Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 325 | Tuesday, May 9, 2023

ONLINE SCAM ALERT

More people in Davao Region fall prey to online scams: RACU 11

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Despite lessons from past scams and constant warnings, more people in the Davao Region are victimized by online scams, according to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 11 (RACU 11).

RACU 11 chief Police Colonel Ricardo A. Punzalan said on Monday that based on their record more people are being victimized by some scammers asking for money through Facebook Messenger.

“Online scam through the use

of messenger sa Facebook. Nagiging biktima ang ating mga kaibigan akala mo nagte-text sayo ang ka chat mo kaibigan mo and will ask a favor for you to send money. Magpapadala whether P5,000 o P2,000. Base sa inyong conversation akala mo kaibigan

Filipino families who rate themselves as ‘poor’ steady at 51%: SWS survey

mo siya, ang isang isyu dito ay na hack ang account,” he said during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

He advised the public to think first before sending money to people they chatted with on messenger.

“Kaya pag isipan nyo muna ng mabuti kung sino ba talaga yung padadalhan ninyo ng pera o yung tao na kausap niyo kaibigan niyo ba talaga. Sayang din yung perang

FONLINE, P10

PSA registers 78.49-M

Filipinos for National ID

Half of all Filipino families described themselves as poor in March 2023—a finding barely changed from December 2022, according to a Social Weather Stations survey.

In a statement released on Sunday, the polling organization said the survey conducted from March 26 to 29, 2023 found that 51% of families self-rated as poor, while 30% rated themselves as “borderline,” and 19% rated themselves as not poor.

Some 14.0 million families self-rated as poor in March 2023, compared to 12.9 million families for the same percentage in the December poll. “To arrive at the estimated numbers of Self-Rated Poor families, the percentage of respondent households rating themselves as poor was applied to the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2023 and 2022, respectively,” SWS explained.

rose from 32% in December to 40%; in the Visayas, the percentage rose from 58% to 65%.

In Balance Luzon, the percentage fell from 49% to 43%, while in Mindanao the percentage was statistically steady, going from 59% to 62%.

Borderline and not poor

The percentage of Filipino families who rate themselves on the borderline did not statistically change in three regions, going from 29% to 26% in Metro Manila; 30% to 32% in Balance Luzon; and 30% to 33% in Mindanao. In the Visayas, the percentage fell to 26% from 34%.

Families who rate themselves as “not poor” rose in Balance Luzon from 20% to 25%; fell to 33% from 39% in Metro Manila; dropped to 6% from 11% in Mindanao; and remained steady in the Visayas at 9%.

SRP threshold, SRP gap

T

he Philippine Statistics Authority has registered a total of 78.49 million Filipinos for its national identification (ID) project as of May 8, 2023.

Fred Sollesta, PSA PhilSys Registry Office OIC and Deputy National Statistician, said that of

that number, the PSA has generated 74.19 million PhilSys Numbers (PSN), which is a unique and randomly-generated 12-digit permanent identification number assigned to every citizen or resident alien upon successful registration to PhilSys. He said

the PSA is planning to finish the creation of digital credentials and PSNs of registered Filipinos by end of May or early June.

The PSA has printed 37 million national IDs, of which 29.84 million have been delivered by

FPSA, P10

The steady percentage in the “self-rated poor” figure nationwide is the result of increases in the National Capital Region and the Visayas, a decline in Balance Luzon (Luzon outside of Metro Manila), and steady numbers in Mindanao, SWS said.

In Metro Manila, families who rated themselves as poor

In Metro Manila, the self-rated poverty (SRP) threshold— the “minimum monthly budget self-rated poor families say they need for home expenses in order not to consider themselves poor”—rose to P20,000 in March 2023 from P15,000 in December 2022.

In other areas, the SRP threshold remained steady:

FFILIPINO, P10

Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Magno meets Agusan del Norte Board Member Dick Victor Carmona over the weekend. Carmona presented to Sec. Magno his plan for the province to have a Korean Farmwork Seasonal Program, which aims to help Filipino farmers gain knowledge by sending them to South Korea to work at the farming and fishing villages for five to eight months. OPAMINE

City targets more tourists as ecotourism destination

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Summit for barangay solid waste management awaiting approval

The planned Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Summit that will gather Davao City’s 182 barangay leaders is now in the City Mayor’s Office for approval, according to Councilor Tek Ocampo.

“Ang himoon nato dinhi tapokon nato ang mga barangay leaders sa Davao City that will be composed of the barangay captains and kagawad purposely for the discussion on solid waste management, segregation, etc,” Ocampo said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

Ocampo, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said part of the mandate of the city government of Davao is to establish a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) within each of the barangay.

“Kay ang Department of Local and Interior Government (DILG) gaingon that it will make an inventory sa mga barangay nga aktibo on solid waste management. Part man gud sa mandato nato sa barangay dapat duna ta’y ginatawag na Materials Recovery Facility within the barangay pero dili

gyud matuman sa halos tanan,” Ocampo said.

During the summit, plans and proposed solutions on how to improve solid waste management in Davao City will be tackled.

“With the summit muhatag ang mga agencies concerned ug solusyon. We are praying and hoping that it will be approved within this year, the latest will be the last quarter of this year mapatuman na kay problem gyud ta sa basura.

Kinahanglan nato magtinabangay ug mapasabot sa matag barangay kung unsa ang ilahang role in terms of the solid waste management,” Ocampo said. He said Davao City is generating 700 to 800 tons of waste per day, which increases to 900 to 1,000 tons during events in the city.

The city’s existing sanitary landfill is expected to reach full capacity this year.

Meanwhile, the city’s proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) project is still up for final approval by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“We are also waiting for the

The city government of Davao is eyeing to attract more tourists as a destination for ecotourism. Councilor Tek Ocampo, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the City Council, along with Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, chair of the Committee on Tourism and Beautification, continue surveying the area of Paquibato District, which has the potential for ecotourism sites.

“Upon the instruction of the city mayor nagatuyok ta sa matag area sa Davao City specially sa far flung areas nangita mi ug ecotourism sites and nagstart mi sa Paquibato District. Ang target nato

Davao City will not only be known for Eden Nature Park, Malagos or Philippine Eagle, but it will also be known for our natural resources nga nindot kaayo,” Ocampo said over Davao City Disaster Radio

(DCDR) on Monday.

