Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 130 | Thursday, September 10, 2020

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CEO begins dismantling of ‘obstructive’ billboard structures STORY ON PAGE 2

Gigantic structures of advertising billboards tower over Bankerohan in Davao City. Dismantling of billboard structures, based on the city government of Davao’s City Ordinance No. 092-2000 prohibits obstruction of the view of Mt. Apo and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) by billboards, along Bankerohan, Sandawa Road and Bolton Bridge has started on Wednesday. Edge Davao

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President Rodrigo Duterte announces that the Philippines will buy from the country that will offer the cheapest Covid-19 vaccine, saying all of these have the same effect any way and that funds are already tight. Presidential Photo

GOING DOWN CEO begins dismantling of ‘obstructive’ billboard structures

By MAYA M. PADILLO ll billboard structures along Bankerohan, Sandawa Road and Bolton Bridge are going down permanently starting today as the city government enforces an ordinance that prohibits the obstruction of view to the majestic Mt. Apo and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

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City Engineer Joey Felizarta said the dismantling of billboard structures is based on the city government of Davao’s City Ordinance No. 0922000 prohibits obstruction of the view of Mt. Apo and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) by billboards.

Engr. Cirinia Grace Catubig, officer-in-charge of the City Building Office (CBO), said owners of the structures were already informed to voluntarily dismantle their structures following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) last year.

“Last year pa nakabalo ang mga owners pag-gawas sa decision sa

Supreme Court. Kami sa Building Office nag-sulat na sa ilaha to voluntarily dismantle and we also forwarded it to City Engineering Office (CEO) for implementation. The demolition will be executed by the CEO Demolition Division if the billboard owners will not voluntarily demolished,” Catubig said in a text message.

Structures to be dismantled are those situated from Bankerohan/ Generoso Bridge up to Sandawa Road going to McArthur Highway in Matina and structures installed from Bolton Bridge to Sandawa Road going to Quimpo Boulevard to near the first gate

of Felcris Centrale.

“These are restricted areas as per our city ordinance,” said Catubig.

Catubig added that knocking down of the structures is also based on the SC’s decision which the city government of Davao had won after the billboard owners filed complaint to the court last March 28, 2006.

Based on reports, Davao Billboard and Signmakers Association (DABASA), Incorporated filed a case on March 28, 2006 for the injunction and declaration of nullity of City Ordinance No. 0922000 and order of demolition dated March 17,2006.

The group also alleged that the City Ordinance is unconstitutional as it is inconsistent with the National Building Code or the Presidential Decree No. 1096.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 of Davao City granted the respondent’s petition on April 17, 2006 and declared null and void Sec-

tions 7, 8, 37, 41 and 45 of the said ordinance, which was last affirmed with modifications by the Court of Appeals (CA), reinstating the validity of Section 41 stating the “restricted areas” for installation and display of any advertising and propaganda materials in areas identified by the ordinance.

In a decision released

by Supreme Court on February 21, 2018, regarding the Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 filed by then City Engineer Leoncio Evasco Jr, the court reversed and set aside the decision and the amended decision of the Court of Appeals dated June 14, 2011 and October 13,2011.

There are about 20 identified billboards located in Generoso Bridge that violated the code under Section 8 of the City Ordinance No.092 and these billboards were reported granted permits and installed before the Building Code was amended in the year 2005.

GenSan requiring negative RT-PCR results for outsiders entering city

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ront-line and essential workers coming from areas with confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) local transmission are now required to present negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test results before they can enter the city.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera directed its strict enforcement effective Tuesday through Executive Order (EO) No. 42-B, which amended the city’s border control measures in the wake of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the area and the neighboring localities.

He said the requirement covers government officials, front-liners, field officers and employees; personnel providing health emergency frontline services; humanitarian workers; government security personnel; media workers; and lawyers attending hearings.

These workers were previously allowed to enter or pass through the city, subject to mandatory inspections, based on EO No. 42, which closed down the area’s borders to non-essential travels from Aug. 27 to Sept. 13.

“Those coming from areas considered as high risk to COVID-19 and don’t have negative RT-PCR test results will be temporarily barred from entering the city,” he told reporters Aside from the negative RT-PCR test results, the mayor said they should

also register and present quick response or QR codes issued by the city’s health monitoring system Trace and Protect Action Team (Tapat) health monitoring system.

But he said those who have registered and issued with QR codes under the electronic COVID-19 contact-tracing systems (CCTS) of other localities only needs to register them with Tapat.

He said these include the South Cotabato CCTS, the tracking and data control system of Malungon town in Sarangani and the contact-tracing application of Cotabato City.

The Tapat registration also covers workers handling deliveries of food and other essential supplies to and from the city, he said.

The mayor advised private companies based in the city with workers coming from the neighboring localities to house them in the area or allow them to work from home during the period as an option.

Rivera said they decided to impose the additional requirements to further limit the entry of people from other areas, especially those with “alarming” surge in COVID-19 local transmission.

Locally acquired and transmitted cases of the disease have been increasing since last month in parts of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Cotabato.

Since March, the city

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Expert believes vaccine to arrive in PH by Q2 of 2021 the ‘earliest’

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public health expert said Tuesday he doesn't expect a COVID-19 vaccine to be available in the Philippines until the second quarter of 2021, urging the public to take coronavirus precautions more seriously.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, tempered hopes that a safe and effective vaccine against the respiratory illness could be ready for use within the year.

"Base sa nalalaman namin at sa mga datos na available, hindi po yata, kung Pilipinas ang pag-uusapan, sa Pilipinas magkakaroon ng bakuna by December, mukhang sa ngayon po ay malabo po 'yun na mangyari," he told Teleradyo's "SRO" when asked after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said a COVID-19 vaccine could be made available by December.

"Ang nakikita po naming mangyari, kung sa Pilipinas ang pag-uusapan, ang pinakamaaga na magkakaroon tayo ng bakuna na puwede ng gamitin, na naaprubahan na ng FDA (Food and Drug Administration), ay second quarter of next year," Montoya added.

There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Drugmakers around the world are racing to find cure to curb COVID-19, which has sickened more than 27 million people and killed over 890,000 since emerging in China.

If such a vaccine can then become available for public use, the Philippine government can obtain some 20 percent of its total demand through COVAX, Montoya said.

COVAX, led by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization (WHO), is a global initiative working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.

The COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be priced between P500 to P1,000 per shot if approved, Montoya said. Two doses of the vaccine could be given per person between 20 to 28 days apart, he added.

The infectious disease specialist also assured the public that the government has already allocated funds to procure the vaccine once it becomes available.

Asked how much of the population should be vaccinated to ensure herd immunity, Montoya said at least 60 percent.

"Kapag 60 percent ng population ay immune or protected by vaccine, titigil o babagal ang transmission ng virus," he said.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached 241,987 on Tuesday, as the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,281 additional infections.

The nationwide caseload included 3,916 fatalities, 185,178 recoveries and 52,893 active cases.

NEWS 3

DA Secretary William Dar (3rd L) together with DA Usec. for Admin and Finance Roldan Gorgonio (Extreme R) and DA-XI Reg’l Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. (2nd R) turns-over agri machinery to the Lumbia Muslim and Christian Irrigators Association,Inc. from Lupon, Davao Oriental.

