Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 126 | Saturday, September 5, 2020

FOOD FOR DIABETICS: WHAT’S ON THE TABLE? HEALTH P9

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VOL.13 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

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2 Mindanao bus companies’ HPBS bids fail anew

STORY ON PAGE 2

A bus plying the Toril-Roxas route waits for passengers along Roxas Avenue in Davao City in this undated photo. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB 11) bared that Bachelor Express Inc. and Davao Metro Shuttle Corporation failed again to qualify in the second round of franchise application for the bus routes for Davao City’s High Priority Bus System (HPBS). Edge Davao

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VOL.13 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

Palace welcomes report PH can handle Covid-19 impacts

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alacañang on Thursday welcomed report that the Philippines can cushion the economic consequences brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The Philippines is seen able to handle the Covid-19 economic shocks. Ito ay dahil sa ating (This is because of our pre-pandemic economic growth and public debt levels),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.

Roque was referring to the Washington-based Institute of International Finance’s (IIF) September 1 report titled, “Emerging Market Vulnerability and Contagion.”

The IIF report said the Philippines’ pre-pandemic economic growth and public debt levels would allow the country to better handle Covid-19-related economic shocks.

Quoting IIF deputy chief economist Sergi Lanau, Roque said: “The positive assessment on the Philippines reflects two things.

First, the country did not suffer from a persistent low-growth problem before Covid-19 started. This is an important advantage relative to countries that entered the global shock in a weak position.”

“Second, in relative terms, the Philippines can afford more public spending to fight the pandemic than other emerging markets, this is because

public debt isn’t too high and because the debt path has been favorable – debt hasn’t increased fast in recent years,” Roque added.

Apart from the IIF report, Roque said the Palace also welcomed the Philippines’ latest ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII).

The Philippines now ranks 50, up four notches from its 54th rank last year.

“Isa pa pong magandang balita ‘no, patuloy na gumaganda ang ranking ng Pilipinas sa Global Innovation Index (The Philippines having an improved ranking in the Global Innovation Index is a good news), Roque said. “The ranking helps place innovation firmly on the policy map of economies.”

The GII ranks 131 world economies based on their creative outputs, institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, and knowledge and technology output.

To ensure the speedy recovery of the country’s economy, Roque reiterated his appeal to Filipinos to heed the government’s call to observe minimum health standards amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roque said the public should continue washing their hands, wearing face mask and face shield, and observing physical distancing.

“Siyempre po iyan

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NOT ENOUGH 2 Mindanao bus companies’ HPBS bids fail anew

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he best of Mindanao just aren’t enough yet to be Davao’s bus service of choice.

Two of Mindanao’s best bus companies, Bachelor Express Inc., and Davao Metro Shuttle Corporation, yet again failed to qualify in the second round of franchise application for Davao City’s interim bus project or the High Priority Bus System (HPBS).

The regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB 11) scheduled the second round of selection of operators last August 20, 2020, for the same two applicants: Bachelor Express, which applied for the Toril to downtown route, and Metro Shuttle, which applied for Catalunan Grande to downtown route.

Bachelor Express and Metro Shuttle were disqualified in the first round of the selection held last July 17, 2020.

“Sa second round of evaluation dalawang applicants pa rin, ang Bachelor and Metro Shuttle, but they again failed. We are again disqualifying them for lacking some requirements like availability of the units,” said Armand Dioso, regional director of LTFRB 11, in a phone interview.

Dioso said LTFRB is now scheduling the third round of selection process of operators on September 11, 2020.

“We will find out if the bus companies will refile for the third round of application. Baka may new applicants din po kung sakali,” he said.

Dioso said if a bus company passed in the third round of selection, LTFRB will make a report and inform the city government of Davao in preparation

for the implementation of HBPS. The interim bus service is part of the city government of Davao’s HPBS project, which aims to deploy around 1,000 units and replaces 7,000 public utility jeepneys in 29 routes around the city.

Meanwhile, the first batch of the Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators who are beneficiaries of the Davao City’s modernization of the public transport project, has completed the two-day Basic Business Management training conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The two-day training conducted on August 17 and 18, 2020, was part of the Livelihood Restoration Program, one of the social compensation packages offered by the Davao City government to PUJ drivers and operators who will be affected by the implementation of HPBS. The first batch of the

training catered 37 participants who are drivers and operators and their beneficiaries from Catalunan Grande, Toril, and Calinan routes. These are the routes identified to be the pilot areas of the first phase of HPBS. The HPBS Social Compensation Committee expects more than 1,300 jeepney drivers and operators to avail of the DTI social package.

Under the HPBS Social Compensation Packages, the driver/operator can choose three out of five packages offered such as educational assistance, skills training, and cash-for-work assistance programs from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Health (DOH).

the distribution by this month),” DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said during the agency’s virtual conference on Thursday.

As of September 2, the agency has accounted for the payouts to some 13.7 million family beneficiaries worth PHP82 billion.

The figure includes some 169, 139 transport

network vehicle and public utility vehicle drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR) who were among the heavily affected sector by the government’s lockdown measures.

In other areas declared as under the enhanced community quarantine,

and clearances in violation of Article 9, Section 30 of the Integrated Zoning Ordinance No. 346, series of 2019,” the CDO issued by Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat read.

It was learned that Sapalo had been given several warnings and opportunities to comply and secure the necessary permits and clearances.

“However, despite the warnings, you obstinately failed to comply and continued with your business operations,” read the CDO. Notices of violations were issued against Sapalo’s businesses to wit March 25, 2015 for his Mangrove Inn Resort; final notice of violation dated November 14, 2017 for his Sitio Wagon resort; final notice of violation dated November 14, 2017 for his water refilling station; fi-

nal notice of violation dated February 10, 2020 for his Mountain Top Spring Resort; and final notice violation dated February 10, 2020 for his Sapalo Wooden Resort.

The six businesses of Sapalo are hereby ordered to immediately cease and desist under pain of contempt from operating upon receipt of the order.

The CDO was signed on August 27 but was only served Thursday, September 3.

The CDO is valid and effective until necessary permits and clearances shall have been obtained or secured. The Mountain Top Spring Resort was among the 9 resorts in the city that have not yet secured their Certificate of Authority to Operate from the Department of Tourism. (CIO MATI)

DSWD sets SAP 2 deadline anew

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he Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is hopeful to complete the second tranche of the social amelioration program (SAP) by the end of September.

“Sa loob ng kasalukuyang buwan po matatapos ang pamimigay ng ayuda (We are looking to finish

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Mati City LGU closes down 6 businesses

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A worker carries a dining table made from wooden pallet locally known as "tarima" at a furniture shop in Toril, Davao City. Some local ingenious furniture mak-

ers turn the used tarima wood into home furnitures which are being patronized by many Dabawenyos because of their affordability and durability. Edge Davao

he City of Mati LGU has closed down six business establishments of one businessman that have been operating for years without the necessary permits.

Served with a “cease and desist order” were businesses owned by one Dante Sapalo namely the Mangrove Inn Resort, a resort in Sitio Wagon in Macambol, another resort in Sitio Tagawisan in Badas, Mountain Top Spring Resort, Sapalo Wooden Resort, and the water refilling station in Sitio Wagon.

“Records show that you have been engaged in various business activities for several years without procuring the necessary permits (business and building) in violation of Tax Ordinance No. 02, series of 1993 of the City and National Building Code;

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

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Families cry for info on missing Pinoy seamen

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he wives of 2 of the 38 Filipino seafarers who went missing after their ship capsized off Japan cried Friday for information on their loved ones.

Liezyl Pitogo and Justine Marie Payas said they learned through social media that the cargo ship sank on Wednesday. The pair gets updates from their husbands’ manning agency and have not been contacted by the authorities.

“Ang totoo n’yan, hanggang ngayon, ilang days na ang nakalipas, walang kumo-contact sa amin para sa ganiyang bagay,” said Pitogo, who has 2 children with her husband Lindon.

(Until now, several days have already passed, no one is contacting us for updates.)

Pitogo, who is in Quezon province, said she cannot go to Manila to talk to embassy officials because of the lockdowns meant to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Ang hirap po para sa isang katulad ko na lilipas iyong maghapon na wala kaming mabalitaang kahit ano. Sana man lang po kahit kaunting pag-asa, iyong tulong n’yo po ibigay n’yo sa amin,” she said in an interview.

