Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 317 | Friday, April 28, 2023

CASE BUILD UP

Another alleged rape victim surfaces vs PCG personnel

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Another rape victim in Davao City turned herself in to the NBI Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO), Thursday morning.

The 23-year-old victim, a freelance model, complained to NBI-SEMRO that she was also raped by the Philippine Coast Guard personnel Khalid Abdullah, who is also the subject of a rape complaint of a 21-year-old model on Monday.

Arcelito Albao, regional director of NBI-SEMRO, told Edge

Davao that the respondent introduced himself as a general of the coast guard in the Davao Region.

“He introduced himself as the head and general of the coast guard here in Davao,” he said.

PH a hotspot of illegal trade in giant clams in Southeast Asia, says report

The Philippines emerged as a hotspot in Southeast Asia in the illegal giant clam trade in the past 20 years, the Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce (Traffic), a wildlife monitoring network, said in an assessment released Wednesday, April 26.

Wong, senior wildlife crime analyst and co-author, as saying.

The assessment, however, admitted that little is known about the global trafficking of giant clams, the world’s largest bivalve mollusks.

violation of firearms law after allegedly raping a model on April 18, 2023.

The victim alias “Jane” shared with the media that she was raped by Abdullah twice, first inside his vehicle and then in an inn an hour after.

Abdullah was arrested by NBI-SEMRO outside a commercial establishment in Doña Vicenta Village, Bajada, Davao City on April 22, 2023.

On Monday, Abdullah was charged with rape and violation of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking-In-Persons-Act and FCASE, P10

BARMM rights body calls for halt in Maguindanao Sur hostilities

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has called on warring groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao del Sur province to cease fighting and uphold civilian protection.

In a statement Wednesday, the BHRC said the fighting has already displaced more than 17,000 individuals in three adjoining towns of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibo and Saydona Mustapha in the province.

Most of the affected families are in Barangays Dapiawan,

Elian, and Madia, in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

“As Muslims, both armed groups should adhere to the teachings of Islam, which promotes peace, compassion, and respect for human rights, the BHRC said.

The assessment recorded 170 giant clam seizures involving Southeast Asia between January 2003 and December 2022. This resulted in the confiscation of 121,391 tons of giant clams and a further 7,682 shells destined for illegal trade, with 56% occurring since 2017, Traffic said.

It cited that the world’s biggest bust, which involved 120,000 tons of giant clams, occurred in the Philippines in 2019.

The Philippines made the greatest number of confiscations (71), with 62% occurring in Palawan province.

“Owing to the mega seizure in 2019, the Philippines seized most (121,071 tonnes) of the volume reported by weight over the 20-year period,” the assessment said.

“The global trade in giant clams warrants closer scrutiny following large-scale seizures and a lack of knowledge on the dynamics and scale of the trade,” it said.

“These figures are worrying given that scientific findings from over a decade ago already pointed to declining giant clam populations and some species becoming functionally extinct in some range countries,” the assessment quoted Rama

“They have long been harvested both legally and illegally for food, as decorative items, and for the aquarium trade,” it said.

In the 29 cases where species information was available, it was also revealed that 70.5% of the number of shells seized were China Clams Hippopus porcellanus, deemed one of the rarest giant clam species in the world.

The assessment further noted the “significant discrepancies” in trade figures reported by importing and exporting countries to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna or CITES.

“From 2003 to 2021, importers reported trade in more than four million giant clam shells, while exporters only reported three million shells traded,” it said.

“The combination of huge seizures, discrepancies in trade data, and a poor understanding of the current dynamics all spell trouble for giant clams,” said Wong, who urged more detailed analysis that would fill knowledge gaps and better inform responses in terms of enforcement, policy, and demand.

The assessment added that the large volumed seized suggested the involvement of orga-

A cyclist traverses along the bicycle lane on Roxas Avenue in Davao City in this undated photo. The Department of Public Works and Highways 11 (DPWH 11) bared its plan to add 8.5 kilometers of bike lane as part of the implementation of the Davao City Metropolitan Bike Lane Network. Lean Daval Jr.

TF Davao brings Culture of Security to schools

PH slips three notches in good governance index

The Philippines has slipped three notches in the global governance index, placing 66th out of 104 countries in the overall ranking.

The country dropped from 63rd to 66th this year with an index score of 0.4694, according to the Chandler Good Government Index 2023.

This was the Philippines’ lowest ranking since the annual index started in 2021 when it ranked 61st.

The Chandler Good Government Index measures the “capabilities and effectiveness” of government in 104 countries, according to its website.

It has seven pillars with several indicators to determine the performance of the government in each country.

The Philippines garnered scores in the following pillars: leadership and foresight (0.36), robust laws and policies (0.48), strong institutions (0.44), financial stewardship (0.55), attractive marketplace (0.54), global influence and reputation (0.4), and helping people rise (0.49).

According to the index, the Philippines has seen an im-

By MAYA M. PADILLO

provement in coordination rising from 26th to 22nd place in 2023.

It said that it also moved up six notches in governance outcomes under helping people rise, “buoyed by significant progress in satisfaction with public services and health.”

The report said that the enactment of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act, which replaced the previous National Disaster Coordinating Council with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Council in 2010, was seen as a “paradigm shift in the country’s approach to disaster management.”

“Partnerships between the government and academia have helped to make better quality data available for decision making in integrated disaster prevention and mitigation,” the index stated.

Meanwhile, Singapore topped the list with 0.8646 index score, followed by Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, and Germany.

The Task Force Davao is intensifying the propagation of Davao City’s security campaign dubbed as “Culture of Security” by providing audio-visual presentations (AVPs) to elementary and high school students.

