Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 142 | Thursday, September 24, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

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An elderly resident gets a free influenza vaccine shot from the health center of Brgy. Paciano Bangoy in Davao City on Wednesday. The city government of Davao has reiterated its call to Dabawenyo senior citizens to avail of the flu vaccine shots offered free by the City Health Office. Edge Davao

FINE-TUNED Councilor optimistic ‘tweaked’ immunization ordinance will muster support STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

FINE-TUNED

President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during a meeting in Davao City. The President has invoked the country’s arbitral victory in 2016 against China’s massive claims in the South China Sea in his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Councilor optimistic ‘tweaked’ immunization ordinance will muster support

By MAYA M. PADILLO ouncilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte on Wednesday expressed optimism the refined immunization ordinance she passed in the City Council will get the support of her colleagues.

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With new amendments she introduced in some of the provisions, the Committee on Health chair is confident that the measure will be approved.

The ordinance entitled “Comprehensive Immunization to All infants and Children in Davao City” was supposed to be passed on the third reading but was remanded back to second reading after a group of oppositors expressed their concerns to some of the provisions.

“I hope that my colleagues will support me dahil maganda ang layunin natin at yun ay matulungan natin ang ating mayor at ang DOH na wala nang outbreaks na mangyayari sa ating syudad,” she said in a phone interview.

Villafuerte drafted the ordinance after a polio virus was discovered in Davao River last year. The said ordinance is one of the two legislations that

she proposed and are still pending in the council. The other ordinance is the Zero Open defecation ordinance.

“These ordinances aim to response to polio outbreak. Nag-end ang ating polio-free status in the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the polio virus found in Davao River,” she said.

Villafuerte explained that the goal of the ordinance is whenever parents go to the health center there will be an Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) card that will be given to them noting the vaccines that will be given to their children. “The parents keep this card and it is also my proposal that pag-pasok ng bata sa daycare center, hihingiin ng daycare center yung ECCD card at titingnan kung fully immunize ba yung bata? Then i-kontak niya ang nearest health center nga naa ko’y bata diri nga dili fully im-

munized. It is our duty to promote the government programs. Kasi ayaw natin ng mga outbreaks and a lot of outbreaks happened in schools.”

The original version of ordinance entitled “Mandatory Immunization of Infants and Children in Davao City” was changed to “Comprehensive Immunization to All infants and Children in Davao City” and was welcomed with disapproval by concern individuals she referred as “naturopathy” believers or those who believe in alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage.

In fact, Edge Davao was tagged to a certain Facebook account of Joefel Soco Carreon who posted “an open letter and petition to defer the third and final reading and to do a subsequent through review of the proposed ordinance for the mandatory immunization of infants and children in Davao City”.

Based on the post “The proposed ordinance, on

the contrary, fails to clearly articulate how it can serve the best interest of children in this crucial time of pandemic. It is wanting of sufficient and comprehensive empirical basis that would have given such an important piece of legislation a more contextual picture on the real situation of children’s health in the city. And this includes a look into the vaccination programs in the years past and its effects on children and families. Such absence unfortunately deprives the ordinance of a holistic perspective that sees the child as a human being – growing, developing, capable of becoming if appropriate support from the family and institutions are present.”

The post continues “Even when Section 10 of the proposed ordinance says that parents and legal guardians who refuse to have their children immunized will not be penalized, the groundwork will have been made by the proposed ordinance for furthering more stringent laws regarding mandatory immunizations. It must

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Isko buys organic rice from MinDA Tienda for 150K senior citizens

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month before the actual staging of the “MinDA Tienda sa Manila”, Mindanao's farmers have already scored big sales after Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso ordered 500 metric tons of black, red, and brown organic rice for the city's estimated 150,000 senior citizens.

In a statement Tuesday, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) pegged the advance sales of one of Mindanao's popular agricultural products at PHP40 million, a price that Mayor Isko said is worth the health benefits it would give the senior citizens of his city.

MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said he presented the idea of a gift pack of organic rice for Christmas to Mayor Isko and the latter immediately jumped on the idea.

Piñol said Moreno immediately directed his chief of staff, former Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, to include in the next supplemental budget the amount intended for the purchase of the organic rice from Mindanao.

Mindanao's organic rice is among the products lined up for display during the MinDA Tienda set on Oct. 23 to 25, 2020 at the Mehan Garden beside the Manila City Hall.

The MinDA Tienda in Manila 2020 is set to feature various products from Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, during the weeklong event.

Piñol said among the

products to be displayed during the MinDA Tienda are fruits like durian, pomelo, mangosteen, lanzones, and marang, which are all in season in Mindanao, and fish and marine products such as live Lapu-Lapu and whole tuna.

Vegetables and processed and canned fish products will also be sold, including handwoven fabrics from Mindanao's Muslim and indigenous communities.

According to the MinDA chief, the production of organic rice is one of the programs being encouraged by the agency for the region's rice farmers, as prices of commercial rice were dragged down to historic low because of the unimpeded rice importation.

“Mayor Isko's advance order of organic rice could be the single biggest sale recorded under the MinDA Tienda Program which was launched last year in Baguio City with the MinDA Fruit Festival. I also suggested to Mayor Isko that another great gift item for his senior citizens would be organic vegetables and organic chicken, soon to be produced in the Balik Probinsya resettlement areas now being established in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, and Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte,” Piñol said.

The MinDA Tienda, which was first launched in Baguio City last year, aims to promote and market Mindanao's products in big urban centers around the country. (PNA)

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VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

NEWS 3

PRRD invokes arbitral ruling vs. China in first UN speech

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday invoked the country’s arbitral victory in 2016 against China’s massive claims in the South China Sea. In his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Duterte said the Philippines rejected any attempt to undermine the July2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

“The Award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it,” Duterte said.

“We welcome the increasing number of states that have come in support of the award and what it stands for — the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition. This – as it should - is the majesty of the law,” he added.

France , Germany and the United Kingdom last week informed the UN of their rejection of China’s “historic rights” in the South China Sea. In a note verbale filed by the permanent mission of the UK before the UN in New Yourk, the European states referred to the arbitral ruling in 2016 which upheld the Philippines’ claims based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. “France, Germany and the United Kingdom also highlight that claims with regard to the exercise of ‘historic rights’ over the South China Sea waters do not comply with international law and UNCLOS provisions and recall that the arbitral award in the Philippines v. China case dating to 12 July 2016

clearly confirms this point,” the note verbale said.

The note was filed on Wednesday in New York (Thursday in Manila).

The UK mission asked the UN to circulate the note verbale “to all States Parties to UNCLOS and all Member States of the United Nations.”

Duterte said geopolitical tensions continued to rise despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

He expressed the need for a de-escalation of tension as small countries would not be able to compete.

“Escalating tensions benefit no one. New flashpoints heighten fears and tend to tear peoples apart,” Duterte said.

“When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled flat,” he added.

Duterte said one could “only imagine and be aghast at the terrible toll on human life and property that shall be inflicted if the ‘word war’ [deteriorated] into a real war of nuclear weapons and missiles.”

“I therefore call on the stakeholders in the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and Africa: if we cannot be friends as yet, then in God’s name, let us not hate each other too much,” Duterte said.

“I heard it once said, and I say it to myself in complete agreement,” he added.

Landmark ruling The Philippines in July 2016 won against China in a landmark ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s massive claims in South China Sea. “The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources

he Davao City government has equipped the Bantay Bukid volunteers in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District with 241 new uniforms, raincoats, patrol boots, rash guards, polo shirts, and hard hats.

Edgardo Batenga, Bantay Bukid Coordinator of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) said that the uniforms and other protective gears are of big help to the volunteers for their patrol routine in the rainforests.

"It symbolizes the integrity and authority of the Bantay Bukid to implement environmental laws," he said.

