Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 143 | Friday, September 25, 2020

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Cemeteries, funeral parlors ordered to implement 24-hour liquor ban STORY ON PAGE 2

Cyclists maneuver through traffic along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City. Some Dabawenyo bicycle riders were observed to have ignored or refused to follow the city government’s guidelines such as the use the designated bicycle lane making themselves more vulnerable to road accidents. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Duterte asserts arbitral win at ‘most opportune time’: solon

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President Rodrigo Duterte presides a meeting in Davao City. Senators praised the President for the great speech he delivered before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly early Wednesday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Cemeteries, funeral parlors ordered to implement 24-hour liquor ban

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ordered cemeteries and funeral parlors to implement 24-hour liquor ban until the declaration of the State of Calamity (Proclamation 1021) is lifted.

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the State of Calamity status recently by signing Proclamation 1021 on September 16, 2020 or the declaration of a state of calamity throughout the Philippines for one more year or from Sept. 13, 2020 to Sept. 12, 2021, due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The 24-hour liquor ban is stipulated in Section 5 of the Executive Order (EO) No. 52 Series of 2020 released on Thursday that regulates the operations of funeral parlors, cemeteries, memorial parks and columbariums effective September 23, 2020 throughout the duration of the State of

Calamity.

The EO highlighted the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 72, which notes that on October 29, 2020 to November 4, 2020, all private and public cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums shall be closed the entire day to the general public; and that on September 17, 2020 to November 15, 2020, the number of visitors must be limited to a maximum occupancy of 30 percent of the entire area of the cemetery, memorial parks, or columbarium.

However, groups who will bury their family member and who will celebrate the birthday or death anniversary of the deceased that fall on October 29 to November 4 are exempted from the prohibition but has to follow the limited number of visitors and the

allowed maximum percentage of occupancy in the area.

Mayor Sara also ordered that only family members shall be allowed to attend a wake at home, in funeral parlor or any other place.

The family in charge of the wake and the funeral parlor/venue management must ensure that there is no mass gathering among the family members. This rule applies for all faith-based groups.

She also ordered that during burial, only family members shall be allowed to attend also and that the family in charge of the burial and the cemetery management must ensure that there is mass gathering among the family members.

The same rule applies for those who are to be buried according to the Muslim faith and other faith-based groups.

The mayor reminded that in these events, face masks, distancing of at least one meter and alcohol must be required of the visiting

s the country continues to grapple with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, police commanders nationwide have been reminded to strictly implement the smoking ban on terminals of public utility vehicles (PUVs) and other public places.

“In this time of pandemic when the coronavirus targets the respiratory system, smoking is really dangerous not only to the smokers but

also to non-smokers,” said Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, in a statement.

He said his call for the strict imposition of a smoking ban is in line with guidelines of the National Task Force on Covid-19 to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

“Smoking in public places particularly bus, jeepney, and tricycle terminals com-

promises the health safety of both the drivers and the passengers,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar made his call after health experts said smokers and those who would inhale the secondhand smoke coming from cigarettes are susceptible to Covid-19 infection as their immune system is already compromised.

The JTF COVID Shield has been receiving complaints that there are some

he 24-hour liquor ban is not dead.

At least in cemeteries and funeral parlors.

family members.

The order also tasked the family in charge of the wake and the burial to keep a record of the date and time of the visit of all the family members for contact tracing in case some of the members get sick.

The Section 4 of the EO orders family members not to occupy more than 50 percent of the room where the casket is located to avoid mass gathering. Physical distancing must be observed in all areas of the residential house, funeral home and other wake venues.

The vulnerable sector or those who are above 60 years old, below 21 years old, immunocompromised, with health risk, pregnant women are allowed to visit the cemetery, memorial park of columbarium where their family members are buried, however, they are prohibited from attending the wake, burial and visiting the cemeteries, memorial park and columbarium burial sites of non-relatives.

drivers and passengers who are smoking in PUV terminals, especially in the provinces.

Eleazar said police commanders were also tasked to account and regularly monitor the existence of smoking areas in their respective Areas of Responsibility (AORs).

He said police commanders should coordinate with the Local Government

Cops urged to strictly implement smoking ban amid pandemic

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agayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Thursday commended President Rodrigo Duterte for raising before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the country’s arbitral victory over disputed islets and other sea features in the South China Sea. “The President has repeatedly declared that he would invoke the arbitral ruling favoring our claims over these areas and even raise it with Chinese leaders at the proper time. He felt that maybe, now is the most opportune time to reassert our position on this matter,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

Rodriguez said Duterte has made it clear to Beijing that the ruling cannot be compromised despite the cordial relations and friendship existing between the two nations.

“That he did it before a large international forum for every nation, including China, to hear made it all the more laudable,” Rodriguez said. “China should not misread such friendship as weakness on our part.”

In his debut speech at the UNGA, Duterte asserted the UN-based Permanent

Court of Arbitration ruling which invalidated China’s nine-dash line map that covers nearly the entire South China Sea. Duterte said the arbitral ruling “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.

Rodriguez urged Duterte to support his invocation of the arbitral ruling “with concrete and consistent actions.”

“We can for instance continue to rally regional and international support for the ruling. We can also increase patrols in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where some Chinese-occupied features the arbitral court had ruled as belonging to the Philippines under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea are located,” he said.

Rodriguez noted that Beijing should now give up those features, including Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal off Zambales and Pangasinan in the north, and Mischief Reef down south in the Palawan area.

(PNA)

Solon urges Comelec to postpone 2022 polls

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Pampanga lawmaker on Thursday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to consider the postponement of the 2022 national elections if the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) remains a threat in the next few years.

During the House panel deliberations on the poll body’s proposed budget for 2021, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo warned of the increased risk of transmission of coronavirus infections with the holding of a national-level election in a pandemic environment.

"It is very nice that the Comelec is actually preparing way ahead of time for this scary day. I am very scared about this day come elections. I am definitely sure that if there is no vaccine yet, I am sure there will be so many contaminations during that day," he said.

Arroyo also noted that the risk of voters contracting the coronavirus disease could lead to a low voter turnout.

"Also I believe since the youth and those who are actually registered citizens who are allowed to vote by law, will have a hard time registering whether they are transferring or not, or first time voters, I am positive many of them will not be able to register," he said.

"Come election day, no matter how prepared we are, it will cause a serious dent on our health situation. Has the thought that you will propose to postpone the elections triggered your minds.”

Arroyo said such a pro-

posal should at least come from the poll body instead of members of Congress so that the public would not have integrity concerns regarding the motive behind the postponement.

"If it will come from us, then people might think that we have motives to extend our term. But when it comes from the Comelec... then perhaps people will consider it," he said.

Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas, however, said the matter is up to Congress and President Rodrigo Duterte, not the Comelec.

During the same hearing, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez asked Congress to increase the agency's budget for next year to procure more vote-counting machines and impose safety precautions amid the coronavirus threat.

Comelec had an original budget proposal of around PHP30.6 billion, but the Department of Budget and Management slashed it to PHP14.5 billion.

"Ini-expect natin na dadami ang ating mga botante dahil year-on-year, talaga namang tumataas ‘yung ating list of voters (We expect that the number of voters will increase, because the list of voters usually increase year-onyear),” Jimenez said. “At kapag marami ang botante at nagsisiksikan sila sa isang makina, medyo unsafe ‘yan pagdating sa sitwasyon nating pandemya ngayon (And if there are several voters crowding over a single machine, then it will be unsafe especially in a pandemic situation).” (PNA)

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Quarantine protocols, health standard violations flood Prosecutor’s office

By MAYA M. PADILLO iolations to quarantine protocols and health standards emerged as the highest number of cases filed in the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office amidst Covid-19 pandemic.