With the establishment of ecotourism sites, Davao City will be able to attract more tourists, generate more jobs and establish more flights.

“Nganong gibuhat ni sa atong mayor? Unsa man atong mahatag sa turista sa Davao? Gamay na lang ang atoang mga tourism spots. Medyo kulang ta ug ma offer for promotion. We need more to attract more tourists and generate more jobs and if daghan foreigners interesado muanhi diri, we will have

LTO to launch digital driver’s license soon

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to launch soon a digital driver’s license that will serve as alternative to the physical card.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the electronic version of a driver’s license can be accessed through a “super app” developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology

(DICT).

“The advantage of the digital license is that motorists can present it to law enforcement officers during apprehension. It is equivalent to presenting the physical driver’s license,” Tugade said in a news release issued Monday. It did not say exactly when the digital version would be made available and implemented.

With the electronic version, the public will have an alternative aside from the official receipt (OR) as temporary driver’s license, amid the shortage of plastic cards used for the printing of a driver’s license, Tugade said.

Apart from the digital driver’s license, Tugade said the “super app” can be used for other trans-

FLTO, P10 FSUMMIT, P10

Councilor Tek Ocampo, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the City Council, says the planned Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Summit that will gather Davao City’s 182 barangay leaders is just waiting for the approval of Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Lean Daval Jr.

Expert cites vital role of infra in bringing down food prices

An economic development expert and member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) policy-making Monetary Board (MB) recognizes the vital role of infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” program in bringing down prices of food products, the primary driver of high inflation.

This, as risks to the inflation outlook remain tilted toward the upside amid potential transport fare increases, wage adjustments, and pressures from food prices even as El Niño is expected to hit the country starting by the second half of the year.

In an interview on the sidelines of a business journalism seminar hosted by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines in Clark, Pampanga on Saturday, MB member Bruce Tolentino said the country needs to invest more in infrastructure to

manage the El Niño risks.

“We can actually manage the impacts if we know the weather patterns well in advance enough so that if there is a drought in one area, we can increase the irrigation in that area. That’s an investment in irrigation and water management,” he said.

Tolentino said the infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” program is also “very important” in taking down middlemen, particularly in agrifood supply chains.

“Kung walang (if there is

FEXPERT, P10

Globe inks P5.4B tower deal with Unity Digital

Globe Telecom has signed a P5.4 billion sale and leaseback agreement with Unity Digital Infrastructure, for 447 towers, the telco disclosed to the stock market on Monday.

Unity is a partnership between Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) and Partners Group, Globe added.

“The tower assets consist of 84 percent ground-based

towers and 16 percent rooftop towers. The sale comes with a commitment to build over 200 towers across Visayas and/or Mindanao,” the Ayala-led telco said.

The company said the towers, which are all located in Luzon, will be leased back to Globe for an initial period of 15 years.

“Signing this agreement

NEDA chief says review on e-vehicles EO to focus on inclusion of e-motorcycles

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday the agency would focus on the possible inclusion of electric motorcycles in the import tariff exemption.

This as the NEDA was tasked to review the Marcos administration’s Executive Order No. 12, which temporarily modifies the rates of import duty on electric vehicles, parts, and components.

the country.”

Under the said EO, various electric vehicles and their components received lower tariff rates from the previous 5 to 30% to now 0% import duty, with the exception of e-motorcycles as they are excluded from the tariff suspension and are still subject to 30 percent import duty.

The EO will be subject to review one year from its implementation pursuant to the provisions of the issuance.

with Unity is consistent with our endeavor to promote capital efficiency and prudence in our transactions. We keep our shareholders and customers’ welfare in mind by finding the right balance of funding sources and transformational projects designed to steer the company towards the digital forefront,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe’s Chief Finance Officer.

“The inclusion of e-motorcycles in the import tariff incentives will take center stage once the mandatory review of Executive Order No.12 series of 2023 takes effect nine months from now,” Balisacan said in a statement.

The NEDA expressed hope that the possible inclusion of e-motorcycles would “help Filipinos choose sustainable means of transportation while introducing a green industry for the majority of motorists in

The EO is expected “to support the transition to emerging technologies, and encourage consumers to consider electric vehicles as a cleaner and greener transportation option.”

It cited Republic Act NO. 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, which declared it a state policy to ensure the country’s energy security and independence by reducing the reliance on imported fuel for the transportation sector.

A vendor display fresh chicken eggs at a stall inside Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Philippine egg producers said egg prices across the country decreased due to an oversupply of the product. Lean Daval Jr.

PH unemployment rate dips to 4.7 pct in March

Economist sees GDP growth at 6% in Q1

The Philippine economy likely grew by 6 percent in the first quarter of the year, mainly driven by consumer spending, according to an economist.

In a report, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said lower individual tax rates starting January this year as part of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law may have led to increased consumer spending, which accounts for at least 75 percent of the economy.

Under the TRAIN law, taxpayers earning more than PHP250,000 a year but not more than PHP8 million will have 15 percent to 30 percent income tax rates, down from the previous 20 percent to 32 percent.

Ricafort said the further reopening of the economy also led to increased sales.

“Measures to reopen the economy towards greater normalcy that led to increased sales overshadowed the risks of higher prices, higher interest rates amid aggressive Fed (Federal Reserve) rate hikes as well as local policy

The number of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos improved in March while employed individuals declined during the period, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday showed.

rate hikes in recent months, relatively weaker peso exchange rate especially compared to early 2022, and risk of recession in the US, which is the world’s largest economy, that could slow down global economic recovery in terms of some slowdown in global trade, investments, remittances, employment, and other economic activities worldwide,” he said.

Ricafort’s forecast, however, was slower than the 8.2 percent gross domestic product (GDP) expansion recorded in the first quarter of 2022.

He said that while the Philippine economy has already been back to pre-pandemic levels, offsetting challenges remain.

These include the higher inflation which settled at 6.6 percent as of April this year, higher global and local interest rates that led to higher borrowing costs, and risk of recession in the US.

