Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 188 | Thursday, November 19, 2020

SUICIDE IN TIME OF PANDEMIC

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

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Davao City’s index crimes drop STORY ON PAGE 2

Lantern maker and vendor Benmar Delima assembles bamboo frames for Christmas lantern while waiting for buyers at a makeshift store along Tionko Avenue in Davao City on Wednesday. Delima said business is slow as their industry is heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Edge Davao

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VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-AgencyTask Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on Tuesday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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Davao City’s index crimes drop

By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao is balancing crime-busting and fighting against Covid-19.

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Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that the city’s index crimes dropped from 658 to 306 in the previous year while the city’s non-index crimes has increased to 74 percent from 2,887 to 4,189 crimes, due to the increased apprehensions on the violation of Covid-19 health protocols.

The good results are attributed to the intensified security operations of the personnel of the Davao City Police Office

(DCPO) and the Task Force Davao (TF Davao) as well as the high alert security status imposed in Davao City since 2016 until this year.

Mayor Sara said drugs and terrorism remain to be on top of the focus areas on criminality.

Col. Consolito Yecla, commander of TF Davao, assured that TF Davao personnel continue to perform stringent security inspections to travelers and support to anti-illegal drug operations at the

city’s main checkpoints that resulted to the apprehensions of 75 illegal drug couriers involving a total of more than P10.5 million worth of illegal drugs this year without any fatality and zero human rights violations.

DCPO chief Col. Kirby John Kraft said the agency has intensified its foot, bike, and motorcycle patrol for 24 hours while police personnel conducts inspection to vehicles to make sure that passengers and commuters are still following health protocols.

“We are underscoring the adoption of the Culture of Security. Sim-

ply put, all Dabawenyos should become be a partner in ensuring that our city remains peaceful,” she said during her recent State of the City Address (SOCA).

The mayor emphasized that one component that the city is trying to cascade down to the household level is the “Kapag May Nakita, Dapat Magsalita” component of the culture.

“We need our residents to report all suspicious persons and activities for security action.

The initial conduct of the community exercise in the last month proved ef-

The text message also said the organizers have complied with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) protocols.

Allin Joy Camile, the executive assistant to the governor, told the Philippine News Agency that any cockfighting event in Davao de Oro is prohibited under an existing executive order of Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy.

“We informed the public that this one is not approved. Sabong or cockfighting is prohibited in the province,” he said.

Camile said the purveyors of the false information have been reported to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The municipality of Nabunturan, on the other hand, said in a statement, the prevailing policies

disallow any cockfighting event, in compliance with the provincial IATF protocols on the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Camile said the province does not see the return of derby and other similar events until the Covid-19 cases in the province return to insignificant levels.

Any individual who violates the executive order,

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Davao Oro gov’t denies Nov. 28 derby event

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he Davao de Oro provincial government denied Tuesday that a derby would be held in Nabunturan town on Nov. 28.

The clarification came after a text message circulated in recent days, saying the DUGBA Cup Invitational 6-Stag Derby would be held at the Nabunturan Sports Complex on the said day.

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PRRD hits Robredo for ‘grandstanding’

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resident Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday night lashed out at Vice President Leni Robredo for alleged “grandstanding” and questioning his absence during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses last week.

Duterte labeled Robredo as “dishonest” for pretending not to know that he was attending the 37th virtual ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from November 12 to 15.

“Huwag ka masyadong porma-porma, hindi mo talaga panahon. Hindi mo pa panahon (Don’t act like that. It’s not your time yet).

Not time to be making a grandstanding. Hindi ninyo alam na nagtatrabaho ako. Na-timingan lang it was a summit (You didn’t know I was working. It just so happened there was a summit) and I cannot excuse you for not knowing it. You knew that there was a summit going on and you had the gall to say, ‘Nasaan ang Presidente (Where is the President)?” he said in a taped speech.

Duterte accused the Vice President of being showy during the typhoon response since she knew that he was busy attending the summit and “could not make myself available.”

“Alam mo may summit going on (You knew there was a summit going on), ASEAN Summit. And I was giving the longest speech there, intervention, in the Plenary. Iyon ang totoo diyan. Kaya ako lumipad

doon sa Bicol. Inunahan mo ako pakunwari (That’s the truth. That’s why I flew to Bicol. You wanted to be there ahead of me),” he said.

Robredo, the President said, merely made phone calls and acted as if the Armed Forces of the Philippines took action after her call.

“Then you make it appear na gumalaw ang Armed Forces (that the Armed Forces acted). You are not part of the command,” he said.

Duterte also warned Robredo against trying to “compete” with him, adding that she “cannot become president.”