(It’s difficult for someone like me for a day to get by without hearing any news. I hope that you could give us a little hope, your help.)

“Alam ko pong panahon ng pandemic… pero kung ako lang po iyong malapit, siguro nagbantay na ako para sa kaniya, ako na mismo ang maghahanap sa kaniya. Kailangan po namin silang makita po,” she added.

(I know that there is a pandemic, but if I were only near, I would be the one looking out for him. We need to find them.)

The ship, longer than a soccer field, lost an engine as it traversed choppy seas

he increasing number of patients recovering from coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is proof that the country's healthcare system is improving amid the prevailing health crisis, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the National Policy Against Covid-19, said Thursday night.

In a virtual media briefing, Galvez, citing Sept. 2 data, reported that about 158,610 patients or 70 percent out of the total confirmed cases have recovered from the disease.

"Ipinapakita din nito na kahit wala pang bakuna, kayang-kaya po natin na mapataas ang bilang ng atingrecoveries at maibaba ang case fatality rate (It also shows that even without the vaccine, we can manage to increase the number of our recoveries and slow down the case fatality rate)," he said.

As of Sept. 3, there are

1,987 new Covid-19 infections, raising the overall tally to 228,403 with only 64,207 active cases. There are 880 new recoveries and 65 deaths, bringing the total number of recoveries to 159,475 and the number of deaths to 3,688.

Out of the active cases, about 90.8 percent are mild, 6.7 percent are asymptomatic, 1.0 percent severe, and 1.4 percent critical.

The majority of the newly announced cases were from the National Capital Region with 818 cases, Cavite with 153 cases, Laguna with 125 cases, Negros Occidental with 122 cases, and Rizal with 78 cases.

According to the Department of Health, a total of 20,500 beds are dedicated to Covid-19 patients.

About 50 percent of 1,700 intensive care unit beds are in use; 45 percent of

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70% of PH Covid-19 cases recovered

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F70%, P10

Transistor radios for North Cotabato students.

Transistor radios for students of NorCot’s far flung areas

By MAYA M. PADILLO nadequate internet services will no longer be a concern for students living in far flung areas of North Cotabato when the classes open in October this year.

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Vice Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza of North Cotabato, together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cotabato, will be distributing 3,000 units of transistor radio sets for free to the municipalities of the province.

These transistor radios will be distributed to the students in North Cotabato as learning modality for the school year 2020-2021.

To avoid face-to-face

interactions, DepEd offers blended and distance learning modalities by using printed or digital modules, online learning resources and radio and TV-based interactions.

“While online learning depends on the internet speed of Telcos, transistor radios would be more reliable for the consistent interaction of teachers and students,” Mendoza said through Viber.

Mendoza added that

the use of transistor radio will minimize exposure of teachers to the virus.

“Students in far flung areas katong dili maabot sa signal sa internet will be prioritized in the distribution of radios,” she said.

The radio transistors were requested by the City Division Superintendent Omar Obas of Department of Education (DepEd)-Kidapawan City as they will introduce four level of modalities when the classes open: online, radio, face-to-face, and modular.

DepEd has emphasized that in the opening of classes it is not necessary to do the traditional face-to-face

DOJ, CHR ink data sharing pact on EJK, rights violations probe

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Construction workers paint the upper section of the façade of a mall in Digos City on Tuesday. The building was partially damaged by the series of strong earthquakes almost a year ago. Mindanews by ERIC SB LIBRE

learning in the classroom, yet, the physical opening will depend on the risk severity grading or classification of a certain community pursuant to the guidelines from the Department of Health (DOH), and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

DepEd has introduced learning delivery modalities that schools can adopt either one or a combination of the following: traditional face-to-face learning, distance learning, modular distance learning, online distance learning, blended learning, and homeschooling.

he Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have entered a data-sharing agreement to further strengthen the mandate of Administrative Order No. 35 (AO 35) which created an inter-agency committee on extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons.

In a statement on Thursday, the DOJ said Undersecretary Markk Perete and CHR Commissioner Leah Tanodra-Armamento signed the agreement in a virtual ceremony on September 2, which is aimed at facilitating the investigation and case build-up that lead to prosecution in cases within AO 35’s mandate.

The data-sharing agreement includes sharing of

investigation reports in AO 35 cases, promotion of closer cooperation evidence gathering and prosecution, security measures, and privacy policies governing data sharing with consideration of the interests of victims and complainants.

“The present data sharing Agreement is necessary considering that we have now the Data Privacy Act. The DSA clearly defines our respective roles, at the same time acknowledges and respects the internal rules of our institutions in the role of data sharing.

The provisions of this DSA, that we are about to sign today, will further strengthen the cooperation between our institutions to serve the ends of justice and protect human rights,” Tanodra-Armamento said.

Meanwhile, Perete said the agreement will

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DTI: Jail time, fines for traders who mislabel imports as local products

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Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president John Carlo Tria says the organization has decided to launch this year’s edition of the Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) as an online platform to inspire many agribusiness enterprises to join the digital economy. Edge Davao

raders who mislabel imports as local goods amid the Department of Industry's "buy local" campaign may face jail time and financial penalties, the DTI warned.

In a statement on Thursday, the DTI said that traders found guilty of mislabeling may face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine, or both, at the discretion of the court for violating the Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

“They may likewise be charged with performing deceptive sales acts and practices, punishable with a fine or imprisonment of up to one year or both,” it said.

The agency reiterated that under Article 77 of RA 7394, product labels must include the "Country of Manufacture" if imported.

The label must also indicate that if a consumer product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under license from the principal, according to the DTI. The DTI has also issued Administrative Order No. 01-08 or “Addenda to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act

No. 7394,” which requires all consumer products sold in the Philippines, whether manufactured locally or imported, to indicate, among others, its country of manufacture.

The Trade department issued the warning amid concerns from consumer groups that some traders might take advantage of the “buy local” campaign by mislabeling imported products and sell them as local goods.

The government has recently revived its “buy local” program to help the country’s economy recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and preserve the employment of many Filipinos.

The recently passed Bayanihan To Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 has also given priority to locally manufactured products in the purchase of around P3 billion worth of medical goods, particularly personal protective equipment.

The DTI is also pushing for the use of local construction materials for infrastructure projects of national and local governments.

s the unemployment rate declined in July 2020 to 10 percent from 17.7 percent in April 2020, Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs Vivencio Dizon said infrastructure projects will continue to generate more jobs for Filipinos amid the global health crisis.

In a Palace briefing Thursday, Dizon said he supports the gradual reopening of the economy to create employment as many Filipinos were displaced from their jobs due to the pandemic.

“The direction of gradually opening the economy is critical so we can bring back the jobs for our fellow

Filipinos and restart our economic growth, and infrastructure is a vital part of this,” he said in Filipino.

He added the government vows to bolster the Build, Build, Build program and generate local employment.

He said the administration has increased the infrastructure spending to 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from the previous administration’s expenditure of 3 percent of GDP. Dizon said that despite the pandemic, the government is pursuing flagship infrastructure projects.

Among the projects

Davao Agri-Trade Expo goes online A

Gov't infra projects to support job creation amid pandemic

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he upcoming Davao Agri-Trade Expo (DATE) will go digital as it launches an online exhibition that will help promote local products and create linkages and partnerships between Filipino and international agricultural stakeholders.

In a statement Thursday, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) described the September 22 event as one of the biggest and longest-running agri-business exposition in Southern Philippines,

John Carlo Tria, president of DCCCII, said they have decided to launch DATE as an online platform to inspire many agribusiness enterprises to join the digital economy.

“This will help them enter and thrive in the new

Lazada considers banning 'small sellers' selling counterfeit goods

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azada on Thursday said it might consider banning “small sellers” as well as food and drug vendors on its app after a Senate panel flagged the sale of thousands of counterfeit goods on the online shopping giant’s platform.

“We will probably have to go to a direction where no small seller can list on our platform or the food and pharmaceutical category will be deactivated,” Lazada chief executive officer Ray Alimurung said during a Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship hearing.

