Edge Davao9 Issue 32 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

SURPRISE GIFT. Presidential frontrunner Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took time out from his campaign sortie to join ex-wife Elizabeth, who celebrated her 68th birthday, in Cebu yesterday. RODY DUTERTE The Real Change Facebook page

SHE’S NOT KIDNAPPED Investigators rule out kidnapping in beauty queen’s disappearance By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Police Office (DCPO) investigators are still ruling out the mysterious disappearance of a former beauty queen as a kidnapping incident. DCPO spokesperson Chief Insp. Milgrace C. Driz said yesterday there was no sign of intimidation and coercion before the reported disappearance of 2002 Mutya ng Davao Mary Carmel Osmeña. She was reported missing since April 2. “The consideration of the family before they reported it to the police was the possible ransom demand from the possible abductor but there was none,” she said. Driz said in a case con-

ference with DCPO director Sr. Supt Vicente Danao Jr. on Wednesday afternoon, the Osmena’s father gave some information. Driz said the father brought a bank transaction slip which indicated that on April 4, his daughter was able to withdraw from the BDO ATM Machine at SM City Davao in Ecoland around 3:28 p.m. Driz said Osmeña withdrew a total of P40,000 cash from the four P10,000 simultaneous withdrawals. “We are also looking to this development that might give us information on where Mary Carmel is,” she said. Driz said the investigators

are requesting the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of the bank just to guide the police on the possible whereabouts of Osmeña. “The management of BDO told the police that they still ask approval from their Manila office,” she said. Before the incident was reported to the police, Driz said the parents had already asked their relatives but to no avail. She said the family is having difficulty finding Mary Carmel because she left her mobile phone in their house. Around 2:30 p.m. of April 2, Osmeña was seen by her family riding a Mid Valley taxi in the Maa area where the Osmeña family resides.

According to her father, Osmeña told him if they will not have a child, she will enter the convent and become a nun. She said the father of Osmeña told the police that she is married to James Pitt, British national but they have no child. Driz said Ms. Osmeña lived in London for seven years before she came back in the city in 2014. The family already looked for her in some of the congregations in the city but she woould not be found in any of the convents. Her father also asked someone to look for her in Digos City and Tagum City hoping that she will be found to no avail.

SWEET. Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte described the reunion of their parents – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Elizabeth ZimmermanDuterte—as “very sweet”. Photo by Hera Adriana Cai Consunji Global FRIENDS of RODY DUTERTE

Rody gifts Beth with surprise visit in Cebu By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

T was a surprise birthday present like no other. Presidential frontrunner Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gifted his ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman-Duterte with a surprise visit on her birthday in Cebu. Mayor Duterte took time out from his hectic campaign sorties yester-

day to join his family and close friends celebrate Beth’s 68th birthday at Rico’s Lechon in the Mactan Promenade in Mactan, Cebu. “Gisurprise niya si Mama nag coordinate sila kang Mayor Inday,” Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte told this writer in a text message yesterday.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

MOBBED. Leading presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is flanked by supporters during his arrival for his Bulacan campaign sortie at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center on Wednesday evening. (Rody Duterte: The Real Change photo)

Aquino calls for probe into deadly Basilan encounter

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday personally extended his condolences to the families of the soldiers who perished in an encounter in Basilan last weekend, assuring them that an investigation will be conducted. Eighteen soldiers died in the clash with members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and 53 others sustained injuries, the military has said. During his meeting with the families of the deceased soldiers at the Edwin Andrews Air Base, the President said a full investigation will be launched once the ongoing military operations in Basilan are completed. A military board of inqui-

ry will be organized to find out what happened, he said, vowing to hold accountable those who have committed negligence that resulted in the huge casualty on the side of the government. The President explained that the military will however have to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf Group first, so as not to lose momentum in the ongoing military offensive against the Islamic militant group. He also asked the families about their needs, especially since many of them have lost their breadwinners. Some of the families asked about the education of young children left behind by the soldiers and how their widows

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Comelec to allow voters to ask for extra ballot

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allow voters to have an extra ballots if the initial ballots given to them are rejected by the vote counting machines (VCMs) on May 9. According to the amended General Instructions (GI) for Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), the commission en banc can secure a replacement ballot from the teachers provided that the ballot rejection is not the fault of the voters. “No replacement ballot shall be issued to a voter, whose ballot is rejected by the VCM, except if the rejection of the ballot is not due to the fault of the voter,” Comelec Resolu-

tion No. 10088 said. Under the amended GI, in case of ballot rejection, the BEI shall still allow the voter to re-feed the ballot four times in four different orientations. After fourth try and the ballot is still rejected, the voter shall return the ballot to the BEI. In the 2010 and 2013 polls, voters were not allowed to ask for replacement ballots. For his part, Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said the decision was reached on the idea that voters should not be disenfranchised if it is not their fault their ballot has been rejected. “We believe that we should

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Attacks on Duterte could work to his advantage: Analyst By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE rash of attacks targeted on presidential frontrunner Mayor Rodrigo Duterte by his rivals can work to his advantage as the campaign nears the final grind. This was the analysis of Ateneo de Davao University political science professor Ramon Beleno III. Beleno told EDGE Davao yesterday, the accusations thrown by Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe on the campaign pitch of Mayor Duterte to suppress crime in three to six months, will be a big help to the candidacy of the mayor. “It’s a double advantage actually because it helps a lot

especially if he can address or answer the issues properly and people will understand and appreciate more on his stand,” he said. Beleno said the allegations against Duterte can be considered as “great publicity without even shelling out money. He, however, said if Duterte “can’t play his cards right, this might be disastrous because it might prove that his detractors were right.” Beleno suggested that the mayor should refrain from answering cheap shots against his opponents and also be careful with his words. “A mistake committed similar that of Manny Pacquiao would be devastating,” he said. He said Duterte should just

address the issue if necessary. “Look what happened to Binay, he cannot answer the corruption issues against him that is why his rating is not increasing. Similar with Roxas, as administration candidate, he must address all the criticisms thrown to the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III. What happened in Kidapawan (City, North Cotabato) was a blow to their campaign and yet they are not addressing it,” he said. Beleno said Duterte should just continue his advocacy on Federalism and the fight against anti- illegal drugs, anti-crime and anti-corruption. Duterte must now “concentrate on his weak spots and use surveys to strategize his campaign because it’s still ear-

ly to celebrate. His team must use the momentum to increase their lead,” he said. Duterte’s national campaign manager Leoncio Evasco said earlier, their camp expects more black propaganda and personal attacks after the mayor topped the two surveys released this week. Evasco said the vilification campaign against Duterte will reach new heights now that he has taken the lead in voter preference. Duterte topped the two recent surveys of Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The Pulse Asia survey is commissioned by ABS-CBN. Mayor Duterte rose to 30 percent in the Pulse Asia Survey and topped the SWS survey with 27 percent.

They were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from six years and one month to eight years for each count and were also ordered perpetually disqualified from holding public office. Ombudsman prosecutors presented several auditors from the Commission on Audit (COA) who testified that in their special audit, they found that the accused, then members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), procured two units of Toyota Hilux 4x4 at PHP1.25 million each,

one unit Mitsubishi L300 Exceed at PHP878,919.50 and two units of Ford Ranger 4x4 worth PHP1 million and PHP1.2 million, respectively. The COA auditors also testified that the high-end vehicles were procured through direct contracting. In its ruling released on Thursday, the Sandiganbayan said that “based on the testimony of the prosecution’s witness which was uncontroverted, the procurement in these cases were not covered in the annual procurement

program” and that there was “haste in the procurement which ultimately benefited the dealers of the brands as no records were presented to show the urgency of the purchase.” The Sandiganbayan added that “the policy of sticking to a certain specified brand is prejudicial to the interests of the government as it tends to limit the area of acquisition and prevents other prospective qualified bidders from participating in the bidding.” (PNA)

Sandiganbayan convicts ex-Davao del Sur gov

HE Sandiganbayan has convicted former Davao del Sur Governor and now Malita Mayor Benjamin Bautista, Jr. and five others for the illegal procurement of high-end vehicles worth PHP5.5 million in 2003. Convicted of four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”, are Bautista, Richard Martel, Allan Putong, Abel Guiñares, Victoria Mier and Edgar Gan.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

AFP says Balikatan in Antique successful T HE Balikatan Exercises 2016 conducted in this municipality is successful, according to Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson, the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army Public Information Officer in Panay. “It run smoothly and peacefully . We are grateful for the support and cooperation of government agencies in San Jose, the LGU and the provincial government, as well as the local populace,” Tiongson said. One feedback that the Panay leg officers received was that the public, particularly those residing in the vicinity of the EBJ Memorial airport, where the C130 planes had its landing since Monday, April 11, was that they wanted to have the opportunity to get inside the airport’s premises to have their pictures taken with the big airplanes. “We will consider it on our next Balikatan,” added Tiongson, “we will recommend it to the higher officials.”

