Edge Davao 9 Issue 35 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

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Serving a seamless society

FIRE AFTERMATH. A fish trader unloads huge tuna fishes from a cart into his stall at the fish ‘bagsakan’ area in Bankerohan Public Market yesterday. Fish traders in the area, which was hit by a massive fire last week, go on with their daily life despite the damages on their belongings incurred from the incident. Lean Daval Jr.

RODY SAYS HE’S SORRY Duterte backtracks, apologizes for rape remark

April 5 - 10, 2016

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

RESIDENTIAL bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte changed his mind and issued an apology over the remarks he made of an Australain rape victim that happened 27 years ago. Mayor Duterte, who on Sunday said he would not going to say sorry, took a full turn yesterday and apologized for the rape joke he said during a rally last April 15 at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City. “There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims

of this horrible crime. Sometimes my mouth can get the better of me,” Duterte said in a statement. Duterte, however, said he will not apologize for the things he has done to protect our people, especially the weak and defenseless, from crime. “I know what it can do to the victims and their families. The anguish and pain they cause. The trauma that can’t be erased. I have witnessed these myself numerous times,” he said.

PULSE ASIA - ABS - CBN SURVEY

“This is why I am angry. I am angry because horrendous things like this continue to happen to our women and children all over our land,” he added. Duterte said that sadly the government has failed to protect the victims. He said if given a chance to lead this country, he promises to protect the women, and families from the horrors and disorder of crime. “I will do this even if I lose my life, my honor and even the

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EDGE DAVAO INFOGRAPHICS

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

IGNORED. The big ‘No Parking’ sign in front of Davao City’s Sangguniang Panlungsod building seems to be not enough to catch the attention of motorists who deliberately park their motorcycles beside the traffic sign. Lean Daval Jr.

Man caught sneaking ‘shabu’worth P275T

ECURITY forces of Davao City caught a 42-year-old man while attempting to sneak sachets of shabu (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride) with an estimated value of P275, 000 in the city yesterday morning. The suspect identified as Roderick Gonzaga, a resident of Nova Tierra Village, Davao City, was arrested by the joint operation of Toril Police Station, Task Force Davao and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11. Police report said Gonzaga was nabbed in the checkpoint

of Task Force Davao in Sirawan, Toril around 9 a.m. of April 19. Police Officer (PO) 1 Philipp A. Wong discovered the illegal drugs while Gonzaga submitted himself for inspection After further frisking, the police confiscated seven big sachets of shabu placed in paper bag and drug paraphernalia. The suspect is now detained at Toril Police Station and he will face charges for violating the Republic Act 9165 the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

P35B proposed for 2017 BUB

HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced today that funding for proposed projects under the FY 2017 Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) Program will total P35 billion, up by P10.3 billion from this year’s BuB budget. Of the P35 billion proposed budget for BuB, funds amounting to P19.7 billion—or more than 50 percent of the total—will be downloaded to beneficiary local government units (LGUs). These are cities and municipalities that have complied with the good governance conditions set in the implementing guidelines of the program. These requirements include compliance with the Good Financial Housekeeping component of the Seal of Good Local Governance and implementation of Public Financial Management (PFM) improvement measures. Under BuB, LGUs and civil society and community organizations jointly identify priority poverty reduction programs

and projects to be included in the proposed national budget. “For 2017, funding for BuB programs—specifically those that LGUs can implement—will be released directly to local governments. We are moving from agency-implemented BuB projects to more performance-based direct downloads to LGUs. Of course, the release of these funds will depend on the performance of the LGUs,” said Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said. “Altogether, our goals are three-fold: to include citizens in local budgeting, to strengthen LGU capacity and accountability, and to make the budget process work for the benefit of our communities,” he added. At present, only P11.7 billion out of the total P24.7 billion BuB budget is downloaded to beneficiary LGUs. The rest of the funds for BuB projects are released to national government agencies that implement the projects. “The best thing about BuB

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Duterte tops survey anew, comfortable lead over Poe By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

OR the secod straight week, PDP-Laban plresidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte topped the Pulse Asia survey which was conducted last April 5 to 10. Duterte remained on the driver’s seat with 32 percent of the 4,000 registered voters nationwide. The charismatic mayor from Mindanao took a 2-point increase from his previous ratings in the March 29-April 3 survey.

The survey has a margin of error of plus minus 1.5 percent. Sen. Grace Poe followed Duterte seven notches down with 25 percent, Vice President JejomarBinay is third with 20 percent, Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas 18 percent and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago 1 percent. The camp of Duterte noted that the mayor has established a clear seven percent lead over Poe.

Duterte was the top choice among all voting classes and remains to be the number one candidate in Mindanao, where he got 58 percent or more than half of the respondents’ total votes. Duterte’s national campaign manager LeoncioEvasco Jr. said while it is humbled by the latest survey results, it will continue to reach out to more voters. “We need to convert and convince others that the path

to real change is through the unparalleled and decisive leadership that Mayor Duterte has been providing us,” Evasco said. For his part, Davao City first district Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said since Duterte is topping the survey and claiming solo lead over his rivals, it is expected that the mayor is getting the lion’s share of the bashing. “Over the course of the

next year to reach P6.5 billion,” the veteran local lawmaker said, adding that the annual general appropriation in 2016 is 25 percent higher than the P5.8-billion in 2015. Dayanghirang bared that the City Treasurer’s Office has greatly improved its tax collection efficiency. “When we got in (referring to his return to the city council in 2013), one of the problems that we had observed was a sluggish collection of real property tax (RPT),” he said.

RPT is one of the main sources of income of the city government along with revenues from some several other sources like the city’s economic enterprises such as public markets, public cemeteries, slaughterhouses and the Davao City Transport Terminal. He said the improvement in the collection came after city councilors led by Dayanghirang inquired into the poor collection performance, particularly the delinquencies in real property taxes and its poor

collection method. Dayanghirang said City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola initiated a data cleansing activity that resulted in the drastic decrease in the number of delinquent taxpayers. Riola had reported that as of November last year, the city was running after P267-million in RPT collectibles from taxpayers who are having difficulty in paying taxes as their landholdings were unproductive because they are occupied by informal settlers.

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Dayanghirang: 2017 budget to breach this year’s P6.3 B By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

EELECTIONIST councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, Davao City Council finance and ways and means committee chairman, said the annual budget of the city in 2017 will breach this year’s P6.3 billion. Speaking to reporters covering the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw last Monday, Dayanghirang said he based his optimism on the fact that the city’s annual revenue income has been increasing every year. “We expect our budget

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

NEWS 3

SB 2 to go through Comelec scrutiny

UPPLEMENTAL Budget No. 2 covering P203.112 million as approved by the Davao City Council on final reading last April 12 will have to go through scrutiny by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) before its release. This was bared yesterday by Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, chairman of the council’s committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations. Dayanghirang said in yesterday’s regular session, he amended the ordinance by adding a provision that the release be subject to Comelec exemption. “Dili man gudna ma-process kung wala nay exemption saComelec (The budget will not be processed without the exemption of the Comelec),”

he said. He said the city council just corrected the records since the documents are not yet forwarded to the Office of the City Mayor for approval. “The situation now is not normal because we are now under Comelec control,” he said. Of the P203.112 million, P159.969 million, or 79 percent, is appropriated for salary increase of city employees and their mid-year bonus, according to Dayanghirang. On the other hand, 18 percent, or P36.744 million, is allotted to development fund for the infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects in some barangays in the city while 3 percent, or P6.398 million, is allotted to economic

Tarongoy, Police Officer (PO)3 Rosenie L. Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolf Pacete, PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali Jr and PO2 Neil C. Arellano are dedicated and disciplined public servants who are well loved and respected in the community they serve. “Records will show that these police officers have no pending administrative or criminal cases and they have not violated any war crime or

crimes against humanity,” she said. DelaCerna said the statement of a certain Rigoberto Sanchez, who claims to be the spokesperson of the NPA Regional Operations CommandSouthern Mindanao Region (ROC-SMR), states that the 1st Pulang Bagani Command is responsible for the abduction of the police officers and claims that the PNP personnel are

held as “Prisoners of War”. She said the Philippine National Police (PNP) denounced the lawless acts committed against the law enforcers since the country is not at war and there is no declaration of war. “Therefore, their continued detention is illegal under existing Philippine or any international laws. The Police Officers are civilians and not mil-

express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who stood by him and continue to do so despite the most vicious and malevolent attacks against his character and integrity in both mainstream and social media,” PDP-LABAN spokesperson Paola Alvarez said. Duterte’s comments were caught on video, saying he

finds the missionary beautiful and lamented that he was upstaged by the prison inmates who committed the rape and killing of the Australian woman. His comments drew criticism wherein netizens and various sectors tagged his remarks as insensitive, unacceptable and shows lack of re-

spect for women. “We reiterate: Mayor Duterte remains focused on the campaign and will continue to mobilize people’s support for his platform of Tunay na Pagbabago anchored on a 24/7 war against crime and corruption, inclusive growth through regional development

PROTECTION. An elderly man carries an ergonomic chair onto his head which he also uses as protection from a scorching heat of the afternoon sun along San Pedro square in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

AFP intensifies operations against lawless elements

HE Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division vows to pursue the lawless armed groups (LAGs) responsible for the attack of a military detachment in Sitio Quiman-anon, Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato District, Davao City last Saturday, April 16. In a statement to the media here on Monday, 10th ID commander Major General Rafael Valencia said pursuit operations are already ongoing against the fleeing rebels. A civilian and a member of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were hurt when the lawless groups attacked and burned the military detachment on Saturday. Army 10th ID chief information officer Captain Rhyan Batchar also told reporters here that at least 60 fully armed members of the law-

less group New People’s Army (NPA) were responsible for the attack. Batchar identified the wounded CAFGU member as Mario Carliaman and the civilian as Randy Ramirez. Both are still undergoing medical treatment for the wounds they sustained during the attack. Lt. Col. Louie DS Villanueva, commander of 84th IB operating in the area, said that the lawless groups responsible for the attack were led by a certain Commander Jinggoy. Villanueva also assured that the Army will hunt down the perpetrators without let up as massive pursuit operations are already ongoing in the area. The New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao

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Comelec bares 8 major political parties, 6 major local parties

FTER announcing the dominant majority and minority parties, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has named eight major political parties and six major local parties for the May 9 national and local polls. According to Comelec Resolution No. 10094, the eight major political parties are: the Nationalist Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Aksyon Demokratiko, and National Unity Party (NUP). The six major local parties are Kuso Baryohanon (KB) for Davao del Norte; United Negros Alliance (UNEGA) for Negros Occidental; Partido Abe Kapampangan (PAK) for Angeles City; Arangkada San Joseno (ASJ) for San Jose del Monte City; Achievement with Integrity Movement (AIM) for

General Santos City; and Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA) for the National Capital Region (NCR). As the major national parties, the eight groups are entitled to get the 9th to 16th copies of election returns (ERs) in every polling precincts, as well as 9th to 16th copies of all Certificates of Canvass (COCs), and can deploy official watchers in every polling place and canvassing centres. On the other hand, the accredited major local parties will get the 19th and 20th copies of the ERs and COCs in their respective provinces or region. Earlier, the Comelec announced that the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) were the dominant majority and minority parties, respectively. The criteria used by the Comelec in coming up with the major parties include the established record of showing in past elections; number of incumbent elective officials;

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Release cops, rebs told By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 urged the New People’s Army (NPA) to immediately release the station commander of Paquibato Police Station and his four subordinates who were captured by rebels in Paquibato District, Davao City last Saturday. PRO 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea delaCerna said in a statement that Chief Insp. Leonardo V.