“Do not compete with me and do not start a quarrel with me kasi ikaw wala ka talagang nagawa except ‘yang mga tawag-tawag.

Tatawag ka kunwari o nasaan na ‘yung mga helicopter, nalipad na ba? (because you didn’t do anything except make calls. You would call and ask, ‘Did the helicopters take off yet?’) Of course, they would say yes.

Your question would suggest the answer,” he said.

Duterte said government personnel and resources were prepositioned two to three days before the typhoon made landfall.

“Hindi na kailangan akong mag-order at mag-order ka pa on the day (There was no need for me to make orders or for you to make an order on

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EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS 3

Duterte threatens to slash UP funding if students skip classes

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night threatened to slash the funding of the University of the Philippines (UP) if students skipped classes to join rallies.

In a taped speech, Duterte told students to stop schooling if they were there to supposedly be recruited by communist rebels.

“Iyong mga eskwelahan, UP? Fine. Maghinto kayo ng aral (Schools, UP? Stop schooling). I will stop the funding,” he said.

The President said students didn’t know better than to join anti-government protests.

“Nandiyan ‘yan, wala na ginawa itong ano kundi mag-recruit ng mga komunista diyan. Tapos nag-aaral kayo, ang gusto ninyong binibira ang gobyerno.

Masyado namang nakasuwerte kayo. Huwag talaga kayong matakot – manakot rather, kasi I will oblige you (That’s already there, they have done nothing except to recruit communists. You go to school then criticize the government. You’re too lucky. Don’t threaten me because I will oblige),” he said.

Duterte also slammed students from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) for threatening to go on a mass strike until the government assists communities affected by recent typhoons.

He said ADMU students should also stop schooling and make better use of their time.

“Stop schooling. That

will save money for your parents. Better make use of your time anywhere,” Duterte said.

He told them to allow the national government to do its job in responding to calamities and the health crisis.

“You are taking the cudgels of the poor ahead of your time. That is not your worry. That is the worry of government. Kami, sabi ko, nagtatrabaho kami. Government workers kami (I said, we’re working. We’re government workers),” Duterte said.

He defended the government’s typhoon response, daring them to wait for the next typhoon and check on the assistance given.

“I'd suggest you stop schooling. Until mabakunahan lahat ng Pilipino (until every Filipino is inoculated with a vaccine), you resume your duty. And you wait for another typhoon and see if the help that we extend is enough to your satisfaction,” he said.

ADMU students earlier planned to “withhold the submission of any school requirements” to condemn the government’s supposed “criminally neglectful response” to recent typhoons that hit the country and the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

On Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque warned these students that they might not graduate if they refused to submit their academic requirements. (PNA)

Bangsamoro Transition Authority wants to lead Marawi City rehab

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he interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which governs the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), wanted to lead the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in Marawi City for it to rise from the ashes of war.

The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) has been tasked to lead the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country’s lone Islamic city ruined by the siege staged by Islamic State-aligned militants in May 2017.

Member of Parliament Anna Tarhata Basman, vice chair of the BTA’s Special Committee on Marawi, however, clarified that the interim body is not calling for the abolition of TFBM. Basman, a lawyer appointed by the government to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-led BTA, stressed the BTA, whose mandate ends in mid2022, does not have the machinery of the TFBM, which is composed of 56 government agencies, as well as access to the billions of funds available to the task force.

On Monday, Basman presented during the virtual “Monitoring Marawi: Voices from Marawi,” which is part of the Reporting Mindanao series organized by the Mindan-

ao Institute of Journalism, the 127-page report of the BTA’s Special Committee on Marawi, which was formed in September 2019.

Among the special committee’s key recommendations was for the BTA to lead the Marawi rehabilitation and recovery, which it further proposed must have a centralized mechanism through the creation of either the Marawi Rehabilitation and Recovery Coordinating Board or the Marawi Rehabilitation and Recovery Program Management Office.

Sought for clarification if the BTA is calling for the abolition of TFBM, she stressed that the BARMM government has also the mandate to respond to the needs of its constituents in Marawi.

“No, we’re not doing away with TFBM in our recommendation. In fact, we have repeatedly asked TFBM and they have verbalized their openness to a more collaborative working relationship when it comes to Marawi’s rehabilitation,” Basman said.

