Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 331 | Tuesday, May 16, 2023

EARLY PREPARATIONS

DCPO starts crafting security measures for Kadayawan 2023

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson

Police Major Catherine dela Rey said on Monday that early security measures are being discussed for the upcoming Kadayawan sa Davao 2023.

She said it is still a bit early but it is better to start the preparations now than later so that no one misses out in terms of safety.

She said it is also important to prepare early to ensure zero-crime incidents during the festivity.

“Ang ginahinahinay ug panday para sa security measure kay sa August nga Kadayawan sa Davao festival. Abtik man ang city government of Davao and security cluster para mahan-ay kay dili ta magkara kara kay para wala tay malimtan. Naa tay series of

City gov’t of Davao’s mobile library extends services to private schools

meetings para makita kung unsay kailangan. Kay ginapaningkamutan nato nga everytime naa tay big events dapat zero crime incidents,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

In last year’s Kadayawan celebration, there were 10,000 security personnel deployed for the official Kadayawan activities.

Dela Rey said it is the mandate of DCPO director Colonel Alberto

FEARLY, P8

Three key NPA leaders in Mindanao killed in clash

The communist New People’s Army (NPA) suffered a major blow following recent military operations that killed three key leaders of the rebel group in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.

Maj. Francisco Garello, chief of the Public Affairs Division of

the 4th Infantry Brigade, in a statement released on Sunday, said massive military operations were launched in Sitio Katarungan, Barangay Lobo, Cantilan on May 11.

Troopers from the Army’s 30th and 36th Infantry Battalions under the 901st Infantry Brigade

engaged at least 30 NPA rebels belonging to the combined elements of Sentro De Grabidad 16 (SDG-16) and remnants of Weakened Guerilla Front 16 (WGF-16) of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) which operates in Surigao del Sur.

FTHREE, P8

Aside from delivering services to public schools in far-flung areas, the Davao City mobile library is now also accepting requests from private schools that wish to be visited by the City Library and Information Center’s (CLIC) book mobile bus.

CLIC-Book Mobile Library focal person Arniel Enoc, in an interview during the Madayaw Davao program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Friday, said the mobile library prioritizes bringing its services to the public schools in far-flung baran-

gays in the city.

As of May 2023, the book mobile bus had visited 47 public schools around the city.

After completing their yearround schedule of public school and remote barangay destinations, the mobile library has also granted requests from private institutions in the city.

“Nagpadayon lang gihapon atong mga services didto sa mga eskwelahan. Naga-extend na among mga services sa mga private schools na pud kay daghan FCITY, P8

Mass exhumation in Tagakpan cemetery to start on May 29

The City Economic Enterprise (CEE) will begin the mass exhumation of around 315 remains in the Tagakpan Public Cemetery on May 29.

The exhumation is part of the preparatory stages for the second phase of the CEE’s P85-Million renovation program for the Tagakpan cemetery.

“Nagpahibalo mi sa general public na mag-conduct mi og mass exhumation sa Tagakpan Public Cemetery. Kani, in prepa-

ration sa phase two sa atong project, (We are informing the general public that we are conducting a mass exhumation in Tagakpan Public Cemetery. This is in preparation for the phase two of our project),” said CEE Head Maximo Macalipes in an interview with the media on Monday.

The first phase of the rehabilitation program, which costs around P50 Million of the total budget, is now at 99 percent comFMASS, P8

Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, who will be the guest speaker for this year’s National Executive Board (NEB) annual convention of the recognized employees’ union of the Philippine Port Authority (PPA), says he is honored to talk to the employees of the PPA who have exerted great efforts to improve port operations in the country. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao City ranks tops HIV incidence for same sex partners: FPOP report

By MAYA M. PADILLO

PPA invites OPAMINE to annual convention

The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Sec. Leo Tereso

Magno will be the guest speaker for this year’s National Executive Board (NEB) annual convention of the recognized employees’ union of the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) to be held in Davao City on Wednesday.

During the convention, the newly-elected nationwide Port Management Officers (PMO) will undergo a leadership development training program to enhance their leadership skills.

As the guest speaker of the event, Magno said that he is honored to talk to the employees of the PPA who have exerted great efforts to improve port operations in the country.

Magno said that the PPA has contributed a lot to the economy of the country through its management and operation of a rationalized national port system in support of trade and national development.

Last year, the PPA remitted P4.44 billion dividends to the

national government which is 9 percent higher compared to its P4.08 billion remittance back in 2021.

Magno said that good management of the PPA of the ports in the country resulted to the boosting of the export industry in the Philippines. Hence, the leadership training will be beneficial to further enhance the regulation and management of the Philippine ports.

Last May 11, PPA Davao Port Manager Analee Aguila personally informed Magno of their invitation.

