Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 29 | Friday, May 19, 2023

FIBA UNVEILS GAME SCHEDULE FOR BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2023

Mayor Sebastian Duterte delivers a message during the opening of the 2nd Mindanao Development Forum organized by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) held at Acacia Hotel Davao on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

DESIGN DEFICIENT

Lack of required detailed engineering plan halts SIDC bridge project: lawyer

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The civil works of the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) bridge project were halted due to the lack of the required Detailed Engineering Design (DED), according to a lawyer of the affected property owners.

Ramon Edison C. Batacan, legal counsel of the Rodriguez family, told Edge Davao that the real reason why the civil works for the SIDC project were suspended is not the issue on the road rightof-way (ROW) but the lack of the required DED plan.

In October last year, the DPWH announced online that it

commenced the conduct of a land survey and geotechnical investigation using a boring machine with the government finally proceeding with the DED activities for the civil works construction of the long-awaited SIDC project.

“Work cannot commence without the detailed engineering plan. The Department of Public

Works and Highways (DPWH) cannot proceed without the DED, even without the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), but making the ROW as a scapegoat for the alleged suspension,” Batacan said.

Batacan confirmed on Tuesday that a petition for a TRO has been filed by the Rodriguez family before the Supreme Court to stop the construction of the SIDC project.

The nature of the petition is “continuing mandamus and prohibition,” Ramon Edison C. Bata-

FDESIGN, P6

Lingap aids over 76K clients since Jan. ‘23

Davao City’s Lingap Para sa Mahirap has assisted 76,735 clients from January 1 to May 16, 2023.

Lingap Para sa Mahirap Davao City main office senior social work associate Ytalia Karmili Bohol, during the Lingap sa DCDR: Lingap Para sa Mahirap program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired Wednesday, May 17, said Lingap has seen a surge in demand for its services since last year, with

59,559 individuals seeking assistance at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and 17,176 in private hospitals.

Bohol highlighted funeral and medical assistance as the most sought-after services among their clients.

“Daghana na gyud kaayo gaduol sa Lingap, both from private hospitals and SPMS. Since last year, nakita nato gadaghan na gyud ang mga tao karon nga gapangayo og tabang, halos half

pa lang sa tuig daghan na kaayo sila (Many people have approached Lingap, both from private hospitals and SPMC. Since last year, we have seen a lot of people asking for help, and we are still midway into the year, there are already too many of them),” Bohol said.

The Lingap Para sa Mahirap main office, along with its satellite offices, extends aid in various forms, including hospitalization

10ID vows to intensify internal security ops

The 10th Infantry (Agila) Division vowed to intensify its internal security operations despite the sustained generally peaceful status of the Davao Region during the Regional Peace and Order Council Region 11 (RPOC 11) meeting in Davao City on May 15, 2023.

During the security updates briefing presented by 10ID assistant chief of staff for Operations, G3, Colonel Victorino M Seño, 10ID intends to enhance the existing Integrated Territorial Defense System (ITDS) to prevent the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) resurgence in the region.

Agila Division intends to boost and further harmonize the existing partnerships with the local government units, government agencies, and stakeholders by continuously adapting effective mechanisms anchored to the whole-of-nation (WON) approach to maintain a peaceful environment.

In his message, 10ID commander Major General Jose Eriel M Niembra said that 10ID recorded zero CTG-related violent incidents and CTG activ-

ities from October 2022 to the present.

However, MGen Niembra said that 10ID monitored some non-government organizations (NGOs) in the isolated barangays attempting to influence the Indigenous People, especially in Talaingod.

“We were able to detect the presence in advance. So, as always, we should be watchful and vigilant. Even though we are already insurgency-free and wala nang armado on the ground, but still, the CTG has a recruitment arm that we still have to neutralize,” MGen Niembra added.

Present during the meeting were RPOC 11 Chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte; RPOC 11 ViceChair and 10ID Commander Major General Niembra; Department of Interior and Local Government 11 Director and RPOC 11 Head Secretariat, Director Alex Roldan; RPOC 11 Vice-Chair and Police Regional Office 11 Director Police Brigadier General Alden Delvo; and other officers from various sectors of the council. (10ID)

Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Tereso Magno says he hopes to see a better Mindanao through the efforts of the national agencies and in collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). Magno was one of the guest speakers during the 2nd Mindanao Development Forum organized by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) held at Acacia Hotel Davao on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

‘SITG Bragas’ activated to solve rape case of female architect

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) has activated the “Special Investigation Task Force (SITG) Bragas” for the speedy resolution of the rape with homicide incident involving a female architect at Purok 6, Barangay Dacudao, Calinan, Davao City on Wednesday.