Batenga also said that equipping the volunteers shows Davao City is serious in its campaign towards environmental protection, particularly the rainforests and the city's watershed.

He emphasized the need to strengthen the city's campaign on the protection of the environment, especially that there are still people violating laws despite the coronavirus pandemic.

"Some people took advantage of the pandemic,

but we do not cease our patrolling routine and follow health protocols while we do our work," Batenga said.

Bae Joan Mando-on, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Barangay Carmen and one of the Bantay Bukid volunteers was thankful to the city government for the provision of the equipment and uniforms.

"Gihatagan mig pagtagan nga mamahimo nga mahatagan mig katungod sa pag protekta sa among kalasangan so isip usa ka mga IP dako kaayo mig pasalamat (We are given the chance and the right to protect our rainforests and as IPs, we are truly grateful)," she said.

The City Government of Davao partnered with the Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) and the Philippine Eagle Foundation in the formation of the Bantay Bukid volunteers, as well as providing them with incentives. They serve as forest rangers and look after the hinterlands of the city, including river sources, to ensure that the environment will be preserved. CIO

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City equips Bantay Bukid volunteers

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A memorandum circular is being drafted by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that will require registration of electric vehicles including e-scooters and e-bikes. Edge Davao

Councilor expresses alarm as teenage pregnancy cases rise

By MAYA M. PADILLO ouncilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte vowed to review all pending ordinances in the city focusing on adolescents and reproductive health issues after cases of teenage pregnancy surged in Davao Region.

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According to her based on the latest report of the regional office of the Population Commission (PopCom 11) there are 7,000 teenagers, some as young as 10 years old, were reported pregnant in Davao Region.

“Meron report ngayon ang Population Commission in Region 11 that there are 7,000 pregnant teenagers. To be informed na meron na namang ganito, maka-sad because it means our efforts are not enough and we have to do more,” she said.

Villafuerte, who is also the chair of the Committee on Health, cited factors contributing to the increasing number that include early sexual debut due to

social media children have access to websites that are not for them, which pushes them to reach hormones to experiment in early premarital sex.

She said peer pressure also attributed to the increasing cases especially men or boys mislead girls that sex is the ultimate expression of love.

“Makita nila may uyab ang iyang barkada dapat meron din siya or ma-out of place siya kay wala siya uyab and then boys are also pressured na kailangan makuha na nila ang uyab by misleading girls that the ultimate expression of love is sex,” she said.

Villafuerte said with the current numbers there

is a need to intensify efforts in addressing teenage pregnancy particularly in Davao City. “Akala ko we were already doing enough kasi pre-covid we worked so that mag-karoon ng mga teen centers ang mga health centers. There were several conventions that we did that I was a part of. Ako very vocal ko kung muadto ko sa mga barangays and sa aming oplan Kalinaw where I also go to first and second districts, I talked about this issue. In our city andami na nating teen centers sa mga health centers pero titingnan natin. We will work with the BHWs kung kulang pa ba ang mga efforts natin on the ground kasi sinabi din is social lack of access; we will work with parents’ groups to train them kasi I think reproductive health really begins at home.”

Villafuerte will also review if there are pending ordinance on adolescents.

She said she will be reaching out to Councilor Pilar

Braga in making sure that reproductive health will be integrated in the curriculum.

Villafuerte bared plans to work with Councilor Che Che Justol’s Committee on Women and Children and ask for pending ordinances that will allow her to insert reproductive health and teenage pregnancy.

“So that we can advocate to prevent teenagers from becoming pregnant.

Everybody in our society needs to work on this such as the health professionals, educators, government, executive department, DOH, city population. Let us help our teenagers to make right decisions when the situation calls for it. Today while everybody is at home is the perfect time to talk to your children who are also with you now. Take advantage of the time that both of you are at home at kausapin ang anak tungkol sa topic na ito before it’s too late,” Villafuerte said.

yesterday; he completely agrees with my statements,” Roque said.

Roque said Duterte devoted a “substantial period of time” to express his view on the European Parliament’s threat during his meeting with select Cabinet members on Monday night.

“Ang sabi niya mali nga na nanghihimasok itong European Union sa mga bagay na sakop ng soberenya ng bansa(He said it’s wrong for the European Union to interfere with issues involving the sovereignty of our country),” he said.

Last Friday, Roque said should EU push through with revoking tariff perks,

they would be the 'biggest contributor to the violation of the right to life in the Philippines."

He sought the help of Philippine ambassadors in Europe to tell the "truth" about the human rights situation in the country.

In a resolution, the European Parliament recommended the revocation of the Philippines’ GSP+ status over the alleged "seriousness of the human rights violations" in the country.

The GSP+ is an EU program, which allows countries to export eligible products to EU states duty-free.

European Commission to decide on tariff issues

Roque said only members of the European Parliament, not the European Commission (EC) which is the executive arm of EU, called for the revocation of the tariff perks of the country “Unang-una, hindi ang European Union or EU ang nagbanta ng trade sanctions; ilang miyembro lang po ngEuropean Parliament ang nag-isyu ng resolution ukol dito (First, it’s not the European Union or the EU that threatened trade sanctions; only some members of the European Parliament issued a resolution on this),” he said Roque pointed out that the European Parliament is

European Parliament’s meddling with PH affairs wrong: Duterte

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resident Rodrigo Duterte thinks the European Parliament is wrong for meddling with Philippine affairs by threatening to revoke the Philippines’ Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status if the government does not abide by international conventions on human rights.

In a virtual Palace briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte agrees with his own remark asking the European Parliament to “go ahead” to withdraw the country's tariff perks.

“My statements on the EU were completely ratified by the President

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

Dancers perform during Indak-Indak Sa Kadayawan street dancing competition. Davao City’s tourism office has reported revenue losses of tourism-related businesses were estimated at P1 billion as the local government cancelled all physical activities during the month-long Kadayawan Festival. Edge Davao

still economic powerhouse Davao City’s tourism businesses PH in Southeast Asia: economist lost P1 billion during Kadayawan A

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evenue losses of tourism-related businesses in Davao City were estimated at P1 billion just for the entire month of August as the local government cancelled all physical activities during the month-long Kadayawan Festival and restricted tourists from coming here to avoid mass gathering.

City Tourism Office head Generose Tecson told reporters in a press conference on Tuesday that her office recorded only 24,633 domestic travelers last month, a reduction of 88.51 percent from 214,451 of the same period last year.

The city also recorded a 94.54-percent decrease in foreign travelers, reporting only 955 last month from 16,874 of the same period last year.

Most of the air travelers were authorized persons outside residence or those who come to the city for work since tourism travel has been restricted to control the transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), except for locals within the neighboring areas of the city, Tecson said.

No revenues were generated from tourism last month, she added.

“We don’t see much for the tourism industry, except for domestic. That’s it for now, well, number one, the state of public health emergency has been extended until next year so tourism is limited towards domestic tourism,” Tecson said.

The state of public health emergency has been extended until September 12, 2021.

Tecson said that the city noted a good reception of the locals to the digital Kadayawan celebration, with many of them participating in online activities initiated by the city government.

“You can see people really miss Kadayawan.

Although that’s not the number of people that we expected to participate but, at least, we got more than half of our target. That’s

what gladdens our heart,” she said.

Although the tourism forecast remains gloomy by the end of the year, Tecson said she hopes that 2021 will be a better year for the city’s tourism industry.

“I wish I can say that everything is going to look bright and sunny for the tourism industry. but as long as the state of public health emergency is there, I don’t think there will be much changes,” she added.

Only 75 of the 236 accommodation facilities in Davao City reopened doors early this month after the Department of Tourism(DOT)-Davao issued them with certificates to operate under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

speed and quality of the internet, resulting in more affordable services.

“As we widen our footprint for broadband, we likewise make the services more affordable. We have a whole range of broadband offers suited to one's budget and internet usage,” Delgado said.