The TFBM has drawn the ire of the Marawi-based Moro Consensus Group (MCG) for the alleged slow pace and lack of consultation for the rehabilitation and reconstruction at ground zero, otherwise known as the most-affect-

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Heavy traffic is being experienced by motorists before reaching a quarantine entry point along R. Castillo Street in Davao City where authorities check the Food and Medicine pass (FM pass) during the second day of its reimplementation on Wednesday. Edge Davao

JICA commits to fast track Davao mountain tunnel

By MAYA M. PADILLO n official of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) disclosed on Wednesday that the agency is committed to fast track completion of the mountain tunnel in Davao City amid impacts of Covid-19 pandemic.

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It is considered the first-ever long distance mountain tunnel in the Philippines with an approximate length of 2.3 kilometers right at the heart of Davao City. The mountain tunnel is part of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project.

The Davao Bypass project has a total length of 45.5 kilometers and its implementation is consists of six contracts namely Contract Packages (CP) I-1, I-2, I-3, II-1, II-2, and II-3.

The contract for the initial civil works for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project was signed on October 29, 2020 between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the joint venture of Shimizu Cor-

poration, Ulticon Builders Inc., and Takenaka Civil Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. The contract signing signaled the start of the implementation of Contract Package I-1 for the first 10.7 kilometers (including the tunnel portion).

Kiyo Kawabuchi, senior representative for JICA Philippines, explained in an email interview said the CP I-2 and CP I-3 are under procurement while CP II-1 to II-3, are also still under procurement.

Kawabuchi also said that target date of completion is to be determined once the National Transport Policy (NTP) is issued to the contractor of CP I-1.

He added that the estimated implementation period pre-Covid-19 pan-

demic assumption is 37 months, however, with the ongoing pandemic and its impact, the completion may be subject for review.

“Lockdown measures and border controls which prevented the travel and movement of Japanese nationals to the Philippines at the early stages of the pandemic affected the timely processing of the contract for CP I-1,” he said.

Kawabuchi also said that the potential impacts of Covid-19 for the remaining contracts (including procurement) and during the construction phase need further study and discussion.

“Despite the challenges brought about by Covid-19, JICA together with DPWH and other government agencies, the contractors and consultants, are all committed to work together to address the pandemic’s impacts and complete the project as soon as possible for the benefit of the Dabawenyos and the entire Mindanao,” Kawabuchi

said.

In a statement, JICA states that the tunnel segment is considered to be the centerpiece of the project as it would require the application of advanced tunneling technologies commonly employed in Japan for the construction of the mountain tunnel.

The Philippines is poised to benefit not only from the use of such pioneering facility but also in the knowledge and technology transfer between Japanese and Filipino engineers and workers.

Once the entire project is completed, travel time between Barangay Sirawan in Toril District, Davao City and Barangay J.P. Laurel in Panabo City can be reduced to 49 minutes from the current one hour and 44 minutes via the Pan-Philippine Highway Diversion Road.

The Davao Bypass project has been assisted by JICA comprehensively since its conceptualization in the form of technical assistance

of the drug.

"Sa (9) Phase 3 trials, tatlo po doon ang magkakaroon po ng trial dito po sa atin this coming December and January," he said.

Galvez, recently appointed as vaccine czar, did not reveal which drugmakers will be conducting the trials in the Philippines.

US-based pharmaceutical firms Moderna Inc. and Pfizer earlier announced their COVID-19 vaccines were more than 90 percent effective against the deadly disease.

Galvez said businessman Enrique Razon do-

nated 300,000 doses of initial coronavirus vaccines, while BDO, the Lucio Tan group of companies, San Miguel Corporation, and Go Negosyo raised funds for more than 1 million doses.

"Hopefully, baka tataas pa 'yun ng 1 to 2 million doses. Ido-donate po nila 'yung 80 to 50 percent of the vaccine, atsaka 'yung iba gagamitin sa kanilang poor essential workers. At no cost po sa'tin," Galvez said.

Earlier this month, he said they're looking to place an advance procure-

ment of about 24 million doses within the first quarter of next year.

The vaccine czar is now hopeful that the Philippines will be able to procure 30 to 50 million doses by next year.

"Kapag nag-rollout ang ibang bansa, we can also have our own," Galvez said.

The initial batch of vaccines will be for frontliners, indigents, and the vulnerable sectors. The inoculation rollout will largely depend on the financing, development and approval of the vaccines, he said earlier.

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Galvez: 17 possible sources of Covid-19 vaccines for PH

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ational Task Force against Coronavirus Disease 2019 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday the Philippines has 17 possible sources of coronavirus vaccines, as the country looks to procure millions of doses within the first quarter of next year.

Galvez noted in a briefing late Tuesday night that 9 of the 17 are in Phase 3 trials, in which the vaccine's safety and effectiveness results from the Phase 1 and 2 trials are evaluated, along with the overall risks and benefits

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Vaccine seen to restore consumer confidence

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vailability of vaccine for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is expected to restore consumer confidence and help boost the Philippine economy’s expansion in 2021.

