Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 326 | Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Police officers from the Mobile Patrol Unit of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) stand guard along Lanang, Davao City on Tuesday. Police station commanders in Davao City were told to achieve Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr.’s order of 3-minute response time to crime incidents. Lean Daval Jr.

LABOR CONFLICTS

Rep. Pulong pushes creation of additional NLRC division

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is pushing for the creation of an additional division of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to help fast track resolution of labor-related conflicts.

Duterte, along with Representative Eric Yap of Benguet), filed House Bill No. 4958 “in support of its mission to resolve labor disputes in the fairest, quickest, least expensive, and

most effective way possible.”

In a press statement, the two lawmakers proposed that the divisions in the NLRC be increased from eight to nine.

“As provided under the La-

CAgro El Niño pre-active phase activities 80% done

bor Code, the NLRC’s first to sixth divisions are located in Metro Manila, while the seventh is based in Cebu and the eighth in Cagayan de Oro. Under HB 4958, the additional ninth division will be located in Davao to handle cases in Mindanao,” it said.

The statement also stated that the bill also provides for the addition of three NLRC com-

Peace 911 initiative to expand in all barangays of Davao City

The Davao Peace 911 initiative will be expanded across the city to further safeguard the peace and security of farflung villages.

PEACE 911 is a comprehensive peace-building and development initiative of the city government under then-mayor Sara Duterte.

Its pilot area is the Paquibato district, a hotbed for communist guerrillas.

“Soon enough, since the ordi-

nance has been passed, we will operate citywide. So it’s not just the Paquibato area. We will operate throughout the city, especially in areas that are prone to conflict like Marilog, Calinan, and Toril districts,” lawyer Jonah Presto, Peace 911 focal person, said in an interview Monday.

The Peace 911 initiative was established on May 10, 2018, to counter communist rebel forces by strengthening community relations and delivering govern-

ment services in the area.

It has since expanded to cover Marilog District and four other villages in Calinan to prevent insurgency groups from exploiting social issues to advance their interests.

Peace 911 acts as a coordinating agency to address problems and unrest in far-flung communities that have been deprived of government services and interventions.

The City Agriculturist Office (CAgro) reported more or less 80 percent accomplishment for the pre-active phase activities designed to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon projected to start next month.

“We are almost done with it, siguro 70 to 80 percent na among gihimo nga activity for the pre-active phase. We will review nalang sa amoang activities nga gihimo this coming Friday sa amoang regular meeting with the Execom (We are almost done with it, maybe about 70 to 80 percent of the activities for the pre-active phase have been completed. We will review the activities we have conducted this Friday during our regular meeting with the Execom),” Haspe said.

He added that by this week, they will already be able to identify highly vulnerable areas. After the identification, Haspe said that they will check the available water sources that could be utilized for the area.

“We will deploy kadtong mga water pump nato didto para magamit nato didto, pero

kung walay available water source and accessible siya, ang CDRRMO water tanks pwde nato magamit (We will deploy water pumps that we can use for the said areas but if there is no available water source and the area is accessible we can use the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) water tanks),” Haspe said.

He added that the purchase of water pumps for dry spells was part of the 2020 disaster funds of Davao City.

Haspe said that they were also able to identify irrigation facilities that need repair.

“Gipa-estimate na nako sa engineering for immediate repair, para ma ensure nga mudagan gyud ang atong irrigation facilities, (The engineering department has been asked to make an estimate for immediate repair to ensure that these irrigation facilities would work),” he said.

On March 27, CAgro activated its pre-active phase for the El Niño phenomenon in line with Pagasa’s forecast that it will hit in the third quarter of 2023 and will last until 2024.

Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte, together with Representative Eric Yap of Benguet, file House Bill No. 4958 for the creation of additional division in the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in support of the agency’s mission to resolve labor disputes in the fairest, quickest, least expensive, and most effective way possible. Lean Daval Jr.

FLABOR, P7

FPEACE, P7

PNP station commanders ordered to achieve 3-minute response mandate

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Police station commanders in Davao City were told to achieve Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr.’s marching order of 3 minutes of response time to crime incidents.

Acorda urged on Friday regional commanders to replicate the Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) Integrated Command Control Center (ICCC), which ensures a three-minute response time (3MRT) of police personnel to crime incidents.

“Before na directive ang standard sauna nga response time naa sa five minutes karon nibaba nahimong three minutes. Sa atong kapulisan atoa nang paningkamutan nga makuha nato ang three minutes. Diha man gud

makita nga kailangan as soon as ma receive nato ang request for assistance, aksyunan gyud dayon. Gina-audit mi ana kung unsa ang among response time ug gina-monitor na sa national headquarters,” said Police Major Catherine dela Rey, spokesperson of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

However, according to dela Rey there is an exception in remote areas like the hinterlands

FPNP, P7

French envoy sees Davao City’s potential for green energy projects

French Ambassador to the Philippines Michéle Boccoz saw the potential of Davao City for green energy projects.

During her courtesy meeting with Vice Mayor J. Melchor B. Quitain at the Davao City Investment and Tourism Promotions office on May 4, 2023, the Ambassador expressed interest in discussing matters on public safety and security, green hydrogen energy and improving water systems in Davao City.

The Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) shared online that Boccoz saw Davao City as having great potential as an investment destination and with green hydrogen energy projects, the development will be coupled with environmental sustainability.