Ricafort said other possible drivers of economic growth include overseas Filipino workers remittances, good employment and unemployment rate, manu-

The number of employed Filipinos stood at 48.58 million, reflecting a 216,000 decline from 48.80 million the previous month, but higher than the 46.98 million in the same month last year.

While there was a drop in the magnitude, the employment rate improved to 95.3% in March from

95.2% in February, and 94.2% in the comparable period in 2022.

This comes as the Labor Force Participation Rate declined to 66.0% from 66.6% in February, but increased from 65.4% last March.

There were 2.42 million unemployed Filipinos in March,

translating to an unemployment rate of 4.7%. This is lower than the 2.47 million unemployed individuals in February when the unemployment rate was 4.8%, and the 2.88 million in March 2022 with the rate of 5.8%.

Underemployed Filipinos were recorded at 5.44 million, translating to an underemployment rate of 11.2%. This is lower than the 6.29 million or 12.9% in February, and the 7.42 million or 15.8% last March, and is the lowest since April 2005.

Egg producers lament decline in egg prices amid oversupply

Philippine egg producers are lamenting the recent drop in egg prices across the country, as they are not able to recuperate their operating costs and expenses amid an oversupply of their product.

According to the Philippine Egg Board Association, they are now in a shortfall as farmgate prices are reported at P4.83 per piece, but they spend P4.93, covering expenses such as poultry feeds.

For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is looking at assisting the

local industry in exporting the excess supply to markets such as Taiwan and nearby countries, similar to what was done in April.

“Last month, meron na tayong mga na-export na (we exported) 3.24 million eggs, and we are looking at ‘yung repeat order ba,” DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said.

The DA said it is also coordinating with the local restaurant and baking industry for them to procure the eggs. It is also looking at ways to lower feed prices, along with vaccination against

bird flu to boost exports.

Philippine Egg Board Association Chairman Gregorio San Diego noted, however, that requirements for them to export are quite difficult to meet.

“Actually, medyo mahirap ang aming requirements — kukuha ka ng certification na walang bird flu, ‘yung sa mga salmonella,” he said in the same report.

(Actually, our requirements are quite difficult — you have to get a certification that there is no bird flu, and another for salmonella.)

Ironworkers work on the steel beams and girders of a buildin along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City on Monday. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the number of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos improved in March while employed individuals declined during the period. Lean Daval Jr.

Bi virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57, issued in 1999, we celebrate the month of May as the Month of the Ocean. In contrast, the United Nations declares every June as the ocean month.

The PP 57 states: “Coastal and marine resources provide both economic and ecological benefits, such as food, livelihood, recreation and other services, as well as biodiversity, aesthetic value, and shoreline protection.”

While there is only one global ocean, the vast body of water that covers 71% of the Earth is geographically divided into distinct named regions.

When we were still in college, there were only four oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. In recent years, however, most countries – including the United States – now recognize the Southern (Antarctic) as the fifth ocean.

We are more familiar with the Pacific Ocean since our country is near it. A portion of the Pacific Ocean is located at the Philippine Sea, a section of the western North Pacific Ocean, lying east and north of the Philippines.

“The floor of this portion of the ocean is formed into a structural basin by a series of geologic folds and faults that protrude above the surface in the form of bordering island arcs,” the Encyclopedia Britannica states.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on earth. “To get a sense of just how immense the Pacific Ocean is, you could put all the Earth’s landmass together, and the Pacific would still be larger,” National Geographic said.

Since the dawn of life on earth, oceans have been the ecological keel of the biosphere. But their seminal contribution to the planet was life itself. Scientists believe

OCEANS IN DEEP TROUBLE

that the very organisms were bacteria that developed in the depths of the seas some four billion years ago. These were the evolutionary forerunners of all subsequent organisms, and helped create the conditions under which life as it is now known could evolve.

“Only around one-tenth of 115 million square miles of the seafloor has been explored and charted,” wrote Donald Hinrichsen, an award-winning journalist and author of Coastal Waters of the World: Trends, Threats, and Strategies.

Some marine scientists estimated that the seafloor alone may contain up to 10 million species, the majority of them undiscovered.

“But no one knows for sure,” Hinrichsen pointed out. “The ocean is our last great frontier.”\

But this “last great frontier” is not spared from destruction. Thanks to the continuous emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases don’t only accumulate in the atmosphere, causing climate change, but they also sink into the seafloor causing the waters to acidify.

According to scientists, between 25% and 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions over the industrial period have been absorbed by the world’s oceans, thus preventing atmospheric carbon dioxide buildup from becoming worse.

“Two hundred years ago, the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean was around 200 ppm (parts per million). Now it is nearly 400 ppm.

If people continue their business as usual, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC)… predicts that it will be more than 500 ppm at the end of the century,” explained Dr. Edgardo Gomez, the founding director of the University of the Phil-

ippines Marine Science Institute.

The acidification, Dr. Gomez added, may be gradual but would happen simultaneously all over the world. He warned that it would be worse than the acidification of agricultural lands due to the use of chemical fertilizers.

“Land is more manageable. With the use of organic fertilizer and chemicals, land can easily recover. But once the ocean becomes acidic, it would take millions of years to bring back their natural (state),” Dr. Gomez said.

According to a study which appeared in the journal Science, the current acidification may be worse than during four major mass extinctions in history when natural pulses of carbon from asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions caused global temperatures to soar.

“We know that life during past ocean acidification events was not wiped out – new species evolved to replace those that died off,” noted Dr. Barbel Honisch, a paleoceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and lead author of the study. “But if carbon emissions continue at the current pace, we may lose organisms we care about – coral reefs, oysters, salmon.”

Dr. Honisch and colleagues said the current rate of ocean acidification is at least 10 times faster than it was 56 million years ago. “The geological record suggests that the current acidification is potentially unparalleled in at least the last 300 million years of Earth history, and raises the possibility that we are entering an unknown territory of marine ecosystem change,” said co-author Dr. Andy Ridgwell of Bristol University.