Army Captain John Louie Dema-ala, spokesperson of Task Force Davao, said on Wednesday that they are coordinating with the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd 11), teachers, and parents in the promotion of the Culture of Security.

“Ang AVP plug and play lang. Tagaan ug copy ang mga teachers kung vacant time i-play na lang nila ug didto sa AVP makita na kung unsa ang programa na Culture of Security. Mapasalamaton usab ang Task Force davao after sa ilang courtesy call sa regional

director sa DepEd. Aduna silay gi offer na media platform para mas ma-propagate pa ang Culture of Security. Aduna ta’y coordination sa mga parents and students para dili pud nato sila ma-violate based sa ilahang rights,” he said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.

Dema-ala also said that there is no militarization in this campaign.

The campaign dubbed “May Nakita? Dapat Magsalita!” was rolled out in 2020 by the city gov-

2,702

jobs up for grabs in Labor Day ‘23 job fair

At least 2,702 job vacancies await jobseekers during the Labor Day Job Fair initiated by the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE 11) on May 1, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at SM City Davao.

Ryan D. Roldan, Senior Labor

Enforcement officer of DOLE 11, announced on Wednesday during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing that there are 2,702 job vacancies of which 45 local employers are offering 2,126 job vacancies and nine overseas employers offering 576 job vacancies.

“Depende yan sa mga employers if they need to stay para ma-accommodate ang mga jobseekers. They will stay long,” Roldan said.

He also encouraged jobseekers to participate in the said fair. Interested applicants can register

FTF, P10 FJOBS, P10

Army soldiers load an artillery shell during a live-fire demonstration aimed at communist rebels in Claveria, Misamis Oriental on Wednesday (26 April 2023). MindaNews

photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

Proactive governance crucial in public financial mgt: DBM chief

Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Wednesday said the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has pursued proactive governance in the 2023 national budget by prioritizing digital transformation and e-governance.

During her keynote speech at the 1st Philippine Association for Government Budget Administration (PAGBA) seminar in Baguio City, Pangandaman said funding the digital transformation in the Philippine bureaucracy would ensure faster and transparent delivery of government services, as well as better engagement with the public.

“In line with the PDP (Philippine Development Plan) and the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda, we embraced proactive governance in the 2023 National Budget. Amounting to PHP5.268 trillion, it prioritizes digital transformation and e-governance,” Pangandaman said.

“The end goal is to improve awareness, responsiveness,

and performance while fighting corruption and deepening stakeholder participation and transparency in our systems and processes,” she added.

She also urged government budget administrators to be proactive in responding to the challenges in implementing innovation and technologies to public financial management (PFM).

“Being proactive is crucial in responding to the continuing challenges of innovations and technology to public financial management. As such, it is incumbent upon us to build our capacities for proactive governance as

FPROACTIVE, P10

IT-BPM sector urged to continue investing in dev’t of Pinoy talents

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary

Alfredo Pascual has called on the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector to continue investing in the development of Filipino talents to sustain its growth.

Speaking at the IT-BPM Talent Summit in Makati City Thursday, Pascual said although the Philippines remains to be the second largest destination for outsourcing services, local players should

not be complacent in upskilling their workforce.

“We cannot be complacent. We need to develop the digital talents of the Philippines’ human resources and make them globally competitive to sustain and fuel the growth of our IT-BPM industry,” he said.

The local IT-BPM, which is valued between USD265 billion and USD275 billion, accounts for up to 18 percent of the global ITBPM talents.

“It is our responsibility as a

GSIS assures balanced selection of domestic, global investments

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) continues to boost its asset portfolio as it eyes various investments locally and abroad with maximized returns.

GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said they try to invest the State pension fund’s money in fixed income, loans, equities, properties and global infrastructure, among others.

Veloso recently signed an agreement with its New Yorkbased global infrastructure partners worth USD300 million or over PHP16 billion in infrastructure projects.

He said the state-pension fund continues to look for local opportunities like infrastructure projects that will produce good returns.

Citing its investment in listed mining firm Nickel Asia through a share purchase, Veloso said GSIS expects the country to eventually acquire the technology in making electronic vehicles (e-vehicles).

“These are very important minerals and eventually, provide an opportunity for jobs to create a lithium battery business operation and eventually evolve into an electric vehicle business,” he said.

nation to harness this potential and develop a workforce that is not only competitive but also a formidable force in the ever-evolving digital landscape,” Pascual said.

He urged IT-BPM companies in the Philippines to support education and training programs focusing on digital skills, such as coding, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

He added that the DTI and its investment promotion arm, the

“We constantly engage ourselves. There is this fund that we are able to review and during the review, these were manned by ex-World Bank president and ex-IMF (International Monetary Fund) president. We are familiar with investment in infrastructure in various countries globally even in the United States,” he said.

Veloso added that “it is our duty to be able to find these kind of investments because we cannot just continue to focus locally.”

The GSIS chief reassured the public that with the research team they have, investment opportunities are being reviewed thoroughly before making corresponding recommendations.

“That is to make sure that we maximize the returns so we can improve the benefits of our members and extend the Fund’s life,” he said.

GSIS’s actuarial life is currently at 32 years and Veloso explained that for this to improve, the agency needs to ex-

Passersby check the plants and flowers on display at the Organic Farmers Market at Rizal Park in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

‘Rice crisis’ possible due to El Niño -- Agri group

Accessibility contributes to rise in intellectual property applications

Accessibility and easier processing contribute to the increase in intellectual property (IP) registrations in 2022, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPH).

In a public briefing on Wednesday, IPOPH Deputy Director General Ann Claire Cabochan also attributed the growth to increased public awareness and the creation of laws that recognizes the creativity of Filipinos.