Boccoz said as France is known for implementing sustainable environmental practices, it will support such initiatives in Davao City.

“They talked something about alternative sources of energy that will be good for Davao City and Mindanao, support on programs from women, and the good and long-standing relationship of the Philippines and France via Treaty of Amity signed around 75 years ago,” Quitain told Edge Davao.

Boccoz was accompanied by Mathieu Geze, president and director of Hydrogène de France (HDF) Energy Asia, a renewable power company.

“For our part, we welcomed them and thanked them for the visit and invited them to visit again and invest in Davao City for there are around almost a hundred

FFRENCH, P7

CTTMO to drivers: Pay your citation ticket penalties, clear system record

The Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) warned drivers that they have a system to trace those who have paid their citation or not. Those with records cannot renew their PUV ID, Motorized Tricycle Operators Permit (MTOP) and will not be eligible for High Priority Bus System enrollment.

CTTMO Head Dionisio Abude said that in their system of apprehension, they have discovered that around 10 drivers have torn the citation tickets issued to them by an apprehending officer. He underscored that tearing off the tickets will not erase the liability.

“Bisan gision pa nila kay naa man tong original masulod gihapon kay ma encode gihapon tanan (Even if they tear it the original still exists and everything will be encoded),” he said.

Abude said that it will be a burden for a driver if their penalties accumulate so they must pay it accordingly.

“Ang panawagan nato kung naa sila’y violation is anyway sila man, wala ma’y nagsugo nila ana, personal man nila na kay wala sila’y disiplina so normal lang kay enforcer lang man ta. Ang violation makita sa enforcer nga naka-agi and naa ta’y police have almost 400 ka deputized police so maka-issue silag citation ticket. Kung dili nila bayaran karon tungod sa system makita na namo. (We just want the public to know that if they are liable for their violations because of lack of discipline—it is normal to FCTTMO, P7

Worldbex Services International Marketing Communications manager Leo Salonga promotes during this week’s PEP Talks media forum at SM Lanang Premier the upcoming PHILBEX Davao 2023 and Travel and Leisure Expo (TLEX) Davao 2023 at SMX Convention Center on May 11 to 14. Salonga said at least 20,000 visitors are expected during the said events where over 400 exhibitors for PHILBEX and more than 50 exhibitors for TLEX will showcase their products. Lean Daval Jr.

On the creation of an additional division of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to help fast track resolution of labor-related conflicts:

Editorial Consultant

Senior Reporter

VELASCO President

D. MARATAS

JASPER V. BACSAL General Manager / VP Operations

S. PANES Director of Sales

“As provided under the Labor Code, the NLRC’s first to sixth divisions are located in Metro Manila, while the seventh is based in Cebu and the eighth in Cagayan de Oro. Under HB 4958, the additional ninth division will be located in Davao to handle cases in Mindanao.”

Davao City First District Representative PAOLO “PULONG” DUTERTE

I was awakened from my deep slumber last night. The reason: the air-conditioner was not working. There was also no light. The cause: brown out in the early morning. I wasn’t able to sleep back since it was so hot in my room.

It was at 6:30 in the morning that the power returned. I know, it’s just the beginning of this on-andoff affair with electricity. Even if the summer ends, this scenario will still continue as the country will soon be under the mercy of the El Niño phenomenon.

Long drought, dry spell, no water and hot weather – all these will happen in the coming months. All have one thing in common: heat. The scorching heat of the sun these days are too much to bear. How much more if there’s no water and the trees are without leaves?

One solution to the heat problem are air-conditioners and electric fans. But what if brown-outs continue? Or, if ever there’s an electricity, the cost would be out of reach of most of us?

The cost of electricity in the country is considered to be among the highest in Southeast Asian countries, according to a paper penned for the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development of the

Ateneo de Manila-Department of Economics.

In the Philippines, the kilowatt per hour (kWh) is $0.16. In comparison, the cost of electricity in Thailand and Indonesia is $0.10/ kWh while in Malaysia, it is even lower at $0.05/kWh. At $0.18/kWh, Singapore surpassed the country’s record.

I think it’s time for our country to find other sources of power. Industry players said about 50% of the country’s power generation comes from coal, with natural gas and renewables accounting for just more than 20%. The remaining comes from oil-fired boilers.

Power crisis is in the offing. My research showed the country’s electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2040 – from the 90.2 TWh (Terawatt-hour) in 2018 – due to its rapidly growing economy.

That’s where nuclear power comes into the picture. “We need to keep an open mind, make it a part of the solution to meet an increasing energy demand while meeting low carbon diet,” said Dr. Art Romero on the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The Westinghouse Electric built the BNPP during the time of Ferdinand Marcos at a cost of US$2.2

billion. It was mothballed in 1986 due to safety concerns, even before it could begin operations.

During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, proponents wanted the BNPP rehabilitated. But it would cost a whooping US$1 billion to rehabilitate.

In 2019, a public perception survey indicated that 79% of Filipinos supported the rehabilitation of the shelved BNPP. In addition, 65% approved the building of new nuclear power plants.

Dr. Romero, a geoscientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California, emphasized, however, the need to conduct due diligence, technical hazard studies, and engineering and safety reviews. Also, the need for government action support, especially on the need to raise public awareness of the consequences of global warming and the need for clean energy.