A market goer shows her Food and Medicine pass (FM pass) and ID to authorities at the entrance of Agdao Public Market in Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

-5.5 percent, but expect a strong rebound of between 6.5-7.5 percent next year.

Dominguez said among the positive developments, to date, is the improvement of remittance inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which posted negative growths from March to May and last August.

In the first nine months this year, remittances posted a contraction of 1.4 percent.

Monetary officials said remittances are expected to post a 2-percent contraction this year, a revision from the earlier forecast of -5 percent.

“We are very happy that our remittances from abroad are holding up.

They have not declined as much as we have expected,” Dominguez said.

He said the domestic residential housing market “is holding up well”, foreign reserves posted its record-high USD104 bil-

In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the economy was on a strong position at the onset of the pandemic and “green shoots” are now coming out after growth contraction in the last three quarters.

“We are having difficulty, of course, due to the contagion, with re-stimulating people’s demand. People are very cautious about getting sick and, therefore, are holding back on spending but we believe that we are on the right track and we will see a better performance in the last quarter of this year,” he said.

Dominguez said if expectations are met for the availability of a Covid-19 vaccine within the first half

of 2021, “that should inject a lot of confidence back into our country.”

“And as a result of that, we do expect a big bounce back in our GDP growth next year,” he said.

Growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GPD), in the third quarter posted a smaller contraction of -11.5 percent against the -16.9 percent in the previous three months. However, compared to last year’s figure, the latest print is down 10 percent.

Authorities said things are improving due in part to the continued easing of quarantine measures and the reopening of the domestic economy.

Economic managers forecast this year’s GDP to remain in negative, at

make the profession more inclusive and accessible,” ABREP partner and legal advisor Estrella Elamparo said.

ABREP president Anthony Leuterio flagged the provision in RESA requiring for Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) broker licensure exam to hold a four-year degree in Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management (BSREM).

In a virtual press conference, Leuterio noted this educational requirement drives up the cost of becoming a real estate broker.

Instead, he recommended

to practice.

National Real Estate Association (NREA) president Benny Cabrieto said with less than 100 BSREM graduates annually, and not all pass the board, the backlog for real estate professionals become a major problem in the country.

“The backlog is a major problem in the Philippines, but we cannot sell enough units due to the lack of salespersons,” Cabrieto said. “Even the good schools do not offer this course.”

Leuterio said there is overlapping regulatory authority between PRC and

velopment (DHSUD), which was created by RESA. He added that this exposed potential industry practitioners to redundant registration costs.

ABREP also urged lawmakers to amend the 1:20 rule for real estate broker and salespersons.

Leuterio said with the current technologies, the 1:20 rule becomes outdated.

“The law needs to be amended, not abolished.

But for any change in this law to be meaningful, it must be a united effort from all stakeholders,” he said. (PNA)

be able invest in government securities. While they earn from their investments, they will also have the chance to win prizes during the quarterly draws,” said LANDBANK President Borromeo.

Aside from over-thecounter placements at all LANDBANK branches, interested Premyo Bonds 2 investors may access the BTr’s Online Ordering System at www.treasury.gov. ph, and settle the payment via LANDBANK’s online payment facility, Link.BizPortal, free of charge.

LANDBANK is also giving Filipinos abroad a platform to participate in Premyo Bonds 2 offering through the mobile banking application of the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), the Bank’s digital-only branchless bank subsidiary.

Through the OFBank Mobile Banking App (MBA), Filipinos across the world may invest in Premyo Bonds 2 in as fast as five minutes or less through their smart-

phones. The use of the App, which can be accessed 24/7, is also free of charge.

The OFBank MBA accepts placements of up to P500,000 per transaction.

For investments more than this amount, investors may do multiple transactions as long as each transaction is up to P500,000 only.

Similar to those issued last year, Premyo Bonds 2 are sold at only P500 each.

These low-risk government securities have an interest rate of 1.25% per annum, subject to a 20% final tax.

The offer period for Premyo Bonds 2 will run until December 11, 2020, with settlement on December 16. Proceeds from the issuance will be used to fund government programs on the response for the COVID-19 crisis, education and healthcare, among others.

On top of quarterly interest payments, investors of Premyo Bonds 2 will have the chance to win cash rewards of over P1

million, as well as brand new cars during the quarterly rewards draws. Each P500 investment entitles the eligible bondholder one bond unit with Electronic Rewards Number (eRN), which will serve as one entry in the quarterly draws.

