Edge Davao 9 Issue 29 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 29 • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

WHY THE OUTAGES. Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. (DLPC) executive vice president and chief operating officer Arturo M. Milan explains to members of the media with the aid of an audio video presentation the reasons behind the 5-hour power interruptions that Davao City and other provinces in Mindanao are experiencing. Milan made the presentation during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

DUTERTE TOPS LATEST SURVEY Too early to celebrate: Evasco SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS (SWS) SURVEY March 30 - April 2, 2016

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE camp of presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will not be complacent despite Duterte’s topping the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) presidential survey. Duterte got 27 percent of the 1,500 respondents nationwide in the SWS survey which was conducted last March 30 to April 2. Duterte was followed by Sen. Grace Poe with 23 percent, Vice President Jejomar Binay with 20 percent, former

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas 18 percent and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago 3 percent. Duterte’s chief campaign strategist Leoncio Evasco Jr. said it is still too early to celebrate since the Election Day is still a month away. “While we are elated with the results of the recent surveys of SWS, Pulse Asia and Manila Standard, we believe the final arbiter of election is the voters on Election Day,” Evasco said. Evasco said that the real

thing will be known this coming May 9. He said the lead over other candidates “is still very tenuous and there is much work to do.” “It is not over until it is over,” he said For his part, local party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod secretary general J. Melchor V. Quitain said Duterte’s ratings surge only shows that the government platform on peace and order is appreciated by the people.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 29 • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

LONG QUEUE. Dozens of passengers are forced to stand in line for up to three hours without shade while waiting to board a motorized passenger vessel which will bring them to a popular resort in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS). Lean Daval Jr.

Lanao Sur PPOC seeks speedy trial of Marawi mayor’s ambush

HE Lanao del Sur provincial peace and order council (PPOC) on Monday urged the Northern Mindanao police office to speed up the investigation on the murder attempt of Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic in Cagayan de Oro City over the weekend. Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., presiding chairman of the PPOC, said the council also urged the Philippine National Police-Region 10 (PNP-10) to do its best in identifying the brains behind the attempt on Salic’s life. Salic, who is seeking the gubernatorial post of Lanao del Sur, was on board a red Ford pick-up truck driven by Kaer Gunting, was leaving Pryce Hotel in Cagayan de Oro when ambushed by gunmen. Salic and his driver were

seriously wounded but doctors said they are already out of danger. To date, the suspects remain at large and the CDO police office investigators are closely coordinating with the victims’ families. Salic’s allies were convinced the ambush was election-related. But police are yet to come up with investigation results. The council passed a resolution urging the people of Lanao del Sur, including victims’ relatives, to refrain from speculating so as not to fuel the situation in the province. Salic of Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition is one of the three candidates for governor of Lanao Sur which is a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). (PNA)

Slain foreign terrorist an explosive expert: AFP

HE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has confirmed that the slain foreign terrorist in a clash with government troops in Basilan is an explosive expert and a jihadist preacher. The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) identified the slain foreign terrorist as Mohammad Khattab, a Moroccan national. Khattab was killed together with five Abu Sayyaf brigands in an intense gun battle in Sitio Bayoko, Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan on Saturday. Gen. Hernando Delfin Carmelo Iriberri, AFP Chief-ofStaff, made the confirmation in an interview at Camp Don Basilio Navarro that houses

the Westmincom headquarters in the city. Iriberri said that Khattab “was trying to organize and unite local lawless armed groups and KFRGs (kidnapfor-ransom-groups) to link with international terrorist groups as well as spread radicalism and extremism.” Iriberri along with Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin arrived here Sunday morning and met with Westmincom officials headed by Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz to get a first hand information of the intense gun battle. They also visited the wounded soldiers at the Camp Navarro General Hospital. (PNA)

Duterte stops rice aid to Kidapawan By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

he Davao City government will no longer push through with its plan to donate P31.5 million worth of rice to farmers of North Cotabato who are affected by drought. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said last week that he was inclined not to continue the distribution of donated rice due to the statement of Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Proceso Alcala that while many farmers have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon, there

have been bumper harvests of rice and corn in Kidapawan City, Carmen and other areas in North Cotabato, as well as Regions 11 and 12. City Administrator J. Melchor V. Quitain said yesterday the city government will comply with Duterte’s directive not to continue the aid to the farmers. Quitain said it would be “logical for the national government to provide the rice to the hungry farmers” since its top officials are saying that there

is sufficient rice supply in the area. “Let the national government use their stocks,” he said. He, however, said the money will be used as standby fund that might be used especially during calamity that can possibly hit the city. “We can never tell what will happen if any calamity breaks out here in the city, at least we have enough, more than enough funds that will be used in calamity,” he said. Quitain said the reason

why the city allocated the fund is because Duterte wants to help the hungry famers in North Cotabato. He said once the rice supply of the national government is consumed, the city government is ready to help neighboring provinces and cities in need of rice. Duterte said he will just reserve the money “for some future emergency use” since “there’s no telling how long the drought would be (because of)

UBAI: The first day of the month-long overseas voting (OV) of the Philippine presidential/national elections saw the continuous flow of voters at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (PCGDXB) on Saturday. Random interviews saw the clamor for change of governance and the desire for the next set of national leaders to prioritize peace and order and address the perennial issues of crime and drugs. The general atmosphere was light. A sizeable number lingered at the PCGDXB gardens for souvenir photographs and selfies. A surge of young families with babies or toddlers in tow

was observed from 1pm until 4pm. Reporters estimated the crowd to be over 400 within the first six hours, or a 1,000 per cent rise from the first day figures of the 2013 mid-term or senatorial elections. Polling precincts were scheduled to open at 8am, but beauty salon workers from Sharjah Analiza Gonzaga, Shadina Pabon and Judith Tecson-Omalay arrived at the consulate premises in Al Qusais three hours earlier because they did not also want to sacrifice their work timings. Husband and wife Rogelio and Violy Paculan reached there “a bit later”. As UAE residents for 13

years, it was their first time to participate in the OV, which Manila implemented from 2004, saying their voice must be heard this time. Two other early birds and first-time voters were Nelson Mandapat and Al Tapasao. Mandapat did not mind spending over Dhs50 for his taxi fare from Al Quoz because he believes his vote counts. Tapasao from Sharjah, who has been living in the UAE for 20 years, told The Gulf Today it is time to speak up through the ballot especially so since his house in his home province of Cebu in Central Visayas had been ransacked thrice already. By 9am, Marissa Dote arrived with her one-and-a half-

year-old daughter all the way from Jumeirah. Living in Dubai for six years, she was also a first-time voter. They were among the first 40 to cast their vote along with Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes. By 11am, bride Cherry Gomez-Duerme, coming directly from the weekly mass wedding conducted by the PCGDXB, this time shifted for a month at the nearby Philippine Overseas Labour Office, did her civic duty. “This is the only time available for me now, because my husband (not a registered voter) and I are leaving for a vacation back home,” she told reporters. Another voter who expressed his happiness in being

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NEWS 3

Dabawenyos attack Sasa port project By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

ETRACTORS of the P18.9-billion Sasa port modernization project in Davao City took turns in lambasting the government for pursuing the gargantuan project without the consent of the Davao City government, local government units (LGUs)

of adjacent areas to be affected and other stakeholders during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum yesterday. It was the first time persons who filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to stop the project appeared in a public forum to explain

OPTIMISTIC. Lawyer Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr. (right), counsel for the petitioners against the P18.9-billion public-private partnership (PPP) Sasa Port modernization project, believes Supreme Court’s ruling on the case against the project will favor the petitioners, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Bonifacio Tan (rightmost),

their sentiments against the controversial projects. They were Davao City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Sr., former councilor Pilar Braga, representing the consumer sectot, former councilor Antonio Vergara, urban poor representative Benjie Badal, and

the Samal City Resort Owners Association, Inc. (SCROA), and their counsel, lawyer Herminio Harry Roque. Also present was Bonifacio T. Tan, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII). The charge was led by

Councilor Diosdado Mahipus (center) and former councilors Tony Vergara (leftmost) and Pilar Braga, as it lacks environment permit, community consultation and local government consent. Roque, together with the petitioners, graced yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

lawyer Roque, counsel of the group which filed an urgent petition asking the Supreme Court to stop the project through the issuance of Writ of Kalikasan and Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO), who said that the project is aimed at raising funds for the current election campaign. “Ang katotohanan gusto lang nila kumita para sa election at ang pagbabayarin nila ang mga Dabawenyos… Ano ba naman pong kalokohan yan? (The truth is that they wanted to make money to spend for the upcoming election at the expense of the Dabawenyos .. What kind of an absurdity is that?),” Roque said. The plucky lawyer also said the department is fast-tracking the bidding of the project to ensure it will be awarded before the election of the next administration possibly to be headed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte . “Once awarded, it is virtually impossible to question this project because it will be implemented under the scheme of public-private partnership. This means it will not be required to undergo the regular government procurement process. So, it is easier to get “tongpats (patong or commission),” he charged. On the other hand, Councilor Mahipus said that the city council only wanted an honest-to-goodness consultation

side by side with the Davao public. “We wanted to ensure that this national project is in line with the development projects undertaken by the city,” Mahipus said, adding another reclamation project which also has a port operation component is being assessed by the council. Former councilor Braga said the project should be taken seriously as it will affect the consuming public, while Tan said implementation of the controversial project will lead to 80 percent increase in shipping charges allowed under the proposal. “It will affect all agriculture products passing through the port. It will indirectly affect farmers and consumers in Davao and Mindanao which are mainly agricultural economies,” he added. Resort owner Jun Lozada said that the project will affect the tourism industry of the Samal Island. He said that the proposed expansion of the port will make the Pakiputan Strait narrower and thus make navigation in the part of sea prone to accident and pollution to destroy the pristine waters of Samal resorts. “There will be a bigger chance of oil spill happening because bigger ships will dock in the Sasa port,” he added. Badal also said the project will cause a “massive dislocation” of more than 1,000 fam-

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BI on alert for foreign terrorists trying to gain entry into PHL

UREAU of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ronaldo Geron has ordered its newly designated intelligence head to tighten the security and monitoring of all foreign nationals arriving in the country. He issued the directive to Intel Chief Rommel De Leon to ensure that wanted persons from friendly nations and foreign terrorists with links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will not use the Philippines as their hiding place and jump-off point to their foreign targets. For his part, the new chief of the Intelligence Division vowed to assign skilled and experienced immigration agents in all international airports and seaports to screen arriving foreigners and prevent the entry of suspected international terrorists and wanted foreign persons. With this, De Leon reported that they intercepted a Korean national wanted in his home country for various crimes, including extortion and blackmailing his countrymen living in the Philippines.