The victim, 28-year-old Vlanche Marie Bragas, was found dead in a ditch of a banana plantation in Calinan District on Wednesday morning. The body was found face down under dried banana leaves in an open pit at the Subasta Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Agricultural Cooperative (SARBAC).

Based on the report of the Regional Forensic Unit 11, which conducted the autopsy examination at the St. Peter Funeral Parlor, the cause of death is due to asphyxia by manual strangulation. Likewise, the medico-legal evalu-

ation showed “evidence of recent penetrating genital trauma.”

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Col. Alberto Lupaz appealed to the youth that if they need to go out at night, make it a habit of letting their parents or family know where they are going as well as the vehicle they are riding so that they can be easily tracked down.

DCPO calls on anyone who could give information that will lead to the capture of the perpetrator/s, and to contact Davao City Police Office at 0998-598-7054, 0916-6592576, and (082) 227 - 5777.

Ex-rebels surrender in Paquibato District

Atotal of 44 former members of an insurgency group on Tuesday formally surrendered to the authorities in a ceremony at the Barangay Paquibato Proper Gymnasium.

The surrenderees were presented by the Peace 911 program, along with members of 10th Infantry Division-Agila, and were ceremonially turned over to the jurisdiction of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

The ceremony was attended by Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Eastern Mindanao Command Deputy Commander Brig-

adier General Consolito Yecla, Peace 911 Focal Person Atty. Jonah Presto and DCPO Deputy City Director PLt Col Jed Clamor.

Also in attendance were Public Safety and Security Office Head Angel Sumagaysay, lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office XI, CSWDO Head Judy Dayaday, Barangay functionaries, and other public officials.

In his speech, the mayor said the city government will ensure the livelihood of the surrenderees and their day-to-day living as law-abiding citizens.

Israeli envoy invites youth for internship program on agri

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines

Ilan Fluss urged young Dabawenyos to avail of their country’s internship program on agriculture.

Together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Israel is giving the youth a chance to go to Israel for an internship program in agriculture for 11 months.

“We are offering this program which we are going to do together with TESDA of sending interns to Israel in the agriculture sector. They can go to Israel for 11 months, they learn about agriculture and commercial farming,” Fluss told Edge Davao.

The interns will be working with Israeli farmers to learn and understand the best practices of modern farming. They will be receiving a salary for their work.

“By the end of the 11 months, they would submit a project proposal and when they come back home they will be able to save money because, in the five days a week of working, they get a salary as students. In Israel anybody who works, even if they are students, receives a student salary so they can save money, learn best practices, and when they come back here the idea is they can implement what they studied in Israel,” Fluss said.

This year, Israel is expecting to receive and invite 550 students from the Philippines to join this program in coordination with TESDA.

“It is more of a vocational training. The challenge is when they come back how to make sure that they are immersed into the sector. Because they are well-trained now, other countries like in Europe and New Zealand, recruit them. The idea is for them to come back here and work here,” Fluss said.

The program is open to all who have TESDA training. But Fluss said they are targeting younger people for the internship program.

“They have to be connected to agriculture like farming, working with cooperatives, they can be students graduating from agriculture, can be agriculturists, as long as they have the basic tools and understanding,” he said.

Interested applicants can get all the information at the website of TESDA.

“We are committed to continuing this program. I am going to talk to the Mayor (Baste Duterte) when I meet him including with this issue,” Fluss said.

Fluss also said Israel has been supFISRAELI, P6

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss urges young Dabawenyos to avail of Israel’s internship program on agriculture to learn and understand the best practices of modern farming. Lean Daval Jr.

On Israel’s offer for young Dabawenyos for an internship program in agriculture for 11 months:

“We are offering this program which we are going to do together with TESDA of sending interns to Israel in the agriculture sector. They can go

Israel for 11 months, they learn about agriculture and commercial farming.”

ILAN FLUSS Israel Ambassador to the Philippines

Our planet is getting warmer!

Here in the Philippines, we are experiencing hot weather that seems unbearable. It wasn’t this way before but we cannot deny that this year’s summer is hotter compared to last year. And it’s not getting better as the El Niño phenomenon is fast approaching.