“I think it is also an increased awareness na puwede po nating irehistro iyong mga tinatawag nating yamang isip (that we can register what we call mental resources),” Cabochan said.

“Noong nagkaroon po tayo ng pandemic, lahat ng frontline services ng Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines ay naging online kaagad, so iyung access po dito sa ating mga proseso ay naging madali sa ating mga malilikhaing Pilipino, kaya sila po ay nakapag-apply at iyung kanila pong mga applications ay napu-process at napuprotektahan naman po kapag pumasa po doon sa ating mga rekisitos (When the pandemic struck, all the frontline services of the Intellectual Property Office of

Afarmers’

group on Wednesday warned of a possible rice shortage brought by a looming El Niño phenomenon later this year.

the Philippines immediately went online, so access to our processes became easy for our creative Filipinos, so they were able to apply and their applications are processed and protected as soon as they pass our requirements), she added.

The IPOPHL earlier reported that the registration of IP in 2022 increased by 3.7 percent to 48,259 filings from 46,558 applications in 2021.

Cabochan said among the top IP applications filed at their office include those for patents, which is the biggest number, the utility model and industrial designs, and trademarks especially used by businesses.

She said that IPOPH is targeting to further increase the registration of IPs in the coming years.

With this, Cabochan said the IPOPH is strengthening its information and education campaign with the help of its partners from the private sector and various learning institutions.

They also conduct online webinars to encourage the youth to register their creations or inventions.

Meanwhile, the IPOPH through its “Gawad Yamang Isip” is set to

Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) National Manager Raul Montemayor said farmers may have lower yields this year due to lower rainfall levels.

Montemayor said the start of El Niño will coincide with the second and third months of the wet season when water is vital for palay growth.

Aside from possible lower yields locally, a rice supply shortage may also be expected internationally, as El Niño may affect other Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, a

major source of the Philippines’ rice imports.

“If it affects [the] whole ASEAN area, iyong supply ng bigas baka maapektuhan. Kukulangin ng supply, magmamahal sa international [market], parang rice crisis na naman. Hopefully hindi mangyari,” Montemayor said during a food security forum. (If it affects the whole ASEAN area, the rice supply may also be affected. The supply would fall short, and a rice crisis may emerge due to its soar-

ing prices in the international market. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen.)

“If we are to rely [on] imports, iyong pumapasok na imported ngayon ay medyo mahal. (The imported rice coming into the country is quite expensive.) That also explains why palay price is going up. That’s another thing we have to watch out for—imports,” he added.

Montemayor underscored the need to surpass the harvests in the lean months from July to September when rice production is low. This is the planting period before local farmers get to harvest again.

FRICE, P10

SMDC to venture into ‘lot only’ biz

With the growing demand from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to buy parcel of land to build their own houses, condominium builder SM Development Corporation (SMDC) will be launching a “lot only” product line.

SMDC president Jose Mari Banzon said this new product line of the company will be located in Pampanga, Tarlac, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Bacolod.

“We will be selling the afford-

able ones... You cannot find properties in Metro Manila. For that, you have to go outside,” he told reporters on the sidelines of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. in Pasay City on Wednesday.

Banzon said the company wants to tap the “big opportunity” in selling parcel of land only, with bulk of these demands coming from OFWs.

“Actually, when our people go overseas, many of our overseas Filipinos look for lots only because when they come home in

Manila, they want to build their homes themselves, that’s one; and number two, is also for their children -- investing for their children,” he said.

Meanwhile, SMDC will be launching 10 condominium projects this 2023 worth PHP80 billion.

“We normally roll them out as the sales dictate. For example, when sales are strong, if existing inventory is depleting, then, we can throw them out,” Banzon added. (PNA)

A man delivers baskets of cotton fruit locally known as santol at a fruit stand in Bangkal, Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

In filing a bill seeking to establish another division of the Court of Appeals (CA) in Mindanao to be stationed in Davao City:

“The country is relatively behind in terms of its justice system despite its constitutional mandate to guarantee its citizens speedy disposition of cases before any judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative bodies.”

REP. PAOLO Z. DUTERTE

During summer, one of the biggest problems we face is water. There’s insufficient supply of water for bathing, cooking, and cleaning, among others. As the El Niño is fast approaching, a food crisis is at stake as crops would die without water. Some people may die as a result of heatstroke.

Once summer is over and the rainy season takes over, expect too much water. In Davao City, several busy streets would be under water. Some subdivisions would be flooded as the water from rivers overflowed.

It’s either too much water or none at all. That seems to be the gist of the post of former agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol in his social media account.

“For a country which literally is submerged in floodwater during the typhoon season, the Philippines is facing a major crisis which could impact on the lives of the next generation of Filipinos – the lack of water,” Piñol said.

You may find this absurd but that is the reality. More ridiculous is that no one, according to Piñol, is paying attention to the problem. “Sadder than this impending disaster is the fact

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

OUR WATER PROBLEM IS TOO COMPLICATED

that nobody seems to be concerned about it and that there is no wholistic plan of action to prevent it from happening,” he said.

When Metro Manila suffered water shortage, there were those who suggested establishing the Department of Water and Water Resources. But when La Mesa Dam was filled with water after a heavy rain, the proposal was completely forgotten.

Just like climate change, the water crisis should be given much attention. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project, believes water problems will be right there with climate change as a threat to the human future.”

More importantly, higher global temperatures will worsen the current water problems.

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

The Philippines is not yet what hydrologists call a “water

stressed” nation. That label applies to a country whose annual water supplies drop below 1,700 cubic meters per person. When supplies drop below 1,000 cubic meters per person per year, the country faces water scarcity for all or part of the year.

