who, for the past year, exuded exemplary performance in rising above challenges and be able to successfully prove themselves in terms of sales performance, unmatched marketing strategies, and innovative and truly customer-centric customer efforts in selling Acer’s world-class, top-notch products.

Among the major winners under the prestigious Distributor of the Year category were Bridge Distribution, Inc., who won a total of four “Distributor of the Year” for Consumer Desktops, 2-in-1 devices, Projectors and Commercial Business, MSI-ECS Philippines as “Distributor of the Year” for Tablets and Smart Phones, and Techtron Systems Corp., who won as “Distributor of the Year” for Consumer Notebooks and Consumer Monitors.

A special highlight of the awards was the selection of the “Fiercest Male and Female Awards” for the two guests who are dressed boldly for the night. The Fiercest Male award went to James Tan and April Dabasol was the Fiercest Female.

Acer Philippines General Manager Manuel Wong thanked Acer Philippines’ partners and distributors for another highlight year for the tech titan and for making Acer the top Notebook brand for 10 years and 7 years in Commercial Notebooks. “Thank you once again for making Acer a top brand in the Philippines. With your partnership with us, we will all work hard because we have more to do, and more to achieve. Let’s all achieve to become better and brighter as we continue to be partners with you.”

Meanwhile, Acer Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jason Chen, who was a special guest and keynote speaker for the event, showcased what’s in store for Acer customers around the world in terms of their newest and boldest innovative devices designed to change the world’s perception of Information Technology.

It was also the first time that the global CEO attended any award-giving event anywhere in the world where Acer operates, thus giving Acer Philippines that unprecedented, singular distinction. (For confirmation if can be stated as such as this can be a bold message to cut across to readers.)

Acer Philippines Sales Director, Sue Ong-Lim (left), Acer Philippines General Manager, Manuel Wong (2nd from left), Jason Chen, Acer Inc. Chief Executive Officer (2nd from right), and S.T. Liew, Acer Smartphones Global President (right), poses with representatives of MSI-ECS Philippines (center), who were one of the major winners under the Distributor of the Year category during the Acer ePinnacle Awards 2015.

Jason Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Acer, Inc., introduces the Acer Liquid Jade Primo under the Liquid Jade series of the global tech titan’s smartphone products and is the world’s first full PC phone.

Acer Philippines Sales Director, Sue Ong-Lim (left), Acer Philippines General Manager, Manuel Wong (2nd from left), and Jason Chen, Acer Inc. Chief Executive Officer (right), poses with representatives of Bridge Distribution, Inc. (center), who were one of the major winners under the Distributor of the Year category during the Acer ePinnacle Awards 2015.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

EDITORIAL Shameful and unacceptable

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HE more Mar Roxas sells himself as the hero of Yolanda, the less he is getting respect.

This is what is emerging now as the presidential bet of the administration appears to be headed for the lowdown after his hardsell positioning as Tacloban’s savior.

After the presidential debate’s round 2 in Cebu where Roxas proclaimed himself as the hero of Yolanda being there “before, during and after,” three priests have come out to refute his claims. The first one was Fr. Ramil Costibolo of Leyte who said what Roxas did was pose for cameras and acting out directives to an imaginary equipment that was submerged in water. At another, he gave a thumbs up sign to a distressed businessman instead of helping out as looters ransacked the man’s store.

And now, here’s an official of Caritas Philippines who lashed out at a comic book that portrayed Roxas as a “hero” during height of typhoon Yolanda.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines, called the campaign material “shameful and unacceptable propaganda.”

Gariguez said: “In conscience, I need to belie this hypocritical claim of Mar Roxas claiming to be a hero in the emergency response.”

The Caritas priest stressed the need “to bring truth and decency in our electoral process. A call that I dare to make to all candidates.”

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Caritas Philippines is the National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (Nassa), the humanitarian and advocacy arm of the bishops.

In that comic book published as a campaign material to woo votes and picture Roxas as the man of the hur in Tacloban is entitled “Sa Gitna ng Unos” (In the middle of a storm). The 28-page comic book depicts the administration bet as an action man who risked his life to help the typhoon victims.

Another priest, Fr. Jazz Siapco, director of Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Center, also criticized the comic book as “misleading” and only meant to advance a political agenda.

“He is not a hero. I would consider those who have helped silently in their own little ways the heroes. They are the real heroes,” Siapco said.

The comments made by the two priests came out in the news publication of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Incidentally, the artist commissioned to do the Roxas comics himself proclaimed he is not voting for Roxas.

What does this mean? Roxas spun a story nobody believed even the man who illustrated his story.

Roxas cannot continue painting a picture that is not real about himself. Why can’t he be his real self? If he does, he’ll get better. His chances, perhaps, fairer.

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EDGEDAVAO

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9

Is honesty really a lonely word?

FEW years ago, a pastor from another city accepted a call to a church in Davao. A week after he arrived, he decided to roam around the city. He rode a jeepney and gave the driver a crispy twenty-peso bill. There were so many passengers and it took the driver two minutes before he was able to give the pastor his change.

The pastor counted the change and he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a peso more than what he was to receive. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, “You’d better give the peso back. It would be wrong to keep it.”

Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it’s only a peso. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the driver gets too much fare; he will never miss it. Accept it as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.”

Then he was almost at his destination, he went near to the driver and handed the peso. “Here, you gave me too much change,” he said.

The driver, with a smile, replied, “Aren’t you the new pastor near our area? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”

This brings us to the subject of honesty. “Honesty,” says American president Thomas Jefferson, “is the first chapter of the book of wisdom.” Film actress Angelina Jolie agrees. In an interview,

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VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

ONE of the presidents in recent memory that came and went – including this outgoing administration - ever declared that the illegal narcotics trade has achieved such an alarming status that it has become a serious threat to the stability of our government.

While this deadline-beater has been as much alarmed as the rest of those who have read how the illegal drugs business has consumed a couple of countries in its grip – Colombia and Mexico, for instance – I have never given it a thought that its tentacles would easily clobber our national mindset.

The creation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was a welcome development but as the years elapsed, it degenerated into a tamed and domesticated canine that even the government itself could not train to effectively bite violators of the law.

While there have been – here and there – instances of success, the PDEA was – in the words of presidential wannabe Rodri-

she was quot- THINK ON THESE! ed as saying, “I’m just honest, I like that I don’t have to worry about what I say. I really don’t have the time or energy to pretend and I Henrylito D. Tacio don’t want to henrytacio@gmail.com live that way.”

Dr. Madison Sarratt, who taught mathematics at Vanderbilt University for many years, before giving a test, would admonish his class something like this: “Today, I am giving two examinations – one in trigonometry and the other in honesty. I hope you will pass them both. If you must fail one, fail trigonometry. There are many people in the world who can’t pass trigonometry, but there is no one who can’t pass the examination of honesty.”

If you are in business, be sure to practice honesty. As Sophocles admonishes, “Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” Joseph Sugarman has the same view, “Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure.”

“There is no well-defined boundary between honesty and dishonesty,” American author O. Henry pointed out.

“The frontiers of one blend with the outside limits of the other, and he who attempts to tread this dangerous ground may be sometimes in one domain and sometimes in the other.”

This reminds me of the story of two women riding a bus. One of them realized she hadn’t paid her fare yet. “I’ll go right up and pay it,” she said. “Why bother?” her companion told her. “You got away with it, so what?”

“I’ve found that honesty always pays,” the other said virtuously, and went up to pay the driver. After that, she went back to her place and told her companion.

“See, I told you. Honesty really pays. I handed the driver 20 pesos and he gave me 40 pesos change.”

These days, people look honesty at different manner. For instance, ethics is very important to successful businessmen. One executive explains it this way; “For example, an old customer paid his account today with five hundred peso bill. As he was leaving, I discovered that he had mistakenly given me two five hundred peso bills stuck together. Immediately, a question of ethics arose: should I tell my partner?”

But honesty still abounds here and abroad. A taxi driver who returns the money that was left in his the vehicle he was driving. A laundry woman who delivered the diamond ring left in the pocket of the pants she was washing to the owner herself. A high school student who failed his final examination because he didn’t want to cheat, unlike his class-

mates.