Alimurung gave the remark after Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that dietary supplements were being sold on Lazada despite being banned by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Siguro we can forgive mga pirated videos... pero [but] this is something the public consumes,” Gatchalian said “There is a chance for

consumers to buy these things to the detriment of their health... Obviously the platforms are not doing enough to stop these unscrupulous activities on their own platforms,” he said.

Aside from counterfeit drugs and supplements, the Optical Media Board (OMB) said that around 900,000 items - including Adobe and Microsoft products - “without necessary license or permits” are being sold on Lazada and Shopee, two of the biggest online shopping apps in the country.

Some 40,000 pieces of unlicensed USBs, SD cards, and other tech items amounting to P20 million have been confiscated, but the illegal sale of these goods continue online, OMB chair Anselmo Adriano said.

Alimurung said Lazada has been enforcing multiple layers of security in

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normal. Farmers and agribusiness enterprises will be boosted,” Tria said.

Aside from the online exhibition, DATE will also feature a series of online forums and seminars that will provide updates on the latest trends and technologies, market access, and supply chain management of different commodities.

Tria said the online seminar serves as continuous capacity building and skills enhancement training for those who are in the agribusiness sector, as well as a venue for the public

and private sectors to discuss and identify emerging issues and concerns in the Philippine agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, DATE 2020 chairperson Cherrylin Casuga said the virtual exhibit will highlight Mindanao agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee, coconut, corn cassava, rice, and banana, as well as livestock and marine products.

“This will also showcase technologies, new trends, logistics, and new allied services for the agribusi-

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A shopper browses an e-commerce app interface for products sold online. Lazada said it might consider banning “small sellers” as well as food and drug vendors on its app after a Senate panel flagged the sale of thousands of counterfeit goods on the online shopping giant’s platform. Edge Davao

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The Blue Lotus Hotel along Quimpo Blvd. in Davao City is among the 75 accommodation establishments in the city authorized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 to operate under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ). Edge Davao

Moody’s lowers PH’s economic outlook to -7 percent in 2020

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lobal debt watcher Moody’s Investor Service is expecting a deeper contraction in the Philippine economy for the whole of 2020, given the country’s nosedive to recession in the first two quarters of the year.

In its forecast update released Thursday, Moody’s lowered its full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection to a contraction of 7% from its earlier estimate of a 4.5% decline.

The credit watchdog attributed its lower GDP outlook to the 0.7% contraction in the first quarter and the sharper decline of 16.5% in the second quarter, which brought the economy to a recession for the first time in 29 years.

Moody’s -7% GDP growth this year is worse than the economic managers’ -5.5% projection.

“The record contraction in the April-June quarter reflected the severe impact of the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) on domestic demand with household consumption falling 15.5% and gross fixed capital formation plunging 53.5%, both of which contributed to a collapse in import demand of around 40%,” the debt

watcher said.

“Exports of goods and services also fell 37.0%, reflecting similar pressures on external demand on account of the global pandemic shock. By contrast, government consumption rose 22.1% over the same period, although the large increase also incorporated base effects from weak public spending in the first half of 2019 on account of delays to the implementation of the national budget,” it added.

During the latter part of the first half, the Philippine economy was put on halt due to the implementation of strict quarantine measures — ECQ) in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas from March 17 to May 15, followed by a mod-

ified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31.

Restrictions were then eased under the general community quarantine (GCQ) starting June 1. Metro Manila and four other nearby provinces, however, were reverted to the stricter MECQ on August 4 and will last until August 18.

“In light of rising coronavirus infections following the relaxation of strict lockdown conditions at the beginning of June, the government reimposed tighter containment measures for Metro Manila and surrounding areas during the first two weeks of August,” Moody’s said.

“Curtailment measures have since eased for Met-

cution of people involved in money laundering, terrorism financing and other violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2021, the DOF said in a statement.

As the country's financial intelligence unit, the AMLC also has the authority to receive and analyze suspicious transactions, investigate money laundering and initiate filing of cas-

es, the DOF said.

The DOF has an anti-corruption arm called Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), which under the deal, may request for financial information from AMLC to support an on-going probe, it said.

"This updated MOA underlines the unrelenting drive by the Duterte administration to flush out money

launderers and terrorist financiers and stop the Philippine financial system from becoming a harbor for their nefarious activities along with other AMLA violations," Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

The RIPS can probe alleged corrupt practices of officials and employees of the DOF and its agencies,

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DOF, AMLC ink deal to strengthen fight vs money laundering, terrorism financing

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he Department of Finance said Thursday it signed a deal with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to reinforce the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

The memorandum of agreement signed by the 2 agencies aims to strengthen information exchange, investigations and prose-

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DTI registers over 75K online businesses

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total of 75,029 online businesses have registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from January to August this year, Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Thursday.

At the Senate committee hearing for the Internet Transactions Act, Lopez said bulk of internet-based businesses was registered during the start of community quarantine.

He said there were 73,276 online businesses that registered between March 16 and August 31.

Registration of online entrepreneurs from January to March 15 this year only reached 1,753, he said.

In July, DTI reported that total online business registration in the first seven months of the year reached 37,000. This means registration of online businesses quickly doubled in one month and hit the 75,000-mark.

While enterprises grow their presence online, complaints related to these also surged in the past months, Lopez said.

From 2,457 complaints related to online transactions in 2019, complaints filed with the DTI in the first eight months of the year reached 12,630, the trade chief added.

“The quadruple in-

crease of this is attributed to the surge of online transactions due to the pandemic. The highest number of complaints, around 8,000, was during the months of April and May when the strictest level of community quarantine was in all areas.

Due to the limited movement of people, consumers heavily relied on online shopping,” Lopez said.

He reiterated DTI’s support to pass the Internet Transactions Act to boost the country’s e-commerce law.

“The proposed Act will support the government’s, at least, for the government's role of enabling businesses and protecting consumers,” Lopez said.

Lopez added the bill will enable the growth of e-commerce in the country and support the digitalization of the micro, small, and medium enterprises.

This will also establish a regulatory framework for internet transactions, he said. “(It’s a) path for DTI to address regulatory gaps in the field of e-commerce, or when it is unclear whether existing regulatory agencies could exercise jurisdiction over emerging businesses,” he said. (PNA)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On the failure of two Mindanao bus companies to qualify in the second round of franchise application for Davao City’s interim bus project or the High Priority Bus System (HPBS):

Sa second round of evaluation dalawang applicants pa rin, ang Bachelor and Metro Shuttle, but they again failed. We are again disqualifying them for lacking some requirements like availability of the units ... We will find out if the bus companies will refile for the third round of application.

Baka may new applicants din po kung sakali.”

Armand Dioso

Regional Director, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB 11)

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7 EDGEDAVAO

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VANTAGE POINTS

ENTERTAINMENT

FRED C. LUMBA

ALL-FEMALE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ARTISTS UNITE SPECKS OF LIFE

ARE THERE ANYMORE GOOD MEN LEFT

In a huge population of more than 100 million, would it be exasperatingly hard to find someone to fit the bill?

Or is it more like searching in a haystack?

The huge financial mess discovered – and exposed by a FILIPINO PRIDE Jayda, whistle-blower - in the Philhealth corruption scandal indicts the Jona, Kyla, KZ Tandincultural impunity that has been gan, Lesha, Moira Dela in existence and in practice for Torre, and Xela are colmany decades, nursed in fact by laborating some of the benumbedwith indifference of a the most popular talents timid and tolerant society.

Philhealthartists issue isin not andThe emerging the tip of the iceberg, mind you.

Southeast Asia’s music Many more earth-shaking scene—Indonesian singexposes’ in yesteryears and reers Rinni Wulandari cent past have come and gone but and Yura of Yunita, the authors the evilMalayschemes have artists not beenDOLLA convictedand and sian jailed. It appears that they are Shalma Eliana, Singaable to squeeze themselves out of porean talentssituation Haneri the discomfiting by seand Haven, and curing the services ofThai “talented” artist Ploy lawyersValentina who smartly navigate the deliver legal waters with a variety to a message of of “swimming” methods and styles. hope in their upcoming Yes, it can no longer be desingle nied that“HEAL.” our justice and penal

system is pockmarked with loopholes, if you know what I am pointing at.