While the country is still not “water stressed,” it already has areas suffering from water scarcity. Four river basins – Pampanga, Agno, Pasig-Laguna, and the island of Cebu – are experiencing water scarcity from time to time.

During summer months, many residents of Metro Manila – home to more than 10 million people – are coping with a “water supply crisis.” Metro Cebu in the Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao are already experiencing the same status.

Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Zamboanga were identified by a study done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1991 to be “water-critical areas.”

We need to solve our water problems now. Don’t just complain when there’s no water or when there’s too much water.

The problems are not the sole

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.” - STEPHEN FRY.

*******

By May 1 (Labor Day in the Philippines), the Chief Executive will be received by the POTUS (President of the United States) at the White House.

The DFA has not been drumbeating it as a state visit but Pinoys will likely ask why is it only now that PBBM was “invited” to Washington?

Every head of state is always elated when the POTUS rolls out the red carpet for his visitors.

This means that the visitor is a VIP who must be treated above the regular protocol and that a private audience always follows.

PBBM has been ignored for sometime by Joe Biden. In fact, even former PRRD was given the cold shoulder by Washington especially in the last two years of his

incumbency in Malacanang.

I think Washington “summoned” PBBM in relation to the EDCA relative to the Taiwan issue and the growing enmity between the US and China viz a vis the South China Sea.

Because the US needs to re-establish its military prominence and might in the Indo-Pacific, bigwigs like Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have made physical stops recently in Manila as a way of stressing this point to the Philippine government.

So, PBBM is going to Washington for the principal reason that Biden wants to placate him for accommodating the US position sans unnecessary fanfare.

For this “hospitable Pinoy gesture,” Biden should have reciprocal “gifts” that we hope do not approximate the alms given to beggars.

In the past, the Philippines has been at the losing end of US endowments, be it in tariff and trade agreements and more so in military assistance.

battle of water districts and government agencies. It’s a battle that everyone must help solve.

One of the reasons why the country experiences water crises from time to time is due to the fact that its forest cover has gone down to only six percent. Many of our watersheds have been denuded.

Watersheds constitute about 75% of the total land area of the Philippines. “Our country has a total of 119 proclaimed and 154 priority watersheds,” the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) said.

Aside from water, watersheds also provide vital resources like soil, forest range, wildlife and minerals.

“Without trees in the forests and mountains, our rivers and creeks will run dry and agriculture will be adversely affected,” Piñol said. “While we virtually drown in floodwaters during the typhoon season, we suffer from water shortage after only two or three months of drought. This is simply because we have not even considered the adoption of a national water management and conservation program.”

BIDEN TO WELCOME PBBM

Manila was the city worst destroyed during the Second World War and yet it was Japan whom the US wholly helped to get back on its feet.

Where are we today compared to the country of the rising sun?

Pinoys should be scared that the minute some Chinese idiot presses the button, the Philippines is already a target where all the EDCA sites are located.

By now, Pinoys know that the increasing American military presence in the Philippines commits the country to a war not of its own making.

Maybe some of us are just feeling freaky but the EDCA is not a joke anymore.

Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the senate foreign relations committee, recently grilled DND chief Carlito Galvez in a panel probing the EDCA situation.

Galvez stammered and could not find the right words to fully explain what EDCA is all about, especially the new sites chosen to pre-position US military equip-

ment and other stuff said to be geared to address natural disasters and calamities..

Sen. Imee retorted: “I am not satisfied” in relation to all the kilometric sentences Galvez uttered during the forum.

Biden and his Washington rah-rah boys will attempt to “drown” PBBM with “amenities” like a kid expecting a huge lifelike Teddy bear as a great Christmas present from his “ninong.”

Aside from a “royal” treatment, PBBM’s visit might also be exploited by Biden’s political operators to help improve the former’s very low survey ratings as the run up to the 2024 presidential election season begins to heat up.

The US embarassing withdrawal from Afghanistan (and the Taliban take-over of billions of dollars worth of military equipment left behind in Kabul and elsewhere) is a major issue the comebacking ex-president Donald Trump is employing to stress the failed Biden administration and its mismanagement of Amer-

Water is more precious than oil. It’s even more sparkling than gold. “Water, not oil, is the most precious fluid in our lives, the substance from which all life on the earth has sprung and continues to depend,” wrote Maryann Bird in a Time article.

Only 2.5% of the water that covers over 70% of the earth’s surface is considered fresh water. And only 1.3% is available for human use since most of the freshwater is trapped in glaciers, ice sheets, and mountainous areas.

“There is no more water on earth now than there was 2,000 years ago,” reminds the US National Wildlife Federation. “This limited supply of freshwater must meet the needs of a human population that has tripled in the last century and continues to grow at almost 80 million people per year.”

“Everyone agrees water is basic for life,” wrote Juan Mercado in his widely-read column some years back. “When cisterns go dry, disease and death rates surge. That ushers in economic decay – and political instability. Water riots can be ugly. And no one has yet invented a substitute for water.”

ican foreign policy.

Personally, I think the US is looking at the Philippines and the EDCA as a great opportunity to save face and re-affirm to its allies around the world that it remains still the number one superpower in this planet.

In this circumstance, PBBM could find himself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Nowhere to turn to, nowhere to pivot even if he has expressed the country’s foreign policy that it is a “friend to all and enemy to none.”

PBBM cannot say that to XI Jin Ping anymore, even in a friendly whisper.

Look at how intrepid and shameless the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines has become, warning us about the fate of OFWs in Taiwan if something goes awry.

PBBM should send him back to Beijing where he naturally belongs. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

Now, if you want strawberries and glamping in one area, then don’t miss going to Taglucop Strawberry Hills (TSH) in barangay Lorega, Kitaotao in Bukidnon. Nestled in the Marilog District, it is about a two-hour ride from Ecoland Terminal in Davao City. The travel time is less if you have your own vehicle.