According to a report from Globe Telecom, one gigabyte in 2016 costs about PHP26 compared to PHP9 per GB over the

last two years for its ‘Globe at Home Postpaid LTE,’ a price decrease of 65.38 percent.

“Likewise, Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi customers now pay PHP9 per GB only from as high as PHP23 in 2017; PHP15 in 2018; and PHP10 in 2019 or a decrease of 60.87 percent since 2017,” the report read.

From up to PHP13 per GB in 2016, it said its wired customers now have

unlimited data access.

For its prepaid mobile customers, it said its price per GB is “among the lowest in Southeast Asia”.

“Globe’s PHP11.25 per GB with its new Go prepaid promo is more affordable compared to Thailand (P190.59); Singapore (P35.60) and Indonesia (P32.76),” the report read.

In August, US-based network testing company Ookla reported that both

Broadband cost dropped by 60% since 2016: Globe

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lobe Telecom, one of the major broadband providers in the country, on Tuesday reported that the cost of broadband has dropped by more than 60 percent since 2016.

In a statement, Darius Delgado, head of Globe's broadband business, said investments and improvements in the country’s network, such as the use of 4G/LTE, 5G, and fiber optic cables have improved the

FBROADBAND, P10

Kuala Lumpur-based economist said the Philippines remains an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia amid the challenges due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Juwai IQI chief economist Shan Saeed told the Philippine News Agency that the country’s demographics and government’s efforts to keep its strong macroeconomic fundamentals help the economy to withstand the impacts of the global health crisis.

“At Juwai IQI, we strongly believe that Philippines remains an economic powerhouse and rising star in Asean region due to her vibrant economy, educated and productive youth, and above all, government is in total control of the economy to keep economic progression in order to benefit the masses at the macro level,” Saeed said in an e-mail.

Saeed underscored the biggest advantages of the country, which include productive labor force, improving infrastructure, more foreign direct investments, as well as currency and market stability. “(The) Philippine government looks totally committed to bring about economic and structural reforms to maintain macroeconomic stability for

the country,” he added.

Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that unemployment rate in July slowed down to 10 percent from 17.7 percent in April, at the height of the community quarantine measures in the country.

The domestic manufacturing’s performance has been improving since recording the lowest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) in March at 27.7, far from the 50-benchmark which means stable manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing PMI in August was at 47.3.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua also expects the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to improve in the third quarter compared to the 16.5-percent slump in the second quarter of 2020.

President Rodrigo Duterte also signed early this month the Bayanihan 2 that allocated PHP165 billion to fund projects and programs for economic recovery.

“It’s not easy but (the) government is trying its best under President Duterte who is working hard to put the country back on growth trajectory in order to attract investments, not only from foreigners but locals as well.

Maintaining healthy GDP is the strong focus of the government at present,” Saeed said. (PNA)

ECONOMY 5

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

Aboitiz Equity Ventures eyes P10B from bond offering

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A college student browses the web while waiting for her class on Wednesday. A major broadband provider in the country disclosed that the cost of broadband has dropped by more than 60 percent since 2016. Edge Davao

iversified conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) is seeking regulatory approval to raise up to P10 billion from another bond issuance set in the fourth quarter of the year.

In a regulatory filing, AEV said it filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday, September 21, for its second tranche bonds.

The second tranche is part of its P30-billion shelf registration program registered with the corporate regulator on June 3, 2019.

The planned offer will consist of a primary offering of fixed-rate retail bonds of up to P5 billion in aggregate principal amount, with an oversubscription option of up to P5 billion.

The bonds — to be listed at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

— are expected to be offered in the fourth quarter or at a later date, subject to market conditions.

“AEV intends to use the

proceeds from the Second Tranche Bonds to partially refinance maturing obligations from its previously issued bonds,” the disclosure read.

The company has appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corporation and First Metro Investment Corporation as joint issue managers of the transaction.

BDO Capital & Investment Corporation, BPI Capital Corporation, First Metro Investment Corporation, China Bank Capital Corporation, and SB Capital Investment Corporation, were tapped as joint lead underwriters, and BDO Unibank, Inc. - Trust and Investments Group as the trustee.

AEV’s core business, conducted through its subsidiaries and affiliates, are involved in six main categories -- power generation, distribution and retail electricity supply; financial services; food manufacturing; real estate; infrastructure; and portfolio investments.

ormer Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. on Tuesday reiterated the need for internet infrastructure, as he noted that delays in rollouts were due to the previous addiction of Filipinos to texting.

According to Rio, the rollout of new telecommunications infrastructure -- primarily cellular sites -- was delayed as only a small number of towers were needed for text messages, which was previously the primary use of cellular phones.

"Talagang kulang ang ating internet infrastructure. Ang naging problema natin is that matagal tayo naging adik sa texting kaya hindi lumago, hindi dumami 'yung ating mga infrastructure," he said in an interview.

"Ang dali, ang kokon-

ti ng requirements ng SMS eh doon yumayaman, talagang doon nagkakakwarta 'yung Globe [Telecom Inc.] at Smart [Communications Inc.].

Hindi mo kailangan ng ganyan karaming towers para mag-send ng almost 2 billion messages a day," he added.

The problem, Rio said, is when the country shifted to third generation or 3G, leading to the need for more cellular sites to increase speed and improve connectivity.

"Noong shift to access to the internet, dito natin na-feel dito na kailangan pala natin ng maraming towers," he said.

During his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte threatened dominant telecommunications firms Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications

Proposed healthcare workers’ exec reiterates need salary hike ‘timely’: groups Ex-DICT for internet infrastructure F W orkers’ groups on Tuesday commended the “timely” proposal of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III to increase the salary of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the private sector.

In a statement, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said it supports Bello’s recommendation to the lawmakers to increase wages and benefits of nurses and other health care workers in the private sector “equivalent to at least the benefits of their counterparts in the civil service.”

“The proposal of the Labor Secretary is timely.

Congress should now act and act swiftly. It is long overdue, health workers in the private sector are left behind by their

counterparts in the public sector,” FFW-Trade Federation and union president Manuel Payao of the UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center said.

Vilma Garcia of the La Salle Health and Sciences Employees Union-FFW said the main reason for HCWs going abroad is to seek further opportunities and improvement of their respective family needs.

“Citizens’ health is a public concern. The government may subsidize or give tax incentives to

hospitals and medical institutions to sustain them financially,” Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Mission Hospital’s employees labor union president Tiffany Ong said they support proposed salary hike for healthcare workers in private sector.

Ong said their local union, an affiliate of the Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW), said “firmly” welcomed Bello’s request to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to call on Congress to pass a law that would raise the pay of private health workers.

“This might be our chance to gain success in our effort to amplify the needs of our sector to have a decent salary and wages that truly we can say enough to sustain the present cost of living. Our

federations strongly support any move by the Congress to raise the salary/ wages of private healthcare industry,” she added.

Bello said he raised the salary hike of HCWs in one of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting.

“There is a big discrepancy (on the salary of medical workers from the private and public sector) and that is the reason why many of our nurses in the private sector are looking to overseas employment rather than stay in our country,” he said.

He said healthcare workers in the private sector who are working 10 to 12 hours a day are getting only PHP18,000 per month. (PNA)

Alibaba, iAcademy tie up for digital, e-com courses in PH

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libaba Business School, a unit of technology firm Alibaba Group, has partnered with Makati-based school iAcademy to offer digital and e-commerce in the country.

Alibaba Business School and iAcademy inked their partnership Tuesday to launch the Alibaba Global Digital Talent, named as GET program, which will be offered in iAcademy in the next academic year.

“We are honored to be the first school in the Philippines to implement this program with the Alibaba business school. This is just one of the many initiatives that iAcademy will be pushing as we strengthen our international presence and linkages,” iAcademy president and chief executive officer Vanessa Tanco said in a virtual media briefing.