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Davao City Prosecutor Nestor Ledesma said that at onset of the pandemic from April, May, and June, violations of Republic Act 11332 or mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and resistance and disobedience to person in authority topped the most number of cases filed.

“Pirti gyud daghana, in fact, I would say that our office is now swamped almost overwhelmed by these Covid-related cases in relation to violation to quarantine protocols, and health standards issued by the Department of Health and other government agencies,” Ledesma said in a virtual presser on Thursday.

Coming in next to the quarantine-related cases were cases relat-

ed to Dangerous Drugs Law, estafa and bouncing checks law, and illegal gambling.

“Daghan illegal gambling karong pandemic period,” he said.

This is compared to pre-Covid, from January to March, wherein top in the number of cases filed was the violation of Republic Act 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Law, followed by estafa and the violation of bouncing checks law, then theft and robbery, and illegal gambling respectively.

In terms of the total of cases filed, Ledesma said in the first half of 2020, the number of cases filed in the prosecutor’s office was reduced with a total of 5,484 cases compared to the 11,100 cases filed in 2019 and 9,400 cases filed in 2018.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILg) Secretary Eduardo Año says the government aims to deploy an additional 50,000 contact tracers on October 1 in a bid to prevent further spread of Covid-19. Edge Davao

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

DOE chief shares PH’s move to tap nuke power at int’l meet

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epartment of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the Philippines is on its journey to explore the potentials of nuclear power as a reliable source of energy.

In his speech delivered virtually during the opening session of the two-day International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Scientific Forum in Vienna, Austria, Cusi said it is the right time for the Philippines to embark on a full national nuclear energy program.

“For the country like the Philippines, Covid-19’s onslaught has revealed that energy systems could be interrupted. This has underscored the urgency of attaining our energy security and sustainability goals. We, at the Philippines’ Department of Energy, have been continuously advocating for the responsible development and utilization of all energy resources, including nuclear under the technology neutral policy that we have adopted,” he said.

The DOE chief said the Philippines was one of the first Southeast Asian

countries to embark on a nuclear energy program with the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission in 1958, and hosted the region’s only nuclear power plant, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), in the 1980s.

Cusi recalled that the BNPP was mothballed due to unfounded allegations of corruption and widespread safety concerns on the nuclear power facility.

He also expressed regret as the country was not able to seize the opportunity to harness nuclear energy at that time.

“I firmly believe that our country’s economic landscape would be much different had we tapped nuclear power back then.

Instead, our economic development was stunted, whereas our regional neighbors who had boldly ventured towards nuclear, had all been transformed

into economic powerhouses,” Cusi said.

But the Philippines now has the chance to “rewrite its nuclear journey” after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the creation of an inter-agency committee to study the feasibility of introducing nuclear power in the country’s energy mix, the DOE chief added.

Cusi said the new Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee will do collaborative work with the IAEA towards the realization of the country’s nuclear energy program.

In a recent report, Fitch Solutions said nuclear power will offer an effective solution for the Philippines to meet its rising power demand.

Fitch Solutions has seen power consumption in the Philippines to increase by an average of 4.6 percent from 2020 to 2029 despite the nearterm headwinds due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the DOE, the country’s power requirement will reach 43,765 megawatts by 2040. (PNA)

A client accesses a bank’s mobile app. Majority of large banks in the country are set to resume charging for online transactions using Instapay among others starting next month. Edge Davao

Nutritious Food Packs amidst COVID-19 Pandemic Manulife PH survey shows

Pinoys value health, family

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urther to Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 1, S. 2020 on “Guidelines on LGU Nutrition Actions Relative to COVID-19”, the Nutrition Cluster released the 2nd Advisory, “Recommendations on Healthful and Nutritious Family Food Packs and Sustainable Food Sources” last April 28, 2020. This advisory is basically a recommendation to all local government units and their partners, providing detailed guidance in the distribution of healthy and nutritious food packs during this state of public health emergency.

In order to diversify and enhance the nutrient content of family food packs, LGUs are strongly encouraged to optimize the use of local fresh produce of dark green and yellow vegetables, root crops, legumes/beans/ seeds, fruits, poultry, egg, meat/fish or pasteurized fresh milk. Prioritize buying the fresh produce items directly from the small farmers, fisherfolks, and cooperatives within or adjacent communities to protect and promote the local economy. They are not only cheaper and fresh but also more accessible because they do not require long period of transport.

Limit donations of foods high in fats, sugar and/ or salt unless healthier food alternatives are not accessible. These foods are discouraged as they do not meet WHO and Philippine Food and Dietary Guidelines for a healthy diet and may

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further compromise the health status of people with pre-existing disease conditions. LGUs are enjoined to promote the establishment of home gardens. Given the indefinite duration of the community quarantine, this strategy will allow households to produce own fresh and nutritious vegetables and help reduce family food expense. LGUs may distribute seeds, seedlings, through the assistance of the local city/municipal agriculture office.

Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers and frontline workers helping in the packing and distribution of food are recommended to practice food safety and sanitation procedures and try to reduce

food wastage at all times.

They should observe handwashing with water and soap before food handling; observe proper wearing of face mask and practice social distancing.

They are also encouraged to provide nutrition information to highlight the importance of consumption of healthy and nutritious foods in boosting the body’s immunity amid this COVID-19 health emergency. The National Nutrition Council provides infographics - relevant nutrition information which can be downloaded in the official website of NNC, nnc. gov.ph.

Here in Davao Region, NNC XI acknowledged the efforts of our LGUs as they provide Nutrition

interventions through their Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Health Workers by flexing them as Nutrition Heroes in this time of Pandemic. Qualified BNSs also availed the Social Amelioration Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This is under the Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the “ Bayanihan to Heal as One Act ”, which amounts to P5, 000 to P8, 000 to support low-income families or those in the subsistence economy or workers in the informal economy, and with members belonging to the vulnerable sector, who are deemed to be the most affected by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

he current pandemic increased Filipinos’ desire to ensure their overall well-being to further protect their families, a study by Manulife Philippines showed.

While most want to ensure the health and welfare of their families, this is far from the reality due to the gap in their perceived goals and their actual behavior.

In a virtual briefing Wednesday, Manulife Philippines senior vice president and chief marketing officer Melissa Henson said results of the online survey, conducted in the first seven months this year to 500 Filipinos nationwide, showed that the respondents’ perceptions are far from reality.

This, after 63 percent said staying healthy and avoiding illness is their top priority, but 41 percent said they are physically inactive.

Also, 50 percent said they drink alcohol and can be considered as binge-drinkers; 29 percent said they are overweight, with 10 percent saying they are obese; and 22 percent said they smoke tobacco regularly.

Henson said the respondents also said they are financially unprepared for critical illness and put their families’ well-being over their personal well-being.

Survey results showed that 80 percent of the respondents believe that cost of treating critical illnesses is higher than what they can afford, 54 percent said health expenditures are paid through the households’ out-of-the-pocket payment, 52 percent be-

lieve they are not financially prepared if a family member falls ill, 34 percent said their health-related expenses are financed by government schemes and contributory health financing, and only 12 percent are financed by health plans.

Thus, 77 percent of the respondents said they want to acquire insurance in the next 18 months to cover their life, hospitalization, health, accident, and critical illness.

Among the critical illnesses, cancer is perceived as the most feared because of the expenses it entails.

