Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 121 | Sunday-Monday, August 30-31, 2020

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020 A young boy helps his grandmother water the vegetable plants at a vacant lot inside a compound where they live in Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City which they turned into a backyard vegetable garden during the quarantine. Edge Davao

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SUSPENSION

VOID?

Preventive suspension of Ferrer, 10 PhilHealth execs questioned STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

SUSPENSION VOID?

Returning Davao City LSIs being monitored

Preventive suspension of Ferrer, T 10 PhilHealth execs questioned

By ANTONIO M. AJERO he recent preventive suspension order on Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, former president and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and 10 other active PhilHeaith officials, was questioned this week for allegedly being “premature and null and void.”

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The order issued by Ombudsman Samuel Martires last August 8 was criticized in an “official statement” released by Ferrer’s legal counsel lawyer Francis Romulo I. Badilla, stating that “no formal charge or summons was issued against Ferrer and the issuance of a preventive suspension order was in violation of his right to due process.

Also suspended were Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna, Ruben John A. Basa, Dennis S. Mas, Shirley B. Domingo, Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., Raul Dominic Badilla, Israel Pargas, Angelito Grande, Lawrence Mijares and Leila Tuazon, who are either doctors or lawyers occupying top positions or members of the board of PhilHealth.

Copies of Martires’ order for six months without pay were furnished PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. PhilHealth ex-officio chairman of the board for implementation.

“The charges filed against Dr. Ferrer. et al

have nothing to do with corruption nor the alleged loss of billions of pesos of PhilHealth..” Dr. Ferrer is nit being charged with corruption nor malversation,” the one-and-a-half page statement bared. “ Dr. Ferrer was appointed to PhilHealth and given specific instryctions and directive by PRRD (Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte) to clean up PhilHealth in preparation for the Universal Health Care.”

Pursuant to this mandate, the Board of Directors of PhilHealth under DOH ( Department of Health) Sec. Duque, after investigation and due process issued suspension and dismissal orders against certain PhilHealth officials.

“Dr. Ferrer merely implemented the order of PhilHealth chairman, Secretary Duque and the board of directors. In retaliation, the officials affected by orders of dismissal and suspension, filed charges of oppression and other accusations.against Dr Ferrer and the 10.others.

DR. ROY B. FERRER Despite the fact that no formal charge or summons were against Ferrer, a preventive suspension order was issued. “ The issuance of the preventive suspension is in violation of the right to due process.”

It is likewise claimed that “the Office of the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over the case and also over the persoms of the respondents-movants (Ferrer, et al).”

It said that there is an Ombudsman-Civil Service Commission memorandum of agreement on a Complaint Referral System dated December 12, 2016.

Under MOA, the case against Ferrer and the. others should have been referred to the CSC “for proper investigation and disposition.”

Ferrer’s camp also charged that they have not received copies of the complaint-affidavit and other pieces of evidence, “hence there is no formal charge against the respondents.”

It said that “the preventive suspension was issued with grave error of fact and law and that serious irregularities have been committed prejudicial to the interest of the respondent-movants.

The preventive suspension, the statement added, can only be issued during a pending investigation. Since Dr. Ferrer has not been summoned and required to answer the charges, there is no pending investigation yet.

Hence, the preventive suspension is premature and null and void.”

A Task Force Davao (TFD) personnel checks a vehicle in one of the entry points of Davao City. TFD is now requiring all travelers entering the city’s checkpoints to briefly remove their face masks for facial identification. Edge Davao

he security sector in the city is closely monitoring returning Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs), who are city residents, amid their increasing arrivals to ensure that they will not roam around pending their negative test results.

Davao City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) head Dionisio Abude said that a motor team is always on standby to escort LSIs arriving in the city.

Abude explained over the Davao City Disaster Radio that all LSIs, who are from the city, are escorted from their point of origin to the testing laboratories until their results come out.

“We wait until their results are out,” he said.

Abude said it was necessary that the LSIs are monitored while waiting for the result of their Reverse Transcript Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) tests to prevent them from roaming

around the city.

“When they receive their results, we will escort them to the facility if it is mandated or to their destination,” Abude said.

He said that due to the number of returning LSIs, the Task Force Davao and the Traffic Group have worked together in escorting the LSIs. LSIs coming home to the city via the Davao International Airport (DIA) need a negative RT-PCR result before they can go to their individual houses, while those entering the city via land transport are immediately escorted to testing laboratories.

As for non-Davao City residents, they are escorted to the exit points of the city where they await transport from their local government units.

As of this writing, a total of 601 LSIs have returned to the city through the Sirawan, Lasang, and Lacson checkpoints. CIO

New Davao social welfare office ready to provide better service to Dabawenyos

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avao City's Social Welfare and Development Office is finally moving to its newly-inaugurated five-storey building.

The P40-million building was made possible through the initiative of former Davao City second district representative Mylene Garcia, Cong. Loren Legarda, and Sec. Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Maria Luisa Bermudo, the head of CSWDO, said the new building was designed to provide better services to Dabawenyos, especially to persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

The CSWDO has been holding office at the old City Library building since 1992. The new building is located at the back of the City Hall Annex.

“We are truly happy and grateful to everyone who made it possible for the CSWDO to have our new building. This is a dream come true for the staff and employees. Not only because we have a new office, but somehow to help improve our delivery of services of social welfare,” Bermudo said.

The five-storey building was constructed by the DPWH. It also houses the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), Ugnayan or Crisis Intervention Section, Council for the Welfare of Children, and a counseling room. The building also has a dormitory to be used by the employees during disaster response operations.

In her message, Mayor Sara said that the construction of CSWDO and the City Engineer’s Office’s (CEO) offices was a long-

term plan to provide conducive working spaces for employees. It is also part of Rizal Park's expansion.

“We saw the need to provide CSSDO and CEO with their buildings and offices that are conducive for working. The plan is, when the CSSDO and CEO move out, their spaces will be cleared. Then, there will be a bigger space behind Rizal Park. The plan is also to expand Rizal Park into a bigger space,” Mayor said.

“Ang pinaka unang gi-duolan namo si then Congresswoman Mylene Garcia, and then she coordinated with then Sen. Loren Legarda. Fortunately, their team worked. Nakahatag sila og budget para ani nga building (We initially approached former congresswoman Mylene Garcia first, and then she coordinated with then Sen. Loren Legarda. Fortunately, their team worked. They provided a budget for this building),” she added.

Although Legarda, who is now Antique's representative, couldn’t come to the event, she extended her congratulations to the launch of CSWDO’s new building. She also expressed her support to the local government of Davao for its commitment to ensure progress and provide quality service to Dabawenyos.