I’m no expert on the matter, so allow me present some facts from the reliable pundits. So, you cannot surmise that what I am telling you here is just tittle-tattle. After all, as the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction!

The average global temperature on Earth has increased by at least 1.1°C since 1880, according to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The majority of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15°C to 0.20°C per decade.

“Every heatwave that we are experiencing today has been made hotter and more frequent because of climate change,” said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London who also co-leads the World Weather Attribution research collaboration.

Extra greenhouse gases (GHGs) – like carbon dioxide and methane – in our atmosphere are the chief reason that Earth gets warmer. It’s alright to have these GHGs in our atmosphere as they

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE VIA BLUE CARBON

help our planet warm enough to live on.

But excessive GHGs can cause too much warming. Just like what happens on Venus, where excessive greenhouse effect has elevated temperatures to extreme levels. And we don’t want that to happen to Earth.

To stop this from happening, experts say we need to lessen the emission of GHGs, particularly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. Or, sequester the swelling carbon dioxide now inhabiting our atmosphere.

More often than not, when you hear the words “carbon sequestration,” we often think of tropical rainforests. Unknowingly, oceans, marine plants and coastal ecosystems also play a vital role in removing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and storing it as organic carbon.

This idea led to the creation of “blue carbon.” Coined in 2009, it draws attention to the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems and the need to conserve and restore them to mitigate climate change and for the other ecosystem services they provide.

The Nobel-prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines blue carbon in these words: “All biologically-driven carbon fluxes and storage in marine systems that

are amenable to management.”

This refers to those rooted vegetation in the coastal zone, such as mangroves and seagrasses.

“These ecosystems sequester and store more carbon – often referred to as ‘blue carbon’ – per unit area than terrestrial forests,” explained the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). “The ability of these vegetated ecosystems to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere makes them significant net carbon sinks, and they are now being recognized for their role in mitigating climate change.”

If you are still having trouble understanding what blue carbon is all about, allow me to introduce Russell Christine B. Corcino of the Institute of Biology, College of Science at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

“Human beings exhale carbon dioxide and this exhaled carbon is being ‘inhaled’ by plants,” she explained. “Once inhaled, they use the carbon to make food and plant parts (leaves, stems, etc.), thus storing the carbon in their plant parts. They can also store it in the soil once they die or when plant parts fall off and get buried in the soil. The soil stores higher carbon than the plant parts.”

Seagrass meadows and mangrove forests have natural capac-

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

“Live simply so others may simply live.” - MUHAMMAD ALI.

*******

Healthy eating is the key to a quality, long life.

This is how I assess today’s contemporary lifestyle.

You are what you eat, right?

In simple, understandable layman terms, it is nutrition - the food one takes in produces the healthy person that one wants himself to be.

Conversely, you know what results if you do the opposite.

Some people assume that eating as much as you can devour to satisfy your hunger is just okay.

Yes, you get to witness this “habit” in ‘Eat All You Can’ restos because diners get so much pleasure in tasting all the food items they think are most delicious to their palate - and are available.

Senior citizens like me are choosy.

We try to avoid fatty foods like pork and beef because these are the items in the menu that have been prescribed by doctors to

avoid.

Lisa Young, PhD, adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University and author of “Finally Full, Finally Slim, suggests: “Choose just one food at a time to introduce more frequently to your diet and be sure to incorporate healthy foods you also enjoy.”

In my particular case, I start eating small like a pair of slice breads sandwiching a scrambled egg sprinkled with plenty of spring onions.

With coffee (I take one cup only a day), this is already my breakfast. I eat rice (1 cup) twice a day (lunch and dinner).

Audra Wilson, MS, bariatric dietitian at Northwestern Medicine Dlenor Hospital, recommends: “Use veggies as a snack with hummus or fruit and a lowfat cheese stick so you get some protein and fat.”

For a 75-year old, am proud to say I take no maintenance medicines.

I quit smoking in 1986 and my doctor friend said it was the best positive action I made for a healthy, disease-free living.

ity to sequester and store enormous amounts of so-called “blue carbon” in their sediments.

“As carbon sinks, they are a cheap and readily available natural resource useful in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change,” said the late Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, a marine scientist and author of several books and technical articles in refereed journals.

Mangroves and seagrasses can store or capture more than twice – or even four to five times than those forests growing in the uplands. As such, they largely contribute to “our goal of decreasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.” In simpler terms, they mitigate climate change and global warming.