The other critical illnesses that the respondents consider are heart attack or cardiac arrest, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problem/disease, stroke, accident, coronavirus disease, kidney failure, and disease with no cure or difficult treatment.

Henson said “while Filipinos are universally aware of the importance of staying healthy, we saw that their behaviors are largely influenced by fears and worries, including concern for their family and feeling financially unprepared for illnesses.”

During the same briefing, Manulife president and chief executive officer Richard Bates said he is “pleasantly surprised” on the result of the survey, specifically in terms of the impact of health concerns not just on people’s physical and financial health but only on one’s mental health.

For one, he said respondents’ perception of cancer as the most feared critical illness can be attributed

FMANULIFE, P9

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

A trailer truck drives past container vans at the Davao International Container Terminal in Panabo City. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is confident the country will retain the Generalised Scheme Preference Plus (GSP+) grant from the European Union (EU) despite the recommendation of EU lawmakers to revoke the GSP+ status for the Philippines. Edge Davao

DITO aims to cover over 80% of population in five years

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he country’s new telecommunications player has vowed to provide more access to people in farflung and “underserved” areas in the Philippines, as it targets to expand its population coverage to over 80 percent within five years of its operations.

“It’s not just about profit, it’s also about serving those people, especially in the far-flung areas who are not able to access education, news, information because of the lack of coverage,” Atty. Adel Tamano, chief administrative officer of Dito Telecommunity, said. “We hope to be able to address that within

our 5-year commitment period.

“Our government commitment is 87 percent after our fifth year of operation, but our internal goal is really well beyond that,” he stressed.

For its first-year commitment to the government, Dito has targeted to cover 37 percent of the population. Under its certificate of public convenience and necessity, the company is also expected to provide an internet speed of 27 megabits per second (mbps).

Tamano remained confident that Dito would be able to deliver these technical audit requirements within the

FDITO, P10

Banks set to resume charging fees for online transfers: Bankers group

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any large Philippine banks are set to resume charging for online transactions using Instapay among others, as early as next month, the head of a banking industry group said on Wednesday.

BPI president and CEO Cezar Consing, who also heads the Bankers Association of the Philippines, said that by October some banks will again charge clients for online transfers.

"I think what is happening now, some banks will be charging from October 1, some banks will continue to waive fees until the end of the year. But eventually, we will have to go back to charging fees," Consing said.

InstaPay lets banking clients transfer up to

P50,000 per transaction, which is credited instantly to the recipient’s account in any local bank.

Money transfers through PESONet have no transaction limit per day.

The money is also credited to the recipient's account on the same banking day, subject to the cut-off time.

The waiver of the fees was initially done voluntarily. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas however later urged all entities under its regulation to waive such fees to encourage the public to use online banking amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consing says even with the return of such fees, BPI expects customers to continue favoring digital transactions.

ECONOMY 5

Pork, chicken production seen to decline this year

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hilippine pork and chicken production may decline as a result of further spread of African Swine Fever and weak demand from the hotel and restaurant industry, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

In its Philippine Livestock and Poultry update, USDA reported that pork production is seen to decline by 20 percent to 1.27 million metric tons (MT) due to ASF infection, especially in top producing areas in Luzon.

“Post sees production dropping by 20 percent in 2020… as ASF continues to affect the main hog produc-

ing areas in Luzon,” it said.

According to the latest report submitted by the Philippine Department of Agriculture to the World Organization for Animal Health, the country has 72 new ASF outbreaks most of which are in Luzon, while 33,406 hogs were already culled, bringing total count to over 300,000.

The USDA said produc-

tion recovery in 2021 might be gradual but may not reach 2019 levels as some areas continue to curb the spread of the virus.

In terms of demand, the agency it this may improve in the second half of 2020 despite a 20 to 30 percent drop in the previous period as the government continues to relax quarantine restrictions.

“Unemployment has improved with the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions and is now at around 10 percent, would should contribute to improved demand in H2 of 2020,” USDA said.

Meanwhile, chicken

production is seen to decline 15 percent to 1.25 million MT due to weak demand from its main demand drivers.

“The six-month lockdown in the Philippines has heavily affected the hotel, restaurant, and institutional industry, where it is estimated that one third of all chicken is consumed,” the USDA said.

Moreover, the temporary halt in businesses operations and job loss led to lower consumer spending.

Slight recovery is seen next year as demand improves with the continuous reopening of the economy, the agency said.

out that global labor income had shrunk by 10.7 percent during the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2019.

That amounts to a drop of some $3.5 trillion, or 5.5 percent of the overall global gross domestic product (GDP), the ILO said.

Since surfacing in China late last year, the novel coronavirus has killed nearly one million people worldwide out of the more than 31 million infected.

In addition to the health challenges, lockdowns, travel restrictions and other measures taken to rein in the virus have had a devastating impact on jobs and income across the globe.

'Worsened significantly' The ILO also warned that the outlook for the final three months of 2020 had "worsened significantly" since its last report in

June.

The organization had previously forecast that global working hours would be 4.9 percent lower in the fourth quarter than a year earlier, but said it now expected an 8.6 percent drop, which corresponds to 245 million full-time jobs.

It explained that workers in developing and emerging economies, especially those in informal jobs, had been much more affected than in past crises.

The ILO also pointed out that while many of the most stringent workplace closures have been relaxed, 94 percent of the world's workers were in countries where some sort of workplace restrictions remain in place.

And Sangheon Lee, head of ILO's employment policy division, warned that the situation for workers could worsen further.

If second waves of infec-

tions bring tighter restrictions and new lockdowns, he said, "the impact on the labor market could be comparable to the magnitude we saw in the second quarter of this year."

Ryder cautioned against those pushing for policy makers to focus on economy over health in their response to the pandemic.

"It is very clear...that the capacity and the speed with which the global economy can get out of its labor market slump is intimately linked to our capacity to control the pandemic," he said.

"These two things are very, very intimately intertwined, and we have to act on that understanding."

The ILO's report meanwhile showed that the labor market devastation could have been worse without the numerous fiscal stimu-

World’s workers lost $3.5T in wages amid pandemic: UN

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he coronavirus pandemic is taking a heavier toll on jobs than previously feared, the UN said Wednesday, with hundreds of millions of jobs lost and workers suffering a "massive" drop in earnings.

In a fresh study, the International Labour Organization (ILO) found that by the mid-year point, global working hours had declined by 17.3 percent compared to last December—equivalent to nearly 500 million full-time jobs.

That is nearly 100 million more job-equivalents than the number forecast by the ILO back in June, when it expected 14 percent of working hours to be lost by the end of the second three-month period of the year.

"The impact has been catastrophic," ILO chief Guy Ryder told reporters in a virtual briefing, pointing

FWORLD’S, P9

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

On his call for reforms in the United Nations to effectively address the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic:

Let us strengthen it so it can fully deliver its mandate to maintain peace and security, uphold justice and human rights, and promote freedom and social progress for all.

Let us empower UN – reform it – to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

President Rodrigo Duterte

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VANTAGE POINTS

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FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

IS PRRD NOW A LAME DUCK A “lame duck” is described as “an official (especially the president) in the final period of office, after the election of a successor; or an ineffectual or unsuccessful person or thing.

In politics, a lame duck or outgoing politician is an elected official who is free to make decisions that exercise the standard powers with little fear of consequence, such as issuing executive orders, political decisions, etc.

These definitions from the dictionary pointedly educates the layman what to expect in the Philippine setting of a national leadership following the mid-term elections leading to the last two years of the Duterte incumbency.