“It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them,” Mark Twain said. In the mid-1980’s researchers at Cleveland State University made a startling discovery. They conducted an experiment by creating two fictitious job candidates David and John.

The candidates had identical resumes and letters of reference. The only difference was that John’s letter included the sentence “Sometimes, John can be difficult to get along with.” They showed the resumes to a number of personnel directors.

Which candidate did the personnel directors overwhelmingly prefer?

Difficult to get along with, John. The researchers concluded the criticism of John made praise of John more believable. Admitting John’s wart actually helped sell John. Admitting flaws gives a person more credibility.

Now, I know a lot of people when they are on the brink of dying, they will be honest to admit and tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. For as Salman Rushdie, author of ‘The Satanic Verses,’ puts it: “With death comes honesty.”

Should you wait for that day to come before you become honest? “Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

go Duterte SPECKS OF LIFE – “contaminated” by corrupt elements.

In his campaign sorties, Duterte questioned the integrity Fred C. Lumba of the drug enforcement agency because he said there are many PDEA agents who are in cahoots with drug bosses.

From someone who is an authority on this issue, we are inclined to believe him.

It is unfortunate that the PNoy administration and its’ minions have continuously ignored the pealing of alarm bells because it was not music to their ears.

In Colombia, drug lords fight for their turf against the best the police and military can offer. They have an arsenal of

arms and ammunition enough to outlast the authorities. Their men are better compensated and housed and provisions for their families – education, health & hospitalization, etc. – are well-defined. Medellin, a Colombian town, is notoriously under the territorial jurisdiction of the drug mafia which the Colombian national guards and army combined could not penetrate.

Mexico today is also languishing in a moribund socio-economic cum political state because of the uncontrollable but flourishing drug business. Its economy has collapsed. The ranks of the poor have become bigger and are now groaning for more government assistance and subsidy. The once-popular Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) – copied by the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo government in 2009 and picked up by the Aquino administration (transformed and enlarged into the Pamilya Pilipino Pantawid Program as 4Ps) has plunged the Mexican government into a critical level that it could no longer avert

its disastrous downslide.

Duterte’s approach to the drug menace – to dissolve and disband the PDEA foremost – is a very clear indication he knows where the government he will lead stands on.

In 2014, to ensure that the seized P500 million worth of cocaine in Davao City would not be re-sold in the streets if he returned it to PDEA, Duterte ordered its burning and destruction.

I personally have heard tales and stories about this unwholesome partnership from my own sources and several friends of mine. They sure make you creepy.

That is why in the past two Comelec debates, I yearned to hear from VP Jejomar Binay, Grace Poe Llamanzares and Mar Roxas what steps they would do in combatting the drug monster.

I gaped to listen but didn’t hear any of the three say anything about it.

Aren’t the Filipino youths in great danger? (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com). God bless the Philippines!

Narco-politics threat

10 NEWS BELLO QUITS... FROM 1 Bello said he will help the campaign of Duterte in the areas of Regions 1, 2 and in the Cordillera because these are weak areas of the mayor in terms of support.

NOT FOR MY SON BUT FOR THE COUNTRY Bello denied that his resignation is due to the candidacy of his son Karlo who is running

for congressman in the third district and endorsed by Mayor Duterte.

“Ang aking pagwi-withdraw ay hindi para sa anak ko, hindi para kay Duterte, kundi para sa ating bansa (My withdrawal is not because of the candidacy of my son and for Duterte. I withdraw for the sake of our country),” he said.

He said he also respects the decision of the daughter of Duterte former Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, who is supporting the brother of incumbent third district representative Isidro Ungab, Alberto, the opponent of his son in the congressional race.

Bello said the support of Sara only signifies that democracy really exists in the city and everyone is free to support any candidate of their choice.

“We cannot please anybody, we cannot win everybody,” he added.

He said if Sara supporting his son’s opponent, it is still good since Mayor Duterte chose Karlo to be the party’s bet in the third district.

included in the drug watch list of the PDEA and our police stations,” Peralta said.

Lydon Aspacio, PDEA Region 12 director, said among those arrested were known big time illegal drug pushers in the area.

In the Palimbang raids, which he personally joined, he said they nabbed a certain alias Mads who allegedly operates drug den.

Another suspect, who was only identified as an alias Bayot, was identified by residents as one of the top suppliers of illegal drugs in the municipality.

Peralta said the recovered

illegal drugs are currently undergoing the required quantitative and qualitative examination, as well as valuation at the PRO-12’s crime laboratory.

He said the arrested suspects, who are currently detained at the seven city and municipal police stations, are undergoing processing for the proper filing of charges.

These includes drug tests and other related examination, he said.

He added that the suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the election firearms ban. (PNA)

Before the hijacker gave himself up he had released most of the passengers while several escaped unnoticed, including the captain who jumped out of a cockpit window.

Cypriot authorities said the man will appear in a local court at Larnaca on Wednesday to be remanded in custody, which is required by Cypriot law for people held by the police for more than 24 hours.

Some of the plane’s passengers left for Egypt on Tuesday night on board of an Egyptian regular flight to Cairo.

The rest are expected to be

repatriated on a military plane being sent by Egypt.

There were several foreign nationals on the plane and the ambassadors of their countries visited the airport to speak to them and offer them assistance.

State television reported that some of the foreign nationals opted to return to their countries from Larnaca instead of returning to Cairo.

It was also said that investigators questioning the man have not reached a clear conclusion yet as his answers seem to be incoherent or inconsistent. (PNA/Xinhua)

not careful in their acts. Climbing should be accompanied by responsibility,” Sapto lamented.

More than 300 hectares have already been eaten by fire as of Wednesday in a large swathe of the eco-park and is now starting to engulf a watershed area in the Talomo District in Davao City.

Firefighters from Davao City’s Central 911 and volun-

teers from nearby towns surrounding the highest mountain have trooped to the area, and the Philippine Air Force sent equipment and personnel and immediately initiated efforts, but the efforts are apparently still not enough due to the huge extent of the fire and the very dry situation because of the prolonged drought that could easily help escalate the fire.

1-BAP DISSOLVED He explained the 1-BAP party-list that he represented is the coalition of two party-lists, the 1-AHAPO and Banat.

Bello said the 1-AHAPO is the party-list of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity where he and Binay.

He said right now the two groups decided to split the 1-BAP party-list for more chances of a seat in Congress.

Bello, however, said that only 1-AHAPO who remained the supporter of Binay because the Banat opted to support another presidential aspirant, Senator Grace Poe.

31 drug... FROM 3

Plane... FROM 3

3 mountaineers... FROM 4

EDGEDAVAO

Fire... FROM 1

For his part, PAF-Tactical Operations Group 11 deputy commanding officer Lt.Col. Jose Ritchie Pabilonia said the Super Huey helicopter was only able to pour 10 buckets yesterday because of the strong winds.

Pabilonia told EDGE Davao that around 9:00 a.m. yesterday, the helicopter was able to conduct 7 bucket operations but the team was forced to stop because of the strong winds.

“May portion pa doon na malakas pa ang apoy pero di ko alam kung saang area kasi ang na report lang sa akin is yung bucket operations lang (There are some portions where the fire is still strong but I cannot say the area because only the bucket operation was only re-

ported to me),” he said.

He said the when the wind came gentle, the operation of the team resumed around 3:00 p.m. by conducting an aerial survey.

After the survey, Pabilonia said the team began to pour water again around 3:30 p.m.

And ended at 4:30 p.m. But only three buckets were released to the ground.

Pabilionia said the air force will continue their operation again tomorrow and the team will concentrate on there area where there is a strong fire.

Today is the fifth day of the fire which Camoro said, earlier, it already damaged a total of 350 hectares in the Mt. Apo area. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

nila, Pampanga, Cebu, and SM Aura in Taguig.

Old-age pensioners may apply in person for a PHP20,000 pension emergency loan. Pensioners who are also active members (retired government workers who have been reemployed) may apply for the loan only once.

The loan is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments with an interest rate of 6 percent per annum computed in advance. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise, provided the loan repayment is up to date. (PNA)

making silage, she added.

The provincial government has allotted Php300,000 for the conduct of the said training.