Aguila also relayed to Magno the developments of PPA Davao as well as her plans to further enhance their operations.

Magno said that he will continuously support the plans of PPA and will relay to the Office of the President through the Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., any concerns that the PPA wants to bring to the attention of the Marcos administration.

(OPAMINE)

Davao

City ranked on top of the report for highest incidence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases in the Davao Region for same sex partners according to the latest report by the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines-Davao (FPOP-Davao).

Herminigilda Escalante, FPOP-Davao spokesperson revealed on Monday that the HIV incidence among males who have sex with male partners continues to increase in the Davao Region with Davao City having the highest cases. Escalante told media

during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday that most of the persons involved in MSM are those in the “productive age” ranging from 25 to 35 years old men.

According to the FPOP-Davao Report, there are 1,096 cases

from the 25-35 years old age range recorded in the Davao Region followed by 15 to 24 years old diagnosed positive for HIV.

“Nganong taas man ang MSM? Sa among tan-aw tungod kay naay selling of body. Ang mga batan-on nga naa sa level nga inquisitive sila. Kanang mu-engage sila ug sex for fee ug dili lang simpleng pleasure. Ang isa sa among panglantaw tungod naay prostitution ug pagbaligya sa lawas sa mga batan-on na kalalakin-an. Naka experience pud ko ug class-

Nutrition council intensifies fight vs malnutrition in Davao Region

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) is intensifying the campaign against malnutrition in the Davao Region by establishing the Davao Region Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement.

The SUN movement aims to spur a whole-of-government and a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the malnutrition concerns that were aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic and other present global challenges.

Assistant Secretary and NNC executive director Azucena M.

Dayanghirang told the media on Monday that the movement will be tapping the academe and business sectors in Davao Region. The academe, according to her, will be composed of the deans, assistant deans of colleges and universities of food and nutrition of related courses in the region; and the business network will be composed of all the business establishments in Davao Region.

“The SUN is a movement that engages all sectors in the society, all government agencies, private

sector nga naay love, commitment, sa nutrition. All those who would like to help in one way or another how solve the malnutrition in the Davao Region. We will be inviting them. So long as they don’t have a conflict of interest. Meaning their company is not selling breastmilk substitutes like infant formula milk. Second, those who are not connected with tobacco companies,” she said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday at SM City Davao. F

Herminigilda Escalante of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines-Davao (FPOP-Davao) bares during this week’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence among men who have sex with men continues to increase in the Davao Region. Lean Daval Jr.

FDAVAO, P8

Remittance inflows rebound in March

Remittance inflows from overseas Filipinos rebounded in March from the nine-month low recorded in the previous month, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday showed.

Cash remittances or money transfers coursed through banks or formal channels were recorded at $2.671 billion, higher than the $2.569 billion in February and the $2.594 billion the same month last year.

This brought the first-quar-

ter cash remittances to $8.002 billion, 3% higher than the $7.771 billion recorded in the first three months of 2022.

“The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates contribut-

ed mainly to the increase in remittances in the first quarter of 2023,” the BSP said in an accompanying statement.

The United States posted the highest share of overall remittances during the period with 41.4%, followed by Singapore with 7.3%, Saudi Arabia with 5.8%, Japan with 5.1%, and the United Kingdom with 4.4%.

The United Arab Emirates accounted for 4.2%, followed

FREMITTANCE, P8

Vehicle sales hit more than 30K units in April

The Philippine automotive industry posted a slight decline in unit sales in April, but the sector remains on track to exceed pre-pandemic sales growth for the full year 2023, local manufacturers reported Monday.

A joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of

the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed that total new motor vehicle sales for the month hit 30,643 units.

This is 16.9% lower than the 36,880 units sold in March, but 21.8% higher than the 25,149 units sold in April 2022.

The highest number of units

Continued normalization of PH economy expected

An economist on Thursday said the domestic economic growth of 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023 surpassed expectations and is in line with normalizing base effects.

In a report, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said base effects played a big part in the slower growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), in the first three months this year “as there have been no more large lockdowns since 2022; compared to some pocket of lockdowns in 2021 that created a lower base/denominator for 2022,”

fourth quarter) 2023 and for full year 2023 and beyond,” he said.

Ricafort said favorable demographics remain among the economy’s growth drivers, noting that majority of the country’s more than 110 million population is “already at working age since 2015.”

“Before the pandemic, Philippine economic/GDP consistently grew by at least 6 percent from 2012-2019 due to the demographic sweet spot/dividend,” he said.

sold was seen in commercial vehicles with 23,326 units, followed by light commercial vehicles (LCVs) with 17,666; passenger cars with 7,317; Asian utility vehicles (AUVs) with 4,621; light trucks with 698; and trucks and buses with 341.