Dr. Romero believes that the country’s transition to cleaner energy based on the roadmap of the Department of Energy is doable in a gradual fashion, without putting a heavy burden on the economy.

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), agrees. It says

the adoption of nuclear power is the fastest option and would make electricity costs more affordable.

PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla said that including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix would be beneficial to consumers as it would bring down the “expensive” electricity rates and provide a stable electricity source of power.

Gayle Certeza, convenor of Alpas Pinas – a group that educates and advocates for nuclear energy –agrees. A Daily Tribune feature quoted her as saying: “We believe that nuclear energy will positively impact the lives of Filipinos because it will mean lower electricity rates that will better allow for more savings.”

During the time of the presidency of Rodrigo R. Duterte, Executive Order 164 was signed, thus including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. Under the new policy, it stated that the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability.”

The DOST, in support of EO 164, issued this statement: “Nuclear power is envisioned to bring down the cost of electricity and to contribute to energy security considering

the various limitations now being encountered in the other sources which includes natural gas, geothermal, hydro, and coal.”

The DOST is a member of the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee (NEPIAC), whose responsibility is mainly to study the adoption of a national position on nuclear power.

Arcilla emphasized that nuclear has been with us for 60 years. There were some accidents but have minimal casualties and are isolated incidences.

“If you look at the number of hours operated by coal and gas versus nuclear; nuclear has one of the lowest incidents. Although if there is an accident, it could be spectacular. That is the issue. However, in terms of lives lost, it is minimal. If you are running nuclear, you are not burning coal; meaning it is not releasing carbon dioxide,” he explained.

He stressed, however, that nuclear, in general, will be helpful for all especially if risks are managed properly. Then he added that if people have concerns with nuclear, he notes that the United States has allowed the operation of 94 nuclear power plants with average lifespan of 60 years, supplying 20% of its energy requirements.

KARAKOL AS A STREET DANCE OF FAITH DURING BOHOL’S FIESTA MONTH OF MAY

The Gorechos hailed from Barrio Matabao in Tubigon, Bohol which celebrated its barrio fiesta last May 8.

The first habitants in Tubigon settled along the shores of the river. Seasonal overflowing of the river flooded the community and led the place to be called “Tubigan” (meaning “place having water” or “watery”), which later morphed into “Tubigon” (meaning “place abounding in water”).

Tubigon has 34 barangays and 17 minor islands.

Known to be fiesta month, it is jokingly said Bohol is “sinking” during May because the population of the island is multiplied twice, thrice, or even four times.

Known as a reverse exodus or “balikbarrios”, once the first of May strikes, people from abroad, Manila, and even nearby provinces begin flocking back to their small barrios in Bohol.

Date of fiestas in Bohol vary from town to town yet most of the feast days fall on the month of May, earning it the name the “Fiesta Month”.

Barrio Matabao is not an exemption whose fiesta falls on May 8 for its patron saint San Jose while Tubigon is on May 15.

One of the highlights of the Matabao fiesta is the Karakol, a procession dance or street dancing ritual that is considered to be of the cultural practices with a religious meaning.

It is part of panata (vow) which is usually carried out as colorful form of plea to God for continued provision of daily needs or as thanksgiving for healing, blessing or granted wish.

Filipino Catholics are known for having sincere, enormous, and extreme expressions of piety considering that the country is the third-largest Catholic population in the world.

Essentially fusions of Catholic and secular beliefs and practices, fiestas are prime manifestations of the Filipino’s fervent devotion and faith characterized by history, artistry, creativity, and passion.

Filipinos are “visual” religious people who like to tell stories by acting them out in the form of mass gatherings like processions.

The more popular religious street dancing events include Sinulog, Dinagyang, Ati-Atihan and Dinagsa.

The word Sinulog came from the Cebuano adverb “sulog” roughly meaning “like water current movement” describing the forward-backward dance movements. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums.

In Ati-Atihan, the street parade is known as Sadsad, a form of dancing where the foot is momentarily dragged along the ground in tune to the beat played by the marching bands while participants paint their faces with black soot.

In Dinagyang, the Ati tribe competition consists of a number of “warrior” dancers in a tribe dancing in a choreographed formation and patterns as well as chanting to the sound of loud drum beats and improvised percussion instruments innovated by the respective tribes.

As “prayer through dancing” or “pasayaw na pananalangin”, the Karakol is a procession with a slow

snail-like pace as its etymology came from the Spanish word “caracol” which means snail .

The term symbolizes resilience and is also attributed to the shedding of the shell covering of the snail to reveal a different and much livelier side of the participants.

The karakol started with a parade of performers (devotees, and locals) going to the barangay proper while dancing to effervescent music to show their sincere devotion to the patron saint San Jose.

Characterized by an abundance of food and merriment, not a single day will pass without a fiesta somewhere on the island.

Old folks seem to have mastered the art of putting out most of their earnings for the year.

Filipinos take their festivals and fiestas seriously as part and parcel of our culture.

Fiesta means “feast” from the Latin word “festus” meaning ”festive, joyful, or merry.”

The roots of Philippine fiestas go back even further than Spanish colonial rule.

Pre-Hispanic Filipinos had their

own set of cultures and traditions Including worshipping many gods or anitos. They made regular ritual offerings to placate the gods.