The fugitive was identified as Choi Yeong-ik, who also used fraudulent Philippine passport under a Filipino name Bryan Cruz Chua. He also claimed that he was born in Motiong, Samar, to gain easy entry at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The BI reported that the foreigner also holds a Philippine driver’s license, while his Philippine passport was allegedly issued in Cebu province. Meanwhile, the BI also held a Chinese national at the NAIA terminal 1 last April 7. He was identified as Mark Chin Perez Lao, bound for Tel Aviv, Israel. He refused to divulge his real Chinese identity. Lao’s passport turned out to be fraudulent when an immigration officer entered the passport in the newly installed passport reading machine. The passport revealed only three digits instead of eight numerical digits. Both are now now detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, pending the deportation proceedings to be filed against them. (PNA)

Hong Kong posts highest voter turnout in Philippine overseas absentee voting

ONG Kong has posted the most number of Filipino voters, three days since the overseas absentee voting began on April 9, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. Since absentee voting for Filipinos abroad was introduced in 2004, Hong Kong has consistently topped the list of areas with the most number of voter turnout. For this year’s 2016 National Elections, the Asia-Pacific region registered the highest number of voters with 9,167 as of 2:30 p.m. on April 11, followed by the Middle East and Africa with 7,159, Europe with 1,927 and the Americas, which include the United States, Latin America and Canada with 107. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, concurrent Chairman of the DFA Overseas Voting Secretariat, said he expects the voter turnout to increase in the coming days, noting the momentum picks up as it

nears the end of the voting period. Overseas Filipinos have until 5 p.m. Manila time on May 9 to vote in embassies, consulates or Commission on Elections-designated areas. For the 2016 National Elections, Philippine Foreign Service Posts have been authorized to implement one of the following modes of voting: Automated Election, Personal/Manual Voting, Postal Voting, and Modified Postal Voting. The DFA said this year’s polls had the most number of overseas Filipino voter registration with 1.376 million, Seguis said, adding the DFA is targeting a turnout of 80 percent. The figure is quite small compared to the estimated 10 million overseas Filipinos abroad, but for Seguis the increase in the number or registrations signifies “political maturity” for Philippine nationals living and working overseas. (PNA)

NOT YET TIME TO CELEBRATE. Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spokesperson Peter Laviña echoes the view of the mayor’s chief campaign strategist Leoncio Evasco Jr. that there is much work

to do ensure victory in the upcoming election despite the favorable results of the latest surveys in an brief interview yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

911 pulls out men from Mt. Apo area By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

he Davao City Central 911 will pull out all its personnel assisting in dousing the three-week fire in Mt. Apo. Central 911 head Emmanuel Jaldon said yesterday he already issued a stand-down order to his team who are deployed in Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, since fire has been already controlled. He said he deployed around 70 personnel in the area to help contain the fire in some portions of the mountain. Jaldon said these people asked to leave the camp today

and will undergo medical examination. “The fire is already contained. When we say contained, we simply mean that the fire will not reach the century old tree in the area. Not necessarily fire completely put out,” he said. Jaldon said the Central 911 team, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and fire volunteers have already made big fire lines so that fire will not reach the protected forest areas in Mt. Apo. He said the rain pour the other day in the area also help the firefighters to suppress the fire in some areas.

“It’s easy for them to attack the fire directly. It’s more offensive now, if there is a smoke they will attack it immediately” he said. If the rain will continue in the area, he said it will be a big help to totally put out the fire in Mt. Apo. Jaldon said the other government agencies are now sustaining the operations in Mt. Apo and after to put out the fire, rehabilitation will follow. The Davao Region Incident Management Team, however, still needs volunteers to sustain the operation until it will be declared as fire out. As of April 10, 2016, no in-

Pols exploiting women, kids do not deserve votes : DSWD

UNDER CONTROL. Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur municipal tourism officer Julius R. Paner announces that the Mount Apo fire, which started on March 26 and gutted hundreds of hectares of forest and grassland, is now under

control quoting to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 11 sources. Paner made the announcement during Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

tense smoke was observed in the area of Sta. Cruz and some portions of the mountain only mild smoke which was immediately contained. The Incident Management Team reported that last Sunday there was no bucket operations done because of the rain but the Department of Agriculture (11) and the Philippine Air Force- Tactical Operations Group (PAF-TOG) 11 conducted cloud seeding operations. The bucket operations is conducted by the PAF through its Super Huey Helicopter, where the bucket will be filled with water from the lake and pour it to fire hit area.

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday urged voters not to vote for candidates who utilize deceptive ways such as exploiting women and children in order to advance their political agenda. “To our people, do not elect politicians resorting to deceptive ways to gather votes. They are still not in the positions, yet they are using people, what’s more if they got elected?),” said DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman. Soliman made the remarks as she began to get emotional after hearing the stories of the women and children who had undergone critical stress debriefing sessions due to trauma that they experienced during their involvement in the violent dispersal of a mass action in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last April 1. Soliman said such women

revealed that they will receive a sack of rice in exchange for their participation in the rally. The women admitted that they were lured into joining the rally due to such promise without knowing that such was just a deceptive strategy. The DSWD Chief said that fooling and using women and children is a hateful act and dirty trick of politicians seeking votes. “Politicians should not do such act. This will only show that they are afraid to lose in the polls because they are using women and children for their own interests,” she pleaded as she burst into tears. She added that if politicians who are behind such false promises really wanted to help, they can just directly provide assistance to those in need instead of resorting to violent ways that can hurt and affect the vulnerable women and children. (PNA)

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6 ECONOMY

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BDO receives award as Best Retail Bank in PH

HE Asian Banker has awarded BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) the coveted Best Retail Bank in the Philippines in the recently concluded International Excellence in Retail Financial Services 2016 Awards. The Singapore-based group, one of the region’s respected providers of business intelligence to the financial services community, attributed BDO’s win to three key factors – offering of extensive products and services, leadership in deposit-taking, and integration of alternative channels for banking transactions. Responding to the challenge of including more people in the Philippine banking system, The Asian Banker noted BDO’s efforts on constantly finding ways to reach the unbanked population and retain the existing clients. “Through careful acquisition such as its takeover of One Network Bank, extended banking hours and days, and seven-day banking in shopping mall branches, BDO has

widened its footprint and is fulfilling its promise of We Find Ways,” it said in a statement. Likewise, The Asian Banker highlighted the Bank’s continued dominance in deposit-taking business, growing it by 12% at the end of 2015. BDO’s strategy to integrate its products and services across various electronic channels (online, mobile, and ATM) to provide convenience to clients is also a winning point, according to The Asian Banker. “In 2015, half of its transactions were already self-served, and half of the total customer base was active on both mobile and online banking platforms,” it added. BDO is a full-service universal bank providing a wide menu of corporate, commercial and retail banking services, which include among others, traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, and credit card services.

HE Davao Oriental provincial government in partnership with Avida here inaugurated its state-ofthe-art Provincial Dialysis Center equipped with 22 dialysis machines, making hemodialysis convenient and readily accessible to patients with kidney problems here in the province. Considered as another groundbreaking initiative of Governor Corazon Malanyaon, the establishment of the dialysis center is part of the Provincial Government’s continuous upgrading and expansion of health facilities which anchors on her belief that the poor deserve equal health care services as much as the rich. “A healthy nation is a progressive nation. A government that cannot provide its people with adequate health care system has no reason for its existence. I have always been guided by this philosophy and from the start of my involvement in public service, I have taken it both as my personal and official commitment to ensure that my constituents are provided with, at the very least, basic healthcare,” Malanyaon said during Saturday’s inauguration ceremony. With this new facility, patients here who are having regular kidney dialysis no longer have totravel outside the province, particularly in major cities,just to undergo treatment, where they have to endure high

living and traveling expenses. Situated at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center Complex in the city of Mati, this new facility is equipped with 22 dialysis machines, a spacious waiting area, comfortable chairs, television sets, full air-conditioning, and trained medical staff to cater dialysis patients, among others. For its operation, the provincial government partnered up with AVIDA, a company known for its dialysis services, while the provincial government provides the building, interiors and necessary amenities. The government also made sure that the cost for dialysis is affordable for all, the facility will also become another source of revenue for the hospital. Department of Health XI Regional Director Dr. Abdullah Dumama, Jr., during the inaugural ceremony, congratulated the Provincial Government under the leadership of Governor Malanyaon for making this initiative. “I am proud of what you did here,” said Dumama, noting his hopes that there should be more facilities and initiatives such as this in other parts of the country. A true advocate of healthcare and champion of the poor, Malanyaon has successfully established new healthcare facilities in the province, including the upgrading of the Provincial Hospital which is now considered a great landmark and a legacy to future generations. Other facilities constructed are the Out-Patient Department, private and semi-private rooms, blood bank, and multi-diagnostic center, among many others. “There are those who may be awed by the beauty and magnificence of our hospital and its state-of-the art equipment and facilities that can compare even with the private hospitals. There may be some who will question the wisdom of spending so much resources on a public hospital. I say to

WORRIED OVER BROUWNOUTS. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Bonifacio T. Tan (left) expresses concern on the effects of the current rotational brownouts which is greatly affecting the

business sector especially the manufacturing industry. Tan and Samal City Resort Owners Association president Pastor Lozada Jr. (right) were among the guests of yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

4 firms told: Pull Davao Oriental opens new dialysis center out of Sasa port T

Governor Corazon Malanyaon

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By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

ABAWENYOS who oppose the controversial P18.9-billion Sasa port modernization are asking four big companies to withdraw their bids and join the bandwagon calling for the review of the project. In a letter, the petitioners-- incumbent Davao City second district councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus, come-backing Davao City first district councilor Pilar C. Braga, Antonio H. Vergara, Samal Island Resort Owners Association president Pastor Lozada Jr., Kadamay Urban Poor Network spokesperson Benjie Badal; and former city councilor and Duterte Presidential Campaign spokesman Peter T. Laviña, and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII)-- said they firmly believed that the port modernization project and its bidding processes are “irregular and anomalous.”