Rumors that we have thugs and crooks in robes in the judiciary are no longer rumors. Many criminal cases involving scions of rich, prominent and politically-connected families are able to buy their way out of a sure conviction because there is a crooked system existing.

One sickening horrific fact is that while we have an extradition treaty with the USA, Filipinos who are facing court suits conveniently escape by taking the first plane out to Uncle Sam’s territory where they enjoy the “fruits” of their labor.

Criminal minds and plunderers are ironically encouraged to push through their sinister plots to engage in pilferage and thievery because they are not scared of the penal laws existing in the country.

The death penalty is being re-introduced only because the increasing surge of criminality is now – again – being felt and expe-

rienced.

Ordinarily, however, the spate of corruption controversies no longer surprise and shake the Pinoy nation.

They have gotten used to these wrong-doings because they have become integral parts of their contemporary life.

But with the grave anti-social effects of Covid 19, Filipinos are now realizing (and recognizing, I hope) that they need to collectively voice out their rightful indignation because these corruption scandals have got to stop as the wrong-doings are negatively affecting the government and the people in a monstrous manner.

Unfortunately, Philhealth appointees have been – one after the other - exiting disgracefully, hounded by issues about negligent and lax management, dereliction of duty, incompetence and such other concerns, even bordering on inutility.

Everybody is agreed that the matter is systemic.

From top to bottom, the culture of corruption has ebbed

These Southeast Asian artists lend their therapeutic voicKZ Tandingan Valentina Ploy (Thailand) es for the inspirational song produced by ABS-CBN Music all of the participating artists International which will drop donating their share of fees on digital streaming platforms and royalties to ABS-CBN’s on September 11 (Friday).

“Pantawid ng Pag-ibig,” a fundThe “Heal” project, a first raising campaign which aims in the region, seeks to convey to provide relief to Filipinos THINK ON THESE! love and spur unity for evwho have lost their sources eryone’s healing during these of livelihood due to the COtrying times. It was composed VID-19 pandemic.

by ABS-CBN Music creative The “HEAL” single is just director Jonathan Manalo, one of ABS-CBN Music InterDOLLA (Malaysia) Moophs, and Alex Godinez national’s endeavors, which aka Xela. Jonathan also served seeks to introduce the unique and music to the Philippines. political scene is per- thority leadership, writCommitment: “People as its“The over-all producer. artistryon of Filipinos to has global Find inspiration and cour-do haps the most public arena ten a very comprehensive book not follow uncommitted The collaboration is also a audiences and more recently, age by listening to “HEAL.”leadwhere people have expressed entitled, The 21 Indispensable ers. Commitment can be dis#StreamToDonate project, bring in international Pre-save song at backl. their distrust in those who with lead Qualities of a Leader.talents In his played inthe a full range of matters

down to its lowest level that nothing – it seems – can solve or even minimize it to a tolerable level.

Perhaps, PRRD should ask for a volunteer.

Instead of scouting for talented managers and executives that will man and head government offices, the President could ask the nation if there is anyone willing to volunteer and serve the country in a position that has no political backing or support.

In this way, the volunteer-appointee will not suffer from political pressures if he had been otherwise backed or recommended by a powerful politician.

I believe there are still many capable Filipinos out there willing to take up the challenge.

These are the guys who silently do their jobs and accomplish their tasks with noble objectivity and diligence.Kyla Enough of bureaucrats.

Enough of the ‘padrino’ connection. Enough of the old traditional “you and me” brotherhood.

I would strongly espouse this volunteer-ism concept.

We have tried everything possible under the sun but our government remains in bondage to corruption, thievery and illegalities.

A volunteer-appointee I think will do better under the circumstance because he is not indebted to anyone but to the appointing authority alone.

Therefore, he will have much leeway to hire and fire, whenever necessary and implement the changes he sees to be effective and efficient.

At least, PRRD need not search in a haystack.

Napoleon Hill, author of the much-acclaimed Think and Grow Rich, said: “No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure.”

Challenges will not stop daring us in the face.

It is up to us if we cower in fear or take the dare. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

WHAT MAKES A TRUEHaneriLEADER? (Singapore)

them. These are not easy times in which to be a leader.” -- Henry and Richard Blackaby, authors of Spiritual Leadership *** And it came to pass that God saw the sufferings of His people in Egypt. He had heard them crying out because of the miseries they were THIS SATURDAY, getexperiencexcited ing. He wanted to rescue them as the beloved family of ‘Pepito from their bondage.

So, He Manaloto: Ang Tunay Kuwencalled a man namedNaMoses to bring God’s chosencomeback people out to’ airs a very special of Egypt.to thank its loyal fans episode “Who am thatunwavering I should go and viewers forI,their to Pharaoh and bring the Israelsupport. ites out of Egypt,” Moses asked.

“The cast and are all very Moses wasI terrified to become the In of their book, excited!

Weleader. have a lot quaranSpiritual Leadership, authors tine stories we would love to share Henry Richard Blackaby with ourand audience,” the show’s wrote: “Leadership. Everyone Creative Director experiences it, orand the Concept lack of it, in Creator, Michael shared.

“This their daily lives. V., Those called to lead can find doingisso a daunting Saturday’s episode a good way task. expected to startThose the “new normal”toforfollow our can experience frustration when show.” their leader is unable to lead.”

The multi-awarded comedian There are 850 different defiadded new and different nitionshow of leadership.

That was whatexperience Warren was Bennis and this for all of Burt Nanus found when they were them, “Shooting from home is writing their collaborative book, a VERY different experience.

Leaders: Strategies for Taking There’s discipline Charge.a lot It isofno wonderinvolved. why toYou a new have appreciation day’sgain leaders a hard for time measuring up their There the crew during timeslevel. like these.” areAstoo many standards to meet! a survivor of COVID-19, Dr. John C. Maxwell, an he auBitoy will open up about what

introduction, he posed these questions: “What makes people want to follow a leader? Why do people reluctantly comply with one leader while passionately following another to the ends of the earth? What separates leadership theorists from successful leaders who lead effectively in the real world?”

Maxwell enumerated the 21 qualities -- in alphabetical order -- as follows: character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, positive attitude, problem solving, relationships, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability and vision.during his selfwent through Now, period here so that are thesome quarantine authoughts from various leaders dience may find hope and inspiraand thinkers from around the tion amid these trying times. world: Character: is The episode will“Leadership also feature an the capacity and will to segment rally men amusing “kamustahan” and a common wherewomen the castto members will purpose and the character which showcaseconfidence.” the skills and--talents inspires Bernard they have learned during quarMontgomery, British Field Marshal antine; “Pipito Para Manalo,” an Charisma: “How you intriguing mystery objectcan game; have charisma?

Be more and “Bring It Tommy”, a new conspin cerned about making others on a good classicabout game.themselves than feel Together with Michael V. good you are making them feel about you.” Reynes, -- Dan Reiland, are Manilyn John Feir,vice president of leadership developMaureen Larrazabal, Arthur ment Solinap, Mosang, Mikoy Morales,

to include the work hours you choose to maintain, how you work to improve your abilities, or what you do for your fellow workers at personal sacrifice.”

-- Stephen Gregg, chairman of Ethix Corporation Communication: “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” -- Lee Iacocca, American automobile executive Competence: “The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy.

Janna Dominguez, andNeither Ronnieits piped nor its theories will hold Henares. water.” -- John Gardner, Ameripromises that they will canBitoy novelist ampCourage: up the fun“Courage and deliver is rightly first of that human theesteemed same flavorthe of comedy qualities… because theseries, qualKapuso viewers love it inisthe ity which guarantees all oth“Makaka-asa ang mga Kapuso ers.”-- Winston Churchill, British natin na hindi mawawala ang sigPrime Minister nature “Pepito humor”“The sa upcomDiscernment: first rule of holes: When iba you’re in ing episodes.

Maaaring na ang one, stop digging.”

-- pa Molly Ivins, “ulam”, pero “kanin” rin ang American katapat.” columnist Focus: “What people say, Prepare to laugh out what loud and what people do, and they don’t miss “Pepito Manaloto: Ang say they do are entirely different things.”

Margaretthis Mead, Tunay na--Kuwento,” Satur-anthropologist day, after ‘24 Oras Weekend’ on Generosity: “No person was GMA-7.