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Duterte camp apologizes for‘gutter language’

HE camp of PDP-LABAN standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte on Monday announced that their candidate has said “sorry” for using gutter language in the aftermath of a hostage taking incident in Davao City in 1989. “We stand unequivocally on the side of Mayor Duterte on this matter and wish to

FREE WIFI. The Davao City Council has passed on third and final reading an ordinance authored by Councilor Joanne Bonguyan authorizing Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to sign for and in behalf of the city government of Davao a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Science and

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Technology-Information and Communication Technolgy Office (DOST-ICT) for the implementation of the free wifi internet access in public places during yesterday’s regular session. Lean Daval Jr.

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

farmers in ARMM S. Cotabato pushes expansion Poor get land titles from DAR of youth advocacy initiatives T

HE provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the expansion of its advocacy programs for the youth to further address the sector’s concerns, among them the cases of teenage pregnancy. Crispy Arves, program coordinator of the Provincial Population Office (PPO), said Tuesday they are currently working on the rollout of the You-for-You (U4U) teen trail program in key localities in the province in a bid to expand its reach. She said U4U is a youth caravan that goes from one community to another to bring information and services to teenagers aged 10-19 years old regarding their rights,

health as well as protection from abuse, neglect and violence. “We’ve been coordinating with the municipal governments and other key stakeholders to facilitate its implementation in more areas in the province,” she said. Galvez said they have initially identified the municipality of Norala for the program’s first stop this year. The local government formally adopted the program last year and implemented it in the municipalities of Tantangan, Sto. Niño, Polomolok, T’boli, Surallah, and in Koronadal City through assistance from non-government group World Vision. It has trained a total of 149

high school teenage facilitators reached out to some 645 students within the five localities. Galvez said the trained facilitators mainly handle the activities of the U4U teen trail, which usually last three to four hours. “We tapped them to reach out to their fellow teenagers because it’s easier for them to share and connect with each other,” she said. Aside from the teen trail, the program also includes an interactive website that provides virtual adult experts to answer teenager’s concerns about their bodies, health, and questions about sex. Through the program, Galvez said they are hoping to further reduce the cases of teen

pregnancies in the province. Records showed that from 1,141 out of 24, 688 live births or 5.72 percent in 2014, the cases of teenage pregnancies in the area have dropped to 944 out of 18,728 live births or 5.05 percent last year. The municipality of Polomolok posted the most number of cases, followed by T’boli and Surallah. Galvez said that most of the teenage pregnancy cases were recorded in far-flung areas and in indigenous people’s communities. “We have cases of pregnancies involving 14 -year-old mothers and even younger. This is the focus of our advocacy right now,” she added. (PNA)

HE Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAR-ARMM) has subdivided 12,212.9 hectares of agricultural lands to 4,469 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the region from 2012 to 2015. Amihilda Sangcopan, regional secretary of DARARMM, said it was more than 50 percent leap from previous DAR and ARMM administrations in terms of land distribution to farmer-beneficiaries. As a result, the national government granted DARARMM an annual agrarian reform subsidy of PHP8 million beginning this 2016, from PHP since 2012, to maximize efforts of providing farmers with lands they can call their own, she told reporters. Sangcopan said the massive distribution of lands to farmers commenced when ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman was named by

President Benigno Aquino III as caretaker governor in 2012 and continued when he was elected as governor in 2013. DAR-ARMM distributed a total of 2,267.7 hectares of lands in 2012, 6,543 hectares in 2013, 1,622 hectares in 2014 and 1,779.6 hectares last year. Sangcopan said the province of Lanao del Sur has the largest beneficiaries with 1,830 ARBs. In Sulu, 925 ARBs have benefited from the government program while it totalled to 1,702 in Maguindanao and 1,067 each in Sulu and Basilan. Sangcopan said land distribution forms part of the government’s peace process in Mindanao, believing that land dispute is one of the reasons why armed conflict occur in most areas in Mindanao. “This is to empower our farmer communities in the region, to make them productive and improve family income,” she added. (PNA)

Bombing attempt foiled

OLICE bomb experts on Monday morning defused an improvised explosive device planted beside the barangay hall of Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City. Kagi Bongol Mamalangkay, village chair of Barangay Rosary Heights 10, said the attempt could be meant for him or his visitors to an Islamic “thanksgiving” event known as “Kanduli”. Senior Insp. Roel Zafra, speaking for the local police, said the IED, fashioned from two rounds of M-203 rifle grenade attached to one MK-2 fragmentation grenade with mobile phone as trigger mechanism, was safely deactivated at 11:40 a.m. After the deactivation process, police bomb experts also found switch diagram, wires and 9-volt battery. It was not clear to whom the IED was meant for and who was behind

the attempt. Zafra said investigation on the matter was still going on. “This was a high caliber bomb, it was meant to kill or maim people,” Zafra said, adding that had it exploded it could have damaged the village hall. “We are looking at one or two groups to be behind the attempt,” he said. Mamalangkay said it was clearly politically motivated since the thanksgiving party for a dead relative had local candidates as visitors. Zafra said the village compound located along San Isidro Street, has no close circuit TV cameras that could have helped the police in identifying the suspects. He appealed to the public to remain vigilant and help the police foil any attempt to disrupt the city’s peace and order situation. (PNA)

TROOPER, a militiaman and a member of an “armed lawless group” was killed in separate encounters in Paquibato District, Davao City Monday. Also wounded in the two clashes were two troopers while an M-16 automatic rifle belonging to the brigands were recovered. Capt. Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said the first encounter took place 8:00 a.m. while the second occurred at 12:25 p.m. Both clashes took place at Sitio Banban, Barangay Lumiad, he added. Government casualties were immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital.

The soldiers’ names are withheld while their families are still being informed. Batchar said the lawless elements encountered by the troops was responsible for the attack on Quiman-anao CAA (CAFGU Active Auxiliary) Detachment at Sitio Quiman-anao, Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato District, Davao City last April 16. The attack injured a CAA and civilian, identified as CAA Mario Cariaman and Pastor Randy Ramirez, a pastor of Baptist Church in Barangay Salapawan. Cariaman is now on stable condition at a hospital in Tagum while Ramirez, still in critical condition, is confined at Southern Philippines Medical Center. (PNA)

3 killed, 2 wounded in Paquibato clashes DSWD fast-tracking needs assessment A FISH FROM SAMAL. Porters at Bangkerohan public market in Davao City unload buckets of “moro-moro” from Samal Island at the dropping area in Pag-asa, Bangkerohan on April 18, 2016. Pag-asa serves as a dropping

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that the Department, in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs), is fast-tracking the conduct of needs assessment of drought-affected families. DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said that the fast-tracking of on-going assessments aims to determine further other appropriate assistance. “Along with the rest of the government, DSWD recognizes the urgency of responding to the situation of hunger af-

fecting the poor in many parts of the country,” said Soliman. Soliman added that families who had not received help yet may inform the Pantawid Pamilya parent leaders in their barangays and sitios so that DSWD could send the needed assistance immediately Approximately 250,000 family food packs worth Php 90.8 million have been extended, as of April 15, by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as augmentation support to local government units (LGUs) affected by the El Nino phenomenon.

area for fish and vegetables from different regions in Mindanao. A big portion of the area was gutted by fire last April 15. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

She recalled that distribution of relief goods started in the fourth quarter of 2015 as part of the preparations for the assistance that should be provided in response to President Benigno S. Aquino III directives to come-out with plans and responses. She added that the provision of food aid to affected families through the LGUs would continue as long as there was a need for it. As of April 16, a total of 457,497 families or 2,124,790 persons from Regions NCR, I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VII, X, XI, XII, and ARMM have been affected

by El Nino. In Region X, the DSWDField Office distributed food and rice in the affected towns of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon over the weekend. The department is also scheduled to distribute rice to 13,292 families in the municipalities of Quezon and Talakag, and in Valencia City, all in Bukidnon on April 19-29. Bukidnon is already under a state of calamity. Duly accredited civil society organizations, in close coordination with the DSWD, shall undertake the distribution. (PNA)

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

2 NGCP towers in NorCot bombed By CHENEEN R. CAPON

MID-NOON SCENE. A mother lets her young daughter take a mid-noon nap while she is occupied with her pork chorizo making business inside the Bankerohan Public Market yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao cacao beans project impresses World Bank

HE World Bank gave positive feedback on Davao City’s cacao beans production enterprise funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) citing the involvement of 18 farmer cooperatives and associations which will benefit from the project during their field visit here in Brgy. Subasta in Calinan. World Bank task team leader Frauke Jungbluth said that they are happy and satisfied of what they saw in the field. “The project which has been in preparation for more than a year, has a good potential because it is exactly the type of enterprise subproject that addresses the value-chain,” Jungbluth said. She also added that PRDP’s development objective in helping the farmers increase their income will be applied through the enterprise project. The Cacao Production and Marketing of Dry-fermented Beans Project is worth P26 million and will be implemented by the Subasta Integrated Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperatives (SIFMPC) as lead proponent group. The enterprise project will benefit 465 member-farmers of 18 farmer cooperatives and associations in four districts including Calinan, Baguio, Tugbok and Marilog. As lead proponent group, SIFMPC will act as the main consolidator of cacao from the 18 cooperatives. SIFMPC has a marketing agreement with the Filipinas Oro De Cacao. Among the interventions include production and postharvest support such as provision of seedlings, fermentation facility, mechanical drier, hauling truck and material outputs which will come from

the 60 percent loan proceeds from World Bank worth of P5.4 million. Under PRDP’s enterprise development component, the national government, city local government unit (CLGU) and the lead proponent group provide 20 percent counterpart each. In this project, the proponent group was able to provide a counterpart of 65 percent of the total project cost. The enterprise development or the Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) aims to elevate agricultural production by installing production and market support facilities, establishing enterprises and high-end product at the exactly commodity value chain. Under I-REAP component, Mindanao has a total of 21 subproject proposals worth P627.28 million. In terms of the number of approved I-REAP subproject proposals, Region 12 has 4 out of 8 approved subprojects worth P98.25 million which includes the ongoing Cassava Granules Production and Marketing project in South Cotabato worth P38.83 million. The PRDP, through its I-REAP component, aims to increase productivity and marketability of agriculture through value-adding activities. PRDP is a six-year government platform designed for an inclusive, value chain-oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. It will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture and jointly funded by the World Bank, national government and local government units. (Mary Ann G. Cabactulan-Intern/PRDP Mindanao)

crc@edgedavao.net

NIDENTIFIED men bombed two more towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in North Cotabato yesterday morning. The latest tower bombings were reported by Milfrance Capulong , NGCP corporate communication officer for Mindanao, in her Facebook post. Fortunately the bombings failed to topple the towers, Capulong said. These were the third and fourth towers bombed this year. Capulong identified the affected facilities as Tower 95 and Tower 96 both NGCP’s Kibawe-Kabacan 138-KV transmission line in Barangays Kitulaan and Aroman in the municipality of Carmen, North Cotabato. The NGCP official said

restoration of the bombed towers will start as soon as the area is secured. The NGCP announced earlier that a total of 16 transmission towers were bombed last year. Fortunately, only nine of them were toppled. Capulong said that bombings “only serve to increase the burden of the public or consumers who suffer from power supply interruptions as a result.” The NGCP earlier warned that the whole grid of the island of Mindanao will collapse if the bombings continue. “The NGCP appeals to the local communities and their leaders to help identify the perpetrators of the bombings to prevent longer power outages,” Capulong said.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