National Treasurer De Leon said that the Premyo Bonds issuance aims to familiarize more Filipinos with government securities, while getting them into the habit of investing and helping the government expand its financing footprint in the retail sector. She added that investors with P20,000 or below will be qualified for a special rewards draw with 20 winners of P50,000 each per quarter.

For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), or visit the LANDBANK website (www. landbank.com).

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Trust fund for education of Group appeals to relax rules under Real Estate Service Act real estate advocacy overhauling the industry’s decreasing BSREM’s units the Department of Human poor families’ children eyed group on Tuesday regulatory framework to to those that are required Settlements and Urban De-

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he Department of Finance said Tuesday, the Capital Market Development Council (CMDC) was studying the creation of a child trust fund for education of poor families' children.

The fund will be sourced from the national and local governments, the DOF said in a statement, citing a 2017 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) survey that showed some 18 percent of out-of-school youths said financial woes hinder them from getting an education.

For public school students, the fund may also be used for daily allowances, transportation expenses, board and lodging and other miscellaneous expenses, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said.

“The fund can also either be managed by the government and a part of it can also be cut out to be managed by the private

sector. We are still on an exploratory stage and we would like to further do a more detailed or granular study on the CTF and to sell it to the Council in the coming meetings,” de Leon said, who also acts as treasurer of the CMDC. The proposal is similar to the UK and Singapore's child trust funds, according to De Leon.

In the UK, government provided an initial seed money of 250 or 500 British pounds per child and the accumulated fund can be withdrawn when they reach 18 years of age, she said.

Meanwhile in Singapore, government contributes 4,000 SGD over 10 years of primary and secondary education with no withdrawal restrictions.

The account is closed once the child reaches 16 years old, De Leon added.

Aside from funding

fer the passage of a law that would institutionalize the "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa" (BP2) program until its impact has been assessed.

NEDA director Remedios Endencia told lawmakers that BP2’s implementation would have to be evaluated in the coming months since it was only launched this year.

"Considering that it was just recently implemented, we suggested deferring enactment of the program into law until we are able to develop the program further

COVID-19 Committee’s new normal cluster.

Since there are already corporate incentives in place for businesses interested in setting up their operations outside Metro Manila, Endencia stressed that the tax perks proposed in bills institutionalizing BP2 should be “performance-based, targeted, time-bound, and transparent.”

Reacting to NEDA’s position, Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the committee, said she will push through with consul-

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NEDA suggests holding off institutionalizing BP2 he National Economic and evaluate its initial imT Development Authority pact," Endencia said at the on Tuesday suggested to de- hearing of the House Defeat

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filed a Petition for Declaratory Relief at the Makati Regional Trial Court to relax rules for real estate services professionals.

Members of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP) Movement are seeking to amend the Real Estate Service Act of 2009 (RESA), particularly getting rid of “unnecessary educational requirements”, redundant accreditation, and the requirement of assigning at least one licensed broker for every 20 accredited salespersons.

“Our intent with the filing of the petition for Declaratory Relief is to start

LANDBANK offers online placements for ‘Premyo Bonds 2’

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nvesting in government securities has been made available online, as state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) offers online channels to allow the general public to safely and conveniently invest in the recently launched one-year peso-dominated “Premyo Bonds Para Sa Bayan 2” (Premyo Bonds 2) of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

The event launch and investors’ briefing last November 11 was led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon. They were joined by top executives from partner banks and institutions in both private and public sectors, including LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, and OFBank President and CEO Leila C. Martin.

“We have seen a growing public interest for the Premyo Bonds, and by making available online channels, more Filipinos both here and abroad will

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EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Employees of Dusit Davao properties participate in a beach clean-up drive at Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort in Kopiat Island, Mabini, Davao de Oro on Monday. Contributed photo

APEC cites strategies to ensure economic revival post-pandemic P

Alsons sets P3B comm'l paper offering to fund first renewable energy project

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rade officials said controlling COVID-19 infections and ensuring uninterrupted flow of goods and e-commerce are key to ensuring a global growth rebound.

Trade ministers mapped out common strategies to revive economic output in a joint statement

by APEC member-states ssued Monday night. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez represented the Philippines in the first of a series of events for the rest of the week.

“We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has gravely impacted the Asia-Pacific region and the entire global economy,” the statement read. “We are committed to working together to facilitate the movement of essential goods and services across borders and, without un-

dermining efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, explore ways to facilitate the essential movement of people across borders.”

The group recognized the “unprecedented” economic, health, and social challenges caused by the global coronavirus crisis, particularly on developing economies.