It was established that this Balikatan Exercises aimed to prepare the men of both Armed Forces of the U.S. and the Philippines in relief operations, bringing in supplies and logistics as well as medical mission in places affected by natural calamities. “Everything that was done were simulation exercises to improve our men’s capability to respond faster in the event of a disaster and other crisis, “ said Tiongson. Meanwhile, Tiongson reiterated that the officers and men of the two countries’ armed forces “showed strong improvement when it comes to preparations, readiness and execution of their tactics, technique and procedures and I believe they all passed with flying colors.” Balikatan Exercises opened April 4 at Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz and is scheduled to end on April 16 with the ceremonial turning-over of three classroom buildings at Dingle, Iloilo, Jamindan and Tapaz in Capiz province. (PNA)

3 more ASGs killed in Basilan

N the ongoing operations against Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, three more brigands were killed during operations Wednesday morning. This raises the ASG death toll since April 9 to 27. Major Filemon Tan, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson, said the encounter, which resulted in the killing of three bandits took place 10:45 a.m. at Barangay Baguindan. He added that troops from the 104th Infantry Brigade were responsible for this operation. No losses were incurred by government forces. Included in the ASG death toll was Moroccan terrorist

Mohammad Khatttab, an improvised explosive device expert and supposedly a conduit of a “Middle East international terrorist group”. The former’s body was also recovered by ground units. Eighteen soldiers and 53 others were wounded in the more than nine-hour clash between military units and ASG bandits in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan last Saturday. The encounter started 7:55 a.m. and lasted until 5: 30 p.m. There was also an ASG attempt to behead two of the slain soldiers but these were prevented by covering fire of surviving troops, Padilla said. (PNA)

NO POWER OUTAGE ON ELECTION DAY. Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. executive vice president and chief operating officer Arturo Milan (right) explains that the company is fully prepared and downplays the rumors circulating around the city that there will be a power outage on election

day to sabotage the result of the polls in favor Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s rivals. Milan, together with Engr. Nelson L. Ruales of the Office of City Building Official (OCBO), graced yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr.

DLPC says bills affected by high cost of power despite blackouts By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE high cost of bunker fuels is the reason why electric bills remain high despite the five-hour blackouts. Explaining the electric consumption cost as reflected in electric bills, an official from Davao Light and Power Company Inc. (DLPC) explained yesterday the cost of new sources of power as the main culprit. DLPC executive vice-president and chief operations officer Arturo M. Milan said in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum, the increase on the electric bills is really possible despite the rotational blackouts because their electric utility is sourced from expensive power supply. Milan said that during

summer especially nowadays that the El Niño phenomenon hit some areas in Mindanao which affects the cheap source of electricity which is the hydro power plants of the National Power Corporation (NPC). “Kay nawala siya (hydro power) tungod sa El Niño gipulihan nato og mahal na bunker fuel (Since the cheap source of electricity has lost we replaced it with expensive bunker fuels),” he said. He said the average price of hydro power is P3.80 per kilowatt hour but with the current situation the average power rate is now P5.80 because the bunker fuel is really expensive. Milan said there is more than 50 percent increase on the power rate of DLPC.

He said assuming that there is a reduction to the power consumption, consumers must notice that in the electric bill there are two parts, the power consumption and power rate per kilowatt hour. Milan said if there is a fivehour power outage a day and divide it to 24 hours, there is only 21 percent reduction from the power consumption of a consumer but the power rate has increased by 50 percent. He also said the other factor of the increase of electric bill is the consumption behavior of their clients. Milan explained that normally, after a blackout the consumers will double its power consumption. “Pagkahuman sa brown-

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Cops hunting down suspects in mayoral bet’s slay try

DEVOTION. Dozens of Catholic faithful join the procession to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Manaoag along R. Magsaysay Avenue on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

out, pag on sa kuryente, tanan natong wala nabuhat during the brownout himoon nato karon nga naa na tay kuryente, kay mahadlok naman pud ta na di nato na mahuman tungod sa brownout (When the power supply comes back after the blackout, all of the chores which are left undone, will be doubled because the people are afraid of the power outage),” he said. He said the common misconception of the people is they are just focusing on the time that they have not used the power without considering their habit. Meanwhile, Milan said the rotational brownout will continue since the deficit is still an average of 100 Mega Watts

OLICE here are hunting down the men behind the roadside bombing in a remote village in Maguindanao that left three persons injured Wednesday afternoon. Supt. Jibin Bongcayao, spokesperson for Maguindanao Police Office, said pursuit operations have been going on since Wednesday afternoon against the suspects last seen near the blast site. Bongcayao said the improvised explosive device set off at 2:30 p.m. was intended for Vice Mayor Remegio Sioson of South Upi, Maguindanao. He is running under PDP-Laban party against seven other aspirants for mayor of the said upland town. Sioson was heading to Barangay Timanan from the village of Pandan on board his Mitsubishi vehicle when

the IED, fashioned from 60 mm mortar, was set off by still unidentified suspects nearby, using a two-way radio as triggering device. While Sioson miraculously survived the bombing, his three aids, including his cousin, were slightly injured. Michael Bibaoco, Sioson’s private secretary, said the vice mayor and his unarmed escorts were heading to Timanan from the village of Pandan where he visited the Maguindanao medical team on outreach program. Injured were Bibaoco, 30, Junito Venancio, 34, Sioson’s escort and Rommel Sioson, 35, his cousin. Despite the attempt on his life, Sioson declared he is not backing off from the race and let the police solve the case.

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5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

Recto bats for Mindanao energy czar to fix blackouts T HE next president should appoint an Energy undersecretary for Mindanao who shall be the “focal person” on the island’s power supply and fix blackouts like the intermittent ones which have been hitting its major cities recently. This proposal was made by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, who said that a “point person and consolidator” of all energy matters related to Mindanao “is the one the next administration may need.” “There are 24 million electricity consumers in Mindanao. It’s time to appoint a dedicated Department of Energy (DOE) official who will look after their interests,” Recto said. “If banks, shampoo sellers, and other corporations have a roster of VPs for Mindanao, I think this large market of power users would need an official with that designation from the DOE,” Recto said. “Preferably, that guy must come from Mindanao. If a search is made, many could qualify because Mindanao is one huge talent pool of professionals who have worked in the energy sector,” Recto said. Recto broached the idea of a “fulltime DOE Usec for Mindanao” after Mindanao towns and cities “have yet to get relief

from rolling blackouts.” “Based on reports, no place is exempt from power cutoffs,” Recto said. On paper, Mindanao had available capacity of 1,579 megawatts (MW) as of January 2016, below Mindanao’s peak demand of 1,711 MW. For April 11, power outlook is bleak with 1,445 MW available capacity, system peak of 1,458 MW, and gross reserve of -13 MW. With the El Nino affecting water supply, Mindanao’s hydropower source of 381 MW is also affected, according to a report by environmental groups in the island. One of the functions of the recommended Energy Undersecretary for Mindanao, Recto said, is “to keep tabs and the levers moving” on 290 pending renewable energy projects in Mindanao which are projected to feed an additional 3,000 MW to the grid by 2020. The biggest chunk of these are 242 hydroelectrical projects with a combined potential installed capacity of 2,148 MW, as per monitoring by the Mindanao Development Authority. There are also 28 solar (427 MW), 8 geothermal (278 MW), and 12 biomass (145 MW) projects being constructed or considered.

European Union execs to meet with mango industry stakeholders

DELEGATION from European Union led by Ambassador Franz Jessen will meet with mango industry stakeholders during their two-day visit in Guimaras starting Friday. The province is a recipient of the Trade Related Technical Assistance Programme 3 that mobilized experts to support the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the country to develop, promote and protect the “Guimaras Mango” as a geographical indication (GI), a press statement stated. The “Guimaras Mango” GI serves as a label that characterizes the mangoes as both originating in Guimaras as well as reputedly fresh and sweet. Geographical indications are distinctive signs used to identify a product as originating in the territory of a particular country, region or locality where its quality, reputation or other characteristic is linked to its geographical origin. Studies show that sales value of GI registered products can be more than double in similar products without a GI and the EU supports efforts of the Philippines to develop its own “sui generis” GI regulation so that farmers can take advantage of the opportunities the protection and familiarity the products can bring. The protection of geographical indications matters economically and culturally. They can create value for local communities through products that are deeply rooted in tradition, culture and geography. They support rural development and promote

new job opportunities in production, processing and other related services. Geographical indications are becoming a useful intellectual property right for developing countries because of their potential to add value and promote rural socio-economic development. The TRTA Project 3 has conducted workshops and trainings designed to assist the Guimaras mango producers and processors in putting together the Code of Practice for Guimaras Mango as a GI that will be duly certified by the IPO. Marketing GIs, international standards on food safety, packaging and labelling for the Guimaras Mangoes were also covered in these capacity building activities. At present, the Guimaras mango producers and processors continue to work on the Code of Practice to define the rules and procedures for using the GI. Director Lydia R. Guevarra, TRTA 3 Imprest Administrator, said: “We look forward to seeing the Guimaras mango sector benefit from the increased marketability and improved access to international markets that the Geographical Indication will bring in. The opportunities presented by EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) will further enable the Guimaras Mangoes to contribute more to the growth of the local economy and the generation of jobs in the regions.” Joining Jessen are Romanian Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Mihai Sion and German Deputy Ambassador Michael Hasper. (PNA)

AUSTRALIAN ENVOY. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Bonifacio Tan (leftmost) exchanges pleasantries with Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely (second from left) and Australian senior trade Commissioner Anthony Weymouth (rightmost)

during the opening of the Australian exhibit for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Philippines held at the Annex of SM City Davao on Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

Weak Global Demand Pulls Down Exports Anew in February 2016

Samal resort owners want Sasa Port budget channeled to bridge project By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

AMAL City Resort Owners Association (SCROA) president Pastor M. Lozada Jr. said funding for the controversial P18.9-billion Sasa port modernization project should be diverted for the construction of a bridge which will connect the Samal Island to the Davao City mainland. “The contract price for the port modernization project is far from the P2-billion estimate made by the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) in

2012. I suggest that it would be better to have a connecting bridge between the two areas rather than overspending on this port project,” Lozada told reporters in a recent interview. Lozada said the establishment of the bridge will not only improve the connectivity and logistics between the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCos) and Davao City but also the power situation in the island.