The letter was addressed to the four bidders who are Asian Terminals Inc.-DP World FZE Consortium; Bollore Africa Logistics; International Container Terminal Services, Inc.; and San Miguel Holdings Corp.-APM Terminals Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Consortium with Hyundai Development Company and Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. as contractors. Singapore-based Portek International Pte. Ltd., which had partnered with National Marine Corp. and Toyo Construction Co. Ltd. as contractor, earlier withdrew its bid in the auction. “We, therefore, ask you to withdraw your bids and join our call for the review of this project and let the next administration to pursue it,” the oppositors, who were also present in this week’s edition of Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM

City Davao Annex, said. The critics said the port development project “has wrong premises, design and cost and therefore not responsive to the needs of the port users of the Davao region. It has not also gone through the correct and transparent bidding procedures and processes.” The four bidders, the oppositors said, will have to consider the “two huge obstacles” of the project which is, firstly, the objection of the city government of Davao. “No less than the elected City Council of Davao issued a resolution of to this effect last December 21, 2015.” Secondly, the group said an urgent case was filed before the Supreme Court last month for the project which the group described as “white elephant and subject of a troublesome litigation.” “It is a petition to stop this

bidding by invoking the Writ of Kalikasan for the failure of the national government to seek the consent of the people and for not complying with environmental laws.” The group said the “national government must be hiding these issues” from the interested port developers which will eventually become “unnecessary problems”. “Hence, we appeal to your sense of fairness and justice. We are afraid you will eventually be holding the proverbial empty bag if you pursue this bid,” the letter read. As much as the group is not against any development project, they said they only wanted a port that will be for the needs of Dabawenyos. At present, the bidding process of the port modernization project is postponed because of the lack of endorsement from the Davao City Council.

City Davao Annex yesterday. Milan said that of the 982-megawatt (MW) installed capacity of the Agus-Pulangi Hydro Complex, only 108MW is produced because of the lower water elevation level now in Lake Lanao. “For instance, Pulangi 4 is only producing 24MW out of its 255MW installed capacity. On average, the plant is producing between 100MW and 120MW,” he added. As of yesterday, other hydro power plants, including the 158MW Agus 4 was just supplying 24MW; 55MW Agus 5 with only 10MW; 200MW Agus 6 with only 40MW; and the 54MW Agus 7 with only 10MW. He said Agus 1 and 2 remained isolated due to the problem of vegetation.

“Personnel of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines cannot enter the area where the problem of vegetation was reported,” Milan added. The Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex remained to be the main source of cheap power in Mindanao. However, due to the long drought the power supply coming from these decades-old plants is decreasing, he said. Milan said the supply coming from the 300MW coal-fired power plant is not enough to supply the Mindanao grid. Moreover, one of the two units of the TSI is under repair after being damaged last week. The TSI announced that the repair, which started last

April 7, will be finished by April 20, Wednesday. Sebastian R. Lacson, president and chief operating officer (COO) of TSI, said earlier that investigation revealed that the damaged unit had a boiler tube leak. Meanwhile, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Bonifacio T. Tan said the businesses in Davao City are burdened by the rotating power blackouts. “The most affected are those enterprises that are into manufacturing,” Tan said. However, he said the chamber has still no estimates as to how much are the businesses here are losing because of the unstable power situation. CHENEEN R. CAPON

DLPC explains blackouts, better situation starts on April 20

ABAWENYOS are suffering five hours of daily rotating power interruption until April 20 because of unstable power supply, an official of Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. (DLPC) said. Arturo M. Milan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of DLPC, said the distribution utility is implementing four-hour duration of power interruption during peak hours because of low power supply while another one-hour power outage is implemented between 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. “It was caused by the derated (decreased) power supply from major hydropower plants in Mindanao due to El Niño,” Milan told reporters at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM

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THE ECONOMY 7 Anti-smuggling coalition bares rampant smuggling of coconut seedlings to China

A Land Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Gilda E. Pico and Chairman of PLDT, Smart, Voyager Innovations Manuel V. Pangilinan seal the collaboration on the expansion of the LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver (LMLS) program to cover salary loans for private sector employees as well as personal and business loans for overseas Filipinos, farmers and fisherfolk and owners of small and medium enterprises. With them are Lito Villanueva, managing director and head of

fintech, digital inclusion and alliances at Voyager Innovations; Leila C. Martin, First Vice President and Head of Lending Program Management at LANDBANK; Cecilia C. Borromeo, Executive Vice President and Head for Agricultural and Development Lending Sector, LANDBANK; Orlando B. Vea, president and CEO of Voyager Innovations, and Eric R. Alberto, executive vice president and head of enterprise for PLDT and Smart.

LANDBANK, Voyager Innovations expand Mobile Loan Saver for loans

ORE Filipinos can soon avail of loans from the country’s premiere government financial institution as the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), together with leading tech company Voyager Innovations, expands the LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver (LMLS) program beyond its initial market of government employees. LMLS will soon cover loans for farmers and fishers, small and medium enterprises, overseas Filipinos and private sector employees. Voyager Innovations will continue to serve as the enabling technology of this service by providing the digital and mobile platform for LMLS. “Following the continuous success of our LMLS program, we are scaling up so we can serve more Filipinos through digital technologies. This is in line with our mission of enabling financial inclusion by getting more people to use electronic transactions and aligned with the government’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion,” said Gilda E. Pico, president and CEO of LANDBANK. “Digital financial services in the Philippines are off to a big start, led by a progressive partner-advocate in Landbank. We are happy to enable the bank’s extension of these services to help more sectors of the population,” said Orlando B. Vea, president and CEO, Voyager Innovations. “We congratulate LANDBANK for this expanded program as it is another breakthrough in the shift of consumers in using digital financial services. This is paving the way for a better and more democratized access to the banking system,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of Voyager Innovations, the digital innovations unit of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

Expanding loan program for growing sectors The expansion in loans is consistent with LANDBANK’s efforts to further strengthen its credit support, particularly for key sectors and projects with high development impact. Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Head

EVP Cecilia Borromeo said, “Alongside our thrust to be financially viable and competitive, we strive to keep our focus in bringing access to credit to the marginalized sectors and other development player. Digitizing all these loan processes would bring about further cost and operational efficiencies for faster, cheaper, safer and fully transparent banking transactions and these would ultimately benefit our customers.” In 2015, LANDBANK’s outstanding loans to its priority sectors reached P384 billion, representing a record-high share of 88.3 percent against the Bank’s loans to all sectors of P434.8 billion. These identified priority sectors comprise of small farmers/agrarian reform beneficiaries and fishers (SFFs) and their associations, microenterprises and SMEs, agri- and aqua-businesses, agri-aqua related projects of LGUs and GOCCs, communications, transportation, housing, education, health care, environment-related projects, tourism, utilities, and livelihood loans. LANDBANK remains the biggest credit provider to small farmers and fishers and local government units, and the biggest lender to microenterprises and SMEs among government financial institutions.

Financial services now digital The expanded LMLS program is a result of the stellar performance of the original LMLS service, launched in September 2014 and touted as the country’s first electronic salary loans program. The initial offering was limited to salary loans for government employees. As of end-March 2016, total loans processed and released under LMLS amounted to over P7.2 billion since launch in January 2015. This corresponds to 49,180 loan applications from government employees under 1,019 agencies. The first three months of 2016 alone, loans processed amounted to more than P1.9-billion, more than 100 percent increase for the same period in 2015. Average loan per borrower is at P147,000.

F LANDBANK, 11

NTI-SMUGGLING coalition Fight Illicit Trade (Fight IT) bared on Monday the massive smuggling of partially de-husked coconuts from the Visayas to Hainan, China, which are used as seedlings to grow coconut trees in violation of the law and to the detriment of the coconut industry. Executive Order No. 1016 issued in 1985 prohibits the export of matured coconuts and coconut seedlings. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) also issued Memorandum Order No. 116-92 which classifies coconut seedlings and mature coconuts as controlled products that require a certificate of exemption from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) prior to exportation. “We all know that the Philippines is one of the top producers of high quality coconuts and we are the second biggest exporter of coconut-based products in the world,” said Fight IT chairman Jesus Arranza in a press brief-

ing.

Arranza, who also chairs the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), said smuggling of partially de-husked coconuts “is not only an act of economic sabotage, but it is akin to treason since these operators are giving away this products to Hainan, China, who will eventually become our competition.” Based on the PCA report, the coconut industry is a dominant sector of Philippine agriculture, with 3.1 million hectares devoted to coconut out of the 12 million hectares of farmlands in the country. The coconut industry is also among the top five net foreign exchange earners with an average of USD 760 million annually. It is estimated that between 25 percent and 33 percent of the population is at least partly dependent on coconuts for their livelihood. Coconut is planted in 3.278 million hectares all over the country, dominating the

F ANTI-SMUGGLING, 13

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 29 • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

EDITORIAL Alan wins with consistency, political will

UNDAY’S Vice Presidential Debates had Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano emerging as the big winner according to some media organizations and politiclal observers. Senator Cayetano stuck with a platform of government anchored on political will and a good grasp of the issues plaguing the country and even the measures and programs already put in place by government but are not implemented. In sum, Senator Alan emerged as someone who knows what he is talking about and not someone mouthing motherhood statements. Rappler cited Sen. Cayetano for being the most consistent in talking about his and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s platforms, continually bringing up the tandem’s promise to eradicate crime in 3-6 months. Their message of political will and leadership was clear.