MinBizCon 2020: challenges, opportunities in new normal Search, retrieval ops for trapped gold hunters in DavNor halted

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he municipal government of Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte has ceased the search and retrieval operations on Tuesday for the cadavers of four “treasure hunters” buried inside a 96-foot tunnel in Purok 1 in Barangay Kinamayan when it caved in shortly after they entered it last August 30.

In a joint statement issued by the municipal government and the Incident Management Team (IMT), the operations were immediately called off following the technical assessment conducted by the extrication team who found out that the continued digging could pose more risks due to the instability of the tunnel, which was “submerged in groundwater.”

On August 31, or a day after the tunnel collapsed, the municipal government immediately deployed heavy equipment to excavate the area close to the tunnel in an attempt to recover the bodies of the treasure hunters who were looking for gold.

But the assessment team said the continued excavation could endanger the lives of the responders and the nearby residents.

The tunnel was situated within the property of Hernan Castañares, a

relative of the financier of the expedition, according to Mart Sambalud, Santo Tomas information officer.

“The IMT carried out a technical assessment of the excavation efforts and had come to the conclusion that the search and retrieval effort are untenable and very dangerous,” the statement said.

It added that the Sangguniang Barangay of Kinamayan submitted a manifesto or a public declaration to the IMT urging for immediate stoppage of the excavation due to the “ground instability” that could risk more lives.

Among the members of IMT include Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib, Kapalong Mayor Ma. Theresa Timbol, and Barangay Kinamayan village chief Alexander Item.

“Since Day 1 of the tragic treasure hunting incident, the Municipal Government of Santo Tomas has deployed all assets – financial, equipment, materials and personnel – from the municipal, provincial and even from regional level using a whole-of-government approach to hasten the conduct of the search, rescue and retrieval operation,” the statement read.

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By MAYA M. PADILLO he 29th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) aims to gather public and private sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities in Mindanao as the Island prepares for the ‘new normal.’

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“The conference aims to recommend policies and strategies for implementation to restart the economy and go back to its growth trajectory,” said Arturo Milan, regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in a text message.

Covid-19 pandemic hit Mindanao’s economy hard and its impact is still being assessed along with plans of actions for the recovery

of the island’s economy.

Milan added that in reviving Mindanao’s economy, the government and private sector should work closely together in order to come up with a common plan of action and way forward.

Organized by PCCI, MinBizCon is an annual business sector event in Southern Philippines serving as a venue for discussing the economic concerns

and opportunities.

No pandemic can stop this yearly gathering of the business leaders as this year’s conference goes virtual. It is expected to bring in a much bigger audience through live streaming on September 10 to 11, 2020.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide restriction on travel, organizers of the conference decided to transform one of the biggest and most anticipated business events in Mindanao into an online conference with the theme “Mindanao: Journeying to the New Normal.”

The first-ever virtual MinBizCon is co-organized

by PCCI and the Davao City

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII).

The highlights of this year’s first ever virtual MinBizCon are the keynote address of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and the different sessions that focus on the current state and the future of agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, innovation and digital economy.

Last year, the region’s business leaders hold the MinBizCon in Iligan City, where they discussed the implications of greater connectivity within the island through the completion of the Mindanao Railway that will connect Davao to other regions in Mindanao.

pondo naman nito ay nakalaan na," he said in a virtual press briefing.

(You can expect to receive this aid because funds for this program were already allocated.)

So far, the DSWD said it has distributed over P82 billion in funds to 13.7 million families.

The government in April rolled out the social amelioration program to provide financial aid to poor families as parts of the country were placed under lockdown, halting econom-

ic activity.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which expired in June, each beneficiary is entitled to cash aid ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 twice, supposedly for the months of April and May, based on minimum wage rates in the region.

The program was meant to help some 23 million poor families cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

But three months since the law expired, the DSWD has yet to finish distributing the aid even as it tapped

digital wallets for the program.

"Ang second tranche po ay tuloy-tuloy natin ipinapamahagi ang ayuda kaya ang abiso po natin hintayin lamang po," Paje said.

(We will continue to distribute the second tranche so we advise beneficiaries to just wait.)

"Yung mga eligible beneficiaries ay matatanggap po ninyo ang inyong second tranche," he added.

(Eligible beneficiaries will receive the second tranche.)

Over 400K families yet to receive Covid-19 cash aid, DSWD says

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ome 400,000 poor families have yet to receive cash aid from the government to help them get by during the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said Wednesday.

Some of the recipients have yet to provide all the information needed for the pay-outs, delaying the process, DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said.

"Makakaasa po kayo na kayo ay makakatanggap ng ayuda na ito dahil ang

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

Two Maranao women wear their face masks and shields and appropriate color coded quarantine pass as they walk the streets of Tambacan, Iligan City on Tuesday (8 September 2020). An armored vehicle of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade patrols the area to remind residents to follow health protocols as the city was placed under

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Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine because of the surge of local COVID-19 transmission. MindaNews photo

by RICHEL V. UMEL

PH named one of the top digital risers in the world H

Health, wellness sees growth amid pandemic

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he Philippines is one of the top digital risers worldwide, according to the Digital Riser Report 2020 of the Berlin-based European Center for Digital Competitiveness by ESCP Business School.

The Philippines was named as one of the world’s top digital risers along with France and Saudi Arabia which ranked first among G7 countries and G20 nations, respectively.

The country landed at the top spot in East Asia and the Pacific region, while New Zealand at the bottom of the ranking.

“In East Asia and the Pacific, the Philippines was the top Digital Riser

over the last three years, while New Zealand fell significantly behind,” the report read.

The report analyzes a country’s digital competitiveness during the last three years indicated by digital ecosystem and mindset.

The Philippines also ranked first in mindset dimension and second in ecosystem.

“The Philippines’ outperformance can mainly

be explained by its Innovate Start-up Act lighthouse initiative, which was passed in 2019 to strengthen, promote and develop an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture,” the report said.

The report cited the government’s regulation on startup visas for owners, employees, and investors as part of the Startup Assistance Program 2019-2023; prioritizing and expediting promising startups and enablers for their applications with state services; and directing education institutions to integrate entrepreneurship in their curricula as well as providing grants and incentives to academ-

ic institutions.

Within the region, Thailand is next to the Philippines, followed by Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Japan, Mongolia, Brunei, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Laos, and New Zealand.

By group, the top digital risers are France for G7 countries, Saudi Arabia for G20 countries and Middle East and North Africa region, Armenia in Eurasia, Bulgaria in Europe and North America, Dominican Republic in Latin America and the Caribbean, Sri Lanka in South Asia, and Seychelles in Sub-Saharan Africa.

(PNA)

year stood at 2.5 percent, at the lower half of the government’s 2-4 percent target band for 2020-2022.

Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) lead economist Jun Neri forecasts inflation to average at 2.8 percent this year, higher than monetary authorities’ 2.5-percent forecast.

The generally low inflation environment provided monetary officials leeway to cut the BSP’s key policy rates to help boost the domestic economy from the impact of the pandemic.

Since the start of the year, the BSP’s key rates have been reduced by a total of 175 basis points.

During the rate-setting meeting of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) last August, the Board kept the rates unchanged to give the previous rate cuts time to work its way into the economy since the inflation outlook remains manageable.

“With real interest rates still at negative territory, we reiterate our view that it might be more

difficult to bring down the policy rates further in the coming months. Moreover, there is reason to believe that additional rate cuts will only bring marginal benefits for the economy,” Neri said.