According to CAMPI presi-

The GDP expanded by 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Thus, as a result of normalizing base/denominator effects (also after the one-time election-related spending for 2022), Philippine GDP growth for the coming quarters could normalize further to around 5.5-6.5 percent for 2Q-4Q (second quarter to

Ricafort said one of the biggest growth drivers of the domestic economy in the first quarter this year is the lower individual income tax rates, which is part of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

He said the lower tax rates for most income brackets starting in January this year increased workers’ take home pay by around 3 to 5 percent.

“This could lead to increased

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) receives a miniature Malampaya Power Plant from Enrique Razon Jr. (right) of Prime Infrastructure Capital after the signing of the renewal of the Malampaya Service Contract No. 38 (SC 38) at the Malacañang Presidents Hall on Monday (May 15, 2023). The 25-year production contract, which expires on Feb. 22, 2024, has been renewed for a final 15 years or until Feb. 22, 2039. (PNA photo by Rey Baniquet)

PH records 2M int’l arrivals from Jan to May 2023: DOT

DA working on bringing onion prices down, mulls importation

Amid the rising prices of onions in select markets, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it is studying all options, including possibly importing the commodity, to lower its cost.

Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said they are coordinating with onion farmers to determine how they could lower the farmgate price, which currently stands at P100 to P120 per kilo.

“Medyo mataas talaga ang ating farmgate price ngayon. Tinitignan natin kung paano, kung pwede talagang i-peg na lang sana sa P100 [per kilo] ang farmgate kung saan nakabawi na ating mga magsasaka, may margins na sila,” she said.

(Onion’s farmgate price is really quite high now. We are looking at how or if we could peg the farmgate price at P100 per kilo, where our farmers already have their margins.)

She said the DA also has to monitor the inflow and outflow of onion stocks in cold storage facilities, and check ports and markets to determine if there are smuggled onions being sold.

“Sa ngayon, wala naman tayong nakikitang imported na mga sibuyas. Pero all the angles are

ThePhilippines recorded more than 2 million international arrivals in the first half of 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Sunday, noting that the number surpassed its baseline target last year.

being looked into para we are working on bringing down the price of onions para sa ating consumers,” Evangelista said.

(Right now, we don’t see any imported onions. But all the angles are being looked into, so we are working on bringing down the price of onions for our consumers.)

According to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on Saturday, the supply of red onions in the country is enough to last until November, while that of white onions can last until September.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Sunday called on the government to import white onions by July to avert a possible shortage and price increases. As for red onions, the group said the importation could be done at a later time.

Evangelista said the DA will consider importing the commodity for price stability purposes. She, however, did not provide an estimated date as to when this will take place.

“Siyempre, kailangan nating ma-maintain ang supply. At the same time, we will check ‘yung supply, nakakarating mismo sa palengke. ‘Pag ito ay sapat, ang presyo natin ay magiging stable,” she said.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the country recorded 2,002,304 international visitor arrivals from Jan. 1 to May 12, 2023.

This, Frasco noted, exceeded the DOT’s target of 1.7 million foreign visitors for the entire 2022.

Almost a quarter of the international arrivals were from South Korea, with 487,502 or 24.35 percent of foreign visitors coming from that country alone.

Also topping the list of foreign arrivals to the Philippines are the following:

• United States: 352,894

• Australia: 102,494

• Canada: 98,593

• Japan: 97,329

• China: 75,043

• Taiwan: 62,654

• United Kingdom: 62,291

• Singapore: 53,359

• Malaysia: 36,789

The tourism department also recorded P168.52 billion in in-

bound visitor receipts from January to April, over 700 percent higher than the P19 billion in tourism revenues generated in the same period last year.

Frasco said that the development reflected Filipinos’ resilience amid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which she also said did not “diminish the beauty of the Philippines.”

“Because of the priority given for Philippine tourism by the Marcos Administration, we’re very optimistic for the prospects of our country in terms of being a tourism powerhouse in Asia anchored on the strength of our Filipino culture as well as the values of sustainability, resilience, and global competitiveness,” Frasco said.

Oil prices up today

Motorists will have to pay more for petroleum products this week, as oil firms on Monday announced upward adjustments following three straight weeks of rollbacks.

In separate advisories, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Seaoil Philippines Corp. said they will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P0.35, diesel by

P1.40, and kerosene by P1.20. Cleanfuel will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which it does not carry.

The changes will take effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, for all the firms except for Cleanfuel which will implement the adjustments at 4:01 p.m. the same day.

The Department of Energy

(DOE) earlier said prices are expected to increase this week due to the decline in the inventory in the United States.

Latest data available from the agency indicate a year-todate net increase of P3.85 per liter for gasoline, and net decreases of P7.05 per liter for diesel, and P7.50 per liter for kerosene as of May 9, 2023.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco says the country recorded 2,002,304 international visitor arrivals from Jan. 1 to May 12, 2023. Lean Daval Jr.