Apart from the training, the provincial government has also proposed for the distribution of feed concentrates and vitamins for livestock.

“So far, we have not received any report of deaths among large animals such as

cattle and carabao because of the ongoing drought,” Dr. Bigot emphasized. “However, farmers have complained that their animals are now emaciated.”

In an earlier interview, she said that milk production of animals distributed under the provincial government’s dispersal program has decreased because of the drought. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

years yet the armed confrontations have given nothing but the loss of precious lives to the country.

“Tama na ang patayan at pag-aaway away sa kapwa natin Pilipino, sana yung mga kapatid natin na nasa bundok pa ay bumaba na para magkaisa na tayo dahil pangit tingnan na kapwa Pilipino ay nag papatayan,” Ferro said.

The rebel returnees will also undergo seminars and trainings as part of the evaluation of the Comval Support Units for their educational background. Such as on agricultural production, electrical and other skills and technical education under the CLIP

program of the government.

The DILG said the technical education will help the returnees become productive when they are reintegrated to their respective communities.

Also attending the ceremony were Deputy Brigade Commander of the 1001st Brigade Col. Gilbert Saret, Executive Officer Battalion Commander of the 46IB Major Crismond Mercado, Provincial Administrator Virgilia S. Allones, Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Head Josephine Frasco and other members of the armed forces of the Philippines. (Rey Antibo, PGO-IDS)

Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.

The decline in corn yields, Navarro said, could be attributed to the El Niño dry spell as some areas especially in Northern Mindanao had been badly hit by the drought.

Northern Mindanao is the second biggest corn producing region next to Luzon’s Region 2 and Region 12 is on third.The Philippine corn producing in-

dustry covers 2.5 million hectares and the yield is at the average of 4 MT per hectare. The direct beneficiaries are the 11 million Filipino farmers, farm workers and those in the food manufacturing industry.

The Philippines produces mostly yellow corn, where 70 percent goes to feed mills, while the 30 percent are used for food, such as oil and starch, among others. (PNA)

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gion composed of Bansalan, Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City and Sta. Cruz which are all from Davao del Sur. Alabado said that the fire in Mt. Apo will have a negative impact on the livelihoods of the guides, porters and the community in the area.

“Our concern right now would be the direct impact on the stakeholders in Mt.Apo. These are the porters, guides and the local communities who earn a living from the

climbers, ” he said.

He said the DOT has already requested surrounding local government units for an impact assessment.

Alabado said he presume that in every year there is an estimate of 5,000 climbers going to Mt. Apo. Earlier, Davao del Sur Provincial Risk Reduction Management officer Harry Chester Camoro said the fire has already damaged a total of 350 hectares in the Mt. Apo area.

ers, both from the public and private sector, remain precarious.

While contractualization is most apparent in the private sector, public sector workers are not too far behind. This is manifested in the form of job orders, contract of service, among others.

Bustillos realized too that while passage of the Security

of Tenure Bill could be a step to eradicate contractualization, it should be accompanied by a clear agro-industrial policy. “Such policy should be anchored on rural development and growth of manufacturing sector that will provide sustained jobs for our people,” he emphasized before some 150 labor leaders present in the gathering.

tion system is complete, functional and responsive infrastructure.

“With this, it will benefit the 99 farmer-beneficiaries of the irrigators association (IA) and we hope that they will have at least two cropping seasons and earn more and more,” he added.

Citing sense of ownership, Padernal encouraged the association to take good care of the irrigation system so that the future generation and other farmers could benefit from the project through increased harvest yield and sustainable family income.

The NIA and OPAFSAM, he added, have a good teamwork/ partnership– we do not only make promises, we also deliver and we perform.

Assuring continuous support, it is the policy of the agency to act and respond to needs and feedbacks of other barangays as they wanted also to have this kind of irrigation system, Padernal said.

On the other hand, OPAFSAM Sec. Guiza said, before this administration ends on June 2016, we want that all

planned irrigation projects will be made feasible and improve and develop the system of NIA. Guiza said, they expect that the irrigation system will have a concrete impact to the lives of farmers and community as well in terms of increased production yield, income and livelihood opportunity., With the budget in the construction of the irrigation system funded through the operating budget of NIA, she urged the farmer-beneficiaries to sell their produce (palay) directly to the National Food Authority (NFA) ensured of P17 per kilo guaranteed price.

“The NFA will buy your product for P17 pesos per kilo – this is a guaranteed price,” Guiza said.

The OPAFSAM is a new agency created on May 2014 and together with four other agencies formerly under the Department of Agriculture (DA) including NFA, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and NIA have been transferred to the Office of the President. (IBEroy/PBChangco-PIA Cotabato City)

stressed former UNEP Executive Director Elizabeth Dowdeswell. “And yet the subject of freshwater is too often crowded off the world media agenda.”

Water should be given high priority as crisis is just around the corner. “I believe water will be the problem of the 21st century,” Andras Szollosi-Nagy, a former UNESCO water specialist.

“The scientific community is crying out for better water management.”

UNDP consultant Roger Berthelot urged world leaders to pay attention to the crisis before it’s too late.

“There will be no peace in

the world unless we are prepared to insure it now by tackling the problems of water, which in some areas are catastrophic.”

So much so that Manuel Gerardo Pedro Pulgar-Vidal Otalora, president of last year’s UN climate change conference in Peru (COP20), urged to include water in forthcoming international talk. “Water should be raised in the debate in the upcoming COP21 in Paris in December as this is a vital and very crucial concern for people’s survival,” he said during the recent World Water Week in Stockholm.

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Water woes Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“It’s simply a question of survival. Thirst for water is an ignition to violence.” -- Meir ben Meir, former Israeli water commissioner

S

O much have been written and said about climate change. But there is one crisis that has failed to ignite world leaders: water. And to think of, water, is one of the most important components for a person to live.

“A person can survive only three to five days without water, in some cases people have survived for an average of one week,” saysthewaterpage.com. “Once the body is deprived of fluids the cells and organs in the body begin to deteriorate.

The presence of water in the body could mean the difference between life and death.”

“Water is the most precious asset on Earth,” points out Dr. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project. “It is the basis of life.” She believes water problems will be right there with climate change as a threat to the human future.

“Although the two are related, water has no substitutes,” Postel says. “We can transition away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to something else.”

The Philippines was one of the countries identified by a recent report released

by World Resources Institute (WRI) to experience water water stress. It is defined as “the ratio between total water withdrawals and available renewable sur-

***

face water at a sub-catchment level.”

Of the 161 countries surveyed by the American think tank, the Philippines was ranked 57th under the “business-as-usual” scenario. The country got a score of 3.01 which, according to the study’s water stress threshold levels, is “high.”

The ratio of withdrawals to available wateris 40-80%.

The study went further, predicting the degree of water shortage for 3 specific sectors: industrial, domestic, and agricultural.

Agriculture got the highest score of 3.26, followed by industrial sector (2.96) and domestic use (2.92). The last two sectors were classified under the “medium to high,” which means the ratio of withdrawals to available water is 20-40%.

The only two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which topped the country were Singapore (ranked first, along with seven others: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, San Marino, United Arab of Emirates and Palestine) and Indonesia (ranked 51st).

The United States was listed 47th while United Kingdom was 69th.

While there is still enough water for every Filipinos these days, the water scarcity will be felt by 2040 -- that’s 25 years from now. “These country-level water stress projections are intended to provide useful information about potential future water situations that can help drive im-

proved water management at the international scale,” notes the WRI study.

In the past, water was considered an infinite resource. This thinking was exemplified by Adam Smith who pointed out in his classic work --The Wealth of Nations -- that unlimited supply of fresh water explained why it cost nothing, even though it was vital to all life.

But it’s not the case anymore. “Unlike the energy crisis, the water crisis is life threatening. The level of suffering and misery is almost beyond comprehension,” deplored Klaus Toefer when he was still the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program.

“The necessary sense of urgency is lacking,” said the New York-based United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in a statement. “The facts have been staring us in the face for years. While demand increases, the annual available fresh water supply per inhabitant is regularly decreasing and is expected to fall to an average 4,800 cubic meters by the year 2025 against 7,300 cubic meters in 1995.”