Corcino is the lead author of the study, “Status, limitations, and challenges of blue caron studies in the Philippines: A bibliographic analysis.” Her four co-authors were Maria Elisa B. Gerona-Daga, Shaina C. Zamoza, John Kenneth R. Fraga, and Severino G. Salmo III.

Mangrove and seagrass ecosystems have been studied since the 1970s but only recently on its carbon storage capacity. “From our study, we computed that the amount of carbon stored in the country’s existing mangroves and seagrasses alone is around 80,000 times more than our carbon reduction commitments to

the United Nations,” Corcino explained in an exclusive interview.

They found out that the carbon storage rate of Philippine mangroves is at 400 Megagram per hectare (Mg/ha), while that of seagrasses is at 80 Mg/ha. “This rate is around half of the average global carbon storage rate,” she said, but added that the estimates were based on very few data points.

Despite their importance, they are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. They are being degraded or destroyed at four times the rate of tropical forests.

If these mangroves and seagrasses disappear, “their carbon sink capacity is lost or adversely affected, and the carbon stored is released, resulting in emissions of carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change,” the IUCN warned.

Healthy blue carbon ecosystems, by the way, also “provide habitat for marine species, support fish stocks and food security, sustain coastal communities and livelihoods, filter water flowing into our oceans and reef systems, and protect coasts from erosion and storm surges,” reminds the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

EATING HEALTHY, LIVING HEALTHY

Wilson has several advices. She said we must choose “clean” foods whenever possible such as whole foods that are nearest their natural form and those not of the heavily-processed or refined foods.

In Wilson’s long list are nuts, seeds, herbs, seafood, onions, sprouts, peas, avocado, sweet potato, squash, green beans, carrots, leafy greens, peppers, eggs, fish, turkey, chicken, bananas, coconut oils, mango, apples, kiwi, lemons, limes, grapefruits, berries and melons.

Young meanwhile stressed the need to know which are the food to avoid in order to eat healthy food.

“Stay away from ultra-processed foods high in sugar and salt.” She also suggested limiting outside dining especially in fastfood places.

Eating at home (which is my preference) is actually the best choice.

You can control and determine the right amount of salt and sugar you put in your home cooked recipe which you can’t

when you order food in a restaurant.

I have proven that fish and veggies are the ideal pair to consume rather than swapping fish for meat because the latter tastes better in the mouth.

One of the leafy veggies that provides me satisfaction is ‘saluyot’ which I mixed with mushroom, alugbati, malunggay (moringa) leaves, okra and spiced with shrimp.

I have noticed that Visayan households don’t relish cooking the malunggay fruit (horseradish) as much as I do. This has so much therapeutic value as it helps boost the immune system, prevent gout and ease swelling and inflammation.

Eating healthy should ideally be the basic principle that should underline our lives today as the issue of Coivid 19 refuses to die despite the WHO pronouncement that it is no longer a global threat.

I, for one, has not been bothered by the global panic it has caused but certain sectors continue to float the notion that Covid

19 infections are again on the rise (and here to stay).

If one habitually eats a healthy diet and is therefore healthy, you have a strong built-in immunity against Covid 19 and the virus will not affect you as it did to those who had weak constitutions.

Senior or younger, a person must eat healthy foods that are medically prescribed and have been scientifically proven to make a person healthy and add quality years to his life.

This is the basic foundational principle of eating healthy.

Sorry to say but many of my peers have gone ahead of this deadline beater.

As I looked back in retrospect, it is good that the realization about having healthy habits and eating healthy foods did not come late in my life.

I tip my hat to all the health experts whose advice and books they wrote I have listened to and read. God bless you all! (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

SoCot wants to take over electric co-op

Theprovincial government of South Cotabato has expressed interest to take control of an electric cooperative “to improve its services as well as lower the cost of electricity that’s burdensome to consumers.”

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. asked the management of the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative – I (Socoteco-I) to let the provincial government supervise management control of the distribution utility.

“There’s still a lot of wastage (system loss) that makes the price of electricity prohibitive to consumers,” Tamayo said in the vernacular on Monday’s “Governor Meets the Press.” “If they can’t lower the cost, they should give up the management to the

provincial government.”

With the provincial government taking control of Socoteco-I, Tamayo vowed to lower in the next few months to P10 per kilowatt hour (kWh) the present P16 per kWh charged by the electric cooperative to consumers.