DTI 11 to showcase services in caravan By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

N a bid to increase public awareness on the services and programs of government designed increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 will hold the Negosyo, Konsyumer, At Iba Pa (DTI 11 NKATBP) on April 25 to 27 in Davao City. DTI 11 regional director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said Davao will be the region to

host the NKATBP, an initiative of the DTI head Office tailored fit to showcase the various programs and service which include product development through packaging and labeling, financing, franchising, business consultancy, Business Name registration, certified establishments awards, a mini trade fair, exhibit of products, Shared Service Facilities (SSF), among others. “The NKATBP is expected to be rolled out on all regions

this year with undersecretaries and various bureaus of the DTI Head Office expected to come down to the regions to facilitate several activities,” Ambi told reporters. The three-day event will also increase collaboration of different stakeholders in the implementation of different government programs and projects as well as increase the number of critically aware consumers, and responsi-

carbon-intensive energy sources, such as coal,” said Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman, vice chairperson of the CCC. The year 2015 marked the unprecedented growth of renewable energy globally. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 90 percent of new electricity generated last year came from renewable energy sources, with investments reaching a record-breaking USD 328.9 billion. On the other hand, coal, the most carbon-intensive among fossil fuels, is starting to be seen as a risky long-term investment. Peabody, the largest coal mining

company in the world, recently declared bankruptcy. Long-term institutional investors are increasingly treating carbon as a long-term risk and are divesting from fossil enterprises from their investment portfolio and moving to greener sources of energy. “We must seize the opportunity now. A decisive transition to clean energy is good for the climate and makes financial and economic sense,” de Guzman said. “It is now imperative for our country to adjust energy models with the global trend in renewable energy use in mind in order

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Climate Change body says PHL energy policy needs review

HE Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Monday said the government should review its energy policy to step away from the use of coal and tap more renewable resources to meet the country’s power supply requirements. “Updating our roadmap to massively favor clean sources will allow the Philippines to be at the forefront of this aggressive and massive trend of investment and transition from fossil to renewable energy. This allows the Philippines to not only contribute to global efforts to combat climate change, but reduce growing economic and financial risks associated with

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HOLIMASS. A vendor holds a wide array of native and Japanese fans as she waits for church goers to arrive for a mass during a warm mid-noon at San Pedro Cathedral yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DOLE announces venues for Labor Day job, career fairs

S part of the coming Labor Day celebration, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold the biggest Job and Career Fairs this 2016. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said this yesterday, as she announced that the job fair would gather as many as 1,000 companies, or 800 local and 200 overseas employers, that would offer more than 200,000 local and overseas job openings to applicants. “As our way of commemorating the 114th Labor Day in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment will bring together employers who are searching for applicants to fill vacancies in their companies and job seekers who are looking for the right job that matches their skills and talents. This is not just confined in one area because we are making sure that Filipino job seekers will have a chance to apply to the vacancies offered,” Baldoz said. This year’s Labor Day celebration’s theme is “Kinabukasan Sigurado sa Disenteng Trabaho.” The 2016 Labor Day Job and Career Fairs will be simultaneously held in at least 44 different locations all over the country. “It will be hard for new

graduates, job seekers, returning OFWs, out-of-school youth, informal sector workers, and even the public, to miss the Labor Day Job and Career Fair. There will be at least 44 of them in various venues in the country’s 17 regions,” said Baldoz. She added that the number of employers and jobs available are expected to increase because there are still two weeks to go before May 1. The simultaneous nationwide Job Fairs will also showcase Career Fairs, which is aimed at assisting the youth and students in making career decisions. The Career Fair will be open to youth and students who want to explore future job or career opportunities in the labor market. The nationwide event will also feature livelihood counseling, skills training, and livelihood skills demonstration. To ensure fast and smooth processing of job applications and other employment-related documentation, the DOLE and its Regional Offices enlisted the participation of the National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Statistics Office, PAG-IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth, which will have

their own booths at the job fair sites nationwide. Baldoz also announced the following initial list of venues for the Job and Career Fair 2016 nationwide: National Capital Region-World Trade Center in Pasay City. Cordillera Administrative Region-Baguio Convention Center, Baguio City. Region 1 - SM City Rosales and Calasiao Sports Gymnasium in Pangasinan; Robinsons Place in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. Region 2 - SM City Cauayan and Robinsons Mall Santiago City. Region 3 - Centro Baler; People’s Center in Balanga, Bataan; SM City Baliuag in DRT Highway, Pagala, Baliuag, Bulacan; SM City Marilao, MacArthur Highway, Pagala, Marilao, Bulacan; SM City, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; SM City Downtown in San Fernando City, Pampanga; SM City Clark, Clark Field, Pampanga; SM City Pampanga, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; SM City, Tarlac, Tarlac; Masinloc Gymnasium, Masinloc, Zambales; and SM City Olongapo, Olongapo City. (A post-labor day job fair at the Freedom Park, Burgos Street, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija will be held on 3 May). Region 4-A - SM Das-

mariñas, Dasmariñas, Cavite; SM Calamba, Calamba, Laguna; Pacific Mall, Quezon; and SM Taytay, Rizal. (A pre-Labor day job fair will held on 27 April at the Batangas City Convention Center in Batangas). Region 4-B - Divine Word College of Calapan Oriental Mindoro; SM Robinson’s, Palawan. Region 5 - SM City Naga, Naga City, Camarines Sur. Region 6 - SM City Iloilo, Manduriao, Iloilo City; and The Shops at Amigo, Iloilo City. Region 7 - Cebu Capitol Building, Cebu City; Avellana Cebu National High School. Region 8 - Tacloban Astrodome Singkahan, Tacloban City. Region 9 - Zamboanga Economic Freeport Authority in Talisayan, Zamboanga City. Region 10 - SM City; KCC Mall in General Santos city. Region 11- Gaisano Mall of Davao City; SM City Davao. Region 12 - SM City General-SM Trade Halls 1 and 2; KCC Mall, General Santos Convention and Events Center. Caraga - DOLE Surigao del Sur Field Office; DOLE Agusan del Sur; DOLE Agusan del Norte. Negros Island Region - SM City Bacolod; Robinsons Dumaguete. (PNA)

Peso ends sideways on failed talks on oil production freeze

HE Philippine peso moved sideways against the US dollar Monday after officials from major oil producing countries failed to agree on production cuts after a meeting in Doha Sunday. It shed PhP0.09 after ending the week’s first trading day at PhP46.15 from PhP46.060 Friday last week. A trader said the local currency moved in line with regional currencies after talks to set oil production cuts or at January 2016 levels bog down. Thus, the local unit’s opening also resulted to its clos-

ing level, sideways from its PhP46.20 start in the previous session. It traded between PhP46.14 and PhP46.20 bringing the day’s average to PhP46.17. Volume of trade reached US$ 415.4 million, lower than the US$ 649 million at the end of last week, which the trader said is a sign of investors’ waitand-see stance after last Sunday’s event. On Tuesday, the currency pair is seen to trade between PhP46.10 and PhP46.30. (PNA)

Oil firms to hike pump prices

IL firms will hike pump prices yesterday, reflecting international market prices. In separate advisories Monday, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Seaoil Philippines Inc. and PTT Philippines said they will hike diesel prices by PHP1.50 per liter and gasoline prices by PHP1.10 per liter at 6:00 a.m., Tuesday. Other firms are expected to make announcements later in the day. As of April 12, the Department of Energy’s oil monitor cited diesel has a price range of PHP20.05-25.77 per liter in Metro Manila. It has a prevailing price of PHP22.65 per liter. Gasoline, on the other hand, has a price range of PHP33.40-41.10 per liter. It has a common price of PHP38.30 per liter. International major oil producers had not agreed in

a meeting Sunday whether to implement a production freeze, as Iran ditched the talks without any plan to participate in the freeze. Iran earlier said it plans to return to its pre-sanctions level of production at million barrels per day. Around 20 oil ministers attended the meeting in Doha, Qatar. Last week, oil-benchmark West Texas Intermediate for May delivery fell to USD40.36 per barrel in the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, on the other hand, for June delivery decreased to USD43.1 per barrel at the London ICE Futures Exchange. The International Energy Agency also reported global oil supplies decreased ny 0.3 million barrels per day in March to 96.1 million barrels per day. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

7 SCIENCE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Transplanting coral reefs By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

N AGRICULTURE, a transplant is a seed grown in controlled conditions (such as a greenhouse) then transplanted to a field where it is allowed to grow further and bear fruits (tomato and eggplant, for example) or until ready for harvesting (cabbage, carrots, radish, to name a few). But can the technique be used, too, in restoring degraded coral reef areas? Experts attending the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida say that the reefs can be regenerated using the same methods as are used to restore tropical forests. Reforestation is one of them. It is the restocking of existing forests and woodlands which have been depleted. Reforestation also refers to afforestation, the process of restoring and recreating areas of woodlands or forest that once existed but were deforested or otherwise removed or destroyed at some point in the past. In a similar way, degraded coral reef ecosystems can also be restored, using similar technique, according to Dr. Baruch Rinkevich, a senior scientist with the Israel Ocean-

ographic and Limnological Research. “Many of the world’s coral reefs are experiencing a severe degradation,” he said. These ecologically-fragile marine wonders can be saved by using so-called “branching corals” as “ecosystem engineering species.” In a press conference during the symposium which the author attended, the Israeli scientist talked about the socalled “gardening coral reefs concept,” a method inspired from forest restoration guidelines. The technique involves generating and farming large stocks of new coral colonies in a floating nursery which is far from predators and other disturbances. After one year or so, they are transplanted into degraded areas. In the Philippines, the Filipinnovation on Coral Reef Restoration Program is adapting the same technique. It is a program initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and under the auspices of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Many of the world’s coral reefs are experiencing a severe degradation. These ecologicallyfragile marine wonders can be saved by using so-called “branching corals” as “ecosystem engineering species.” “Started in 2012, the program seeks to roll out coral-transplantation technology using asexually reproduced corals to improve productivity of coral resources for sustainable fisheries,” Melvin B. Carlos, Christie A. Surara and Rose Anne K. Mananghaya wrote an extensive report of S&T Media Service. Developed by the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute in Diliman, Quezon City, the direct coral-transplantation technique

was implemented with the local communities to restore an area in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The technique has been pilot-tested in major tourism and diving sites, including Batangas, Bohol and Boracay. According to the three authors, the program adapts the corals asexual-reproduction technology for reef restoration which involves the collection of dislodged live coral fragments or “corals of opportunity” or COPs. The COPs are attached to coral nursery units