As made clear by the IPCC, the ocean is taking the brunt of warming in the climate system, with di-

rect and well-documented physical and biogeochemical consequences. The impacts which continued warming is projected to have in the decades to 2050 include the following: reduced seasonal ice zones, including the disappearance of Arctic summer sea ice by ca. 2037; increasing stratification of ocean layers, leading to oxygen depletion; and increased incidence of anoxic and hypoxic (low oxygen) events.

That’s not all. There is also some evidence that the oxygen inventory of the ocean is progressively declining. Predictions for ocean oxygen content suggest a decline of between 1% and 7% by 2100.

Experts say this is occurring in two ways: the broad trend of decreasing oxygen levels in tropical oceans and areas of the North Pacific over the last 50 years; and the dramatic increase in coastal hypoxia (low oxygen) associated with eutrophication. The former is caused by climate change, the second by increased nutrient runoff from agriculture and sewage.

The ‘deadly trio’ of the above three stressors - acidification, warming and deoxygenation - is seriously affecting how productive and efficient the ocean is, as temperatures, chemistry, surface stratification, nutrient and oxygen supply are all implicated, meaning that many organisms will find themselves in unsuitable environments.

“These impacts will have cascading consequences for marine biology, including altered food web dynamics and the expansion of pathogens,” the IPCC said.

As if those are not enough, nearly 270,000 tons of plastic, which is enough to fill more than 38,500 garbage trucks, is floating in the world’s oceans. This was based on a study done by 5 Gyres Institute, an organization that aims

SEA COWS OF DAVAO GULF

Known commonly as the manatee, sea cow or dugong (corruption from Malay name duyong) in the science world, this docile marine mammal feeds on seagrasses in shallow coastal waters and is often associated in Visayan folklore as the mermaid (i.e., kataw) of Phil-ippine mythology.

The association of the kataw to a sea cow has given rise to the fable of the mermaid. Fr. Diego de Bobadilla, SJ, who arrived in the Philippines in 1616 to assume as a lecturer in Phi-losophy and Theology at his congregation’s school in Manila, and later as principal of Colegio de San José (now San Jose Major Seminary at the Ateneo de Manila University) wrote a per-sonal account:

“The woman-fish is so called because its face and breast are quite like those of women, whom it also resembles in its manner of copulation with the male… Some

have tried to assert that those fish were the sirens of the sea, so celebrated among the poets; but they have noth-ing of the beauty of face and of the voice that is attributed to sirens.”

In Visayan folk tales, mermaids are related with bad luck, and disaster, and often depict-ed as ominous symbols. They are described as having the power to shoo away schools of fish, drown unsuspecting swimmers, or capsize small watercraft. Legends also abound of mortals falling for the mermaids—portrayed with fishtail or clubbed feet and having human fea-tures—and bearing children with them. More creative descriptions of mermaids are seen in movies and TV shows.

Accounts of sea cows spotted in Philippine waters date to as early as the 17th century. Fr. Bobadilla had his own personal encounter

with the manatee, which he described in a narra-tive:

“That fish is as large as a calf; and its flesh… tastes like beef. It is caught with lines as thick around as the finger, and when the line becomes fast within [its mouth] it is killed by javelin-thrusts. Its bones and teeth have great virtue against all sorts of dysentery, especially against bloody discharges.” In some accounts, its meat as “greatly superior to that of the green turtle.”

Dugongs survey bays, coves, and inlets for food; they chiefly feed on underwater plants. Though without natural predators outside human beings, their juveniles at times become food for saltwater crocodiles, killer whales, and coastal sharks.

English explorer and pirate William Dampier, in his brief sojourn of Mindanao in 1686, which included a bypass of the Davao

Gulf, related his encounter with a sea cow in his diary:

“The chiefest Fish are Bonetas, Snooks, Cavally’s Bremes, Mullets, 10 Pounders, etc. Here are also plenty of Sea Turtle, and small Manatee, which are not near so big as those in the West-Indies. The biggest that I saw would not weigh above 6oo Pound, but the flesh both of the Turtle and Manatee are very sweet.”

In a 2011 article, ‘Saving Mermaids in the Davao Gulf,’ WWF-Philippines ranked the gulf of Davao “as one of the priority conservation areas of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Eco-region.” But through the years, its population has vividly failed, supported by the decline in sightings.

Dugong population, already threatened by man’s neglect of conserving nature, has been affected in recent decades. For instance,

to reduce plastic in the oceans.

The recent finding is comparable to an earlier study done by researchers in Spain who used different methodology. The said study estimated “there were 7,000 to 35,000 tons of plastics this size floating in the ocean.”

These plastics are likely to stay in the oceans. “Plastics persist for up to 50 years and, because they are usually buoyant, they are widely distributed by ocean currents and wind,” notes World Resources Institute.

Oil is another widespread pollutant in the oceans. In the Philippines, the sinking of a Caltex oil tanker in Limay, Bataan in 1990 comes to mind. Although it was much smaller in proportions –when compared to the 11 million gallons of oil spilled from the Exxon Superlaner Valdez in Alaska in 1989 – it gave Filipinos a preview of the potential hazards of oil spills. Continued overfishing is serving to further undermine the resilience of ocean systems, and contrary to some claims, despite some improvements largely in developed regions, fisheries management is still failing to halt the decline of key species and damage to the ecosystems on which marine life depends.

“For the first time in this century, world marine fish catches are declining,” deplored Greenpeace, the international environmental organization. “Many of the world’s formerly productive fisheries are seriously depleted, and some have collapsed due to overfishing.”

“Once thought to be so vast and resilient that no level of human assault could damage them, the oceans are now crying out for attention,” said a report released by the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute.

in January 2007, a 2.7-meter-long sea cow weighing 300 kilograms was found dead near the shores of Dapia Village, Barangay Santa Cruz, Tali-kod Island.

In March 2011, a 30-kilogram baby sea cow was found dead along the shores of Dahican, Mati City; it was the fourth dead dugong found in the coastal village in the last four months. Its death, in the absence of injuries, was attributed to an illness.