The leadership rivalry in the House of Representatives is a case in point. A term sharing pact between Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig) and Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) was agreed after the 2019 mid-term polls with the former taking the first half and the second half to be turned over to the latter.

Cayetano’s tenure is soon

to end October but there are efforts from his camp not to give up the reins of the House speakership, which to me is a betrayal of the agreement. Well…

Davao City Rep. and presidential son Pulong Duterte has moved to declare the positions of Speaker, deputy speaker and all others vital posts vacant to force a vote and implement the gentleman’s pact.

This is a critical point where the supposedly “lame duck” president must exercise the power of his executive office. If he wants to, with a wave of his presidential baton, PRRD can still weave his presidential privilege, particularly in the HOR where the national appropriations are emanating from.

After all, whether he likes it or not, there are personalities inside the present coalition who are already desiring to go on their own. It would be good for the ruling party and whatever is left of the coalition to know who are leaving and who are staying.

Knowing who your potential rivals within the coalition are, will give the incumbent

leadership the opportunity to enter into re-alignments favorable to its political cause.

Based on past traditional practices that have been the solid bases of political observers and analysts alike, political parties and groups are already beginning to seek coalitions, activating survey teams and sending feelers to presidential wannabes who are likely to join the presidential derby.

To debunk this “lame duck” concept will be a struggle - a difficult thing to do because every politician worth his salt will be looking to preserve his career and even advance his earlier gains.

After all, voters always expect change – positive change that will have enduring impactful effects on their lives.

In the US, for example, after a Democrat, a Republican takes the driver’s seat. Then, after the Republican, a Democrat fills in his shoes. It’s like a case of musical chairs.

But some domestic issues may spell the difference.

Filipinos like to compare

the past from the present.

If the accomplishments of the previous Aquino administration were to be appropriately presented in a graph compared to the incumbent Duterte government, the electorate may have a clear picture of the domestic circumstances that will erase the idea of what a “lame duck” is.

Despite the CoVid 19 concerns, PRRD is enjoying high approval and trust ratings.

Despite the perpetual faultfinding of the opposition, Filipinos continue to place their faith and trust in the incumbent Malacanang tenant.

Despite external grumblings coming from foreign sources - notably from the US and European allies of the discredited opposition – Filipinos have stayed collectively behind Pres. Digong.

Let us see how the drama in the HOR plays out.

The president’s intervention in the House intramurals may be expected but is not visible at the time this was being written.

Unfortunately, deliberations of the national budget may be delayed since many vital kinks have to be ironed out. The delivery of essential public services may be disrupted.

These will have repercussions in the lead-off to the 2022 presidential balloting.

Perhaps, the shouts from another corner of the political playing field for the consideration of constitutional changes via a revolutionary government backed by the Filipino people may turn things around favorably for the outgoing Chief Executive.

After all, if Filipinos only know too well how to handle their sovereign mandate, it is within their collective power to choose who they should install appropriately in power.

I still believe that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Somebody said: “Today is history; tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

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

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

IS THERE A POISON IN YOUR FOOD? On various occasions at home, one of those that are always present in the food tables is the loaf bread. Equally important is the peanut butter, a modern-day food obsession which goes inside the bread.

Both can be bought at the sidewalks.

But what most Filipinos don’t know is that those homemade peanut butter, although cheap, might be laden with aflatoxin, a form of mold known to be a human carcinogen or something that causes cancer.

Here’s one science scribe wrote of it: “Aflatoxin is an incredibly powerful poison, and is harmful or even deadly at very low concentrations… (It) is like a secret agent, expert at passing unnoticed but dangerous and licensed to kill.”

Now, that’s very alarming.

“There are many different types of molds and fungus that can grow in food, including various species of mycotoxins, but aflatoxin has gained attention more than most others because studies have found clear evidence of its potential for causing carcinogenic effects,” wrote Jillian Levy, a senior writer at DrAxe.com and Ancient Nutrition.

Aflatoxin is produced by a species of fungus, called Aspergillus, that thrives in the soil around crops grown in hot, humid environments. After harvesting, the fungus continues to

grow, producing more aflatoxin.

There are actually at least 13 different types of naturally-occurring aflatoxin toxic molds that researchers have identified. Of the 13 species, the type called aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic, capable of causing health problems.

“How badly a person is affected by aflatoxin will depend on factors like their current state of health, level and duration of exposure, strength of their immune and digestive system, and overall quality of their diet,” Levy wrote.

According to studies, there are two ways that aflatoxin contamination usually occurs: either you consume large amounts at once and experience “poisoning,” you slowly acquire aflatoxin over time in smaller quantities.

“Large doxes of aflatoxin lead to acute poisoning (aflatoxicosis) that can be life threatening, usually through damage to the liver,” the UN World Health Organization (WHO) states.

Outbreak of acute liver failure (jaundice, lethargy, nausea, death), identified as aflatoxicosis, have been observed in human populations since the 1960s.”

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says poisoning is relatively rare but more dangerous and can lead to problems like liver cancer, mental impairments, di-

gestive reactions, coma, hemorrhages and malabsorption.

Among the long-term effects that aflatoxin exposure can cause include: food allergies, autoimmune disease reactions, inflammation that affects the heart, damage to the digestive organs including the liver and kidneys, and growth and development impairment. It also paves way for a higher risk for viral hepatitis or parasite infestation.

Research shows that aflatoxin targets the digestive organs most, especially the liver by raising the risk for liver cancer, hepatitis and liver disease.

Long-term exposure to aflatoxin is a major risk factor for cancer of liver called hepatocellular carcinoma, which causes liver scarring, loss of nutrients, inflammation of the digestive tract and other serious problems that can lead to death.

Peanuts are consumed in high amounts around the country and most Filipinos don’t know much about aflatoxin.

Aside from the popular boiled or fried peanuts, they are also utilized in many other types of processed foods (peanut butter, packaged snacks like cookies, and ice cream, among others).

Aside from peanuts, aflatoxin is also present in corn, another staple food of Filipinos.

Corn is also used in preparing feeds for livestock (cattle, chickens, goats, pigs and sheep).

“In chickens, the effects of aflatoxins include liver damage, impaired productivity and reproductive efficiency, decreased egg production, inferior eggshell quality, inferior carcass quality and increased susceptibility to disease,” the United Nations health agency reports.

“Pigs are also highly affected by aflatoxins, with the chronic effects largely apparent as liver damage. In cattle, the primary symptoms are reduced weight gain as well as liver and kidney damage; where milk production is also reduced. Different forms of the enzymes that metabolize aflatoxins are considered responsible for the different susceptibilities of different animals to the toxic effects of aflatoxins,” it further states.

There’s bad news. “The spread of aflatoxin in corn can be hard to control because of the enormous quantity that it’s grown in, how long it’s stored and how often it’s processed to form other foods,” Levy wrote.

“Because some populations eating a lot of corn might already have impaired immunity, aflatoxin in corn is a big concern for liver disease formation.”

In addition, others that are most likely to be contaminated with aflatoxin include milk, cheese and meat (become contaminated due to the spreading in aflatoxin in livestock feed), nuts (especially almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts),

soybeans, and dried spices. Although it’s not commonly eaten, cotton seed is also a major crop that tends to grow aflatoxin.

“In developing nations, many people are exposed to aflatoxin through food grown at home,” said a report. “Inadequate harvesting and storage techniques allow for the growth of aflatoxin-producing fungus and homegrown crops are not routinely tested for the presence of aflatoxin. As a result, an estimated 4.5 billion people living in developing countries may be chronically exposed to aflatoxin through their diet.”