The owners – Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop and his wife, Jenny – originally intended the farm as a place where they could have a vacation from the busy schedules and business they have in Davao City.

But his children wanted to experience strawberry picking just like those in La Trinidad. And so the couple decided to plant strawberries on their farm.

His wife, Jenny, posted some photos in her social media account of the strawberries the farm produced while the children were busy picking the fruits. Before the couple knew it, people were starting to flock the farm. As

STRAWBERRY PICKING AND GLAMPING IN ONE

by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

the farm was far from the town proper, visitors who came to pick strawberries also requested food. Fortunately, Jenny is a good cook.

Then the time came when the visitors also requested for a place to sleep as the place was very far from Davao City. And so, the scenic glamping site came into existence.

The rate per night is pricey but it’s worth it. You get to spend in geodesic dome tents that look like they were imported from a Hollywood sci-fi flick. These tents have all the comforts you long for:

power, comfy beds, hot-and-cold shower, and an outdoor jacuzzi. We stayed in a tent that resembles an igloo with an outdoor swimming pool.

There are several things you and your friends can do if you stay in one of the domes. You can sit by the fire and share stories. Or, you can watch the sunset and be amazed by the beauty of the surroundings. At night, you can gaze at the stars and wonder how far or near the clouds are.

To avoid overcrowding, only

six guests are allowed per tent. Don’t worry about what to eat in the morning. A free mouth-watering breakfast is already included in the package.

In the morning, visitors can do strawberry picking at its 1.5 hectare farm not far from the glamping area. It’s about a 10-minute walk.

“Guests can pick strawberries at our strawberry field for a fee as part of the activities that can be done at the resort,” Atty. Taglucop said. “For the experience, they pay P650 per basket.”

Before they do strawberry picking, guests and visitors are oriented first on how to harvest the fruits. “The plant will be damaged if harvesting is not properly done,” he explained. “Some guests would just pull the berries and the plants all together, uprooting and damaging the strawberry plant. This explains why picking is more expensive than buying harvested fresh strawberries.

They are actually paying for the experience.”

When it comes to strawberries, nothing is wasted as the Taglucops make them into different products: ice wine, pure strawberry jam, strawberry juice, strawberry shake, chocolate truffles with dried strawberry inside, strawberry trifle, strawberry chocolate fondue, strawberry panna cotta, burnt strawberry cheesecake, strawberry salad dressing and strawberry toron.

Other products they produce from strawberries are strawberry soap, strawberry lotion, and strawberry recovery set.

“We did not actually plant strawberries with profit for business in mind,” Atty. Taglucop pointed out. “It was just a hobby and a joy for the family until it morphed into a worthwhile business enterprise. We paid for our tuition, so to speak, before we learned how to make our farm sustainable.”

Put “glamorous” and “camping” together, and you have glamping, a style of camping with amenities.

UNIQLO opens its fourth roadside store in the Marikina neighborhood

Japanese global apparel retailer

UNIQLO opens its fourth roadside store, UNIQLO Marquinton Roadside, on April 28, 2023. UNIQLO’s roadside stores offers customers a one-stop shopping experience, making LifeWear more accessible to the people of Marikina. Located along Sumulong Highway, the store offers an 833 square meter space offering a wide variety of items for men, women, kids, and babies.

Marikina is the ideal place for UNIQLO to set up its newest roadside store, with the area known for its vibrant crafting industry and being a bike-friendly community. The Marquinton Roadside Store aims to be part of this local community, with its idyllic location in close proximity to residential communities and local businesses.

The store is Persons With Disability (PWD) friendly with entry ramps for easier access to customers, as well as having a PWD-friendly fitting room. The store highlights unique features fit for the area, such as a 1-meter elevation. Moreover, this store is made more accessible for the neighborhood with its 70 parking slots and an outdoor area decked with benches and bike racks, fit for the city’s bike-friendly atmosphere.

Staying true to its commitment to be part of the Marikina community, the store also features the Good Neighborhood guide, highlighting homegrown businesses and unique spots for both locals and customers to explore in the proximity of the store’s area.

“UNIQLO aims to be one with the community wherever we are. Here at our Marquinton Roadside Store, we aim to be an integral part of the Marikina community and serve the needs of our customers in the East of Metro Manila, offering them better access to their favorite LifeWear items,” says UNIQLO Philippines’ Chief Operating Officer Ikezoe Osamu.

THE UNIQLO MARQUINTON ROADSIDE STORE

UNIQLO is celebrating the launch of the Marquinton Roadside Store by putting the spotlight on these popular items for the season.

Men’s DRY-EX Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Made from recycled plastic bottles, this t-shirt is comfortable and highly functional with its quick-drying technology, Cool Touch, and odor control functions. Its comfy fit and colors make this item suitable for active sports or for casual wear.

Item is available at PHP 590.00 from PHP 790.00

EXCLUSIVE STORE OPENING PROMOS AND ACTIVITIES

Customers who shop from April 28 to 30 can enjoy treats from the Marquinton Roadside Store’s community partners. For every Php 3,000 minimum single-purchase receipt, UNIQLO offers freebies and discount vouchers from their local community partners:

• Get a free dessert / beverage voucher from Pan de Amerikana, valid for dine-in and take out transactions

• 10% discount voucher at Inarawan Coffee, valid for dine-in and take out transactions

• 10% discount voucher at The Attic Yarn & Craftery for in-house brand items

• Php 150 discount on all packages at Klick Self-Shoot Studio

In addition, customers can get a free limited edition UNIQLO tumbler with a Php 3,000 minimum single-purchase receipt.