The economic bloc has set up a digital platform for information sharing on COVID-19 responses, allowing nations to compare notes easier towards suppressing further infections.

The platform is called APEC COVID-19 LIVE, or “latest and immediate virtual ex-

change.”

APEC officials also recognized that the way to lift economies from recession is through sustained “free, open, and fair” trade and investment deals, including transparent and predictable rules on imports and exports.

Member-states also pledged to further advance economic integration.

Structural barriers, especially for women participation and the upskilling of workers, should also be addressed, the statement read.

“We acknowledge the serious threats posed by corruption to economies, as it erodes trust in institutions, hampers economic development, and further exacerbates inequality and social division. We intend to continue to nurture and sustain good governance,

economic development, and prosperity by working together to prevent and fight corruption and ensure transparency,” it added.

The digital economy is another crucial pillar to return to growth, the group said, adding that new technology should also support health security and resilient healthcare systems globally.

Malaysia is hosting this year’s APEC meetings through a virtual conference, which will end with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Friday, November 20.

APEC is composed of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea; Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

PHP540-billion provisional advance from the central bank, which the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) approved last October.

This is on top of the PHP300 billion that the BSP extended to the national government last March through a repurchase deal, which has been fully redeemed.

Under this deal, the central bank bought government securities, which the Bureau of the Treasury

(BTr) has to redeem within three months, although there was a clause in the agreement that payment period may be extended for another three months.

The central bank’s Charter allows it to extend cash advance to the national government, but the amount should not exceed the government’s average revenues in the last three years, which, to date, is PHP540 billion.

Dominguez said the

government “still have some reserve amounts with the central bank and with our other creditors”.

“And we’re just waiting to see if we will need them depending on how long this contagion is going to last.

But as I said with the development of safe and effective vaccines by next year (and with) their availability we see no need to get out of the normal loan programs that we have planned,” he added.

(PNA)

No need to increase borrowings from BSP for now: Dominguez

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III is discounting the need to take additional borrowings from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to boost government financing, citing that the government is now banking on its various fiscal programs.

“At this point in time we don't see any need to do so,” he said in an interview by Bloomberg TV on Tuesday.

Dominguez said the government currently has a

ower firm Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc (ACR) is set to raise P3 billion from an offering of commercial paper to fund their first renewable energy project, it told the stock exchange on Tuesday.

ACR's board of directors approved the commercial paper offering, which will be issued in tranches over a three year period, it said.

An initial P2 billion tranche will be issued on March 2021.

"Construction for the Siguil Hydro plant – ACR’s first foray into renewable energy, is currently ongoing and targeting completion in 2022 making the Siguil Hydro plant available to supply power to the Provinces of Sarangani and South Cotabato, General Santos City, and other areas in the Mindanao grid," the company said.

ACR will spend P4.5 billion on the development of the 14.5-megawatt Siguil Hydro runof-river hydro power plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province, which is currently under construction.

"For the rest of the year, we remain cautiously optimistic on the financial performance of the company.

We expect higher revenues and profit margins from the full commer-

cial operations of the Sarangani Energy plant.

We will also reap the benefits of lower operating costs as we continue to maintain cost efficiency measures," said Philip Edward Sagun, ACR Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

ACR said its immediate pipeline includes the 105 MW San Ramon Power Inc coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City.

The coal-fired plant will begin construction from 2021 to 2024 and will deliver baseload power to Zamboanga City and nearby areas.

The plant costs a total of P16 billion.

For the long-term, ACR said it will focus on renewables "with at least seven more runof-river hydroelectric plants in various stages of development."

After the Siguil Hydro, the company will develop two more hydro plants namely, the 22 MW Siayan (Sindangan) Hydro power plant in Zamboanga del Norte, and the 42 MW Bago Hydro plant in Negros Occidental, which is the company’s first power venture outside of Mindanao.

ACR currently has four power plants with an aggregate capacity of 468 MW, serving more than 8 million people in 14 cities and 11 provinces in Mindanao.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

On the drop in index crimes in Davao City:

We are underscoring the adoption of the Culture of Security. Simply put, all Dabawenyos should become be a partner in ensuring that our city remains peaceful.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

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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

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

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

7 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

UP AND ABOUT

FORD PHILIPPINESMY EXTENDS TRUCK MONTH FIRST AMERICAN TRIP HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

FORD PHILIPPINES is extending its widelyanticipated Who doesn’tTruck want toMonth go to the United the States? still in high until endI was of this school when I dreamed going to month, with cash ofdisthe land of milk and honey. counts available to more As a science journalist, I had the opportunity of going to other counFord Ranger models. tries butare not happy in the US. aunt Aida “We to My announce and my sister Elena were already that Ford Month is there;the both areTruck married to Ameriextended 30visit cans. “Whyuntil don’tNovember you come and us?”