On the establishment of the Davao Region Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement to fight On the fight malnutrition in the Davao Region:

SUN

a movement that engages all sectors in

Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN

PANES Director of Sales

D. MARATAS Finance

JASPER V. BACSAL General

S.

GREGORIO GARAY DELIGERO Editorial Consultant

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

MOSES BILLACURA Sports Editor

“The

is

the society, all government agencies, private sector nga naay love, commitment, sa nutrition. All those who would like to help in one way or another how solve the malnutrition in the Davao Region. We will be inviting them. So long as they don’t have a conflict of interest. Meaning their company is not selling breastmilk substitutes like infant formula milk. Second, those who are not connected with tobacco companies.”

Assistant Secretary

AZUCENA M. DAYANGHIRANG

Wars are present anywhere, everywhere. In Europe, there is an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. In Mindanao, there is a battle against communist fighters and the government’s military troops.

But there is a kind of war that has been fought since the time of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve who killed Abel. We are referring to erosion, defined as “the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.”

Erosion occurs naturally but it is accelerated up to 1,000 times, according to some studies, by unsustainable human activities like farming and removal of forest cover.

Cain was the second farmer – next to his father, of course. Although it was not written in the Bible, he definitely cut those trees in order for him to plant crops. By the time he started tilling the land, erosion also happened.

Human-induced erosion is mainly caused by farming (particularly kaingin or slash-andburn agriculture), removal of vegetative cover, down-slope tillage, overgrazing, deforestation, land levelling, and improper land-use changes, the UN

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

Erosion is a kind of war that farmers cannot defeat. They can’t win the war. Perhaps, the problem could be solved only if farmers stop tilling the land. But that’s impossible since man has to eat.

“Soil erosion is agriculture’s enemy: a major environmental threat to sustainability and productivity with knock-on effects on the climate crisis and food security,” observed the Washington, D.C.-based World Resources Institute (WRI).

Topsoil is the single most important resource on farmland; it is more valuable than gold or oil. Topsoil is built up over time. Reportedly, it takes 200 to 1,000 years to form 2.5 centimeters of the nutrient-rich soil.

Topsoil, which lies closest to the surface of the land, is the layer susceptible to erosion. On the average, farmlands are losing 2.5 centimeters of topsoil every 16 years, or 17 times faster than it can be replaced.

“Soil is related to the earth as much as the rind is related to an orange,” explained an American geologist. “It is the link between the rock core of the earth and the living things on its surface. It is the foothold for the plants to grow. Therein lies the main rea-

son for our interest in soil.”

Soil erosion is a war that should be addressed now. “(It) is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” said Harold R. Watson, former director of the Davao del Sur-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC). “It is a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.”

In the Philippines, soil erosion is a major agricultural and environmental problem. As early as 1989, the World Bank had already recognized soil erosion as the country’s “worst environmental problem.”

Soil erosion occurs mostly in upland areas. About 17.6 million hectares (59%) of the 30 million hectares of the Philippines are classified as public lands or forest lands with slopes of equal to or greater than 18%. Now, all lands with a slope equal to or greater than 18% comprise the country’s uplands.

It has been reported that 11.45 million hectares are vulnerable areas to erosion. These are sloping areas which are not practicing soil and water conservation measures. Also included are sloping areas with minimal vegetative cover.

The remaining 2.6 million hectares are classified as hotspots. These refer to areas requiring immediate interventions or priority areas for land conservation measures. Classified also under this category are agricultural areas, greater than 18% slope with severe erosion, and denuded forests, shrubs and grasslands with slopes of more than 18%.

Dr. Simplicio M. Medina, in his report, The State of Agriculture in the Philippines, identified the following areas as heavily eroded: Cebu (386,717 hectares), Bohol (271,739 hectares), Masbate (269,147 hectares), Batangas (262,762 hectares), and Abra (259,410 hectares).

The FAO database showed agriculture alone contributes about 457,000,000 metric tons of soil loss per year.

“The soil erosion problem in the Philippines is quite pronounced,” FAO said. “The problem is aggravated by heavy rainfall, improper land use and management, excessive and improper logging, shifting cultivation and road construction.”

Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf, authors of Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy, argued that erosion affects crop production in two

ways. “The loss of topsoil reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure,” they explained.

“It also increases the costs of food production. When farmers lose topsoil, they may increase land productivity by substituting energy in the form of fertilizer. Hence, farmers losing topsoil may experience either a loss in land productivity or a rise in costs of agricultural inputs,” they added.

The MBRLC has developed a farming system that could help arrest soil erosion. It is called Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT). Here, two rows of different nitrogen fixing trees and shrubs are planted closely to stop soil from eroding. Crops are planted in between these hedgerows.