To further buoy the domestic economy from the pandemic, the BSP has also lent the national government some PHP300 billion under a repurchase agreement, with a maximum repayment period of six months; has reduced

Economist discounts BSP key rate cut in near term

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dditional cuts in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates are not expected in the near term despite the low inflation environment since real interest rates are now in negative territory.

To date, the central bank’s overnight lending rate is at 2.75 percent, the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate at 2.25 percent, and the overnight deposit rate at 1.75 percent.

Average inflation in the first eight months of the

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ealth and wellness company Amway Philippines expects growth in its business amid a global health crisis.

In an online media briefing Tuesday, Amway Philippines Country Manager Leni Olmedo said demand for health and nutrition, as well as home care products, increased amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The trend in health and wellness not only accelerated during the pandemic, it has become a way of life,” he said.

Olmedo said Amway’s health and wellness products recorded double-digit growth at the height of the community quarantine compared to the sales in 2019.

Personal care products also had a double-digit growth during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period compared to January to March 2020 period, while home care products had higher sales during ECQ. She added that nutrition has become a major influencing factor across households amid the pandemic, and quarantined consumers are also embracing the digital space for purchasing wellness products.

Not only consumers are shifting from physical to online stores, Amway Business Owners (ABOs) or the individuals that resell Amway products, are now also more active using online applications.

FHEALTH, P10

Oil prices continue to slide after sharp weekend losses

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rude oil prices continued to slide on Monday after a sharp weekend loss since demand is expected to abate as Saudi Arabia makes deeper price cuts.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at USD42.04 per barrel at 0636 GMT for a 1.4-percent loss after closing Friday at USD42.66 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at USD39.20 a barrel at the same time for a 1.4-percent decrease after ending the previous session at USD39.77 per

barrel.

Oil prices posted the sharpest drop since July 30 after Saudi Arabia’s state producer, Saudi Aramco, announced it would trim October prices for its sales to the US and Saudi’s main market Asia, a move that is fueling demand concerns amid increasing coronavirus cases worldwide.

The boost in prices was eased with low oil consumption in Asia, Europe and North America with the ending of the summer driving season, indicating that global oil demand

FOIL, P10

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DA distributes P53.8-M agri machinery to Davao rice farmers

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epartment of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar led the distribution of P53.8-million worth of agri machinery to rice farmers in the Davao region under the RCEF mechanization component held on September 9 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

In his speech, DA Secretary Dar highlighted the agency's priority programs to help rice farmers reduce the cost of production and increase their income.

"We give highest priority on rice production to increase the country's rice adequacy from 86 to 93 percent and this is the best way possible to increase the productivity of our rice farmers," said Dar. The turned-over agri machinery include 32 Floating Tiller, 23 Hand Tractor, 13 Combine Harvester, 13 Four Wheel Tractor, 8 Riding Type Trans-

planter, 4 Walk Behind Transplanter, one Reaper and one Precision Seeder.

It will serve the 4,057 rice farmers from 23 Farmers Cooperatives/ Associations (FCAs) in the 13 municipalities of Davao region.

“These farmer-beneficiaries have undergone hands-on training through DA-PhilMech prior to the distribution activity. We make sure that we have a pool of agri-mechanics to maintain and take good care of this mechanization support,” Dar said.

He added that the mechanization support given was only the first tranche of the 2019 RCEF Mechanization allocation and farmers should expect that more agri machinery will be provided for rice farmers in the region.

DA-XI Regional Executive Director Ricardo

FDA, P10

DA Secretary William Dar (3rd L) together with DA Usec. for Admin and Finance Roldan Gorgonio (Extreme R) and DA-XI Reg’l Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. (2nd R) turns-over agri machinery to the Lumbia Muslim and Christian Irrigators Association,Inc. from Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Vista Land optimistic on residential, leasing businesses amid pandemic

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ista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., one of the country’s leading integrated property developers and the largest homebuilder, remains optimistic on its residential and leasing businesses despite the pandemic, as it aims to roll out more projects this year.

In a statement, Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar Jr. said the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the company’s performance for the first half of 2020 and they still expect the

rest of the year to be challenging.

Villar said the company however sees “encouraging signs” for both the residential and leasing businesses.

“We have witnessed

that shift of customer preference to house and lot products in the provincial areas as evidenced by the increase in proportionate sales coming from our housing products outside Mega Manila compared to the same period last year,” he added.

For the leasing business, Villar said its operational gross floor area (GFA) has increased from 20 percent during enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to 79 percent at present.

“The 21 percent that remain closed are those tenants that are still not allowed to operate as per government mandated restrictions,” he said.

The company has only launched two residential projects with a value of about PHP2 billion during the first half of the year but is looking at launching more especially if the upward trend in sales will continue.

Vista Land president and chief executive officer Manuel Paolo Villar said

June sales were already at 70 percent of pre-coronavirus disease (Covid-19) level, with July and August sales tracking better than June.

“Thus, if this sales trajectory continues, we might decide to launch more projects in the fourth quarter.

We do not need to acquire new land anyway as we have an existing land bank of about 3,000 hectares. We are also happy that because of the synergy between our residential and leasing businesses, our malls are

still enjoying a decent foot traffic since most of our commercial properties are within our existing residential community,” he said.

Villar said they are making the necessary adjustments to their business operations to better position the company once the economy fully recovers.

“This pandemic may have upended the real estate industry and the economy in general yet a lot of opportunities are still there especially in our sector,” he added. (PR)

Fitch Solutions sees PH power usage at 4.6% in 2020-2029

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itch Solutions forecasts that the country’s power consumption between 2020 and 2029 will average at 4.6 percent despite the nearterm headwinds due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a commentary released Tuesday, Fitch Solutions said it expects power demand in the country to continue increasing with the macroeconomic and demographic growth in the coming years, as well as the government’s 100-percent electrifica-

tion rate by 2022.

Fitch Solutions said nuclear power will offer an effective solution to the country’s rising power demand and it sees an upside risk to the Philippines’ nuclear sector as it recently gained traction when President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order to study the feasibility of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.

“Increasing traction on plans to develop nuclear power in the Philippines will pose an upside risk to

FFITCH, P10

Almost half of adult Pinoys use internet, nearly all users have FB accounts: SWS

Porters unhaul sacks of commercial rice at a store of a rice wholesaler along Monteverde Avenue in Davao City on Wednesday. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the Philippines' rice imports in 2021

could decline to 3 million metric tons from its earlier 3.3 million metric tons projection due to reduced exportable supplies from Thailand and Vietnam.

Edge Davao

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lmost half of adult Filipinos use the internet, according to the Social Weather Stations’ latest survey.

SWS reported that based on its fourth quarter survey last year or before the COVID-19 pandemic, 45 percent of adult Filipinos use the internet.

Internet use was highest in Metro Manila, with

65 percent of adults using it regularly. The rest of Luzon followed with 50 percent, followed by the Visayas at 39 percent. Internet use however fell in Mindanao to 32 percent in December from 42 percent in September.

The survey firm noted that internet use has been on the rise since 2006,

FALMOST, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 130 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

On the dismantling of billboard structures along Bankerohan, Sandawa Road and Bolton Bridge as the city government enforces an ordinance that prohibits the obstruction of view to the majestic Mt. Apo and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS):

Last year pa nakabalo ang mga owners pag-gawas sa decision sa Supreme Court. Kami sa Building Office nag-sulat na sa ilaha to voluntarily dismantle and we also forwarded it to City Engineering Office (CEO) for implementation. The demolition will be executed by the CEO Demolition Division if the billboard owners will not voluntarily demolished.”