“Adding this new CSWDO building in Davao City is one of the efforts to bring community-direct programs of the national government closer to Dabawenyos, such as the pantawid pamilya program, sustainable livelihood program, supplemental feeding program, cash-for-work, calamity seeds, and assistance for individuals in crisis situations among others,” Legarda said in her message sent

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Go assures homeless Dabawenyos to benefit from housing bills

By MAYA M. PADILLO he time will come that Dabawenyos who have lost their homes will have place to live as Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go assured that homeless Dabawenyos, especially the fire victims, will benefit from the passage of two bills in the Senate -- the Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act and the National Housing Development, Production, and Financing Act.

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Senator Christopher Lawrence Go interacts with members of the media during a fire visit in Sunrise Village, Panacan, Davao City on Friday afternoon. Contributed photo

“Noong nakaraang Miyerkules ay nadinig na namin sa Committee on Housing Development Financing Act at saka Rental Subsidy Act. Ambitious bills po ito at ang target po nito ay mawala na ang squatter sa sariling bayan. It’s a long term plan kailangan po ng pondo at sana ay suportahan ito ng Executive Department. Hindi lang po taga Davao City kundi buong bansa ay magkakaroon ng sariling bahay. Tulad ng nangyari sa mga fire victims dito,” Go said in an interview on Friday after he distributed assistance to some 200 individuals affected by the fire incident in Sunrise Village, Barangay Panacan, Davao City on Thursday.

Go is pushing for the passage of the bills to enhance and fund national housing programs and to provide accessible housing services to the homeless and underprivileged during a Senate Committee on Ur-

ban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement hearing held on August 26, 2020.

Senate Bill No. 203 also called the National Housing Development, Production and Financing (NHDPF) Bill, which was filed by the Senator in July 2019, seeks to generate and mobilize funds to increase low-cost housing production; provide support mechanisms to improve access to housing options; guarantee the development of a strong, sustainable, accessible, and affordable housing finance system; and increase private sector participation, among others.

The bill also directs the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to implement the component of the (NHDPF) program.

The Senator is also seeking support for SBN 1227 or the Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act that he filed in December last year. The bill seeks to

provide families displaced by natural and man-made disasters with improved access to the formal housing market by offering a rental subsidy.

“Ito namang rental subsidy, tuwing nasusunugan sila hindi pa sila ma-relocate sa malayong lugar, ay bigyan po sila ng pangrenta. Dahil karamihan sa kanila ayaw umalis sa kanilang mga tinitirhan dahil malapit po ito sa kanilang pinagta-trabahoan at ayaw nilang malayo sa kanilang mga trabaho, binigyan sila ng katumbas na amount para meron silang pang renta. Ito yung dalawang priority bills na dininig na sa senado this week,” he said.

Based on the proposed measure, the amount of the subsidy will be determined by the (DHSUD). It will be a percentage of the total amount of rentals as determined by the rental or lease contract between the eligible beneficiary and the lessor.

For eligible beneficiaries below the poverty threshold as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the subsidy will be at least 50 percent of the total amount of rentals.

The proposed measure seeks to help displaced families sustain their livelihoods through skills and training programs to be offered by the Technical

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Resumption of manufacturing plants good for city, region

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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business leader in Davao said the resumption of operations of manufacturing plants is good for the city and Davao Region.

With Davao City under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status since July this year, construction material manufacturing plants resumed full operations.

“Dako ang impact ani sa business sector ug hinaot nga makahinay- hinay ug balik ang ekonomiya sa syudad sa Davao ug sa entero rehiyon pre-covid situation,” said Arturo Milan, regional director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Inc. (PCCI).

Milan said Holcim Philippines and other construction material manufacturing plants are now back in full operation fully serving the requirements

of the real estate projects as well as the infrastructure projects that also resumed in Davao City and Davao Region.

“Under MGCQ, most of the manufacturing plants including Holcim in Davao City were allowed to operate but on limited capacity with guidelines on the minimum health protocols to follow,” Milan said.

In a statement, leading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. has restarted manufacturing and logistics operations with stronger health and safety controls in all its sites nationwide after pausing cement production in compliance with government quarantine measures

against Covid-19.

The company started to reopen its plants and terminals in La Union, Bulacan, Manila, Batangas and Davao following the easing by national and local governments of quarantines that started in the second half of March.

The company’s facilities are in good condition and ready to ramp up operations to provide reliable supply as building and economic activity recovers.

“Not only Holcim but the construction sector are in full swing and this is good for the city and the region. We need to open the economy to recover so people, who lost their jobs and income due to the forced lockdown, can slowly go back to work.

However, everyone has to be mindful of the health protocol as Covid-19 is still very much around,” Milan said.

sponsibility, he said.

Lambino said the government cannot just borrow, as some sectors suggest, more than what is allowed under the 2020 national budget.

“So the supplemental appropriations require new or additional revenue. And we just don’t have that given the situation that we’re in. We can’t borrow our way out of that hole,” he said.

Lambino said the Bayanihan 2, which is now awaiting the signature of the President, has several components such as cash subsidies and budgetary support for the health sector, as well as the government financial institutions (GFIs).

He added about PHP30 billion to PHP40 billion has

been allocated under the Bayanihan 2 for the Financial Institutions’ Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill, and the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bill.

Lambino said the amount allotted for these two measures has up to 20 times multiplier effects if the support extended to troubled firms are guaranteed by Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE).

“The economic team is very insistent that those appropriations be made through the GFIs so that there are multiplier effects in combination with the other reforms,” he added.

(PNA)

DOF exec cites factors for economic managers' support for Bayanihan 2

A woman waits for her turn to buy vegetables from a makeshift store along Gempesaw Street in Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

GERI turns over P3-B worth of completed projects this year

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lobal-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), Megaworld’s subsidiary brand for integrated lifestyle and tourism estates, is turning over PHP3 billion worth of residential and commercial projects this year.

These project turnovers include residential units and commercial lots at Boracay Newcoast in Aklan, Twin Lakes in Laurel, Batangas, and Sta. Barbara Heights in Iloilo.

“We uphold our commitment to our customers for the timely completion

and turnover of projects even if we are in the middle of a pandemic,” GERI president Monica Salomon said in a statement Friday.

The company also assured that development works in its various ongoing projects across the country will continue and will remain unhampered by the ongoing health crisis affecting the country.