Tanco added e-com-

merce and digital transformation play a vital role during this time of pandemic wherein brick-andmortar stores have many challenges in operating their businesses, and offering GET programs will help Filipino businesses to innovate and survive amid the pandemic.

Cecilia Sy, iAcademy vice president for academic affairs, said the GET program will be offered in two ways –integrating the Alibaba business program into iAcademy’s existing businesses course and offering it as short courses to professionals. “iAcademy is one of the most famous private educational institutions in the Philippines and we

also learned that they have shared with us the same mission which is to contribute to digital transformation of the Philippines,” Global Digital Talent Group program director Matthew Gong said.

Gong added the Alibaba Group aims to produce one million talents under the GET program worldwide.

Aside from the Philippines, Alibaba Group has rolled out the GET program in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Mexico.

“Definitely, the Philippines is very important for us to achieve our mission and vision. And hopefully the students participating in our program will be equipped with the prop-

er skill sets to contribute to the Philippines’ digital transformation,” he said.

Gong said the Alibaba Group has launched e-commerce villages in China and Malaysia that helped rural farmers and villagers tap the potentials of going digital to boost their businesses.

The e-commerce village model in Malaysia has helped local farmers to sell their organic rice through the use of digital platforms, and in several years, these Malaysian farmers were able to triple their revenues. (PNA)

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DTI plans to tap Australian market for PH BPO industry

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he Department of Trade and Industry on Tuesday said it is aiming to promote the Philippines' business process outsourcing industry in Australia through a webinar this week.

The DTI said its Export Marketing Bureau (DTIEMB) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney will conduct a webinar+ on 25 September 2020, 1:30 pm in the Philippines and 3:30 pm in Australia.

The webinar will focus on the capability of the Philippine IT-business process management industry to deliver services to global clients, specifically in the Australian market, DTI said.

It will also highlight initiatives in maintaining the industry’s resiliency and readiness for business amid the pandemic.

The DTI said it will promote IT services that include finance and accounting, software development, engineering services, and creative services.

Officials from the Philippine IT-BPO industry are expected to speak at the webinar.

The Philippines is hoping to spur economic recovery with jobs in construction and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the country's labor chief said earlier as the coronavirus pandemic threatens with more job losses.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On the proposed “Comprehensive Immunization to All infants and Children in Davao City” ordinance: I hope that my colleagues will support me dahil maganda ang layunin natin at yun ay matulungan natin ang ating mayor at ang DOH na wala nang outbreaks na mangyayari sa ating syudad. These ordinances aim to response to polio outbreak. Nag-end ang ating polio-free status in the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the polio virus found in Davao River.”

Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte Proponent and chair, Committee on Health

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NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL Layout/Cartoons

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

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 128 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

7 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

LIVING

FRED C. LUMBA

KEEPING KIDS SAFE EVEN WITH INCREASED ONLINE EXPOSURE 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 whistle-blower - in the Philhealth corruption scandal indicts the cultural impunity has been EVERY DAY, that parents in existence and in practice for confront various many decades, nursed in fact by concerns with regard of a the benumbed indifference to their children.

But timid and tolerant society.

The Philhealth issue is not with the pandemic the tip ofchildren the iceberg, become mind you. where Many more earth-shaking more exposed online exposes’ in yesteryears andfor relearning, entertainment, cent past have come and gone but and socialization, the authors of the evil one schemes have not been convicted important issue that and jailed.toIt be appears that they are has addressed able to squeeze themselves out of immediately is how by sethe discomfiting situation to keep the young curing the services of “talented” ones the navigate lawyerssafe whofrom smartly the legal waters dangers thatwith lurka variety in theof “swimming”while methods and styles. internet allowing Yes, it can no longer be detechnology to work nied that our justice and for penal

them.

To deal with the apprehensions being faced by parents during these extraordinary times, the “Gabay Bahay: An Online Parenting Series” discussed different ways that can guide the parents, including how to navigate the Internet safely. The online series is established by the Department of Education Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DepEd DRRMS) with Globe Telecom as a major “The political scene is perpartner. haps most public arena Atty.the Irish Salandananwhere people have expressed Almeida, DatainProtection their distrust those who lead OfficerThese of Globe one of the them. are and not easy times in which speakers, to be a leader.”

-- Henry webinar underscored and Richard Blackaby, authors the importance of keeping of Spiritual Leadership children safe online. Almeida, *** whoAnd has two kids, to emphasized it came pass that that parents ensure God saw theshould sufferings of the His people in Egypt. had heard protection of theirHe children’s them crying out because of the personal information while miseries they were experiencusing the internet. ing. He wanted to rescue them “While internet offers from theirthebondage.

So, He countless benefits for our called a man named Moses to bring God’s chosen people out children, it can also expose of Egypt. them to risks and dangers. If “Whomonitor am I, that I should we don’t their onlinego to Pharaoh and bring the Israelactivity orEgypt,” educateMoses themasked. on ites out of responsible online behavior, Moses was terrified to become the be leader.

In their they may vulnerable tobook, Spiritual Leadership, authors harassment, discrimination, Henry and Richard Blackaby blackmail, cyberbullying, and wrote: “Leadership. Everyone even identityit,theft orlack fraud,” experiences or the of it, in she said. their daily lives. Those called to lead can findalso doing so a daunting Almeida shared a task.

Those expected to follow few reminders for parents to can experience frustration guide their children on thewhen their leader is unable to lead.” responsible use of different the internet: There are 850 defi• Ask the notThat to post nitions of children leadership. was what Warren Bennis and Burt or share personal information Nanus when they were publicly,found or with strangers, as writing their collaborative book, those with ill intentions could Leaders: Strategies for Taking easily take of why this.toCharge.

It isadvantage no wonder • Make it a point toaread day’s leaders have hardthe time measuring up their privacy policies andlevel. termsThere and are too many to meet! conditions ofstandards the websites and Dr. John C. Maxwell, an auapplications that your children

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 circumstance because he is not indebted to anyone but to the appointing authority alone.

Therefore, willbut have much things on theirheown with leeway to hire and fire, whenevproper guidance make their er necessary and to implement the technology use a changes he and seesinternet to be effective pleasant experience.” and efficient. least, session PRRD which need not InAtanother search in a haystack. talked about positive Napoleon Hill, author of the discipline, Ginger Arboleda, much-acclaimed Think and Grow aRich, Mom-preneur and popular said: “No man ever achieved blogger (Mommyginger. worthwhile success who did not, at one Chief time or other, find himself com), Executive Officer with at least one foot hanging of Manila Workshops and well over the brink of failure.” co-founder of Taxumo, Challenges will not stop darsaid andface. her husband ing usshe in the practice way in It is aupmore to uspositive if we cower fear or take the dare. of disciplining their (Email seven-your feedback daughter. to fredlumba@yahoo. year-old They com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPstart by being more actively PINES.

involved in helping her learn how to handle situations more appropriately while remaining calm, friendly and respectful of their child’s feelings.

“We should never forget that in everything we do, we do it for our children. As parents, our goal is to make them grow up and become responsible and respectful members of society. We will not be always by their side forever so might as well start now by creating an ideal environment for them without worries or pressure himself.”

-- Louis Nizer and where they can thrive later Security: “No man will make on,” she said. a great leader who wants to do Arboleda that it all himself shared or get all theeven credit though are doneCarnegie, mostly for doingthings it.” -- Andrew industrialist online, she still encourages manand withtheirSelf-discipline:“A daughter to explore out decision of character can expose herself to certain things never be said to belong to himaround while is young, self… Heher longs to she whatever can using likeofsmartphones, make tools captive him.” -- John Foster, author computers, tablets. “But we “The true also Servanthood: teach her right from leader serves.