For more updates on the latest collection, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at uniqlo.com/ph. You can also download the UNIQLO APP via Google Play Store or Apple Store to experience the benefits of UNIQLO shopping anytime and anywhere, including the click and collect and self checking of inventory features.

Follow UNIQLO Philippines’ social media accounts, Facebook (facebook. com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/ uniqloph), and Instagram (instagram. com/uniqlophofficial).

Animal Nutrition Summit puts the spotlight on young animal nutrition, digital technologies as key to farmer prosperity

Manila, Philippines — Connecting farmers, producers, customers and consumers in support of the future of the swine industry, Cargill Philippines, along with the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc (NatFed) and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork) held the Animal Nutrition Summit at Solaire Resort and Casino.

The summit, themed “Feeding the Future,” included a range of presentations and panel discussions on subjects such as animal nutrition, disease management, and digital technologies. Given the ongoing outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) that has severely affected the local hog industry, Cargill recommends to Filipino producers a holistic approach to mitigating the impact of the virus and forging a long-term plan for the future of the local swine industry.

“At the heart of Cargill’s efforts is the goal to help farmers thrive amidst challenges like ASF. We empower Filipino farmers with tailored solutions and knowledge to raise pigs because healthy animals perform better,” said Sonny Catacutan, Country President of Cargill Philippines and Managing Director for Cargill’s animal nutrition business. “It is our belief that the nutrition provided to animals during the early stages of their life significantly impacts their health, growth, and viability. As a growth partner, we are committed to enabling farmers and providing them with the tools to get the foundation right to improve animal well-being and farm productivity.”

The event also features industry experts and stakeholders from all over the world to discuss the most recent swine technologies as well as global best management practices

foodpanda’s instant padala service pandago now available nationwide

for improving farm profitability in the transition to the new normal.

“The Animal Nutrition Summit and Hog Conference are events that are essential to the growth and development of the industry. We are happy that companies such as Cargill, as well as industry organizations are making such efforts to help our local hog business owners and farmers improve operations and profitability with new knowledge, insights and technologies that are essential as we move forward with recovery,” shared Chester Tan, NatFed President, and Nonon Tambago.

Among the solutions highlighted at the summit is Neopigg, a Cargill global brand for young animal nutrition, which incorporates Cargill technologies that ensure 80% Class AB piglets at 70 days, resulting in increased profitability. Neopigg nutrition solutions are designed to help piglets start strong, power through weaning, and transition smoothly into the grower-finisher phase.

Cargill, along with its industry partners, remains committed to fostering a sustainable future for Filipino hog farmers. The guiding principle of providing the right feed for the right animal at the right time is at the core of their efforts.

“As Cargill gears up to mark its 75th year of operations in the Philippines, we recognize our unique role in connecting and bringing stakeholders together to support the local swine industry. We are committed to accelerating efforts to create more value for farmers and build a more sustainable future,” Catacutan concluded.

If you’re looking for a reliable yet affordable delivery service to send your packages, then foodpanda has got you covered! Beyond delivering its app users’ food and grocery needs, foodpanda is now rolling out its latest on-demand service, pandago, where you can enjoy a convenient and affordable delivery service for your personal or business needs.

“As the country’s leading online food and grocery platform, we want to take a step further and also provide Filipinos the convenience of having items such as documents, gifts, and packages delivered to their family and friends — with the same easy-to-use convenience that our foodpanda users are accustomed to when ordering their favorite food from their favorite restaurants,” said Patricia Jacinto, operations director of foodpanda Philippines. “This is also part of our continued efforts to expand our services and operations to meet the growing demand of both consumers and businesses.”

“Coming from a successful initial run in Davao and Cabanatuan, we wanted to bring this to our customers nationwide, so they can make use of pandago’s effortless and reliable on-demand delivery service any time of the day and anywhere they are in the country,” Jacinto added.

Putting a premium on speed, safety and security With pandago, users can have their packages safely delivered 24/7 within a short amount of time. Now, you no longer have to worry about long package deliveries as urgent deliveries can be done with just a simple tap on the app. Using pandago is easy: just input your pick-up and drop off location. Proof of pick-up and delivery is also available on the app so you can monitor and get on top of the condi-

tion of your package.

Take advantage of another convenient feature using pandago – a real-time tracking function that provides updates on delivery status. This gives you the security and assurance of knowing where your package is currently at.

In cases of lost, stolen or damaged packages, pandago also offers insurance coverage for your items. But there’s no cause for worry because with foodpanda’s extensive fleet of highly-trained delivery partners, you can be assured that your packages will be picked up and delivered safely.

Send it like a panda

Whether you’re sending items to your friends and family, shipping orders to your customers, or a buyer receiving your orders from online sellers, foodpanda’s pandago will help pick up and deliver your clothes, accessories, gadgets, toys, and more.

“With pandago, we strive to be the reliable app that can now deliver anything to anyone, even their packages, by offering a fast, convenient, and affordable instant package delivery service,” said Jacinto.

CASE... FROM 2 BARMM... FROM 2 TF... FROM 3 PROACTIVE...

According to Albao, Abdullah will be facing two rape cases following the appearance of the new victim.

“But meron pa siyang human trafficking and illegal possession of firearms,” he said.

The suspect was apprehended by authorites on Saturday.

“Nagdecide ako na magreport dito sa NBI-Davao kasi baka gawin ulit or baka mapatay na ako if magkita kami second time,” said Jane, the first victim.

Meanwhile, Albao confirmed that the suspect is a personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard assigned in Davao City for almost a year.

“The vehicle that he used was the same vehicle he used during his arrest and the same firearms that he used during the rape incident and the time during the rape incident,” he said.

The vehicle is under the custody of NBI-Davao as evidence as well as the firearms.