When Spanish missionaries came to the Philippines in the 1500s, they discovered that the fiesta was a helpful tool to help teach Filipinos the Roman Catholic faith and its saints, as indigenous Filipinos already had a sense of patronage of a deity for their mostly pagan practices and rituals.

Each fiesta or festival has a unique theme which defines its flavor through a set of activities, such as religious processions, live brass bands, street dancing or parade of dancers in colorful costumes and props, high masses, sports fest, beauty pageants, cultural shows and performances.

A wonderful fiesta season means good luck for the rest of the year.

(Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786.)

SMC helps boost income of local corn farmers since ‘20

SanMiguel Corporation (SMC), through its food unit San Miguel Foods, has purchased over 1.3 million metric tons of corn amounting to P23.9 billion from farmers nationwide since 2020 to date.

This is part of the company’s continuing initiative to source raw materials for its food products directly from local growers to help boost farm incomes, reduce the country’s dependence on imports, and help achieve food self-sufficiency.

The program, launched in 2020, is designed to benefit farmers from all over the country. Initially, it covers 13 provinces that include Batangas, Bicol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Isabela, Ormoc, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zamboanga, with plans to expand by the end of the year.

“Through this program, we

are assured of local corn supply for our food business while our local farmers are guaranteed a steady market and fair prices for their crops. Buying directly from them boosts their income and keeps their livelihood sustainable,” SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, San Miguel Foods purchased over 500,000 metric tons or 500 million kilos of corn to help farmers in various provinces affected by quarantine protocols and supply chain disruptions that saw their produce going to waste.

Isabela province farmer Marjorie Gante said that SMC’s local

corn buying program has given her and her family a renewed sense of security. “Nang dahil po sa programa ng San Miguel, hindi na po kami natatakot mag-ani o maglabas ng aming produkto dahil sigurado po kaming may pagdadalhaan ito. Hindi katulad dati na kung saan-saan pa kami naghahanap ng buyer at walang kasiguraduhan na maganda ang presyuhan at magiging maayos ang systema ng pagbayad sa amin.”

(“Because of San Miguel’s program, we’re no longer afraid to plant and harvest. We are assured that our products will go somewhere, unlike in the past when we would have to go to different places to find buyers, and even then, there would be no certainty as to whether prices would be good, or

FSMC, A3

Trade deficit at $4.93 in March

The Philippines’ trade deficit settled at $4.93 billion in March, higher by 7.5 percent as imports continued to outpace exports, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority released on Tuesday showed. Trade deficit or the balance of trade in goods is the difference between the value of export and import.

Total export sales reached $6.53 billion, lower by 9.1 per-

cent compared to the same period last year, which brought the January to March total to $16.86 billion, the PSA said.

China contributed the highest to the total export value with $1.42 billion or a share of 21.8 percent, data showed, followed by Japan, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Total imports, meanwhile, amounted to $11.46 billion in March, lower by 2.7 percent,

Marcos’ economic team vows to empower Filipino workforce

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday said the government will continue to support the country’s labor force as the unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent in March 2023 from 4.8 percent in February 2023.

In a statement, Pangandaman said the economic team, upon the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., will focus on empowering the Filipino workforce by creating quality jobs and employment opportunities.

provement” in the country’s jobless rate from the 5.8 percent rate it recorded in the same period last year, and 4.8 percent in February 2023.

PSA data also showed that the country’s employment rate likewise remained strong at 95.3 percent in March 2023, which is higher than the reported employment rate a year earlier at 94.2 percent and in the previous month at 95.2 percent.

the PSA said. For the January to March period, total imports reached $31.44 billion, it added.

China still had the highest import value at $2.57 billion followed by Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Thailand, the PSA said. The total external trade in goods amounted to $17.98 billion in March wherein 63.7 percent were imported goods, the PSA said.

Pangandaman said measures will be implemented to strengthen financial and technical assistance to Filipino workers.

“We will continue to invest and pour much-needed support to the Filipino workforce as part of our Agenda for Prosperity,” she added.

She noted a “huge im-

This translates to an estimated 48.58 million employed persons as of March 2023, an increase of 1.61 million from the 46.98 million employed persons in March 2022.

PSA also reported that the underemployment rate in March 2023 is the lowest since April 2005.

Data showed the country’s underemployment rate went down to 11.2 percent, from 15.8 percent in the same month in 2022, and 12.9 percent in February 2023. (PNA)

Marilou Ampuan, regional Development-Regional Halal Committee vice chairperson, discusses during this week’s PEP Talks media forum at SM Lanang Premier the upcoming Philippine Halal Tourism and Trade Exposition 2023 slated at SMX Convention Center on May 25 to 27. Lean Daval Jr.

PH debt rises to P13.86T

GCash:

‘No funds lost’ despite system glitch

Mobile wallet service GCash on Tuesday said there were no funds lost from its users following complaints of missing money due to alleged unauthorized transactions.

GCash vice president for corporate communications Gilda Maquilan told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo that users’ funds would return to their accounts by 3 p.m. Tuesday.

“There is no fund loss at doon po sa ating mga na-inconvenience, ito pong amount na ito ay mare-reflect, maba-balance out sa kanilang account. Bigyan lang po kami ng until 3 p.m. today at ito’y mare-reflect back doon sa kanilang mga account,” she said.