In April 2016, a 150-kilogram dugong washed ashore in Barangay Aplaya, Digos City. The post-mortem exam indicated the sea cow’s “vital organs showed signs of hemorrhage. There was also a cyst growth in the intestine aside from a lot of parasites, both roundworms and tapeworms. The lungs and other parts of the system showed abnormality and signs of damage.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

Pinoy dishes infused with Australian twist

Summer is the perfect time to discover and learn new skills.

For the young ones, basketball, swimming and karate are the popular choices, but for moms like me, one could choose between baking and cooking as it is our chance to whip up delicious snacks or meals at home.

And there are lots of cooking inspiration out there. What comes in mind is Australian-Filipina food and travel author Chef Yasmin Newman’s cookbook Under Coconut Skies - Feast and Tales from the Philippines, which was launched at The Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF) on April 20, 2023.

Under Coconut Skies is a chronicle of Newman’s culinary journey showcasing traditional Filipino cuisine perfectly infused with an Australian twist that will surely satisfy all the senses, from hot wild mushroom sisig to brilliant turmeric and cassia bark rice from the Muslim south and pork belly adobo to dazzling candied kalamansi cake.

She described Filipino food from the perspective of an Australian as wildly delicious, with unique flavors, and the sweetness from saltiness to sourness as mouth-enlivening.

Replicating her dishes at home is easy as it features inspirations for all occasions with simple home cooking instructions and chapters that are grouped into feasts.

“It’s a mix of old and new recipes. Old, classic dishes that you might find throughout the Philippines. But I also want to bring to the fore regional dish-

es, particularly that I have spent some time here in Mindanao,” she said in an interview.

Newman got into cooking essentially because she enjoyed the food made by her mother, a fine lady from Mindoro.

“My mom is a great cook,” she said.

Newman has visited Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, and even purchased property in Siargao.

Exhibiting her prowess, Chef Newman graced the kitchen of ICHEF with a cooking masterclass featuring one of her recipes to selected culinary students.

The Australian Embassy brought her to a series of events highlighting Filipino food with a little Australian flavor.

In Davao City, the event was made possible with the support of Joji Ilagan International Schools, WorkSkills International, the Australian Government, and the Australia Global Alumni in the Philippines.

‘Live Vivid’ in Davao: Xiaomi brings the headline-making Redmi Note 12 Series, Xiaomi Fan Festival closer to Davaoeños

Davao, Philippines - Following the successful kickoff of the Redmi Note 12 Series and Xiaomi Fan Festival 2023 in Manila , Xiaomi aims to further showcase their newest smartphone lineup and its wide portfolio of products in this year’s Xiaomi Fan Festival (XFF) roadshows.

For 2023, the Xiaomi Fan Festival has become even bigger as it brings the “Live Vivid” campaign to various locations across the Philippines from April to May. Apart from meeting local Xiaomi fans, it’s also a great opportuni-

ty to meet with media friends in different regions. The next stop is Davao! Bringing the festival to Davao

On May 5, Xiaomi held a media event at Mr. and Mrs. B, where guests got to see the Redmi Note 12 Series up close. Other Xiaomi devices, such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro and AIoT products, were also displayed in the experiential zone inside the venue. They also got to listen to the Redmi Note 12 anthem “Live Vivid” by #TeamRedmiNote ambassador BGYO and learn the dance steps for it.

The fun continues with the Xiaomi Fan Festival that will be held at Gaisano Mall Davao on May 6. Xiaomi fans can join the fun booth activities for a chance to enter the raffle and win exciting prizes. While there, they can avail of special XFF deals on select Xiaomi smartphones and AIoT products.

“Xiaomi is happy and excited to bring the Xiaomi Fan Festival to Davao, and be able to meet its Davaoeño fans. Our mission has always been to be a brand that equips young people with the latest technology available, so they can ‘Live Vivid’ on their own terms,” says Tomi Adrias, Xiaomi Philippines’ Head of Marketing.

Other Xiaomi products are up for grabs at special prices, such as the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 (P2,099 from P2,499), Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro (P3,999 from P6,999), and so much more. Check out the full list of products below:

The Xiaomi Fan Festival roadshow will continue at SM SM Dasmariñas (May 10 to 14) and SM Pampanga (May 17 to 21).

Smooth and vivid smartphone

performance

Following the success of its predecessor, the Redmi Note 11, it’s only right that the Redmi Note 12 Series would deliver remarkable enhancements to the features that matter most to Xiaomi fans, especially the younger generation. The phone series sports an impressive triple camera system with an up to 200MP main camera with OIS, ultra-wide camera, and macro camera for every user’s photography needs. The cameras’ advanced AI software algorithms, accelerated image processing, and other useful features also help in providing unparalleled user experience.

Both the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G are equipped with the 12Hz Flow AMOLED displays, which are supported by Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos® . The bright and vivid screen allows users to see photos, videos, and other media clearly for an immersive visual experience.

To get the most out of the Redmi Note 12 Series’ features, they are equipped with MediaTeK Dimensity 1080 chipset to ensure smooth and reliable 5G performance. With the

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s 120W HyperCharge and the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G’s 67W fast charge, fans can enjoy all-day usage even under heavy content consumption, especially with the powerful 5,000mAh long-lasting battery.

The Redmi Note 12 is priced at P8,999 for 4+128GB (online only), P9,999 for 6+128GB, and P10,999 for 8+128GB.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+5G (8+256GB) retails at PHP 21,999, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is offered in two options: the 8+128GB variant priced at PHP 16,999 and the 8+256GB model at PHP 17,999. Customers may purchase these devices online through Xiaomi’s official stores in Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop as well as Authorized Xiaomi Stores and partner retailers nationwide. For those who want flexible payment options, Home Credit financing is available at 0% interest. For more information, visit Xiaomi’s official Facebook page and Xiaomi’s official website. Online purchases are available via Xiaomi’s Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok shops (@XiaomiPhilippines).