(CNUs) for quick recovery and regeneration to increase survival rates upon transplantation in degraded coral-reef sites. Each CNU is designed to hold 500 COPs per batch and can be used several times a year. The CNU design and the coral-transplantation technique uses marine epoxy clay, nails and cable tie. Among the restored sites were in Bohol, Pangasinan, Sarangani, Bataan, Zambales, Palawan, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte and Ilocos Norte. These areas were identified based on their suitability for restoration; availability of sufficient amount of coral fragments for transplanting; and their location within the marine protected area. So far, the program has established a total of 538 CNUs and transplanted 487,158 coral fragments. These activities contribute directly to the protection of coastal communities by providing natural barriers; improving our marine ecosystem services; developing fishery resources; and enhancing underwater tourism industry. The Filipinnovation Program was completed in 2013. However, the National Coral Reef Rehabilitation RollOut Program continued the work using the same asexual-reproduction technology. It was done in nine sites across the country: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Bagac, Bataan; Subic Bay, Zambales; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Anda, Bohol; Camiguin, Zamboanga City; and Kiamba, Sarangani. All in all, the two programs are now in 20 locations across 11 regions. The Philippines, whose coral reef area -- estimated at 26,000 square kilometers -- is considered the second largest in Southeast Asia. But the Inventory of the Coral Resources of the Philippines in the 1970s found only about 5% of the reefs to be in excellent condition, with over 75% coral cover (both hard and soft).

Another study conducted in 1997 showed only 4% of reefs in excellent condition (75% hard or soft coral cover), 28% in good condition (5075% coral cover), 42% in fair condition (25-50% coral cover), and 27% in poor condition (less than 25% coral cover). Some years back, leading marine scientists ranked the coral reefs in the Philippines as among the most threatened in Southeast Asia. Among those listed as culprits were overfishing, destructive fishing, sedimentation, and pollution. “Although coral reefs have always been subject to natural disturbances – disease, predator outbreaks, and climatic disruptions such as hurricanes and the El Niño – natural damage is now being compounded by human-induced disturbances,” noted Coral Reefs: Valuable but Vulnerable, a discussion paper circulated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Yes, the country’s coral reefs are on the verge of extinction. “Despite considerable improvements in coral reef management, the country’s coral reefs remain under threat,” said Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Philippine government made and introduced many laws in an attempt to protect the natural environment on the islands and in the national territorial waters. But the government cannot do it alone; help from individuals are also needed to save the reefs from total annihilation. “We are the stewards of our nation’s resources,” said Rafael D. Guerrero III, former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development, “we should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them. Let’s do our best to save our coral reefs. Our children’s children will thank us for the effort.” (Photos courtesy of SeaWeb)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Where is the CHR?

N April 16, five police officers patrolling the hinterlands in Mapula, Paquibato District were abducted by some 50 armed New People’s Army rebels. The five police officials were identified as Chief Insp. Leonardo V. Tarongoy, Police Officer (PO)3 Rosenie L. Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolf Pacete, PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali Jr and PO2 Neil C. Arellano. The captured were described by PRO 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna as “dedicated and disciplined public servants who are well loved and respected in the community they serve.” According to Dela Cerna, “records will show that these police officers have no pending administrative or criminal cases and they have not violated any war crime or crimes against humanity.” A certain Rigoberto Sanchez, who claims to be the spokesperson of the NPA Regional Operations Command- Southern Mindanao Region (ROC-SMR), claimed that the 1st Pulang Ba-

EDGEDAVAO

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gani Command is responsible for the abduction of the police officers and claims that the PNP personnel are held as “Prisoners of War”. PRO 11 has received reports that the police officers are tied or handcuffed to makeshift animal cages under sub-human conditions. This is the problem. When government troops or policemen are held captive by rebels, we do not hear from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a quick response to the case. However, where the atrocities are committed by law enforcers or the military, you can bet in a huff the CHR is dipping its finger into the case. This is one case where law enforcers, presumably innocent judging from their records, are held captive under allegedly inhuman conditions. It is expected of the CHR to take action immediately in the same manner as would the situation be reversed. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

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EDGEDAVAO

Overcoming hardships

“I

F WE had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” -- Anne Bradstreet in The Works of Anne Bradstreet *** KURT Bucher, author of the anecdote I am sharing here, called him Ben Sadok. He was a man who hated people and loved nothing more than to cause others pain. He was a sadist, so to speak. The story supposed to happen in the Middle East. One day, Ben was walking through an oasis in the desert and spotted a young coconut shoot coming out of the earth. It looked so promising. But the devilish man has something in mind. He got a big stone and placed it right on top of the growing crown of the tree. “That will give it a few headaches,” he sneered as he dusted off his hands and walked away. The young coconut shoot tried in every way to get rid of that crippling stone. It shook itself; it bent in every direction; but that stone would not budge. So the only thing the young palm could do was sink its roots deeper and deeper into the ground so that it could carry this extra load. As a result, its roots got all the way down to the water table that nourished the entire oasis. Well, with that endless supply of water, the coconut shot up quickly and in no times its plentiful leaves cov-

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

ered over the ofTHINK ON THESE! fending stone. In time, it became the tallest palm around and produced the most nuts. Years later, the devilish Ben came back to enjoy how much he had crippled the Henrylito D. Tacio palm tree with henrytacio@gmail.com that stone. He looked around in vain for a stunted tree. Then the tallest coconut palm down its head, showed Ben the big stone still embedded in its crown, and told him, “I want to thank you for that stone. Its weight forced me to grow taller than all the other palms.” The anecdote above reminds me of the statement of Nancy E. Turner. In Sarah’s Quilt, she wrote: “Living is getting knocked down time and again, then standing up time and again, and once more. It’s easy to act honorable when things are coming along and all your pastures are green. Plenty difficult when the ground is dried and burned and people have connived to take even that from you. I’ll sell this place, or I’ll lose it. I’ll go on. People

who don’t have hard times aren’t living.” It reminds me of another story shared by Leonard Greenway. There was this legend about a German nobleman who had a castle in the hills along the Rhine. Being a music lover, he stretched some wires between the towers in his castle with the hope that the winds might vibrate them and make music. But the gentle Rhineland breezes produced no sounds. Then one night, a great thunderstorm swept up the valley. Furious winds beat against the castle. Even the mountains roundabout seemed to shake. The baron opened a sheltered window to watch the progress of the storm and, to his astonishment, he heard the strains of beautiful music. Now, those wires were humming like guitar strings. It had required a windstorm to bring out the music! “If you always find yourself numbering your troubles, you will never find time counting your blessings,” Israelmore Ayivor wrote in Daily Drive 365. “There is no use becoming frustrated in your difficulties while you have all opportunities hiding in them for a turnover!” To end this column, allow me share another anecdote, this time penned by Willi Hoffsuemmer. A Chinese lady who had lost her only son went to the man of religion in her village and asked, “Is there anything you can give me to reduce the pain

that I feel?” “Yes,” the religious man replied. “There is a wonderful thing you can do. I want you to go and get me a mustard seed from a home that has no problems. Such a mustard seed can ward off all problems. When you find it, you bring it to me and I will use it to relieve your pain.” So the lady started out and came to a big mansion. Nothing could possibly be wrong here! She knocked on the door, told what she was looking for, and she got this answer: “You’ve come to the wrong house.” And then, the man of the house told her all their problems. As she was listening to their problems, she thought, “I know something about problems. Maybe I can help these people with theirs.” So she listened to them; and this helped people. She kept on searching for her magic mustard seed. But no matter where she went, she could not find that seed. Everyone, everywhere, had some kind of troubles. But she really did find the magic mustard seed, because in trying to help others solve their problems, she forgot all about her own. Richelle E. Goodrich, in Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year, wrote: “This thing that troubles you is only one small part of your life. Don’t allow it to be all-consuming when there’s so much more to embrace.”

later appointed deputy governor of Davao, headed a company of soldiers in Boston, Davao. This indicates that about this period Boston was already a significant population center that warranted the establishment of a military detachment. In fact, earlier American-era records show that the town had already a functioning justice system. Jose Serra was appointed justice of the peace of the place, while Francisco Altizo was auxiliary justice of the peace “for the municipality of Boston, Davao, Moro Province, Fourteenth Judicial District; pursuant to the provisions of section 27 of Act No. 787, as amended by Acts Nos. 1164, 1283, 1450, and 1627.” The term ‘municipality’ suggests that Boston was already classified as a town in 1907, based on accepted norms at the time. Nineteenth century missionary records show that the early residents of Boston, then known as Dacungbanua (meaning, ‘big place’), actually came from the eight barangays under Cateel. According to Father J.B. Heras, SJ, there was even a proposal to transfer Cateel residents to Boston by secret voting because “the place was unhealthy, lacked drinking water, was infested by crocodiles, and its river-bar” was risky. Dacungbanua, meanwhile, was then described as having “good land, well suited for rice fields, and a good and abundant supply of drinking water; the entrance was safe and easily passable in any monsoon.” A document of this transfer was signed in 1876.

north by the town of Lingig, Surigao del Sur; on the east, by the Pacific Ocean; on the west, by the municipalities of Trento and Monkayo; and on the south, by the Municipality of Cateel. Mainly a Catholic bailiwick, Boston celebrates every Sept. 6 its patron, San Nicolas de Tolentino, patron of the Recollect Order in the Philippines. Chiefly an agricultural town, nearly a third of Boston’s territory is planted to coconut, with nearly a thousand hectares dedicated to abaca. As of 2001, it still had a forest area of over 25,000 hectares, nearly two-thirds of the municipality’s territory. It is also known for its eco-tourism attractions, and the place has rich mineral deposits that have been drawing new prospectors. Its gold deposit lode, geologists say, is linked to the famous Diwalwal gold rush.

Davao’s English-speaking town

HERE is only one town in Davao region that stands out given its American beginning. Boston, Davao Oriental, got its name from Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, USA, founded by the Puritan colonists from England on Sept. 17, 1630. To old timers, though, Boston, the farthest town from Mati City, the provincial capital, and the smallest in the province, did not get its name from any of the Bostons in six American states (Massachusetts, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, and Virginia), not even after the London shire with similar appellation. Tradition says the place-name was derived from an incident that took place over a century ago. An unnamed American seaman disembarking from a merchant marine ship visited a small fishing village in town. While looking for people to inquire from, he encountered an old man walking with the help of a cane. He asked the elderly the name of the place where they were standing on while pointing at the sand below his feet. The old man thought the visitor was pointing at his cane. Responding with a smile, the elderly gingerly pounded his cane on the sand and shouted ‘Baston’, in reference to his walking cane or staff. Surprised, the foreigner beamed and said: “Boston? Wonderful!”