“Instead of laying down a power submarine cable under water, the bridge could be used instead,” he added. He said it would be way safer and reliable if the power line will be laid down on the side of the bridge. Recently, the island’s normally brisk tourism industry froze because of the island-wide blackout when the submarine cable of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) was hit and dam-

The opening rites will be at 9:30 a.m., to be followed by a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and blessing of the trade exhibits. The exhibits will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all throughout the three-day event. Senator Cynthia Villar will be the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony. Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. urged Negrense hog raisers and farmers to join

the national event for them to learn the latest information and technology on hog raising. Sessions on the first day will include seminars on Improving Key Performance Parameters of the Breeding Herd by Dr. Ken Bryant; Mitigating the Effect of Heat Stress on Pigs in the Philippines with Dr. Rey Zamora; Bayer Summer Sow and Weaning Program with Michael del Rosario; and Proteases in Piglet Nutrition with

or she thinks the taxi driver is suspicious,” Inton told the Philippines News Agency. “They can never tell if the taxi driver is really a taxi driver or a criminal just pretending to be one,” he added. He also urged taxi drivers and operators to immediately report to the Board incidents of car theft so the Board and law enforcement agencies can start looking for stolen vehicles and alert passengers to avoid riding them. “Taxi drivers are made to look like they are involved in these crimes but these cases will point to us that these are not taxi drivers but criminals posing as taxi drivers,” Inton

said. “It just so happens that real taxi drivers are the first victims of these criminals pretending to be them before they victimize their second victims—the passengers,” he added. Meanwhile, Inton assured that the Board and concerned agencies continue to seek to provide passengers with safe public transportation. The Board is currently coordinating with concerned agencies to identify the suspect of these car theft and rape cases which seem to follow a pattern of happening on the 19th of every month since February. (PNA)

4,000 hog raisers in PHL in HogCon

BOUT 4,000 delegates are expected to converge here starting Thursday for the three-day 25th National Hog Convention hosted by the Province of Negros Occidental at the SMX Convention Center. The event, set from April 14 to 16, is organized by the province in collaboration with the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc.

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LTFRB exec mulls requiring anti-theft devices on taxis

FTER a series of stolen taxis reported and used for crimes such as rape and robbery, a transport official on Wednesday is looking into the possibility of requiring taxis to install anti-theft devices. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member Atty. Ariel Inton said that while the installation of anti-theft devices has yet to be mandatory, he urged passengers to be vigilant while travelling at night or early morning. “A passengers who takes a taxi late at night or early in the morning should not travel alone especially when he

aged by anchor of M/V Ecuador. The two-week massive power outage in the island only ended when the 7.6-megawatt modular generation sets contracted from Mindoro Grid Corporation (MGC) arrived last March 29. Meanwhile, the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11, headed by Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo del Rosario, approved the conduct of a

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LOBAL economic slowdown continued to strain Philippine merchandise exports which declined by 4.5 percent in February 2016, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The Philippine Statistics Authority reported today that total export earnings reached US$4.3 billion in February 2016, from US$ 4.5 billion in the same month last year, due to decline in all commodity groups. “The export performance of most of the trade-oriented economies in East and Southeast Asia continues to reel from weak global demand that is largely influenced by the global economic slowdown. For the Philippines, we see this continuing only within the near term but it remains important for us to set up short-term measures that will support some of our export products,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Emmanuel F. Esguerra. Only Viet Nam and Thailand posted positive export gains while China recorded the steepest decline at 25.3 percent during the period. “As softer external demand is expected over the near term, the Philippines should at least aim for a 5.4 percent growth in merchandise exports, which is the low-end projection of the Export Development Council. Short-term measures may include providing government support to export products for which demand is growing faster relative to other export segments and where the Philippines has an increasing mar-

ket share,” he said. Revenues from manufactured products slightly dropped by 2.0 percent to reach US$3.7 billion from US$3.8 billion in February 2015. “The drop in exports of manufactured goods reflected the general slowdown experienced by the manufacturing sector around the world. But it is worth noting that overseas sales of our electronic products posted its ninth consecutive month of positive growth,” said Esguerra, who is also NEDA Director-General. Electronic products comprised 49.4 percent of total merchandise exports for the period. Meanwhile, total sales receipts from agro-based products also fell by 5.8 percent to US$307.9 million in February 2016, due to lower sales in coconut products and other agrobased products. Likewise, outbound sales of mineral products declined by 32.5 percent to US$172.6 million in February 2016 due to lower exports of all segments except for copper concentrates. Outward shipments for petroleum products also declined by 60.5 percent to US$6.1 million in February 2016 due to persistent low global oil prices. “While current global growth conditions remain tilted to the downside and will continue to affect exports in the short term, the Philippines must take advantage of the opportunity presented by an expected improvement in the economic growth of the ASE-

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A mall-wide sale and more at Abreeza Mall for Visit Davao Fun Sale

BREEZA Mall throws its full support behind the Visit Davao Fun Sale—the city’s annual tourism extravaganza offering great deals and discounts in adventure, shopping, dining, and fun until May 31, 2016— by holding a series of activities that will entice tourists and locals alike to head out and experience what Davao has to offer. From April 15 to 17, Abreeza Mall treats shoppers to a mall-wide sale, with its merchants giving discounts of up to 70% on apparel, accessories, athletic goods, personal care products, gadgets, appliances, specialty finds, services, and more. Abreeza Mall then holds another mallwide sale from May 27 to 29,

still under the Visit Davao Fun Sale banner. One of the highlights of this year’s edition of the Visit Davao Fun Sale is the Visit Davao Art Fun Sale, a city-wide art exhibit in partnership with local art collective Tabula Rasa that’s touted as the biggest art exhibit in Mindanao. The art spectacle makes its way to Abreeza Mall from April 14 to May 5, with an exhibit, artwork selling, and art workshops taking place within the period. Furthermore, Tabula Rasa lets mall-goers witness live art sessions by Davao’s talented visual artists on April 23 and 30 at the Second Floor Hallway near Wrangler. Complementing Abreeza Mall’s participation in the Visit Davao Fun Sale is the

Mindanao Trade Expo at the Activity Center from April 13 to 19. In its mission to support and promote Mindanaoan entrepreneurship, the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, Inc. once again puts together a showcase of arts and crafts, furniture and houseware, fashion and beauty finds, food products, and other services from micro, small, and medium enterprises from Mindanao. For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

EDGEDAVAO

7 SCIENCE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

Biodiversity:

Going, going, gone? Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“When food producers abandon diversity, varieties and breeds may die out -- along with specialized traits.” -- UN Food and Agriculture Organization

HREE species disappear every hour. And most Filipinos don’t know it. “Every day up to 150 species are lost,” deplored the Convention on Biological Diversity, which has been signed by almost 200 countries, including the Philippines. “We are indeed experiencing the greatest wave of extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs,” it added. Biodiversity (coined from two words, biological diversi-

ty) is not only about Philippine eagle, tamaraw, waling-waling, marine turtles, narra and other endangered species, but it also means food. “Biodiversity is essential for food security and nutrition. Thousands of interconnected species make up a vital web of biodiversity within the ecosystems upon which global food production depends,” stresses the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Paul Ehrlich, an American ecologist and demographer, warned a quarter of century ago that the world was on the verge of “famines of unbelievable proportions.” At that time, the world was home to about 3.5 billion which Ehrlich believed was the limit. In 1976, Ehrlich wrote that feeding six billion people “is totally impossible in practice.” Twenty-three years later, the world population reached six billion. As of July 2015, the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimated the world population at approximately 7.3 billion. Fortunately, the world

managed to feed the ever growing population. “Global food production today is sufficient to provide everyone on Earth an adequate diet,” wrote T.R. Reid in an article which appeared in National Geographic. But for how long the supply can last, no one knows. “To feed a growing popula-

tion, agriculture must provide more food,” points out the UN food agency, adding the world needs to safeguard biodiversity as it is the link to world food security. Scientists have identified about 1.4 million unique species of plants and animals on the planet -- so far. Nearly every day, it seems, a new species is added to the list. “This variety of life is essential to human existence,” FAO claims. “We depend on it for food, water, energy, shelter and innumerous other ways as well. But as the planet’s human population continues to expand, this biodiversity is coming under increasing threat.” FAO cites the following facts and figures: • Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk of extinction. • Of the over 80,000 tree species, less than 1% has been studied for potential use. • Fish provide 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Only ten species provide about 30% of marine capture fisheries and ten species provide about 50% of aquaculture production. • Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. Only five cereal crops provide 60% of energy intake. “Some people will argue that if we lost a number of insects yesterday, and the sun still came up today, does it truly matter?” asked Prof. Norman Myers, authors of several books and has served as a consultant to several UN agencies. Here’s what Time, in a special report, has said: “The damage being done is more than aesthetic. Many vanishing species provide humans with both food and medicine. What’s more, once you start tearing out swaths of ecosystem, you upset the existing balance in

ways that harm even areas you didn’t intend to touch.” Dr. Peter Raven, a noted American biologist, is very much concerned with the fast disappearance of the world’s biodiversity. “Of all the global problems that confront us, species extinction is the one that is moving the most rapidly and the one that will have the

species adapted to harsh environments, insects that pollinate fields and microorganisms that regenerate agricultural soils,” FAO explains. In human history, about 7,000 species of plants have been cultivated for consumption. The tropical rainforests are repository of crops. “The rainforest is the host to some

most serious consequences,” he contends. Unlike other global ecological problems, Dr. Raven stressed, the crisis is completely irreversible. “Extinction is forever,” declared the Washington-based World Resources Institute. The main culprit of the disappearance of biodiversity is the destruction of its habitat. “The most visible harm is caused by damage to natural habitats,” FAO says. “Wild species become extinct when the places where they live are destroyed. Pollution, urbanization, deforestation and conversion of wetlands force out wildlife. Mismanagement of agriculture, forestry and fisheries can further accelerate this destructive process.” Biodiversity is as just as important on farms and in fields as it is in deep river valleys or mountain cloud forests. “This agricultural biodiversity consists of countless farmed plants that feed and heal people, crop varieties and aquatic species with specific nutritional characteristics, livestock

2,500 species of fruits fit for us to eat,” said former Senator Heherson Alvarez, who used to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “Only a few such as banana, grapefruit and pineapples have been commercialized.” Alvarez believes that the destruction of rainforests will wipe out its ability to “refuel” existing crops. “Rice, millet, soybean, eggplant, yam and sugarcane originated from there,” he said. “Genetic resources from tropical forests have saved a number of important crops such as cacao, banana and coffee.” According to FAO, genetic diversity is essential for the continued sustainability of world agricultural production. “Farmers and agricultural scientists need it in order to adapt plants to changing conditions or expand production in new, previously unfarmed areas,” it says. “The hidden genetic diversity of plants hold the key to improved yields, and crops that not only produce more to eat, but more nutritious food as well.”