Serves people. wrong, good and bad based Serves their best interests, and on family values her be in so doing will to nothelp always decipher discern things. We popular, or may not always impress. because truehelp leaders do not But dictate but only are motivated her navigate.” by loving concern rather than desire for personal Globe is aa strong advocate glory, they are willing to pay the of digital citizenship and auprice.”

-- Eugene B. Habecker, responsible use of technology. thor Teachability: “It’s what you Through its Digital learn after you know all that Thumbprint Programit(DTP), counts.”

-John Wooden, BasketGlobe introduced various ball coach modules to “The teachers andbelongs Vision: future students at increasing to those aimed who see possibilities before they becomeofobvious.” students’ knowledge digital -John Scully, Executive citizenship and Chief cybersafety by Officer a critical look at their taking To end this piece, here is a online behavior and helping final statement from Chinese them developLao-Tzu: insights into philosopher “To lead people, walk beside the influences of the them online... As for the best leaders, the people world and the choices they do not notice their existence. are making. With the push The next best, the people honor towards online and praise.

The education, next, the people Globe modified the in-class fear; and the next, the people hate ...

When the best leader’s DTP workshop into e-modules work is done the people ‘We to reach more people insay, their did it ourselves!’” homes.

WHAT MAKES A TRUE LEADER? thority on leadership, has written a very comprehensive book entitled, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. In his 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, communiuse. courage, •cation, Set yourcompetence, children’s privacy discernment, focus, generosity, settings with them. This way, initiative, listening, passion, posyou someproblem control over itivehave attitude, solving, who can see their children’s relationships, security, self-discipline,and servanthood, teachabiliposts, who can contact ty and vision. them.

Now, them herenot are • Remind to chatsome thoughts from various leaders with people they don’t know,the and thinkers from around and to report them to you or world: “Leadership is theirCharacter: teachers immediately. the capacity and will to the rally men • Educate them about and women to a common harmful effects of clicking purpose and the character which on links confidence.” or downloading inspires -- Bernard files from unknown Montgomery, British sources.

Field Marshal could be viruses in These Charisma: “How can toyou disguise and may be used have charisma?

Be more steal personal information,concerned about making others which hackers use to take feel good aboutcan themselves than advantage of. them feel good you are making you.” -Reiland, •about Ask them notDan to give out vice president of leadership developtheir username or password to ment except their parents. anyone

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 “TheshesociAsCompetence: much as possible, ety which scorns excellence said, parents should monitor in plumbing because their children’s use of plumbing the is a humble activity and tolerinternet, and provide proper ates shoddiness in philosophy guidance.

Inan theexalted event ofactivity a because it is will have neither plumbing violation of theirgood children’s nor good philosophy.

Neither its data privacy rights, parents piped nor its theories willthe hold may file a complaint with water.” -- John Gardner, AmeriNational Privacy Commission can novelist at complaints@privacy.gov.ph.

Courage: “Courage is rightly In esteemed first of anotherthe episode of human the qualities… because it is qualseries, Francis Pugeda,the Head ity which guarantees all othof Emerging Technologies at ers.”-- Winston Churchill, British Globe, related how technology Prime Minister can Discernment: help children discover “The first rule of holes:side When their creative andyou’re explorein one, stop digging.”

-Molly Ivins, things they want like music, American columnist movies/TV series.

Focus: “What people say, As people parents,do, Pugeda said they what and what they should some control say theyexercise do are entirely different things.”

-- children’s Margaret use Mead, anover their of the thropologist internet to establish discipline Generosity: “No person was but not too much that would

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 their lives by altering their attitude of mind.” -- William James, psychologist Problem Solving: “The meacurtail desire to learn sure of their success is not whether you things. have a “Being tough responsible problem to new deal whether it is the is keywith, whenbut using technology. same problem you had last year.”

With our daughter, we allow -- John Foster Dulles, US Secreher leeway, but we tarysome of State also Relationships: make sure to guide “Theher most importantespecially single ingredient properly, on her in the formula of success choice of content, whatisisknowing how to get along with beneficial and what can be people.” -- Theodore Roosevelt, harmful. thing is that American Good president because she is guided,“When she Responsibility: a man points a finger at someone already knows her limits,” else, he “should remember he said.

We shouldn’t forcethat four of his fingers are pointing them but let them discover at

Remind them not to chat with people they don’t know, and to report them to you or their teachers immediately.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

UP AND ABOUT

TOYOTA INTRODUCES 2020 HILUX LEADING MOBILITY COMPANY Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially introduced the 2020 update on one of the most popular models in its lineup – the Toyota Hilux.

With its rugged looks and powerful performance, combined with Toyota’s signature quality, durability, and reliability, the Hilux further establishes its position as the country’s best-selling pick-up.

The hardworking Hilux has been a dependable road companion for Filipinos for city driving and off-road adventures, whether at work or at play. In 2019, it captured a commanding 30.5% segment share, a lead that TMP is looking to maintain through the introduction of the world-renowned pickup badge’s latest version.

“This 2020, the NEW TOYOTA HILUX and TOYOTA

HILUX CONQUEST arrive with an impressive new look, that is more rugged and exciting than ever.” said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto during the online launch of the new vehicle. “The new Hilux is designed to meet the tough demands of Filipino drivers and the country’s varying roads. I am confident that the Hilux would once again prove why it is the Philippines’ pick-up of choice.

Tough on every road, every inch a HILUX.” he added.

Made More Rugged and Exciting Made tougher, more rugged, and even more exciting, TMP introduces the New Hilux in Emotional Red, a color exclusive to its Conquest variants. Also exclusive to Conquest variants are the bi-beam LED headlamps and LED rear combination lamps with line guide, and sports bar with LED lamps. The

the steering wheel switches and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility for Conquest, G, and E grades. Enjoy an easier drive with Cruise Control for Conquest variants.

tailgate gets the signature Hilux branding, with an over fender garnish and Conquest decals on both sides of the cargo bed. The deck space offers plenty of cargo room with tail gate assist and bedliner for Conquest variants.

Full Control in Every Adventure Ingress is smooth and easy with keyless entry available

for Conquest, G, and E grades, with Conquest variants getting Smart Entry and Push Start System. All three grades also have power adjust with auto fold for side mirrors and speed-sensing door locks.

Get full control when taking on any road with easily accessible information on the 4.2” TFT multi-information display, and easily accessible controls with

Reliable and Hardworking The Hilux is designed to take on the toughest tasks, not just for adventures but for work and business as well. Aside from Conquest, G and E grades, TMP continues to offer the Hilux J in 4x4 and 4x2, Cab and Chassis, and FX for its fleet and business partners.

The New Hilux comes with improvements on its looks, performance, and features, and is available in 4x4 Conquest and 4x2 Conquest variants, G AT and MT, and E MT. Combining the improvements and competitive pricing, Hilux customers get more value for money on their vehicle with the E variant starting at Php 1.1M.

ENTERTAINMENT

ABS-CBN’S STAR HUNT EXPANDS TALENT ROSTER TO INCLUDE TV, MOVIE DIRECTORS FROM discovering and developing promising Filipino on-camera talents, ABS-CBN’s Star Hunt is now expanding its talent pool to include off-camera creatives and will start representing and managing the careers of three seasoned television and film directors.

Star Hunt’s new talents include award-winning director Ted Boborol, who directed blockbuster movies such as “Vince and Kath and James,” “Finally Found Someone,” “Just The Way You Are,” “James and Pat and Dave,” and the 2019 Cinemalaya’s “Iska,” which participated in different film festivals around the world.

Boborol has also directed ABSCBN teleseryes “Angelito: Batang

Ama,” “Annaliza,” and the 2016 Catholic Mass Media Awards’ Best Drama Series “Be My Lady.” Aside from his TV and film work, Boborol was also named the National Winner for Best Directing (Fiction) at the 2018 Asian Academy Creative Awards for the teleserye “Araw Gabi.”