Earth is a water world as water covers 71% of the world’s total surface. This represents a volume of 1,400 million cubic kilometers, according to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Ninety-seven point five percent is too salty to be consumed or used for industrial or agricultural purposes. Fresh water represents 2.5 percent of the water total.

Water is free when it’s

flowing in a river or splashing against rocks, but it isn’t as soon as people start using it. “It costs money to make good quality water available from taps and then return it to the environment after being treated,” writes Cristina L’Homme in article which appeared in UNESCO Sources. “And the consumer doesn’t always pay for it directly when local authorities or the government are responsible for supply.”

“Free water for individuals is never free for society,” contends Lionel Robaux of the International Office of Water, especially since the cost ofwater has spiraled over the past few decades.

Prices obviously differ from rich countries to poor.

Water is fundamental for life and health. “The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity,” the UN Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights said. “It is a pre-requisite to the realization of all other human rights.”

More often than not, people who suffer the most from water stress are those living in urban areas. “It’s a major problem in cities,” Postel says. The Washington, D.C.- based Population Reference Bureau predicts that the urban population of the country will swell to 56% from the current 44%.

As such, the problem is likely to go away.

The current “crisis in water and sanitation

is -- above all -- a crisis of the poor,” notes the UNDP study, Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Water Crisis.

A World Bank report said that studies of groundwater quality in some parts of the country found 58% of the sampled groundwater were tested positive for coliform bacteria. Surveys done by some local government units have indicated that one half or more of their

public watersystems do not meet drinking water quality standards.

The UN Children’s Fund estimates some nine million people, mostly children, die annually, from water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhea, schistosomiasis, malaria, dengue, and intestinal worm infection.

“The toll is equal to 75 large airline crashes daily,”

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EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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Chika Wings

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

EDGEDAVAO FOOD

Tuna Panga

Of comfort and food at

Kusina sa Subli DINING OUT NEED NOT BE COMPLICATED. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, enjoying a meal, nowadays, is best when you can truly experience the meal minus the (unavoidable) noise. Hence, eating is not only about the food on your plate – but the experience in general. Indeed, it is the experience that sets a great meal from a good meal.

Located in a residential subdivision in Matina, Kusina sa Subli is one restaurant you need to visit. For one, it’s not a complicated restaurant. It’s simple, laid back and very homey. It’s one of those places where comfort is part of their repertoire – even in your most casual of outfits, you’d always have a reason to celebrate and indulge.

Operating since 2014, this quaint Filipino gastronomic place has significantly gained a number of followers. Mostly flocked by corporate people who seeks for a serene and nofuss dining place, Kusina sa Subli satisfies, not only the palate, but one’s holistic craving for a proper gastronomic experience unlike any other. Not to mention, everything on their menu is inexpensive and perfect for sharing amongst family and friends...any time of any day.

Personally, I love the place just because it’s near where I live. Other than that, I love their simple yet delectably satisfying dishes that reminds me of the comforts of home.

That to me is what dining

out should be -- being able to enjoy a feast without breaking your budget.

Their menu is not complicated (I love that it’s not). I love how I am able to choose a different dish every single time and end up with a new favourite.

For one, I always crave for their sizzling bulalo steak and cheese dynamite.

Must try!

Off their menu, their best sellers include grilled tuna panga (jaw) and tuna belly. Hot off the grill, theirs are always spot on delicious. The meat inside remain intact but as you bite, you’d be treated to a moist and juicy sensation that’s just bursting with sweetness. You’d truly know that what they have is fresh and not overloaded with spices or seasoning.

Another crowd favorite is their Pak-Fry (buntot ng tuna). Admittedly, I am not a big paksiw fan but I appreciated the taste of their pak-fry. Like the rest, the tuna meat remained moist and the hefty sprinkle of toasted garlic bits on top adds another depth to the already delicious meal.

If you are more of a meat eater, then they too offer a

Cheese Dynamite.

Tuna Pakfry

number of meaty dishes that’ll have you wanting an extra cup of rice in a snap. Try their chicken with white sauce and pork adobo. The chicken and white sauce combo is a refreshing take on the usual soy sauce or tomato laden chicken dishes.

Another dish you’d surely love to try is their take on Paella Negra. It’s packed, light and bursting with flavour. Don’t be deceived by the color – once you take a bite, you’d fall in love with black all over again. This si truly some-

thing that you and your friends will surely love.

A new addition to their menu is their Southside Burger and Chika-wings.

A masterpiece by Chef Frine Fuentes, the burger patty is made from pure beef and grilled just right for that ultimate burger experience. The burger itself is very delicious – I love that you can chew on some meat, veggies and that refreshing sauce in every bite. This is a definite crowd pleaser and a wellrecommended dish.

On the other hand, the

deep fried chicken wings is also something you’d want to munch on all night long.

What I like about these babies is that the sauce is made from scratch – with ingredients that highlights the many fresh produce of Davao. It’s a bit on the spicy end so expect a kick of flavours in your mouth.

Aside from the food, Kusina also has four spacious VIP rooms perfect for an all-night fun with your family and friends.

Sing all night or play pool with your buddies – whichever you fancy, Ku-

sina has the perfect room for you. All room rates are consumable.

Kusina sa Subli is located at Subli St., Lanzona Subdivision, Davao City.

For orders and reservations, you may call them at 082 297 0237. They are open Mondays to Saturdays 10:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 12:00am.

Make #TheRoyalChef your Thursday habit. Follow my messy food affair at the theroyalchefeats. wordpress.com or on Instagram at @theroyalchefleebai.

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UP AND ABOUT

An MXtraordinary Araw ng Davao MARCH 16 MARKS THE FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF DAVAO. Yearly a grand celebration is orchestrated for this big city, being one of the largest cities in the world in terms of land area.

The past few years, Davao has transformed and progressed swiftly as major commercial and industrial developments are seen from the North to the South of the metropolis. It is recognized more than ever as a key city in Mindanao. Befitting the grandness of the city, the Araw ng Davao is celebrated by a host of events that spans a week.

The opening of this momentous event was held in San Pedro Square and other activities followed soon after. The highlights of the festivities include the Datu Bago Awards.

This years awardees of this prestigious accolade are: Fr. Willian Joseph Malley, S.J. and Teody Boylie Roxas Perez Ph.D. Another well-attended event is the Mutya ng Davao, a showcase of the Dabawenyas beauty, poise, grace and intellectual prowess. The gorgeous ladies visited the offices of the Platinum Sponsors, which included DMI – MX3. The coronation night was held at the Davao City Recreation Center. The Mxtraordinary Award was given to Ms. Jovilyn Gavan for her extraordinary beauty and grace during the competition. DMI – MX3 was represented to give the award by the Chairman of the Board, Madame Emilia Mendoza. The lady of the

night who brought home the Mutya ng Davao title was Allyza Molly Teodoro.

Other winners were Ms. Dane Rhea Sillo- Diwa ng Davao, Ms. Maria Karis Gabriela M. del CorroSinag ng Davao, Ms. Elda Louise Aznar- Pag-asa ng Davao, and Ms. Angelica Almaden- Patnubay ng Davao.

The month of March was jam packed with grand activities ranging from arts, musical, cultural, sports and street events to float parades and mall shows. The main highlight of the celebration is the parade which was represented by various sectors including government institutions, private companies, non government organizations which all made Davao what it is now, a successful, organized and mutli- awared city every Davaeno can be proud of.

For a more vibrant festivity and merriment, MX3 Team together with ABS-CBN Kapamilya Karavan enlivened the opening of Araw ng Davao last March 12, 2016 as they surprised thousands of Dabawenyos at SM City Davao. The hottest Kapamilya stars – Daniel Padilla & Kathryn Bernardo, Inigo Pascual & Miles Ocampo, and Kenzo Gutierrez & Julia Barretto, serenaded their local fans and hyped up

the summer heat of the activity. As a way of giving back to their relentless supporters in Davao City, the MX3 Team graced the event with the game “Sakit Mo, Arte Mo”. Participants were competitive in acting certain health concern per team. MX3

gift-packs were then given to everyone who joined the game.