In the Philippines, research in aflatoxin was started in 1967 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute with a survey on the aflatoxin content of various foods. Local researchers from government agencies and academe also conducted studies on the aflatoxin contamination of agricultural crops and their products and/or by-products.

“The data indicated that corn and peanuts are the two commodities that contain toxic levels of aflatoxin,” the studies found out.

Some years back, the staterun FDA “warned the public against peanut products, including those sold by ambulant and street vendors,” as they are contaminated with aflatoxin.

Are the peanut butter and corn you’re consuming free from aflatoxin?

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Teenage pregnancy is a serious matter “T

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO een pregnancy is a communal problem, a family problem, and a personal problem all rolled into one. It frequently goes hand in hand with premarital sex. Problems come when the news needs to breach each parent’s party.” – Youth Problems in the Philippine Society Last week, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri pushed for his proposal of raising the age of statutory rape 16 years old.

Currently, statutory rape only applies in instances where one party is below 12 years old.

The lawmaker from Bukidnon believes there are many sexual abuses and violence that are done to 12- to 16-year-old children. Those who committed those crimes, however, are never punished because they say the children agreed to what transpired although it was actually done by force.

“By raising the age to 16 years, I hope that we could put a dent on the number of children victimized since ‘carnal knowledge’ of children aged 12 up to 16 years will not be considered statutory rape,” Zubiri was quoted as saying by Philippine Daily Inquirer, adding that one in every five children below 18 years experiences sexual violence, based on the 2016 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children.

Zubiri also believes that by expanding the coverage of statutory rape, it will also bring down incidence of teenage pregnancy, which happens when a girl, who is less than 19 years old, become pregnant.

Juan Antonio Perez III, executive director of the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom), is supporting

the proposed law filed by Zubiri. “I am sure the number of teenage pregnancies would go down if we could increase the statutory rape age,” he was quoted as saying.

According to Perez, pregnancies among children aged 10 to 14 years old were recorded at 1,000 in 2007. The figure went up more than double in 2018 when the reported cases were 2,200.

That is very alarming, according to The Forum for Family Planning and Development (The Forum), an advocacy organization that helps educate communities on reproductive health and rights.

“We work on the ground, and the problem is real and worrisome,” Benjamin de Leon, president of The Forum, said in a press statement. “Our most recent encounter was a 10-year-old pregnant girl. We come face-to-face with teen girls who have stopped schooling because they have started childbearing, and this scenario worsens in areas with poverty and lack of education.”

One government official even admitted that teen pregnancies have become a “national social emergency” because the appalling rates of adolescent births in the last 10 years already merit “national concern.”

Perez confirmed this observation. “We are now in a situation that requires the declaration of national

emergency because social, economic and health are affected... If we don’t act now, we will continue to see an increase of 200,000 teenage parents every year,” he deplored.

Findings of the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) unveiled gripping statistics: one in 10 girls aged 15-19 have begun childbearing. “About 8% were already mothers and 2% were already pregnant with their first child,” the report said.

Going through the findings, the figures were quite disturbing: every hour, 24 babies are born to teenagers; every day, 500 babies are born to teen girls, and every year, 196,000 girls aged 15-19 get pregnant.

A previous study done three years earlier, in 2014, the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics office reported that 12% or 210,000 of all deliveries recorded in the country belong to girls

aged 10-19 years old.

“These grim figures put the Philippines as the third highest in Southeast Asia in adolescent fertility rate at 57 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19,” said The Forum in a statement. “In the period 2002 to 2013, pregnancies in this age group increased from 4.4% to 11%, which was a staggering 150% increase in only 10 years.”

Save the Children Philippines said teenage pregnancy affects 5.99% of Filipino girls, which is the second highest rate in Southeast Asia based on its report, Global Childhood Report (2019).

“Early pregnancy forces girls to take on an adult role while their bodies are often not ready,” explained Atty. Alberto Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines. “Early pregnancy can also trap girls in an escapable cycle of poverty, stigmatized by society for being teenage mothers or forced into early marriage. It also creates

a greater risk in terms of maternal complications that affect the mother and the child they bear resulting in low survival rates.”

In Western countries, teenage pregnancy may not surprise anyone at all.

But in a developing country like the Philippines, it may come as a shock – particularly among religious leaders. “From time to time, we always emphasized that pre-marital sex is morally wrong!” said a Catholic priest.

Poverty has been cited as one of the primary reasons why teen pregnancy is thriving! Data from the United Nations Population Fund showed that teenage pregnancy has a huge rate in the country, particularly among the poor. Twothirds of Filipino women who give birth before age 20 belong to the low-class society.

But poverty is just one of the causes. The website of the Youth in the Philippine Society (YPS) cites other reasons: · The immature and irresponsible behavior arising due to complex teenage psychology is another important cause of teenage pregnancies.

Teenagers often go through several emotions because of their own transition from childhood and peer pressure. · The dearth of sexual education among teenagers causes them to get abortions as they ultimately realize their inability to bear the responsibilities of being a parent at such a young age. · The lack of attention and affection from family resulting in depression forces them to seek love and support from other people, especially members of the opposite sex. · Overprotection gives rise to frustration and a feeling of not being loved and cared for. Thus, balance is the key to avoid this problem. Lack of affectionate supervision of parents or guardians results in adolescents or teenage girl’s becoming pregnant.

PopCom believes that teenagers “who were exposed to vice or the internet at an early age usually end up with unplanned pregnancies.”

As Perez explained, “Of course, maraming content doon na walang filter. It might be pornography; it might be other matters.”

Oftentimes, sex out-

side of marriage has consequences, one of which is getting pregnant. When the girl is only in her teens, the consequences are truly serious.

“Childbearing in adolescence carries increased risks for poor health outcomes for both mother and child; and the younger the adolescent, the greater the risks,” points out the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Pregnancy during adolescence is associated with a higher risk of health problems like anemia, sexually transmitted infections, postpartum hemorrhage, and poor mental health outcomes such as depression, and even suicide.

Children born to adolescent mothers are more likely to die compared to children of older mothers, PopCom states. Another common result is stunting, a condition characterized by slow or impeded growth, according to De Leon. Stunting occurs from the time of conception to the first two years of life, also called the “first 1,000 days,” that is caused by the poor nutritional status of mother and child.

A study done by the Population Institute of the University of the Philippines said more than 46% of teenage pregnant women resort to induced abortion. In fact, two out of every 5 teenage pregnancies are unwanted ones, the study said.

Becoming pregnant or having a child at a tender age also means dropping out from schools. “Many pregnant female children end up dropping out from school to avoid shame thus undermining government’s efforts towards ensuring Education for All and the Millennium Development Goal of Education in the nearest future,” the YPS website said.

The problem of teenage pregnancy must be given attention now as it has become a national social emergency. “The efforts to combat teenage pregnancy should come from all the sectors of society,” Atty. Muyot suggested. “It requires a joint effort of government, private sectors, civil society organizations, communities, parents, caregivers and the entire citizenry, including youth themselves.” – (Photos sourced from the net)

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

NEWS 9

EDGEDAVAO

COPS... FROM2

Units (LGUs) for the utilization of barangay tanods and the city and municipal Public Order and Safety personnel for the enforcement of the nationwide smoking ban.

Earlier, the Manila

International Airport Authority has temporarily closed all the smoking areas in all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to the threat of coronavirus infection among smokers. (PNA)

partly to things that a person cannot control.

Bates said some cancers like lung cancer can be due to one’s lifestyle, but other types of cancers are due to something that a person has no control which leads to worries and affects one’s mental health.