Watson received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for international understanding for “encouraging international utilization” of this scheme in Asia and other parts of the world.

Although Filipino farmers have already the tool against their unseen enemy, many still repudiate the solution.

There must be a reason and I would like to know why.

DAVAO’S PART IN THE 9/11 ATTACK

September 11, 2001, also known as the 9/11 attack, will always be recalled as the date when the Islamist extremist network al-Qaeda, founded and funded by Saudi Arabian-born Osama bin Laden, bombed New York’s World Trade Center.

2,996 people, including 19 hijackers, perished in the tragedy.

Against this jarring world event, little is said about the minute part Davao City played in the lead to the botched assassination of John Paul II (now a saint) while visiting the Philip-pines in 1995, and the execution of the Bojinka plot, a plan designed to bomb commercial planes in mid-air. (In Serbo-Croatian, bojinka means ‘big noise.’)

In 1991, four terrorists and an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG, ‘Bearer of the Sword’) leader who later cooperated with the Philippine

National Police (PNP) converged in Davao in early 1991.

In an interrogation done five years later, Edwin Angeles, the ASG commander, told the police authorities that during the meeting held at the Del Monte labeling factory, the topic discussed was “training on bomb making and handling.” Present during the discussion were Terry Nichols, Ramzi Yousef, Wali Khan Amin Shah, Abdul Hakim Murad, and Angeles.

Nichols, introduced to Angeles as a “farmer,” was an American domestic terrorist tagged co-conspirator in the Oklahoma City (US) truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building States, on April 19, 1995. The tragedy resulted in the death of 168 people.

Originally from Baluchistan, Pakistan, Murad, a close friend of

Yousef, earned his com-mercial pilot’s license after training at flight schools in the United States. Also from Baluchi-stan, Yousef, whose real name is Abdul Basit, grew up in Kuwait and graduated at a U.K. engineering school. He also enrolled at the University of Dawa and Jihad, an al Qaeda train-ing camp in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Shah, a close friend of Osama, handled the logistics of the operations.

Peter Lance, in “1000 Years for Revenge: International Terrorism and the FBI” (2004), describes Shah as an ethnic Uzbeki from the town of Miriam Shah, Pakistan, “who fought alongside bin Laden against the Russians” and had incomplete digits.

“The backs of his legs,” Lance wrote, “were deformed from the shrapnel of Soviet mines, and three fingers were missing from

one of his hands. The thirty-eightyear-old Shah was macho, audacious, and athletic. Each day he did elaborate calisthenics to stay in shape, in-cluding pailful leg scissors that he performed while balanced on his head. Later, in custody, he would make two daring jailbreaks.”

The book did not say what month in 1991 the meeting of terrorists occurred in Davao City. Most likely, it transpired after visiting Abdurajak Janjalani, the ASG founder, in Basilan, Sulu.

Angeles, later assassinated, told probers it was Mohammad Jamal Khalifa, brother-in-law of bin Laden, who helped organize and fund the ASG by channeling money through several Philippine charities. This was later confirmed by The Christian Science Monitor, in an October 26, 2001, dispatch (‘The Philippine branch

of terror’).

Interestingly, there is no bit of news about the gathering of terrorists in Davao or if the in-telligence community even had knowledge about it. The meeting took place two years after the ASG, recognized by the Islamic State as the Islamic State–East Asia Province, a Jihadist militant and pirate group that follows the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam, was founded.

Elmina Abdul, a wife of Angeles and government mole, revealed before her death in 2002 that another meeting took place in 1994 among terrorists in a warehouse near Dole Philip-pines, in South Cotabato, attended by Janjalani, two Moro Islamic Liberation Front members, and two Americans, Nichols and likely Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma bombing master-mind.

EARLY... FROM 2 DAVAO... FROM 3 THREE... FROM 2 TATUM... FROM 11

Lupaz to ensure zero-crime incidents during big events in Davao City.

Meanwhile, dela Rey assured that Davao City has no direct threat from terrorist groups, however, she assured that DCPO is not lowering its guard when it comes to safety.

“So far sa report sa intelligence community sa davao region no direct threat sa mga terorista pero wala naga lower ug guard si DCPO.In partnership with Task Force Davao naga conduct ta ug random simulation exercises,” she said.

CITY... FROM 2

pud na mga private schools

karon ang naga-request sa among services sa book mobile (We still continue our services in the schools. We have also extended our services to private schools because a lot of them have sent request for our book mobile services),” Enoc said.

According to Enoc, the mobile library bus is always met with warm welcome by the students and teachers of each school it visits. He said that educators are always thankful for the additional reading materials the mobile library lends to their students, which encourage the pupils to read and discover their appreciation for literature.

Enoc added that schools, whether public or private, need only to send their letter of request addressed to the city librarian in order to receive the services of the mobile library.