He said that if the system loss “can be corrected,” the cooperative, if supervision will be under the provincial government, can earn an “income of between P40 to 60 million a month.

The system loss charge was

pegged at 1.4069 in March for residential consumers.

Tamayo also criticized the management of Socoteco – I, which is headed by general manager Raffee Edsel Epistola, for the intermittent brownouts suffered by the electric consumers in the past several months. Epistola could not be contacted for comments.

The governor noted that the high cost of electricity is hampering the entry of investors in the second district of South Cotabato, which forms the bulk of the cooperative’s service area.

South Cotabato’s second district comprises this city and the towns of Tantangan, Banga, Norala, Surallah, Sto. Nino, Lake Sebu and T’boli.

Gov. Medalla to e-wallet account holders: Be vigilant vs criminals

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla on Wednesday said digital banking in the country is secured but cited the need for account holders to be vigilant against criminals.

Citing the recent issue involving digital money service provid-

er GCash, wherein around PHP37 million worth of account holders’ money were transferred to two accounts in different domestic banks without the owners’ consent, Medalla said the cause of these incidents is phishing and not hacking.

“For some reason na na-con-

vince yung mga tao na ibigay yung OTP (one-time password) nila despite all the warnings na never share an OTP (For some reason the account holders were convinced to give their OTP despite warnings to never shares an OTP),” he told journalists here.

NEDA develops dashboard for implementation of IFPs

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is currently developing a public dashboard for infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) to enhance transparency and accountability among implementing agencies.

In a statement on Wednesday, NEDA said the dashboard aims to help identify and address constraints that may hinder the timely implementation of projects.

Earlier this year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved 194 high-impact IFPs worth PHP9 trillion, and around 123 projects will be initiated during the Marcos administration.

At present, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) tracks the progress of major transportation projects with respect to their right-of-way acquisition and construction.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), meanwhile, monitors the progress of strategic projects related to traffic decongestion, seamless and inclusive connectivity and sustainable and resilient com-

munities.

NEDA said the monitoring system for IFPs is one of the agenda during the meeting of the government’s newly-created Economic Development Group (EDG).

The EDG, co-chaired by the Department of Finance (DOF) and NEDA secretaries, held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday to discuss about pressing economic issues.

The potential impact of the looming El Niño crisis, slow global economic growth, and developing domestic industries were also discussed during the meeting.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and NEDA proposed preparatory activities to help farmers cope with the looming El Niño phenomenon.

These measures include retooling and strengthening the government’s disaster response, weekly monitoring of local field conditions, conducting regional assessments, ensuring adequate buffer stocks and promoting early planting for the dry season in water deficit areas.

Flavored yogurt is being prepared by a store attendant at an outlet inside a mall in Ecoland, Davao City on Thursday. Flavored yogurt is gaining popularity in city specially with the younger age group. Lean Daval Jr.

Govt mulls importing 8,000 metric tons of white onions

PBBM eyes reviving PhilSuCor to increase sugar production

President Ferdinand Marcos

Jr said his administration is looking to revive the Philippine Sugar Corporation or PhilSuCor, a government-owned and controlled corporation that was ordered to be abolished by his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018.

In a video message following his meeting with sugar industry stakeholders in Malacañang Wednesday, Marcos Jr said the revival of PhilSuCor was among the suggestions raised to boost sugar production and strengthen the local sugar industry.

“One of the suggestions that came up during the meeting was to revitalize PhilSuCor. PhilSuCor is Philippine Sugar Corporation. It provides financing for farmers especially for cooperatives and farmers’ association, ‘yung mga tinatawag na block. Ngayon hindi sila masyadong nakakapagtrabaho dahil they tried to abolish the PhilSuCor,” Marcos said.

Created in 1983, PhilSuCor provides funds for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and/or expansion of sugar mills, refiner-

ies, and other related facilities. However, in 2018, the GOCC was ordered abolished by former President Rodrigo Duterte because its functions supposedly overlap with the Sugar Regulatory Commission.

“Ngunit hindi na-abolish, nandiyan pa sila kaya’t bubuhayin natin, at babaguhin natin. Titingnan natin kung ano ‘yung mga pagbabago para makapag-adjust tayo dito sa sitwasyon natin ngayon and they would continue their work in providing assistance sa ating mga farmers, sa ating mga farmer groups,” he continued.

