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THE BIG NEWS
VOL.5 ISSUE 17• MARCH 27, 2012
Ungab confident on passage of sin taxes D
avao City Rep. Isidro T. Ungab is optimistic that the House of Representatives will be able to approve the so-called Sin Tax Reform Bill when Congress resumes session in May. This developed as majority of the country’s provincial governors have reportedly reached a consensus to support the bill seeking to restructure the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products. The bill is one of contentious measures being discussed by the House committee of ways and means headed by Congressman Ungab. The Davao lawmaker said that broad consensus of the governors was reached during a meeting in Manila of the executive board of the the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LLP) headed by oriental Mindoro Gov. alfonso “Boy” Umali. In a published statement, Umali said the LPP support the bill because it will generate revenues to finance PPP (public private partnership) projects, reduce smokingrelated expenditures on health services, and save
Ungab
the country’s young and poor from lifestyle diseases. “We believe that now is the time for us to cross party lines and support this bill. The benefits to our people that would result from this law would affect an entire generation of Filipinos,” Umali was quoted as saying. Umali concurrently heads the Union of Local authorities of the Philippines, the umbrella organization of the leagues of governors, city mayors, municipal mayors and barangay and other local officials. Umali also reiterated an earlier consensus of governors of tobacco-producing provinces to win support among congress-
men for House Bill No. 5727 authored by Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio abaya. The measure proposes a shift from a multi-tiered to a unitary tax system for cigarettes. Brands currently taxed P5 per pack under the existing would have to pay P40 to P45 in three years. one of the bill’s most vocal supporters, Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson of Ilocos Sur, which is a leading tobacco-producing province, had earlier said HB 5727 would level the playing field by destroying monopolistic pricing and allowing the entry of more producers. The sin tax issue has pitted Singson against the rest of the so called Northern alliance, which includes his own son, Ilocos Sur Rep. Ryan Singson, which is opposing the proposed modified excise tax system. Ungab said the bill is up against a powerful lobby that it took his committee a long time to debate on the pros and con of the abaya bill. He said the bill enjoys the support of Malacanang Palace. [AMA]
40 kids to undergo diagnosis for fatal eye cancer at SPMC
By Lorie A. Cascaro
S
oME 40 children in Mindanao are expected to undergo diagnosis for retinoblastoma, a childhood cancer involving the retina of the eye common among Filipino children. Retinoblastoma is among the top three admissions at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Unit (CCBDU) and the most common solid tumor in CCBDU’s census of new cases from January to June 2011. Retinoblastoma is caused by early exposure to infections, but Filipinos possess a gene predisposed to retinoblastoma, according to Dr. Mae Do-
It figures
lendo. She noted that retinoblastoma is fatal if not treated; It is also highly curable when diagnosed in the early stages. “That’s why we are aggressive in information dissemination because it is better to diagnose the disease early,” she told reporters during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao last Monday. She said the cost of diagnostics and treatment of retinoblastoma is about P80,000, with the most costly part being the diagnosis. The Retinoblastoma Center will be officially launched in august this year. Recently, SPMC acquired a retinal camera, the equipment which can
diagnose, document and monitor retinoblastoma. Dolendo said SPMC is the second of only two institutions in the Philippines with a retinal camera, which was facilitated by the Davao Children’s Cancer Fund and viva Foundation. SMPC CCBDU’s program for retinoblastoma includes education, referral pathway, database and outcome measurements. The program is supported by the Khoo Teck Puat – University Children’s Medical Institute outreach Program of the National University Hospital in Singapore and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Tennessee, USa. also at the Kapehan, Edson Beley from the
F40, 13
PEDICURE. A woman gets her nails done in a Osmeña Park in the city on Monday where a group of diligent manicurists and masseurs offer their services. KARLOS MANLUPIG
In Davao City
Economic, physical abuse top VAWC cases By Jade C. Zaldivar
C
aSES on violence against women and children (vaWC) recorded by the city showed economic and physical abuse as the most frequent forms of maltreatment suffered by women. Davao City Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD), an office under the city mayor, said the trend in the nature of cases reported in the city ‘usually has economic abuse topping the list.’ “ang economic abuse kasi, its nature is not simple. The main reason for which is that the male partner or the husband ay nangangabit o may kinakasamang iba at hindi na nagbibigay ng sustento sa asawa at ang kanyang mga anak,” IGDD head Lorna Mandin told Edge Davao yesterday. “Today’s society remains ‘very patriarchal.’ Especially itong economic abuse, it’s an abuse of power, na since ang babae along with the children are economically dependent sa lalaki, feeling ng mga lalaki ay mas powerful sila. They feel na they can leave their families /// Mandin said, adding, “very patriarchal pa rin ang society natin.” The second most frequent nature of cruelty against women and children are physical abuse. “ang lalaki minsan feeling niya since mas malakas siya physically he can take advantage of his strength, which is wrong,”she said. The IGDD, which was set up by former city mayor, now vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, provides legal assistance to their clients. “Pag may nagrereklamo
91.8percent 3.4billion P34.7million 11.5million
LAWYER Dwight Tristan Domingo, acting head of the Davao City Mayor’s Business Bureau, said 31,728 registered business establishments sought renewal of their permits as January 20, deadline for filing of applications for renewal, a yearly activity.