(To those we inconvenienced, the amount in your accounts will be reflected and balanced out eventually. Please give us until 3 p.m. today for this to reflect back to your accounts.)

Maquilan said that since Monday, GCash has received several complaints from customers about unauthorized transactions, where some of their funds were allegedly transferred to bank accounts ending in the number 5239.

In a separate statement, GCash said its systems were not hacked following an investigation.

“We wish to further assure

ThePhilippine national government’s total outstanding debt reached P13.86 trillion as of the end of March, higher by 0.8 percent compared to the previous month, the Bureau of Treasury said on Monday.

the affected customers that their funds remain safe and secure. We would also like to remind customers never to share their OTP and MPIN,” its statement read.

As of writing, GCash remained inaccessible for some users, despite a Facebook advisory posted 10:19 a.m. saying it had “restored our services.”

Maquilan said a system maintenance, which had been in effect since 12 midnight Tuesday, was taking “more than usual.”

GCash later said it extended its maintenance following the complaints.

“Tinitingnan natin ngayon kung ano iyong fixes at maintenance na kailangan po nating gawin,” Maquilan said, apologizing to customers inconvenienced by the glitch.

(We are looking into what fixes and maintenance activities we need to conduct.)

Laban TNVS president Jun de Leon said in a separate TeleRadyo interview that 300 of his fellow transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers suffered the same problem on their GCash accounts.

He called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to freeze the bank accounts where their funds were allegedly transferred.

He also reported their onetime PINs (OTP) and MPIN codes were allegedly bypassed.

Out of the total debt stock, 31.3 percent was sourced externally while 68.7 percent were domestic borrowings, the BTr said.

Domestic debt amounted to P9.51 trillion, higher by 0.8 percent compared to the end-February level, data showed.

Meanwhile, foreign debt reached P4.34 trillion or 0.8

percent higher than the previous month, records showed.

The increment in external debt was due to the P84.26 billion net availment of foreign loans and P18.53 billion impact of third currency adjustments against the US dollar, the BTr said.

The national government’s external debt has also increased by P133.27 billion of

3.2 percent from December 2022.

The government borrowed heavily to finance the country’s COVID-19 response and an ambitious infrastructure push during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This pushed the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to 63.7 percent in the third quarter of 2022. But by the end of last year, the ratio had improved to 60.9 percent.

Before the pandemic, a 60 percent debt-to-GDP ratio was considered high by global standards.

BSP: Domestic liquidity up to P16.184T in March

Domestic liquidity continued to expand in March as claims grew during the period, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday showed. Central bank data showed that domestic liquidity or M3 — the broadest measure of money in the financial system — stood at P16.184 trillion as of March, marking a 0.2% increase from the P16.077 trillion in February. This is also 6.0% higher than the P15.267 trillion in the same month last year, which also reflected a 6.0% growth.

Domestic claims for the

month rose by 12.4% to P16.833 trillion from P14.978 trillion last year, and 0.6% higher than the P16.732 trillion recorded in February. Broken down, this includes P4.505-trillion worth of net claims on central government, reflecting a 21.4% increase which the central bank attributed to the decline in deposits made by the national government with the BSP.

The same data showed that the net foreign assets (NFA) in peso terms decreased by 4.2%, following the 3.1% decline recorded in the previous month,

which the central bank said came on account of higher bills payable.

“Going forward, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity conditions remain in line with the prevailing stance of monetary policy, in keeping with the BSP’s price and financial stability mandates,” the BSP said in a statement.

Bank lending

Preliminary data also showed that the outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks net of reverse repurchase placements (RRPs) with

Ariesha Faith Dimaano, Marketing Communications manager of Dusit Davao, promotes the hotel’s Mother’s Day offerings during this week’s PEP Talks media forum at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

PLDT drums up customer vigilance anew vs illegal modem collection modus in GenSan, other Mindanao areas

The Philippines’ leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) has renewed its calls for vigilance against persons falsely presenting themselves as PLDT personnel, amid rising incidents of unauthorized modem collection in Davao City, General Santos, and other key areas in Mindanao.

“We have received more re-

ports of modems being taken from our subscribers’ homes by persons misrepresenting themselves as PLDT personnel. We strongly encourage our customers to report these incidents to their local authorities, and to transact only with authorized PLDT personnel. In case of doubt, always check for proper identification,” said

Cathy Yang, First Vice President and Group Head of PLDT and Smart. “PLDT Group’s initiatives to ramp-up asset protection efforts are part of a broader program to level-up our customers’ experience on our network,” she added. PLDT earlier raised this warning for customers in Mindanao areas such as Cotabato

DCWD RESCHEDULES WATER SERVICE INTERRUPTION AFFECTING ALL RIVERSIDE WSS AREAS

In relation to Davao City Water District’s published notice of water service interruption on May 9, 2023, DCWD advises the general public that the water service interruption originally scheduled on May 10 to 11, 2023 in all areas served by Riverside Water Supply System (WSS) is rescheduled due to additional time needed for preparatory works. The new schedule is from 10:00 AM of May 11, 2023 until 2:00 AM of May 12, 2023.

Specific affected areas are entire Riverside, Tugbok Proper, Tacunan, Los Amigos, Biao Guianga, Biao Escuela, Biao Cutson, Matina Biao, Balengaeng, Ula, and Talandang and some Catalunan Grande areas including Alejandra National HOA, Altezza Grande, Apo Highlands Subd.,

SMC... FROM A1

if we could get paid properly.”)