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

EDITORIAL Imperial Manila mentality

ICE President Jejomar Binay is one still caught up with the ‘Imperial Manila’ mentality. Binay, whose campaign for the Presidency is on a tailspin from no. 1 to no. 3, scoffed at the ascent of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to the top of two recent major survey results saying that lead can easily be wiped out with Luzon votes. Binay said with 54 percent of the electorate coming from Luzon, that lead by Duterte is inconsequential. Binay’s statement pooh-pooed the electorate from the Visayas and Mindanao and sent signals that he can with with Luzon votes alone. The vice president, his ratings plummeting down as he is riddled with corruption charges, has lost allies in Visayas and Mindanao who jumped to the Duterte bandwagon. The surveys too are showing Binay is not actually lording it over the Luzon votes. How on earth Binay thinks he will collar the

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vote-rich Luzon segment is bewildering. Is he up to something to say confidently about the Luzon votes? Binay has trained his barbs at Mayor Duterte on the latter’s human rights record and health. He also hit Duterte over COA findings of irregularities with LGU funds. There are reports too that Binay sent ‘investigators’ to Davao City to research on Duterte’s record. The issues Binay brought up are actually not new. However, without anything to throw at the Davao mayor, Binay had to make do with the old issues. For now perhaps and until his ‘investigators’ smell something fishy in Davao. Desperate times indeed call for desperate moves. It’s just ironic that while Binay belittles the Mindanao votes, he himself initiated sisterhood agreement with key Mindanao LGUs when he was Mayor of Makati—a move that was seen as a prelude to his bigger ambitions.

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VANTAGE POINTS

Democracy was absent in the Kidapawan conflict

HUNGRY nation is a nation in trouble. A hungry people are as restive as a volcano nearing eruption. Thus, for want of rice, the agonizing farmers of North Cotabato stormed angrily out into the streets to publicly register what they felt and believed was the failure of the local government to address their basic need: food and hunger. The deaths and the injuries inflicted on both sides, in the aftermath of the rough and bloody dispersal of the farmers’ assembly by the police authorities, could have been aborted had the local government leadership taken the “bull by its horns,” so to speak. In a civil society likes ours, ruled by laws rather than by men, a peaceful dialogue between the two contending sides would have been the best option, under the circumstances. Ideally, government officials and those holding the reins of authority should have extended a patient listening ear to the complaints of the poor farmers

“F

AITH is universal. Our specific methods for understanding it are arbitrary. Some of us pray to Jesus, some of us go to Mecca; some of us study subatomic particles. In the end we are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves.” ― Dan Brown in Angels & Demons

*** I am not sure if you heard this story before but allow me to share it again: It was almost dark when an atheist fell over a steep cliff. Halfway down, he caught onto the single bush growing out of the hillside. He hung on for dear life. He could not possibly get back to the top. A hundred feet below was a heap of rocks. In desperation, he turned his face toward heaven and shouted, “If there is a God, save me.” A thunderous voice then replied, “If you really believe in God, let go.” The atheist looked up, then looked down, and lost his nerve. “Is there anyone else up there?” he screamed. In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert wrote: “There’s a reason we refer to ‘leaps of faith’ -- because the decision to consent to any notion of divinity is a mighty jump from the rational over to the unknowable, and I don’t care how diligently scholars of every religion will try to sit you down with their stacks of books and prove to you through scripture that their faith is indeed rational; it isn’t. “If faith were rational, it wouldn’t

whose small SPECKS OF LIFE farms had been emaciated and rendered unproductive by the El Nino scourge. Clearly, the local Fred C. Lumba government people were not hands-on monitoring the welfare of their constituents because had they been on top, the situation could not have led to this sorry affair. As El Nino has been affecting a lot of provinces not only in Mindanao but all over the country, I’m pretty certain the Departments of Agriculture and the Environment & Natural Resources, not excluding PAGASA, have been sending out relevant guidelines and how-to’s to all LGUs to effectively respond to the drought.

But for a government to idly wait until the suffering poor came to its doorsteps to complain and register their wants before it plunges into action reflects a leadership that is reactive, laidback and negative. The issue is not about whether they waved a red banner or scrupulous politicians were egging them from behind. THE ISSUE IS ABOUT WHAT, NOT WHO. WHAT WERE THE FARMERS COMPLAINING OF, IN THE FIRST PLACE? And as the human drama slowly unfurled, hunger surfaced as the main concern of the protesting horde of innocent civilians. The lack of food (rice) and the ensuing unbearable hunger have driven the suffering farmers and their families to march and hopefully eked out even a pintsize of a “favourable” reaction from the North Cotabato provincial leadership. Whoa! Instead, a fearful and reactive police solution led by an incompetent senior officer went out to meet the protest-

ing thousands of hungry folks. Instead of compassion, the protesters were treated intolerably like a bunch of disposable waste matter, no longer the human beings that they are whose general welfare was the incumbent responsibility of the government and law enforcement agencies. Where was Democracy during all the time that the violent dispersal was happening? She was nowhere to be found. She was overthrown by the angry verbalization spewed out by Gov. Lala Mendoza and in the cold, hammering blows from the steel-like batons of the policemen. Democracy was absent during that fateful day in Kidapawan City, lost in the maze of a proud bureaucratic government that denied the poor their inherent sovereign rights. The late Pres. Ramon Magsaysay said so much about this. “Those who have less in life must have more in law.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.). God bless the Philippines!

be - by defiTHINK ON THESE! nition - faith,” she continued. “Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark. If Henrylito D. Tacio we truly knew henrytacio@gmail.com all the answers in advance as to the meaning of life and the nature of God and the destiny of our souls, our belief would not be a leap of faith and it would not be a courageous act of humanity; it would just be... a prudent insurance policy.” “The whole course of things goes to teach us faith,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer and poet. “We need only obey. There is guidance for each of us, and by lowly listening we shall hear the right word. Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which flows into you as life, place yourself in the full center of that flood, then you are without effort impelled to truth, to right, and a perfect contentment.” To get things done, an ounce of faith is worth a ton of experience. English novelist Rudyard Kipling recounted how a battle was won by the fool raw recruits, the boys who stormed the fort like lunatics, while the old wise soldiers knew better and held back. “Faith is not trying to believe something regardless of the

evidence,” Sherwood Eddy said. “Faith is daring to do something regardless of the consequences.” “We live by faith or we do not live at all,” pointed out British politician Harold Walker. “Either we venture – or we vegetate. If we venture, we do so by faith simply because we cannot know the end of anything at its beginning. We risk marriage on faith or we stay single. We prepare for a profession by faith or we give up before we start. By faith, we move mountains of opposition or we are stopped by molehills.” Now, let me share you another anecdote which some people said American novelist Robert Louis Stevenson told first. It seems a storm caught a sea-faring vessel off a rocky coast. The wind and waves threatened to drive the ship to its destruction. In the midst of the terror, one daring passenger, contrary to orders, made his way across the ship. Groping along a passageway, he found the pilot house. There he beheld an intriguing sight: the ship’s pilot was lashed to his post. Secure against the raging elements, he held the wheel fast, turning the ship inch by inch once more out to the sea. The pilot saw the man and smiled. The daring passenger found his way below deck where the other passengers huddled. Encouragingly he told them, “I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.” His words remind me of the statement of British-born American philosopher Alan M. Watts. “To have faith is

to trust yourself to the water,” he said. “When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float.” The Holy Bible, wisest of all books, assigns high importance to faith: “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you.” And what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 states: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” “Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation,” Elton Trueblood agrees. And what faith can do? “Faith draws the poison from every grief, takes the sting from every loss, and quenches the fire of every pain; and only faith can do it,” J.G. Holland believes. Faith in yourself is a religious thing, for you are God’s creation, His child. Believe in yourself and believe in Him. E. Stanley Jones commented, “Very often when I haven’t faith in my faith, I have to have faith in His faith. He makes me believe in myself and my possibilities, when I simply can’t. I have to rise to His faith in me.” At one time, a woman who was inwardly collapsed said to Mr. Jones, “Well, I have no faith of my own, but I do have in your faith.” “Good,” Mr. Jones replied, “take faith in my faith as a first step, and then you will go on to something infinitely better – faith in His faith.” If you are still at loss what faith is, here’s a word of reminder. “Faith is like a toothbrush,” said J.G. Stipe. “Every man should have one and use it regularly, but he shouldn’t try to use someone else’s.”