‘PEPITO MANALOTO’ AIRS VERY SPECIAL COMEBACK EPISODE THIS SATURDAY

ink/142760252 before it drops

ever honored for streaming what he reon various digital ceived.

Honor has been the replatforms on September 11 ward for what he gave.” -- Calvin (Friday). For updates, like Star Coolidge, American president Initiative: “Success seems to be connected with action.

Successful people keep moving.

They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” -- Conrad Hilton, hotel executive Listening: “The ear of the leader must ringproducer with theJonavoices Award-winning of theManalo people.”

-- Woodrow Wilthan inspires Filipinos son, American to band togetherpresident in prayer for the Passion: “Without passion country’s through man is a salvation mere latent forcehis and interpretation of the nationalispossibility, like the flint which awaits shock of the iron betic songthe “Pinakamamahal Kong fore it can give under forth Star its spark.”

Bayan” released Music.

-- “The Henrimessage Frederic Amie, of this songSwiss has moral philosopher always touched my heart and is Positive Attitude: “The still very much relevant today; greatest discovery of my generation that Ihuman a lot ofistimes just findbeings myselfcan alter theirinto lives by while altering their breaking tears listening attitude of mind.”

-- William to this song,” the creative director James, psychologist of ABS-CBN shared.

Problem Music Solving: “The mea“I pray that the song’s sure of success is not message whether you have a to tough problem to will minister you the way it had deal with, but whether it isour the ministered to me.

God bless same problem you had last year.” country,” he added.

-- John Foster Dulles, US SecreThe track was tary of inspirational State originally written by Relationships: Soc “TheVillanmost important ingredient ueva, while single the revival was pro- in the formula of success is knowduced

by Jonathan and arranged ing how toKatigbak. get along with peoby Tommy ple.” -- Theodore Roosevelt, Jonathanpresident is known as an American esteemed songwriter reResponsibility: and “When a man a finger at someone cord points producer who grew up in a else, he should that musically inclinedremember family which four of his him fingers are pointing prompted to start writing at

Rinni Wulandari (Indonesia)

Music on Facebook (www.

himself.”

-- Louis Nizer facebook.com/starmusicph) Security: “NoTwitter man will make and follow it on and a great leader who wants to do Instagram it all himself(@StarMusicPH). or get all the credit for doing it.” -- Andrew Carnegie, industrialist Self-discipline:“A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself… He longs to whatever can make captive of him.” -- John Foster, author Servanthood: “The true leader serves. Serves people.

Serves their best interests, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.” -- Eugene B. Habecker, auand performing his own songs at thor Teachability: “It’sawhat a young age. Spanning careeryou of learn after you know all that two decades in the musicit induscounts.”

-- produced John Wooden, try, he has moreBasketthan ball coach 25 multi-platinum albums and Vision: “The future belongs over 50 gold certified albums for to those who see possibilities before theyGary become obvious.” singers like Valenciano, -John Chief Executive Jaya, YengScully, Constantino, KZ Officer Tandingan, and many others.

To end this piece, here is a Some of his notable masterfinal statement from Chinese works include “Pagbigyang philosopher Lao-Tzu: “ToMuli” lead people, walk beside ... As

by Erik Santos, “Pinoy them Ako” by for the best leaders, people Orange & Lemons, andthe “Patudo not Pangarap” notice their existence. loy Ang

by Angeline The next best, the people honor Quinto.

He also “Tara and praise.

The composed next, the people Tena,” which bagged the top prize fear; and the next, the people hate ... When best leader’s in 2001’s “JAM: the Himig Handog sa work is doneKabataan” the peoplesongsay, ‘We Makabagong did it ourselves!’” writing competition.

JONATHAN MANALO SINGS ‘PINAKAMAMAHAL KONG BAYAN’

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

Old Spice brings much-needed dose of humor with epic video I t’s so powerful that it can sell even being surrounded by ninjas. Too powerful that it can run from a meteorite, explode a planet, and still breathe in space. It leaves a death-defying smell to a man — The Smell That Never Dies in a can called Old Spice.

Old Spice commercials have always been known for its outrageously comical visuals, and once again, it did not disappoint. The men’s antiperspirant and deodorant brand is back with its new campaign #TheSmellThatNeverDies. Old Spice serves us with the much-needed breath of fresh manly man entertainment — a commercial made in the Philippines for Filipino men who deserve nothing less.

The action-packed video features an all-Filipino cast led by actor Victor Silayan as the ultimate action hero who never dies, thanks to his Old Spice superpowers of irresistible long-lasting smell. We see him getting a thumbs up from sharks in the dark depths of the sea, with twin anacondas wrapped around his pecs,

ninjas and more. Ridiculously funny is an understatement for Frenchie Dy’s appearances, as she pops up in the most random places as the singer behind the clever and captivating song — that completes the all-around visual Pinoy EPICNESS! Staying at home ain’t an excuse for not staying fresh!

If body odor can kill, then the long-lasting smell of Old Spice’s Body Spray is man’s key to immortality. Get your manly man legs moving and spray on some of #TheSmellThatNeverDies. Your body, family, and the Old Spice team will thank and love you!

If you haven’t caught on with the latest trends, Filipino users are raving about this Old Spice commercial — admitting that they’ve searched and came to watch the commer-

cial countless times! The YouTube comments are flooded with comments like: “This is the dankest Filipino ad I ever saw.”

“This is the only ad I came searching because this was funny, and the song is catchy.”

“The only ad I didn't skipped... Even searched for it to re-watch.”

“The best Filipino old spice ad.”

We can’t deny that Fili-

pino viewers are loving our commercial. Feast your eyes and watch the video here.

Trust us, this is a commercial you will never want to miss!

Don’t forget to check out what the buzz is with Old Spice’s awesome long-lasting smell. Get yourself Old Spice products through Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day until September 9, 2020 and have #TheSmellThatNeverDies straight to your home.

DO Network Bank, the rural banking arm of BDO Unibank, has announced that its network of Automated Teller Machines

(ATMs) now accepts VISA and KFTC (Korea Financial Intermediaries and Clearing Institute) International cards, allowing the bank to serve

the cash requirements of more ATM cardholders with internationally-issued cards.

VISA and KFTC cardholders can already withdraw and

inquire their account balance from any BDO Network Bank ATM nationwide. The rural bank has over 250 strategically located ATMs in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

This development can benefit foreigners who frequent major tourist spots where BDO Network Bank is also present, said BDO Network Bank President J. Antonio S. Itchon.

The enhancement of KFTC International Card acceptance, he added, will also benefit Korean nationals visiting and residing in the country. Koreans account for the country’s top foreign arrivals since 2010. In 2018, around 1.62 million Koreans visited the Philippines, besting Chinese and Americans tourists who came in only second and third, respec-

BDO NETWORK BANK ATMS NOW ACCEPT VISA AND KFTC INT’L CARDS B tively. The Philippines is also home to more than 100,000 Korean migrants.

Founded in 1986, KFTC is a payment settlement institution that establishes and manages interbank payment networks in Korea. Its members include the Bank of Korea, Korea Development Bank, Woori Bank, Hana Bank, Kookmin Bank, Korean Exchange Bank, Standard Chartered Korea and Citibank Korea.

VISA, on the other hand, is also a global payments technology company with presence in 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Established in 1958, it has an extensive network with 3.3 billion cards in use, connecting people through payments all around the world.

BancNet, one of the coun-

try's leading electronic banking network, has interconnection with KFTC and VISA, allowing KFTC and VISA cardholders to check their balances and withdraw cash through any BancNet enabled ATMs. “The widening variety of ATM acceptance complements our continuous expansion, which in turn is part of our thrust to reach more unserved and underserved markets,” Itchon said. BDO Network Bank targets to double its number of branches in the next four years as it intensifies its lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).

Apart from VISA and KFTC, BDO Network Bank ATMs also accept Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus and Bancnet cardholders.

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Food for diabetics: What’s on the table?

D

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

iabetes isn’t behaving the way it did in the past. Forget your former notions of the disease: that it strikes old aunties and the rich, or that it seldom kills. Diabetes no longer cares about class distinctions or age – it’s becoming as prevalent in slums as in mansions, and it’s ravaging the young like never before.