Daniel Chase, my sister’s to allow more customers to husband, asked me. get aEasier Ford Ranger said thanwith done.great Getting deals.

The Ford Month an American visaTruck was the hardest part.

Then opportunity when also just got better thiscame month award-winning American journalist with cash discounts extended Don Hinrichsen suggested whether I to more Ford models, come to the US Ranger or he would visit the Philippines in writing reportaron giving customers the awidest water and population. ray of deals for our ‘Built Ford “Instead of you coming to my Tough’ trucks,” country,”pickup I told him, “why says don’tPK you Umashankar, president andI had invite me to come to the US? never been there yet.” Ford Philipmanaging director, Don agreed. And that was how pines.

I was able to come to the US. I went New Month deals 5, there theTruck first time on December 2000.

Yes,this I remember it well. available November include “Where are you going this atime,” PHP90,000 cash discount my loving mother asked me. for Bi-Turbo She the wasRanger already 2.0L used to leaving our home every4x4 nowAT andasthen Wildtrak welland as of formy trips abroad. the Ranger 2.2L XLT 4x2 AT I had not been telling anyone and discount abouta PHP65,000 the trip sincecash I didn’t want for thetoRanger 2.2LinXLT them know just case 4x2 I won’t make MT. it. Big Apple, as New York is sometimes called, I told her. Her The Ranger 2.0L Wildtrak eyes widened. She couldn’t believe 4x2 is still available this whatMT she heard.

“Yes,with it’s aa dream come true, month PHP90,000 cash” I told her as I wiped the tears discount while the Ranger falling from her eyes. She never said a word 2.0L 4x2 AThugged still me after Wildtrak that but instead comes cashand discount tightly. with “Takeacare have a of safe trip,” she said.

PHP70,000.

On the other hand, the Ranger 2.2L XLS 4x2 MT is still available with a cash discount of PHP89,000, effectively bring-

If there was a foreign trip that was so exciting, this was it! In fact, the night before the trip, I was not able to sleep well. I was afraid I might be late in going to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. So, even if it was still three in the morning, I woke up and took a bath. Afterwards, I went to the airport and checked in.

The Northwest Airlines flight from Manila to Narita was not that long, only four hours. We disembarked at the Narita International Airport and stayed there for a couple of hours before our plane left for the United States. This time, the flight was long.

For the next thirteen-hoursand-a-half, I was doing what most passengers were also doing: eating, reading, writing, walking, drinking, playing, watching movies, and sleeping. When feeling bored, I watched other passengers.

There was a mother bottle-feeding her baby.

An American couple, who were three seats away from me, were talking, or were they arguing (sorry, I really could not tell the difference)?

They were, after all, too far for me to eavesdrop.

In another lane, one huge man was snoring out loud (was the lady near him trying to find another seat, Iing canits only guess).retail price to starting Two fat men –Customers probably not only PHP943,000.

Greeks! – were drinking to their can alsocontent avail ofwhile a financing heart’s another one was on his computer. offertyping of PHP88,000 all-in low Before I knew it, I was already downpayment. in a deep slumber. Then, I was Meanwhile, who awakened whencustomers the pilot said that arewould looking to purchase we be landing soon. the My heart was beating fast.are Finally, I will be Ranger Raptor still entitled

to the Ranger Raptor Premium Care Package inclusive of a free 5-Year Scheduled Service Plan, 5-Year Warranty (from

able to see the US of my dreams.

“Welcome to New York,” the airport sign said. Thank you, I said to myself but my biggest problem was: how do I get to know Don, whom I have never met yet? In his email five days earlier, he told me to go to the airport’s waiting area and look for “a tall guy with mustache and wearing a hat.”

The information was not enough so I decided to e-mail also Dr. James Hansen, a former colleague who now works in New York. “Yes, I will pick you at the airport,” James assured me in his reply to my e-mail.

Now, if I would miss spotting Don, then there was James. Or, vice-versa. Since I knew James personally, he was the first person I looked for at the waiting area. He wasn’t around; maybe he was late, I consoled myself. So, I decided to carry out the second plan: to search for “a tall guy with mustache wearing a hat.”

I spotted three men who fit the description. Who among these three was Don? Using my gut feeling, I approached one person and asked him if he was Don. He answered affirmatively. Still not convinced, I requested for his identification card.

He showed his ID without much ado.

He was Don, indeed, and we started talking with each other.