The team then trooped to Gaisano Mall Toril, last March 16 for the Kapuso Mall Show. GMA Kapuso fans flooded the area as they witnessed their lovely Kapuso stars featuring

the lead cast of My Little Nanay, Kris Bernal, Juancho Trevino and Hero Peralta. MX3 Team was also generous in giving game prizes to the participants of MX3 Hooray and MX3 Longest Breath.

Audience cheered for their favorite contestant and the ultimate survivors of the games were hailed as winners.

DMI Medical Supply Co., Inc. was glad to bring back the glory to God by sharing and supporting in the Araw ng Davao 2016. The commitment throughout the activities was a way of thanksgiving to the Dabawenyos on

their continued support to MX3 by using MX3 products in improving their immune system. MX3 variants like MX3 Capsule Plain and MX3 Capsule Plus with L-Carnitine & CoQ10, MX3 Coffee and MX3 Tea, were all harnessed from the natural components of alpha, beta and gamma mangostana found in the pericarp of the Mangosteen fruit.

The Araw ng Davao 2016 was a big success amidst multi-cultural differences in the city. The heart of togetherness in diversity brought out the spirit of joy, happiness and peace

SM Lanang Premier presents ‘Flavor Fusion’ TO INTENSIFY THE VISIT DAVAO FUN SALE (VDFS) 2016 CAMPAIGN, SM Lanang Premier, in partnership with Department of Tourism-Region XI, is staging a culinary festival showcasing Davao’s unique and bold flavors on April 3, 9 and 10.

The said festival dubbed “Flavor Fusion: Davao on a Plate” aims to make the VDFS more exciting and enticing for tourists. It takes inspiration from the Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM) 2016, the first and only Asian edition of Madrid Fusion, which is the world’s most prestigious Spanish gastronomy congress.

In the spirit of the MFM, the metro’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination is bringing Davao City’s finest chefs and culinary experts together in Flavor Fusion, which will draw emphasis on Davao’s most delectable signature dishes in time for the 10-week Visit Davao Fun Sale.

P a r t i c i p a t i n g establishments include Vikings-SM Lanang Premier, Bistro Selera, Park Inn by Radisson Davao, Center for Asian Culinary Studies, The Crazy Cook, Chippens, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao and Marco Polo Davao.

Co-sponsors for the event are Davao Crocodile Park, Sun Made Brown Rice and Kitayama Beef.

“Flavor Fusion: Davao on a Plate” is set to be launched on Sunday, April 3 at The

Atrium, SM Lanang Premier.

The following weekend, live culinary demonstrations

featuring Vikings and Marco Polo Davao on April 9, 4 pm and Park Inn by Radisson Davao and Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on April 10, 4pm are to take place at the Atrium as well.

Apart from supporting Visit Davao Fun Sale 2016, Flavor Fusion also aims to promote the Department of Tourism’s ‘Flavors of the Philippines,’ a month-long gastronomic feast, which is held in conjunction with the MFM and invites tourists to experience the exciting and varying flavors of the Philippines’ 7,107 islands.

For more details, call 2850943 local 136-138 or visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

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ENTERTAINMENT

Glaiza De Castro and Chynna Ortaleza’s indie film ‘Maria’ makes it in Cannes Festival 2016

Biyahe ni Drew celebrates 3rd anniversary, visits Israel and Jordan

GLAIZA DE CASTRO AND C H Y N N A O R TA L E Z A ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE that an indie film where they both star in entitled ‘Maria’ made it to the short film category of Cannes Film Festival in France this May.

‘Maria’ is a passion project of director ER Alviz together with young aspiring filmmakers and the two Kapuso stars willingly extended their help. Chynna was chosen by the director while Glaiza was recommended for the main role. The short film premiered in Cinemalaya last year and was showcased in Q Cinema Film Festival.

In the film, Glaiza plays the role of a nun who gets pregnant unexpectedly and Chynna portrays Glaiza’s conscience.

According to the film’s producer Therese de Guzman, it was easy and comfortable to work with Chynna and Glaiza even if it was only a low budget production.

“Masaya to work with [Glaiza and Chynna] hindi nahirapan ‘yung director kahit maliit lang din ‘yung team,”

AS BIYAHE NI DREW CELEBRATES ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY THIS APRIL, the 2015 Anak TV Seal Awardee takes its viewers to a month-long trip to Israel and Jordan.

This Friday, April 1, Biyahe ni Drew joins the rest of the world in celebrating the first week of Easter as the show tours Israel. Drew Arellano goes back to the holy sites said to have been visited by Jesus Christ during his earthly life—Cana, where the miracle of turning water into wine occurred; and the Sea of Galilee, where Christians believe Jesus walked on water. Drew will also try traditional Israeli dishes like St. Peter’s fish and various kebabs.

The following week, Drew will explore Israel for travelers who seek to go beyond the churches, synagogues, and mosques. One of the places he will go is The World Holocaust Remembrance Center—the Jewish people’s living memorial that commemorates the sacrifices of millions of Holocaust martyrs.

No trip to Israel is also complete without a visit to The Western Wall. Known as well as the Wailing Wall, Biyahe ni Drew will take viewers to this place considered holy by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. Lastly, Drew will sample the various Israeli desserts made of nuts and honey.

Watch the first two episodes of Biyahe ni Drew’s 3rd Anniversary Special on April 1 and 8, 8 p.m., on GMA News TV.

she says.

Hard work paid off for the whole team when they found out that they will be a part of the prestigious film festival and get international recognition this May. G l a i z a congratulated the whole team on

her Instagram and thanked Chynna for giving her the acting gig.

“So happy to hear that Maria is part of Festival de Cannes, Court Métrage this coming May 2016!

Congrats everyone!

And thank you @ chynsortaleza (alam

mo na kung bakit) Fly away Maria,” Glaiza said.

While Chynna captioned her post with: “Come May, our film and our wonderful team will be flying to Cannes! #Maria To God be the Glory! Passion always prevails.”

SM City Davao launches video competition IN CELEBRATION OF SM SUPERMALLS’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY, SM City Davao launches an open video-making competition dubbed as “Davao in 30 Seconds”.

The project in partnership with the Davao City Tourism Operations Office and other private agencies aims to promote Davao City as a prime destination for both local and foreign tourists. It also comes in time for the 2016 Visit Davao Fun Sale campaign.

The competition is open to all. Interested parties may submit their 30-second output with the theme “Experience Davao: Sounds, Sight, and Soul”

to SM City Davao Marketing Department on or before April 14. Resolution of the video must comply with Facebook’s aspect ratio that is not larger than 1280x1080px or 740x480px, AVI format.

Entries must be saved in a USB, submitted in a sealed envelope labelled with the following information: Entry Title, Contestant’s Name, Phone Number, and Email Address. The contest participants are expected to comply with copyright laws.

Criteria for judging will be: Creativity & Originality - 20%; Interpretation of the Theme 40%; Entertainment Value - 10%; Video Quality - 10% and Virality 20%. Up for grabs are P15,000 for the grand prize and P10,000 and P5,000 for the first and second runner up, respectively.

Complete mechanics are available at SM City Davao’s Facebook page. For inquiries, interested parties may call 297.6998.

March 28 – April 1, 2016

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill PG

11:00 | 1:45 | 4:30 | 7:15 | 10:00 LFS

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE 3D Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill PG

12:00 | 3:00 | 6:00 | 9:00 LFS

KUNG FU PANDA 3 / *HELE SA HIWAGANG HAPIS Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman/ *Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz G/*PG

12:00 | 2:00 LFS / *4:00

LONDON HAS FALLEN/ *ALLEGIANT Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman/ * Shailene Woodley, Theo James R13/*PG

11:05 | 1:10 | 3:15 LFS / *5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

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A healthy fit alternative FOOD

THE SEASON FOR BARING A LITTLE MORE SKIN AND BODY IS NOW IN FULL SWING. With so many beach events and parties happening on the calendar, I am pretty sure a lot of the young and restless are bringing on their “A game” to be fit and fabulous.

Although I am a gym rat myself, logging on laps in the pool as well as kilometres on the treadmill, I do find it hard to attain the desired body sans the “handles”. Maybe its because to create that chiseled physique, working out is just part of the equation with the other part coming from what

Healthy and filling Chicken Teriyaki Wrap.