The numbers are staggering! From 177 million people with diabetes in 2002, the figure is likely to surpass 300 million by 2025, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Paul Zimmet, director of the International Diabetes Institute in Victoria, Australia, predicts that diabetes “is going to be the biggest epidemic in human history.”

The Philippines is home to about four million diabetics, with more than three million not knowing they have the disease. “Many people still do not know that they have diabetes,” said Dr. Tommy Ty Wiling, president of Diabetes Philippines. The Department of Health listed diabetes as the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos today.

Long before Greeks found a word for it, diabetes (passing) was a plague in Egypt. In the world’s oldest known medical document, Egyptian physicians referred to the symptoms of the disease.

The word “mellitus” (for honey) was added later by the Greeks, making the descriptive phase diabetes mellitus – “passing sweet” – to describe the sweet urine passed by diabetes.

“Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin,”

states The Merck Manual of Medical Information.

Insulin, a hormone released from the pancreas, controls the amount of sugar in the blood. When you eat or drink, food is broken down into materials – including sugar – that the body needs to function. Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. Once inside the cells, sugar is converted to energy, which is either used immediately or stored until it is needed.

The levels of sugar in the blood vary normally throughout the day. They rise after a meal and return to normal within about two hours after eating. “Once the levels of sugar in the blood return to normal, insulin production decreases,” the Merck manual informs.

There are two varieties of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes – sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes – results from a shortage of insulin. Type 2 diabetes – also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes – results from the body’s inability to process the hormone effectively.

About 90 percent of all diabetics have this form.

Medical experts say that a person who has Type 1 knows he has it: The pancreas producing insulin. Not surprisingly, the symptoms are severe

and without regular injections to make up for the lack of insulin, the afflicted patient risks coma and death.

On the other hand, someone with Type 2 diabetes starts out with abnormally high levels of insulin and can go for years – even decades – without knowing he has the disease, because no immediate, life-altering symptoms occur.

Irrespective of what type of diabetes a person has, he must be aware that the disease is serious. Diabetes is associated with a range of complications that are largely related to damaged blood vessels and nerve cells caused by consistently high blood glucose concentrations.

These complications include: retinopathy (eye problems, in some cases leading to blindness), nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease which can lead to the need for amputation), heart attack or stroke, frequent infections, and impotence.

Since Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, health experts are focusing more research on the said type. Dr. Gauden Galea says that effective management of Type 2 diabetes cannot be achieved without proper attention to diet and nutrition.

Dr. Galea, who is with the noncommunicable diseases of the regional office of World Health Organization (WHO) in Western Pacific, advises that 20-30 percent of the total dietary energy should come from fats and oils. Protein should not exceed to more than 15 percent of the total energy required.

The bulk, however, should come from carbohydrates: 55-65 percent of the total energy. “Talk to your doctor or dietician to know the suitable diet for you,” advises Dr. Tham May Ked, senior medical officer of the Department of Health in Hong Kong.

Generally, diabetic patients are advised to eat most of the following: legumes, lentils, cereals,

fresh fruits (non-sweet) and vegetables.

What about rice? “Rice is a traditional diet for Asians and provides a rich source of many essential vitamins and minerals,” Dr. Tham explains. “For diabetics, the key is moderation.”

Likewise, diabetics must have small serves of foods rich in protein like fish, seafood, lean meat, skinless chicken, nuts, low-fat cheese, yoghurt, and milk.

They must minimize eating foods and drinks that contain a lot of simple sugar, such as honey, sweets, cakes, soft drinks and beer, among others.

In recent years, some Filipinos are claiming ampalaya as nature’s answer to diabetes. Some studies have shown that the bitter-tasting vegetable has been proven to be effective in lowering the blood sugar of people with Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Eduardo Gonzales, in his weekly column in a national daily, wrote: “A substantial number of scientific studies on the effect of ampalaya on blood glucose levels have already been undertaken. The most compelling of these is a 10-year trial, which was conducted by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) that compared ampalaya leaves with the anti-diabetes drug Glibenclamide.

The results of the trial showed that the blood sugar lowering effect of a 100 milligram per kilo dose per day of ampalaya is comparable to 2.5 milligrams of the anti-diabetes drug taken twice a day.”

Ellie Rose, in an article which appeared in Reader’s Digest, reports that ampalaya contains high levels of charantin, which increases insulin sensitivity and compounds that activate AMPK, a protein that regulates glucose uptake. “It also has a form of lectin (a sugar-binding protein) that lowers blood glucose and suppresses appetite,” she writes.

Most doctors tell their diabetic patients to cut sugar intake. “This is becoming a real problem, because many low-fat or fat-free foods now on the market have a lot of refined sugar added to

make them taste good,” claims Dr. James Barnard, American professor of physiological science at the University of California, Los Angeles. “People with diabetes need to avoid most refined sugar.

It really causes problems for them.”

But there is a natural sugar diabetics can consume: coconut sugar. It is derived from coconut sap or toddy, which contains 12-18 percent sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids.

“A natural sweetener and functional food, coconut sugar is a much welcome development for diabetics and hypoglycemics,” said the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar drops too low. Because keeping their blood sugar at normal levels requires quite a balancing act, diabetics are particularly prone to hypoglycemia.

Compared with refined cane sugar, coconut sugar has a glycemic index (GI) at 35. This is much lower than the 54 GI, the level which nutritionists consider as safe for people who have to watch out their glucose level.

GI is a measure of the rate at which carbohydrates as glucose enter the blood stream. “The GI also indicates the rate at which carbohydrates break down during digestion in the small intestine into the simple sugars glucose, fructose and, sometimes, galactose,” explains Dr. Virgilio M. Ofiana in his weekly column for a national daily.

“The glucose is the sugar that is rapidly absorbed and has a reference GI of 100 or greater,” Dr. Ofiana writes. “Both fructose and galactose enter the circulation at a slower rate and need to go to the liver for conversion into glucose: both, therefore, have lower GIs.” Sudden release of glucose into the bloodstream causes spikes of insulin that, if sustained for some time, is hazardous to health. “Having a low GI means that people who consume coco sugar will

FFOOD, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO PRRD... FROM2

po ay mabuting balita na habang nagbubukas po ang ekonomiya, mas marami siyempre ang nakakapagtatrabaho na. Kaya nga po ang aking pakiusap sa ating mga Pilipino, sumunod po tayo sa minimum health standards (It’s a good news that many are getting employed following the reopening of the economy.

So my appeal to Filipinos, please follow minimum

health standards),” he said.

According to a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority, unemployment in the country eased to 10 percent in July. This is lower than the 17.7 percent recorded in April.

The total number of jobless Filipinos in July is at 4.6 million, lower than the 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos registered in April. (PNA)

there are 46,616 that received the aid.

Paje said this is 94 percent of their target beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, there are still families that have yet to receive aid from the DSWD. Paje assured that the qualified beneficiaries will get their financial assistance from the government as the fund is already transferred to their financial service partners (FSPs).

“Hintayin nyo na lang po natin ang mensahe galing sa inyong naka assign na FSP kung kailan at saan ninyo kukunin ang ayu-

da (Let us just wait for the instruction from your assigned FSP to know when and where to get your cash aid),” he added.

The “Bayanihan to Heal As One” Act has given the national government powers to provide emergency subsidies to low-income families.

The Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 of 2020 stated that the subsidy shall amount to a minimum of PHP5,000 to a maximum of PHP8,000 a month for two months to provide for basic food, medicine and toiletries. (PNA)

off the coast of Japan. Then a wave flooded its deck in the dark of night, forcing the vessel to list at a precarious angle, according to Filipino survivor Sareno Edvardo.

“When it was capsizing, an onboard announcement instructed us to wear a life jacket,” Edvardo later told the Japanese coast guard.

“So I wore a life jacket and jumped into the sea.”

After the ship sent a distress signal in the early hours of Wednesday, Japan scrambled three patrol planes and four coast guard boats. But it would be nearly 24 hours before rescuers found Edvardo, 45, bobbing in the East China Sea. He was the only one, and he said he had watched the ship sink.

The ship was on its way from New Zealand to China.

Rescue efforts continued Thursday as Typhoon Maysak lashed parts of South Korea, north of where Edvardo was found, with heavy rain and gusts of up to 90 miles per hour, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power.