Engr. Cirinia Grace Catubig

Officer-in-charge of the City Building Office (CBO)

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ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Cartoonist Correspondent Consultant Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA JASPER V. BACSAL OLIVIA D. VELASCO General ManagerPresident Advertising Specialist General Manager/Finance VP-Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

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VANTAGE POINTS

LIVING

FRED C. LUMBA

PLDT RAMPS UP E-LEARNING INITIATIVES FOR THE NEW NORMAL 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 FOR 33-year-old Daisyby a discovered – and exposed Jane Diola of- inCebu City, whistle-blower the Philhealth corruption scandal indicts there could not be a bet-the cultural that has ter timeimpunity to go back to been in existence and in practice for school, betting against many decades, nursed in fact by all in a indifference pandemic. the odds benumbed of a Giving up her sales job, timid and tolerant society.

Philhealth issue is not she The embraced technolthe tipand of the iceberg,attendmind you. ogy started Many more earth-shaking ing online classes, exposes’ in yesteryearsone and of rehundreds of thousands cent past have come and gone but nationwide braving the authors of now the evil schemes have challenges not been convicted and the of e-learnjailed.inItthe appears that they are ing new normal, able to squeeze themselves out of and benefitingsituation from local the discomfiting by separtnerships with PLDT, curing the services of “talented” the country’s biggest lawyers who smartly navigate the legal waters with a variety and only integrated telcoof “swimming” methods and styles. company. it can no longer be de“IYes, am this kind nied thatnew ourtojustice andofpenal

set-up, but I am always open for new learnings,” Diola shared. “I am thankful for all the support we have been getting, especially our connectivity devices.”

PLDT, its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and PLDT Enterprise have teamed up with over a hundred schools, colleges and universities nationwide, as well as tech giants Microsoft and Google to make connectivity and digital solutions more accessible to the education sector.

“As the academic community political sceneschool is pergears“The up for the coming haps the most public year amid the new normal,arena we where people have expressed are one with them in ensurtheir distrust in those who lead ing thatThese Filipino them. areteachers not easyand times in which are to be a leader.”with -- Henry students equipped and Richard Blackaby, authors the best connectivity solutions of Spiritual Leadership and global-class e-Learning *** toolsAnd and platforms to aid it came to passtheir that onlinesaw education,” said Alfredo God the sufferings of His people in Egypt.

He had heard S. Panlilio, Smart President and them crying out because Chief Executive Officer andof the miseries they were Officer. experiencPLDT Chief Revenue ing. He wanted to rescue them These toolsbondage. include discountfrom their So, He ed PLDT Homenamed Wifi and Smart called a man Moses to bring God’sWifi chosen out Bro Pocket unitspeople powered of byEgypt.

Smart LTE. To date, Smart “Whohigh-speed am I, that mobile I shouldin-go provides to Pharaoh and bring the Israelternet to over 93%asked. of the ites outservice of Egypt,” Moses country’s municipaliMosescities wasand terrified to become the95% leader. their book, ties and of theInpopulation.

Spiritual Leadership, Under the Study Smartauthors Henry and Richard program, Smart and itsBlackaby partner wrote: “Leadership. Everyone distributors have experiences it, or provided the lack ofthese it, in devices to various academic in-to their daily lives. Those called lead can find doing so aincluding daunting stitutions nationwide, task.

Those expected to follow Don Mariano Marcos Memorial can experience frustration State University, De La Sallewhen their leader is unable to lead.”

College of Saint Benilde-AntiThere are 850 different defipolo, Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, nitions of leadership.

That was what Warren Burt Colegio de SanBennis Juan deand LetranNanus found when they were Calamba, Ateneo de Naga writing their collaborative book, University, Baliuag University, Leaders: Strategies for Taking MalayanItColleges Laguna, TaliCharge. is no wonder why tosay City College, University of day’s leaders have a hard time measuring up their level.

There Antique, Iloilo Doctors College, are too many standards to meet!

Tagoloan Community College, Dr. John C. Maxwell, an University of Mindanao Digosau-

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

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.

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.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

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 colleagues from a secureheOffice circumstance because is not 365 Education experience. indebted to anyone but to the appointing authority To date, ePLDT alone. has deployed Therefore, will havefor much around 248,000heMicrosoft leeway to hire and fire, whenevEducation licenses to differentthe er necessary and implement schools nationwide are changes he sees towhich be effective being used by both teachers and efficient. least, These PRRDschools need not and At students. search in a haystack. include Holy Cross College of Napoleon Hill, author of the Pampanga, Sacred Heart School much-acclaimed Think and Grow - Ateneo Cebu, Rich, said:de “No manUniversity ever achieved of Cagayan Valley, worthwhile successDon whoBosco did not, at one time or other, find himself Technology Center-Cebu, Gulwith at least one foot Holy hanging las College of Medicine, well over the brink of failure.”

Family School ofwill QC, The-darChallenges notSt.stop resa’s and Velez College, ing usCollege, in the face. among It isothers. up to us if we cower in fear or takealso theoffers dare. Google (Email your ePLDT feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.

Cloud’s G Suite for Education com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPthat combines G Suite’s collaboPINES.

ration capabilities with Google Classroom, and Chrome for Education via chromebooks to help students and teachers with hardware access.

PLDT, through its Infoteach Outreach Program, has also been providing learning opportunities to high school students as well as elementary and high school teachers nationwide by upgrading their cyber technology skills through internet basic IT education. PLDT also recently donated a computer laboratory to Butig National himself.”

-- Louis Nizerdel Sur. High School in Lanao Security: “No will make The Departmentman of Education a great leader who wants to do also that it allrecently himself announced or get all the credit it be deploying the Carnegie, Smartforwill doing it.” -- Andrew industrialist backed CVIF-Dynamic LearnSelf-discipline:“A man withing Program as a supplemental out decision of character can learning resource for school year never be said to belong to him2020-2021.

Supported

by Smart self… He longs to whatever can and makePLDT-Smart captive of Foundation, him.” -- John Foster, DLP is author an independent learnServanthood: true ing strategy available“The in various leader serves.

Serves people. delivery modalities. The methServes their best interests, and odology trains students to learn in so doing will not always be independently, popular, may with not minimal always impress. But because true leaders intervention from teachers. areInmotivated by loving concern cooperation with DepEd, rather than a desire for personal the Department of Information glory, they are willing to pay the and Communications Technolprice.”

-- Eugene B. Habecker, auogy thor(DICT) and National TeleTeachability: Commission “It’s what you communications learn after you know it all that (NTC), Smart has also provided counts.”

-John Wooden, Basketfree access to the DepEd Comball coach mons, an online Vision: “Theportal futurethat belongs provides quality learnto those free whoand see possibilities before they to become ing resources teachersobvious.” and -- John Scully, Chief Executive students.

Officer These key initiatives of PLDT To end this piece, here is a and demonstrate finalSmart statement from the Chinese application ICT for developphilosopherofLao-Tzu: “To lead people,inwalk beside them ... As ment, support of the Groupfor the best leaders, the people wide advocacy to promote digido inclusion. not notice their existence. tal These initiatives The next best, the people honor also aim to contribute to the and praise.