Marcos also reported that the administration has agreed with the stakeholders on an importation schedule for sugar, and how the government will ‘open up importation to all traders.’

But he reiterated that the government’s priority is still locally manufactured sugar.

“In the end, we will still continue to favor in terms of buying local production over importation,” he continued.

Thegovernment is “considering” importing 8,000 metric tons of white onions this year to stabilize prices, according to Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Glenn Panganiban.

The agency estimated that the country has 12,843 metric tons of white onions as of April, which will last until September. Stocks of red onions meanwhile were estimated to be at 98,394 metric tons, which may be sufficient to cover local demand until November, BPI said.

“Ang ating tinitingnan (What we’re looking at) is to have a buffer of 2 months,” Panganiban told the House Committee on Agriculture and Food on Wednesday.

Based on the Department of Agriculture’s monitoring, prices of onions range from P160 to P200 per kilo, according to DA

Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista.

Apart from “looking at” onion importation, the DA said there are also talks of imposing a standard retail price for onions to prevent a spike in onion prices.

“Pinag-uusapan pa ang SRP sa sibuyas. Pero mino-monitor pa namin ang presyo. We are looking at importation to stabilize and bring down the cost of sibuyas… Dapat nasa P150 per kilo,” Evangelista said.

ONION CARTEL?

During the hearing, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo urged law enforcement agencies

to look into the possibility of a “cartel” in the onion industry.

Quimbo believes the spike in onion prices last December to January was due to this alleged cartel.

“At the core of this, is an onion cartel theory, which is really about the Philippine Vieva Group of Companies Inc, a fully vertically integrated corporation, an SEC registered corporation established in 2013. Its incorporators are corporations that are involved in local trading, importation, cold storage, warehousing. It’s majority owner who appears to be Lilia or Leah Cruz. Sa madaling salita, hawak sa leeg ng Phil Vieva ang buong supply chain mula umpisa, which is farming, hanggang dulo, which is retail,” Quimbo said.

95M SIMs registered as of May 10: DICT

Atotal of 95 million SIMs have been registered as of May 10, Department of Information and Communication Technology Secretary Ivan Uy said on Thursday. The total is about 90 percent of the expected 100 to 110 million potential registrants out of the total 168 million active SIMs

in the country, Uy told Teleradyo. Uy said Filipinos should take advantage of the SIM registration deadline which was extended until July 26.

He said while the SIM registration is ongoing, Filipinos must remain vigilant to avoid becoming victims to scammers that are using fake SIM regis-

tration sites to collect personal data.

Official SIM registration must be done through official channels: Smart - smart.com.ph/simreg or simreg.smart.com.ph Globe - new.globe.com.ph/ simreg

DITO - https://digital.dito. ph/pto/download/app

Prices of commercial rice ranges between P43 to P45 at a community public market in Catalunan Grande, Davao City on Thursday. The prices of rice in Davao City are expected to go up in the coming days due to the looming

Niño.

NOTICE OF LOW WATER PRESSURE TO NO WATER IN SOME MALAGOS AREAS MAY 20, 2023

Davao City Water District advises the public of low water pressure to no water on May 20, 2023 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM in some areas served by Malagos Water Supply System.

Specific affected areas are portion of Malagos Road (from corner Purok 2-A Maharlika street to Eagle Sanctuary), New Cogan, Purok 2, Balay Kalipay, Purok 3-A, Hi Art Mountain Resort, Sitio Cogan, 73rd Infantry Batalion Camp, DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, BSP Camp, Dole Philippines Inc., and Malagos Garden Resort.

DCWD has to temporarily shut off the water supply in the affected areas to give way to the replacement of a flowmeter as part of preventive maintenance servicing works.

The DCWD management asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be-affected customers and advises them

to store enough water prior to the schedule. Water supply may be restored earlier if 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 at 0927-798-8966, 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)

DESIGN... FROM 2

can, one of the legal counsels of the Rodriguez family.

In circumstances involving the environment, a continued mandamus order will require a government agency or officer to carry out particular tasks following environmental laws and regulations. Additionally, it is a legal remedy that acknowledges the absence of any alternative prompt and suitable options under normal legal circumstances.

The petition maintained the contention that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) committed brazen violations of the law “to the utter prejudice of the environment and the rule of law, and without regard to the protected area status of the Samal Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, chief of which are the lack of a valid Protected Area Man-

ISRAELI... FROM 3

porting one school in Mintal, Davao City.