Leaps of faith

10 NEWS Rody... FROM 1

Beth, battling a stage 3 cancer, is leading the Byaheng Duterte caravan that took off from Davao City last April 5 and barnstormed Mindanao and Visayas. “Yup it;s her birthday naa mi sa Cebu karon niabot Mayor Rody to celebrate with us... sweet kaayo sila. Nalipay mi ni Mayor Inday nga nigahin siya ug panahon para kang Mama,” said an overjoyed Paolo who could not hide his emotions in the photos he sent to Edge Davao via Viber. Asked how their mother reacted to the ‘surprise,’ Paolo said “lipay oi namula haha sige kantyaw sila Tita Violy (Escandor).” In a video posted by former Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, Mayor Duterte wished Beth “a thousand years.” The birthday party be-

came an impromptu family reunion for the Dutertes. Only Sebastian, the youngest in the family, was not around as he was campaigning in Isabela yesterday. Beth is a stage 3 cancer patient but decided to stop her radiation sessions to come out and help in the campaign. “I wanted to help him because he is still part of my family, he is the father of my children. We may be annulled in court but we were also married in the church and the Catholic church never anulled our marriage. I wanted to complete at least seventeen radiation sessions before stopping the treatment and go out to campaign,” Beth said in a statement posted in Byaheng Duterte’s official FB page. The Cebu stop was part of the 30-day Byaheng Duterte caravan.

could get support from the government. Others wanted to know how other family members could join the military. President Aquino said the government will give these families the assistance they deserve. Major General Gerardo Barrientos, Jr. of the 1st Infantry Division said the families’ benefits include Php 250,000 from the Office of the President, about Php 180,000 in remuneration cash, Php 50,000 from the Mutual Benefit Association’s License, and Php 100,000 from the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative. “’Yung burial expenses na

Php 80,000, this is over and above ng remuneration na ibinibigay ng ating organization,” he said, adding that there will also be contributions from the division itself and from the headquarters, including a scholarship program from the government. “Sa kasalukuyan, iyong members ng ating Presidential Management Staff ay nagko-conduct ng pakikipagpulong doon sa ating mga naulila para malaman kung ano talaga ang kanilang problema. Meron ding mga scholarship programs na inilaan ang ating gobyerno kasama itong program ng ating Philippine Army,” Barrientos said. (PNA)

(MW). He said the power supply is projected to improve on April 21 once the said unit of the Therma South Inc., which is currently offline, will be back online as scheduled. Milan said starting May the additional power will come in to DLPC franchise with its contract with the SPPC.

Also, generating capacity of the major hydro power plants in Mindanao are projected to improve as the rainy season will start to commence as based on the PAG-ASA’s forecast. Another additional power supply from San Miguel that Davao Light has contracted with is said to operate in August 2016.

full blown feasibility study for the construction of the bridge which has an estimated cost of P10 billion earlier last year year. In a statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 11 said the proposal “stems from the results of a pre-feasibility study funded by the JICA which was a component of the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) Master Plan formulated in 1999 with an estimated project cost of P6.48 billion for a two-lane suspension bridge with a length of 1,200 meters.” In a separate study done by consultants from Katahira and Engineers International in 2005, alternative start-end points were recommended which increased the proposed bridge length to 1,350 meters, upping the project cost to P 15.93 billion, the statement added. RDC 11 approved a recommendation by the consul-

tants for the conduct of a fullblown feasibility study on the project in 2015. The feasibility study will be funded by the NEDA Feasibility Study Fund and is targeted to be completed this year before Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario steps down from his post in June. Del Rosario said the construction of the bridge will boost the local tourism as well as the number of investments in the island. “Ito din ay magiging daan upang maging mas maitaas pa ang katayuan ng syudad bilang isang investment at tourism hub (This bidge will serve as a mechanism to uplift the standing of the island as an investment and tourism hub),” Del Rosario said. Del Rosario, who is also the chair of the RDC, also appealed to the President to continue supporting the development of the island through projects in the future.

Aquino... FROM 2

DLPC... FROM 4

Samal... FROM 6

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) head Maria Luisa T. Bermudo bared that the agency has already released all financial assistance for the victims of fire and other calamities

Comelec... FROM 2

not penalize the voters if it is not their fault. We opted to err on the side of right to suffrage,” he said in a media forum Wednesday in Manila. On the other hand, former Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal did not support the decision, noting that it might pose problems on Election Day such as shortage of ballots. “The problem here is if you have 800 voters and 700 voters appear, then 120 voters ask for replacement ballots, at the end of the day, the BEI can only say ‘sorry we ran out of ballots’. What will happen? Disenfranchised voters also,” he said. The poll body chief is confident that they will have spare ballots since traditionally they have no record of 100 percent voter turnout. The Comelec had already completed the printing of all the 56,772,230 ballots to be used in the May 9 national and local polls using the 1:1 voter-ballot ratio. Meanwhile, an official of Smartmatic International said the company was ready to donate the 1.1 million thermal paper rolls set to be used as voter receipts.

According Smartmatic International Voter’s Education Chief Atty. Karen Jimeno they will donate the paper rolls. “Smartmatic has internally decided to donate 1.1 million rolls of thermal papers that would meet all the requirements for the issuance of the voter receipts and that would also address the problems of the very burdensome requirements of the Government Procurement Act,” she added. Last April 5, Smartmatic lost to Forms International Enterprises Corporation, which was declared as having the Lowest Calculated Bid (LCB) by the Comelec – Bids and Awards Committee (BAC). Bautista said that they would still have to evaluate the offer of supplier of the VCMs. “We received a letter from Smartmatic offering to provide all the thermal papers for the voting receipts. They did so because they are afraid that the thermal papers might not be delivered on time for the elections. That was taken up during the en banc meeting but there were certain members who wanted to find out if this is proper. That is our present dilemma,” he added. (PNA)

foreign workers to their remittance-dependent homes. Apart from being interconnected, risks are, by nature, also constantly evolving. Therefore, managing and responding to them requires multiple resilient systems. “The Philippines is particularly challenged to build economic resilience because of its high risk exposure and vulnerability, explained somewhat by its geographical location,” said Llanto. “It is difficult to manage risks. But it is possible.” A huge stumbling block in the process of risk management is the dearth of policy-oriented research and the absence of a resilience system. Although it has the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in place, the country has yet to paint a comprehensive picture of the country’s risk landscape, making it difficult to build the

appropriate response framework. “You need good policy interventions, and good policies rely on good research,” Llanto said. He warned, “Exposure to bad policies will exacerbate one’s vulnerability.” Thus, dealing with risks is not solely the job of policymakers or the NDRRMC. Communities have to work together to figure out how to handle and manage the risks and shocks faced by their community at the ground level. In sum, the country has to work together at every level to make resilience thinking a habit. A multiple resilience system must be built and founded on sound research and analysis, capable of identifying the wide array of vulnerabilities and adapting to the ever-evolving nature of risks. Misha H. Borbon

PIDS... FROM 11

in Davao City this year. Bermudo was among the guests of I-Speak media forum at City Hall yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cops... FROM 4

In Nov. 2013, Sioson also survived an ambush in the borders of Datu Odin Sinsuat town and South Upi, both in Maguindanao. Informed of the incident, Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu immediately condemned the bombing and called for sobriety to all the candidates. He also challenged the police to identify, arrest and prosecute the bombers.

He also called on all political aspirants in the province to raise the level of campaign and avoid using violence. “Enough of violence, let us mature as political aspirants and leaders,” he told partymates of the ruling Liberal Party and all other candidates. Police could not say whether the bombing was politically motivated saying investigation is still going on. (PNA)

AN region,” he noted. Esguerra added that GDP growth in India and the ASEAN region are expected to pick up, which will help balance the slowdown of China. In particular, the ramping-up of investments in Indonesia and the Philippines, Viet Nam’s continued expansion, and Thailand’s recovery from a slump in 2014 will prop up growth in ASEAN

to 4.5 percent, higher than the 4.4 percent growth estimated in 2015. “This provides an opportunity for the Philippines to expand its export market in the region. And it is important to ensure that Philippine products conform to export standards so as not to lose market share,” he said. (NEDA Public Relations Division)

June Sayo and Rodel Cueno. The Parade of Lechon at 5:30 p.m. will start from the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center on Aguinaldo Street, and pass through Lacson Street, South Capitol Road, Gatuslao Street and North Capitol Road. It will end at the Capitol

Lagoon where the Governor’s Night will be held. On April 15, a golf tournament will be hosted by GenSan Hog Raisers. Other activities include a series of seminars at the SMX Convention Center. A basketball exhibition game will be featured on the last day.(PNA)

a woman’s ability to lead projects. She was called a lot of things —incompetent, weak, and wavering. She admitted, “I was a victim of harsh gossips and cruel name-calling. Oftentimes, I hear them say that women are supposed to be just at home, doing chores and tending to their husband and children. But I refused to believe that.”

program supporters and convene Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer-champions and heroes from different communities. Lampera is such one heroine who surely invested a lot of her time and efforts in making sure that sub-projects are successfully carried out. What was initially a source of fear for her became something that she came to be proud of, “Dako akong pasalamat sa Kalahi-CIDSS sa oportunidad nga gihatag sa mga kababainhan. Wala nako damha nga ang among kalihukan sa komunidad, isa kini sa makapa-awhag sa katawhan nga mag bayanihan (I am truly grateful to Kalahi-CIDSS for the opportunities for women. I didn’t expect that our community project will motivate the people to imbibe the bayanihan spirit),” Lampera stressed. (DSWD)