Happy Fit’s Nutri Waffle with Banana and pPeanut Butter topping.

Co-owners Keilah Rodriguez, Vic Lao and Jico Haw.

one eats.

For those people who personally know me, I am a foodie and cannot say no to a juicy burger especially when it is paired with crispy fries and a rich milkshake. It was with this in mind that a group of fitness friends who also happened to be foodies decided to open the Happy Fit Nutrition Hub. A fusion between a fitness supplements store as well as a dining establishment, Happy Fit gives fitness buffs easier access to their workout needs as well as gives diners a healthier, guilt-free way of enjoying comfort food while still aiming for their goals for having a fitter, leaner body. ”Maintaining a controlled diet took much of my time. I have to carefully count my caloric intake. With this venture, I now get to share my fitness regimen to our clients and make things easier for them,” said Happy Fit co-owner Vic Lao “All the food in our menu are calorie counted so you are still in control of your food intake”.

On the menu at Happy Fit are their burgers and wraps. The Burgainz is an all-protein burger that comes with sides of veggie chips with a calorie count of 416. The burger is moist with its whole-wheat buns soaking up the burger’s juices. It certainly does not taste like diet food.

My favourite though would be Happy Fit’s Chicken Teriyaki Wrap which is made of chicken strips and mango wrapped in a whole-wheat tortilla. At just 210 calories, the tangy and sweet tasting wrap is not only light on the calories but also filling to the belly.

Happy Fit’s Burgainz is a healthier burger alternative.

Got a tooth for des- to choose from. Happy Fit sert? Happy Fit also serves also serves various shakes waffles as a sweet treat that are infused with with choices of healthy whey protein for that after toppings such as peanut workout boost. butter, banana, and honey Happy Fit is located

inside the Plaza de Bole compound along F. Torres Street and is open Monday to Saturday from 11 in the morning to 8 in the evening.

Seven... FROM 15 (SPORTS) the visitors’ favour, however, the home side staged a strong comeback with a two quick-fire goals from Manuel Ott and Iain Ramsay sealing a memorable victory for the tournament debutants. In another match in the group, having seen their progression confirmed

by Korea DPR’s loss, Uzbekistan went on to win 1-0 over Bahrain at home.

The other attractions With Saudi Arabia qualified as winners of the pool, all focus in Group A was on United Arab Emirates. After both Jordan and Korea DPR lost respectively, the job by the 2019 AFC Asian Cup hosts became easy as they could progress on goal difference even with a home loss. As it turned out, Omar Abdulrahman cancelled out Taisir Al Jassim’s early strike as

UAE played out a 1-1 stalemate against the Saudis, a result which proved more than enough to seal their progression. Another game saw Palestine finish on a high, firing seven unanswered goals past Timor-Leste at home.

Robbie Kruse provided three assists as Group Bwinners Australia rounded off their second round campaign with an emphatic 5-1 home defeat of Jordan. The victory saw Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos progress as clear section winners and left the visitors in contention for one of the four best-runners-up spots. With the other concerning results unfolding, though, the Jordanians were left bemoaning their lack of luck as they narrowly missed out on a place in the next round by trailing both China and UAE by just a point in the runners-up standings.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF SALE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LICENIO MALINO BAGAY has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF SALE executed among his heirs per Doc. No.196; Page No.40; Book No. 115; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN 3/31.4/7.14

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Tebow Cure in Davao already serves 700 kids A

FTER almost a year since it started operations in Davao, the Tebow Cure Hospital has already served 700 kids with orthopedic conditions.

Dr. Time Mead, national medical director and orthopedic surgeon, said it has always been their goal to reach out to many children in Mindanao. “We have treated children coming from the different parts of Mindanao,” he said.

The Tebow Cure Hospital specializes in pediatric orthopedics providing treatment to children with conditions like

knock knees, bowed legs and neglected clubfoot. Their treatment is on charity.

Tebow Cure Hospital-Davao is first in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.

Mead said he works with CURE International and other several donors.

He said they evaluate at least 30 children and conduct 10 to 15 operations weekly that are handled by Mead and two other surgeons.

Mead said a club foot condition for paying patient would cost about PHP60,000 but kids of poor families get it for free.

The hospital also conducts outreach clinics in other cities in the island and will run mobile clinics as part of its future plan, he said. “We treat children with (orthopedic) condition of ages 0 to 18 years old and assist each child if we know we can help,” he said.

Mead said the hospital has so far shown good performance and “we plan to expand our hospital so that we could treat more.”

“If we can put up another floor then we have additional rooms to accommodate more kids,” he said. He said they aim

to reach 1,000 operations/ treatment on their second year.

On the other hand, Vince Bitania, development and sustainability director of TCH Davao said they will be facilitating a Fun Run as their awareness campaign to reach out to the public for help and assistance to indigent patients.

Aside from the Fun Run, he said they have stationed donation box in major malls for those who don’t want to run but are willing to donate for the sake of the underprivileged children with bone deformities. (PNA)

going to do with the school supplies that you received today?). He said, “Itago naku para sa akong manghod ug kuhaan naku para pod akoa.”

(I will keep this for my brother and just get a little share for myself.) In a further interview, we learned that they are four siblings in the family and his father has on and off duty as a mechanic in a repair shop.

Even long before, this social responsibility becomes the conviction of all teachers in the Values Department, a year wouldn’t be a fulfilling one

without reaching the poor in the community ,specially, children. The Sta. Ana High School Values teachers have already set in their hearts the love of giving and each effort is coming from within. Around 2000 children were the recipients since they have started this advocacy. Extending amount from the pocket despite the meager net pay does not give a glitch of disdain but rather a wistful thought of being not able to give more. How little may the amount be, once accumulated, it becomes big and this is the

recourse made by teachers to sustain this advocacy that they conducted every year.

The act of giving was the highlight in the activity which played significant event in touching the lives of the innocence this Christmas. Although the act of giving lasted for a short hour but the occasion brought a fulfillment of the desire to help.

The shared moments of teachers with these children will live lingering memories to mark surely a beautiful experience to children. The value of caring and sharing gradually inculcate

in their character. The teaching of values is not only served in the four corners of the room but in a full view of reaching out the outside community. For no exact meaning of happiness is found in itself unless expressed in the virtue of giving and loving. This little act of love yields the comforting touch of these children which attribution delivers the gratifying feeling to teachers who do not choose to live for their own but rather choose to live a charitable life in making a difference. ELENITA C. BUSTON

Deprived... FROM 14 (COMPETITIVE EDGE)

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Deprived children move teachers’hearts

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INAWAYAN Elementary School pupils and faculty bear smiles infront of their recently donated 1-storey 2-classroom building from Therma South, Inc. and Aboitiz Foundation together with the local government unit of the municipality of Sta. Cruz and Department of Education.

Additional classrooms benefit Inawayan pupils A

BOUT a hundred students in Inawayan Elementary School in Sta. Cruz town no longer have to attend classes in makeshift classrooms, thanks to the one-storey two-classroom building donated recently

by AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. and Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with the local government and the Department of Education.

The two classrooms are each equipped with 50 armchairs, a teacher’s table, two

electric fans, comfort rooms and full-sized blackboards.

“Hindi na ako maalikabukan at matutumbahan ng blackboard. Masisigurado ko na po na ako’y makakapag-aral ng mabuti at makakamit ko na ang aking pangarap. Daghan kaayong salamat, TSI,” 4th grader John Kirby Cedeno said during the ceremonial turnover of the classrooms last February 23.

A handwashing facility, and an auxiliary classroom was also donated by Therma South’s contractor, Cherr

Straw Construction and Supply.

From 2012 up to the present, Inawayan Elementary School received one AGAPP Silid Pangarap building and 350 armchairs from AboitizPower and Aboitiz Foundation. AboitizPower also implemented classroom rewiring and enhancement projects in the school, which has a student population of 1,266.

“I have always said this, AboitizPower is the best thing that happened in Sta.

The fire, which began during Black Saturday at the Kapatagan Trail in Digos City, has already razed some 300 hectares of forest land. Its cause has yet to be determined.

Fuertes said that as climate change occurs, the watersheds will be more vulnerable to forest fires. “This is the new normal. As climate patterns are disrupted, resulting in long periods where there is no rain, forest fires will most certainly happen.”, she said.