Significantly, when Marcos tried to hit what must be one of the glaring questions surrounding the Duterte-Cayetano campaign – by noting that Duterte previously said he would give Marcos the presidency should he fail to eradicate crime in the given time period – Cayetano was able to turn this around by saying Duterte said this in a “playful” way.

On graft and corruption Here, candidates were asked about what they felt was the most appropriate penalty for graft and corruption. The question was originally intended for Cayetano. Cayetano answered that was most important was “not the penalty, it’s the certainty that you will be caught, you will be punished.”The tension between Marcos and Cayetano continued as the former critized Cayetano’s statements that the way to get into power is by stealing. Cayetano clarified (with a jibe against Marcos) that he was being sarcastic. Cayetano was also engaging in In heated exchanges with Marcos, Cayetano was able to cite specific Cayetano hit Marcos’ attendance record when it comes to cases regardfigures on the Marcos ill-gotten wealth, countering Marcos’ arguments ing corruption – which Marcos said was a move to avoid participating that these numbers were unsubstantiated. He positioned key moments in endless politicking. Trillanes agreed with Cayetano with regard to the in his political career as consistent reminders of what he says is his fight need to participate in corruption probes, particularly when it came to Binay. against corruption.

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N D O U B T E D LY, the world’s only 8-division world champion is now seriously considered a cinch to bag a Senate seat in the May 9, 2016 polls. This, after registering a very convincing unanimous decision victory over erstwhile conqueror Tim Bradley in their trilogy at the MGM arena in Las Vegas last Sunday. Doesn’t the world love a winner? I am certain that Filipinos, who are quintessentially diehard sports fans, will show their sense of appreciation for the man who brought unquantifiable honors to the country by ticking his name on the official Comelec ballot when polling time comes around four weeks from now. However, the con-

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 9 ISSUE 29 • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

Pacquiao win solidifies his Senate bid gressman from Sarangani might get himself in a bind when he comes back home to conduct his campaign. Although he might not need to go stamping around the country to woo support from his adoring countrymen, his party – UNA – might prevail on him to join the provincial sorties to help resuscitate the now fledgling survey ratings of UNA presidential candidate VP Jejomar Binay. Binay, running third behind joint survey leaders Rodrigo Duterte and Grace Poe, will definitely hang on to the coattails of the man of the hour. His handlers will design desperate strategies that will keep him in the limelight along with the Pacman that will be written and captured by the videographers and

HE same thing is happening in the tropical forests of the Philippines. Once upon a time, the country was totally covered by forest. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, a noted environmentalist and wildlife photographer, wrote in an article that forest covered 70% of the Philippines in the 1900s. By mid-1960s, only 13.5 million remained, of which barely 6.3 million hectares were considered primary forest. During the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, forests were decimated at an astonishing rate of 300,000 hectares per year, according to Robert Repetto, author of The Forest for the Trees? Government Policies and the Misuse of Forest Resources. Towards the end of Marcos administration, there was only 7.2 million hectares that remained of the country’s forest cover, of which bare 2.7 million hectares were reported virgin forests. Today, we are paying for the sins of the past. As the Holy Bible states, “the wages of sin is death.” Almost 25 years since the Catholic

SPECKS OF LIFE

Fred C. Lumba photographers of all media organizations. You can bet on this. Readers will agree that the popularity of Pacquiao can draw huge crowds and even sway votes especially in areas where voters are still undecided. But it can be argued that the magnetic strength of the Pambansang Kamao he can only keep to himself and not share it with other candidates he will endorse. Before his ratings plunged down as a result

of his comments against same sex marriage that affected LGBTs, Pacquiao was among those in the top ten, hugging the 8th spot. The latest survey before the Bradley encounter showed the Pacman sharing 10th – 14th places with five other strong contenders. Mental toughness plus the great confidence that God is always on his side were the not-so-secret keys to the Pacman’s victory. His rustiness after nearly a one year-long lay-off didn’t show as he stood his ground against Bradley who seemed tentative during the first few rounds. The American, I sensed, would have been contented to eke out a draw. He did not box to score a decisive win

except in the last three rounds when Manny already was far ahead on points. Bradley landed some hard punches but he was conscious not to get trapped in a toe-totoe slugfest. He hit the canvass twice – once in the 7th and again in the 9th – but Pacquiao failed to sustain his advantage and allowed his foe to escape the KO axe. The Filipino boxing legend started very carefully and after feeling out his opponent in the first three rounds, went to work, scoring hard left straights, jabs and counter hooks to pile up points. Bradley just could not overcome the hand speed, footwork and southpaw style of Pacquiao, backpedalling when he should have pursued a relentless at-

Of forests and medicines (Part 2) Church lead- THINK ON THESE! ers warned against an ecological debacle in the country, the disappearance of forests remains. W h e r e Henrylito D. Tacio henrytacio@gmail.com have all our forests gone? “The Philippines is among the countries that are losing their forest cover fast, ranking fourth in the world’s top 10 most threatened forest hotspots,” deplored Marjorie Pamintuan, the spokesperson of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.. “If the deforestation rate of 157,400 hectares per year continues, the country’s remaining forest cover will be wiped out in less than 40 years. The area lost to deforestation every year is twice the land area of Metro Manila.” The extensive loss of forest means catastrophic for a country with more a population of more than 96 million. “Failure to protect our remain-

ing forest would mean a great loss of the country’s rich repository of biodiversity of all time,” said Fulgencio Factoran when he was still the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. There are several solutions as there are several causes of the problem. “It is wrong to just portray the problem of forests as a problem with logging of natural forests as it’s a problem of competition for land use,” said the Bogor-based Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). “It’s a much bigger problem than good or bad logging. The real long-term problems are outside the forestry sector.” CIFOR shares these thoughts: “Increasing population puts pressure on agricultural production which increases the demand for land and leads to forest depletion. Relaxing trade barriers also has an effect. “Areas opened up by commercial logging are often then exploited by shifting agriculture (kaingin to Filipinos) leading to more devastation and mismanagement or over-exploitation of resources.”

tack. That’s the only way to beat an on-rushing bull, meeting it head on and taking it by its horns, so to speak. For now, Filipinos are now second guessing if the future senator would indeed be hanging up his gloves permanently. He has publicly indicated this several times before the Bradley date. Bob Arum, Top Rank’s chief honcho and the Pacman’s fatherly adviser, thinks otherwise. In so many words, Arum said in his 50 years of experience in the boxing world, none has kept his word about retirement like it was carved in stone. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com). God bless the Philippines.

Indeed, there are no fast rules in curbing deforestation. “The illness of our forest is complicated -- and cannot be cured -- with a one-stop prescription of a single medicine,” reminded then Senator Heherson T. Alvarez in a 1992 forestry workshop in Isabela. “A comprehensive, scientific and ethical strategy and coordinated efforts are needed to care for and manage the forests through sustainable development.” Data from the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show that combined reforestation efforts by the government and the private sector are not enough to arrest the rapid deforestation. “Although the national government allocates funds for reforestation, projects have been largely dependent on foreign funding,” observed Pamintuan. Even at the end of the world, so goes a saying, we need to plant trees. “A person without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as helpless,” American President Theodore Roosevelt reminded.

10 PROPERTY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 29 • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

BEST CONDOMINIUM DEALS. The Matina Enclaves mixed use real estate development project of Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) promises to be the best condominium deal in the market today. Esdevco’s signature project has sold out its first two condominium buildings while the third is likewise selling briskly. The Matina Enclaves prides itself with top-of-the-line amenities and condo fixtures.

Panabo City Mariculture Park celebrates 10th anniversary

N accordance to the 15th Araw ng Panabo, the City Mariculture Park celebrates 10th Founding Anniversary at the BFAR-National Mariculture Park Center Training Hall, Cagangohan last March 30, 2016 (Wednesday). A total of 200 bangus fishes were grilled during the bangus lighting ceremony in line with their 10th Founding Anniversary celebration headed by Mayor James G. Gamao represented by City Administrator Jamail Lunar Macla. Aside from the 200 bangus sugbahan, a Bangus cooking contest also took place which competitors need to incorporate bangus as their main ingredient which was also one of the highlights of the 10th Founding Anniversary. 1st Prize was bagged by Mr. Jondelle Jay Igcasama, RIC/ MCCT IP’s won the 2nd Prize and Ms. Imelda Aquino got the 3rd Prize. City Officials, Provincial head of offices and representatives present during the event were, City Administrator Atty. Jamail Lunar Macla in behalf of Mayor James G. Gamao, other local and provincial government units namely Officer –In-Charge Lourdes Abapo from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-PFO), Alejandro R. Mayato, head of City Agriculturist’s Office (CAGRO), Ribencita Silvosa of Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO) and Alfredo T. Avenido (PAGRO Fisheries), Engr. Felix Jonases P. Senajon, head of City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO), Madera M. Bautista, head of General Services Office (GSO), Aurora M. Lauron, Head of City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Danilo C. Lucas, head of City Budget Office (CBO), City Accountant’s Office (CAO) and private companies and agencies: Stefanie Cebar, OIC and Riel Grado, Loans Bookepeer of Trubank (Panabo Branch), Land bank (Panabo Branch),Lolita Pinoon of Rehoboth Association, Gamayng Mananagat sa Sanctuaryo (GUMASAN – Fisherfolk Association) and National Line Agencies: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources head of Office, Dr. Andrew Ventura. There were also visitors: Maurice Martin (Canadian Nationale), Ricky Munda (Bangus Supplier from COMVAL) and investors, LGU Heads and Repre-

sentatives who graced and co-celebrated the founding anniversary. This years’ founding anniversary celebration centered on the idea of promoting food security and providing food for the benefit of fisher folks and Panaboans. City Administrator, Atty. Jamail Lunar Macla quoted a famous saying “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” which has always been the motto of BFAR to be able to strengthen development in terms of agricultural aspects and also with the benefit of fisher folks in the City. He said. Fish signifies food while teaching them means security. Atty. Macla also added. CAGRO Aqua-culturist II Dr. Andrew M. Ventura talked about the overview and brief history of mari-culture park in the City. In his discussion he pointed out the vision and objectives of the mariculture industry in the City which does not only benefit the fisherfolks in the City but also the Panaboans. Mariculture envisioned towards a globally competitive Mariculture Park generating job employment, food security and sustainable development through dynamic private-public partnership for the benefit of the stakeholders. He added that it could provide livelihood to coastal fishermen, provide appropriate infrastructures, equipment and support services for effective and efficient operation of mariculture park, stimulate favorable investment climate for mariculture industry and trigger the same for its ancillary industries, and develop skilled and technically –capable fisherfolk to support the mariculture industry. Councilor and Agriculture-Tourism Chair Renante F. Bangoy said that mariculture help largely in terms of boosting our economy and the provincial government also looks up to development. “The City also aims to have mariculture industry to be exported internationally.” He said. “We will develop other Agricultural livelihood projects”. Hon. Bangoy added. Provincial Governor Rodulfo P. del Rosario duly represented by Alfredo T. Avenido of PAGRO Fisheries said that the role of Provincial Office is to support what’s lacking in the Mariculture Industry of the City of Panabo. Debbie Calope – CIO Panabo