Select Power Mac Center stores nationwide now accepting devices for repair

Customers can now enjoy the convenience of dropping off their Apple devices that need premium repair or maintenance service at select Power Mac Center (PMC) or The Loop stores with a minimal shipping fee. Apart from accessibility, customers can trust that their precious devices are in good hands at Mobile Care Service Center — PMC’s Apple Authorized Service Provider — which will be handling all the necessary repair services with its Certified Engineers and exclusive access to genuine parts.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.’s (Metrobank) net earnings rose by 31.3% to PHP10.5 billion in the first quarter of 2023 from a year ago. The Bank’s robust growth was propelled by the combination of the expansion of its lending portfolio, higher margins, and healthy fee income amid improved asset quality.

This translated to a 13.1% return on equity, higher than the 10.3% recorded in the same period last year.

“Metrobank’s solid performance in the first three months of the year reflects our continued efforts to capture opportunities of a growing economy while we strive to keep our balance sheet strong against risks of volatile market conditions,” said Metrobank President Fabian S. Dee.

“For the rest of the year, we will continue making progress in further improving our products and services and implement strategies in line with our promise of keeping our customer in good hands,” he added.

The Bank’s net interest income surged by 28.8% to PHP24.9 billion, lifted by higher loans and a 54-basis point hike in net interest margin to 3.9%. Gross loans increased by 12.5% year-on-year, driven by a 12.7% rise in commercial loans and 11.8% expansion in consumer loans.

Our consumer loans business

was mainly driven by a 30.0% growth in net credit card receivables and 10.7% rise in auto loans.

Meanwhile, total deposits grew by 10.8% to PHP2.3 trillion from a year ago, of which low-cost Current and Savings Accounts (CASA) accounted for 62.1%.

Trading and FX gains stood at PHP2.1 billion, while fee income rose by 13.4% to PHP4.1 billion.

The Bank’s operating expenses jumped by 13.5% to PHP16.9 billion on the back of higher taxes, technology spending, and transaction-related expenses. The strong revenue growth, nonetheless, offset the impact of rising expenses, thus improving the cost-to-income ratio to 51.6% from 54.1% from the year before.

As a result, pre-provision operating profit increased by 26.4% to PHP 16.1 billion.

Metrobank’s non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio further eased to 1.8% from 2.2% in the same period last year. Moreover, NPL cover further improved to 189.3%, solidifying the Bank’s buffer against any risks to the portfolio.

Metrobank’s total consolidated assets stood at PHP2.9 trillion, maintaining its status as the country’s second largest private universal bank. Total equity stood at PHP320.0 billion.

The retail drop-off service is available for all Apple users in the Philippines who bought devices from Power Mac Center and other stores, whether in or out of warranty. Mobile Care Service Centers accept iPhone 7 series or later, MacBook Air early 2015 model or later, MacBook Pro 2017 model or later, and iMac 2017 model or later.

“By maximizing the nationwide

presence of our retail stores, we help more customers reach us faster when they find themselves in need of repair or maintenance services. This is a testament to Power Mac Center’s commitment as the go-to shop for all things Apple in the Philippines. We take pride in being able to provide premium and comprehensive services to all loyal Apple fans,” said Jim Laguio, PMC Director for Service.

To avail the service, customers must be able to show proof of purchase for validation. For safety purposes, they are asked to back up or migrate their files beforehand, remove all accessories and personal information, disable all security passwords from the device, deactivate FindMy, and provide their own packaging, preferably the original box. Once the service transaction is complete, the device will be delivered directly to the customer’s preferred address.

Power Mac Center drop-off locations include Luzon branches namely Robinsons Ilocos Norte, SM City Tuguegarao, Robinsons Tuguegarao, Robinsons La Union, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Pampanga, Harbor Point, Vista Mall Bataan, SM City Fairview, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Rosa, SM City San Pablo, SM City Bacoor, SM City Dasmariñas, Fora Mall, SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa, SM City Lucena, SM City Daet, SM City Legazpi, SM City Sorsogon, and SM City Puerto Princesa; SM City Roxas in the Visayas; and Robinsons Iligan in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, The Loop drop-off locations are Xentro Mall Vigan, SM City Baguio, SM Center Dagupan, and SM City Calamba for Luzon branches; D’Mall Boracay in the Visayas; and SM City General Santos in Mindanao. New and upcoming stores may also be added in this list in the future.

Fully equipped to offer fast and efficient repairs, Mobile Care Service Centers accommodate personal and enterprise service requirements. It has full-service locations nationwide including The Annex at SM City North EDSA, SM City Marikina, Northeast Square Greenhills, The Podium, Glorietta 5, S Maison, Festival Alabang, SM City Clark, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Festive Walk Mall Iloilo, Abreeza Mall, KCC Mall de Zamboanga, and Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro.

For all service-related inquiries and other details, get in touch with PMC via landline at (02) 8725-4762, email <serviceupdate@powermaccenter.com>, or the Mobile Care Viber Community at https://bit.ly/PMCRepairRetailDropOff.

To be updated on news and promotions, follow Power Mac Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Metrobank reports a solid net income growth of 31% to PHP10.5 billion in 1Q 2023

ONLINE... FROM 2 PSA... FROM 2

ipapadala ninyo. Although yung iba maliit na amount pero what if isang daan na tao ang naloko nila? Kasi once na hack ang Facebook account ninyo lahat ng details ninyo makukuha yun. Makikita nila kung sino ang mga friends mo,” Punzalan said.

Meanwhile, Police Major Ray Vincent N. Magto, assistant chief of RACU 11, reported that since January this year, RACU 11 has recorded a total of nine online libel cases, eight online scams, and two violations of Republic Act 9995 or the “Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009”, and 18 complaints for illegal access.

He said RACU 11 has been able to conduct 14 servicing of warrant of arrest ranging from online libel, estafa, and violation of RA 9995, which led to the arrests of 15 personalities.

Magto said most of the offenders were able to post bail and are currently on their temporary liberty but the cases are ongoing trial.

“Some of the offenders posted bail for temporary liberty. Patuloy pa na gumagala yung may mga masasamang loob so we encourage na kahit maliit lang ang nabibiktima or anumang amount please pumunta kayo sa opisina para mapigilan natin ang ganitong klaseng krimen,” Punzalan said.

As for per provinces: Davao City has 5 online scam cases, 5 online libel cases, and 12 illegal access; Davao del Sur has 2 online scam cases and 2 for illegal access cases; Davao del Norte has 2 online libel cases, one scam, and three illegal access cases.