During a visit from the Book Mobile Library, pupils from public and private schools may borrow the books in the mobile library bus, participate in a reading activity with the mobile library staff, and engage in emergency preparedness lectures and demonstrations.

Another bus will also be added to the Davao City Book Mobile Library later this year, said Enoc, bringing the total number of mobile library buses to three. CIO

VEHICLE... FROM 4

dent Atty. Rommel Gutierrez, the recent figures reflect the market availability of a wider range of

motor vehicles offered by the members.

“As the economic outlook remains favorable, the auto industry is optimistic to attain full recovery from the pandemic-induced challenges — well-position to grow to significant levels, even higher than the pre-pandemic figures,” he said in an accompanying statement.

“It is worth noting that the industry has already recorded this growth trajectory in the past four months compared with the 2019 levels,” he added.

The latest figures brought the year-to-date sales to 127,927

Alberto Castaneda (alias Justine or JD), commander of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C of WGF16; Eric Mahinay Colon (alias Neo), political guide of Squad 1, SDG-16; and Ranjie Pertos (alias Goyong), vice squad leader of SDG-16, all under NEMRC, were killed during the gunfight.

Firearms recovered from the encounter site include one R4 rifle, one M16 rifle, one Ultimax 100, one AR-18 rifle, and three AK47 rifles.

Prior to that, a separate encounter was launched on May 10 in the mountainous area of Barangay San Jose, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, where Army troopers clashed with an undetermined number of NPA rebels.

The government troops recovered from the encounter site firearms magazines with ammunition, six blasting caps with a 30-meter detonating cord for an anti-personnel mine, 13 backpacks, communications and electronic devices, medical supplies, and subversive documents.

Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said the recent defeat suffered by the NPA will further weaken its strength, capabilities, and influence in the Caraga Region.

“The 4ID, with its strong commitment, will continue to carry on with its mandate of protecting the people and facilitating inclusive development to sustain peace and security in the Caraga Region,” Cuerpo said. (PNA)

NUTRITION...

FROM 3

An orientation for SUN establishment in Davao Region will be conducted on Tuesday.

Sixty-five nations, including four Indian states, have joined the SUN Movement, which seeks to eradicate all types of malnutrition by the year 2030. The nation is actively launching the movement across the nation via the Department of Health (DOH) and NNC. Maya M. Padillo

units, reflecting a 28.1% increase from 99,903 in the comparable period in 2022.

MASS... FROM 2

pletion rate and will be turned over for operations this year.

The first phase of the Tagakpan cemetery consists of 320 units of compartmentalized niches, 560 ossuary units, 174 mass graves, a Muslim cemetery, open space for Muslim burial, bone depository, administrative building, guard houses and security lights.

The second phase includes additional compartmentalized niches, ossuary niches, perimeter fence, entrance/exit gate, road concreting, drainage system, columbarium, and a chapel.

Families and descendants of decedents to be affected by the renovation are advised to visit the Tagakpan Public Cemetery to sort out what is to be done to the remains of their loved ones.

Macalipes said families may opt to have the remains deposited to the cemetery’s bone depository until the completion of the rehabilitation of Tagakpan Public Cemetery. They can choose to rebury the remains of their loved ones in other cemeteries. Cremation is also an option.

The city’s crematorium has recently opened its services for the remains of non-COVID 19 patients, Macalipes said, and can now accept exhumed bones. Exhumed bones can be cremated in the city’s crematorium for P10,000.

Descendants and those concerned need only to visit the Tagakpan Public Cemetery so they can be assisted by the staff to prepare for and schedule the exhumation of the remains of their loved ones. CIO

REMITTANCE...

FROM 4

by Canada with 3.1%, Qatar with 2.7%, Taiwan with 2.7%, Hong Kong with 2.5%, and other countries with 20.9%.

Meanwhile, personal remittances — the sum of transfers sent in cash of in-kind via informal channels — hit $2.973 billion in March, up 3.0% from $2.888 billion in March 2022, and up from $2.860 billion in February.

Year-to-date personal remittances also climbed 3% to $8.905 billion from $8.646 billion.

room based nga HIV 101 muingon gyud ang mga bata kung wala silay baon ug wala silay ipalit sa ilang school project muingon gyud sila mamayot sa mi. Unya popular kaayo ning P150. Mao ni ang disclosures sa atong mga magtutuon nga naa sa public school. Meaning ang komunidad sa LGBT community mao gyud pangwartahan sa mga batan-on nga wala pa naka discover sa ilahang sexuality. Naa gyud prostitution ug hisgutangan pakighilawas nga dili hetero,” Escalante said.

Escalante said they will be strengthening their classroom-based HIV 101 prevention campaign in the 10 big schools in the Davao Region. In Davao City, the top 5 schools are Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DRANHS), Davao City High School (DCHS), Sta. Ana High School, Bangoy National High School, and Bustamante National High School.