The next, the people achievement the United Nafear; and theof next, the people hate ...Sustainable When theDevelopment best leader’s tions’ work isparticularly done the people say, #4 ‘We Goals, UN SDG did it ourselves!’” of providing quality education.

WHAT MAKES A TRUE LEADER? and Davao campuses, Ly-

thority writceum ofon theleadership, Philippineshas Davao, ten a very comprehensive book Philippine Academy of Sakyaentitled, The 21 Indispensable Davao, Cagayan de Oro City Qualities of a Leader.

In his National High he School, Leonard introduction, posed these questions: “What makes people Young Sr. National High School, want follow leader? Why do NotretoDame ofaDadiangas Unipeople reluctantly comply with versity, Notre Dame of Marbel one leader while passionately University,another Ateneoto dethe Davao following ends of University, University of Souththe earth? What separates leadership theoristsFoundation from successful ern Philippines and leaders who lead effectively Cebu Technological Univer- in the realname world?” sity, to a few.

Maxwell enumerated the 21 Smart also launched qualities -- in recently alphabetical order new forcharis-aspackages follows: tailor-fit character, ma, commitment, communieducation, such as GIGA Study, cation, competence, which has generous loadcourage, allocadiscernment, focus, generosity, tions and access to academic initiative, listening, passion, possuitesattitude, such as Microsoft itive problem for solving, Education, Google Classroom, relationships, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachabiliGoogle Meet and Docs, Youty and vision.

Tube, and various other learnNow, here systems. are some ing management thoughts from various leaders In thinkers addition, from Smartaround has and the also partnered with laptop world: Character: and “Leadership manufacturers distribu- is the capacity and will to rally men tors to make these devices and women to a common purmore affordable and accessible. pose and the character which Bundled confidence.” with Smart Bro Pocket inspires -- Bernard Wifi, these laptops andField tablets Montgomery, British Marshal are also available on installment “How can you basisCharisma: in select distributors. have charisma?

Be more conSmart has also partnered cerned about making others withgood Edukasyon.PH, an educafeel about themselves than tion are technology that you making start-up them feel good about you.”

-- Dan Reiland, vice provides a series of programs president of leadership developand software apps to enable ment Filipino students reach their

Commitment: “People do not follow uncommitted leaders. Commitment can be displayed in a full range of matters 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.

Neither its academic goals. piped nor its theories will hold

water.” -- John Gardner, AmeriBeyond Fiber can novelist PLDT Enterprise has also Courage: “Courage is rightly esteemed theschools first ofnationhuman partnered with qualities… because it is the wide and offering BEYONDquality which guarantees all othFIBER, an all-in-one digital ers.”-- Winston Churchill, British solution that will enable busiPrime Minister nesses of any size, such as first Discernment: “The rule of holes:with When you’re in the academe, curated one, stop digging.”

-- Molly digital tools and wi-fi fit forIvins, American columnist enterprise—all anchored upon Focus: “What people say, business-grade fiwhat people do,fiber. andPLDT’s what they ber they infrastructure, the country’s say do are entirely different things.”

-- Margaret Mead, anmost extensive fiber network, is thropologist now nearly 360,000 kilometers Generosity: “No person was nationwide.

ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” -- Calvin 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 ring with the voices of the people.” -- Woodrow Wilson, American president Passion: “Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.”

-- Henri Frederic Amie, Swiss moral philosopher Positive Attitude: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter livespartnership by alteringwith their Thetheir group’s attitude of mind.”

-William global IT giants Microsoft and James, psychologist Google, for instance, also Problem Solving:has “The meahelpedofePLDT, of sure successthe is ICT not arm whether you a tough problem to PLDThave Enterprise, deliver highly deal with, but whether it is the effective products and packages same problem you had last year.” that support the sector’s push to -- John Foster Dulles, US Secrejumpstart e-learning. tary of State ePLDT’s portfolio “The includes Relationships: most important single365 ingredient Microsoft Office for Educa-in the of success is knowtion,formula which includes Microsoft ing how to get along with Teams for Education, which people.” -- Theodore Roosevelt, can be used by schools to build American president collaborative classrooms, cre- a Responsibility: “When man points a finger at someone ate and distribute assignments, else, should remember fosterhe professional learning that four of his fingers are pointing communities and connect withat

8 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 130 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Isuzu PH achieves 300,000-unit sales milestone, vows to continue to provide business solutions

I

suzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) announced on September 1 that the company was able to achieve its 300,000-unit sales milestone within its August selling month.

One of the country’s leading vehicle manufacturers, IPC sold a total of 300,133 units by the end of its selling period last month amidst the decrease in sales volume since the beginning of the community quarantine in March.

IPC said to have an accumulated total of 241,389 light commercial vehicles and 58,744 commercial vehicles, since it started its operation in 1996, with majority locally manufactured in their assembly plant in Laguna.

Operating for 23

years, IPC maintains a strong foot hold in the truck segment, making this year as their 20th consecutive year as the number 1 truck brand in the country. This achievement can be attributed to the company’s wide range of commercial vehicles that serves as a reliable business solution to its clientele nationwide.

“The company is honored to have achieved this milestone, and as we move towards the next, we vow to continue to provide

business solutions and at the same time uphold local manufacturing contributing to the Philippine economy” said IPC President Hajime Koso. “We are very thankful to our loyal customers, who have been our brand champions and stands as our inspiration in attaining utmost ‘Customer Success’,” he added.

With more than 40 Isuzu dealerships nationwide, IPC also expresses it gratitude to its dealer network, stakeholders and local suppliers. “We

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take pride on our strong dealer network, especially with the support we are getting from our dealer principals, shareholders, and parts suppliers, this sales milestone will not be possible without them,” said Koso.

In line with the celebration of its 300,000unit sales milestone, IPC is set to announce special promotions as a treat to its new clients and loyal customers alike. On top of that, the company is also giving back through

its scheduled donation of P300,000 worth of PPEs to different quarantine facilities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions, living it up to its tag line “Your Responsible Partner”. These promotion and donation activities will begin from the last week of September till the end of October 2020.

Follow Isuzu’s official Facebook page or visit their official website, www.isuzuphil.com to check on the latest news and announcements.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 130 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

AGRITRENDS

9

DAVAO CITY: CACAO CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES D

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

avao City may be the country’s durian capital, but it is only by word of mouth. Officially, Davao City is now the cacao capital of the Philippines as declared by Agriculture Secretary William Dar recently.

“Davao City is already known as the cacao capital of the Philippines,” Val Turtur, the president of Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. (CIDAMI), told EDGE Davao’s roving reporter, Maya M. Padillo. “Even before the declaration, Davao

City was also branded as such.”

Two years ago, Turtur passed a resolution asking to declare Davao Region – of which Davao City is part and composed of the five provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Oc-

cidental and Davao de Oro – as the cacao capital of the Philippines.

But he didn’t know who the right person would make such an announcement. In fact, he contacted Senator Cynthia Villar, who happens to be the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, to declare the region as such. “At that time, I didn’t know who had the right authority to declare then,” Turtur admitted.

Now that Secretary Dar has made the announcement, Turtur was

ecstatic. “(The declaration) will boost the industry in Davao City,” he was quoted as saying, adding that it is quite challenging. “We need to continue and sustain this title as cacao capital,” he pointed out.

For her part, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was equally happy with the announcement. The basis of the recognition was the high production of cacao beans in the city.