Albao said that the suspect might be related also to the series of rape incidents in Digos City and Bansalan in Davao del Sur.

“Somebody called me from Davao del Sur during the time of his arrest that this subject might also be related to the series of rape incidents in Digos City and Bansalan Davao del Sur. We are now conducting a thorough investigation with regards to if the same modus ba kasi firearms are being used,” he said.

JOBS... FROM 3

online or on-site while the interview will be conducted faceto-face or hybrid.

For questions or more details, applicants may visit the DOLE 11 Facebook page.

Coinciding with the celebration of the 121st Labor Day, DOLE 11 is also set to hold the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa” to honor Filipino workers and the awarding of government assistance to workers.

This year’s commemoration carries the theme, “Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino,” that focuses on the primary programs and services of the department to support the Filipino workforce.

By Maya M. Padillo

It also reminded the warring factions that the recent conclusion of the monthlong fasting period of Ramadan highlights the importance of unity, brotherhood, and peaceful coexistence.

Ameer Jehad Ambolodto, the provincial disaster risk reduction management officer, said many of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) have gone home but were forced to return to the evacuation centers again due to floodwaters caused by heavy rains.

On Tuesday, fighting between the MILF groups belonging to the 118th and 105th base commands waned after the mediation of military, police, and officials of the MILF ceasefire panel.

Government troops, backed by armored personnel carriers have been deployed in Barangays Dapiawan, Madia, and Elian to serve as peacekeepers. (PNA)

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“May critical period na wala masyado production. Assuming makalusot tayo na ma-weather natin lean months, next problem natin next year,” he added.

(There will be a critical period when we won’t have much production. Assuming we could weather the lean months, our next problem would be whether we could withstand the lean months again next year or not.)

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) chair Danilo Fausto, meanwhile, is calling on the government to allot a larger budget to the National Food Authority (NFA) so it could procure more rice for buffer stock. This, Fausto said, would be useful should a rice shortage occur.

“We need Congress. We are lobbying for P50 billion for NFA to give additional buffer stock. We cannot rely on just the executive. We need buffer [stock] for this happening El Niño. We are anticipating this because we don’t want to government to be reactive,” Fausto said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said they have been taking steps to address El Niño, which is projected to hit the country later this year.

Irrigation ranks lower in the hierarchy of priorities in case water needs to be reallocated.

The Bureau of Plant Industry also said they were developing climate-smart varieties to ensure crops can withstand climate change.

ernment and the Task Force Davao following the issuance of former Mayor Sara Duterte’s Executive Order No. 41, an Order Encouraging Dabawenyos to Adopt the Culture of Security as Part of their Way of Life.

All Dabawenyos are urged to put into practice the four acts of the culture of security - volunteer, report, remind, and participateas part of the effort, which aims to enhance peace and order and prevent all acts of terrorism in Davao City.

The “May Nakita? Dapat Magsalita!” campaign emphasizes vigilance and for the public to report suspicious individuals and activities immediately to the security units.

The campaign was already propagated among security and transport sectors, hotels, inns, and even in the religious sector.

PH... FROM 2

nized criminality.

“Without closer monitoring, giant clams could be depleted before the world even recognized the problem existed,” it warned. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)

BUTTLER... FROM 11

had 38 points and 20 rebounds for the Bucks, though he shot just 10 of 23 on free-throw attempts. Khris Middleton added 33 points.

Milwaukee led 102-86 after three quarters but shot just 5 of 25 from the floor in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Heat tied the game on two occasions late in the fourth quarter before Middleton made two free throws to put Milwaukee back ahead with 27.8 seconds left.

Then things really got interesting.

After calling a timeout, the Heat got the ball to Butler, whose 3-point attempt missed with 18 seconds left. Holiday made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to make it a four-point game, but Vincent’s 3-pointer cut the lead to one with 8.4 seconds left.

The Bucks had the ball in the backcourt when Holiday threw an errant pass that eluded Mid-

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we tread an increasingly competitive, volatile, and innovation-driven world,” she said.

Pangandaman delivered her keynote message to around 2,500 PAGBA members, composed of public fiscal practitioners from national government agencies, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), state colleges and universities and local government units.

The four-day PAGBA seminar will be held until April 29. (PNA)

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Board of Investments (BOI), support talent development initiatives by partnering with stakeholders, as well as providing fiscal incentives.

The DTI, along with the departments of education, information and communications technology, labor, and science and technology, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines, launched an inter-agency technical working group to support the growth of Filipino talents in the ITBPM sector.

“With the concerted efforts of all of us here and other stakeholders, we can develop a skilled, globally competitive workforce that will propel our ITBPM industry to greater heights,” Pascual said.

(PNA)

dleton. Miami’s Kyle Lowry initially was called for a foul as he chased the loose ball, but the Heat successfully challenged the call and it was ruled a jump ball.

Brook Lopez tipped the ball to Antetokounmpo, whose pass nearly went out of bounds before Middleton saved it to Holiday. After getting fouled with 2.1 seconds left, Holiday missed his first free throw before sinking the second to make it 118-116.

After the Heat called timeout, Vincent stood in front of the Bucks bench and threw an inbounds pass to Butler, who was waiting under the basket to make the tying score.

TIP-INS

Heat: Udonis Haslem picked up a technical foul from the Heat bench after exchanging words with Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis during a second-quarter timeout. … Erik Spoelstra earned his 100th career playoff coaching victory. The 100th win enabled him to tie Larry Brown for fifth place on the all-time list Spoelstra’s 99 wins put him in a tie for sixth with Red Auerbach. … The Heat improved to 3-1 in postseason series against the Bucks. The Heat won first-round series in 2013 and 2020 and lost a first-round series in 2021.