“Engaged nami aning mga tulunghaan,” she said.

Meanwhile, Escalante said that in 2022 they eyed to reach out to 19,000 HIV patients particularly those MSM cases for screening and testing, diagnosis and treatment in the Davao Region. However, only 16,000 were reached for screening and testing.

“Meaning aduna tay 3,000 na gap na wala nato na reachout sa kani nga komunidad nga dapat ma screen ug ma test ug naa pud 500 for follow up meaning undergoing treatment pero wala na nibalik,” Escalante said.

On May 21, 2023, the country will be celebrating the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Two of these include remembering those who have died of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and honoring the people who have dedicated their lives to helping those living with and affected by H.I.V.

In Davao City, the celebration, which will be held at Marfori Park, will be spearheaded by FPOP and the Alliance Against AIDS in Mindanao.

“The event aims to remember those who died of HIV-related infection and to honor those individuals or groups advocating for people living with HIV,” said Michael Jesus Mahinay, executive director of ALAGAD Mindanao Inc.

CONTINUED...

FROM 4 consumer spending, which accounts for at least 75 percent of the economy, and, in turn, lead to faster economic/GDP growth; to also help ease the adverse effects of higher prices/inflation recently,” he added.

Ricafort said the expected easing in the rate of price increases in the coming months, with monetary authorities eyeing the return of inflation rate to within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target band starting in the last quarter of this year, is also a plus to domestic economic output.

He, however, said risks to inflation remain and these include the impact of looming El Niño, which is expected to lower agricultural output and increase prices.

Authorities said the dry spell is seen to start around June or July this year and last until the first quarter of 2024.

“Possible cut in Fed (Federal Reserve) and local policy rates for the coming months of 2023 and in 2024 would also help reduce borrowing/financing costs and, in turn, support faster economic/ GDP growth,” he added. (PNA)

Tatum was subbed out of the game with three minutes left to a standing ovation from the crowd, which soon broke out in a “Beat the Heat!” chant. Miami beat Boston in six games in the 2020 East finals and the Celtics took a seven-game matchup last season.

“It’s the best time of the year,” Tatum said. “As a competitor, I love the opportunity.”

Newly crowned NBA MVP Joel Embiid scored 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting, and Tobias Harris scored 19 for Philadelphia. The Sixers lost in the conference semifinals for the third straight year, and the fifth time in six seasons; they have not gotten any farther since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001 despite “The Process” — tanking their way to four top-three draft picks in a row, including Embiid.

“I thought we had the right group. I really did,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, who was on the Boston bench when the Celtics won it all in 2008. “We played great all year and this loss absolutely diminishes what we did this year in some way. ... I think this team is headed right. I thought we took another step this season. And then tonight I think we took a step backward. But that’s OK. That happens, too.”

Tatum started 0 for 6 in a Game 5 loss and missed 14 of his first 15 shots overall from the floor in Game 6 before making four 3-pointers in the final 4:14 to force the decisive seventh game.

He picked up where he left off, scoring Boston’s first basket and 11 points in the first quarter, 14 more in the second and outscoring the Sixers on his own, 17-10, in the third. The 33-10 edge in the third was the most lopsided quarter in a Game 7 since at least 1997.

“JT just got it going and get out of that man’s way,” Brown said. “He got it rolling, and there’s nothing they could do to stop him.”

BANGED-UP BROWN

Brown began the game with the black mask he has worn since breaking a bone in his face before the All-Star break. He took it off and soon absorbed an elbow to the face from James Harden, who was assessed a flagrant foul.

Brown continued without the mask but finished the half with cotton in his left nostril. He also played with an edge, making both foul shots and following it with a steal and layup as Boston went on a 9-0 run to erase a 35-26 deficit.

Brown also dove into the Sixers bench to save a ball, then had words with the bench after Georges Niang grabbed his leg and kept him from getting back on the court. Both players were given technical fouls.

Williams followed the commotion with a layup that tied the score 35-all.

“Nothing like a shot to the face to wake you right up,” Brown said.

WHAT’S UP, DOC?

Rivers is 6-10 in seventh games. The 10 defeats are five more than any other NBA coach and three more than the NHL’s Mike Babcock and Bruce Boudreau. His teams are 6-16 in their last 22 chances to close out an opponent in a playoff series.

Asked if he expected to be back next year, Rivers said: “Yeah. I think I got two years left. No one is safe in our business and I get that.”

Harden also could be gone if the Sixers opt for an overhaul. He has the opportunity to become a free agent this offseason.

Tatum leads Celtics to East Finals with epic Game 7 win

BOSTON

— Jayson Tatum gave Boston a long-overdue fast start and followed it up with a finish the NBA had never seen before.