Place-name origin The choice of ‘Boston’ is not entirely anecdotal. First, church lore states, it was named after Boston, Massachusetts, where Bishop Joseph William M. Regan, D.D., a member of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll), grew up and studied priesthood. In part, the adoption of Boston is a tribute to his missionary works and ecclesiastical achievements while working for the propagation of Catholicism in farflung Davao areas. But this assertion may not be entirely correct also. Some people advance the proposition that the town’s place-name could have been

FAST BACKWARD BY THE ARCHIVIST chosen after the birth city of Fr. James Anthony Walsh, co-founder of the Maryknoll. In fact, both traditional and ecclesiastical links are disputable. For instance, the Maryknolls only took over the missions in Davao Oriental in 1958. Forty-one years earlier, in the 1917 Report of the Bureau of Health published in Manila under the heading ‘Cemeteries’, Boston was already identified as one of the established Catholic graveyards in Davao region. This documentary proof brings us to another theory that ‘Boston’ could have been named by an American military official, or it was ascribed its present appellation by a Thomasite educator who was assigned in the locality. Boston seaport A 1905 report of the governor of the Province of Moro identified the “village of Boston [as] the seaport and most enterprising of all the villages” under Cateel municipality. On the other hand, a 1909 station list of commanders under the Philippine Constabulary in the District of Mindanao showed that 1st Lt. Jesse E. Tarbell,

Recreation as town Boston, situated at the boundary of Cateel, Davao Oriental and Bislig City, became a town (again) more than half a century later. Under Republic Act 5820, which was enacted on June 21, 1969, it was created into a municipality. Several barrios and sitios (villages) which were all part of Cateel, the mother town, were separated to constitute the new town. Geographically, the town is bounded on the

English-speaking town In his book ‘Tenderfoot in the Tropics’ (1918), Mack P. Cretcher wrote in his travel that on June 11, 1917, while traveling north along the east coast of Mindanao, he made a stopped “at a little place called Boston, where the Governor of Davao [Francisco Sales] went ashore, prepared to hike overland on an inspection trip back to Davao over mountain trails, jungles and marsh.” But there was something that caught the author’s attention about this remote town that made him immortalized his personal observation: “This little town of Boston has the distinction of being at least one town in the Philippines where English is spoken almost exclusively. It is only a small barrio, and a company of American soldiers was stationed there for some time during war times. The natives soon picked up the language, found it better suited to their needs than their own limited vocabulary, and continue to speak it now. Even the youngsters all speak fairly good English.” Today, Boston, a fourth-class town with a population of 11,176 is host to eight barangays, namely Cabasagan, Caatihan, Cawayanan, Poblacion, San Jose, Sibajay, Carmen and Simulao.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

SB 2... FROM 3

FIRE AFTERMATH. Fish traders and residents at the fish ‘bagsakan’ area in Bankerohan Public Market show their resiliency as they start to build their stores and houses four days after a huge fire gutted hundreds of houses and shanties in the area. Lean Daval Jr.

RODY... FROM 1

presidency,” he said. Duterte said his life is an open book and admitted that he is a man of many flaws and contradictions but people can trust him when it comes “to securing the lives and future of our countrymen and women.” “I will fight for the people until my last breath,” he said. Meanwhile, some of the women councilors of the Davao City council yesterday defended Duterte from his critics on the rape joke issue. Chairman of the city council’s committee on women, children and family relations councilor Leah A. Librado-Yap said the apology of Duterte is already enough for her. “I am happy that he apologized,” she said. Librado-Yap said when she first watched the video of Duterte on social media she did not condone the statement because it was really offensive on the part of a woman. “He (Duterte) explained that it was not bad joke but a bad remark,” she said. She said if people just depend on a certain portion of the video many people could really react but if the people will see the full video it was a form of narrative that he was angry of the incident. “Pero, unta wala nalang niya to giingon (But, he should not supposed to say it),” he said. Librado-Yap said with this issue, Duterte’s opponents will “capitalize it” because his ratings are really increasing. She said the people of the city know who Mayor Duterte is and it could be seen in the programs in the city how the women and children are being protected. “I hope those who listen, he or she should examine the issue first,” she said. For her part, councilor Antoinette Principe-Castrodes said it was unfortunate that the mayor was criticized over

the issue but people should know the real thing first before hitting him. “Rape joke is not a laughing matter but we have to see beyond what he said,” Principe-Castrodes. Principe-Castrodes said despite Duterte’s macho image he is a staunch defender of women’s rights in the city. “We have a Women’s Development Code which he signed into an ordinance as mayor,” she said. She said the video of the mayor was not taken in the full context because it was spliced and chose only the part which is destructive on the part of Duterte. Councilor Joanne Bonguyan-Quilos for her part said the statement was obviously filtered out from the whole context of the video just to make issue against Duterte. Bonguyan-Quilos said people who are hitting the mayor did not see the whole message of the mayor. “Let us not limit ourselves on the statement from the social media,” she said. Earlier, Gabriela Party Women’s Party demanded that Duterte apologize for his statements making fun of rape. In a statement from their Facebook page, rape or any form of sexual abuse is not a joke or something to be trivialized in a joke, especially by a public official and most especially by those aspiring for the highest post in the land. The women’s group challenged Duterte to use his campaign to promote issues that will elevate the condition of women and their families. Duterte, last Sunday explained that what he said in Amoranto Stadium was not joke but it was anger on the incident in 1989 hostage incident where the Australian Missionary Jaqueline Hamill was raped and killed.

identifiable political organizations and strengths as seen in their organized chapters; ability to field a complete slate

of candidates from the local to national positions; and other analogous circumstances. (PNA)

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weeks leading to Election Day our electorate will hear more attacks by certain quarters pleading for voters not to vote for Duterte because it’s bad for the country or bad for morals or bad for women and children,” he said. Nograles said the people should not believe on the black propaganda thrown by the rivals against Duterte. “Si Duterte hindi nagkukunwari (He is not pretentious). What you see is what you get. At least, alam mo ang buong pagkatao nya na walang tinatago at nagpapakatotoo (you already know his personality that he is just true to himself without hiding anything),” he said. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, also enjoyed an increased rat-

ing compared to the previous Pulse Asia survey. Cayetano’s numbers increased by 2 percentage points, from 15 percent in the March 29-April 3 survey to 17 percent in the April 5-10 survey. He also topped the survey in Mindanao, increasing his lead with 32 percent of respondents choosing him as their vice presidential bet. However, he is still a distant fourth. Sen. Bongbong Marcos is still on the top of the Vice Presidential race with 27 percent followed by Sen. ChizEscudero with 23 percent , and Camarines Sur Rep. LeniRobredo 21 percent. Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV and Gregorio Honasan had 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

is that it draws ordinary citizens into the local development planning process. And because communities now have a hand in crafting the local budget, they’re already enjoying better access to basic local government services. At the same time, BuB has urged LGUs to improve their ability to serve their constituents. This is BuB’s legacy, and it should continue,” Tacurong City Mayor Lina Montilla said. Tacurong is one of the

LGUs in the country to receive a P5-million incentive this year for good performance. LGUs that have shown a strong track record in implementing BuB projects are granted a performance incentive of P5 million, which LGUs will use for additional anti-poverty projects. To qualify, an LGU must have completed at least 80% of the previous year’s BuB projects, and at least 50% of the current year’s BUB projects by end-September of this year. (DBM Media)

ble and compliant retailers, wholesalers and distributors of any products covered by Bureau of Product Standard (BPS). “Overall, the event is expected to contribute to the economic development of the Davao Region,” Ambi added. Ambi said around 1,000 existing and potential entrepreneurs, exporters, industry associations, local government units, members of the academe are expected to participate in the said activity. On the first day, Ambi said, there will be ceremonial turnover of SSF equipment, the BAGWIS Awarding and recognition of consumer organizations and partner agencies,

opening of the trade fair, and ICT Davao recognition and networking. Ambi said there will be also seminars on intellectual property rights, and construction occupational safety and health course for site officers, and Diskwento Caravan. On the second day, participants can attend the consumer and consumer organizations forum and the seminars on product standards, expanding business through e-commerce, among others. On the third and last day, Ambi said, there will be investment briefing, a forum on catapulting new business for the global market, and food safety training for MSMEs.

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enterprise for the operational expenses of the public markets, slaughterhouse, cemeteries and Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT). Dayanghirang said the increase and the bonus are in compliance with Executive Order (EO) No. 201 series of 2016 Modifying the salary schedule for civilian government personnel and authorizing the grant of additional benefits for both civilian and military and uniformed personnel issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III. The increase will be implemented in four tranches as soon as Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the supplemental budget. “This salary adjustment means that the compensation structure of government personnel is comparable with the prevailing rates in the private sector, thereby, attracting and retaining competent and committed civil servants,” he said. The newly approved financial measure also au-

thorizes the mid-year bonus for employees, distribution of which begins on May 15. The active employees who have already served for four months and with satisfactory ratings can receive the incentive. The budget also includes the P5, 000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) for qualified employees which will be given not earlier than December 15 this year. The grant of PEI for the employees aims to improve their productivity and performance. The grant of step increment to the elected officials is also part of the allocation as stated in section 8 of the Joint Circular No. 01, series of 2016 issued by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC). “This benefit is a form of reward for completing their term of office and being re-elected to the same position,” he said. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

itary personnel or combatants. They were performing regular police functions and armed only with handguns when they were intercepted by the lawless armed groups,” she said.. She said the PRO 11 has received reports that the five police officers are tied or handcuffed to make shift animal cages under sub-human conditions. “We are calling on the

Commission on Human Rights to investigate these reports. PNP officers are also human beings who have rights and deserve humane treatment and similar attention from the CHR,” she said. The five police officers were abducted by around 50 armed rebels at about 11:45am of April 16, 2016 in Brgy. Mapula, Paquibato District.

confirmed its 1st Pulang Bagani Command is in custody of the chief of police of Paquibato and four of his officers as Prisoners of War. Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the NPA-Regional Operations CommandSouthern Mindanao Region, said Police Chief Inspector Leonardo V. Tarungoy, PO3 Rosenie L. Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolph Y. Pacete, PO2 Neil C. Arellano, and PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali were taken by the rebels following an attack of the 72nd Infantry Battalion CAA detachment at 7:00 am Saturday in Sitio Quimanao, Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato District. He said the rebels also

seized two 9mm pistols and one .45 caliber pistol from the policemen. Sanchez disclosed that the police officers were snatched at around 11:30 a.m on Saturday by another unit of the 1st Pulang Bagani rebels who positioned a few hundred meters away from the detachment. The police officers were reportedly on board a mobile patrol vehicle and took them as prisoners-of-war. “The POWs will be held in custody pending an investigation for possible war crimes and other crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement,” Sanchez said in a press statement sent late Sunday. (PNA)

to come up with roadmaps with definitive actions for the power sector, and eventually for the transport industry and other key sectors,” he added. In October 2015, the Philippines submitted to the United Nations (UN) its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), which is the country’s contribution to global efforts to fight and adapt to climate change, to reduce by 2030 its carbon emissions by 70 percent, compared to business as usual. The roadmap should also take into consideration the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal for global temperature of the Paris Agreement, he said. Last month, the CCC launched

its consultation-workshop among local government units (LGUs) in Davao City to craft strategies on how to integrate the NDC Roadmap in various national and local development plans, such as the Philippine Development Plan, Philippine Energy Plan, Local Climate Change Action Plan and Comprehensive Development Plans. Last year, the Philippines, which chaired the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), led the campaign for the inclusion of the 1.5 degrees Celsius global temperature limit in the Paris Agreement during the 21st Conference of Parties in Le Bourget, France. The CVF is a coalition of 43 countries vulnerable to climate change. (PNA)

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data sharing wrecks PLDT Home Fibr, Smart gear Online marriages and careers up for biggest Esports event A CCORDING to a study by Kaspersky Lab, people are still recklessly sharing private information over the Internet in risky situations. 28% of people share confidential data by accident and 16% willingly disclose secrets about themselves – despite the fact that information shared online can cost them a relationship or a job.