MORANT... FROM 11

The Los Angeles center finished with 31 points and 19 rebounds. Game 6 in the series will take place in Los Angeles on Friday.

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tend the amount of contribution that its members have. He said the agency also needs to ensure very good investment returns.

“As far as we are concerned, we are making very good returns,” he added.

Under the recently signed agreement between GSIS and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the former’s investment in global infrastructure projects will cover transport, energy and digitalization.

GIP, founded in 2006 and based in New York City, is a leading global independent infrastructure fund manager that administers USD87 billion in assets on behalf of its investor base.

It seeks to invest in power and utilities, natural resources infrastructure, air transport infrastructure, seaports, freight railroad, water distribution and treatment, and waste management.

The firm works in partnership with public sector co-investors and stakeholders to deliver improvements in infrastructure. As the largest owner of private airports, GIP has particularly cemented its position as the leading British airport operator transforming London’s City and Gatwick airports and Scotland’s Edinburg airport into highly profitable and comfortable terminals. (PNA)

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recognize and give awards to Filipinos whom they call “trailblazers on intellectual property.”

Among them are three fashion designers who created wearable collections using Philippine textiles. (PNA)

MISSION...

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Inc. (PCA) led by their chief executive officer Faisal Khan leaves for Cambodia on Thursday, April 27. Six-a-side captain Jennifer Olmillo Alumbro, and T10 captain Simranjeet Figuerra Sirah will also be among the athletes to banner the squad. This will be just the second time cricket will be played in the SEAG since it was introduced in the 2017 edition of the biennial competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Members of the National Sailing team composed of Josa Gonzales, Ronelio Castelio, Teogenes Villando, and Jeanson Lumapas and Philippine Windsurfers who left last April 18 were among the early departures.

The sailing team won 3 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze in the 2019 edition, while the windsurfing team got 2 golds and 1 silver.

Both events were not played during the 2022 edition in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Meanwhile, national teams of hockey, triathlon, and volleyball will leave along with a few PSC support staff this Saturday, April 29.

Morant keeps Grizzlies alive as Lakers beaten

MEMPHIS -- Ja Morant led a superb second half rally as the Memphis Grizzlies kept their NBA playoff campaign alive with a 116-99 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Memphis, down 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference series after defeat in game four, looked to be in control after opening up a 17-point lead in the first half in front of their

Butler

drops

raucous home fans at the FedEx Forum.

But the hosts appeared to be wobbling in the third quarter after the Lakers rallied at the start of the second half to close

to within a point of Memphis at 75-74. Yet that was the cue for Morant to lead a devastating 19-2 run to close the third quarter that effectively sealed victory for the Grizzlies, who led 94-76 heading into the fourth.

Morant finished with 31 points and 10 assists from 13of-26 shooting while Desmond Bane led the Memphis scoring with 33 points.

Afterwards Morant said the Grizzlies had been inspired by their loud home crowd.

“This is our home floor, our home crowd and we feed off their energy. This is who we do it for,” Morant said. “Coming out here and protecting home floor is something we take pride in and something we plan to continue to do.”

The Lakers, meanwhile, were left chasing the game after

a rare off night from James. The Lakers superstar – the hero of Monday’s epic gamefour win in Los Angeles – finished with just 15 points from 5-of-17 shooting, with just one three-pointer from nine attempts. With James struggling to get going, it was left to Anthony Davis to keep the Lakers in the hunt.

42 as Heat rally again to win in OT, eliminate top-seeded Bucks

MILWAUKEE — Jimmy Butler scored 42 points and the Miami Heat staged a second straight stunning fourth-quarter rally before winning 128-126 in overtime on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time) in Game 5 to complete an upset of the top-seeded Bucks in their Eastern Conference firstround playoff series.

Two nights after outscoring the Bucks 30-13 in the final six minutes of a 119-115 victory in Miami, the Heat produced another huge comeback and tied the game on Butler’s layup with half a second left in regulation.

Miami went on to become the sixth No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed. The last time it happened was in 2012, when a Philadelphia 76ers team featuring current Bucks guard

Jrue Holiday capitalized on Derrick Rose’s knee injury to beat the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

The Heat advanced to a second-round series with the fifth-seeded New York Knicks, who completed their 4-1 series win over the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier Wednesday. Game

1 is Sunday in New York.

Bam Adebayo put the Heat ahead for good by dunking in a putback of Butler’s missed driving layup attempt with 4:44 left in overtime. The Bucks trailed 128-126 and had the ball in the closing seconds, but the clock ran out before Grayson Allen could take a shot as he drove to the basket.

Adebayo had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Gabe Vincent added 22 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

FBUTLER, P10

Jimmy Butler scored 42 points in Game 5. He had 56 in Game 4.

Ja Morant finished with 31 points and 10 assists from 13-of-26 shooting.

FMORANT, P10

PSC backs early departures to Cambodia MISSION STARTS

Keeping to his promise of support during the send-off ceremony for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games delegation last Monday, President Bongbong Marcos’ administration, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), is shouldering major expenses of early departures to the biennial event, like the members of the national chess and cricket teams who leave for Cambodia eight days ahead of the official opening ceremony on May 5.

Asia’s first Chess Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Janelle Frayna will lead the 11-man Filipino woodpushers as they compete in ouk chaktrang event of the Cambodia games to be hosted by the city of Phnom Penh.

Ouk Chaktrang is a Cambodian chess variant introduced

by the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee for the 32nd edition of the biennial meet. In the previous Hanoi SEA Games last year, the national chess team garnered 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.

Aside from chess, the Philippine Cricket Association,

The first wave of Philippine athletes eave for Cambodia eight days prior to opening day. PSC

FMISSION, P10