The raging fire has already wiped out the mini-forest in Lake Venado, a popular and ecologically important tourist attraction in the area.

“It’s tragic that this had to happen to Mt. Apo. Given the

high elevation and harsh environmental conditions – too cold and too windy- it will not be easy to rehabilitate the local forest ecology which has survived for hundreds of years.”

“Long-term watershed management planning should take this into account. All land, natural resource and community planning should include the management and mitigation of wildfire at all appropriate scales. Here in Davao, the WMC should especially work with the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to come up with the protocols to address scenarios like this.”, she said.

On Monday this week, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte or-

Cruz,” Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray L. Lopez said in his speech during the ceremonial turnover.

Aside from improving the quality of the pupils’ learning environment, Therma South has also been providing assistance for the capability building of the faculty and staff of Inawayan Elementary School, like the teacher’s training for K-12 tech-voc courses. Therma South has also committed to support the teachers’ training for K-12 Tech-Voc courses for five years.

Envi group urges watershed council to develop wildfire protection plans T HE watershed advocacy group Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) underscored the need for wildfire protection protocols to address the possibility of the forest fire reaching the city’s watersheds.

“The Watershed Management Council should be monitoring this situation closely since ,as per media reports, the forest fire is threatening to spread to Tamayong area which is located in Mt. Talomo watershed. The WMC should have a quick reaction plan to prevent the fire from wiping out the remaining dipterocarp forests in the area.”, said IDIS executive director Ann Fuertes.

dered the city’s Central 911 to help the local government units in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato in containing the forest fire. But as of Tuesday, March 29, the forest fire has yet to be put down.

Fuertes called on stakeholders to proactively pitch in to protect the city’s watersheds. “While Central 911 and other disaster management units are at the frontline battling the forest fire, other local stakeholders who have the capacity, resources and expertise on forest management and conservation should take part in planning for preventive measures to protect our city’s remaining forests from being burnt.”,she said.

IME is not what counts.

The moment in time that being shared and spent for these less fortunate children moves the hearts of these teachers to reach out more those in needs.

Behind the scenes of a progressive Davao City, there are still more families left behind in the pacing of development.

Parents’ earns cannot suffice for the three meals a day. Children are the most affected for they come to school with starving stomach by skipping the breakfast. Despite the efforts exerted to augment in securing for regular meals on table, they are still deprived of food and shelter.

The growing economy in Davao City is very apparent.

The increasing number of investors and vehicles in the city manifested that economic growth emerges, however; amid economic development, cases of poverty remain worst to some families who are experiencing extreme hardship which condition is true to some children studying in Jose L. Porras Elementary School.

This reality smote the hearts of the Values teachers of Sta.Ana National High School in which a collective action of soliciting items for these least fortunate children in the society ensued to alleviate in one way or an-

other the feeling of deprivation on basic needs for their studies.

This is an apt time to extend something to give at this Christmas season. This little action of generosity mounted a big smile on the faces of these poor children upon receiving the “Pamaskong Handog Mula” sa Edukasyon Sa Pagkakatao (ESP) in giving school supplies to the children in different levels in Jose L. Porras Elementary School, San Roque District, New Salmonan, Agdao Davao City last December 15, 2015 spearheaded by the Values Department with Mr. Arnel Real, Values Department Head Teacher.

Most of the recipients according to Master Teacher II Gladys Real, in the said school, that “these recipients were identified as the poorest in Barangay, Salmonan ,Agdao, Davao City and the subject of some Community Projects coming from Non-Government Organizations. The Officer Incharge Nymfa Cania ,a Master Teacher I with the advisers whose presence had witnessed the gestures of joy perceived when one from the recipients, James Pocari, Grade V , section Tasaday was asked in an interview,“ Unsaon nimo ang mga school suppiles na nadawat nimo karon?” (What are you

F DEPRIVED, 13

Alliance Select to expand presence in Japan

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ISTED international food company, Alliance Select, has outlined its expansion plans to boost its market presence and foothold in the East Asian market.

Alliance Select has ratcheted up initiatives to broaden its market share in neighboring Japan, one of the largest fresh and canned seafood importers, by increasing marketing activities while establishing wider distribution channels.

The company said it intends to cement its position in the region which would further support global sales and develop and manage product portfolios in the region to target the Japanese market and respond to emerging trends.

Alliance Select is targeting younger consumers in Japan who are reported to have the lack of skills to prepare and cook fish and seafood which threatens the long-term future of the fishing industry in the country, but this only means that Alliance products would be fit in the market.

“While the aging and declining population have taken its toll on fish volume sales in Japan, the younger generation prefers ready-to-eat meals and consumer foodservice,” Alliance Select said.

Based on data from Euromonitor, Alliance Select said the Japanese are well known for their high per capita consumption of fish and seafood,

which was reported at just under 32kg in 2014, almost seven times greater than US consumption.

Fish and seafood remain central to the Japanese diet, but per capita consumption has fallen from close to 40kg in 2007, illustrating the influence of changing demographics and the Westernization of Japanese diet.

“Our established global reputations and leading position provide a strong platform to grow our international market shares through product line extensions and expansion of our distribution networks, particularly in market that consumes the exact product we provide,” Alliance Select president Raymond See said.

The firm is set to enter into distribution agreements in Japan to expand its reach.

Processed tuna products of Alliance Select are sold in the United States, Middle East, and Europe.

The growing global demand for fish and seafood and an increase in prices for these products, particularly in China and Western Europe come to fore of the tuna canning industry. These trends, however, will negatively impact Japan’s status as the leading global importer of fish and seafood. But Alliance is optimistic that its products are in line with the increased consumer awareness of healthy foods of the Japanese.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

SPORTS 15

No weight woes for Pacquiao W

EIGHT is hardly an issue for Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for a third meeting with Tim Bradley, so much so that he can eat every he pleases barely two weeks before fight night.

“Eat all you can (nga tayo),” he said after training on Monday while partaking a piece of tapa, scrambled egg, and rice in between watching an NBA game pitting the Oklahoma Thunder against the Toronto Raptors on a large screen inside the Nat’s Thai Restaurant adjacent to the Wildcard gym here.

Pacquiao would rather not divulge his weigh right now although he said he doesn’t expect to encounter a problem meeting the welterweight limit of 147.

The eight-time world champion said he can even make it as low as lightweight, which he admitted is his natural weight.

“Kaya pa nga ng 135 eh,” Pacquiao stressed.

It was trainer Freddie Roach who said the Filipino boxing great weighed in at 145 lbs.

“It’s a little bit low, but when he works hard that’s what happens,” said Roach.

On second thought, the 56-year-old trainer said Pacquiao fighting at a lighter weight gives him enough speed to create problems for a slow-moving fighter such as Bradley.

“The speed is great and it really works for him,” said Roach. “Speed and power, that’s what I want to see, we haven’t seen it in a long while.”

Earlier, Pacquiao held his morning jog at the Griffith Park all the way to the top of the famed Hollywood sign despite the early Monday drizzle.

“Rain or shine, (tuloy pa rin),” he said just as he finished his two-hour jog together with his entourage. (Spin.ph)

The Filipino Fab Four at the Tangshan Sports Centre after light training & breakfast today. From left, flyweight Rogen Ladon, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, lightweight Charly Suarez and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial.

4 RP boxers in Olympic Yngayo, Caresosa rule Araw Rapid Youth Chess qualifier semifinals

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ITH temperatures dipping to as low as 3*C, the Philippine contingent turned up the heat Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Asian-Oceanian Olympic Qualifying event at the state-of-the-art Tangshan Sports Centre in this northern city 2.5 hours drive from Beijing.

Four of the five Filipino boxers won their respective quarterfinals assignments with team captain Charly Suarez leading the way with another decisive win, this time over lanky Dheeraj of India with scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28.

The veteran slugger will face China’s Shan Jun in the semifinal round Thursday.

“I know he has the hometown crowd but I have a fight plan that I think will turn things around for me,” said the 27 year old in the vernacular.