EARING up for a milestone event in Philippine Esports, leading digital services providers PLDT Home Fibr and Smart Communications have announced Team Mineski. Sports5 as the Philippine representative to the much anticipated ESL One Manila 2016, Southeast Asia’s first ever premier DOTA 2 tournament, that will gather some of the world’s best online gamers at SM MOA Arena on April 23 to 24. Making history as the largest Esports event in the Philippines to date, ESL One Manila 2016 is spearheaded by Germany-based Turtle Entertainment – one of the world’s biggest Esports company – and is presented by PLDT Home Fibr and Smart, which have empowered Filipino gamers through innovative products, services and the most awesome Esports experiences. Team Mineski.Sports5, which is composed of veteran Esports players Ryan Jay Qui, Benhur Lawis, Jun Kanehara, Jessie Vash Cuyco and Julius Caesar Sto. Domingo, will battle it out with seven other teams from Asia, Europe, and the United States – all vying for prestige and a stake at the massive prize pool worth USD250,000. Banking on their determination and experience in the international scene, Mineski. Sports5 emerged at the top of the multi-legged nationwide qualifiers that gathered teams in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, and Manila. Changing the game for gamers “We are very thrilled to help bring a world class gaming event in our country and put us on the map of the booming international Esports scene. This is a milestone in PLDT Home Fibr and Smart’s pioneering efforts when it comes to ‘changing the game’ for Filipino gamers and fueling their passions with meaningful innovations and awesome experiences – both at home and mobile through the powerful convergence of our services,” said Ariel P. Fermin, EVP and Head of Consumer Business at PLDT and Smart.

“ESL One Manila 2016 also builds on our thrust to elevate online gaming to a form of a sport, where the values of team work and discipline, coupled with strategy and mental agility, are showcased. We are rooting for our Philippine representative to prove that Filipinos have what it takes to excel in competitive online gaming in the international arena,” he added.

Exclusive perks for PLDT Home and Smart subscribers More than 10,000 Filipino fans and gaming enthusiasts are expected to show up at the two-day event, which promises an exhilarating world-class spectacle, which will also be exclusively broadcast by TV5. As a treat, PLDT Home Fibr and Smart subscribers enjoy first dibs on exclusive perks, such as a chance to score tickets to the event, win Steam vouchers, meet and greet their favorite Esports teams, as well as take home exciting prizes from raffle and games. PLDT Home Fibr and Smart are also setting up hubs at the event to showcase how the latest games and entertainment are best experienced with fast and reliable fixed and wireless connectivity, backed by the country’s most robust and extensive fiber optic footprint that spans over 100,000 kilometers, effectively boosting the Filipinos’ connected homes and digital lifestyles. Powerful and pioneer-

ing products for gamers A multi-player online battle arena game, DOTA 2 matches are played between two five-player teams whose goal is to destroy the stronghold of the opposite team while defending their own. With its gripping graphics and gameplay that requires great strategy and coordination among teams, DOTA 2 has become a hit game among millions of professional and casual players around the world. PLDT allows Filipinos to take their game play to the next level with PLDT Home Fibr, the country’s most powerful broadband service with the unique feature of symmetrical download and upload speeds – perfect for exhilarating and action-packed online multiplayer games like DOTA 2. For greater convenience, PLDT Home has also made it easier for subscribers to charge their Steam wallet purchases to their bill. On the other hand, Smart has introduced unparalleled convenience to Filipino gamers through Gamex, a pioneering platform that allows users to buy credits for popular PC and mobile games using prepaid load or postpaid account by visiting gamex.ph/ epins, the country’s leading gaming portal. Those into mobile games can also rely on Big Bytes 50 – Smart’s biggest mobile data offer yet – which now offers ‘double data’ with 700 MB for gaming and surfing, plus 600 MB for streaming on YouTube, YouTube Gaming and iflix – valid for 3 days, still at P50.

Smart’s direct carrier billing on Google Play also allows mobile gamers to buy games and make in-app purchases conveniently using their prepaid load or charged to their postpaid account.

Solid support for Esports ESL One Manila 2016 adds to the growing list of world-class Esports events that PLDT and Smart mounted to support the passions of Filipino gamers and enthusiasts. Just last October, both companies backed the Esports and Gaming Summit, the country’s biggest showcase of games and publishers. Last September, they also staged the much celebrated Asia Pop Comic Con Manila, the first ever international comics convention in the country. Smart also mounted the Philippine Clash, the country’s biggest and most prestigious nationwide Clash of Clans tournament last September, and helped put together Rampage 2015, the national finals for League of Legends, in August. Since 2013, both PLDT Home Fibr and Smart have also been mounting grassroots and pocket tournaments for hit online games all around the country. For more information on the exciting activities at ESL One Manila 2016, visit eslone.com/dota2/manila-2016 and follow PLDT Home and Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The survey, which was conducted in co-operation with B2B International, questioned more than 12,000 people worldwide and found that many people risk sharing personal data through online communication channels, in the dangerous online environment. This might include: a photo of themselves (45%), their contact details (42%), a photo of another person (32%), sensitive personal details (30%) and work-related data (20%) online. Further, and potentially even more seriously, one-insix has shared a secret about themselves (16%), while 9% has communicated private information about another person and 8% has shared sensitive financial details. This is despite the fact that half are deeply worried about the damaging impact of such information being made public – both in terms of financial loss and emotional distress. A third was worried that it could damage relationships or embarrass or offend someone and one-in-six (15%) was afraid that it could harm their career. This level of concern is often justified. 28% admitted they have accidentally shared confidential data and one-inten have suffered as a result. Of those that suffered, the consequences included losing friends (20%), being bullied (17%), suffering financial loss (15%), the end of a relationship (13%) and being dismissed from their job (13%). However, 13% still don’t take any precautions to keep their online activities and information safe, and a mere four-inten keep interactions with close family and friends separate from other activity (43%) or double-check all messages and posts before sending (39%). A quarter try to avoid sending or sharing information when they’ve had a drink, and a guilt-ridden 29% opt for the largely ineffective measure of hastily deleting their Internet history after sharing something. “Many consumers still struggle to translate risk awareness into caution when it comes to online activity. With so many devices and online channels at our fingertips it’s never been easier to post an unguarded message or accidentally share information with the wrong people. If you are not cyber savvy enough, and you don’t have the proper security and privacy safeguards in place, you could be left with shattered friendships and careers. Once it’s online it’s there forever – so if in doubt, keep it to yourself,” says David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab. Safer Social Network Sharing While some people post their entire lives on Facebook, others reject online social networking in all its forms. The truth, however, is somewhere in the middle. There are ways to benefit from social networking sites while retaining control

of your data. Here are five simple tips on how to stay safe while enjoying the perks of social media sites.

Tip 1: Check Your Security Settings Whether you’re using Facebook, Twitter or a different social network, the most important thing is to remember to check your data protection settings. As you do this, you should bear the following things in mind: Which data will be seen by the people you accept as friends? Which data is completely publicly available (and can thus be searched via Google and similar search engines)? What rights does the operator of the social network have? These are interesting questions, many of which can be resolved only with considerable effort. It is, however, worth taking the time to do so. When registering on a social networking site, therefore, you should fill out only the essential information fields and select the most conservative default settings. Don’t add a picture to your profile straight away, and don’t use your real name. It’s a good idea to create a completely fictitious profile to check how much of this information is visible. You should only create a profile under your real name once you’re happy with the amount of accessible information. It’s important to note that, depending on the network in question, there are also data protection specifics you should bear in mind. Facebook, for example, gives friends of friends more rights than other users. Experience has shown, however, that people are quick to add large numbers of users to their friends lists. This means that complete strangers suddenly have access to your photos and other posts. To fortify your Facebook security, Kaspersky Lab also has a video compilation of security settings that can boost your account’s privacy. You can watch it here.

Tip 2: Watch What You Post You should not be under the impression that social networks are unnecessary and, by definition, evil. On the contrary: Facebook and similar sites are fantastic tools for keeping in touch with friends all over the world. Before you go all out, however, it is important to remember that careless chatter can be just as much of a problem as off-colour photos, binge-drinking videos, or memberships of dubious groups. You should, therefore, be mindful when posting, and don’t forget your manners and your Netiquette. Even though you’re only virtually interacting with other users, hurling abuse is out of order. You should also consider which functions of these social

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO WOMEN

Learning a new language for kids

LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS A GREAT LIFE SKILL AND WILL HELP YOU GO PLACES. As we are living in an increasingly globalized modern world, there has never been a more important time for parents to open their children to learning a new language. Aside from preparing them for career prospects, learning a foreign language helps in enhancing a child’s holistic development and educational advantage. It is also an exciting way of discovering new experiences and different cultures.

Children have a natural curiosity about new things and they love mimicking and copying, which makes childhood an ideal starting point for learning a new language

Some might say that this may be too formal an exercise to give to kids or they’re too young for a foreign language class. However, studies have shown that there is a “window of opportunity” in childhood, and that as children grow older their adaptability and natural

ability in learning new languages decreases. In fact, children are sponges who pick up new things a lot faster than adults. “Children have a natural curiosity about new things and they love mimicking and copying, which makes childhood an ideal starting point for learning a new language,” explains Karina Melissa Cadiogan, part-owner of and instructor at Sky Language, a center for foreign language in Davao City. “The pre-school age is actually the most ideal time to start a language course because they progress in a non-formal way. They are

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EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! EVENT

Perched to party

IT WAS A WEEKEND OF FUN AND FRIENDSHIP as Perch Modern Kitchen + Bar located at the Alfresco area of Felcris Centrale celebrated its first anniversary in a back-to-back celebration last April 15 and 16. One of Durianburg’s most happening places, the parties at Perch featured DJs X- factor, Victor Pring, DJ Torch Gacuma, and Pae Dobles on the first night followed by Travis Monsod, Wacky Masbad, and Nikki Baricuatro on the second night. Present and ready to party were Perch’s regular clientele all dressed to party and have an epic time dancing and swinging to the DJs’ amazing sets.