However, GERI is cutting its capital spending by 38 percent this year from PHP6.5 billion to PHP4 billion, as the lockdowns, regional quarantine mea-

sures, and physical distancing rules continue to restrict the movement of materials and workers in the company’s construction sites.

“While we have deferred new township launches, we will push through with the launching of projects within our integrated estates. We have also allocated funds for strategic property acquisitions to allow us to take advantage of opportunities for business expansion and growth,” Salomon

close economic ties between Asean and the UK; mitigate the impact of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019); strengthen economic resilience; and pursue sustainable economic growth that keeps markets open and transparent,” Asean and the UK said in a joint statement.

Bilateral trade between Asean and the UK amounted to £42 billion, or around USD56 billion.

“We reaffirm our commitment to free trade within the international rules-based system, noting that this is vital to economic recovery and future growth,” the joint statement read.

During the visit of UK Prime Minister’s trade envoy Richard Graham in Manila last February, he said the British government was looking forward to forging a trade agree-

ment with Asean.

Graham also visited Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Asean Economic Community (AEC) that month.

Graham added the British government is pursuing independent trade deals as the UK transitions to leave the European Union this year.

Among the focus of the UK-Asean Economic Dialogue is strengthening digital innovation as a “central pillar of recovery” from Covid-19.

“The UK will deepen its digital partnership with Asean through its Digital Trade Network and by funding a new UK-Asean Digital Business Challenge, exploring how tech micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can deliver solutions to tough business challenges,” the UK government committed.

The UK also said it is

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ranking Department of Finance (DOF) official on Friday said the agency is supporting the PHP140-billion Bayanihan 2 over the other proposed stimulus packages, noting the “amount is something that the government can execute”.

“The PHP140 billion already took into account, looking for sources of funds that could be put together and that could actually be delivered. That is critical because if not, that is an unfunded mandate,” Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito Lambino II said during the virtual briefing of the Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines (SharePHIL).

The second factor for this is related to fiscal re-

UK, Asean vow to boost econ cooperation amid pandemic

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he Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the United Kingdom have vowed to strengthen economic cooperation amid the pandemic following the first UK-Asean Economic Dialogue.

Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss and 2020 Asean Economic Community (AEC) Minister Tran Tuan Anh chaired the first UK-Asean Economic Dialogue virtually held last August 26.

The economic dialogue that aimed to boost economic recovery efforts amid the global health crisis was also attended by economic ministers and officials of the 10 Asean member states and Asean Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi. “We are committed to working together to sustain and deepen the

committed to support the region in building a greener and more sustainable global economy.

It added the UK has earmarked £15 million (USD20 million) under the Prosperity Fund Asean Low Carbon Energy Programme and £12 million (USD16 million) under the Global Green Recovery Challenge Fund to provide technical assistance to develop green financial systems and energy efficiency.

In January 2019, the £19 million (USD25 million) UK Prosperity Fund Asean Economic Reform Programme was launched to support the Asean Connectivity 2025.

In the economic dialogue, the UK said it will collaborate with Asean to deliver resilient and complex infrastructure projects to improve connectivity in the region.

RCEP countries offer zero tariff on critical Covid-19 products

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s participating countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) target to conclude the trade deal this year, some countries have offered zero tariff on critical Covid-19 products, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

“For critical products for (the) pandemic, they are even made duty-free based on (the) Bayanihan Act. But other RCEP countries also offer zero percent (tariff),” Lopez told reporters in a text message on Friday.

The RCEP is a trade agreement among the 10 Asean member states and the bloc’s free trade agreement (FTA) partners – Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, and South Korea.

The trade deal aims to further reduce tariffs on goods and services for a freer movement of products and services among

participating countries.

The RCEP participating countries stand to benefit from the trade deal as one of the world’s largest exporters of medical products – China – is part of the new trade bloc.

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), China is the world’s seventh-largest exporter of medical products in 2019, selling USD51.6 billion to the world.

It is also the world’s largest source of personal protective products followed by Germany and the United States.

Personal protective products shared 49 percent of China’s export of medical products in 2019, which amounted to USD23 billion.

These products include face masks, hand soap, sanitizer, and protective spectacles.

China is also the top ex-

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ECONOMY 5

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PH to spend P1.1T for infra projects in 2021 — Duterte

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he Duterte administration has proposed a P1.1-trillion infrastructure spending plan for 2021 as the government seeks to revive the economy crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The spending plan was included in the proposed P4.506-trillion national budget for next year that was submitted to Congress earlier this week for its approval.

“Because of its high multiplier effect on economic growth and output, infrastructure development is indispensable in reviving the Philippine economy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Duterte said in his message to lawmakers.

He said the projects under the Build, Build, Build program are expected to generate around 140,000 to 220,000 additional jobs next year and push the private sector to invest in manufacturing and construction activities.

Next year’s proposed infrastructure budget is equivalent to 5.4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), up from 4.6% (or P976 billion) in 2020.

“Our proposed infrastructure budget consists of shovel-ready projects on enhancing the delivery of health and essential services and improving the transportation and mobility of people and goods amid the pandemic,” Duterte said.

“These projects also aim to facilitate the transformation to a Philippine electronic government (e-government) to help our countrymen cope with the conditions of the post-pandemic environment.”

Duterte expressed confidence that the government is on track in attaining the Philippines’ “Golden Age of Infrastructure” in a bid to secure a “comfortable life and a bright future for all Filipinos by 2040.”

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President Rodrigo Duterte proposes a P1.1-trillion infrastructure spending plan for 2021 as the government seeks to revive the economy crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chief Executive said infrastructure devel-

Davao Region lowers 2020 GRDP target but expects positive growth

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he gross regional domestic product (GRDP) target of Davao Region for this year has been adjusted to 3.4 percent from the original double digit estimate of 10.5-12.2 percent due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-Davao Region director Maria Lourdes Lim. But Lim said the agency still expects a positive growth by the end of this year, owing to the “discipline and resiliency” of the region to adhere to the minimum health standards and to adapt to the “new normal” despite the strain on the overall economic output caused by the pan-

demic.

She said the agency projected an average growth target of six percent for the region until the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.

“Now, with COVID-19 pandemic, we have to adjust our growth estimates for this region, and based

on our analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 since the first quarter of this year 2020, our projection is that we will be growing by 3.4% for this year,” she said in her report during the virtual launch of Davao Regional Development Plan 2017-2022.

She said the region, comprising Davao City the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental and Davao de Oro, has been showing a robust growth since 2016.

She hoped the region would manage to continue the momentum despite the crisis confronting the country, with more investors pouring in fresh investments in the region’s

key drivers, including tourism, real estate and agriculture.