Number one seed Rogen Ladon displayed speed and accuracy to thwart Iraq’s Al-Kaabi in another unanimous decision win (30-25 in all the judges’ cards; the Iraqi was assessed 2 points deduction for ducking).

Ladon’s semifinals foe will be a shifty Devendro Singh Laisham of india.

Welterweight Eumir Felix

Marcial, also ranked number one here, had no problem disposing of Kazemzadehposhtiri from Iran.

The judges had the strapping young Zamboangueno winning hands down, 30-27 (twice) and 29-28.

He goes up against Shakram Giyasov of Uzbekistan in the semis.

The Uzbek powered his way to the next level against a Korean.

Mario Fernandez likewise barged into the semifinals with a 30-27, 30-27 & 29-28 decision over Alwadi of Jordan.

He has a highly regarded Thai, Chatchai Butdee as his next opponent.

But it was Nesthy Petecio’s unanimous decision loss to 5-time world champion Mery Kom Hmangte of India that broke the Filipinos’ hearts.

“We thought Nesthy had her.

She delivered clear blows and outboxed the Indian. We were surprised with the decision,” said women’s head coach Roel Velasco.

For her part, Petecio remarked “She hardly touched me. And I could hear her grunt and groan every time I hit her. Many times. I hope I have another chance at her.

I promise you it will be much different.”

T

ORIL’S Irish Yngayo outclassed both her male and female rivals to rule the Kiddies Mixed Division in the 79th Araw Rapid Youth Chess tournament held recently at the Davao Wisdom Academy.

The 12-year old Yngayo, a student of the Davao Central College scored a total of 6.0 points to beat 51 players including her own sister Lorraine Yngayo, who settled for second runner-up with 5.0 points.

Lorraine lost in a tiebreak to first runner-up Jude Nathaniel Enoc of Davao City.

Irish, a qualifier of the Asean Age Group and member of the Philippine team received P2,500 cash prize and a trophy. Enoc pocketed P1,500 and a trophy while Lorraine got P750 plus a medal.

Third runner-up Blanche Ellyz Bongato of Stella Maris Academy of Davao carded 4.5 points to earn P500 and

a medal.

Meanwhile Japheth Aaron Caresosa of Panabo edged out Davao’s Ben Clyde Castro in a tiebreak to win the Junior Mixed category. Both of them finished with identical 4.5 points.

Caresosa, however, emerged champion to bring home P3,000 and a trophy.

Castro settled for P2,000 and a trophy.

Gino Angelo Asuncion of San Pedro College Davao (4.0) and Kurt John Placen-

cia (4.0) placed second and third runners-up, respectively to earn P1,000 and P500.

The best female performers were Jose Maria College’s Honey Grae Buenafe (Junior) and Toril’s Florence Faith Guevarra (Kiddies), who both got P500 each.

The tournament was sponsored by the City Sports Development Division and organized by the Metro Davao Youth Chess Club under Ronnie Tabudlong. – SDD-CMO

Banas said the bulk of the athletes, teachers and coaches will arrive on the first week of April.

The DedEd is expecting at least 18,000 delegates from the country’s 18 regions will converge for the annual sports event designed to discover future sports heroes.

Banas assured that finishing touches being done in

some of the facilities, particularly the billeting centers, would not hamper the training of the athletes.

He said playing venues are now 95 percent ready.

The best students athletes around the country will compete archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball,

swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball.

Demonstration sports are billiards, futsal, wrestling and wushu.

Host Bicol region is hoping to improve its 10th place finish in Davao to fifth place.

Last year, the Bicol athletes brought home nine gold, 14 silver and 19 bronze medals. (PNA)

the sides all made it to AFC Asian Cup qualifying. The next top-sixteen finishers, including the four remaining runners-up, progress to the third qualifying round to UAE 2019, while even the rest of the teams had their own share of joy by featuring in the AFC Asian Cup qualifying play-off round.

Join FIFA.com as we review all of the exciting action across the continent.

the Chollima at home. In what proved to be a seesaw-battle, the hosts, who came away with an unlikely goalless draw in Pyongyang, came from behind to see off a side 44 places above them in the FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking. While the result did little to help the Razkals’ qualification, it did contribute in shattering the visitors’ hopes of a place in the last 12.

Desperately needing points to secure progression, Korea DPR pressed hard from the outset. It was, however, the home side that took the lead in surprising fashion, Misagh Bahadoran heading home to complete a move initiated by Javier Patino two minutes from the break. So Kyong-Jin soon drew the scoreline level before Ri Hyok-Chol put the visitors ahead shortly after the restart. The game looking destined for victory in

Athletes start familiarization training for Palarong Pambansa

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UNDREDS of athletes have arrived in Albay to start the familiarization training for the prestigious Palarong Pambansa set April 10 to 16.

Department of Education (DepEd) Bicol spokesperson Roy Banas said first to arrive were 700 delegates from Region 9 last week followed by participants from Region 8 on Tuesday.

Seven progress to complete Asia’s last-12 WC line-up

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FAREWELL GAME. Azkals veteran Juani Guirado drops to the pitch at the final whistle of the Philippines-North Korea game won by the Azkals 3-2. Guirado played his last game after announcing his retirement earlier. FIFA photo

HE line-up of Asia’s third qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ was complete with the remaining seven slots filled on Tuesday’s closing matchday of the second round. While Australia, Iran and Uzbekistan all prevailed to progress as group winners, Syria, Iraq, China PR and United Arab Emirates finished as the four best runners-up to join the already-qualified Qatar, Korea Republic, Japan, Thailand and Saudi Arabia in the next phase. The draw for the next round will take place on 12 April in Kuala Lumpur.

With the competition also serving as the qualifying for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates, these teams received added reward with qualification to the continental finals. Despite elimination from FIFA World Cup qualifying, though, the rest of

The match of the day Philippines 3-2 Korea DPR Goals: Misagh Bahadoran 43, Manuel Ott 84, Iain Ramsay 90; So Kyong Jin 45+2, Ri Hyok Chol 48 Philippines from Group H, under American Thomas Dooley, produced one of the matchday’s biggest surprises by overcoming South Africa 2010 finalists Korea DPR 3-2, fulfilling the former USA captain’s promise of defeating

FSEVEN, 13

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports GOOD DEFENDING. Davao’s Amani Aguinaldo (12) of the Philippines defends against North Korea in this bit of action during the tightlycomntested Philippines-North Korea match in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The Azkals stunned the world no. 94 North Koreans, a WC nation in 2010, 3-2 to salvage third place in Asia Group H. Looking on is Simone Rota (4). FIFA Photo

VOL. VOL.99ISSUE ISSUE20 20••THURSDAY, THURSDAY,MARCH MARCH31, 31,2016 2016

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HE Philippine men’s football team refused to disappoint the home crowd as it stunned North Korea, 3-2, to finish its World Cup/ Asian Cup second-round qualifying campaign on a high note on Tuesday night.

The Azkals squandered an early lead and saw themselves trailing in the second half, but stayed stout defensively before finally getting rewarded with two goals late in the second half to secure the impressive victory against a country ranked 94th in the world.

Iaian Ramsay came off the bench in the second half and scored the game-winner a minute before stoppage time off a nifty feed from Javier Patino.

“The words we have on our t-shirts: ‘We believe’ – that was the main thing,” Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said. “We just had to believe we can play football and beat teams like North Korea.”

The Philippines has now been assured of a berth in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifying after finishing the second round in third spot with

AZKALS BITE

10 points in eight matches as Bahrain wound up fourth with nine points following a 1-0 loss to Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Misagh Bahadoran, playing in his first match since serving a one-game suspension, heralded his return with a header off a rebound that increased his tournament total to a team-leading three goals and put the Azkals up two minutes before first-half stoppage time.

But the Koreans quickly equalized as So Kyong Jin scored off their own rebound as the Azkals failed to make a clearance in the last possession of the first half.

Despite suddenly finding themselves trailing after Korea found the back of the anew three minutes after intermission, the Azkals played without pressure and kept taking the fight to their higher-ranked foes.

The Filipino booters were finally rewarded as Manny Ott finished a team goal in the 84thminute to knot the count anew and set the stage for Ramsay’s heroics five minutes later.

(Spin.ph)

Pinoy booters stun North Korea 3-2