It’s TIME to CHANGE THE GAME. Your ads come to life with vivid, clear, crisp colors. Get the value for your money and don’t settle for an awful copy on a badly printed space. Advertise wisely.

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DUTERTE... FROM 1 Quitain said many people believe that if criminality will be controlled, development will follow. He said the many people really want change and they want it to start by fighting criminality and corruption. Duterte has repeatedly said he does not mind being at the bottom, middle or top of the surveys as he has been quoted as being unmindful of

surveys. He said the survey that counts is the result of the election itself. It is the first time that Duterte has taken the lead in all three major poll surveys since the election campaign started on February 9. The latest SWS survey also noted 3 percent of the total respondent were undecided. The April 2016 survey

used face-to-face interviews with 300 people each in Metro Manila, North Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Of the 1,500 sample adults, 1,377 or 92% are validated voters, 268 in Metro Manila, 278 in North Luzon, 272 in South Luzon, 280 in Visayas and 279 in Mindanao. The survey has a margin of error of ±3 percent.

able to participate in the ongoing OV was Erwin Gutierrez, a Sharjah resident for 10 years. The operations manager of a shipping company and first-time voter saw how God blessed the overseas Filipinos through the OV. He said they must not waste the opportunity to be given the chance to have a say in their nation-building. “We have to do our part even if it is God’s choice and will that will abide,” he said. Meanwhile, while some went home disappointed because they were de-listed from

the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Certified List of Voters (CLOV) for failing to participate in the 2010 and 2013 OVs, this reporter also encountered a peculiar case. This involved Physique TV producer Jellyn Gueco, who claimed that while she was informed by the PCGDXB that she was in the “active list of voters” as of Oct.31, 2015 and did not need to register, she discovered last March 20 that her name was no longer in the list. According to her, she never

missed any OV since 2004. Gueco is awaiting a reply from the Comelec regarding her concern. For the nth time and on Saturday, Cortes encouraged all registered Filipino voters from 2013 and who cast their vote in the 2010 and 2013, including those able to submit Comelec OV forms when they applied for or had their passport renewals and/or overseas exit certificates from 2013, “not to waste this opportunity”. (Mariecar Jara-Puyod /The Gulf Today)

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-Dual Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. 2016-XI-00444 (2001-XI-01078)

Case No. 2016-XI-00428 (2012-XI-00804)

Case No. 2016-XI-00445 (2000-XI-02159)

Big... FROM 2

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

ARMANDO S. NOGODULA, Petitioner-Vendor CRISPINO G, GONO, SR., Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

BONIFACIO C. GASLANG, JR., Petitioner-Vendor PHILIP A. GICA, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

YOLANDO G. BUSTILLOS, Petitioner-Vendor PEMACO C. ARLALEJO, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by ARMANDO S. NOGODULA in favor of CRISPINO G. GONO SR., of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ –DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: SASA VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to August 20, 2021.

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by BONIFACIO C. GASLANG, JR., in favor of PHILIP A. GICA of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ – DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: MULIG and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to March 5, 2018.

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by YOLANDO G. BUSTILLOS in favor of PEMACO C. ARLALEJO of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ – DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: BUHANGIN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to April 11, 2021.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MAY 3, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 6th day of April 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MAY 3, 2016 at 10:20 a.m. at this office at the above address.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 1st day of April 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

NEWS11

EDGEDAVAO

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MAY 3, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 6th day of April 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

VDFS UPDATE. Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) executive committee chair Benjie Lizada (left) bares that the organization came up with new events and activities to replace Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge which was cancelled due to the grass fire that has eaten up

a big portion of the mountain. Lizada was joined by VDFS Tours Consortium vice president Cynthia Ruano and other stakeholders during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte stops... FROM 2 El Niño.” Duterte vowed on Friday that he will give rice assistance to the victims of drought after the bloody dispersal of protesting farmers in Kidapawan. The dispersal resulted in the killing of two protesters and the wounding dozens of people both from the police

and farmers sides. The ordinance authorizing the giving of rice assistance worth P31.5 million came after the Office of the City Mayor issued a certificate of urgency on April 4 that the farmers of North Cotabato needed help. It said North Cotabato has been experiencing drought and

rat infestation as a result of the dry spell affecting 31,663.70 hectares of agricultural lands in the province. There are 13,286 farmers suffering from the P1.47-billion damage as contained by the Damage and Assessment Needs Analysis report of the DA 12.

ilies who are informal settlers in one part of the proposed project. “The project is detrimental to the urban poor of Davao City.” Earlier, the group, representing a wide spectrum of both the private and public sectors, filed the urgent petition last month to stop the bidding process. The 26-page petition asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of continuing mandamus and Writ of Kalikasan with prayer for Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO)before the Supreme Court (SC) last March 14. Lawyer Roque said the Supreme Court will start discussing the petition today, Tuesday, and it is possible it could rule on the petition also today. “The SC shall give it decision on filed petition which seeks to stop the bidding by invoking the Writ of Kalikasan for the failure of the national government to seek the consent of the people and for not

complying with environmental laws as the highest court resumes it session today in Baguio City,” the lawyer said. Roque said he is optimistic is the highest tribunal will rule in favor of the petitioners. “There is an obvious violation of the Local Government Code and the Environment Code,” Roque said, adding that the petitioners are using the decision of the Supreme Court on the case between Boracay Foundation, Inc. against Philippine Reclamation Authority and the provincial government of Aklan in 2011 as its argument. In this case, he said the Supreme Court issued a permanent environmental protection order not just a TEPO because of the noncompliance to the Local Government Code and Environmental Code because the local barangay did not give their consent to the project. With almost the same nature on the precedent case, Roque believes that the court

will also apply the same decision on the Davao Sasa Modernization Project. The enactment of the writ of Kalikasan “is a commitment that the court will use judicial power in order to protect the environment and promote the right of the people to healthy ecology.” Majority of the petitioners also cited as argument in their opposition to the project the worsening of the traffic congestion in the Sasa portion of the Davao-Agusan Highway as a result of the project. Mahipus, Tan, Braga and Lozada complained that the proposal does not include a component designed to improve the traffic situation which will surely worsen with the increase of container vans to enter the area and the establishment of more container yards. They said that it is, the highway along the barangays of Tibungco, Panacan and Sasa are already congested with container yards.

The service is also benefitting rank and file government employees, as this customer segment accounts for 73 percent of total loans availed to date. Majority or around 59 percent of those who availed of loans through LMLS came from outside Metro Manila and the percentage is fast growing. It is also making inroads in reaching out to the grassroots in 3rd to 6th class municipalities with 21 percent of all loans coming from that lower-income areas as of end-March 2016 compared to just 15 percent by end-December 2015.

24/7 digital convenience, over 20 percent of loan applications processed were received outside banking hours. “Most Filipinos have already adopted mobile and digital technologies in their daily lives and it’s natural to extend this to banking services. As people grow more confident in the accessibility, security, and convenience provided by digital channels, we see more uptake of LMLS and similar services,” said Lito Villanueva, managing director and head of fintech, digital inclusion and alliances at Voyager Innovations. Under LMLS, customers can easily apply and inquire about their loans using their Smart, Sun, Talk ‘N Text - and soon, Globe, TM and ABS CBN Mobile subscribers - and get quick credit decision from LANDBANK regarding their

application. With the positive uptake of LMLS validating an acute consumer market need, Voyager Innovations has also introduced Lendr, the country’s first online marketplace for consumer loans which is expected to launch soon to enable more banks and financial institutions to leverage on digital and mobile technologies. Voyager Innovations is the digital innovations arm of PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) focused on delivering platforms for the emerging digital economy. On top of fintech, among the areas of digital life that it is focusing on are digital commerce, digital payments and next communications. For more information, visit www.voyagerinnovation. com.

Dabawenyos... FROM 3

LANDBANK... FROM 7

An “always-on” and “always-connected” consumer market The trend from LMLS data also points to an increasingly connected digital market. Because the program provides a

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL

SAN PEDRO CATHEDRAL The beacon of Davao’s Catholic faith

By Olan Emboscado

ON JUNE 29, 1848, SPANISH CONQUISTADOR DON JOSE OYANGUREN CONQUERED DAVAO and defeated the local Moro people led by Datu Bago. That day was the feast day of the St. Peter the Apostle. And consequently, Oyanguren declared St. Peter as the Patron Saint of Davao. When these Spanish colonizers settled in the area, among the first structures they constructed was San Pedro Church and it was modestly built in Nipa and Bamboo. The young church was put under the care of the Augustinian Recollects, the missionaries Oyanguren brought with him when he came to Davao. Before it became a parish, it was then called Yglesia Mision de Bergara dela Nueva Guipuzcoa. Nueva Vergara was the old name of Davao and Nueva Guipuzcoa was for the undivided Province of Davao, both were given by Oyanguren named after his hometown and province in Spain. When the Augustinian Recollects left the missionary works in the area, the care of the Church was given to the Jesuits. When the Jesuits took over, it was the period when the population in Davao rapidly increased. The influx of settlers coming from Luzon and the Visayas added to the population. Sensing the growth of the churchgoers, the Jesuits initiated the construction of a bigger Church. It took five years to complete.