“If I may point out, we have said earlier that Davao Region has been growing at the double digit rates since 2016 and 2017, and we hit 8.6 percent in 2018. We were the second fastest growing region throughout the country and top 1 regional economy in Mindanao,” she said.

Lim emphasized the importance of adhering to the health measures that seek to curb the spread of COVID-19, suggesting a more prudent fiscal spending on strengthening health systems, social protection programs, and infrastructure projects to

FDAVAO REGION, P9

A paramotor glider soars along the coast of Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental. Dahican Beach is a top tourist destination in Eastern Mindanao.

Mindanews file photo

opment is a high multiplier effect on economic growth and output, it is indispensable in reviving the Philippine economy during and after the pandemic. Presidential Photo

Travel restrictions take toll on R-11's tourism

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avao Region’s tourism industry took a beating in the second quarter of this year, only recording 67,159 tourists or 1.2 million visitors less compared to the same period last year, due to travel restrictions meant to curtail the transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)Davao director Maria Lourdes Lim said.

Speaking during the virtual launch of Davao Regional Development Plan 2017-2022, Lim blamed the tourism sector’s poor performance on the pandemic, which led to lockdowns and initial cancellation of flights at the onset of the outbreak.

She noted that commercial flights to and from Davao City resumed last June 8 but on a limited basis.

She added the closures of tourism-related establishments, including resorts and hotels, and cancellations of major conventions in the city gave the industry a major blow as the government enforced restrictions to control the movement of people to avoid massive transmission of the infection.

“The travel restrictions and shutdown of borders contributed to this decline, including the closure of tourism related establishments, and the cancellation of meetings workshops conventions, events activities, among others, beginning March of 2020,” she said.

Davao is preparing to restart its tourism industry to domestic travelers, City Mayor Sara Duterte said in an an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5).

“For local (travelers), yes, within the region but

if you are outside of Davao Region, since there is a requirement of a travel authority, this makes our movement difficult. Under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), leisure establishments are allowed open,” she said.

Under MGCQ, she said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases prohibits the operation of cockpits, beerhouses and kids’ entertainment or playrooms.

City Tourism Office and Operations head Generose Tecson said that hotels with provisional certificate of authority to operate from Department of Tourism are allowed to resume operations.

The city’s ecotourism destination, Eden Nature Park & Resort, has already resumed operations while Davao Crocodile Park is slated to reopen next month, Tecson added.

She said more tourism establishments would reopen gradually.

The local government of Davao required all inbound passengers, who have no negative transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results issued within 72 hours before departure from the airport of origin, to undergo COVID-19 testing at the Davao International Airport.

The city will shoulder the expense for the tests.

Passengers will be placed in isolation facilities within the airport where they will have to wait for the RT-PCR test results to be issued within 24 hours.

Duterte said the COVID-19 laboratory of DOT-Davao would be placed at the Los Amigos Health Center.

She said that the local

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

On the resumption of operations of manufacturing plants as good for the city and Davao Region: Dako ang impact ani sa business sector ug hinaot nga makahinay- hinay ug balik ang ekonomiya sa syudad sa Davao ug sa entero rehiyon pre-covid situation ... Not only Holcim but the construction sector are in full swing and this is good for the city and the region. We need to open the economy to recover so people, who lost their jobs and income due to the forced lockdown, can slowly go back to work. However, everyone has to be mindful of the health protocol as Covid-19 is still very much around.”

Arturo Milan

Regional director, Philippine Chamber of Commerce Inc. (PCCI)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

PROMOTE PHILIPPINES, NOT COVID 19 Instead of promoting the good points of the country, it appears the mainstream media have been – wittingly or unwittingly - negatively publishing the bad effects of CoVid 19.

As the government slowly opens up the Philippine economy, the thrust should – I personally believe – ideally begin in the tourism sector.

Tourism has been every country’s primary source of huge foreign revenues aside from generating thousands of livelihood and employment opportunities for the Filipino labor force.

Since the standard health protocols have been firmly set and the Filipinos have been “disciplined” to a certain degree by the more than 5-month long lock-down, government policymakers – the IATF in particular – must shift its attention towards restoring normalcy in the lives of the citizens.

In the first place, the infec-

tions did not nationally affect the country as those in the regions have effectively contained the alarming spread of the virus with their respective strict institution of health protocols and quarantine methods as required by the IATF. But I am bothered by the effects of the extensive media coverage of the contagion as if the magnitude of the medical concern is similar to what is happening in the US and other badly-affected Western countries where the affected citizens – deaths and all - reach hundreds of thousands and even millions.

The IATF should shift gears and seek the cooperation of the media to emphasize that the situation is under control.

The percentage of deaths and active CoVid19 cases vis-a-viz the country’s population is too small – even negligible – to consider the crisis as serious and even pandemic in nature.

If you will observe, the daily

barrage of interviews of health officials and news reports by all broadcast and print facilities is creating an atmosphere of fear, confusion and chaos not only among the population but also among foreign sectors in the business community and elsewhere.

It is sad that instead of portraying the country as a safe tourist destination – a haven that has instituted strict health protocols, the media have instead pictured the Philippines as widely-infected as the rest of the world.

Unofficial estimates say more than 20 million Filipinos – including repatriated OFWs - are out of jobs and idle. Many business firms have closed shop because of the lockdowns.

Restaurants and food chains, coffee shops and saloons including fitness gyms and the underground economy have also suffered much including the real estate and construction in-

dustry, manufacturing and sales.

How they will get back on their feet depends upon how quickly and wide the government will open up the economy.

The adage “to take the bull by its horns” seem to have been ignored because the fear of the spread of the contagion overwhelmed those holding the government reins, the DOH in particular. These guys gave CoVid19 more than the attention it deserved.

Thus, Filipinos were imprisoned and held hostage by the undue fears because the country entertained WHO orders that the virus is pandemic in nature.

WHY IS IT THAT WITHOUT THE VACCINE, THOUSANDS OF FILIPINO COVID 19 PATIENTS RECOVERED? Until this writing, I have my reservations why I do not agree that the CoVid 19 is a pandemic in its strictest sense. The entire country did not suffer because only the NCR and two other re-

gions close to it became serious areas of concern.

There is no doubt the Filipino – with his resilient character trait - will emerge a far better citizen after its “bitter” experience with the fake pathogen.

Never again will Juan dela Cruz allow himself to be taken for a ride.

Among the countries in the world ready to receive the influx of foreign visitors amidst the CoVid 19, the Philippines is probably one of the most prepared.