After struggling in back-toback games, Tatum erupted for 51 points – the most in a Game 7 in history — and the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 on Sunday (Monday, Manila time) to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second

straight year. One game after missing 14 of his first 15 shots only to awaken in the fourth quarter in time to save their season, Tatum scored 25 in the back-and-forth first half and 17 more in Boston’s 3310 third quarter that turned a

three-point lead into a runaway.

The Celtics, who lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, will face the Miami Heat in the East finals for the second straight season. Game 1 is on Wednesday in Boston.

“I was relieved just to get another chance. Our season could have been over after Game 6,” said Tatum, who broke the Game

FRED C. LUMBA

SPORTS KEN

With its six naturalized American imports, Cambodia is a cinch to defeat Thailand in the cross-over semis.

Us? With Lady Luck smiling gladly for Chot, Gilas could sneak past Indonesia and therefrom secure a chance to avenge its group stage loss to the hosts.

But versus the Indons, it is still a big IF.

Gilas was swapping baskets with the defending champs as our press deadline came to bear on this scribbler.

At any rate, the lessons learned last year in Hanoi should be the key in Gilas’ re-

7 record of 50 points Stephen Curry set two weeks ago. “It definitely was on my mind that I had played as bad as it could get, for 43 minutes.

“We had a saying: ‘It’s only up from here.’”

Tatum added 13 rebounds and Jaylen Brown scored 25 points for Boston, which rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the series to keep alive their hopes for an

unprecedented 18th NBA championship.

“You always come into a series with the expectation of how it’s supposed to go,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who is in his first year as an NBA head coach after being promoted on the eve of training camp after Ime Udoka was suspended. “That’s not how the playoffs are.”

FTATUM, P8

GILAS COULD MEET CAMBODIA GHOST IN SEAG FINALS

demption campaign.

Otherwise, Chot and his coaching staff might again receive a dressing down from MVP that will shame the Tide commercial in comparison.

“Disgraceful” was the adjective used by the SBP chairman emeritus after Gilas’ loss to Cambodia.

I don’t want to employ strong words but Chot has lost his credibility after he allowed himself to be at the mercy of the heavily-laden import Cambodia quintet,

To trail by 21 points at one stage told the whole story.

Gilas was never in the game as Pinoy cage fanatics watched them struggle in the first quarter.

The Cambodians played with better teamwork and accurate outside shooting.

Reyes said Gilas’ murderous rampage over Singapore in the group elims was a “practice” session which he will employ in the cross over semis.

He expected Indonesia correctly to top the other group bracket and so with crossed fingers, let us pray JB, Christian, CJ et al overcome the opposition. I don’t subscribe to the su-

perstition that lightning never strikes the same place twice.

Lester Prosper, a former PBA import, is Indonesia’s main man. He must be getting paid handsomely, including a BIG bonus should they repeat over Gilas.

The hot and humid weather is also bothering our players, compounded by the slippery linoleum-felted floor in the cavernous gymnasium.

But be that as it may, Gilas still enjoys the edge.

We were already shooting at the basket when Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand were

yet to understand the rules of basketball.

Pinoys were the envy of Asia - including China, South Korea and Japan - when the likes of Carlos Loyazaga, Ed Ocampo, Carlos Badion and the others who followed their trail were dominating the Asian circuit from the fifties to the late sixties.

Now the changing cold reality is that our SEAG neighbors no longer hold us in such high esteem.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

Jayson Tatum erupted for 51 points – the most in a Game 7 in history.

Gilas Women turns back Malaysia to bag silver medal

Gilas Pilipinas settled for the silver medal in the women’s basketball tournament of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after beating Malaysia, 77-63, at the Morodok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh on Monday.

Owing to the round-robin format of the women’s tournament, Gilas and Malaysia figured in a virtual battle for silver in their final match of the tournament as they entered with identical records.

Janine Pontejos finished with 24 points and swished three triples in the process to lead Gilas women. She also had three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

The Gilas women finished with a 5-1 record in the tournament while gold medalists Indonesia swept the meet at 6-0.

Though falling short of their three-peat gold medal bid, Gilas women adds to Team Philippines’ haul with their silvers in the 3x3 and 5-on-5 tournaments.

In a game that saw the linoleum court needing to be fixed at halftime, the Gilas women relied on their defense late as the Malaysians halved the lead to 11, 69-58, late in the fourth salvo.

But a quick 6-0 run restored breathing space for the Nationals, punctuated by a Khate Castillo triple to extend the lead back to 17, 75-58, with 2:06 ticks left in

the ball game.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Philippines as they led by as many as 22 points.

Castillo provided the scoring off of the bench with 18 points in 17 minutes of action.

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Camille Clarin chipped in nine markers while Jack Animam added six points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

The Philippines in a huddle during the game against Malaysia.