Inside the San Pedro Cathedral.

TOP: The author standing in front of the San Pedro Cathedral. LEFT: During the time of PME, the church was again reconstructed and was rebuilt in wood in the mid 1900’s. It was Architect Ramon Basa who designed the church. Photo courtesy: Davao of the Past.

From the Jesuits, the administration of the San Pedro Church was handed over to the PME Fathers who arrived in Davao from Canada in 1938. It was during PME’s time when San Pedro Parish of Davao was elevated from a Parish to Prelature Nullius to Diocese and finally into an Archdiocese. The PME Fathers also initiated the construction of a much bigger church to cater the growing number of Catholic faithful in the city. The PME missionaries were headed by Fr. Clovis Thibault who later became the

Bishop and finally Archbishop of Davao. During the time of PME, the church was again reconstructed and was rebuilt in wood in the mid 1900’s. It was Architect Ramon Basa, the first professional architect to work in Davao who designed the new Church. He was the same architect who designed some of the most important buildings and structures in the City that until now exist. Said to have been built in Neo-Gothic style, the design of the church reflected of those few old churches built in some parts

of Mindanao. Like the most of the old towns in the Philippines, the church is situated within the area where the government buildings are located. This is the basic scene one can notice if traveling around the country and see that churches, plazas and municipal buildings are contained in one area. Adjacent to the church was then Immaculate Conception College building (now University of Immaculate Conception) built by RVM sisters. This is the oldest private school established in 1906. It was then called St. Peter Parochial School. When the Parish of Davao was granted a Prelature Nullius status, Bishop Thibault initiated the transfer of Immaculate Conception College to Father Selga Street in Bankerohan as its new site while St. Peter Auditorium in San Pedro Street was converted in the Parish Office. By 1964, San Pedro Church went another reconstruction. From wood, it was finally re-

SAN PEDRO A4

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UP AND ABOUT

Say G’Day at SM

MALL-GOERS RECENTLY HAD THE RARE OPPORTUNITY to get to know more about the sights, sounds, history, movies, music, education, food, and shopping Down Under during the recent Celebrate Australia: Say G’Day at SM exhibition at SM Aura Premier Atrium. A joint project of the Australian Embassy and SM, the exhibit was held in time to commemorate the 70th year of diplomatic relationship between Australia and the Philippines. Australia first opened its first Consulate General in Manila

on May 22, 1946, and the event highlighted the warm relations between the two countries an exhibit of a timeline of the first 70 years, as well as milestones in bilateral relations. The exhibition included a collection of breathtaking photo-

Clockwise from left: HE Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely (middle) with NHCP Director Vic Badoy(left) and Millie F. Dizon, SM Senior Vice-President of Marketing Communications (right). The University of Sydney, the first university in Australia, founded in 1850. The iconic Sydney Opera House in New South Wales, Australia. Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

graphs showcasing iconic Australian tourist attractions like Sydney Opera House; Twelve Apostles, in Victoria; Cradle Mountain in Tasmania; Wave Rock in Western Australia, and many more. It also included an exhibit of

The Philippines and Australia: The First Seventy Years, featuring a timeline of captured photographs of significant moments in the shared his-

tory between Australia and the Philippines. The photographic exhibition also features story of the relationship and connections between the two countries

which highlights historical and strong people – to – people links and influences in both cultures. After the Aura run, the Celebrate Australia: Say G’Day at SM exhibition will be touring SM Malls: SM City Cebu in March, SM City Davao in April, and SM North EDSA in May. Say G’Day at SM City Davao on April 13-19 and get a chance to win a trip to Australia!

Thepromiseofaperfectsummer FOR ALL THE BEACH BUMS OUT THERE, the Mahin Beach Festival marks the beginning of summer. Mahin meaning “beach” in Bl’aan, would be held in between White haven and Rosal Beach Resort, Glan, Sarangani province on April 15 to 17. On its 6th year, Mahin is packed with awesome activities to look forward to. On April 15, 2016 the festival would open up with a costal clean up in the morning, a reminder for attendees to leave no trace on the beautiful shores of the Sarangani Bay. After the coastal clean up you could take on the challenge of climbing Earth Islands Outdoor Club rock wall. Exhausted from the climb? Replenish your body with eats from stalls and restaurants offering local delicacies around the main event area. If you feel that you ate too much you could burn it all off with some Beach Zumba with The Ledendz. Even if the sun is down, the Men

of Summer, a muscle body competition would heat up the night followed by Concert sa Baybayon. Aside from the sun, sand and surf, Mahin will also feature indigenous games to highlight the town’s rich cultural heritage. Among those games are the Bancarera race, followed by a Sand Sculpture competition along with beach volley-

ball, beach football, motor trail and Mahin Lakas Pinoy. There would also be a Google Local Guides Meetup on the same day. In the evening, the Mahin Bodies Bikini Open contestants take center stage followed by the Concert sa Baybayon at 9pm

culminating in a grand Fireworks Display. I am looking forward to party all night long, but will make sure there is still enough energy for the next day to catch Lumba Langoy sa Iro, Lumba Kabayo sa Baybayon, Motor trail and the champion-

ship games for volleyball and football all of which will start by 8 in the morning of April 17 followed by fun, quirky and creative kites at one in the afternoon during the Palupad Tabanog Competition. The Mahin Beach Fes-

tival culminates around 3pm on April 17 with the awarding of prices and closing ceremonies. Your #perfectsummer at Gumasa, Glan is only an hour and nineteen minutes drive form Gensan. I hope to see you there!

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ENTERTAINMENT

Julio Diaz admitted in local hospital

How is Nadine Samonte’s first pregnancy after being hospitalized?

THE LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WAS SHOCKED over the news that veteran actor Julio Diaz was rushed to the hospital last Friday after passing out due to severe headache.

Julio Diaz who starred in more than 50 films is known for his role in movies like The Flor Contemplacion Story, Sakay, Serbis, and Kinatay. According to the post of Julio’s sister, Ana Marie Datuin, in gofundme. com, her brother needs immediate surgery based on the results of his CAT scan. “A CAT Scan showed the swelling of a vein that needs surgery within the next 24-48 hours. If the surgery is not performed, an aneurism is imminent which may lead to fatal damages.” Ana Marie stressed that Julio has a slim chance of survival and she is appealing to the public to help her raise money for his brother’s expensive surgery. “Julio has a very small window of opportunity to get the surgery done to save his life. This surgery however needs a huge amount of money that Julio does not have right now. This

STARSTRUCK GRADUATE NADINE SAMONTE is doing well after she was hospitalized last April 1 due to a delicate pregnancy with her first child.

The beautiful mom shared a sweet moment between her and husband Richard Chua on Instagram today, April 10. She said her husband of two years never fails to kiss her tummy when he comes home and talks to their baby which she hopes is a boy. “My hubby is so lovely. Im so blessed to have you and our baby in my life. Im so lucky too,” she wrote in her caption. The former Ako Si Kim Sam Soon star pampered herself and got a much-deserved haircut after being released from the hospital.

is the reason why, I am stepping in on his behalf appealing to anyone who is being led by the Lord to give any amount they can to raise the money needed to get the surgery performed within the next few hours.” She went on to describe Marnie Regaliza (Julio’s real name) as a simple person who lives in a very modest home in Bulacan. “In his semiretirement from the movie industry, Julio lives a simple lifestyle

in a modest home he owns in the province of Bulacan. His only companion is his half sister Shirley, whom he helps out in raising her son… If not involved in filming an indie project, his main and only source of livelihood these days is from rental of part of his house.” A new post on gofundme.com today (April 10) discussed Julio’s current condition. In the said post, the veteran actor was already admitted in St. Lukes Hospital Global

City and is about to undergo an angiogram procedure. “Here’s some good news. Julio has been admitted at St. Luke’s hospital in Global City. According to Dr. Cuanang the plan is to perform by 1 p.m. Manila time (1pm EST), an angiogram and possible clamping. If this procedure does not work, then they will proceed with the surgery. We ask for your prayers that the 1st procedure will be successful. Thank you all.”

James Wright shares advice on how to get over an ex-lover

WITH HIS GOOD LOOKS AND SOOTHING VOICE, anyone can fall for the talented James Wright.

This crooner, however, has had his share of heartbreaks and revealed it in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com. When the romantic Mr. Wright was asked about how he got over his ex-lover, he shared that he just kept himself around people that kept him positive. “I guess you just have to get over the [person] by seeing positivity in other people cause at the end of the day [as] boyfriend and girlfriend, you never know how long that can last [and] in an instant it can be gone. I’ve been there so I know what happens and it’s not cool when everything tears down to shambles,” he shares. He adds that he spending more

time with family and friends will help you get over your ex. According to James, “You have to cry it out and spend more time

with family and friends and feel the love that you thought you can only get from this one person. Like for me [before], I broke up with my ex and I didn’t really spend time with my family and I sort of regret it.” It is seen through his Instagram posts that James is close to his family especially his sister, Vanessa. He even posted a long appreciation post for Vanessa who just won in Miss World Philippines. “Guys, this is my beautiful sister Vanessa Wright, candidate number 1 for Miss World Philippines this year, please I beg all of you to support her because she deserves it,” James says. The balladeer says that he also copes up with heartbreak by writing about it. He is currently working on new music that is inspired by love and everyday life.