Boracay remains the best attraction and most alluring. It has not been seriously touched by the infection.

Besides, I believe DOT officials are raring to prove their worth in helping the country’s economy recover as fast as possible.

Cheers! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

GIVING WITHOUT EXPECTING IN RETURN “You know, Emily was a selfish old woman in her way.

She was very generous, but she always wanted a return.

She never let people forget what she had done for them - and, that way she missed love.”

That statement comes from Agatha Christie, taken from her novel entitled, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles.”

I was reminded by the words of Idries Shah. In “Learning How to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way,” he wrote: “The real generosity is when a man does something generous when nobody knows about it.”

But then, the thought of Muhammad Ali also keeps coming to my mind. “I try not to speak about all the charities and people I help, because I believe we can only be truly generous when we expect nothing in return,” he wrote in “The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life’s Journey.”

Generosity -- that’s the term. “No person was ever honored for what he received.

Honor has been the reward for what he gave,” reminded American president Calvin Coolidge. “Giving is the highest of living,” added inspirational author John C. Maxwell.

“Be generous,” urged W. Clement Stone, American businessman and philanthro-

pist. “Give to those you love; give to those who love you, give to the fortunate, give to the unfortunate — yes, give especially to those you don’t want to give. You will receive abundance for your giving.

The more you give, the more you will have.”

A grandmother was standing in a store with a friend watching an artist demonstrate the work he was doing when she became aware that a man was staring at her. She thought he must be lonesome or that she reminded him or someone. She gave him a friendly smile.

At that he came over and with a shy smile of his own, opened the brown bag he was carrying. “I would like to give you a present,” he said without any introduction. And he put into her hand a beautifully carved little wooden horse.

He would have left right then if grandma had not insisted on asking questions.

He refused to tell her his name but said that he worked as a night watchman at a factory.

He carved such figures in his spare time from scrap lumber.

When they were finished, he would walk along the street until he would find someone who looks as if he might like a horse, as he put it.

He explained that he had never had art lessons. “But where I come from, everyone whittles.”

Grandma’s friend, who owns a small gift shop, grew quite excited about the carving. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “If you bring several to our store, I know we can sell them for you.”

But the man shook his head. “If I sold them,” he said simply, “then making them would be just a chore. I get more pleasure this way.”

Grandma has never seen the man since. But the little horse is one of her most treasured possessions. Whenever she looks at it, she thinks of the giver and prays that the generosity of his heart and spirit has found its reward.

To her, it is a perfect gift. It was given to a total stranger without thought of gratitude or reward.

I am not sure if the story above is true or not but here’s a true story of Elisabeth Howard Elliot. She was born in Brussels, Belgium and was only a few months old when her family went to the United States.

She studied Classical Greek at Wheaton College, believing that it was the best tool to help her with the calling of ultimately translating the New Testament of the Bible into an unknown language. It was at Wheaton where she met a man named Jim Elliot.

Jim and Elisabeth went individually to Ecuador, as

Christian missionaries, to work with the Quichua (or Quechua) Indians. In 1953, the two tied the nuptial knot in the city of Quito. Before she started work, she listened to the words of Maruja, a woman of a neighboring tribe. She was held captive for one year by the Huaorani. She stated that the tribe was fierce and they acted like savages, but she also stated that the women were likeable and kind.

Their daughter, Valerie, was 10 months old when her father was killed. “The New York Times” reported: “After Mr. Elliot and his colleagues landed by plane on Jan. 2, 1956, he kept rehearsing a message of good will — “Biti miti punimupa,” meaning “I like you, I want to be your friend” — from a Waorani phrase book. Three tribe members made a friendly visit, but then there was apparently a miscommunication or a perceived threat. After the missionaries failed to make radio contact with a base station, searchers found their bodies pierced by wooden spears.

“Ms. Elliot renewed contact with the tribe over the next two years. In 1958, accompanied by her 3-year-old daughter and the sister of one of the murdered missionaries, she moved in with the Waoranis, known to their neighbors as Aucas, or sav-

ages. She ministered to them and remained in their settlement, in the foothills of the Andes, subsisting on barbecued monkey limbs and other local fare and living in rainswept huts.”

Maxwell, who used the story as an example of generosity, wrote: “Under those circumstances, many people in Elisabeth Elliot’s shoes would have gone home. It’s one thing to be willing to give up a comfortable life in the United States to help other people; it’s quite another to give up your spouse. But Elliot had a truly generous heart. Despite her terrible loss, she still wanted to help the people of Ecuador. She stayed and served the Quichuans with whom she was living.”

To end this piece, allow me to quote the words of Cole Ryan, author of “Money: I Think We’ve Missed the Point.” He said: “Here’s the thing: You can be materialistic and poor. You can also be content and rich. It has nothing to do with your income and it has everything to do with your heart. You don’t need to earn more money in order to be generous with your money. Some people use that as an excuse to be greedy.

Jesus seemed to believe that the key to generosity wasn’t having more, but being content with what you already have.”

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

Kidney problems on the rise

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

G

o to a street and ask an average man what medical problem they fear most and they would mention any of the following: heart attack, stroke, cancer, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

What they fail to mention are diseases that affect kidneys. “Many don’t realize that developing kidney failure can be just as disabling and life-threatening,” says Dr. Rafael R. Castillo, a cardiologist at the Manila Doctors’ Hospital.

Surprisingly, kidney problems are “alarmingly increasing” among children and young adults. Based on the records from the Renal Disease Controlled Program some years back, Davao Region ranked fifth nationwide in terms of kidney dialysis patients. The region came after Pampanga, Bulacan, Batangas and Cebu.

Last year, approximately 78,000 Filipinos were registered to be suffering from end-stage renal failure and required dialysis, according to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

The Department of Health (DOH) reports that one person dies every hour from kidney failure. More than 7,000 cases of kidney failure in the country are recorded every year. This puts kidney failure as the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos today, the NKTI states.

Dr. Aileen Riego-Javier, NKTI executive director, said that for every one million Filipinos, 120 of them are most likely to develop kidney failure. Each year, approximately 10,000 people need to replace their kidney function.

The US National Kidney Foundation (NKF) considers the two kidneys as “powerful chemical factories” that perform the following functions: remove waste products and drugs from the body, balance the body’s fluids, release hormones that regulate blood pressure, produce an active

form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones and control the production of red blood cells.

“The kidneys perform their life-sustaining job of filtering and returning to the bloodstream about 200 quarts of fluid every 24 hours,” NKF explains.