From 2015 to 2019, the city registered a production of 2,289 metric tons, which was the highest in the country, as per data from the Department of Agriculture.

In her acceptance speech, she said, “For the past few years now, Davao cacao has been recognized as among the world’s best, with our local brands making waves in international chocolate competitions, and a growing number of Filipino and foreign chocolate makers sourcing their beans here.”

Lester V. Ledesma, in an article which appeared in Smile, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific, wrote: “Today, select beans from Davao reach customers in the United States and Europe through huge, highend chocolatiers like Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut and commodity brokers like London’s Armajaro.”

“Dry, like a full-bodied well-aged red wine.” That was how Shawn Askinosie, founder of the world-famous Zingerman’s Deli, described a Philippine dark chocolate bar, 77% made from Davao cacao beans.

Cacao has been grown in the Davao Region some decades ago. From the late 1960s to the early 1980s, there was massive production of cacao in the Davao region. But when prices plummeted in the later part of the 1980s, farmers started to cut down their cacao trees and planted them to bananas and other crops.

In the late 2010s, Nicolas K. Richards, who was the chief of the party of Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), came and told the farmers:

“The problem of the (cocoa) market is there’s not enough beans.”

At first, farmers won’t listen to him. But when he showed them statistics, they started to change. At that time, the annual world market needs was 3.6 million tons of cacao beans.

The demand at that time was growing annually by 90,000 tons.

“This is really a fantastic situation,” Richards said. “It’s getting worse and worse. The world needs more and more (cacao) beans. Productions (in the Philippines) cannot keep up with the (increasing) demand.”

In 2011, the world produced around 4.25 million metric tons of cacao beans.

About 74.8 percent of production came from Africa.

Asia contributed around 12.5 percent, the bulk of which came from Indone-

FCACAO, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO

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has restricted the entry of people from Davao Region due to sustained COVID-19 community transmission.

As of Tuesday morning,

the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city already reached a total of 130, with six deaths and 49 recoveries. (MindaNews)

It added that the IMT exhausted all means to speed up the operation to extricate bodies of the four, identified as Gerick Marquez, 23; Dindo Pañares and Rustom Rancho, both 18; and a 17-year-old boy.

“We pursued despite the risks. We pursued despite the life-threatening danger it entails. We pursued because we cannot, in good conscience, allow them to be buried 96 feet under without exhausting all efforts to retrieve them.

We pursued because they are our people. We pursued it because we are a government that is for the people,” it added.

Citing the neighborhood, Sambalud said the digging of the tunnel began last March but was halted in April after the residents complained.

The tunnel excavation, which was not granted a permit, resumed three days before the incident, he added. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

From an average of 8 percent of ABOs using the Amway online app, it grew to 70 percent, Olmedo said.

Moreover, Amway sees 130-percent increase in new ABOs between April and June 2020.

“And numbers are growing as Filipinos would try to find a way to replace whatever income that was lost and see opportunities in health and wellness,” Olmedo said, adding that when it comes to prioritizing health or livelihood, Amway can deliver both.

She added Amway

is looking at 10-percent growth in ABO this year from its 80,000 ABOs last year.

Meanwhile, Amway Philippines will be launching Amway Exclusive Shopper to strengthen its digital presence.

Through the Amway Exclusive Shopper, customers can register for PHP300 and directly shop online.

Olmedo said ABOs will get incentives for Amway Exclusive Shopper sign ups, and purchases from them will also be assigned to ABOs. (PNA)

big banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 200 basis points; cut rural and commercial banks’ (RCBs) RRR by 100 basis points; and allowed, for a certain period, RCBs’ lending to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as RRR compliance.

Neri expects bank lending to be limited by risk aversion among banks and

the private sector.

He said “real demand for loans on the part of the corporates and consumers has also weakened given the lack of expansion activities.”

“What the economy needs more right now is a strong fiscal response that could offset the losses of the private sector,” he added. (PNA)

would decrease.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to spread around the world, the global economic outlook and overall oil demand are still below the expected levels.

The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide is now over 27 million, ac-

cording to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.

As the US leads the number of cases with more than 6.2 million as of Monday morning, India surpassed Brazil for the first time with 4.2 million cases with Brazil trailing with 4.1 million cases. (Anadolu)

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when only 8 percent of Filipino adults used the internet.

The survey also found out that almost 98 percent of Filipino internet users or around 29.4 million individuals have a Facebook account.

YouTube was the second most popular social media platform with 18 percent (est. 12.1 million individuals), followed by Instagram with 6 percent (est. 3.8 million individuals), Snapchat with 4 percent (est. 2.4 million individuals), Twitter with 3 percent (est. 2.3 million individuals), and Viber with 2 percent (est. 1.2 million individuals).

An earlier survey by

SWS found out that 24 percent of adult Filipinos read the news daily on Facebook.

However, when it comes to news consumption, television was still king. The study showed that 69 percent of adults, or around 45.8 million individuals get their news daily through TV. Radio was at 19 percent, and newspapers at 1 percent.

In terms of device ownership, cellphones are at the top. SWS said that 83 percent of Filipino households own at least one cellular phone, 79 percent own a television, 31 percent own a radio, and 14 percent own a personal computer.

VOL.13 ISSUE 130 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

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Oñate, Jr. on his part assured rice farmers that delivery of support and services has been intensified especially in these time of health emergency situation.

"Aside from RCEF that provides mechanization, seeds, training and credit support, we have also distributed financial subsidies and cash assistance under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA). We also have the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program to expand rice production and provide farmers with free bags of quality seeds

and fertilizers," Oñate said.

He also added that currently the agency is coordinating with the LGUs to provide support to rice farmers such as transportation service and the Rice Processing Complex (RPC) to help farmers in processing their palay.

“For our rice farmers to prosper, we need to help them transition from mere producers to traders of their own rice grain.

We will not only provide production and mechanization services but most importantly marketing support,” he said. (Celso C. Vergara, DA11)

our bearish forecasts,” the report said.

However, Fitch Solutions expects no nuclear capacity to come online in the country over the coming decade due to high capital costs and safety risks.

It said delays could be between 10 to 15 years.

According to the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation that reported visiting the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in 2017, it requires USD3 billion to USD4 billion to repair and start the operation of the facility.

“It would hence require strong long-term

government subsidies to prevent the cost being passed to consumers,” Fitch Solutions said.

It added safety risks will remain a challenge to revive the nuclear sector, as the country is prone to typhoons and natural disasters.

But Fitch Solutions said the reintroduction of nuclear power will be attractive as coal-fired power faces increasing environmental oppositions.

“Should nuclear be successfully introduced in the power mix, coal-fired power will face the highest risk of being displaced,” it added. (PNA)

in police custody in Minneapolis in May after an officer pinned him to the ground by his throat.

In the men’s draw, German fifth seed Alexander Zverev survived a stern test of nerves to reach his second grand slam semi-final this year with a 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 victory over Croatian Borna Coric.

After a slow start, Zverev raised his game as the match wore on and showed more poise in the crucial moments against the 27th seed to become the first German to reach the last four at the US Open since Boris Becker in 1995.

Coric made a flying start to the match and needed only 24 minutes to wrap up the first set during which he took advantage of 12 unforced errors from a flat Zverev.

But the German showed plenty of fight in the second set as he came back from a break down and overcame four double-faults and 15 unforced errors to level the match by winning the tiebreak before unleashing an extended roar.