He said Manulife Philippines considers as an important aspect of their operations measures to ensure their employees’ mental health, but the survey results prove this area is a major sphere in the health realm.

“So this is something that, for us as an insurance company, we absolutely need to start spending a bit more time looking at,” he added.

Bates said the insurance industry in general, “focus(es) very much on the physical health aspects of what we offer and how we support our customers.”

“But we shouldn’t ever forget that (the) mental health strain of people around you (is) under far more acute than we would typically expect to see,” he added. (PNA)

lus packages provided by governments.

Without such stimulus efforts—amounting to around $9.6 trillion globally—global working hours would have shrunk by a full 28 percent in the second quarter, it said.

But it warned that fiscal stimulus was de-

livered very unevenly, with low- and middle-income countries receiving around $982 billion less in overall support than their wealthy counterparts.

Ryder urged international efforts to close the gap, insisting that "no group, country or region can beat this crisis alone."

MANULIFE... FROM4

A young Badjao walks on a wooden pathway at a coastal community in Brgy. 23-C Isla Verde, Davao City. The Zero Hunger Task Force under the Duterte administration has reiterated its vow to eradicate hunger as it iden-

tified six key result areas (KRAs) the government would focus on to achieve food security in the Philippines. Edge Davao

'One strike rule' vs violators of serving limit of liquor

T

he City Government of Davao will impose a ‘one strike rule’ on establishments caught violating the rule on serving alcoholic drinks.

Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has ordered the Vices Regulation Unit and barangay officials to monitor establishments for violations of the Executive Order 50-A issued on Sept. 22, 2020.

The new EO was laid down with additional guidelines, particularly on the serving quantities of alcoholic and intoxicating drinks.

Under the new guidelines, Mayor Sara clarified the definition of "Serving" as the quantity of item served to one (1) customer.

This also conforms to Section 3 of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Memorandum Circular No. 20-39 Series of 2020 wherein a maximum of two (2) servings of alcoholic beverages is allowed in restaurants and food businesses.

In the guidelines, Dabawenyos and business establishments are allowed the selling and serving alcoholic and intoxicating drinks as follows: Beer: two (2) bottles/ cans, provided that, 1 (one) bottle/can is not more than 400ml Cocktail (mixed drink): two (2) shots/orders of the cocktail, provided that, one (1) shot/order shall not be more than 200ml Liquor (hard drink) and all other drinks with alcohol: two (2) shots/order of the liquor or alcohol drink provided that, one (1) shot/ order should not be more than 100ml.

The guidelines state that beyond the maximum volume of two (2) serving/ order/shots per customer shall not be more than 800ml for beers, 400ml for

cocktails, and 200ml for liquor and all other drinks with alcohol.

Mayor Sara also noted Section 6 of the EO that other establishments whose names include the word “bar” but the primary business is not serving liquor such as videoke bars, restaurant bars, etc. are allowed to open. These establishments are also subject to the serving limit by the DTI and Section 5 of the EO. Also, there is no limit to the selling of beer and liquor in wholesale establishments, sari-sari stores, groceries, supermarkets, and other similar establishments and the selling of beer or liquor for takehome/take-out, or home delivery.

While sari-sari stores are allowed to sell beer and other alcoholic drinks, they cannot serve these within their premises to avoid mass gatherings. They are also prohibited from allowing people to converge, to have liquor drinking ses-

sions (inuman shotting), conduct meetings and discussions or stand-by within, in front, or around their premises.

The VRU and the Barangay Council will conduct vigorous surveillance of all restaurants, fastfood, sari-sari stores, and other establishments covered by the EO and must move for the closure of an establishment after a single violation is properly documented.

Mayor Sara reiterated her call on all Dabawenyos to never forget to practice the health protocols against Covid-19.

She said everyone in the restaurant, fastfood, and other establishments can only remove their face mask when eating or drinking. Face masks should be worn when talking.

Servers should wear a face shield on top of their face mask, maintain at least one meter distance and handwashing facilities should be available for everyone. CIO

WORLD’S... FROM5

Newly-hired med techs boost Davao City testing capabilities

T

he Davao City government has hired new medical technologists to boost manpower and testing capabilities in the city's continued fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The medical technologists were trained by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) before their deployment to the newly-commissioned testing laboratory for Covid-19 at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport.

"There are six medical technologists who finished their training last week.

They will now be prepared for their proficiency test," said City Health Office (CHO) Chief Dr. Josephine Villafuerte.

Villafuerte said that

they can start processing samples at the davao airport laboratory when they pass the proficiency test.

The testing laboratory at the Davao airport was donated by Unilab pharmaceutical company on September 15. It can examine 92 specimens per run.

Also, 11 medical technologists are currently undergoing training in preparation for the soon to open Los Amigos Covid testing laboratory.

Villafuerte said that the personnel who are deployed at the Covid-19 laboratories are required to undergo training on biosafety, biosecurity, and processing through the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) machine.

There are more than 10 medical technologists on deck for training. CIO

USAID hands over learning kits to quake-hit schools

A

s part of its broad education assistance in the Philippines, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated 14,436 student’s kits and 400 teacher’s kits to earthquake-hit schools in Davao del Sur on Sept 22.

The kits were handed over virtually to the Department of Education (DepEd) officials in Manila and physically to DepEd officials, teachers, and parents in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. “The series of earthquakes that hit Davao del Sur in December last year damaged nearly 400 schools affecting 188,000 students. We reached out to our partners to help the teachers and students recover, and thankfully USAID responded,” said

Ronilda Co, DepEd Director for Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS).

Each teacher’s kit contains basic teaching and learning supplies to help ensure the delivery of education services even in times of disasters. Teachers from Kinder to Grade 3 (K-3) will be able to use the contents of their kits to ensure their well-being and prepare for their lessons in their chosen learning delivery modalities.

“In the last few months, the regional and division office of Davao del Sur worked with USAID to pack and deliver the kits to a total of 89 elementary schools in the hardest-hit municipalities of Bansalan, Matanao, and Magsaysay,” said Dr.

Evelyn Fetalvero, DepEd Region 11 Director.

Students from Kinder to Grade 3 will receive back-to-school starter kits, including a backpack, a water tumbler, an umbrella, a pad of paper, a writing notebook, crayons, pencils, and a plastic envelope.

“Whether students are learning from the classroom or from their homes, education resources are essential. Beginning from the first day of school, having needed classroom supplies at home boosts students’ confidence and fosters their love for learning. By ensuring children have access to education that is safe, relevant and promotes social well-being, USAID is helping young students gain the foundational skills they need to lead productive and

healthy lives,” said Tom LeBlanc, Office of Education Director of USAID Philippines.

Around 969,501 learners in 1,608 schools in Regions 11 and 12 were affected by the series of earthquakes that struck Mindanao in October and December 2019.

It was reported that DepEd would need at least PHP7 billion to cover the repair and reconstruction of damaged classrooms, school furniture, learning materials, and equipment.

“Despite the challenges that abound this year and the years to come, the DepEd and its committed and resilient teachers will deliver basic education with support from partners like the USAID,” DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua said. (PR)

10

EDGEDAVAO Republic of the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION Regional Arbitration Branch No. XI Davao City

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

DITO... FROM5

deadline provided by the National Telecommunications Commission, which RAQUEL C. RODA, LEONORA T. CODOY, JOAN D. MAHIPUS, MARILOU A. MALLORCA,and NIECEL A. JANSOL, is in January of next year.

He added the firm is “on

Complainant/s - versus - CASE NO. RAB-XI-02-00172-17 track” for the anticipated MUGAS MADULARA “MM” FARM and EDGAR MUGAS – Banana Grower market rollout in March Respondent/s.