“About two quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and about 198 quarts are recovered.

The urine we excrete has been stored in the bladder for anywhere from 1 to 8 hours.”

If the kidneys are damaged, they don’t work properly. Medical science tells us that harmful wastes can build up in our body. Our blood pressure may rise.

Our body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. Doctors call this kidney failure.

“If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do,” says the National Institute of Health in the United States.

“Before dialysis was available, total kidney failure meant death,” notes the US National Kidney Foundation (NKF). “Today, people with kidney failure can live because of treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant.”

According to medical experts, dialysis is a way of cleaning our blood when our kidneys can no longer do the job. It gets rid of our body’s wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control our blood pressure.

Actually, there are two kinds of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

“In hemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine, and returned to your body by tubes that connect you to the machine,” NKF

explains. “In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid called dialysate, which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.”

Among these patients with kidney failure in the Philippines, “only around 86% could undergo dialysis and only 14% could undergo transplantation because of the high cost of treatment,” wrote Francis James B. Gatdula in an article which appeared in Health and Lifestyle.

Dialysis does help lengthen the life of the patient but it is expensive. It costs around P60,000 to P70,000 a month – that’s P720,000 to P840,000 a year. This does not yet include the fees for required laboratory tests and medicines.

“In the long-term, kidney transplantation is cheaper than dialysis,” said Dr. Enrique Ona, former NKTI director. “Moreover, survival rates and quality of life in transplants are much better.”

A transplant costs half a million pesos to one million

pesos for a one-time surgery, as long as the donated organ is not rejected by the recipient’s system.

“Kidney diseases are on the rise, and it can be considered part and parcel of the dreaded epidemic of noncommunicable diseases,” points out Dr. Castillo. “In fact, there can be hardly any argument that most chronic kidney disorders are also lifestyle-related problems, and share the same risk factors as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.”

Dr. Roy Diamond Arco, nephrologist of Silliman University Medical Center, said the signs of kidney disorders include high blood pressure, body itching, anemic, swelling of lower extremities, and urinating more often, especially at nighttime.

An ounce of prevention, so goes a saying, is better than a pound of cure.

The same is true with your kidneys. In their book, Stay Younger, Live Healthier, Dr. Willie Ong and his wife, Dr. Liza Ong, shared ten ways to protect your kidneys (based from their interview with Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, a nephrologist at the Philip-

pine General Hospital): 1. Limit your salt intake.

Too much salt is not only bad for your blood pressure; it’s also bad for your kidneys. Many perish from kidney disease, which can be partly attributed to a high salt intake and fondness for fish sauce, soy sauce, salt and salted fish. Even instant noodles, chips and nuts are teeming with salt. The problem with salt is that it encourages the body to retain water, and can increase your blood pressure (which damages the kidneys).

2. Don’t load up on high protein foods such as meat and steaks. A high protein diet makes the kidneys work twice as hard. Pretty soon, your kidneys could get tired and some of the weaker kidney cells can die.

A friendly reminder to people on a high-protein Atkin’s Diet or South Beach Diet: the time-tested doctor’s advice of moderation in everything will serve you well. Eat a balanced diet of rice, vegetables, fish and fruits and you can’t go wrong.

3. Keep your blood pressure at 130/80 or lower. If your blood pressure is above 140 over 90, this can cause kidney damage within five years. The kidneys are said to be “happiest” with a blood pressure of 130/80 or lower. To help control your blood pressure, you should limit your salt intake, reduce weight and take medicines for high blood pressure, if needed.

4. Keep your blood sugar below 120 mg/dl. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney failure. A person with uncontrolled diabetes for 5-10 years may develop significant kidney damage.

Consult your doctor and keep your blood sugar under control with diet, exercise and maintenance medicines.

5. Drink 8 glasses of water a day. Doctors usually advise people to take in 8 glasses of water a day, but this really depends on your age and condition. If you’re sweating a lot and

working outdoors, you may need to drink more than 8 glasses a day. However, if you are above 65 years of age, you may do well with just 6 glasses a day. Drinking enough water also prevents the formation of kidney stones.

6. Watch your intake of pain relievers and other drugs. Taking pain relievers for a prolonged period of time may cause kidney damage. Because of this, we should limit taking these medicines to only a week, or just take them as needed.

For those with chronic arthritis, try to look for other ways to relieve the pain such as using a hot water bag, pain reliever ointments, or the safer paracetamol tablet.

7. Be careful with tests and procedures using contrast dyes. Some tests, like CT Scans and MRIs, and angiograms, use a contrast dye which helps doctors delineate the organs better. The problem with such dyes is that they can cause kidney damage. To be safe, consult a kidney specialist before undergoing such procedures.

8. Don’t drink too much Vitamin C. Excess vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can lead to the formation of kidney stones in predisposed individuals. If you need to take vitamin C, a dose of 500 mg or less is safer.

9. Don’t rely on food supplements to protect your kidneys. The aforementioned tips are so far the best tips to care for the kidneys.

10. Get a kidney checkup. Simple tests, such as a complete blood count, and a urinalysis are the first screening tests for the kidneys. Finding a trace of protein in the urine can alert the doctor of possible kidney disease.

“The health advice in this forum is only for general knowledge,” Dr. Ong reminds. “For your specific questions, kindly consult your personal physician.”

– (Photos taken from Wikipedia)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

NEW DAVAO.. FROM2

to Mayor Sara.

Aside from the construction of the new building of the CSWDO, Legarda also supported the programs and projects of Davao City such as the con-

struction of the Cultural Center Multipurpose Tribal Hall, and the Barangay Health Station and Multipurpose building – both in Brgy. Tamayong, Calinan District. CIO

provide opportunities to the people to uplift them during this crisis.

“With that momentum, we want to still lead the pace in terms of economic performance despite the crisis, that we are facing now with COVID-19, as we have said earlier, with investors still pouring in their funds in our key drivers for Davao Region, we’re confident that we will not hit a negative growth rate for the rest of this plan pe-

riod all the way to 2022,” she added.

Meanwhile, Lim said that the region’s inflation rate has remained stable at two percent in the second quarter of 2020 due to the slower spike in the prices of housing, water, electricity, transport, and maintenance and furnishing of households.

Inflation rate for the same period last year stood at 3.6 percent. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

DAVAO REGION.. FROM5

GERI.. FROM4

GO.. FROM3

Notice to the Public

Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Meanwhile, the said fire incident razed the homes of more than 118 families in Purok 13, Sunrise Village in

Panacan, Davao City.