Director Jon Moll, meanwhile, successfully translated the elements of international franchises “MasterChef Pinoy Edition,” “I Can See Your Voice,” “World of Dance Philippines,” The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition,” and “Little Big Shots” for Filipino audiences.

Moll also directed and helped in the conceptualization of ABSCBN’s original talent and reality

programs “Your Moment,” “I Dare You,” “The Kids Choice,” “I Love OPM,” “Hado Pilipinas,” the live shows of “Pinoy Big Brother,” and served as the creative director of ABS-CBN’s Studio Experience who transformed program concepts into engaging and interactive attractions.

Star Hunt also signed one of ABS-CBN’s veteran creatives Jillmer Dy, who has occupied

directing, writing, and producing roles in various programs since 1991 such as “Gimik,” ‘Sang Linggo nAPO Sila,” “The Buzz,” “ASAP,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “MMK,” “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita,” “It’s Showtime,” and many others.

He also served as ABS-CBN’s head of international production and co-production for four years after heading Channel 2’s programming operations and overseeing

the development of the network’s existing and proposed content from 2010 to 2016.

Launched as ABS-CBN’s grand audition program in 2018, Star Hunt has discovered and developed Filipino talents that became a part of various ABS-CBN talent and reality shows and gave opportunities to them to appear in ABS-CBN’s different platforms, whether it is on television, radio, online, movies, or music.

Recently, it launched its virtual talent competition “Bida Star,” which seeks to discover its first Ultimate Bida Star who will win a cash prize and the opportunity to star in their own short feature alongside a Kapamilya artist.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

AGRITRENDS

9

SOIL EROSION LEAVES FARMS BARREN

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO he present administration is waging a war on drugs. President Rodrigo R. Duterte is hell bent on curbing, if not stopping, the proliferation of illegal drugs which have destroyed so many lives already.

T

But there is a kind of war that the government fails to engage itself. It’s an enemy that most Filipinos are aware of but no one seems to recognize it.

It attacks in broad daylight and creeps at night when everyone is sleeping.

The adversary is not in the form of a human being but soil erosion. And because soil is less spectacular, the media focused more of their attention on on fossil fuel problems, climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity, logging and forest fires.

“Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation — far worse than any external enemy coming into a country and conquering it because erosion is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” pointed out Harold R. Watson, a former American agricultural missionary who worked as director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.”

While experts talk about biotechnology, organic farming, high value crops, more crop production, and exportation, they fail to include soil – “the bridge between the inanimate and the living” – in the equation. After all, it has been estimated that more than 99 per cent of the world's food comes from the soil.

“Without soil, there would be no food apart

from what the rivers and the seas can provide,” said Edouard Saouma, former head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “The soil is the world’s most precious natural resource. Yet, it is not valued as it should be. Gold, oil, minerals and precious stones command prices which have led us to treat soil as mere dirt.”

Without soil, food security will always be an issue.

Hunger is present all the time and peace and stability are but just dreams. “If the soil is not well cared for, a county can never develop a sound agricultural base.

And without that, national development plans rarely succeed,” the United Nations food agency reminds.

But farmers themselves never consider soil erosion as an opponent in crop production. The story of Manong Doming is a representation of most farmers living in the uplands, which account for 60% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares.

“At first, everything was just fine,” Manong Doming recalled. “We had enough and almost everything was affordable. We practice kaingin (slash-and-burn farming). Land was fertile and the use fertilizer was unknown to us then.”

This was in the 1960s when his family moved to the hinterland near Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. But as the years went by, he noticed something was not right in the method of farming he used.

Manong Doming observed that the produce from the farm considerably declined. This was evident in the corn he was planting.

Over a period of 10 years, the corn production had dropped from 3.5 tons per hectare to only half ton.

But it was not only corn that was affected. Yields of other crops like banana, coffee, coconut and even fruit trees had also decreased by more than 50% over the same period.

“Whatever happened?” he wondered.

To augment his production, Manong Doming started using fertilizer. He also used seeds of improved varieties of corn and other crops. To eliminate pests and diseases attacking his crops, he sprayed them with pesticides.

But despite all those efforts, crop production was still low. Together with other farmers in the area who were experiencing the same problem went to the MBRLC to find some possible solutions.

Watson and his Filipino staff talked with them.

Hearing the farmers share their woes and the solu-

tions they tried to apply, the MBRLC experts visited the farms. In all visited farms, they observed one common thing: soil erosion.

According to Watson, once the fields are devoid of topsoil, the productivity of every farm will always be low – and the farmers won’t earn enough to meet their basic needs. “Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever,” he said. “It takes thousands of years to build one inch of topsoil but only one good strong rain to remove one inch from unprotected soil on the slopes of mountains.”

Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf, authors of Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy, further explained the consequences of soil erosion in food production: “The loss of topsoil affects the ability to grow food in two ways.

It reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure.

“It also increases the costs of food production.

When farmers lose topsoil, they may increase land productivity by substituting energy in the form of fertilizer. Hence, farmers losing topsoil may experience either a loss in land productivity or a rise in costs of agricultural inputs.

And if the productivity drops too low or agricultural costs rise too high, farmers are forced to abandon their land.”

In the humid tropics, starting from a sandy base, a soil can be formed in as little as 200 years, experts said. But the process normally takes far longer. Under most conditions, soil is formed at a rate of one centimeter every 100 to 400 years, and it takes 3,000 to 12,000 years to build enough soil to form productive land.

But what nature takes a very long time to form could be washed away in 20 minutes or less by just one heavy rainfall in areas where the farmers don’t use the land carefully.

In a position paper in 1991, then environment official Victor O. Ramos said that denuded forest land experienced 100 tons

of soil loss per hectare in contrast to less than 8 tons per hectare per year from natural forests. Slash-andburn farming, which most uplanders practice, has an erosion rate of 300-400 tons per hectare per year.

Once the topsoil is lost, it is lost forever. “No other soil phenomenon is more destructive than is soil erosion,” wrote Nyle C. Brady in his book, The Nature and Properties of Soil. “It involves losing water and plant nutrients at rates far higher than those occurring through leaching.

More tragically, however, it can result in the loss of the entire soil. Erosion is serious in all climates, since wind as well as water can be the agent of removal.”

Soil erosion is nothing new. Archaeological sites of civilizations, studies showed, were undermined by soil erosion. “Societies in the past had collapsed or disappeared because of soil problems,” wrote Tim Radford, science editor at The Guardian.

Quoting Ward Chesworth of the University of Guelph, Ontario, Rad-

FSOIL, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 142 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

Doctors warn vs. use of UV light to kill COVID-19

S

According to Ivan Mayrina’s report on “24 Oras,” Dr. Jay Racoma, an ophthalmologist said prolonged exposure of UVC radiation to the eyes will result in photokeratitis or photoconjunctivitis.

“The outer parts of the eyes, the cornea and the conjunctiva so same way that our body is covered by skin, the conjunctiva is the covering of the eye and the cornea is the outer part of the eye so sila ‘yong unang tatamaan if ever by UVC radiation,” Racoma explained.

“If there’s prolonged exposure to the eyes, which will result in photokeratitis and this will result in pain,

irritation, redness swelling, and temporary blurring,” he added.

The Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology and the Philippine Cornea Society, meanwhile, said regular exposure might also cause occurrence of catarata.

Aside from damaging the eyes, Dr. Jean Marquez, a dermatologist, said UV lights can also harm the skin.

“It can actually cause burns. It can cause irritation. Sometimes when you get hit by an ultraviolet, the inflammation is just underneath, it does not manifest kaagad unless na lagi sig-

urong nae-expose, doon lang may potential risk din na magkaroon ng skin cancer and aging,” she said.