Weak... FROM 6

4,000... FROM 6

From... FROM 11

Gains by women Based on DSWD records, 54% of Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers in Region XI are women. About 7,000 of these women volunteers have attended capacity building sessions, and 1,848 served as laborers in the construction of community sub-projects. The Bayani Ka! Awards seeks to acknowledge the contribution of

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 32 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 16, 2016

DSWD leads IP Summit

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with Department of Education (DepEd), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other line agencies recently conducted the Indigenous People’s Summit at Big 8 Corporate Hotel in Tagum City. Attended by 100 participants, the Summit aims to consult with tribal leaders and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMR) on the establishment of new public school classrooms for IPs in Mindanao. The IP summit was also attended by NCIP Chairperson Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo, DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Deputy National Program Manager Cicero Juan Aguilar Jr, Mindanao Island Cluster Manager for DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Elise Faye Sogo-an, Area Coordinator of Government of Australia – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Rannon Padrinao, and officials from Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR), and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

IP needs “All poor areas in the Philippines, for the longest time, lack basic social services. This remains to be a historical problem and these areas mostly are IP communities,” said Aguilar. He announced that groups of IPs in far flung villages of Region XI will soon benefit from the new partnership of DSWD and DepEd dubbed Whole of Nation Initiative (WNI), wherein school classrooms shall be built for use of IPs.

In Region XI, a total of 64 sites were identified in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental and five sites in Davao City, where 169 classrooms will be built with an indicative amount of P 895,000.00 per classroom, Aguilar revealed.

Community driven “The construction of classroom buildings will employ the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach of Kalahi-CIDSS. Based on previous projects, the experience of the CDD approach in sub-project implementation is proven to be efficient and effective,” Aguilar pointed out. Kalahi-CIDSS or Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services is one of the core programs of DSWD aiming to empower communities through enhanced participation in local governance and poverty alleviation projects. He said funds will be directly transferred to community accounts while IP leaders will be mobilized to be more participative in the processes of project implementation, making them equally accountable to their communities. “The Barangay Sub-project Management Committee (BSPMC), which was organized by the Area Coordinating Team of Kalahi-CIDSS, will capacitate IP volunteers in managing construction of classroom buildings,” Aguilar added. Site validation, as agreed in the Summit, will soon commence and classroom sub-projects are expected to be completed within the year. Since 2003, Kalahi-CIDSS has completed 94 community school buildings in Region XI with a fund exposure of P 102,349,623.70 million. (DSWD)

CLASSROOM FOR IPs. Datu Katud Pukapok of Sitio Mirato, Barangay Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte plots out the perimeter of the future site of one unit, two classroom building as part of the Whole of Nation Initiative (WNI) to help lPs in disadvantaged and geographically isolated areas. Also

in photo are fellow tribal leaders and DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS Area Coordinating Team of Talaingod who also participated in the actual site validation and risk assessment in the sitio.

PIDS study calls for comprehensive action on risk mitigation

AGUIO City, the capital of Benguet Province, was flagged a few years back by a World Wide Fund for Nature study as the most vulnerable Philippine city to climate change and other socioeconomic threats. Because of its dense population, topography, and largely ill-planned urbanization, Baguio’s ability to adapt and respond to such risks was judged inadequate. As part of a conscious effort to turn things around, the city held its first ever city-wide earthquake drill in March. Following that, on April 6, part of

Baguio City’s academic community participated in a forum highlighting the importance of building a multiple resilience system. The policy research forum on Human Capital: Health, Education, and Building Resilience was held at the University of the Philippines, Baguio, co-hosted by the Cordillera Studies Center (CSC) and state think thank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). Dr. Gilberto Llanto, PIDS president, presented his paper on Risks, Shocks, and Building Resilience: Philippines, profil-

ing the risk landscape faced by the country, the nature of interconnectedness of risks, and the importance of creating a policy framework for building resilience at every level of society. According to Llanto, risks do not occur in isolation but rather in a wide network. As an example, Llanto cited the link between food and energy crises. The trade-off of choosing to allocate resources to address the need for renewable energy was the fatal spike in food prices. Closer to home, Llanto explained how the economic

HE Philippine table tennis team, led by Richard Gonzales & Jann Mari Nayre (2nd & 1st from left), the country’s No. 1 table tennis players for Men’s & Junior divisions, respectively, recently flew

to Hong Kong via PAL flight PR360 to compete in the Asian Table Tennis Olympic Qualification Tournament (singles), a qualifying event for 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. As PAL celebrates its

75th anniversary, it launched its flagship corporate social responsibility program Rprsnt Pinoy! - in order for PAL to become a source of pride for Filipinos. Rprsent Pinoy! supports exceptional but underprivileged Fil-

ipinos, like Gonzales and Nayre who will represent the country in global competitions. Also in photo are Ian Labira, table tennis champion (ladies division) and team coach Kwon Mi Sook.

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From housewife to heroine

“S

PAL flies table tennis champs for pre-Olympic event

slowdown in China directly affects the growth of commodity-exporting countries like the Philippines. China is one of the Philippines’ largest exporting partners. Similarly, while the recent falling oil prices was met with elation from the Philippines’ transport sector, it greatly affected the economic health of oil-exporting countries. In turn, the oil-exporting countries, which also happened to host large contingents of Overseas Filipino Workers, were forced to send back their

A UNA, nagtuo ko nga ang mga kababainhan kutob lang sa panimalay. Igo mag alaga og anak, mag asikaso sa bana, ug magluto sa kusina. Pero tong niabot ang Kalahi-CIDSS, natagamtaman nako ang importansya sa akong kontribusyon sa akong komunidad (I used to think that women are limited to staying at home, take care of children and husband and prepare food. But when Kalahi- CIDSS came about, I sensed the significance of my contribution to my community),” shared Elenita P. Lampera, during a program at DSWD Office. Kalahi-CIDSS or Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services is one of the core programs of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) that aims to empower communities through enhanced participation in local governance and poverty alleviation projects. In celebration of Women’s Month and recognizing the crucial role of women, DSWD invited women-leader beneficiaries and volunteers whose lives have improved through their active involvement in DSWD programs, to share their stories of positive transformation. Woman-volunteer Recently, Lampera, 43, was awarded as Best Volunteer under Gender and Development Category during the 2nd Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Bayani Ka! Awards. She is also a Parent Leader

of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Her family receives P2, 800.00 every two months, which she uses to ensure that her schoolaged children remain in school and avail local health services. Lampera, a mother of three, considers that education is the best gift she can offer to their children. She believes that the classroom is the heart of any educational system. “Ang edukasyon ang isa ka bahandi nga among maikahatag sa among mga anak. Mao kini ang ilang bulawan nga dili makuha sa ilaha (Education is one legacy that we can give our children. This is their treasure that could not be taken away from them).” When she volunteered in Kalahi-CIDSS, she learned for the first time how to do objective and systemized project work. A high school graduate in a provincial public school, it was her first time to do canvassing, budgeting, milestone monitoring, representing her community in meetings, negotiating with suppliers, and most of all, overseeing the implementation of the sub-project. Through the skills she learned, she led, and was able to successfully carry out the construction of a P 679,175.00 one-classroom high school building through Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA. Lampera, brimming with fire in her heart, was able to invigorate the Bayanihan spirit in their community. At first, the people in their community were doubtful on

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Honoring Tagumenyos’

TAGUMPAY IN MUSIC

By Olan Emboscado

TAGUM CITY ONCE AGAIN PROVED THAT INDEED IT IS THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH AS THIS YEAR’S MUSIKAHAN FESTIVAL concluded with flying colors showcasing the musical artistry of the Tagumenyos. Year after year, the City of Palms is converted into a huge venue showcasing the musical ingenuity of the Filipinos in the different fields of music. Musikahan was once a minor musical festivity that started as an annual event to showcase Tagumenyos talents in music. As it progresses, it morphed into an exceptional music festival that celebrates and honors the musical ingenuity not only of the Tagumenyos but the Filipino people as a whole. Today, it is considered as one of the country’s biggest music festival earning Tagum City the title as the Music Capital of the South. Since 1999, Musikahan Festival has been the City’s banner festival. It primarily aims to honor and showcase the country’s love for music and the Filipino’s excellence in musical composition, performance and production. Through the years, Musikahan Fest

has attracted not only spectators from around the region but even guests and participating groups coming as far from the Visayas and Luzon. One of the most unforgettable events in line with Musikahan was when the city

hosted the 3rd International Rondalla Festival in 2011. It was participated by different groups coming from Asia, Europe and the Americas. In this year’s grand cel-

MUSIC A4

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EVENT

ICEA Performing Arts to present Les Miserables IT WAS AN AFTERNOON OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AT THE MAIN DINING AREA OF CLAUDE’S CAFE DE VILLE as the ICEA Performing Arts group performed excerpts from their upcoming charity concert, “A Night On Broadway”.