The fire victims received food packs, cash assistance, medicine packs, face masks, and bicycles from Go and his team.

porter of face masks, with a 25-percent share, and has the fourth-largest share of ventilator exports, accounting for 10 percent.

The WTO data also show that the average most-favored-nation (MFN) applied tariff on Covid-19 relevant medical products among WTO

members is at 4.8 percent.

China’s applied tariff on medical products is at 4.2 percent, lower than the global average.

On the other hand, RCEP participating country South Korea’s tariff on medical products is higher at 5.9 percent on average.

(PNA)

Cleveland by David Griffin, currently the head of basketball operations for the Pelicans. Philadelphia lacks

such strong ties, and while there is no salary cap for coaches, money matters here as well.

RCEP.. FROM4

LUE.. FROM11

said.

GERI also rolled out its roadmap towards recovery from the health crisis that affected most of its core businesses during the first half of the year.

The roadmap focuses on innovations in product design and services; digital transformation; workforce health, safety and well-being; and financial discipline and strategic expansion.

“While the company adopts a prudent outlook during these uncertain times, we will continue to seek opportunities in a rapidly evolving market,” Salomon added. (PR)

help fund that fight in a country outside the United States.

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs), of Omaha, Nebraska, is more likely to square off against England’s Kell Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) in his next fight. Negotiations are ongoing between Arum and Eddie Hearn, Brook’s promoter, to have Crawford defend his WBO welterweight title against

Brook, a former IBF 147-pound champ.

Spence (26-0, 21 KOs), of DeSoto, Texas, is scheduled to fight Philadelphia’s Danny Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) in a FOX Sports Pay-Per-View main event November 21. The winner of that 12-round fight for Spence’s IBF and WBC welterweight championships would at least

be an option for Pacquiao whenever Pacquiao comes back.

For now, Pacquiao’s focus remains on the coronavirus crisis.

“He told me that [the pandemic is] worse there than it is here,” Roach said. “He can’t leave the house because he’s a senator, and his kids are all in the house. It’s just a bad time for maybe everybody at this point.”

PAC-LESS.. FROM12

9

This is to inform the public that Mr. Raymond Suscano is no longer connected with BonLim Consumer Goods Trading. Any transaction entered into with Mr. Suscano representing BonLim Consumer Goods Trading shall not be recognized by the latter.

PH.. FROM5

The Philippine economy plunged into a recession this year as strict coronavirus lockdowns shuttered many business-

es.

government is complying with the requirements to accredit the health center

as a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

TRAVEL.. FROM5

Still, the government expects the economy to grow between 6.5% and 7.5% in 2021.

10 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

LIVING

Babae ug Bulak. Oil on Canvas Paper.

Kalipay 2. Oil on Canvas Paper.

ROBIN CASTILLO X KADAYAWAN

THE CURRENT GLOBAL PANDEMIC has certainly turned the world over on its head with many of the world’s celebrations deferred to another date, scaled down, or outright cancelled. This year’s Kadayawan Celebration was certainly not excempt from this, with many of its signature events cancelled for the sake of public health and safety.

The spirit of Kadayawan continues however, through the effort of the city government and the private sector with a highly successful online celebration featuring the vibrancy of Kadayawan festivals and its many official events in the past.

But while we may not see Durianburg’s colourful tribes out on the street or at the Kadayawan Village this year, one Dabawenyo artist chose to immortalise the colour and energy of Davao City’s streets during Kadayawan with a virtual exhibit titled Kadayawan x Robin Castillo.

34-year old Dabawenyo visual artist Robin Castillo celebrates the Kadayawan with a one-man online exhibit that captures what’s on the street

and what could have been on it during this festival month.

Perennially in search of fleeting scenes to freeze on paper or canvas. Robin is known for his everyday people paintings while taking his regular long walks around the city. With a quick eye and even quicker strokes of his watercolour brush, he captures moving pictures and immortalizes his impression of the scene on paper.

Another impressive dimension about Castillo is he prefers to work with four color palates only— blue, red, yellow and burnt sienna.

In this collection, Castillo shares in his artwork what thrives during the covid19-affected Kadayawan. The street vendors selling lanzones, durian, mangosteen, the flower market and the blooms of the

Manang Lanzones. Watercolor on Paper.

season, even a girl with an orchid on her hair.

Castillo also refers to his

Bulak 2. Watercolor on Paper.

Tindera sa Dalan 3. Watercolor on Paper. memories of the past Kadayawan festivals and brings it to the present—the joy-filled

faces of children of the 11 tribes parading with fruits and flowers, and a tribeswoman with blooms.

While the colours and energy of Kadayawan are absent from the streets of Durianburg this year, Robin Castillo’s impression of the streets during the festival is a way to celebrate a fleeting moment, immortalising the essence of the city’s muchloved festival.

For more of Robin Castillo’s artworks with corresponding prices, visit http://ofapplesandlemons.com/2020/08/ kadayawan-x-robin-castillo-aone-man-online-exhibit/

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

11

Lue leads candidates for Sixers’ coaching job

T Kristaps Porzingis (left) will miss the rest of the Dallas Mavericks’series against the Los Angeles Clippers because of a torn ligament in his right knee.

Mavs lose Porzingis for Clippers series L AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — Kristaps Porzingis will miss the rest of the Dallas Mavericks’ series against the Los Angeles Clippers because of a torn ligament in his right knee.

The Mavericks said on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) that Porzingis has been receiving treatment for the injury, which he sustained in Game One of the series. They added that further treatment options are being explored and he wouldn’t be medically cleared the rest of the series.

The seventh-seeded Mavericks trail the Clippers 3-2.

Porzingis had missed the last two games. He finished with averages of 23.7 points and 8.7 re-

bounds in his three appearances, the first playoff action of his career.

The Mavericks acquired the 7-foot-3 forward from Latvia last year from the New York Knicks.

It was while there that he tore the ACL in his other knee in February 2018.

Meantime, the Houston Rockets hope to get a big lift with the return of Russell Westbrook when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday in the resumption of the playoffs (Sunday, Manila time).

Out for the first four games of the Rockets-Thunder first-round playoff series due to a right quad injury, Westbrook is reportedly eager to see action to help Houston take control of the series as much as helping promote social change after players boycotted games following the shooting of a Black man in Wisconsin.

Russell Westbrook: “I’m excited to play, but I’m more excited to play for a cause.” He’s speaking passionately on the action the NBA is taking on social justice issues.

The series is tied 2-2.