A fired-up Zverev was put to the test again in a pressure-packed third set where, after trading early breaks with Coric, he twice had to serve to stay in the set before going on to cruise through another tiebreak.

Zverev opened the fourth set in emphatic fashion as he sent a volley past Coric to take the opening game to love. He saved four break points in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead and then broke for a 5-3 cushion that sent him on his way to victory.

ing champion, but the Lakers, without a stopper like Lu Dort, have thrown so many different looks Harden’s way that he’s struggled to find any sort of rhythm, especially in second halves.

In Game 2, the 1-2-2 zone they used in the second and fourth quarters was the star. In Game 3, it was their tightened traps.

In Game 2, those traps led to 20 3-pointers in three quarters for the Rockets because they were far too aggressive. The Lakers had defenders scamper across the court with so little purpose that Harden had time to swing the ball to open shooters with ease. In Game 3, the traps were more decisive. Usually, the trapper would come

from the player closest to Harden, and both defenders would shade him away from that direction so as to take away the obvious pass. The Lakers executed the traps so late in the shot clock that the Rockets didn’t have time to get the ball back to Harden with any time to create.

The rotations, especially with a non-shooter like Westbrook in the game, were simple enough. The Lakers got the stops they needed.

Houston will have a counter in Game 4. The Lakers will have a counter to that counter ready. Their plan against Harden has been to change the plan constantly, and so far, it has worked to perfection.

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sia.

Since cacao is considered an equatorial crop (crops that thrive well on regions occupying the equator), the Philippines has a great potential growing cacao. “I really could not believe why we cannot import cacao beans when the Philippines is ideal for cacao growing,” said Jethro P. Adang, director of Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC). “Mindanao, for instance, is best for cacao production.”

MBRLC is a non-government organization based in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. It has been training Filipino farmers how to grow industrial crops, including cacao. Some of those the center trained were farmer-beneficiaries of ACDI/ VOCA. Aside from having good rainfall and good soil, Mindanao also does not have typhoons. “But cacao would grow anywhere in the country,” Adang says, adding that other areas where cacao is suited for planting are Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Palawan.

Turtur urged farmers in Davao region to plant more cacao trees to meet the global demand of cacao beans. “Our cacao production is not yet that strong,” he admitted but with the recent declaration he believed more farmers will go into cacao production.

There are already who think cacao production is a profitable venture. “The livelihood is sustaining,” Gloria de Jesus told Annalisa Burgos of Forbes magazine. “Davao City is the cacao capital. We are encouraged by the government to grow more.”

Cacao beans are in great demand because one of its products – chocolate – is most sought-after by consumers here and abroad. There’s no person in this world who may not like chocolates at all. “Any sane person loves chocolate,” declared Bob Greene.

In fact, “nine out of ten people like chocolate. And the tenth person lies,” said John Q. Tullius.

Chemically speaking, “chocolate really is the world’s perfect food,” to quote the words of Michael Levine, the author of The Emperors of Chocolate.

As Geronimo Piperni puts it: “Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine.”

Chocolate consumption worldwide has been growing at 3% percent annually, recent studies have shown. “Though the majority of cacao is consumed in North America and Europe, demand is growing more rapidly in Asia where

strong economic growth, particularly in India and China, is resulting in more people being able to afford luxury foodstuffs such as chocolate,” according to a position paper written by Adam Keatts and Christopher Root. .

Cacao – also called cocoa and known in the science world as Theobroma cacao – was first cultivated by the Mayas around the 7th century A.D. They carried the seed north from the tropical Amazon forests to what is now Mexico. In the 16th century, the Spanish planted cacao across South America, into Central America, and onto the Caribbean Islands.

In the 17th century, the Dutch transported the cacao to other places around the globe like Java, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, New Guinea, and the Philippines. As the Philippines is situated within 120 degrees north and south of the Equator, it belongs to what is called the “Cacao Belt,” an ideal place for growing cacao.

“In 1670, Spanish mariner Pedro Bravo de Lagunas planted the first cacao in San Jose, Batangas,” reports The Philippines Recommends for Cacao.

In the 1950s, commercial cacao farms were established and cocoa beans production expanded into an industry in the following decade as processing facilities were put up by a group of Filipino investors.

The industry started to take-off in the mid-1980s as more investments were poured on commercial farms and on grinding facilities.

While the industry was blooming, pod borer infestation surfaced. Control of the disease was quite expensive. As a result, established plantations were again wiped out; others were totally abandoned.

This particularly happened in Mindanao, where most of the cacao crops were grown. In 1990, about 18,388 hectares were planted to cacao, according to the Department of Agriculture.

By 2006, the area declined to less than 10,000 hectares. During this period, production fell from 9,900 tons to about 5,400 tons, with two-thirds of the production coming from Davao region alone.

This statistics may soon change with Davao City now declared as the country’s cacao capital.

“While it is one thing for our cacao and chocolates to be renowned internationally, to be recognized by the national government is just as important for us, for this is an affirmation and a celebration of the efforts of our cacao farmers and processors, and everyone in the cacao industry,” Mayor Sara said.

playoffs — a league-best 56-17 in the regular season — just didn't have enough.

Milwaukee opened the game on a 28-15 run, putting Miami on its heels from the opening minutes.

DiVincenzo got the call to start for Antetokounmpo and scored eight of Milwaukee's first 16 points, Matthews had nine by the end of the quarter and the Bucks were off to a promising start.

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Lebron sets record for most playoff wins

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The Lakers bounced back in Game 2 led by Lebron James. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images/AFP

‘Playoff Rondo’ sparks Lakers win

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AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — LeBron James scored 36 points, Rajon Rondo sparked a fourth-quarter rally and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets, 112-102, on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time) to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.

James earned his NBA-record 162nd playoff victory, surpassing former Lakers guard Derek Fisher’s 161.

Rondo had 21 points and nine assists as the

Lakers broke open a close game in the final period.

He scored eight straight points during a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter that put the Lakers ahead for good. Rondo assisted

Osaka, Zverev advance to semis

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aomi Osaka’s sharp serving and superior return game helped her past American Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4 and into the semi-finals of the US Open on Tuesday as she continues her quest for a second title at Flushing Meadows.

Osaka, who was 0-3 against Rogers coming into the match, broke at love to take a 5-3 lead in the first set where Rogers hit 16 unforced errors to Osaka’s five and held serve to claim the set.

The fourth seeded Osaka broke again early in the second set for a 2-1 lead and sealed the win when Rogers dumped a forehand into the net on match point for her 28th unforced error.

“Honestly, I felt like she had the upper hand because I’d never beaten her and those memories are stuck in my head,” said the 22-year-old Osaka, who last faced Rogers in 2017.

“So, yeah, I consider this a little bit of revenge.”

Osaka once again had tape wrapped around her left thigh but said it was just as a precaution.

Despite the loss Rogers will hold her head high after the 27-year-old saved four match points to defeat Petra Kvitova to reach her first US Open quarter-final.

Next up for Osaka is in-form American Jennifer Brady, who beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in straight sets earlier in the day.

“I think she’s a really amazing player, she has the variety that I wish I had so I’m a bit jealous,” Osaka said.

“But, yeah, she’s super nice and I think it’s going to be a really tough match and I think we’re both going to try our best.”