It can be recalled that in 2018, former Mayor Sara Duterte signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of “Excellence in Education: A Lighthouse Project” with PassItForward chairman Shmuel Weiss and witnessed by former Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau.

The project was designed to enhance education in Davao City public

LINGAP... FROM 2

and funeral bill assistance, dialysis, medical prescription support, and access to maintenance medicines.

Meanwhile, Gladys Blanco, a staff member at the Lingap Paquibato District satellite office, encouraged residents from the district’s 13 barangays to reach out to their office for assistance. She emphasized that doing so would save them time, money, and effort since the main Lingap office is located far from their area.

agement Board (“PAMB”) Clearance from the PAMB explicitly mandated by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, as amended by the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act before the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the SIDC Project; and the project implementation without the requisite permits and clearances DPWH undertook to secure as reported in the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project—Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Final 5 October 2020).

As of this writing, Edge Davao is waiting for any reaction and statement from the DPWH-Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations.

schools, starting with the Mintal National Comprehensive High School as selected by the Department of Education (DepEd).

The project aims to improve the delivery of quality education to Davao learners by providing capacity-building activities or training for the teachers on the Innovation, Science and Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (i-STEAM) curriculum. By Maya M. Padillo

“Dili na kinahanglan mumata sayo para mubyahe padulong sa downtown, dili na kinahanglan mugasto og dako sa pamasahe kay pwede na i-process nato diri ang assistance nga kinahanglan ninyo (No need to wake up early and travel downtown, no need to spend a large sum on transportation because we can process the necessary assistance you need right here),” Blanco said.

Butler fuels Heat to Game 1 win

Jimmy Butler’s 35 points and a scorching third quarter propelled the eighth-seeded Miami Heat to a 123-116 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference finals in Boston.

The Heat erased a 13-point second-quarter deficit to snatch home court advantage from the Celtics, out-scoring Boston, 4625, in the third period to seize control.

Jayson Tatum, the 51-point hero of Boston’s game-seven victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, scored 30 points, but he coughed up two crucial turnovers in the final minutes as the Heat turned the defensive screws.

Butler added five rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Bam Adebayo scored 20 points with eight rebounds and five assists and Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin and Kyle Lowry

each scored 15 points for Miami.

“Just shows the group of guys we have,” Butler told broadcaster TNT of the strong, balanced effort. “So many different guys step up in so many different ways, night-in, nightout, we’ve been doing it all year.”

Once again Butler got off to a hot start, his 12 first-quarter points marking his seventh game of these playoffs with a double-digit first period.

But it was a back-and-forth battle, neither team leading by more than four points in a first quarter that featured 13 lead changes and ended with the

Celtics up, 30-28.

Tatum heated up in the second quarter as the Celtics pushed their lead to as many as 13 points before taking 66-57 lead into the break.

Boston out-scored Miami, 40-16, in the paint in the first half, Marcus Smart keeping their aggressive offense clicking with 10 first-half assists -tying his career high for a half.

Robert Williams was among four Celtics players to score in double figures before halftime and his four offensive rebounds helped account for the Boston’s 11-2 advantage in second-chance points.

The Heat responded with a vengeance in the third and led by 12 going into the final frame. Bedeviled by 11 first-half turnovers, the Heat had just one in the third period as they dominated every facet.

‘Did our job’

Boston opened the fourth on a 7-0 run and were just four back with 2:31 remaining.

Martin drilled a corner three-pointer off a pass from Butler and after Tatum was whistled for traveling on backto-back possessions Butler drained a three-point dagger that put Miami up by 10 with 1:03 to play.

Miami made 16 of 31 threepoint attempts while the Celtics made just 10 of their 29 from beyond the arc.

Jaylen Brown, who scored 22 points for Boston, got a scare early in the fourth when a looseball scramble saw multiple players hit the court and he came up grimacing and holding his left forearm.

The Celtics will try to level the best-of-seven series when they host game two on Friday, but Butler said the Heat won’t be content to leave Boston

with a split of the first two games.

“We did our job tonight,” Butler said. “But we’ve got another one to get in two days.”

It’s the third time in four years that the Heat and Celtics are meeting in the conference finals.

Last year Miami were the top seeds in the East while this year the Heat shook off an injury-plagued regular season to come through the play-in and grab the eighth seed, knocking off the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

The Celtics, who edged Miami, 4-3, last year, are again seeded second as they try to get back to the NBA Finals after falling in the championship series last season to the Golden State Warriors.