“He’ll go through practice today, and if things are normal, we expect him to be ready to go,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said on Friday.

y Lue’s resume as a former championship-winning head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers has made him by far the most desired candidate on the coaching carousel. The Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly interested, but according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Lue is “the prime candidate” for the 76ers as well, and there is mutual interest between the two sides.

Given the league-wide interest in Lue’s services, he has the leverage to demand an exorbitant salary from his next employer.

According to Pompey, Lue is asking for $7 million per year from his new team, and should they refuse to pay up, his history suggests he is perfectly content waiting. Lue initially had the inside track to take over the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason, but eventually walked away after the team refused to offer him

Filipino-Japanese Yuka Saso carded a three-under par 69 to grab the lead in the Japan LPGA Nitori Ladies golf tournament Friday at the Otaru Country Golf Club in Hokkaido, Japan. Saso, gold medalist in the 2018 Asian

more than a three-year commitment (which they ultimately made to Frank Vogel) and tried to force him to hire Jason Kidd as his top assistant.

Speaking of Kidd, he, too, is interested in the 76ers job, as is former 76ers head coach John Lucas, both according to Pompey. It is not clear at this point if the 76ers are interested in either. Other reported candidates include 76ers assistant Ime Udoka, Villanova coach Jay Wright and former Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Pompey has also reported Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Brown as a possible candidate.

If Lue is indeed at the top of Philadelphia’s list, the 76ers will have their work cut out for them in actually landing him. Lue coached Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, and was initially hired in

FLUE, P9

Games – both in the individual and team events – had a bogey-free round highlighted with three birdies in Day 2 of the 72-hole tournament.

CHARLY HOLGANZA THE ATHLETE’S FOOT

THE NBA BOYCOTT: WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHED Last Wednesday, 26 August, the Milwaukee Bucks surprised everyone by refusing to come out to play Game 5 of their first round series against the Orlando Magic. Within minutes, the move reverberated among the NBA playoff teams in the bubble, and later caused a tsunami effect across many more sports leagues in the US. Aside from the 3 NBA games for the day, major league baseball, soccer and hockey, as well their sister league, the WNBA, also put games on hold in protest over the perceived lack of clear action on the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

It was the first time for major sports leagues to have taken such a bold step against an issue of great magnitude. What was it really all about? And what did it hope to accomplish?

This first-ever boycott of games was a show of solidarity over per-

ceived systematic police brutality and violence against black people.

The players wanted the whole world to know that there is much to be done in regard the raging racism issue in the US , and in the whole world.

And yes, by putting their careers on the line, the players wanted to focus more attention to the social reform issue advocated by the Black Lives Matter Movement. The message was clear: the players don’t just want to play, they want to be more relevant to the global issues prevailing. They were leveraging their political capital as topnotch players to draw attention to the problem.

For a while, it seemed that the NBA season was hanging by a thread.

Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard led the Lakers and the Clippers in advocating for a complete stoppage of the playoffs. However, cooler heads prevailed. The players decided a day

later - after a series of more emotional and heated talks, and deeper consultations - to stay and resume the games. The realization was that they stood a better chance of raising awareness to the issue of racial equality and social change by continuing to play. By leaving the bubble, they were surrendering the power of the platform available to them. Without their ability to play, they would remain nameless voices in the crowd.

There too was the threat of losing the mega-buck income they were enjoying, if the NBA season - and the NBA itself - was to fold up. That said, the collective decision was to stay and finish the playoffs.

But did the boycott accomplish anything? The issue of racism was never solvable inside the NBA alone.

It is a societal issue that some pundits claim cannot be fully fathomed by players alone. And it cannot be solved

overnight. Former NBA star Chris Webber articulated this well, but he applauded the young ones for starting something for the next generation. And he cautioned that they have to be smart about it, they must have a plan, and that they must be articulate about the plan. Failing that, the movement against this global malaise would simply die down like embers of a dying fire. But yes, in answer to the question of whether or not the boycott accomplished something, the players were definitely successful in getting the entire world to perk up and listen to the problem at hand.

They know that the answer to the problem is beyond the playing arena, yet they also were able to draw attention to it, moving the needle a little bit in the social Richter scale.

But what really is needed to effect lasting change? Do the players have the power to drive change? Can

they eradicate racism? The sad reality is that the issue cannot be eradicated in one stroke. Matter of fact, it cannot be totally eliminated. But a strong immediate change can be achieved through the strong arm tactics of big business - through the NBA owners - whose economic and political leverage can bring more attention to the problem.

Thus, it can be said that the NBA players have shown leadership and solidarity by taking the step forward in articulating this noble cause. And they have taken the wise decision by deciding to stay and play. Playing matters. Because being able to play provides the platform and the power to articulate their cause.

We commend the players for taking the bold step forward, and we applaud them for the wise decision to return to the playing field.

Let’s get back to the game, folks!!!

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 121 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 30-31, 2020

PAC-LESS YEAR Pacquiao won’t fight this year, 1 or 2 more fights before retiring: Roach T

According to trainer Freddie Roach, Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquaio is not likely to fight this year.

rainer Freddie Roach doesn’t expect Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquaio to box before the end of 2020.

BoxingScene.com reported that the Filipino legend’s trainer keeps in contact with him and gets the sense that Pacquiao’s responsibilities as a senator in the Philippines are consuming his time amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Roach anticipates Pacquiao will return to the ring sometime in 2021, but they haven’t established a timetable for exactly when the WBA “super” welterweight champion will fight for the first time since July 2019.

“He won’t fight this year,” Roach told BoxingScene.com. “But if this ever goes away – and I’m not sure it will because it’s getting worse and worse, not better and better – but I think Manny will fight once or twice more before he becomes the president

of his country. And then he will retire.”

The 41-year-old Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) hasn’t fought since he topped previously unbeaten Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs, 1 NC) by split decision in their 12-round, 147-pound title fight 13 months ago at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. That impressive victory appeared to push Pacquiao into position for high-profile, profitable fights against Terence Crawford, Mikey Garcia or Errol Spence Jr., but none of those bouts are imminent, according to Roach.

“He will fight again, I feel, and from when I’ve talked to him, he wants to fight once or twice more,” Roach said.

“But the thing is, it could be anywhere from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia, anywhere.

They were talking about Mikey Garcia and I said, ‘Yeah, that’s the perfect fight for Manny.’ But I don’t think we’ll really know until this [pandemic] is over.”

Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s former promoter, told BoxingScene.com and other outlets recently that he’d like to match Pacquiao against Crawford on November 14. Putting together Pacquiao-Crawford would require an international investor to supply a sizeable site fee to

FPAC-LESS, P9