The musical show produced by ICEA Performing Arts Inc. and the Indigent Children Educational Assistance Inc. (ICEA) lead by Ms. Chit Suarez, is an annual presentation which raises funds for the education of the indigent children of the woman inmates of BJMP located at the Ma-a city jail. “ICEA is a non-profit organisation that raises funds to help indigent children finish their schooling,” said Ms. Suarez. “Since 2007, the funds we raise goes to provide school uniforms, shoes, school supplies, PTA fees, and other miscellaneous expenses of the children and we hope to raise enough through this show.” I had the opportunity a couple of years back to experience ICEA’s night on broadway featuring the hit musical “Mama Mia” and I could say that it did not disappoint me. This year, the company decided to tread on new territory by featuring the broadway and movie hit, “Les Miserables” and what I heard at the press preview last April 13 literally brought shivers down my spine. Directed by Christopher Lacno, the show stars Liezel Sepe as Eponine, Mary Claire Mosqueda as Cosette, Benjamin Bautista as Jean Valjean, Daniel John Rege Bramall as Marius. Special mention goes to Marion Velilla and Pia Mantano who played the rascally

Thenardier couple and their vocally challenging songs as well as Kristita Lee Patricio who plays as Fantine. Her rendition of “I Dream a Dream” literally moved me to tears. “A Night On Broadway: Les Miserables” will run for two nights, April 30 and May 1 at the CAP Auditorium with a matinee and gala show each night. Tickets for the matinee shows are at Php250 and Php300 while gala tickets are at Php500 and Php1,000. Tickets can be purchased at Claudes Cafe de Ville, CAP Auditorium, Suarez Law Office at J.P. Laurel Ave., UIC Padre Selga, Brainworks Matina, and at ICEA along University Ave., Juna Subdivision.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Biyahe ni Drew travels back in time in Jordan Cinema One Originals ‘Lorna’ leads Cinema One’s film offerings this April

BIYAHE NI DREW CONTINUES ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL and this Friday (April 15), Drew Arellano visits one of the countries in the Middle East with rich history—Jordan.

Biyahe ni Drew discovers the old structures in Jordan that withstood the test of time. The show will also take a look at one of the most sacred places here – Mt. Nebo, where Moses is believed to have been buried. Drew will also go to Jordan’s capital, Amman where he will try to make his own mosaic art. He will also sample the traditional Jordanian meal such as the pita bread, dips,

THE CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS FILM about a 60-year-old woman in search of Mr. Right leads the string of blockbuster movies hitting Cinema One, the leading cable channel in the Philippines this April. and the Magluba—a delicacy made of chicken, vegetables and various herbs and spices. Join Drew in the third

installment of Biyahe ni Drew’s third anniversary special this Friday, 8 p.m., on GMA News TV.

Davao acts dominate first semis results in ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’

DAVAO ACTS STOOD OUT LAST WEEKEND and got the first two grand finalist slots in ABS-CBN’s world class talent search “Pilipinas Got Talent.”

After an intense battle of six semi-finalist acts, boy band Next Option emerged as the public’s choice and garnered the most number of votes through text, and for the first time in the country, online via Google. Dance group Crossover Family, meanwhile, was unanimously chosen by judges Freddie “FMG”

Garcia, Angel Locsin, Robin Padilla, and Vice Ganda over singing duo Poor Voice. Ten more grand finalist slots will be filled in the coming weeks before the much-awaited ultimate showdown of Pinoy acts in “PGT.” This week,

watch as belly dancers Angel Fire, singer Derf Cabael, hiphop dance group Mastermind, kiddie acrobats Sto. Tomas Bulilit Generation, dancer Deniel Sarmiento, and lesbian band Lezboys battle it out to win the public and the judges’

Top billed by veteran actress S h a m a i n e Buencamino, “Lorna” is a heartwarming tale on growing old alone, looking for love and eventually moving on. Buencamino earned a nomination for the Best Performance by an Actress award in the 9th Asia Pacific Screen Awards for “Lorna.” It also took home the Best Supporting Actress award for Maria Isabel Lopez in the 2014 Cinema One Originals Film Festival and has been screened in various international film festivals in different parts of the world. “Lorna” also stars “Hele ng Hiwagang Hapis” director Lav Diaz, Felix Roco, and Racquel Villavicencio. It is set to air on Cinema One’s Blockbuster Sundays on April 24 at 8PM. Cinema One is on Skycable channel 56, Destiny Cable Analog 37 and Digital 57. To view full schedule of Cinema One movies like Cinema1channel on Facebook ( facebook.com/Cinema1channel).

votes. Don’t miss “Pilipinas Got Talent” every Saturday right after “MMK,” and every Sunday after “Rated K” on ABS-CBN. For updates, follow @officialPGT5 on Instagram and Twitter or like www.facebook.com/ officialPGT on Facebook.

GMA News TV’s launches animated voter education series FILIPINOS ARE BY NATURE P L E A S A N T, UNWILLING TO ROCK THE BOAT. One of the country’s core values after all, is pakikisama or being agreeable, just going with the flow. We shy away from confrontations to protect a kapwa Pilipino’s amor propio. SITATA TASYO is the record scratch to all that. SITATA TASYO, GMA News TV’s central character in its election awareness plug series, is the antithesis to the usual pleasant, cajoling voices that urge voters

to choose wisely. In less than a minute per edition, Sitata Tasyo attacks wrong old world values head-on, pointing out archaic and flawed voter practices that elect human errors into office. Sitata Tasyo uses wit, sarcasm, irony, and sometimes even impatience in pointing

out what’s wrong – and what could be ideal – in choosing our leaders. But no one takes offense as Sitata Tasyo resembles everyone’s cool, caring uncle. He has his hair in a ponytail, and his everyday garb is as colorful as his language. Sitata Tasyo is voiced by GMA Post Production

director Vincent Gealogo. The series’ look and content were handled by Program Support Department manager Catherine Ko, Ghani Madueno and Anna Cajudo, and Joseph Saguid. Jeffrey John Imutan animated all the episodes. And if you listen closely enough, you will hear the distinct voices of Kara David and Love Anover in the series. Sitata Tasyo is a character conceptualized by GMA News and Public Affairs officer Jaileen F. Jimeno. Catch Sitata Tasyo beginning Wednesday, April 13, on GMA News TV Channel 11.

April 13 – 19, 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

THE CRIMINAL / *MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot / * Nia Vardalos, John Corbett R16/*R13

11:35 | 1:50 | 4:05 LFS / *6:20 | 8:10 | 10:00 LFS

THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt PG

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

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EVENT MUSIC A1 ebration, Musikahan Festival amplified the musical artistry and ingenuity of the country’s national artists. Lined up events during the weeklong celebration including musical performances and productions were done to pay tribute to the greatest contribution of some national artists in the field of music and the like. With its theme “Musika ng Tagumpay”, this years’ Musikahan Festival was made even more relevant. Different competitions were lined up to showcase the extraordinary skills of music geniuses. Songwriters were provided the avenue to showcase their song-writing skills in the Songwriting Competition. Musical talents of the Tagumenyos in the grassroots level were put into limelight through Barangay Musikahan. Amateur and premier chorale groups coming from the different parts of the country converged in the city for the annual Himig Handog Choral Competition. It was among the most watched events of the Festival. Drum and Bugle, Lyre Corps Competition, Drum Battle Competition, Symphonic Serenata

there is no doubt that Tagum City is indeed the Music Capital of Mindanao. And Musikahan Festival is something to look forward to every year. This year’s Musika-

han Festival is organized by the City Government of Tagum through the Tagum City Tourism Council and sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA).

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Competition, Marching Brass Band Competition, and Brass Band Showdown highlighted the celebration as participants’ creativity, uniqueness

and ingenuity in musical performance regaled the audience. Bass Bands based in Tagum and other parts of the country entertained the audience

with their jaw-dropping performances. With city’s continued effort of honing and honoring Tagumenyos’ innate talent and love for music,

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Businesses turn backs on banks lack the right IT security O VER two-thirds of companies prefer to bank with a provider who has a solid security reputation, according to a Kaspersky Lab survey. Those banks that make security a priority and take every effort to ensure measures are in place to safeguard against online financial fraud will have an advantage, when it comes to retaining existing customers and reaching new ones. The research titled Global IT Security Risks Survey 2015 found that nine out of ten (94%) companies now

use online banking in their day-to-day operations. The ability to use banking services without needing to physically visit a bank gives a lot of advantages including, improving response times and reducing operational costs. However, this convenience can also come at a cost, putting companies at risk of online financial fraud and giving cybercriminals yet another way to compromise corporate IT infrastructure. “In today’s technology driven environment, banks operate more like IT compa-

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FELISA BONLEON VICTORIANO has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF STATE executed among her heirs per Doc. No.243; Page No.41; Book No. XII; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ROGIELIZA D. VERALLO. 4/8,15,22

nies than financial institutions. All of their interactions with customers and partners are computerized and information is shared and stored online. However, despite the advantages it makes banking processes vulnerable and any compromise to the IT infrastructure can lead to huge data loss or, even worse, severe financial and reputational damage. It is therefore imperative that banks also think more like IT companies and make security a priority when developing and delivering their services,” comments Ross Hogan, Kaspersky Lab Global Head of Fraud Prevention. Just under two thirds (63%) of the companies questioned by Kaspersky Lab understand these risks and the importance of implementing all possible security measures to protect their critical data. When it comes to protecting their information, security plays a key role for companies when choosing who to bank with. Almost three quarters (72%) of companies questioned stated that they select banks due to their security reputation, and almost nine out of 10 (88%) are willing to pay extra in order to work with a bank that has a strong security policy and a good security track record. 43% of companies also said that they themselves

need to take improved measures, in order to protect online financial transactions made with their banks. To ensure they provide the best possible service to business customers and give the necessary peace of mind that data and transactions are safe, a comprehensive security approach is vital. Kaspersky Fraud Prevention can help banks to protect all of the components of their IT infrastructure, including mobile banking apps. Kaspersky Fraud Prevention for Endpoints keeps customers and their machines fully protected from financial fraud, so they can bank easily and conveniently online, without exposing themselves, or their provider, to risk.