TOTAL number of Americans who have identified themselves as Filipino, either alone or in combination with another race. Filipinos are now the second largest Asian group in the United States.
PAYMENT that the Manila City government paid in 2001 to Cristina Corona. The wife of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona for a lot in Sampaloc, Manila. The Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed the payment citing among other grounds, overpricing and failure to submit some requirements.
EDGEDAVAO
TOTAL number of foreigners living in the United States without proper documents, as of January 2011, showing a little difference from 2010 published figures of 11.6 million illegal aliens.
dito sa amin, pinapa-summon namin yung lalaki then we talk to both parties. If the problem is on economic abuse, we have the male partner provide his pay slip then we compare it to the demands na sustento na gusto ng babae. Then we have the male execute an affidavit promising na hindi na niya pababayaan ang nauna niyang pamilya,” Mandin said. There are cases where, although the male has signed an affidav he does not keep his promise to provide for his family. Following physical abuse in the frequency rate are cases on psychological abuse, which Mandin explained is an act of degrading a woman. “This happens in the form of panlalait sa dignidad ng babae, for example yung sinasabihan sila na ‘walay pulos’ o ‘palamunin’ which means na walang halaga ang babae,” Mandin said. The anti-violence against Women and Children act or Republic act. No. 9262 defines psychological abuse as acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or emotional suffering of the victim such as, but not limited to, intimidation, harrassment, staking, damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation, repeated verbal abuse or marital infidelity. This includes causing or allowing the victim to witness the physical, sexual or psychological abuse of a member of a family to which the victim belongs, or to witness pornography in any form or to witness abusive injury to pets or to unlawful or unwanted deprivation of the right to custody and/or visitation of common-law children.
P57million NET profit of Phinma Corp. in 2011 down from the P640-million bottomline the previous year. The sharp decline was attibuted to the global economic slowdown that adversely affected its steel production and animation businesses.
In Davao City The IGDD has recorded 157 cases on violence against women and their children from January to March 23 this year, 63 in January, 50 in February, and 44 from March 1 to 23. In 2011, the top five most frequent nature of cases received by IGDD were on (1) economic abuse with 448 cases or 70.66 percent; (2) physical abuse with 73 cases or 11.51 percent; (3) psychological abuse with 33 cases or 5.21 percent; (4) threat with 30 cases or 4.73 percent; and (5) assistant on child custody with 20 cases or 3.15 percent. Marital infidelity followed with 12 cases: four on sexual harrassment; three cases each for sexual abuse, abandonment, and separation of properties; and two rape cases. one case each was filed for severe alcoholism, assistance for visitation rights, and seeking of legal advice. The number of cases received by the IGDD reached 634 in 2011. Tracing back, there were 526 cases received in 2010, 611 in 2009, 497 in 2008, and 363 in 2007. Warning vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier warned violence against women and children ‘is punishable by law.’ “any form of abuse against women and children is punishable by court of law. Bantay ra mo madakpan,” Duterte said in connection with the Women’s Month celebration. violence against women (vaW) refers to any act of gender-based violence whether occurring in public or in private life.
P1.38billion
NET profit of mining company Benguet Corp. in 2011. Core operations were boosted by rising metal prices. The bottomline of the company has been positive for the second straight year.