“As of this moment, this data

FILIPINO... FROM 2

LTO... FROM 3

PhilPost, Sollesta said.

PSA has also issued and delivered 31.54 million ePhilIDs to registered Filipinos through door-to-door delivery.

The PSA is targeting 92 million registrants by end of June 2023.

In the interview, Sollesta said his office has yet to receive an official invitation to a proposed investigation by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on the delayed issuance of national identification cards.

Pimentel earlier said he received reports of people who received their IDs with blurry images and incorrect personal information.

Sollesta said the downloadable ePhilIDs are considered valid and will be accepted by financial institutions.

SUMMIT... FROM 3

final approval sa NEDA sa Manila kay nangayo ta ug counterpart.

Under the original design, the WTE has a capacity of about 600 metric tons of waste and produces up to 12 megawatts of energy.

consists only of those victims who have reported personally sa office namin. For us to be able to pursue the filing of criminal cases, we need the victims to personally appear to our office and execute a formal affidavit of complaint,” he said.

P15,000 in Balance Luzon and the Visayas and P10,000 in Mindanao.

The median SRP gap, meanwhile, rose from P6,000 to P10,000 in Metro Manila; rose from P5,000 to P6000 in Balance Luzon; stayed steady at P7,000 in the Visayas, and remained the same at P5,000 in Mindanao.

The median SRP gap—the amount that families lack in their minimum monthly budgets to reach the SRP threshold—has generally been about half the SRP threshold. “An increase in the proportion of the median SRP Gap relative to the median SRP Threshold means a worsening in families’ budget for home expenses,” SWS said.

6.5% are ‘newly poor’

Among the 51% who rated themselves as “poor,” 6.5% or 1.8 million families said they were “non-poor” one to four years ago.

Another 6.7% said they were “non-poor” five or more years ago, while 37.9% have never experienced being non-poor.

Among the 49% who “nonpoor”—consisting of 30% borderline and 19% not poor— 17.7 percent or 4.8 million were poor one to four years ago; 9.5% or 2.6 million were poor five or more years ago; and 21.7% or 5.9 million have never experienced being poor.

The survey was conducted from March 26 to 29, with face-to-face interviews of 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 and above in Metro Manila, balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

actions with the agency such as license registration and renewal as well as online payments.

“We also appreciate the way the super app functions similarly to a wallet, containing all government IDs, among other things, within your mobile device,” he added.

Tugade said security features included in the physical driver’s license are also found in its digital version.

“Simplifying and digitalizing more services will ultimately aid the agency in eradicating corruption,” Tugade said.

In March, the LTO and the

ECONOMIST... FROM 5

facturing, and further increase in government spending, especially infrastructure spending.

“The delivery of more reform measures, especially fiscal reform measures and other economic reform measures that would help further ease limits on foreign ownership, would help attract the entry of more foreign investment, such as the amendments to the Public Services Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act, among others, would lead help boost investor confidence and lead to the creation of more jobs and other business opportunities that would also help the economy recover further from the pandemic,” he said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the official first quarter GDP growth data on May 11. (PNA)

EXPERT... FROM 4

no) infrastructure, the problem is, kung ano mabubuhat ng magsasaka, ‘yun ang maititinda nya (the farmers will only sell what he can carry). Pero kung may (but if there is) infrastructure, he can carry more, we can have a pickup (point), there will be an aggregator who can bring all the products together to the market so the chain is shorter. So if the infrastructure is improved, then there will be fewer people in the marketing chain,” he added.

As of March 31, at least 14 of the 194 infrastructure flagship projects under the “Build Better More” program came from the agricultural sector.

Most of the infrastructure flagship projects are also in physical connectivity and water resources, including irrigation, water supply and flood management.

The list also includes projects in digital connectivity, health, power, energy and other infrastructure.

Tolentino expressed belief that government must focus its budget on food productivity and competitiveness that would boost agricultural development.

“It is improved seeds, improved germplasm for animals, training for farmers to use the improved seeds and improved germplasm, better fertilization techniques, improved irrigation and better information for farmers on weather patterns, and support for the farmers when it comes to farm business management,” he said.

Tolentino said funds of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units can be reformulated so “more money is spent on productivity enhancement.”

“Because all the local governments also have lots of money. They don’t know what to do with it so with the DA’s guidance and support, they should be able to manage their own budget and support agriculture also,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said there is a need to address the supply issues on the agricultural side as the country’s inflation rate is still driven by food and energy prices, with food items alone accounting for about 38 percent on average of consumer price index in recent years.

The headline inflation further decelerated to 6.6 percent in April from 7.6 percent in March, within the BSP’s 6.3 to 7.1 percent forecast range for the period. (PNA)

CITY... FROM 3

more direct flights to other countries,” Ocampo said.

Based on their inventory there are eight falls and one cave in Paquibato District.

“Tan-awon nato kung potential ba ni for ecotourism,” he said.

He said when they finish the inventory an ordinance will be drafted for the establishment of ecotourism sites align with the Davao City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).

“Hopefully, pag mahuman namo ni rong tuiga muadto na pud mi ug Marilog kay daghan kaayo mi i-imbentaryo kay we will draft an ordinance, ug ialign namo sa CLUP, DENR para unsa atong buhaton nga puwede siya himoong ecotuorism spots para maregulate ug makuwartahan sa syudad,” he said.

DICT entered into an e-governance partnership that aims to improve systems and processes in government agencies through digitalization. (PNA)

Yulo completes All-Around 3-peat in SEA Games

Carlos Yulo won his third consecutive Southeast Asian Games men’s individual all-around gold medal on the first day of the 32nd edition’s gymnastics competitions on Monday at the Olympic Complex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Yulo, the reigning Asian allaround champion, earned a total of 84.000 points to pocket the country’s 16th gold medal

of the Games. His Vietnamese rivals, Le Thanh Tung and Dinh Phuong Thanh, took home the silver (80.450) and the bronze

The 2021 vault World champion scored a massive 15.000 on the apparatus, outscoring all other Filipino gymnasts who scored above 14 on the same equipment. He also garnered a high score of 14.950 on parallel bars, where he won a silver medal at the 2021 Worlds, and 14.15 on still rings.