The series winner will face either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers for the title.

Developmental team eyed to represent PH to next SEA Games

PHNOM PENH – If he can have his way, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes wants a developmental team to represent the country in the next Southeast Asian Games following their gold-medal conquest here last Tuesday.

Reyes said putting together a pool of young players that will prepare exclusively for the

SEA Games will be beneficial to the overall Gilas program while also enhancing the country’s chances of winning another gold medal in the biennial meet.

“I think this is for the good of Philippine basketball. I think we should bring younger players to the Southeast Asian Games,” Reyes said.

The past two SEA Games

saw PBA players reinforcing the squad.

Gilas settled for the silver in Hanoi last year but redeemed itself with an 80-69 win over Cambodia anchored on the excellent performance of naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who had 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

Reyes also suggested a longer

preparation time for the developmental team for the SEA Games.

“Hopefully, we can get together earlier, put a team to compete in the next one in Thailand (in 2025),” Reyes said.

Reyes, however, said the final decision rests with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

“It’s the SBP that’s going

to make that determination. That’s just my opinion,” Reyes said.

Reyes also reiterated he stepping away from coaching Gilas Pilipinas in the SEA Games.

“I promise I’ll never coach here in the SEA Games. At least, I was able to go out with a gold medal,” he said. (PNA)

Jimmy Butler (22) of the Miami Heat is defended by Marcus Smart (36) of the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman, Getty Images via AFP

FIBA unveils game schedule for Basketball World Cup 2023

FIBA has released the exact schedule of games for the upcoming Basketball World Cup 2023, which will be hosted by three countries.

The 19th edition of the FIBA World Cup will take place for the first time across three host nations in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.

This is the first time in 45 years that the Philippines is hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Philippines will play host to the USA and Serbia, as well as Lithuania and Greece, as four of the top ten-ranked teams in the world will be on Philippine shores for the Group Phase in the world meet.

Gilas to go up vs Italy, Dominican Republic in FIBA World Cup World Cup draw ‘could have been better for Gilas,’ says Chot

Also playing in the Philippines are Angola, Dominican Republic, Italy, South Sudan, China, Puerto Rico, Jordan, New Zealand, Egypt, Mexico, and Montenegro.

The games will be played at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The City Gov’t and DCWD present the Septage Management Program in 5 more barangays

The City Government of Davao and Davao City Water District presented the Davao City Septage Management Program (SMP) to five more barangays, specifically, in Tigatto on April 13, Ilang on April 19, Mandug on April 26, Waan on April 27, and Hizon on April 28.

The SMP is a joint undertaking of the City Government of Davao and DCWD to provide affordable and reliable septage management services to ensure that septage from households and establishments are efficiently and properly dislodged, transported, treated, and disposed.

To raise awareness and educate the intended customers

of this service, the City Government thru the City Health Office (CHO) and the City Legal Office (CLO) and DCWD have been conducting information dissemination campaigns through the barangayans wherein DCWD explains the septage management service while the CHO and CLO expound on the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance of Davao City. DCWD also highlights the need for the customers to have their own standard and accessible septic tanks to avail of the service and ensure compliance to the ordinance.

Also included in the discussions are DCWD’s updates and direction in addressing

water supply concerns in the respective barangays, particularly, in areas experiencing intermittent water supply and in expanding DCWD’s services in areas that are yet to be served by the water utility.

Participants of the barangayans are composed of barangay officials including barangay council members, health workers, purok leaders, homeowners’ association officers, and community leaders. For the rest of the year, the barangayan activities will continue to be conducted in barangays under the SMP Service Coverage Areas 1 and 2 as they will be the first to avail of the de

services. (Moises

Here is the exact schedule of the games, courtesy of FIBA.

sludging

D. Cuaycong)

Atty. Fernandez of City Legal Office highlights the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance of Davao City to the participants in Brgy. Tigatto.

Engr. Galila explains DCWD’s water service improvement and expansion programs to the participants in Brgy. Ilang.

Engr. Hidalgo details the water supply status in Brgy. Mandug and DCWD’s improvement plans.

CHO Public Health Inspector Nizzi Love Alce discusses the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance in Davao City at Brgy. Waan.

DCWD Septage and Sanitation Department Engineering Assistant B Maria Del Carmen Espina explains the SMP facilities and operation to the participants in Brgy. Hizon.