The Department of Health earlier said there is no evidence that UV light disinfectants can kill SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines also said it is not considering UV light disinfectants as medical equipment.

Earlier, at least eight members of the media reported eye irritations following the demonstration of a UV light robot in Baguio City.

Robotics Activation, which brought the technology to Baguio City, apologized to members of the media.

"We sincerely thought

be reiterated that studies regarding vaccines and vaccine-intervention programs and information that weighs its pros and cons have not been exhausted and made available prior to the creation of the ordinance.”

She appealed to the petitioners, whom she had a meeting on Monday via Zoom, not to be offended with her proposed ordinance as vaccines are good and could prevent outbreak. She also emphasized that there will be no penalties for parents who refuse to have their children immunized.

“Binago ko yung title after we talked. I only used the national law and it will be known as Comprehensive Immunization to All infants and children in Davao City at tinanggal ko na yung mandatory. Every child has a right to have a disease-free childhood, to be free from disability and not to die from a vaccine preventable disease. Let’s not bash each other. When you read the ordinance, wala naman penalties. You can refuse. Masabi ko meron exemptions in general,” she said.

Villafuerte said she is also appealing to Council-

or Pamela Librado-Morata, who requested her to reconsider the passage of the ordinance during the regular session on Tuesday due to lack of public consultation.

“I appealed to her (Councilor Pamela Librado) na huwag ng ipa-defer ang ordinance. This is a long process. Dugay pa ni.

Pag-pasa nato ani, this will go to City Legal, then it will go to the City Mayor. Puwede silang mag-lobby to the city mayor then go back and sit down with your group and make amendments. Sana ipa-approve muna natin at mag-intro-

duce ka ang amendments afterwards na,” she said.

Villafuerte said the Department of Education 11 (DepEd 11) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), who were invited during the committee hearing, supported the ordinance believing that this will help stop outbreak in the schools and the communities.

“As a doctor and legislator it is my duty to help the government implement its programs. As the chair on the committee on health, health ang aking tinutukan na mga issues,” she said.

within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’,” the Permanent Court of Arbitration said then.

The 501-page ruling was handed down in The Hague, Netherlands, more than three years after the case was filed by the Philippines under the Aquino administration in January 2013.

Duterte early during his administration invoked an independent foreign policy that was supposedly less dependent on the US and more cordial toward China.

He said he wouldn’t go to war with China over the claims in the West Philippine Sea because it would

lead Filipinos to their deaths.

Over the course of his administration, he has repeatedly called China and Chinese President Xi Jinping friends of the Philippines.

The warmer ties didn’t stop Chinese vessels from harassing Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. Compliance in good faith In July, the Philippines called on China to comply with the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated its massive claim over the resource-rich South China Sea, four years since the de-

cision was handed down by the international court in The Hague.

“Compliance in good faith with the award would be consistent with the obligations of the Philippines and China under international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) to which both parties are signatories,” Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a statement.

As in 2016, China rejected the arbitral ruling and Locsin’s call.

In a statement, Beijing’s embassy in Manila said China did not accept or participate in the arbitration, nor

did it accept or recognize the so-called award.

China insisted its “territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea [would] under no circumstances be affected by this award.”

“China firmly opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on aforesaid award,” it said.

Instead of pushing for its compliance to the ruling, China said it hopes that the Philippines would preserve the “hard-won sound momentum of bilateral relations” and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

ford further wrote: “Easter Island in the Pacific was a famous example. Ninety per cent of the people died because of deforestation, erosion and soil depletion.

Society ended up in cannibalism, the government was overthrown and people began pulling down each other’s statues, so that is pretty serious.”

Watson and his Filipino staff knew this well. That was the reason why they came up with a sustain-

able farming scheme called Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT). “SALT is a packaged technology of soil conservation and food production that integrates several conservation measures in just one setting,” said Jethro P. Adang, the current MBRLC director.

A study conducted at the MBRL C farm showed that a farm tilled in the traditional manner erodes at the rate of 1,163.4 metric tons per hectare per year.

In comparison, a SALT farm erodes at the rate of only 20.1 metric tons per hectare per year.

“The rate of soil loss in a SALT farm is 3.4 metric tons per hectare per year, which is within the tolerable range,” Alimoane claims. “Most soil scientists place acceptable soil loss limits for tropical countries like the Philippines within the range of 10 to 12 metric tons per hectare per year.”

The non-SALT farm,

on the other hand, has an annual soil rate of 194.3 metric tons per hectare per year.

“The decline of our soils is a chronic, slow process without the urgency of other environmental crises,” declares Priscilla Grew, former director of the US Department of Conservation for the State of California.

“Yet, soil is the basis for our very existence. Where it is lost, civilization goes with it.”

everal doctors on Tuesday warned against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light disinfectants against COVID-19.

FINE... FROM2

PRRD... FROM3

SOIL... FROM9

we had exercised enough precautions, when the press asked to switch the robot on, but it turns out we didn't. We extend our apologies to the members of the press who were affected, and are updating our protocols to make sure that this does not happen again, moving forward," Robotics Activations chief of business development Camille Anton said.

"The discomfort from the UV exposure is real, but is supposed to be temporary, by all accounts. We remain in contact with those affected to ensure that this is the case," she added.

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong also took full responsibility for the incident, but noted that it did not have any effect on the city's acquisition plans of the technology.

EUROPEAN... FROM2

just one of the institutions of the EU while the institution that runs the EU is the European Commission.

He also said the European Commission is the only authorized entity to decide on the tariff issues.

“Tanging ang European Commission lang po ang may kapangyarihan

na mag-withdraw ng GSP preference. At sa ngayon po ay wala pa namang bansa na winidraw nila ang GSP preference (Only the European Commission has the power to withdraw the GSP preference. And at present, there is no country that withdrew the GSP preference),” he said. (PNA)

fixed broadband and mobile broadband internet speeds in the Philippines have more than doubled since 2016 — from about 7.91 mbps in July 2016 to

about 25.07 mbps in July 2020 for fixed broadband and from about 7.44 mbps in July 2016 to 16.95 mbps in July 2020 for mobile broadband. (PNA)

Inc. to improve their services by December, else risk having their properties expropriated by the government or be shut down.

"Kindly improve the services before December.

I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem. Better have that line cleared," said Duterte.

In response, Globe said it will heed the order, as it noted that it has earmarked $1.2 billion for its capital expenditure this year alone.

For its part, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) earlier released the guidelines for the common tower policy.

The planned common tower policy seeks to free telecommunications companies from costly capital expenditures in building communication towers.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is now also seeking the automatic approval of applications for common towers within seven working days.

to be ready to defend his title. Casimero has a lot of power, he can turn out a guy’s lights with the right shot. But, people have to remember, this guy is a very experienced and talented boxer, he knows how to move, set guys up, create shots from different angles; he is a very talented boxer, he has a very well-rounded game,” said Gibbons.

“And, he is going to show that in Connecticut. Micah is undefeated, and clearly he can punch, but he’s stepping into the big leagues on the 26th against one of boxing’s best – Casimero is going to show fans again why he is a multiple world champion and why he is one of the best,”added Gibbons. (maxboxing.com via philboxing.com)

this next one, it's up to the starting five to come out with a great start."

Before Game Three, Miami was 8-0 in the playoffs when trailing after the first quarter — after going 10-16 when put in that position during the regular season. In the 36 minutes of first-period action against the Celtics, the Heat have led roughly one-sixth of the time.

Butler is 1 for 6 in 29 first-quarter minutes in the series. Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic are a combined 10 for 19; the rest of the Heat in first quarters against the Celtics are 11 for 46. Boston has won the first quarters by a combined score of 88-68, shooting 54% to Miami's 32%.

"Certainly, it would help to be able to get off to a good start," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But you have to play good basketball more consistently when you get to this point in the conference finals against a quality opponent."