April 8 – 12, 2016

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

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

THE JUNGLE BOOK Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray PG

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

ELEMENTO/ *10 CLOVERFIELD LANE Cristine Reyes, Albert Solis/ *John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead R13/*R13

12:20 | 2:00 | 3:40 LFS / *5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

MR. RIGHT/ *DEMOLITION Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell/ * Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts R16/*R13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 LFS / *6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

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TRAVEL SAN PEDRO A1 modeled in concrete by Architect Manuel Chiew. The rebuilding of the church also signified a symbolic design that is reflective of the convergence different people living in Davao – whether Christians or Muslims. The roofline of the church was designed to look like the prow of a vinta, a Mindanao boat, gliding on water, carrying a cross at its helm. The vinta representing Muslim Mindanao and the cross representing Christianity – united in spite if their difference – points toward the glory of the Supreme Being. 2 years after the reconstruction of the church, Davao became a full-pledged Diocese and finally in 1970 it was elevated into an Archdiocese. The present church today is 62 years old since it was reconstructed in 1964, making it a built heritage. While most of cathedrals in the Philippines have the grand look of ancient times, the San Pedro Cathedral looks uniquely different that it stands out from other Cathedrals in the country. In the right wing of the present church, the old altar (retablo) that was originally designed by

The original altar of the old San Pedro Church before it was remodeled in 1964. The altar (retablo) now can be found at the right wing of the present church (Right). Photo of old altar courtesy: Davao of the Past. Architect Basa was preserved. Those who grew up going to San Pedro Church in the olden days find the altar as great reminder of what Davao City and the Catholic faith have evolved in many years – not only as structure but Church of Christ as a whole.

and destructive typhoons, San Pedro Church never suffered devastation from any natural disaster. In-

stead, it has survived two bombings back in the years when Davao City piteously struggled for peace and order. The first incident was in 1981 which killed 17 people, and in 1993 with 7 deaths. Today, San Pedro Cathedral is an important historical landmark that stands tall, sturdy and proud silently witnessing how Davao City and its people has grown to become what it is now – peaceful, orderly and progressive but most of all grateful to its undying faith. *** San Pedro Cathedral and other historical landmarks of Davao City situated along San Pedro Street are part of Visit Davao Fun Sale 2016’s Davao Heritage Walk and Food Trip. For inquiries, please contact: Ms. Leda Jacinto at (+63) 922 361 1917

DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT

Unlike other churches in the Philippines that sur-

vived natural calamities like strong earthquakes

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Davao... FROM 6

them the people of Davao Oriental deserve better. The poor people of Davao Oriental-the ones who cannot afford the services of a private hospitaldeserve as much health care as the rich,” she said. As her three terms as gov-

ernor of Davao Oriental will end in June, Malanyaon expressed hopes that all the projects and programs that she has already established will be taken care of by the next administration. “It is not for me but for the people of Davao Oriental.” (PNA)

landscape in 86 percent of all provinces, with 77 percent of all municipalities regarding it as a major crop. More than 60 percent of Philippine copra and coconut oil exports also come from Mindanao and most of the country’s coconut oil mills are also based in Mindanao. In 2012, Arranza said some 163,000 coconut seedlings were recorded smuggled out of the country. These seedlings originated from the provinces of Leyte and Samar and brought to Cebu port. From there, these will be shipped to Hainan, China. This illegal trade was stopped but for the last three months of the year it started again and has been illegally exporting 20,000 coconut seedlings everyday at a price of PhP12-13 per seedling (farmer-trader), then these are being sold to China at PhP50 per seedling. Arranza explained that unscrupulous traders buy partially de-husked coconuts from growers in Palo and Sogod in Leyte and consolidate them in 10 wheeler trucks that are shipped out from the ports of Ormoc, Baybay and Hilongos. From there, the shipment goes to the international port in Cebu where it is shipped out

to Haionan, China, one of the few provinces in the mainland with a tropical climate suited for growing coconuts. “As you may know, only Indonesia and the Philippines have been gifted by nature with good quality coconut that is envied by other countries, hence exporting it in violation of existing regulation to China and other countries is obviously giving away our comparative advantage to our grave prejudice,” he noted. Arranza said he already wrote to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Bureau of Customs, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar asking for an investigation into the illicit activities of smugglers. He said Fight IT is also working closely with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the growing illicit trade in sugar, tobacco, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and steel products. Fight IT is a broad-based, multi-sectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues, and shield legitimate industries from the ill-effects of smuggling. It was launched in 2015 and made up mostly of members of the anti-smuggling committee of FPI. (PNA)

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NEWS 13

Mitigating climate change through waste management

HE evident change in temperature is one of the signs of climate change. Human activities such as cutting and burning of trees contribute to increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG). Most of the people would give seemingly acceptable reasons since energy is needed for survival. Many businesses need much of this and the demand has been increasing over time. There is a need to reduce non-renewable energy application and convert the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy for cooking and lighting. To help mitigate its impact among farmers, particularly in the livestock sector, the Department of Agriculture has introduced the utilization of wastes through the use of biogas technology using the polyethylene digester. Biogas helps improve

environmental condition by reducing application of chemical fertilizers, promoting efficient waste management and it is used as clean energy by utilizing the commonly-abandoned farming wastes. Practicing the use of biogas not only mitigate climate change but also a means for livelihood. Targeting primarily the farming families, the practice promotes biogas not just as domestic energy but also as new income or cost reduction source.

There is Money in Waste Management Barobo swine raiser Romana Suan has proven the many benefits of biogas by utilizing the animal dung taken from her piggery. Suan is an active member and treasurer of Barobo Swine Raisers Association and has been raising swine for more than seven years. “When I started raising pigs,

many of my neighbors and passers of our vicinity complained because of the unpleasant smell from my backyard; but since I started using biogas, stinkiness subsides,” said Suan. After learning the technology through the lectures and trainings conducted by the Department of Agriculture–13 and Municipal Agriculture Office of Barobo, Suan decided to build the system with the provision of facilities such as the polyethylene digester and technical assistance from the Department and the Bureau of Animal Industry. “Ms. Suan has been an example to other swine raisers in the municipality, her adaptation from all the things she learned has been an encouragement to us,” said Agricultural Technician Cherry Diaz. Not just in a business of selling pigs, Suan also has a cafeteria where she largely

benefits the use of produced flammable gas (mostly methane) for cooking. “I do not need to buy two tanks of gas per month for my business which is equivalent to around P 1,600. This amount that I can save would allow me to buy other things for my business,” she said. The biogas discharge or its by-product has also been utilized as organic fertilizer in her five hectares of various high value crops. These benefits from the use of biogas make her save money and gain more profit. “I am thankful that I have personally experienced the many benefits of biogas. God has blessed me in such a way that my children are working with me for the progress of the business and they have decided to follow my footsteps; something that a mother could be proud of,” Suan said. (Fretcher D. Magatao, DA-13)

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When less is more Text and photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

“E

AT food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” ― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto ***

In The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth, Tim Flannery wrote: “One of the biggest obstacles to making a start on climate change is that it has become a cliché before it has even been understood.” But climate change is for real. Scientists claim it is caused by an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) spewed into the atmosphere through human activities. GHGs refer to carbon dioxide, methane and other industrial gases. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30% in the past 200 years. Most of these came from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil and roughly a quarter from the destruction of tropical rainforests. People who want to help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere can do it by cutting down on meat consumption. “Part of climate change mitigation is the promotion of a low carbon lifestyle. Since meat produces more greenhouse gases, eating lower on the food pyramid is advised, which means less meat and more of whole grains, fruits and vegetables,” explained Senator Loren Legarda. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 14.5% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from the global livestock. FAO estimates that 70% of former forests have been lost and converted for animal grazing. In addition, food that comes from distant places utilizes more energy for transportation and preservation, which means greater carbon emission. “Low carbon living means patronizing local, plant-based, and in-season food,” pointed out Legarda, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, adding that she plants vegetables in her garden so she can eat them fresh. “We should encourage families to plant vegetables in their backyards or com-

munity vacant lots, or to cultivate pinakbet gardens,” she suggested. “This way, we do not only provide food on the table, but also address the needs of growing numbers of malnourished children.” Meanwhile, a new report released by the Washington, D.C.-based International Food Policy Research Institute said that urbanization and increasing incomes have changed the eating habits of people who are now clamoring for more meat. “Beef consumption is growing,” said the 2016 Global Food Policy Report, noting that beef production is one of the most resource-intensive and environmentally impactful foods to produce. “Beef production requires four times more land (and four times as much greenhouse gas emissions) than dairy for every unit of protein consumed,” the report explained. “In addition, beef is seven times more resource-intensive than pork and poultry, and 20 times more than pulses.”