Survey Methodology Kaspersky Lab’s Global IT Security Risks Survey collects insights from IT professionals around the world. The survey included 5,564 respondents, IT professionals with a ‘good working knowledge’ of IT issues, from 38 countries from April 2014 to May 2015. Conducted by research specialists B2B International and analyzed by Kaspersky Lab’s expert threat intelligence and research teams, the report is an essential look at the industry’s prevailing attitudes and strategies towards IT security. It also serves as an industry benchmark to help businesses understand the type and level of IT security threats they face.

About Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Lab is a global cyber security company founded in 1997. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Rosemarie Gonzales

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TRACK PRINCESS

RECORD BREAKER. Mia Meagy Ninura of Kapatagan, Davao del Sur is flooded with athletic scholarships including two schools in the US.

Dabawenya record-breaker gets offers from RP, US schools

IXTEENYEARO L D record-breaking runner Mia Meagey Niñura of Davao is now having various offers from prestigious

universities in the Philippines and in the United States. This, after Niñura won the first gold medal in the 3,000-meter secondary (girls) event in the athletics category of the Palarong Pambansa 2016. After clinching the gold medal, many universities are willing to have Niñura. Recruitment offers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC) in the US poured in along the way.

Aside from these, there are also offers from different universities in Metro Manila like the University of Santo Tomas. The young achiever exhibited and proved her skills and strength when she created a new record in the athletic game at the newly paved and constructed Albay Sports and Tourism Complex oval. The competition became an instant news-breaking story since this is not an ordinary competition. Niñura defeated her long-time contending rival from Northern Mindanao Region Athletic Association (NMRAA), Jian Calis, a three-time gold medalist. Calis last year ran for about 10:10.6 and broke her own record by finishing in 10:07.8 now, making her 2nd

to Niñura who clocked 10:03.4. Camila Tubiano, also competing for NMRAA, came in third at 10:45.0. Niñura said she played with courage and, of course, potential of winning, and that her family was her inspiration in her every game. She also conditions her mind that she will be a winner not just for her own benefit but also as a reward to her coach. He mother is so proud for her daughter as, she said, everything was worth the pain. It is the first time for this student of Kapatagan National High School to bring home a gold medal in her six years of participation in the sporting event and will surely have uprightness in having one.(PNA)

Warriors reach 73, Moralde eager to show wares in Manila fight break Bulls’record R

TEPHEN Curry and the Golden State Warriors took their last shot at Michael Jordan and history and they swished it — for 73. Down to their final chance at the record, the Warriors became the first 73-win team on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time) by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking what many considered an unmatchable mark set 20 years ago by Jordan’s Chicago Bulls — oh, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr, too. “It’s a great way to finish off what was an amazing regular season,” Kerr said. “I just told our guys I never in a million years would have guessed that that record would ever be broken. I thought it was like (Joe) DiMaggio’s hit streak, really. I was wrong, but I will say the same thing now that I said 20 years ago, ‘I don’t think this one will ever be broken.’ Somebody’s got to go 74-8. I don’t see it, and I hope our fans aren’t expecting that next year.” Curry achieved yet o n e more shooting milestone, b e -

coming the first player to make 400 three-pointers in a season by knocking down 10 from long range on the way to 46 points and 402 total 3s. Golden State saved one last record for the closing day of the regular season, and did it for a roaring, sellout home crowd at Oracle Arena. Yet these Warriors want nothing more than to build off their remarkable run so far and ride it to another title. “Who knows how far we can take this thing?” Curry said. The Bulls won the title in 1996 — and Jordan mentioned the playoffs in a congratulatory statement. “I want to congratulate the Warriors on their amazing season,” Jordan said. “The game of basketball is always evolving and records are made to be broken. The Warriors have been a lot of fun to watch and I look forward to seeing what they do in the playoffs.” Draymond Green had 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists a s defending

champ i o n Golden State (739) topped the Jordan-led 1995-96 Bulls who went 72-10.

EIGNING World Boxing Federation (WBF) International featherweight champion John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde of Davao City is eager to see action for only thesecond time in Metro Manila on April 30. Moralde first saw action in the Big City last March 21, 2014 when he scored a majority decision against Roman Canto in their 8-rounder match held at the Fil Oil Flying V San Juan Arena in San Juan City of Metro Manila. Two years after that fight, Moralde is coming back as an undefeated champion to face a dangerous Jimmy “Xcon Tirador” Aducal of Samar in the main supporting bout of the “Brawl at the Mall: Undefeated” card slated at the Makati Cinema Square in Makati City. The boxing card is a 10-round non-title fight promoted by his manager-promoter Jim Claude Manangquil, Chief Executive Officer of the Sanman Promotions. “Excited talaga kong makabalik muli sa Maynila upang lumaban,” said Moralde, who was recently awarded as one of the outstanding boxers in the 16th Gabriel Elorde Boxing Award held this month in Paranaque City. The 21-year old Moralde is still undefeated with a streak of 15 wins while Aducal, a former interim Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super flyweight champion is 8W-5L-2D-6KOs.

Moralde, who recently got married, previously won his new title via a convincing unanimous decision against Anthony Sabalde of Cebu last February 13 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in General Santos City. “This will be another strong challenge for John Vincent since Aducal is not a pushover and he is a quality opponent,” said Mananquil. The 25-year old southpaw is under the Xcon Stable in Mandaluyong City. “We want to keep John

Vincent active to prepare him for bigger fights this year,” said Manangquil. Moralde thanked Sanman Promotions for giving him another opportunity. “I have trained hard for this fight. I respect my opponent as a fighter but I will be victorious come April 30,” said the 5-foot-7 Moralde. “If there is an opportunity for a knockout I will do it,” he added. Moralde also won the WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental featherweight

title by a UD over previous unbeaten Brayd Smith of Australia last March 14, 2015 in Queensland, Australia. Pitted in the main event of the Brawl at the Mall: Undefeated is the championship match for the vacant WBF International bantamweight crown are two undefeated fighters in “Magic” Mike Plania (9W-0L-0D-4KOs) of General Santos City and Lorence Rosas of Puerto Princesa (5W-0L-2D-2KOs). Admission is free to the public.

Moralde (left) and Aducal

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MAMBA OUT

Kobe goes out with a bang, fires 60 in Lakers win

OBE Bryant scored 60 incredible points. He carried a miserable Los Angeles Lakers team to an improbable comeback victory. And with sweat and confetti all over his gold uniform for the final time, he expressed humble thanks to his fans and family for their loving support over two decades. “What else can I say?” Bryant asked. “Mamba out.” Now that’s a Hollywood ending to a remarkable career. Bryant utterly dominated his final game on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time), wrapping up 20 NBA seasons with one last offensive showcase in the Lakers’ 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. He scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, posting his first 50-point game since February 2009 and rallying the Lakers from a 15-point deficit to win the final game of the worst season in franchise history. It was messy, ridiculous and magical — even to the man who did it so many times over 20 years. “It’s hard to believe it happened this way,” Bryant said. “I’m still shocked about it.” With the entire Staples Center crowd standing, Bryant made a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left. He hit another with 31 seconds to play, putting the Lakers ahead 97-96. He finished with an assist before checking out for good with 4.1 seconds left in just the Lakers’ 17th win of the season. “The perfect ending would have been a championship,” Bryant said with a smile. “But tonight was (me) trying to go out, play hard and try to put on a show as much as I possibly could. It felt good to be able to do that one last time.”

Mamba. “It just didn’t surprise me, the way he would go out,” said Lakers coach Byron Scott, Bryant’s teammate in his rookie season. “Sixty points wasn’t a surprise. I knew he had it in him.” The entire night was a tribute to Bryant, who is retiring after 20 seasons, five championship rings and 18 All-Star selections with the Lakers, who honored him before and after the game. Bryant is just the fifth player in NBA history to play 20 seasons, and the first with just one team. “I think the most important part is that we all stayed together throughout,” Bryant said to the crowd. “You’ll always be in my heart, and I sincerely, sincerely appreciate it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you guys.” He also had a few laughs after finishing his 1,346th regular-season game with 33,643 career points. “The thing that had me cracking up all night long is, I go through 20 years of everybody screaming to pass the ball,” Bryant said with a grin. “And then the last night, they’re like, ‘Don’t pass it!’” It was daylong tribute with thousands of fans thronging the downtown streets around Staples Center and chanting his name from early afternoon. Fans lucky enough to get inside Staples Center greeted him with ovations at every opportunity. Magic Johnson anchored a brief pregame tribute by calling Bryant “the biggest and greatest celebrity we’ve had in this town for 20 years” and “the greatest to wear the purple and gold.” Bryant embraced his roles as a hero and villain throughout his career, and he mentioned the duality in describing his

outlook on sports afterward. He had rocky times in Los Angeles, from his sexual assault charge in Colorado in 2003 to his feud with Shaquille O’Neal, who watched the finale at courtside. It was all forgotten by the time Bryant took the Staples court for the final time. After blowing kisses and pounding his heart before the game, Bryant got right to work on what the fans wanted to see. He didn’t count on the

nerves that caused him to miss his first five shots before he pump-faked and finally connected on a jumper. Bryant found a rhythm then, finishing the first quarter with 15 points on 13 shots. He kept it up after sitting out the first six minutes of the second, finishing with 22 points despite missing a last-minute shot, his 20th of the first half. The Lakers snapped a six-game skid in their final outing, but their demanding fans could forget about the awful season for one night.

FAREWELL GAME. Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in an incredibla final game.