LABOR CHIEF FAILS TO GET UPDATES, TOO Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said he tried but failed to get updates from officials in Japan until before dawn on Friday.

“Anytime na ‘pag may matanggap kaming balita o report, ipaparating namin,” he said.

(Anytime that we get news or a report, we will relay it.)

Addressing the wives of the missing seafarers, he added: “Kagaya ninyo, ako ri’y nagtataka bakit walang balita.”

(Like you, I am puzzled about why there is no news.)

The Philippines is one of the world’s leading suppliers of merchant seafarers, whose remittances help to fuel the country’s economy. Last year, there were nearly 500,000 Filipino seafarers, on vessels ranging from oil tankers to cruise ships.

The capsized livestock carrier left Napier, New Zealand, on Aug. 14 with a cargo of 5,867 cattle and had been expected to arrive in the Chinese port city of Tangshan about 17 days later, New Zealand’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Gulf Livestock 1, a 456foot ship, is registered in Panama and was built as a livestock carrier in 2002, according to VesselFinder. com, a tracking website.

A photo on the site shows cattle berths stacked high on its deck, as rooms might be on a luxury cruise liner.

ness sector. Department of Agriculture Sec. William Dar will grace the launch of the online platform,” Casuga said.

DATE is an annual event organized by the DCCCII that aims to create inno-

vative and economically viable opportunities to strengthen agribusiness as well as reinforce collaborations between the government and the private sector for the development of the agriculture sector. (PNA)

the DOF said.

"As the country’s situation evolves, so does the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. This MOA rep-

resents another chapter of collaboration and information-sharing between the DOF and the AMLC,” AMLC Secretariat executive director Mel Georgie Racela said.

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FAMILIES... FROM3

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13,400 isolation beds; and 49 percent of 5,400 ward beds while about 28 percent of 2,200 ventilators are in use.

While the government is revamping the current healthcare system, Galvez said it is also working to address the pandemic's mental health impact on the people.

"Sa ating pagbisita sa mga probinsya sa Visayas, ay may narinig po tayong malungkot na balita. May ilang lugar doon na mas mataas pa ang bilang ng mga namamatay dahil sa anxiety at depression kumpara sa mga nagkakasakit sa Covid-19 (During our visit to the provinces in the Visayas, we heard some sad news. There are some areas where the death toll from anxiety and depression is even higher compared to those who get sick with Covid-19)," he said.

Galvez said the impact of the pandemic on mental health should not be underestimated as it is an occurring issue that needs to be addressed.

"This pandemic has not only affected us physically but also mentally and emotionally as well," he said.

"Ito po ang lagi naming napag-uusapan ni Health Secretary Francisco Duque at ng buong Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (We always

discuss this matter with Secretary Francisco Duque and the entire IATF)."

"Naniniwala kami na napakalaki talaga ng psychological impact ng sakit sa mga pasyente, lalo na sa ating mga(We believe the disease has a huge psychological impact to the patients, particularly to the) locally-stranded individuals, returning overseas Filipinos and health front-liners," he added.

Galvez said patients and their families usually feel the overwhelming sense of pain and rejection.

"We have also learned that it is not only the Covid-19 patients who are being affected emotionally but their families as well," he added.

The government has established various Covid-19 helplines to support individuals who are experiencing stress, anxiety, discrimination, and other emotional challenges as a result of the pandemic.

Galvez said some local government units including Quezon City, Parañaque, and Valenzuela City have established telemedicine and counseling stations.

As part of the national recovery plan amid the crisis, Galvez said the government would also be implementing various mental health interventions to help cope with the pandemic. (PNA)

strengthen cooperation between the two government agencies.

“This data-sharing agreement with the Commission on Human Rights is an important means for us not only to strengthen the avenues of mutual cooperation between us.

More importantly, it will broaden our capacity to gather and receive information crucial in the investigation and prosecution of cases in our docket… We commit not only to protect the data you will share with us; more importantly, we undertake to use them well against those who undermine and violate the rights that inhere in us as humans,” Perete said.

Composite teams of prosecutors and law enforcement officers (Special Investigation Teams) were formed upon the directive of DOJ Secretary and IAC chair Menardo Guevarra to investigate the killings

of activists Randall Echanis and Zara Alvarez.

The agreement will facilitate DOJ and CHR collaboration in bringing perpetrators to justice.

AO 35 serves as the state's mechanism dedicated to resolving cases of political violence such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, among other similar grave human rights violations.

The signing of the data-sharing agreement resulted from a series of discussions between the two institutions, with support from the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation through their Governance in Justice Human Rights Project and the Ateneo Human Rights Center, along with other efforts to strengthen the AO 35 as a State mechanism for addressing grave human rights violations. (PNA)

returned to the starting lineup. He played limited minutes the past two games after having been out since March with a strained right hip. He finished with five points. ...

F Jerami Grant scored 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first quarter but

scored one point the rest of the game.

Clippers: G Patrick Beverley, who had missed the previous five games with a left calf strain, started. He scored eight points. ... Leonard has 15 consecutive playoff games with at least 20 points.

ger-Aliassime would have been a tall order.

The Canadian fired eight aces in the opening set, including three in a row to hold serve at 3-1, and dropped one first-

serve point (13/14). When Murray managed to get Auger-Aliassime’s speedy serves back into play, the Canadian was ready to unload on crushing forehands.

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that are near completion include the Clark International Airport, Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 connecting the North Luzon and South Luzon expressways, Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Link, Bicol International Airport Development Project, General Santos International Airport, Leyte Tide Embankment, Cagayan De Oro Coastal Road, Boracay Circumferential Road, Sindangan-Bayog-Lakewood Road, Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 1, and Light Rail Transit Line 2 extension project.

Dizon said there are currently 92 projects under the Build, Build, Build program amounting to PHP4.1 trillion.

The government has revamped the flagship infrastructure projects, displacing eight projects, and adding 13 more.

Socioeconomic Planning Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said five sectors provided the most number of returning jobs in July, which include trade, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and transport that benefited from the easing of lockdown measures since May. (PNA)

its app, but some unscrupulous sellers still get past these gates.

“We have an intel property portal. Brand owners are enrolled in this portal.

It is possible that they are not doing it or they are not doing it fast enough,” he said, noting that some 50 million products are sold on Lazada.

An automated system that detects blacklisted sellers who are trying to enlist again is also in place, he said.

“It is not for lack of doing things... It’s just a matter of us trying to do better mouse traps when these guys try to develop better mice,” Alimurung said.

“The alternative is to potentially just close down everybody, but we feel that would do more harm than good,” he said.

Sen. Pia Cayetano said it would be unjust to shut down online shopping companies over the sale of illegal goods because counterfeit items are also sold in physical shops.

“Hindi tayo magkaka-skin disease [we won’t get a skin disease] for wearing a fake Lacoste shirt, but when it comes to food, pharmaceuticals and supplements it becomes a concern. But this also happens in brick and mortar stores,” Cayetano said.

“It is a valid concern.

We need to find solutions, but I think we are going in the wrong direction if we would just close down online platforms because it’s (fake products) available there,” she said.

“It (fake products) is also available in streets. It’s available everywhere,” she said.

Lazada is “very willing” to cooperate with the Senate in finding ways to plug the sale of illegal goods online, Alimurung said.

“I understand the concern and we take it seriously,” he said.

“We would like to brainstorm with your body... on how we would do it because there is a practicality aspect,” he said.

ro Manila and adjacent provinces, which have now been placed under general community quarantine, while those for a number of smaller municipalities have been tightened,” the debt watcher said.

Moody’s also took note of the rise in the unemployment rate to a record-high 17.7% in April, which weighed on consumer sentiment and spending.

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that the number of jobless adult Filipinos has eased to 4.6 million or 10% unemployment rate in July from 7.3 million unemployed individuals in April.

“Remittances from overseas Filipinos fell 9.9% year-on-year in the second quarter, the first quarterly contraction since 2015,”

Moody’s said.

On the other hand, the debt watcher said the plunge in manufacturing production, by both value and volume, were driven by disruptions to operations as the rebound in May and June from the trough reached in April mirrored developments related to the tightening and relaxation of pandemic curtailment measures.

Likewise, ongoing restrictions on domestic and cross-border travel have hampered tourism and related industries with foreign visitor arrivals, it said.