Yulo received a score of 14.35 on the floor exercise, where he is the 2020 World champion, in addition to 12.65 on the pommel horse and 12.90 on the horizontal bar.

Yulo’s impressive performance, as well as that of the rest of the Philippine squad, boosted their overall score, earning them a second consec-

utive silver medal finish in the team event.

Juancho Besana, Justine Ace De Leon, John Ivan Cruz, and Jan Gwynn Timbang joined Yulo to complete the squad that scored 305.25 points, which was only 7.75 points behind the Vietnam side, which included Le Thanh Tung, Ding Phuong Thanh, and other gymnasts.

SEAG Golf: Fiery windup puts Wong in the mix, Pinays wobble

PHNOM PENH – Paolo

Wong overcame a shaky frontside start with a blistering backside finish, birdying four of the last nine holes to save a 70 for joint third, just a stroke behind Vietnam’s Khanh Hung Le and Malcolm Hung of Malaysia at the start of golf competitions in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here Monday.

Wong struggled trying to figure out the Garden City’s tough layout but when he did, there was no stopping the ace shotmaker from La Trinidad, Benguet. He birdied the first two holes at the back to negate a frontside 38 then birdied Nos. 14 and 16 to close out with a 32 and in strong contention for the individual gold in men’s play.

Le and Hung matched 69s with the former gunning down three backside birdies and the latter posting a solid 34 while

Thai Jiradech Chaowarat and Anh Minh Nguyen, also of Vietnam, matched Wong’s two-under card output.

Rayhan Latief of Indonesia and Thai Ashita Paimkulvanick shot identical 71s while four matched par 72s and another four, including Filipino Enrique Dimayuga, scoring similar 73s.

While Wong banked on a strong finish, Dimayuga squandered a hot birdie-birdie start as he bogeyed Nos. 5 and 6 then put to naught another birdie on the 14th with closing back-to-back bogeys, ending up with a 73 for a share of 12th in a field of 32.

Jaden Dumdumaya, on the other hand, shot two birdies but fumbled with five bogeys, marred by back-to-back mishaps from Nos. 8 and 13, as he signed a 75 to fall to joint 19th while many-time national team spearhead Aidric Chan hob-

bled at the finish, yielding four straight strokes from No. 13 as he wound up with a 76 for a share of 22nd.

In women’s play, Rianne Malixi came undone with a double-bogey on No. 6 that marred a wobbly frontside finish as she wound up with a two-over 74 and slipped to joint ninth with teammate Lois Kaye Go, seven strokes off Malaysian Ng Jing Xuen.

Eager to put up a strong start to fan a medal drive, Malixi did just that with birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 from short range and stood just behind Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza (34) with a backside 35 after dropping a stroke on the 15th.

But she failed to get up and down on the first hole and after a wave of pars, she yielded two strokes on the Garden City Golf course’s signature hole, the tough 439-yard No. 6 with

a water hazard on the left side of the fairway and another lake looming large right in front of the green.

A birdie-less frontside led to a 39 and the ICTSI-backed Malixi, who delivered the bronze medal in team play in her SEAG debut in Vietnam last year, tumbled to ninth with Go, who put up a pair of 37s she spiked with an eagle-3 on No. 17 and a birdie on No. 4 against five bogeys.

Mafy Singson hit two birdies but made five bogeys as she fell to joint 14th in a field of 21 with Malaysian Geraldine Wong with 75.

Xuen actually settled for a backside 36 but birdied the first two holes at the turn, gained two more strokes on Nos. 4 and 5 then birdied the par-3 seventh to close out with a tournament-best 31 and a 67, stealing the first day spotlight from fancied Thai Eila Galitsky,

who fired a 69.

Galitsky, the reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, likewise found her range and rhythm late but just in time to produce a three-under and stay just two strokes off the hot-starting Xuen.

Galitsky birdied four of the last five holes, including the last three, as she battled from a one-over card after 12 holes to put herself in strong contention for the individual gold in the 54-hole championship.

After a two-under backside card, Atienza stumbled with a bogey on No. 8 for a 37 and a 71 for solo third while Foong Zi Yu, also of Malaysia, Thai Navaporn Soontreeyapas and Elaine Widjaja of Indonesia matched par 72s for a share of fifth followed by Thai Prim Prachnakorn and Indonesia’s Kristina Yoko, who carded identical 73s.

Carlos Yulo won his third straight all-around gold medal on Monday in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games. medals, respectively.

MIXED FORTUNES

Casares keeps triathlon title, Mangrobang dethroned

PHNOM PENH – Fernando Casares successfully defended the men’s title after Kim Mangrobang failed in her bid for a fourth straight gold medal in women’s triathlon on Monday at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.

Casares clocked in 58 minutes and 33.5 seconds to clinch the gold medal, defeating Indonesia’s Rashif Yaqin (58:47) in the 750m swim-20km bike5km run men’s event at the Kep Beach Resort.

Andrew Kim Remolino finished third in 59:53 for the bronze, the Cebuano’s second medal following a silver finish in men’s aquathlon last Saturday.

Mangrobang, who topped the women’s duathlon race last Sunday, clocked 1:07:24 to finish second behind Cambodian naturalized entry Margot Garabedian, who clocked one hour, five minutes and 34.2 seconds.

Garabedian is a former

French triathlete currently ranked 190th in the world.

Singapore’s Louisa Marie Middleditch reached the podium in third (1:07:24) in the swim-bike-run endurance race.

Raven Alcoseba placed fourth (1:08:49.1), more than three minutes behind the 27-year-old Garabedian.

The Philippines bagged three out of the possible seven gold medals in aquathlon (3), duathlon (2) and triathlon (2) and a pair of silvers from Remolino in men’s aquathlon and Mangrobang.

The PH mixed aquathlon relay team of Erika Burgos, Inaki Lorbes, Kira Ellis and Matthew Hermosa likewise bagged a gold medal. (PR)

Kim Mangrobang was pushed out of her throne by French-Cambodian Margot Garabedian on Monday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.