The event was organised by the Manic Mom herself Kat Dalisay and although the venue was smaller with a more chill out crowd, I felt that these were a better set of parties as people can actually talk over cocktails, catch up over some booze, or just chow down on many of Perch’s eclectic bar food offerings. Congratulations to the team behind Perch and cheers to many more happy years to come.

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ENTERTAINMENT

2Go makes travel easy with new payment options 2GO TRAVEL, ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED SEA AND LAND T R A N S P O R TATION COMPANIES IN THE PHILIPPINES, was born out of the integration of the 2 major shipping companies in the Philippines in December 2010 when Negros Navigation Inc. bought out the Aboitiz Transport Systems (ATS) group which operated the “SuperFerry” passenger brand. The rebranding of both companies used the ubiquitous “2GO” brand in 2011 across all business units, finally naming the passenger brand “2GO Travel.” 2GO Travel is the first shipping-passenger brand in the Philippines that completely changed the sea travel experience. With excellent customer service, upscale hotel passenger suites, comfortable accommodation, entertainment and cruise-like amenities, 2GO Travel provided the traveling

Sealing the partnership are 2Go Travel Senior Vice President Stephen Tagud (2nd from right) and With Globe Enterprise Sales Vice President Dion Asencio (2nd from left). With them are MYNT AVP for Business Development Jose Luigi Reyes (leftmost) and 2Go Travel VP for Retail Sales Grace Golez (rightmost).

public a unique and very affordable way to travel around the Philippines. 2GO Travel also expanded the travel routes not only by sea but also by land as well connected major cities around the Philippines via bus connection, making the travel experience more hasslefree. Moreover, the brand also pioneered the first prepaid travel card that can be purchased as the perfect travel gift to popular tourist destinations around the Philippines. With its commitment to take land and sea travel

to the next level , 2Go Travel has clearly helped boost domestic tourism by making travel comfortable and fun and providing cruise packages for families, friends or corporate groups, complete with an all-in cruise, hotel and tour itineraries in one affordable package. In order to further its growth with more payment options available to its customers, 2Go Travel partnered with Globe Business, the enterprise ICT arm of Globe Telecom, to acquire Globe Charge, an innovative

solution that transforms mobile phones into pointof-sale (POS) card terminals that accept debit and credit card payments. Globe Charge harnesses the integration of a smartphone and an innovative mobile card reader into a mobile point-of-sale (POS) unit, empowering enterprise and SME customers with a convenient payment device and eliminating the need for traditional and more expensive card terminals. With Globe Charge, 2Go Travel can now accept credit card payments

from its customers, further growing its customer base, increasing its revenues, and sustaining its position in the market as an innovative company which constantly seeks to provide efficient and hassle-free service. “Globe Business really is a great partner for us,” Stephen Tagud, Senior Vice President for 2Go Travel said. “We want to make traveling as smooth as possible for our customers and with Globe Charge, this makes payments options much easier and more accessible for

a lot of them.” Mike Frausing, Globe Business’ Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT Enabled Services Group shared, “We are thankful to 2Go Travel for the trust and confidence they have given us in enabling their sustained growth as they expand their payment capabilities through Globe Charge. As the leading ICT enabler in the Philippines, Globe Business provides customers with the right technology, infrastructure, and knowhow to help them focus on their business.” For more information about Globe Business, get in touch with a Globe Business Account Manager or call the Globe Business Premium Support Center at +63 2.730.1288 toll-free using a Globe mobile and landline. You can also visit www.globe. com.ph/business for more information.

UP AND ABOUT

Arnell Ignacio, Wilma Doesnt on Tonight with Arnold Clavio THIS WEDNESDAY (APRIL 20) ON TONIGHT WITH ARNOLD CLAVIO, Igan will be joined by celebrity BFF or “best friends forever” when it comes to fun and laughter: awardwinning host, businessman and comedian Arnell Ignacio and fashion model and comedienne Wilma Doesnt.

It will be an exciting night as Igan prepared some special treats for the two. One of which is the latest segment of the show called “Bentangbenta” where they have to prove who is better in sales talk. In “Nasubukan

April 17 – 19, 2016

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

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

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

Mo Na Ba?”, Igan will try to expose things the public still doesn’t know about Arnell and Wilma. Meanwhile, 52-yearold Arnell will reveal the secret behind his

healthy and fit body. He will also open up about his experiences in love that made him a stronger person. Wilma, on the other hand, will talk about the business

endeavor that is helping her in her role as “mother of three.” Watch Tonight with Arnold Clavio this Wednesday, 10:15 p.m. on GMA News TV

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

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

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 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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WOMEN METRO MOM A1 still in that stage wherein they naturally acquire new words and phrases without being fully conscious of that learning process. Their development is formed by the sounds and rhythms of everyday life.” Sky Language center provides a wide variety of Foreign Language tutorial classes for students and professionals of different ages. They provide students with a warm, friendly and professional environment, with tutorial classes which can be customized according to their requirements and convenience. Their dynamic roster of instructors is dedicated to give students a fun and quality learning experience. According to Karina, learning a second language poses a great number of benefits to any child. Even through foreign language sessions on alphabet and word recognition, understating simple sentences, as well as time and number recognition, these courses have helped children improve in different fields, be it in academics or extra-curricular. “They have improved in terms of academic performance and showed impressive test results for other classes. They also learn how to assert themselves well in a social environment and express a worldly view.” “This summer, Sky Language offers English and Filipino Enrichment Classes, Reading and Writing enhancement programs and foreign languages – French, German, Mandarin and Nihongo,” shares German and French language teacher, Susanne Audrey G.

Rexrodt. “The courses run for a total of twenty (20) hours. It is up to the parents if they prefer to schedule their children for 2 hours per day, either Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday. Each summer enrichment program is priced at Php3,000 for 20 hours. For our foreign language kiddie courses, we offer a group rate of Php5,800 and Php8,500 for one on one tutorials.” Parents also play a role in guiding children through their language courses, even at home. Susanne suggests, “They can play around fun activities which will help them converse in a foreign language,

such as singing songs in a different language, counting and playing games with them using the foreign language. Make it a bonding activity for you and your child. There is a chance that the kid might become disinterested in learning the foreign language. Give them encouragement and expose them to culture of the foreign language which you would like them to learn.” Sky Language is located at Margarita Village Road, Margarita Village, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City. For inquiries, call 0919 445 0123 or follow skylanguagedavao on Facebook and Instagram.

DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO

Duterte... FROM 3 We are now hiring for the ff. job vacancies:

1. CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER (C.S.O.) Scope of Work: • Handling of customer services (e.g. inquiries, complaints, scheduling of services) • Preparation of quotation for clients • STARTING SALARY: P12, 000 (BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE) 2. TECHNICAL ENGINEER (T.E.) Scope of Work: • Installation/Programming/Configuration for the ff. products *CCTV, PABX, PABGM, INTERCOM, BIOMETRICS, ACCESS CONTROL, FIRE ALARM • STARTING SALARY: P13, 000 (BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE) 3.ACCOUNTS MANAGER (A.M.) Scope of Work: • Sales & Marketing for New Clients • STARTING SALARY: P15, 000 UP (BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE) 4. STORE SUPERVISOR Scope of Work: • Responsible for daily store operation • Handling of manpower

Please email your resume to: sales@vmtech.com.ph or marcxtian@yahoo.com For walk in applicants, you may call the ff. branches: Cebu Office: (032) 2380912 Globe: 09173293471 • Sun: 09255014723 Davao Office: (082) 2212789 Globe: 09177952469 • Sun: 09322448030

and equality under the law,” she added. And in line with this, Alvarez said they are challenging other candidates to keep this campaign focused on platforms, rather than on peripheral or side issues that have no bearing on the qualities that our people want in the next president: track record in public office, unsullied integrity and honesty, and competence to handle the demands of the presidency. “We believe the platform of Mayor Duterte and his vice

presidential candidate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, adequately responds to the actual needs of the nation at this crucial juncture in our history and will bring us closer to our goal of achieving political stability, economic growth and social concord in the next six years,” the PDP-LABAN spokesperson stressed. “On behalf of PDP-LABAN, we thank our party leaders at the national down to the local levels, our allies and friends in the regions, and most especially to the common people who

have given their all-out support to the Duterte-Cayetano tandem everywhere they go,” she added. Alvarez said that they are calling on all Filipinos to remain vigilant and help ensure clean, credible and peaceful elections on May 9. “After all, free and fair elections are the hallmark of a functioning democracy, and will guarantee that the next set of leaders will truly represent the people’s will and uphold the common good,” she added. (PNA)

networking sites are really important to you, and which are not. Services, for example, which automatically publish your current location on social networking sites, should be treated with caution. Why? The combination of your current whereabouts and your personal information makes you traceable in real life.

request.

sites like Facebook and MySpace to distribute themselves, as well as the more traditional email route. In such cases, users receive an invitation from a friend to view a photo album or to click on a link to watch a “great video”. Clicking on the link, however, takes you neither to a photo album nor a video. Instead, your PC becomes infected with malware. All infected computers are then incorporated into what’s known as a botnet – a network of infected computers which is used to send spam or to carry out attacks, and which is controlled by cybercriminals. To avoid such attacks, social media users need a reliable and updated internet security solution that will protect what means the most to them. To read more tips on how to protect yourself online, click here: https://blog.kaspersky. com/tag/cybersavvy.

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Tip 3: Unmasking False Friends As a rule, the operators of social networking sites don’t verify that the owner of a particular user account is who they purport to be. While it’s obvious that Karl Marx and Michael Jackson’s profiles are not maintained by the dearly departed themselves, it can be hard to tell whether Peter Miller is really your old classmate or someone posing as him. You should, therefore, always be wary when someone on Facebook sends you a friend

Tip 4: Protecting Your Own Identity There are already cases of identity theft in which criminals have created profiles for users and used them to blackmail their victims. These people are forced to pay certain sums of money to prevent their online reputations from being ruined. Threats include, for example, the publication of compromising photos. Another way to steal a person’s identity involves using phishing methods to collecting passwords for existing user accounts on social networking sites. In such cases, protective mechanisms are useful.