Osaka entered the court wearing a black mask with George Floyd’s name on it as part of her ongoing protest against racial injustice.

Floyd, a black man, died

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on the other basket during that stretch.

Anthony Davis had 26 points and Kyle Kuzma added 14. James Harden scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook had 30 for the Rockets.

Rondo assisted on a layup by James that put the Lakers ahead with about 10 minutes remaining. Rondo then hit a 3-pointer to give the Lakers an 89-85 advantage, their largest lead to that point.

After a Houston timeout, Westbrook missed

a shot and Rondo sank another 3-pointer. Rondo then stole the ball from Harden and made a layup to cap the 10-0 run.

LA controlled the final period for the second straight game. The Lakers blew a 21-point lead in Game Two but outscored Houston by 10 in the fourth quarter to w i n 117109.

eBron James sets a record nearly every time he steps on an NBA court nowadays, but Tuesday’s milestone was particularly meaningful.

His Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 112-102 to take a 2-1 series lead Tuesday, and in doing so, James earned his 162nd career playoff victory. He has now passed former Laker Derek Fisher for the most postseason wins in NBA history.

Fisher’s record is, by and large, the result of longevity and smart team selection. Fisher played until he was 39, and only spent two seasons on lottery teams with the Golden State Warriors (20032005). The bulk of his career came in Los Angeles and overlapped with the championship runs led

by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. What pushed him into record territory, though, was what happened after Los Angeles.

Fisher spent the 2012, 2013 and 2014 playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite being a reserve on his last legs by then, those teams won 28 total playoff games, thanks to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

That pushed Fisher over the top.

James has never needed such a push. He has been the best player on every playoff team that he has ever played for and considering he is only 35 years old, he is likely to push this record a good deal further. James did the bulk of his playoff work across an eight-year span in the Eastern Conference in which he reached the NBA Finals every season.

But James’ goal is

not to win playoff games or to reach the Finals. It’s to win the entire thing.

Fisher did that five times, and the ghost LeBron has admitted chasing has six rings. The Lakers are in the middle of a hard-fought second-round series with the Rockets, and even if they make it through, they’d have two difficult opponents remaining in their path. That includes the Los Angeles Clippers, the rival led by Kawhi Leonard, who spurned James’ advances in free agency.

Whether he’ll match Fisher or Michael Jordan in terms of total championships is yet to be determined, but for now, he should revel in a record that may never be broken.

James’ playoff consistency and longevity is a rarity in NBA history, and until someone else finds a way to reach the Finals eight times in a row, they simply aren’t likely to play enough playoff games to reach the 162 postseason wins LeBron now has.

To put LeBron’s remarkable playoff resume into perspective, he hit another milestone on Sunday while tying Fisher. By hitting his 386th playoff 3-pointer, he passed Ray Allen for second place on that all-time list. He now trails only Stephen Curry, but LeBron is not the second-best shooter in NBA history. He has just played in so many playoff games that, even as a 33.4 percent career playoff 3-point shooter, he’s been able to accrue enough volume to hit that marker. If he keeps playing in this many postseason games, he’s going to hold every playoff record when it’s all said and done.

Naomi Osaka, wearing a mask in tribute to George Floyd, fires a ball in celebration after beating Shelby Rogers.CREDIT:AP

Giannis watches as Heat march on to East Finals

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AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are headed to the Eastern Conference finals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo could only watch.

The fifth-seeded Heat finished off an upset of the NBA's best regular-season team Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), topping the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-94, in Game Five of their

East semifinal series — while Antetokounmpo, the league's reigning MVP, couldn't play because of a sprained right ankle.

Butler and Goran Dragic each scored 17 points for the Heat, who won the series 4-1 and will face either Boston or Toronto when the NBA's final four gets underway next week. It's Miami's first time in the East finals since 2014, and

the first time Butler has gotten to the NBA's final four.

Jae Crowder scored 16, Tyler Herro scored 14, Bam Adebayo had 13 and Kelly Olynyk had 12 apiece for the Heat.

Khris Middleton had 23 points for Milwaukee, which got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Brook Lopez. Donte DiVincenzo scored 17, Wesley Matthews and Marvin Williams each had 11 and

Eric Bledsoe had nine assists for the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo did what he could — cheering from the bench throughout, rebounding for teammates during pregame warmups and again at halftime, offering words during timeouts.

And the Bucks were inspired from the jump.

But the NBA's No. 1 overall seed in these

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Takeaways to Lakers-Rockets series: It all boils down to consistency, effort

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he Los Angeles Lakers have been nothing if not consistent in these playoffs. Against both the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, they lost their series opener. And against both the Blazers and the Rockets, they went undefeated afterward. After taking four in a row off of Portland, the Lakers have now beaten Houston in both Games 2 and 3 to take a 2-1 series lead over the Rockets. Tuesday’s win was driven by the stars. LeBron James carried the Lakers through the first half in scoring 29 points in two quarters, but Rajon Rondo provided a surprising 21 points and nine assists to carry the Lakers to the finish line.

And so, a tremendous performance

by Houston’s two best players goes to waste. Russell Westbrook’s decision-making was certainly questionable, but he did give the Rockets 30 points on 13-of-24 shooting. James Harden chipped in 33 points of his own, but the role players put up only 39 points beyond them. Houston doesn’t often attempt only 30 3-pointers, but they did in this game, and it came back to haunt them. Now the pressure is on the Rockets. If they don’t make some serious adjustments, the Lakers will send them home by the end of the week. Here are the biggest takeaways from Game 3.

Playoff Rondo The man, the myth, the legend. He spends 10 months every year in hibernation, but when the postseason rolls around, Rajon Rondo turns into the Hall of Famer we knew and loved in Boston.

On Sunday, his individual stats were pedestrian, but the Lakers outscored the Rockets by 28 points during his minutes on the floor. The margin wasn’t quite that big on Tuesday, but Rondo was an absolutely essential element of the victory with 21 points and nine assists.

Some of it boils down to effort. Ron-

do’s energy in the playoffs is undoubtedly different. Some of it flows from the effect he has on teammates. Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points off of the bench with many coming out of cuts Rondo took advantage of. When off-ball movement grinds to a halt in the playoffs, having a point guard who can generate some is essential. And some of this is just magic.

Rondo is a career 31.6 percent 3-point shooter, but he’s making 40 percent on five attempts per game in this series. It’s best not to over-explain the phenomenon of playoff Rondo. It is one of the NBA’s great mysteries, and the Lakers are just fine with that.

Houston is running out of bodies Danuel House missed Game 3 for personal reasons. It is unclear if he will be back for Game 4. Robert Covington took a nasty fall after a collision with Kyle Kuzma in the fourth quarter and needed to leave the game. His status is not known. Despite scoring 30 points, Russell Westbrook has struggled through a groin injury for most of this postseason.

At a certain point, teams hit the point of no return when it comes to injuries.

In Game 3, Houston’s role players made only six 3-pointers. This was a team that already had the 6-4 Eric Gordon defending LeBron James. They don’t exactly have the margin for error that a typical contender would. James Harden and Russell Westbrook were their only sources of consistent offense in Game 3, and that has to change in Game 4.

The Lakers are switching things up defensively The Lakers can live with 33 points out of Harden when the rest of the Rockets are struggling. Houston’s path to winning this series, in light of the past two games, might simply rely on Harden scoring in the 40’s the rest of the series.

That’s always a possibility with the scor-

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