Damian Carrington, writing for The Guardian, agrees. “The popular red meat requires 28 times more land to produce than pork or chicken, 11 times more water and results in five times more climate-warming emissions. When compared to staples like potatoes, wheat, and rice, the impact of beef per calorie is even more extreme, requiring 160 times more land and producing 11 times more greenhouse gases.” One expert even went on to say that eating less red meat would be a better way

“We should encourage families to plant vegetables in their backyards or community vacant lots, or to cultivate pinakbet gardens,” she suggested. “This way, we do not only provide food on the table, but also address the needs of growing numbers of malnourished children.”

for people to cut carbon emissions than giving up their cars. Or, as Prof Mark Sutton, at the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, puts it: “Avoiding excessive meat consumption, especially beef, is good for the environment.” Eating less meat is not only for the environment but to one’s health as well. Here’s an explanation from Dr. Willie T. Ong and his wife Liza Ong in their book, Doctors’ Health Tips and Home Remedies, quoting nutritionist Sally Beare: “Our bodies are not designed to eat lots of meat. The meat we meat has to travel a long way through the intestines and tend to stay and stick to the intestinal wall for days. After being broken down by bacteria, these meat products will produce possibly cancer-causing substances like ammonia, phenols and amines.” Reduction of cancer risk -- that’s one reason why you should eat less meat. A

study conducted by the US National Cancer Institute involving 500,000 individuals showed that those who consumed 4 ounces of more of red meat a day were 30% more likely to die within 10 years when compared to persons who ate less red meat. “Meat is high in saturated fat and may cause colon, breast and prostate cancer,” says Dr. T. Colin Campbell, co-chairman of the World Cancer Research Fund. “In my view, no chemical carcinogen is nearly so important in causing human cancer as animal protein.” Aside from beef and pork, experts say that sausages, hotdogs, luncheon meats and other processed meats also increase the risk for cancer. Eating less meat also reduces heart disease and diabetes, according to the Ongs. According to some studies, people who eat less meat and more fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables have a lower risk for heart disease and diabetes. Another benefit: less degenerative disease like arthritis. A study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Health shows that vegetarians develop degenerative diseases ten years later when compared to meat eaters. Less meat means less fat. In simpler terms, it fights obesity. A diet of mostly veg-

etables, grains, beans and fruits have generally fewer calories when compared to a meat diet. These foods can also help lower one’s cholesterol levels. But on second thought, people need to have protein. Generally, an adult needs 20% (between 10-35%) of his or her daily food intake to come from protein. Most of the protein a person needs come from meat. “Try meals without beef and pork,” suggests Dr. Ong. “From my personal experience, going meatless for a few days in a week can make you feel cleaner and healthier.” Instead, Dr. Ong recommends fish, chicken and turkey as alternative sources of protein. “They have less of the fat content found in animal meat,” he explains, adding that when eating chicken, the skin should not be included. “If you like pork, try to remove the fat. However, it is harder to remove the beef fat because the fat is marbled between the meat.” Aside from meat, there are other great substitute sources of protein, such as tofu, mung beans, eggs, milk and cheese. “Tofu is easy to add to your dishes, besides being healthy and affordable. Low fat milk, skim milk and cottage cheese have less fat, too,” he says. Dr. Ong doesn’t recommend shunning meat completely from your diet. “A completely plant-based diet lacks vitamin D and vitamin B12,” he says. “They may also be deficient in iron. That is why some experts also believe that a little animal meat, perhaps twice a week, would be necessary to complete one’s nutrition needs.”

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UNOFFICIALLY RETIRED Manny: My heart is 50-50, but I might enjoy retirement A

MAIN MAN. JC Intal of Phoenix Fuelmasters makes his move against Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beermen.

S far as Manny Pacquiao is concerned, he is retired from boxing. Much as he loves boxing, the Filipino boxing icon is putting his family and public service above everything else – at the moment. Although still tentative about his decision to retire from boxing, the Filipino boxing superstar said he just can’t renege on his promise to his family that he’ll finally walk away from the sport after his fight against Tim Bradley. On Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time), the 37-year-old Pacquiao beat Bradley via unanimous decision to cap a storied career that spanned two decades and

an outstanding record that now stands at 58-6-2, with 38 KOs. “My heart is 50-50, but I love my family,” he said in the post-fight press conference at the MGM Grand. “I honor my family and my kids. I encourage them (children) not to become boxers because boxing is difficult.” Also, he stressed his desire to help people through public service which he wants to pursue by running for a seat in the Senate in the coming elections back home. “I love to help people, because

Manny Pacquiao’s beginning is from nothing,” he said, recalling his younger days when his family lived in extreme poverty and experienced sleeping in the streets and just drinking water to survive. “That’s why when I started earning money through boxing, I already began helping them (people).” Asked if his retirement is temporary, Pacquiao remained non-committal. “Who knows, I might enjoy retirem e n t ,” stressed t h e

EIGNING International Boxing Organization (IBO) world light flyweight champion Rey Loreto of the Philippines will be fighting a dangerous fighter in Japanese Koji Itagaki on April 24 at the Marina Hop in Hiroshima, Japan. The 10-round fight is the main event of the 2016 Sanei Fight Pro Boxing Spring Series promoted by the Hiroshima Sanei Promotions. “Loreto is now ready to fight in Japan,” said his manager Brico Santig of the Highland Promotions in an interview here last Saturday. Loreto, who also holds the World Boxing Associa-

tion (WBA) International minimumweight champion, is still training at the Highlands Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet. The 25-year old Loreto (21 win, 13 loses, 0 draw) had previously scored a first round knockout win against Fapikat Twin Gym last January 22 at the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand to win the WBA International minimumweight crown. “Loreto is now really very good and strong,” said Santig, also a former trainer turned international boxing promoter-manager-matchmaker. Loreto, a southpaw from Davao City, recently received

his second straight Gabriel Elorde Boxer of the Year award in Manila for successfully retaining his IBO World title in South Africa via a first round TKO over Nkosinathi Joyi last March 22, 2015 at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Loreto, however, has not yet been paid of his boxer’s purse worth P2 million by the South African boxing promoter. “Nag one year na lang hindi pa rin kami nababayaran ng promoter,” said Santig. Itagaki, on the other hand, is not a patsy with a fight record of 16 wins

Intal: Phoenix not bad for a newbie Loreto fights in Japan April 24 J R C Intal believes Phoenix still overachieved despite getting eliminated from playoff contention in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, its first conference since the Davaobased oil company became the league’s newest franchise. The Fuel Masters lost to San Miguel Beer, 121-109, in their last game of the elimination round where they finished with a 3-8 win-loss record. “For me, yung standing namin, it didn’t describe yung team namin kasi we had a pretty good conference,” Intal insisted. After all, the Fuel Masters lost to perennial contender Rain or Shine by just five points, to pacesetting Meralco by just three points, and to Ginebra by one point.

“For me, we overachieved,” Intal said. “For sure, we’ll run the same system next conference. we just have to toughen up talaga. I know we can compete.” The Fuel Masters still had a chance to make the playoffs when they were sporting a 3-5 slate, before they lost their last three games of the conference. “Ayaw namin matanggal agad,” said Intal, who had 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists against SMB. “Early vacation really sucks.” “We just have to be more solid in the second half of games, kasi lalamang kami parati sa first half tapos bibitawan na lang namin,” he added. “We just have to toughen up next conference and yung composure nandun dapat.”

RETIRED. Manny Pacquiao says it’s time to enjoy retirement with his family and to serve the people.

and only 9 defeats and two draws. Itagaki, an orthodox, won all his last four fights. In his last outing, the 32year old Itagaki scored a 7th round knockout win over WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council light flyweight champion Michael Enriquez also of the Philippines last November 1 in Hiroshima. He also stopped fellow countryman Yamato Uchinomo then outslugged Benezer Alolod of the Philippines and Namphol Sithsaithong of Thailand. “Hindi din puede mag-kumpiyensa si Loreto sa Hapon kasi my lakas din ito,” said Santig, who arrived in Manila Sunday.

Ateneo Lady Eagles settle score with La Salle

UNSTOPPABLE. Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo scores against De La Salle University in their UAAP second round encounter w by the Lady Eagles.

Sarangani province congressman. “It’s hard to say because I’m not yet there.” “But right now, my decision is to retire.”

LYSSA Valdez took over in the final set as Ateneo beat arch-rival La Salle, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 2125, 15-5, on Sunday to clinch the top seeding entering the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena. Valdez took over late in a five-set thriller that took nearly three hours to finish, delivering the points when the Lady Eagles recovered from a fourth-set hiccup to put the win away with plenty to spare. By avenging a 22-25, 1425, 18-25 loss to La Salle in the first round, Ateneo took the No. 1 spot in the Final Four with a 12-2 win-loss record while La Salle slipped to second spot at 10-3 with a match still to play. “I think when I saw my teammates super sa eyes

nila they’re inspired to play, they really wanna play today so kung ikaw ganoon ’yung teammates mo you’re gonna do your best also,” she said. Valdez led all scorers with 24 points on 20 spikes, one block and three service aces, while sophomores Jhoana Maraguinot and Bea de Leon combined for 27 markers. Jia Morado registered all of Ateneo’s 62 excellent sets, while libero Gizelle Tan had 16 digs and 14 excellent receptions. “Syempre its really a bonus for us being on top after the eliminations,” said Valdez. “Pero being on the top madami rin responsibilities so kailangan din namin mag-work hard pa para ma-maintain na nandoon kami sa taas.” Ara Galang scored 20 points, while Joy Baron chipped in 15 for La Salle.

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It’s not time, says Roach

ANNY Pacquiao waved farewell to boxing with a dominant points win over Timothy Bradly, but trainer Freddie Roach would like to see him fight on. Pacquiao knocked down Bradley twice on his way to a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The 37-year-old said afterwards he was retiring to spend more time with his family before concentrating on his political career in the Philippines, but admitted he was “50-50” about his decision.

“I would like to see him fight again, yes,” said Roach, while stressing he would back Pacquiao whatever he decided. “We’ve had a great 15 years together. If he retires, I’ll be happy for him. That’s kind of up to him,” Roach said. Pacquiao, who has won world tiles from flyweight to super welterweight since turning professional at 16, showed no signs of ring rust in his first fight since undergoing shoulder surgery in the wake of defeat to Floyd Mayweather in May. “I know he’s in physical shape to keep fighting- his

speed is good, his legs are good, his work ethic is great,” added Roach. “He could continue to fight on, but if he retires and spends more time with his family and he enjoys life, and has something to fall back on, then I’ll be 100 per cent behind him.” Fighter-turned-trainer Roach - who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 26 years ago after fighting “maybe two or three” bouts too many - admits he wonders whether Pacquiao will be haunted by regret at his decision to hang up his gloves. “You know, it’s a difficult

HE STILL CAN. Trainer Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao should fight on.

sport to quit, it’s really, really hard to retire and I think he hasn’t realized that yet. But he will soon,” added Roach. “We talked about it being his last pro fight and I said ‘Go out with a bang, let’s look good doing it.’ And he did that. “I thought at moments tonight he looked better than he has done in a really long time. When I see Manny aggressive like that - that’s the best Manny Pacquiao. “I saw him smiling quite a lot in the ring tonight and that just tells me how much he loves the sport.”

TAGGED. Manny Pacquiao tags Timothy Bradley to the ropes in their third fight last Sunday won by the retiring Filipino boxing superstar.