Meanwhile, Emity Durog, who has been farming for 20 years, says the program saves them time, effort and resources, as they no longer have to travel to different towns to sell their corn.

Violeta Develos, a generational farmer from South Cotabato, for her part, expressed gratitude to the company for coming up with such program and its consistent payment scheme.

“Maraming salamat po San Miguel dahil sa inyong programa, kaming mga magsasaka ng mais ay nakadama ng pagpapahalaga at wala pang kumpanya ang nakakagawa nito. Mabilis pa ang bayad nakukuha na namin nang

Xavierville Subd., Loyola Heights, Luwalhati Subd., San Miguel HOA, Santiago Villas Subd., Sitio San Pedro, Sitio Sta. Martha, Sitio Sto. Niño Ilihan, South Pointe Homes, and Greenwoods Subd.

This water service interruption is needed to give way to the replacement of two butterfly valves. This activity is among DCWD’s strategies to improve the water supply distribution efficiency under Riverside WSS.

DCWD apologizes to the customers served by Riverside WSS for the inconvenience that this rescheduling may have caused. Customers are advised to store enough water prior to the schedule. Water supply may be restored earlier if DCWD’s work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

DCWD conducts flushing after service works are completed. However, once water is restored, customers are advised to open all faucets and allow water to run for at least two minutes. While doing this, do not drink tap water immediately. Water may be boiled as an additional safety precaution.

For the latest water service updates or any DCWD-related concerns, the general public may contact DCWD’s 24-hour call center telephone hotlines at 235-3293 and 244-6767, text support (0927-7988966, 0925-511-3293, or 0908-441-0653), and chat support in the DCWD’s website (www.davao-water.gov. ph) or Facebook page (www. facebook.com/officialDCWD). (Kurt Ryan M. Dominguez)

and Zamboanga, as well as in Pangasinan and in Central Luzon, where subscribers have also reported that unidentified persons claiming to be PLDT personnel entered their homes and collected their PLDT Fibr modems, disrupting repair and restoration services.

In line with the PLDT Group’s continuous initiatives to improve customer service and protect its physical assets, PLDT activated Hotline 164, where citizens nationwide can report similar incidents that often lead to service disruption, including unauthorized modem retrieval, cable theft and cable breakage. Persons who would like to report such incidents can do so by calling “164” on their landline or mobile phone, regardless of network.

PLDT is also spearheading the National Telecommunications Security Council (NTSC),

an industry-wide informal alliance for the mutual protection of telecommunications infrastructure nationwide. The NTSC is composed of corporate security professionals from the different telecommunications companies in the country.

PLDT operates the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure. As of end-March 2023, PLDT had expanded its total fiber footprint to more than 1.1 million kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and over 874,000 kilometers of domestic fiber. PLDT’s fiberto-the-home (FTTH) services as of end-March 2023 had passed around 17.2 million homes in 42% of the country’s barangays.

This fiber network also supports Smart’s mobile network, covering about 97% of the population with 2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G.

San Miguel Beer Toasts to a Distinct Beer Experience with San Miguel Cerveza Blanca

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direkta ang pera.”

(“Thank you, San Miguel. Because of your program, corn farmers feel valued, and no other company has done this for us. The payments are quick and we receive the money directly.”)

The direct corn buying program is just among several initiatives SMC continues to implement to support farmers and the agricultural sector nationwide.

SMC also locally sources other raw materials used by its businesses such as cassava, through its cassava assemblers’ program, and poultry, with the help of contract growers.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke in 2020, SMC opened Better World Diliman, a

DOMESTIC... FROM A2

the BSP expanded by 10.1% to P10.449 trillion from P9.499 trillion in March 2022.

Outstanding loans to residents net of RRPs increased by 10%, with outstanding loans for production activities up 8.9% due to the sustained increase in credit to major industries during

the period. Consumer loans grew by 21.3%, due to the expansion in credit card motor vehicle, and salary-based general-purpose consumption loans. Outstanding loans to non-residents jumped 12.6%.

“The sustained growth in

ready-market for excess produce bought from farmers at betterthan-farmgate prices, and sold to consumers and resellers for low prices. To date, Better World Diliman has rescued over 1.7 million kilograms of vegetables from farmers.

Additionally, in partnership with Gawad Kalinga’s School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED), SMC has provided over P2M worth of scholarships to underprivileged youth in Sumilao, Bukidnon.

The program enables farmers’ children to complete a TESDA-accredited agri-business course and serves as a model for rural development through education.

credit is supported by sound Philippine banking system conditions. Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to monitor domestic liquidity dynamics to ensure that credit conditions remain in line with its price and financial stability mandates,” the BSP said.

Seldom-used Walker lifts Lakers to Game 4 win

Lonnie Walker scored all of his 15 points in a phenomenal fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied late to take a 3-1 series lead with a 104-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors in game four on Tuesday (AEST).

LeBron James scored 27 points and Anthony Davis had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who moved to the brink of an improbable trip to the Western Conference finals with their eighth consecutive home victory since March.

Los Angeles overcame Stephen Curry’s third career post-season triple-double down the stretch largely because of Walker, who has made a seismic impact in returning to the Lakers’ rotation in this series after the former starter was stuck on the bench in recent weeks.