“In the context of these trends, our projection of an economic recovery in the second half—while still intact—will be less robust than previously assumed,” Moody’s said.

not experience sudden spikes in their blood glucose or blood sugar levels,” explained PCARRD, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

“Diabetes is a killer and you should not be complacent,” urges Dr. Willie T. Ong, an internist-cardiologist and author of How to Live Longer. “Visit your doctor soon.”

the pandemic, making the alleged bubble a violation

of quarantine protocols.

(PNA)

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Murray ousted in US Open

A

ndy Murray has three Grand Slam titles.

Felix Auger-Aliassime had three Grand Slam match wins when he stepped on court for their second-round clash on Thursday at the US Open.

But as the match unfolded, it became clear that past history had little bearing on the present.

The No. 15 seed produced one of his finest performances to defeat Murray 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. Auger-Aliassime cracked 24 aces and didn’t face a break point, giving the 2012 champion little opportunity to get involved throughout their match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“Life is funny because I came here as a kid in 2011 and watched Andy play Feliciano Lopez in the third round,” Auger-Aliassime said to ESPN’s Brad Gilbert after the match. “It’s crazy that nine years later, I’m playing him here and getting the win.

“In the back of your mind, you know you’re facing Andy. You always think, ‘I’ve got to get this lead. I’ve got to get this break.’ You know how he can start playing well and coming back, and you never know what trick he has up his pocket. Even at the end, closing it out was not easy. You’re facing a great

The Raptors celebrate after OG Anunoby’s game-winner. PHOTO: AP

champion and you know it’s not an everyday second round.”

With five tour-level finals to his name, including two in ATP 500 events, Auger-Aliassime has established himself as one of the most talented young stars on Tour. But the Canadian has underperformed in Grand Slams, falling at the opening hurdle in three of his four previous appearances at major championships.

He’ll look to reach the second week at a Grand Slam for the first time when he meets the winner of No. 23 seed Daniel Evans and Corentin Moutet. Moutet led Evans 4-6, 6-3, 6-5 before rain took them off court for the night.

“I know Moutet really well. I played him for the first time when I was nine years old,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I don’t know Evans as well. We’ll see who gets the win and who I play on Saturday.”

Perhaps fatigued after his heroic efforts in saving a match point to defeat Yoshihito Nishioka in five sets on Tuesday, Murray’s groundstrokes and movement lacked the same velocity as they did 48 hours earlier. But even if the former World No. 1 were in full flight, beating Au-

East Semis: Clutch triple saves Raptors in Game 3 UAAP BMD recommends

L

AKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Facing the absolute brink, the Toronto Raptors suddenly have life.

OG Anunoby caught a crosscourt inbounds pass from Kyle Lowry and hit a 3-pointer with no time remaining, and the Raptors beat the Boston Celtics 104-103 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Thursday night (Friday, Manila time).

Toronto cut Boston’s series lead to 2-1. The Celtics took a two-point lead when Kemba Walker found Daniel Theis for a dunk with a half-second left.

No team in NBA history has rallied from a 3-0 series deficit. The Raptors won’t have to try it now; Lowry elected to audible and throw the long pass — high over 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall —

to Anunoby.

Lowry played virtually the whole way, finishing with 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Fred VanVleet scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam had 16 and Anunoby 12.

Walker scored 29 points for Boston, which lost for the first time in seven playoff games. Jaylen Brown had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Jayson Tatum finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Celtics.

Marc Gasol made a layup with 5:57 left for a four-point lead; the Celtics responded with the next eight points, going up 9995 on a dunk by Brown

West Semis G-1: Clippers pounce on weary Nuggets

L

AKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past the Denver Nuggets 120-97 on Thursday night (Friday, Manila time) in Game One of the Western Conference semifinals.

Paul George scored 19 points and Marcus Morris added 18. The Clippers shot 57% from the field.

Nikola Jokic scored 15 points for the Nuggets, who were coming off a seven-game series with Utah that just ended Tuesday. Jamal Murray, who averaged 31.6 points in the first round and scored at least 50 points twice in

that series, finished with just 12 points on 5-for-15 shooting. Denver shot just 42%.

The Clippers took charge in the second quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 38-20 to take a 69-51 lead at halftime. Los Angeles held Denver to 25% shooting into the second quarter.

The Clippers continued to dominate in the third quarter, holding the Nuggets to 16 points in the period and taking a 91-67 lead into the fourth. Los Angeles’ biggest lead in the quarter was 29 points.

TIP-INS Nuggets: G Gary Harris

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with 3:02 remaining.

Lowry got a pair of layups, both drawing Toronto within two. The Raptors had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final half-minute, VanVleet getting an acrobatic layup to drop with 21.5 seconds left and knotting it at 101.

Theis’ score left Toronto needing a miracle.

Anunoby delivered.

“I had confidence in him,” Lowry said. “We’ll take that win.”

Siakam was called for his third foul on a charge with 7:44 left in the half; Raptors coach Nick Nurse used his lone challenge to protest, but replay upheld the call — a big decision against Toronto.

When Siakam took a seat for the rest of the half, Toronto trailed 38-37. The

outlook got very bleak very fast without him on the floor.

The Raptors got outscored 19-10 over the 6:42 that followed going into the break, and the Celtics stretched the lead to 57-47 by the half. Walker had 17 points in the first quarter, capping that period with a 3-pointer — and did it again to end the second to give Boston what was then its biggest lead.

Lowry had been 0 for 5 from 3-point range in the game — and 1 for 17 in the series — before connecting from the left corner midway through the third, getting the Raptors to 61-60.

Toronto would eventually lead by as many as four in the third, but Boston reclaimed the lead and took an 80-76 edge into the fourth.

FMURRAY, P10

sanctions for UST Tigers

T

he UAAP Board of Managing Directors (BMD) has drafted the possible sanctions that will be meted to the UST Growling Tigers for holding an alleged training bubble in Capuy, Sorsogon amid the pandemic.

The penalties have been agreed upon "following a lengthy discussion" that took place during the board's meeting on Thursday.

However, the BMD opted not to disclose what these punishments are.

"The UAAP understands the gravity of the matter as it concerns the safety and well-being of student-athletes of a member-school. Out of respect

Jimmy Butler calmly sank two free throws with no time remaining to push the Heat to a 2-0 lead over the Bucks.

to the member-school concerned and the decision-making process of the BOT (Board of Trustees), recommendations of the BMD cannot be made public at the moment," the board said.

The group also clarified that the sanctions are mere recommendations and that the BOT has the final say on the matter.

The UAAP BOT, consisting of the presidents of the eight member-schools, is expected to meet very soon to deliberate on the said recommendations for the final approval.

Defined as an amateur, the Growling Tigers are not allowed to practice amid

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WAR CHEST Tokyo Olympic bound-gymnast Carlos Yulo (File photo)

PSC to give P3-M for Yulo’s Olympic bid

T

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is set to provide gymnastics sensation Carlos Yulo a major financial boost in his training for the Tokyo Olympics.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion-Norton said on Thursday the PSC will hand out a huge sum of money to help fund Yulo’s bid for Olympic glory.

“I received the board resolution. They’re giving me PHP3 million,” Norton said in the online Usapang Sports forum by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports. “They said that they’re still preparing it. I wish we will get the money soon.”

Norton proposed to PSC’s national training director Marc Velasco for a PHP4 million additional budget for Yulo’s training.

Despite only getting 75 percent of her request, she still believes that Yulo will still get the remaining PHP1 million.

“Maybe they’ll give us later.

At least we have PHP3 million to start with,” Norton said.

The need for additional funding came as Munehiro Kugemi-

ya, Norton said, asked for PHP6 million to continue Yulo’s training in Tokyo.

“Lots of work just for this gold medal,” Norton said.

She added that she will also seek the help of San Miguel Corporation chief Ramon Ang and other business honchos for further financial support to Yulo, who has already got some help from Manny Pangilinan’s MVP Sports Foundation.

Other Filipinos who already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics next year include pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno.

Team Philippines to the Tokyo Olympics chef de mission Nonong Araneta earlier said at least 86 athletes are training for the Olympics bid.

The country has yet to win an Olympic gold medal since it joined the world’s most prestigious sports meet in 1924.

(PNA)