Tip 5: Preventing Malware Attacks Cybercriminals use social networking sites to infiltrate vulnerable users and steal important data. Pests like the Koobface worm use social networking

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Toyota Prius:

Unconventionally versatile

HAT do you get when you mix an unconventional car like the Prius and a conventional hatchback like the Yaris? You get the Toyota Prius c. Based off a modified Yaris platform, the Prius c is making waves in its home country of Japan (it’s known as the Aqua over there) because of its no frills approach to hybridization. Instead of going all space-age and techy, the Prius c is simple: push the starter, select D, and go—no need to re-learn the displays, gearbox, and what. Though it doesn’t change the fact that it’s an utter bore to drive, at least it presents its case as a perfect urban crawler with its compact proportions and skyhigh fuel mileage. Dimensionally similar to the Yaris, but a couple of hundred kilograms heavier, the Prius c fits the mold of a standard sub-compact hatchback. Designed before the entire “we make exciting cars” pitch, it’s ubiquitous. It simply disappears in a mall parking lot if not for the eye searing lime green paint job. Launched in the market in 2012 and refreshed last year, Toyota must be lauded for at least trying to give it a more aggressive front clip. The new bumper, with its gaping mouth grille, looks more in line with the current generation of passenger cars, while at the back, the tail lights get a new pattern that widen the back end. Like what the exterior suggests, there’s nothing too unconventional with the Prius c’s interior. No groundbreaking news here, but at least it does serve up a youthful vibe thanks to its unusual and unique surface treat-

ments sprinkled throughout. Changes done during this mid-cycle refresh are minor, but welcome. For starters, the 1980’s throwback of a fluorescent green gauge cluster is replaced by one that’s lit in white. Then, the climate control is re-designed with a bigger display and reconfigured controls—all making it much more legible and easy to use. Next, the monotonous gray cabin is now broken up by the use of high-gloss piano black trim and aluminum accents. Finally, the Prius c gains an AVT touchscreen infotainment system (which is absolutely horrid, by the way). As always, the front seats are roomy and offer enough room for long driving stints with no complaints. The leather mimicking SofTex material feels the part, but is more adept at handling the unforgiving Manila heat. The rear accommodation though, despite having a lengthy cushion, is best suited for either two adults or three kids. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split to increase luggage space, but it’s just good, not stellar. The driver enjoys a tilt/ telescopic steering wheel, but with such a limited telescopic adjustment, you actually find yourself asking why Toyota even bothered. Still, the driving position is comfortable enough and pretty close to that of a Yaris: a bit upright and a bit close to the pedals. Plus, thanks to its narrow pillars and low set dashboard, visibility is pretty good all around. Like Toyota’s other hybrids, the Prius c pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Here, it’s something inherited from the second-gen-

eration Prius equating to a 130 horsepower combined output. At lower speeds though (including start-up), the battery handles the propulsion duties. Press the start button and a “Ready” light comes up. Shift to D and it moves with an eerie silence. Feathering the throttle rewards in a full EV mode. At around 40 km/h, the combustion engine fires up that either assists the electric motor or charges the batteries. It’s worth noting though that because of the eCVT’s behavior, gunning the gas pedal keeps engine revs (and noise) high until you back off. At full throttle, it sounds like an overtaxed speed boat. It’s obvious that performance isn’t the priority for the Prius c and in terms of straight line acceleration, it dispatches the 100 km/h in a leisurely 11.5 seconds. This figure won’t be enough to keep up with ricer Civics, but in real world situations, there’s power aplenty enough to keep up with traffic. Like its bigger brother, it excels absolutely in saving fuel. With the worst average speed of 13 km/h, it still manages 17.75 km/L with the figure rising to 20.31 km/L when the speed bump up to 17 km/h. There’s even an Eco and Power mode available, if you’d like to meddle that sort of thing. The Prius c operates best in the city because once you go corner hunting, its weakness becomes apparent. It’s not designed as a canyon carver, so there’s some body roll and prodigious amounts of cornering resistance, especially if you take a curve too hot. The ride is also quite firm with an abrupt bump stop, but at least it’s comfortable in all but sharp

road cuts. The stability control tends to kick in at the slightest provocation (including going over manhole covers) and the brakes feel odd—light and touchy because of the built-in regenerative properties. In the end, the “c” in Prius c

likely stands for “city” because it operates best in the urban setting where its stellar fuel economy, excellent visibility, and very good maneuverability all play to its strengths. Sure, a small diesel car can probably match it if it tried hard enough

and some pundits will question the maintenance cost for such a high-tech vehicle. Whatever the case, the Toyota Prius c is still the champ when dealing with congested traffic, it’s hard to topple and it doesn’t even need to try.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Kawhi wins DPOTY K

SPORTS 15

AWHI Leonard has won his second straight NBA Defensive Player of the Year award after helping the San Antonio Spurs have the league’s best defense. Leonard beat out Draymond Green in voting on Monday to become the first noncenter to win the award in consecutive seasons since Dennis Rodman in 1989-90 and 1990-91. The 6-foot-7 Leonard received 84 first-place votes and 547 points from a panel of 130 sports writers and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Green, the Warriors’ All-Star forward, was runner-up for the second straight year with 44 first-place votes and 421 points. Miami center Hassan Whiteside was third with 83 points and two firstplace votes. The Spurs were a franchise-record 6715 this season and allowed a leaguelow 92.9 points per game. Leonard was 12th in the league in steals and averaged a career-best 0.99 blocks.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Kawhi Leonard received 84 first-place votes and 547 points from a panel of 130 sports writers and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. AP

Lebron tries a Curry but failed

HE Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves in a tougher-than-expected Game 1 matchup against the eighth-seeded Detroit Pistons, which seemed like an odd time for LeBron James to try to break out the Warriors’ patented Stephen Curry celebration. It was a move made worse by the fact that it completely failed. In the third quarter, with the Cavs up by just two points, LeBron fed the ball to Kyrie Irving for a 3-pointer. However, before the shot was even up, James was already running up the court with his finger pointing in the air, assuming

the shot would go in. It did not (via The Cauldron). Of course, the Warriors have pulled off this move several times, which is much easier when the player shooting the 3-pointer is Stephen Curry. LeBron isn’t the first player to fail at this celebration. Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder tried and failed at the same maneuver earlier this season. Of course, Adams didn’t try to do it in the NBA Playoffs. Luckily for James, the Cavs held off the Pistons, winning the game 106-101.

“The Iranian team beat us for the gold in the last Asian championships, so we got our revenge here in Manila,” said Sabido, who is now the national poomsae coach but came out of retirement on the prodding of Philippine Taekwondo Association chief executive officer Hong Sung Chong. He added that he and his teammates would be gunning for third straight crown in the world championships slated October in Lima, Peru. “I can’t express my happiness because I finally won a gold on my second try,” said Dominguez, 25, a taekwondo instructor based in Baguio

City, of his achievement after taking the silver in the team freestyle in the previous edition of the competition. Allan Keanua Ganapin, the country’s lone entry in the Asian Para Taekwondo Championships, bowed out early in the men’s 75-kg. division, losing his opening match, 0-5, to South Korea’s Choi Jae Sik. Due to the huge number of entries, organizers of the Asian Taekwondo (sparring) Championships h revised the program so that the preliminaries began late last night. Scheduled to see action last night were Olympic qualifier Kirstie Elaine Alora and Kristopher Robert Uy. (PNA)

PHL... FROM 16

No Curry, no worry

HOMPSON scored 34 points and dished out five assists for the defending champions, playing without Curry because of an injured right ankle. Curry cut short his pregame warmup routine after appearing to be in discomfort as he was shooting while putting little pressure on the tender ankle. Andre Iguodala, last year’s Finals MVP, added 18 points with four 3-pointers and Draymond Green had 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Now, Curry has until Thursday’s Game Three in Houston to get healthy. James Harden had 28 points and 11 assists to lead the Rockets, losers of six straight and 14 of 15 to Golden State. He made 13 of 15 free throws after not attempting one in the opener. Big man Marreese Speights hit a key momentum 3-pointer from the baseline with 8.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter to make it 86-79, and the deep, versatile Warriors showed they can win without Curry on the playoff stage just as everybody on the roster believed. Golden State did it on New Year’s Eve on Houston’s home court and did it again Monday at rockin’ Oracle Arena. Golden State coach Steve Kerr called for better ball movement, hard cuts and intensity on defense in Curry’s absence. For much of the game, the Warriors did those things well. “There’s a smaller margin

for error,” Kerr said of a lineup minus Curry. Kerr looked at more film from that Dec. 31 game in Houston the past couple of days after already having watched it before Curry’s latest injury. Harden went without a free throw attempt Saturday for the first time in 30 playoff games with the Rockets. Then on three occasions in the first half, Harden drew a foul beyond the 3-point line and sent the fans into fits. He missed 7 of 8 3-point tries. But it was Thompson’s three free throws after interim Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s technical with 7:16 left that helped seal this one. Livingston scored the next time down for a 99-86 lead.

Curry didn’t take part in the morning shootaround Monday or practice Sunday after getting hurt late in the first half of his team’s Game 1 win Saturday. He received treatment Sunday and Monday. He took the court some 90 minutes before tipoff and first went through his normal dribbling session before he started shooting. At one point, Curry lined up to try a long jumper from the right wing but didn’t release the ball and hopped in apparent pain before throwing the ball in the air, clearly frustrated. He left the court moments later.

TIP-INS Rockets: Houston is 0-5 all-time in the postseason on Golden State’s home court and

1-6 overall in playoffs. ... Harden went to the free throw line for three attempts — his first of the series — at the 6:41 mark of the first, then tried to shoot again under pressure from long range midway through the second quarter to draw a foul on Ian Clark. Warriors: Iguodala’s four 3-pointers matched his most in the playoffs with Golden State. ... Thompson hit a triple in his 31st straight playoff game. He has made 21 of 22 free throws in the series, 15 for 16 on Monday. ... Livingston notched his 11th career postseason start and first with the Warriors. ... Golden State had 13 turnovers after committing 18 in Game One, including 11 in the third quarter.

TAKING OVER. Klay Thompson takes charge of a Curry-less Golden State side. AP

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 35 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

PHL jins win gold in Asian Taekwondo Poomsae tourney T

HE trio of two-time world champion Jean Pierre Sabado, Ernesto Guzman Jr. and Glenn Lava on Monday captured the men’s over-30year-old team event to highlight the Philippine campaign in the 4th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom. Showing the poise and precision that led them to team crowns in the 2013 and 2014 world championships, the Filipino troika topped the event with a score of 7.97 points, besting the defending champion Iranian team (7.88). South Korea settled for the bronze (7.72). Also capturing a gold was Jeordan Dominguez in the men’s individual poomsae freesty with 7.72 points in the event sponsored by PLDT, Meralco, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Resorts World Manila and the Philippine Sports Commission. But in the centerpiece -30-year-old division, the Filipino bets could only muster three silvers in the men’s and women’s team events and men’s individual event courtesy of Rodolfo Reyes Jr. on top of three bronze medals in other age categories. Reyes and brothers Dustin Jacob and Raphael Enrico Mella, the reigning Southeast Asian Games team champion, were relegated to runner-up honors after tallying 8.28 points, .20 points behind the gold-medal Indonesian squad of Maulana Hadjir, Adburrahim

Wahyu and Muhammad Alli Kusuma. The women’s squad also Jocel Lun Ninobla, Clare Therese Gascon and Angelica Joyce Gaw likewise took the silver (8.21), missing the gold by a whisker to the Chinese-Taipei squad of Ying Hsian Lee, Yi Hsuan Chen and Hsiang Ting Chen (8.23). Vietnam got the bronze (8.16). T h e bronze medals c a m e from Ninobla in the women’s individual under-30 division, Babanta amd Dustin Jacob Mella in the mixed pair under-30 and Ernesto Guzman in the men’s over-40 class.

F PHL, 16

GOLD MEDAL. The trio of two-time world champion Jean Pierre Sabado, Ernesto Guzman Jr. and Glenn Lava on Monday captured the men’s over30-year-old team event.