Walker went six for nine in the fourth quarter and hit the goahead jumper with a minute and 53 seconds to play.

Curry’s lay-up with 65 seconds left trimmed the Lakers’ lead to one point, but Curry missed a long jumper and a three-point attempt on Golden State’s next possession before Walker made two free throws with 15 seconds to play.

Davis then forced a jump ball in the waning seconds, and it went out of bounds off Curry with 1.3 seconds to play.

FRED C. LUMBA

SPORTS KEN

Woe to Gilas 3 x 3 squad which lost to an “All-American (?)” trio in the SEAG men’s finals.

The Pinoys did not know what hit them when the names of the “naturalized” players for Cambodia were announced.

Brandon Peterson, Sayeed Pridgtee and Darrin Dorsey tamed the Gilas squad of Almond Vosotros,, Joseph Eriobu, Joseph Sedurifa and Lervin Flores, 2015, to bag Cambodia’s first basketball gold ever since.

The SEAG is not under FIBA rules and is a creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Stipulations are “diplomatically” relaxed to afford all ASEAN members to host and organize the SEAG according to their organizational ability and resources to avoid ruffling the other member’s feelings.

If Cambodia - as hostsemerges overall champions, the rest of the ASEAN will welcome the development as they did when Vietnam came out of the shadows and hosted the 2000 edition.

Now, Gilas coach Chot Reyes’ headaches may be multiplying as the Cambodians seem prepared to snatch basketball glory from the Pinoys and the

James was spotted having an emotional word with Walker moments after the game finished.

“It’s not even about tonight,” James said when asked what he told the game-winning young gun.

“I’ve been telling him, ‘Stay ready. We’re going to need you at some point’.

“And for him to be as young as he is, for him to have that professionalism, come out, stay ready when his number is called ... We don’t win this game tonight without Lonnie Walker — that’s for sure.

CAMBODIA SPRINGS SURPRISE

defending titlists Indonesia.

If Cambodia was allowed to field three naturalized players in the 3 x 3, why would it not field a stronger trio of naturalized Americans in the 5 x 5 as this is its only opportunity to get the much coveted hoops gold?

Were these rules not known to the SBP?

So, then I won’t be raising my eyebrows should the Indons retain their hold of the SEAG cage crown or Cambodia sneaks in as a dark horse.

The reigning SEAG champs will be bannered by former PBA import Lester Prosper, Anthony

Beane and Dame Diagne, a development that should create quite an anxiety for the Pinoys.

Gilas will not have big boys Japhet Aguilar and JunMar Fajardo, two “must have” veterans in the line-up.

Wonder if 6-11 naturalized player Ange Kouame will get a spot as a sub center to alternate with Christian Standhardinger in the middle. I’m certain Kouame would serve with alacrity and prove his naturalization wasn’t a mistake.

I doubt if Pinoy Justin Brownlee alone can help Gilas squeak past the competition.

Nifty outside sniping, par-

“As hard as this game was, it’s going to be even harder. We understand that. We know that.”

Curry had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in his 13th career triple-double for the defending champion Warriors, who will have to overcome a 3-1 series deficit for only the second time in franchise history to continue their NBA title defence. Golden State also did it in the 2016 Western Conference finals.

Game five will be played on Thursday (AEST) in San Francisco.

ticularly from beyond the arc, speed and tough defense will be the keys to offsetting the height deficit of Gilas.

Note that our ASEAN neighbors have also hired foreign mentors.

The level of officiating is also another factor that has to be considered.

Reyes and his talented coaching staff remain confident though, despite these very touchy, sensitive and oftentimes, ignored, developments.

Go, get back the SEAG title, Gilas Pilipinas! (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

LeBron James and Lonnie Walker embrace after the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Golden State Warriors. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

LABOR... FROM 2

missioners, bringing the total number of the Commission’s members to 27, including the chairperson of the body.

The NLRC maintained a high disposition rate and dramatically decreased the number of its pending cases, according to its 2021 Performance Report.

A total of 32,433 cases for mandatory arbitration were reported by the Commission, of which 24,262 were original cases from the Regional Arbitration Branches (RABs) and 8,171 cases were appealed to the Commission Proper.

It also mentioned that on the percentage of cas-

PEACE... FROM 2

To ensure the efficient deployment of interventions, Presto said Peace 911 will also be expanding its pool of employees and peace builders.

Each village will have at least two Peace 911 coordinators to monitor the security situation and social welfare.

Also on Monday, the city government honored 51 Peace 911 partner agencies from the national and local government offices and the private sector in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the peacebuilding program.

PNP... FROM 3

CTTMO... FROM 3

es resolved within three months from the filing or receipt of complaints, the RABs were able to accomplish only 38 percent of its 69 percent target for 2021.

The NLRC is a quasi-judicial body attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). It has the power to resolve labor and management disputes through binding arbitration and alternative dispute resolution methods. The current eight chambers of the NLRC are composed of three members, with the president from the public sector, while the other two members represent the fields of workers and employers.

The public and private partners were cited for their contributions which ultimately paved the way for the declaration of Davao City as insurgency-free.

Peace 911 employees and peace builders were likewise recognized for their efforts.