2021.

X-------------------------------------------------------------------X The Philippines has MIRASOL M. ONDOY, LUTCHIE C. GABITO, LEONIE C. RODA, BLAS D. AMBATO and HARRY C. RODA, an average mobile interComplainant/s net download speed of 7 -versusCASE NO. RAB-XI-02-00173-17 mbps and an average upMUGAS MADULARA “MM” FARM and EDGAR MUGAS-Banana Grower load speed of 2.2 mbps,

according to a May report by international analytics company Opensignal.

Tamano acknowledged that achieving the higher speed target is not going to be easy, but he assured that the company would be using the latest technology in order to achieve the goal.

“Our standard is quite high to reach 27 mbps. But

we’re very confident using the latest technology and having no legacy systems, we will be able to reach that commitment to government,” Tamano said.

He said the company is also aspiring to reach the capacities of neighboring countries such as Singapore and South Korea in the succeeding years of the company's operations.

“This is my first time on Showtime, so I want to give everyone watching an impressive performance.

I’ll go for the knockout,” Ca-

simero said.

“This is an ample opportunity to show the world who I am. I promise I will do my best this fight. I

am incredibly ready to give it my all.

“My opponent is a mature boxer with good experience. But I’m going to be too strong for him.

I believe I’m the best at 118-pounds.”

The 29-year-old Micah of Accra, Ghana, will be having his fifth straight fight in the US. “I’m so grateful for this moment. This is a massive night for me. It all comes down to this, and we are coming to win,” Micah said.

“I have to stick to my game plan. I expect my opponent to box and move.

I’ve prepared for a couple of attacks that I think he will use. I’ve never been more ready for a fight than I am for this one.

“Casimero is a good boxer, but I’m a different fighter than I’ve been in the past. I’ve improved my game so much, working with Andre Rozier. The fans will see it on Saturday night, and they will become instant fans of my electrifying style.”

NOTICE OF SALE WHEREAS, pursuant to the WRIT OF EXECUTION issued in the above-entitled case on 18 JUNE 2018,

by HONORABLE NELIA Q. TANCIO-SEDILLO,National Labor Relations Commission, Regional Arbitration branch No. XI, Davao city, for the recovery of the following amounts , to wit: P968,908.40 - judgment award (BALANCE) 9,622.76 - Execution fee 5,081.38 - deposit fee P983,612.54 - TOTAL LEVY was made upon all the rights, interest,claims and participations of respondent EDGAR MUGAS on the property, including all improvements thereon, covered by: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-116008 Book No. T-581, Page 8 Registry of Deeds for the Province of Davao del Norte (Registered in the name of EDGAR MUGAS) “A parcel of land (Lot 1052-d-2, Pad-112518-035622), being a portion of lot 1052-D(LRC) Pad-145562, situated in the Barrio of Kinamayan Municipality of Sto. Tomas, Province of Davao, Island of Mindanao.Bounded on the E., along lines 5-6 & 6-1 by Lot 450, Kapalong Cadastre; on the S; along line 1-2 by Lot 1052-B, (LRC) Pad 145562; on the W. along line 2-3 by Lot 1052-C; along line 3-4 by lot 1052-E both of (LRC) Pad 145562 ; on the N., along line 4-5 by lot 1052-D-1 of the subdivision plan, beginning at apointmarked”1” on plan being N 17 deg 50’W., 1,595.72 m. from BLLN No. 28, Mp. District of Kapalong. Thence N. 87deg.17’W,. 128.36m. to point 2; N 03 dg. 24’W., 52.44 m. to point 3; N. 03 deg, 24’W,. 31.60m. to point 4; S.89 deg 25’E., 138.08 m. to point 5; S.03 deg. 29’W 52.36m. to point 6; S. 02 deg. 55’W 36.40m. to point of beginning and.

Containing an area of ELEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY (11,470) SQUARE METERS, more or less, Points referred to are indicated on the plan and are marked on the ground as follows: Points 4&5 by PS cyl. cone. Mon, 15 x40 cms and the rest by Old PS & OLD BL. Bearins, true. Date of original survey, August 23, 1939, and that of the subdivision survey May 25, 1993 executed by Geoditic Engineer Leonardo B. Busque, approve May 27, 1993.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the said Updated Writ of Execution, the undersigned hereby gives NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, AND TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, THAT THE ABOVE DESCREIBED PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION, TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, FOR CASH and in Phillipine currency on September 30, 2020 at 9:00 A.M. OR SOON THEREAFTER, at the Entrance of the National Labor Relations Commission Regional Arbitration Branch No. XI, 3rd floor, JLF Parkway Building,Quirino Ave. corner Pichon St.,Davao City to satisfy the judgment award due compainants plus fees and expenses incidental with the execution sale.

Initial bid/s should be submitted in a sealed envelope on or before the date aaaand time of the auction sale with the NLRC Sheriff/Auctioneer.

Interested buyers/bidders/ are enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the said property and its encumbrances thereon, if there be any.

Copies of this notice shall be posted for twenty (20) days at three)30 conspicuous public places in the City of Davao and at the office of the National Labor Relations Commission, Regional Arbitration Branch No. XI, Davao City and the website of the NLRC. This notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks before the scheduled auction salein a newspaper with publication and circulation in the City of davao.

Davao City, Philippines, 28 August 2020.

DEXTER O. BURLAZA Sheriff

KO... FROM12

NOTICE OF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR OF DECEASED JAIME WONG TAPNIO and ROSEMARIE M. TAPNIO

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Jaime Wong Tapnio and Rosemarie M. Tapnio who died intestate on September 9, 2020 at Davao City and Zamboanga del Norte consisting of bank deposit at RCBC Bank, Monteverde Branch Davao City was adjudicated to their only heir and son JAMES ROSS M. TAPNIO executed through public instrument on September 21, 2020 , per document no. 27, Page No. 7, Book No. XVIII; Series of 2020 by Notary Public JONATHAN M. JOCOM 9/25,30, 10/7

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

T

welve players went ahead of Tyler Herro in the 2019 NBA Draft.

If there was a redraft today, that number would be a whole lot smaller.

The 20-year-old Miami Heat rookie, who has been a standout all year but particularly in the playoffs, exploded on Thursday (PH Time) for a career-high 37 points to lead his team to a 112-109 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

“On NBA draft night last year there was a collective moan among the Boston Celtics brass right about the time the Miami Heat used the No. 13 pick to select Tyler Herro,” A. Sherrod Blakely of NBA Sports Boston wrote ahead of Game 4. “ … The Celtics were very much enamoured with the 20-year-old leading up to last June’s draft.”

Miami picked at 13, and took Herro. Boston was at 14.

That moan would have

been a bit louder in Orlando as Herro, after scoring 22 in Game 3, took his game to another level to put the Heat up 3-1 and on the verge of the NBA Finals.

“Tyler Herro is eating Boston alive,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps tweeted during the Herro masterclass.

Heat legend Dwyane Wade added: “What I love about what Herro Ball is doing... We all know this isn’t just a hot game. This is how he plays the game of basketball.”

Boston’s Jayson Tatum hadn’t scored a point at the half, before exploding for 28 points in the second, while Jaylen Brown finished with 21 and Kemba Walker tallied 20 points. But the Celtics, who kept it close late, were punished

Belingon predicts NBA champion

F

ilipino firebomb Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City is one of the most exciting bantamweights on the ONE Championship roster.

The former undisputed ONE Bantamweight World Champion is known for his explosive offensive style in the Circle.