Another wild stat is this: Boston has outscored Miami 50-18 from 2-point range in first quarters so far in the series. And yet, somehow, the Celtics still need a win on Wednesday to even up matters — or

fall into the dreaded 3-1 series hole.

"Obviously, you know that when a team lost its last one, you're going to get a great shot," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.

"But you expect a great shot every time. We're going to have to play our best game in Game 4, and then after Game 4 is over, we're going to have to play better than that in Game 5. That's kind of the way it works."

The teams have had three full days off since Game 3, a quirk in the schedule to allow the Western Conference finals matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets to catch up; the Lakers and Nuggets were to play the third game in their series Tuesday night.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum offered a simple reason why Boston should be able to keep its edge after a win.

"Because we're still down 2-1," Tatum said.

"It's never time to relax in a series until it's over with. Even more sense of urgency when you're down. We're still losing.

We know that. We won't get it all back in one game.

We just got to go one game at a time."

BROADBAND... FROM4 EX-DICT... FROM5

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Toned Casimero ready for Micah

F

ilipino world champion John Riel Casimero returns to work on September 26 on the Charlo brothers world championship card in Uncasville, Connecticut.

This will be the 3rd title defense for the talented WBO world bantamweight champion who has wrapped a world title around his waist 4 times in his outstanding and colorful career. Casimero will meet Ghana’s hard-hitting, New York-based Duke Micah who comes into the ring sporting a perfect 24-0 (19 KO’s) Ledger; Casimero enters the ring at 29-4 (20 KO’s).

The rising Filipino star has been a world champion in the truest sense of the word having stepped through the ropes in Nicaragua, Mexico, South Africa, The Philippines, Thailand, China, England and the United States, to name but a few of his globe-trotting locales. Casimero’s passport supports the fact that he is indeed a ‘world’ champion - set up the ring and he shows up.

The location means little to the proud Philip-

pine warrior and he will have no problem adding Connecticut to his travel resume. Casimero is facing a hard punching, undefeated fighter in Micah who is getting the opportunity of a lifetime and he plans to make the most of it. Casimero, coming off of 2 impressive stoppage wins since winning the title in stopping Ricardo Franco in the last round of their WBO bantamweight title fight in April of 2019, knows a win leads to bigger and better things in the division.

In short, both fighters will be very motivated to walk out of the ring with that belt.

This will be Casimero’s 16th world title fight in his 33-fight, 13-year career.

He first won a world title all the way back in 2009 when he captured the world light flyweight title.

After losing it in his 1st title defense, he recaptured

it on his 2nd try 3 fights later in 2012.

He would make 4 defenses of that title before losing it to Amnet Ruonroeng in 2016. He would regain the title in the rematch and defend it against England’s Charlie Edwards before moving up in weight. After putting together 4 straight wins, he captured the WBO bantamweight title, his 4th world championship, in April of last year. Now making his 3rd world title defense, (in his 4th title run), Casimero is seen as one of boxing’s most exciting, battle-tested and experienced veterans. However, he knows he can’t overlook a fighter like Micah, even if the challenger would appear to be the underdog going into the fight.

Maxboxing caught up with Casimero handler Sean Gibbons, at home in Las Vegas, to get his thoughts on the upcoming title defence for his champion and where he sees the popular 118-pound star.

“John Riel is in for a

John Riel Casimero will meet Ghana’s hard-hitting, New York-based Duke Micah who comes into the ring sporting a perfect 24-0 (19 KO’s) Ledger. Casimero enters the ring at 29-4 (20 KO’s).

tough fight here but he is very anxious to get in the ring and put title defense number 3 in the bank,” said an enthused Gibbons. “We had a fight lined up with Japanese star Naoya Inoue but that fight couldn’t be made.

This Covid situation is making things tough for everyone, but we finally buttoned this fight down and he’s very excited to get in the ring,” continued Gibbons. “Micah is a tough, aggressive fighter with power, he’ll be coming at John and the is expecting a tough fight,” said Gibbons.

“But, like he has done throughout his career, he is in great shape, he is motivated and he is going

FTONED, P10

Tolentino names VP bets in upcoming POC polls

I

ncumbent Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino named his two vice presidential candidates for the organization's upcoming general election.

"My first vice president is Al Panlilio of basketball and my second vice president is Richard Gomez of fencing and modern pentathlon," Tolentino said during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who will try to even the series in Game Four on Thursday.

Nuggets survive Lakers comeback, take Game 3

L

AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — We officially have ourselves a series.

Jamal Murray had 28 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds and made two late 3-pointers to halt a Lakers charge, helping the Denver Nuggets to a 114106 victory on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time) that cut Los Angeles' lead to 2-1 in the Western Conference finals.

The Nuggets lost al-

most all of a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter but held on to win, avoiding a 3-0 hole that would have been daunting even for this never-out-of-it team.

Denver has set a record by erasing two 3-1 deficits in this postseason, but no NBA team has ever come back from 3-0.

Jerami Grant added a playoff career-high 26 points and Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets,

who will try to even the series in Game Four on Thursday.

LeBron James had 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who remained two wins from their first NBA Finals appearance in a decade.

Anthony Davis, who made the winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in Game 2, scored 27 points.

The Nuggets led by 20 with 10 1/2 minutes left and soon after were

11

hanging on after the Lakers charged back with a 19-2 run, turning to a zone defense and forcing turnovers that led to easy baskets.

With Denver's lead down to four, Murray made a 3-pointer with 2:16 remaining. He then found Paul Millsap under the basket for a score before hitting a long 3 to push the lead back to 111-99 with 53 seconds to play.

Tolentino also said his ticket for the POC election "is almost complete."

He added that he may reveal the full lineup of his team as early as next week.

Candidates can begin filing their certificates of candidacy on Oct. 1.

The POC election will take place on Nov. 27.

Tolentino is seeking a second term as POC chief while being challenged by current POC board member Clint Aranas.

(PNA)

Heat try to bounce back against Celtics

L

AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — The formula that the Miami Heat had backed themselves into using throughout this postseason wasn't exactly ideal.

They were losing almost every first quarter, and winning almost every game anyway.

It's not a sustainable plan, and the Boston Celtics finally showed that in Game Three of the Eastern Conference finals when they pulled off a wire-to-wire win over Miami, not letting the Heat

put together their typical comeback. Game Four of the East title series — with Miami still leading 2-1 — is Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time), and the Heat are insisting that there will be more urgency at the beginning.

"I think we've just got to start off better," Heat forward Jimmy Butler said. "I don't think we started off anywhere near where we're capable of. I think we dig ourselves a hole and try to fight back out of it. I think going into

FHEAT, P10

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GAB exec lauds Chooks 3x3 for Calamba bubble

G

ames and Amusements Board chairman Baham Mitra said Tuesday he was impressed with the dry run of Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3’s Calamba bubble.

Chooks 3x3 made a test event of its bubble tournament at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna on Monday and Mitra believed it was a success.

“I’m impressed with the preparations being done by Chooks-to-Go,” Mitra said about the country’s first-ever professional 3x3 basketball league.

“They did not just meet the requirements but also improved on their submitted safety protocols.”

In response, ChooksTo-Go Pilipinas 3x3 owner Ronald Mascariñas thanked Mitra for the “kind words.”

“It’s our job to keep

our players safe first and foremost as this is their livelihood,” he said.

If plans proceed, the Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President’s Cup, a Level 7 FIBA 3x3 club tournament, will begin on October 2, making it the first league to play amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“Definitely, this is a huge step forward, not only for us but for Philippine sports as well, in this time of a pandemic,” Mascariñas added.

Another test run, this time putting more premium on setting up the live broadcast, will happen on Thursday. (PNA)

Pilipinas Gilas Men will resume its campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup against South Korea on Nov. 27 and Thailand on Nov. 30