Task Force Davao commander Lt. Darren Comia said the Peace 911 initiative has effectively eliminated insurgency threats while fostering deeper trust among government security forces and communities in upland areas. (PNA)

where there will be a time difference in responding to crimes.

“Kailangan pa mutabok ug pila ka sapa ug bukid naay dako na depresensya sa oras sa response pero kung diri sa downtown ug duol sa police station dili dapat mahimong rason nga wala maka respond immediately kay diri sa dakbayan sa Davao spread out na ang police stations. Paningkamutan sa mga station commanders na makuha ang three minutes response time,” she said.

Currently, there are 20 police stations in Davao City.

On May 5, 2023, DCPO received eight units of 4x2 Toyota Hilux with complete accessories, 372 units of 5.56mm basic assault rifle galil, 2,604 magazines, 78,120 rounds of ammunition, and worth P5.6 million EOD equipment from higher headquarters of the PNP.

The vehicles and other equipment are part of the PNP modernization program.

The vehicles and other equipment are expected to help improve DCPO in providing better service to the Dabawenyos.

“Kay gitagaan naman ug sakyanan dapat ma-improve ang response time sa mga pulis,” dela Rey said.

[issue tickets] because we are only enforcers. The violations are seen by our enforcers and our almost 400 deputized police enforcers so they issue the citation tickets. Those who will not pay will reflect on our system), Abude said.

He added that their office has recently received unsavory comments due to the Facebook Page which was hacked by a confirmed “foreign” element.

He said that the request to take down the Facebook Page is in process and even

FRENCH... FROM 3

they cannot access it at the moment.

“I-take down na gyud siya, nga tanggalon siya, [mao na ang] request namo. Sa makakita dili na mao ang purpose. Ang uban nagapost na ug dili maayo nga mga comment. Gihimo man gud namo na in 2016 para makapahibalo sa katawhan kung naa sila’y mga mulo nga pwede nila ipaagi sa Facebook (The request is to fully take down the page. To those who have seen it, it is not our purpose. Others are already

French/European nationals living in Davao City. We talked about chocolates, coffee, and some of the

posting sensitive comments. We created that page way back in 2016 to allow people to relay their comments through Facebook),” he said, adding that as to the creation of a new Facebook account, they are still discussing that as this is the first time they have faced a cybersecurity issue.

As of the moment, the CTTMO relays its announcements through other mediums such as radio announcements and other alternative platforms. CIO

produce in Davao City,” Quitain said.

On May 5, 2023, HDF inked an agreement with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), distributor Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Cooperative, the OLTAMA (Olutanga, Talusan, and Mabuhay) Development Alliance, and the city government of Pagadian for the venture for the setting up of the Olutanga Hydrogen Renewable Power Plant, which will initially provide energy to the Olutanga Island in the southern part of the country.

The municipalities of Olutanga, Talusan, and Mabuhay on the island, which is under the Zamboanga Sibugay province, will serve as pilot areas.

By Maya M. Padillo

UNRIVALLED

Obiena completes SEAG pole vault 3-peat

Despite unfavourable conditions, the Philippines’ Ernest John “EJ” Obiena captured his third Southeast Asian Games men’s pole vault gold medal in record-breaking fashion.

With the heavy rainfall inside the Morodok Techo National Stadium delaying the final for more than an hour, Obiena remained unfazed as he broke his own SEA Games record thrice, jumping over

the bar at 5.55 meters, 5.60 meters, and finally at 5.65 meters.

“It’s something that I would make personal, I was done and finished but not good,” Obiena said of his

win. “But just as I’ve said, I came here to win.”

Obiena’s victory was a momentous occasion for him and the Philippines, as he secured his third consecutive gold medal in the SEA Games pole vault competition.

Not only that, but he also set a new Games record, surpassing his previous record of 5.46 meters set in Hanoi last year.

The rain, which had been torrential and unseasonal, was a welcome relief from the intense heat that had been plaguing the area for days.

In fact, Obiena even commented on the weather, saying, “What a way to start my outdoor season.”

Despite the unfavorable conditions, Obiena remained focused and determined to give his best performance. His perseverance and hard work paid off as he emerged victorious over his competitors.

Thailand’s Kasinpob Chomchanad and Patsapong Amsamrng clinched the silver and bronze medals respectively with identical efforts of 5.20 meters.

The quartet of Michael Del Prado, Jessel Lumapas, Umajesty Williams, and Robyn Brown added a bronze to the squad’s meager harvest on the first day at the Stadium with a thirdplace finish in the mixed 4×400 meters relay with a time of 3:23.69 on a close race.

Vietnam captured the title by finishing at 3:21.17, almost two seconds ahead of silver medalists Thailand who ended at 3:23.02.

Obiena’s fellow Tokyo Olympian Kristina Knott could not reclaim her women’s 200 meters crown after missing out entirely on a podium finish with a time of 23.79 seconds.

Knott, who also participated in the same event in the 2020 Olympics, had a good start at the first 100-meter bend, but reigning champion Shanti Veronica Pereira zoomed at the straight to pocket her second straight gold and her third overall.

Pereira bagged the title with 22.69, while Vietnam’s Thi Nhi Yen Tran (23.54) and Malaysia’s Zaidatul Husniah Zulfiki (23.30) rounded up the podium in the event of the Games.

The Philippines’ Ernest John “EJ” Obiena captured his third Southeast