Like the majority of Filipinos, the 32-year-old veteran is also an avid basketball fan and is watching the 2020 NBA Playoffs very closely.

“I love watching NBA games. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual martial arts. I try to watch whenever I can, outside of training of course. I would say that I’m a huge fan of basketball,” said Belingon.

“These NBA Playoffs in particular are pretty interesting, because of how they execute these events in the time of Covid-19.

There are no fans watching, but I’m amazed at how the players are still able to keep the intensity despite that fact.”

Hardened by the rough living conditions on the rural mountainside of Ifugao, Belingon picked up martial arts when he was just a young boy, inspired by the legendary Bruce Lee. Eventually, he began following his passion, training in martial arts and becoming a wushu champion. He debuted for ONE Championship in 2012, and has since built a solid career, consistently placing in the Top 5 in his division.

But despite being an elite martial artist, Belingon says he enjoys participating in other athletics, including basketball.

“Just like martial arts, which is ingrained in the Filipino culture, basketball is always in the heart of our people. You won’t find any other country more passionate about basketball than the Philippines.

For us, there’s no fun in life if there’s no basketball,” said Belingon.

“I do enjoy playing basketball whenever I can, like everyone else does.

Unfortunately, I’m not very good at it. My spinning back kick is much better than my mid-range jumper.”

The 2020 NBA Playoffs is well underway, with the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, and the Miami Heat facing the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Belingon already has a pick to make it to the end and win it all.

“This year, I think the Lakers will beat the Nuggets and go all the way to the NBA Finals. Lebron James and Anthony Davis are such a potent 1-2 combo. They are hard to stop.

From what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think the Nuggets can beat the Lakers in a seven game series,” said Belingon.

“The Lakers are going to win this season’s NBA title. I just can’t wait to get back in the Circle and do what I love to do best.”

for their 19 turnovers; 11 more than Miami with Brad Stevens’ team now on the brink of elimination.

Miami led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, but struggled to put Boston, who pulled within three of the Heat with 16 seconds to go, away for good.

Jimmy Butler left the door open for a miracle Celtics finish after going 1-of-2 from the line with 1.1 seconds on the clock. But without a timeout, Boston couldn’t get a shot up.

Aside from Herro’s 37 on 14-of-21 shooting, Goran Dragic poured in 22 points for the Heat, Butler finished with 24, while Bam

11

20-year-old Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro, who has been a standout all year but particularly in the playoffs, exploded for a career-high 37 points to lead his team to a 112-109 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Adebayo had 20 points to go with his 12 boards.

“I feel good about it,” A typically cool Herro said post-game as the Heat respondedell from just their second loss of the post-season in Game 3. “There’s a lot of work to be done.

“We’re up 3-1; a big

win for us tonight.

We felt like we could have won Game 3, and came out with more energy tonight. Credit to my teammates and coaches, we put a lot of time and effort into preparing for Game 4 and we got ready, and we got the job done.”

Herro’s 37 points is tied for the fifth-most by a player off the bench since 1971, according to ESPN Stats and Info. It’s also the second-most points by a player aged 20 or younger in a playoff game; Herro only behind Magic Johnson, who scored 42 points

back in 1980.

“That’s just who I am,” Herro, who had 17 in the fourth quarter, said of his confidence. “I grew up like that, and I’m going to stay like that for as long as I’m in the league.”

Butler, who is the leader of this Miami unit, added: “I mean, that’s my guy (Herro). I think the world knows that. I think so highly of him. “... He’s always willing to give the credit somebody else, but he’s done this, he’s worked at it, he’s studied the film, he’s the one that’s in the gym, he’s the one that’s communicating like a vet[eran] to the vets.”

Game 5 will be played on Saturday, September 26.

Carlos Yulo in file photo during the Southeast Asian Games in Manila last year.

Yulo bags vault bronze in All-Japan Championship

T

he Philippines' Carlos Yulo bagged a bronze medal in the 53rd All-Japan Seniors Gymnastics Championship in Gunma, Japan.

Yulo placed third in the men’s vault apparatus with a score of 14.733, with Wataru Kanigawa scoring 14.900 for the gold and Kenzi Shirai taking silver with 14.733.

Yulo salvaged a bronze after finishing 12th in the all-around in his first competition since bagging the

gold in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Nevertheless, it was a respectable result for Yulo as he continues to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Yulo and hometown bet Kenzo Shirai shared the third place honors as they both finished with 14.733 points. 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medalist Wataru Kanigawa and Keisuke Asato both won the gold medal after getting a score of 14.900 points.

The vault event was the only bright spot for the 20year old Filipino gymnast as he struggled in other events.

Yulo failed to defend his title in the floor exercise event after placing 19th with a score of 13.966 points. He also topped the same event in last year's World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, where he formally earned a spot in the Tokyo Olympics.

Yulo also missed podium finishes in pommel horse (12.900), still rings

(14.100), parallel bars (14.066) and horizontal bar (13.633).

With his performances, Yulo finished 12th place in the all-around with 83.398 points.

Yulo is currently based in Japan for training with his coach Munehiro Kugimiya. He is one of the four Filipinos who qualified in the postponed Tokyo Olympics, along with pole vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 143 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

KO PREDICTION Pinoy warrior Johnriel Casimero (29-4, 20 KO’s) defends his WBO Bantamweight World Title against undefeated glory-hungry African brawler Duke Micah (24-0, 19 KO’s).

Pinoy champ Casimero vows to send foe to sleep W

BO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero 29-4 promised a knockout win when he appears in one of the undercard bouts on the Charlo twins doubleheader at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut on Saturday night.

Casimero will defend against Duke Micah 24-0.

WBA ‘regular’ super bantamweight titleholder Brandon ‘The Heartbreaker’ Figueroa 20-0-1 will take on Damien ‘Sugar’ Vazquez 15-1-1 in another exciting undercard.

Texan Figueroa, 23, is coming off a 12-round split draw against Julio Ceja in Las Vegas last November. In that fight, Ceja missed weight by four-and-a-half pounds.

“I’m excited to be back to doing what I do best, and that’s getting in the ring and giving the fans a great show,” Figueroa said.

“It’s been a unique circumstance training for this fight during the pandemic, but we made the most of it.

I’m very fortunate that I have access to a private gym, so I

was able to stay consistent with my training.

“Sparring was a little tricky, but I could venture out after a while and get some good sessions in.

Even though this is the longest I’ve gone without a fight, I never took much time off.

“Vazquez is a good, formidable opponent, but I don’t think he’ll be able to handle the pressure that I’m going to bring.

“I’m an action fighter, but I can do it all. I can bang, but I can also box – and my dad wants me to box even more and tag him on the outside. And I don’t think he’ll be able to handle my body shots.

“I feel like this fight won’t last too long, because I had such a good training camp. And I keep getting better and stronger, and I’m ready to showcase that Saturday night.”

Southpaw Vazquez, 23, says he is ready for war.

“If he says it won’t go past six rounds, then he’s going to have to work hard. I’m going to make sure it’ an all-out war. He’s going to have to earn everything,” Vazquez said.

“I’m ready to go. This is the most excited I’ve ever been about a fight. He has two hands, and his heart beats like mine. There’s nothing to be scared about in facing my opponent.

“No disrespect to the Charlos, but I want to be a fight of the night and steal the show. May the best man win. I’m confident that it will be me. Plain and simple.”

Casimero, a three-weight world champion, will be making the first defence of the WBO 118-pound belt he won against Zolani Tete by third-round knockout last November. He is looking to extend his knockout run to six.

FKO, P10