We were in the middle of our 3 years), and 5-Year Roadside conversation when someone Assistance. The worry-free from behind called my name. I knew it ownership is valued at was James (Ipackage recognized his voice).

“Sorry, I wasn’t able to recognize PHP100,000. you, Henry,” he apologized. “But when I hear your voice, I am sure it Seize is you.”the Deal Offers Extended Ford’s ‘Seize theatDeal’ offers This happened the time when social media – particularly Facebook are also extended, with deals up

for grabs for its SUVs and Transit van until November 30, 2020.

Leading the pack is a PHP38,000 all-in low down-

R. GORECHO ENTERTAINMENTDENNIS KUWENTONG KULE

– was not yet very popular!

Since Don knew the hotel where I would be staying in New York for the next 10 days, I decided to go with him. James understood the situation. But before he left, he asked Don about the hotel and then told me that he would pick me up by Saturday morning.

It was still Wednesday when I arrived. When Don and I arrived at the hotel, he told me not to sleep.

After all, it was still two in the afternoon. “Okay, thanks for the advice,” I told him before saying goodbye.

But when I was alone in my room, I tried to stretch my body and before I knew it, I was already sleeping. I woke up at 8:30 pm and was already starving. I went out and looked for a place where I could eat.

Not far from my hotel, I saw a Mexican restaurant, not very fancy but was serving pizza, short orders and drinks.

Not knowing what to eat, I ordered what was familiar to me: pizza, chicken wings and soft drink. I ate my food with much gusto. The following night, I went again to the same place. The same waiter was serving me and I ordered the same thing. On the third night, I still went to the same place. The same waiter was there. But before I could utter my order, the waiter said, “Do you want pizza, wings and payment orchicken PHP150,000 cashsoft drink, sir?”

Was my face red? discount offer for the EcoSport During my first three days in 1.5L Titanium The same any New York, I did AT. not experience chilly weather. But on the fourth cash discount is extended to day, Ithe ventured to visit the Central EcoSport 1.0L TitaniumPark, which was not very far from the hoAT. IThe EcoSport tel. woke up very 1.5L earlyTrend and went AT andthe EcoSport 1.5Lonly Trend outside hotel. I was on my fifth step come when with I felt athe unpleasMT now better

PHP100,000 cash discount.

Customers looking to purchase an Everest 2.0L Bi-Turbo Titanium+ 4x4 AT, Everest

2.0L Turbo Titanium 4x2 AT or Everest 2.0L Turbo Sport 4x2 AT a PHP 50,000 antly coldcan air enjoy that I had to rush back to thediscount. hotel. “Anything wrong,2.2L sir?” cash The Everest Feeling embarrassed, I answered, Trend 4x2 AT comes with a “I just forgot something from my PHP100,000 cash discount or room. ” Exploring New York not a a PHP178,000 all-in lowwas downherculean task.

If you know how to payment. count (first, second, third, etc.) and deals aredirections also up for(east, areGreat familiar with grabs south for Ford’s west, and bigger north),SUVs. then you won’t the Big for Apple.

Avail get of alost 0%ininterest 60 You don’t have to ride a taxi to get to months atYork.

20% downpayment know New Just walk. withAnd an Explorer 3.5L SportWhile V6 that’s what I did. walking, finally AT got or a glimpse of EcoBoostI AWD 0% interpeople whom I had seen in movies est for 48 months at 20% downbefore: a teenager buying coffee and payment with an aExplorer 2.3L donut in the street, man preaching on the street corner, female EcoBoost LTD. On athe otherwalking who comeExpediout live hand, theseemed 8-seatertoFord from a glossy magazine, and an old tion SUV is now available with a woman pushing a cart. cashLife discount PHP1 million. in Newof York (even in other parts United States) is a matBoth of thethe Expedition Limited ter of choice. Even when buying EL 4x4 Bucket AT food.

So,with you have to beSeats very specific.

Expedition Limited 4x4 Iand made that mistake when IEL ordered aAT soft drink.

“Diet or Classic?” can also be availed with a the waitress When I answered, financingasked. offer of 0% interest she asked again, “In can or in a botfor 60 months at 20% downpaytle?”

My first trip to the United States ment. wasRounding indeed memorable. up the dealsIt isbroadfor ened my mind. It gave me the opthe Ford Transit, wherefascinating customportunity of meeting ers getting Ford people alongthe the15-seater way. More importantly, it offered me adiscount new perspecvan can get a cash of tive of what lifeor really is.

PHP301,000, a financing “So, how was the trip?” my offer ofasked PHP68,000 all-in low me mother me when she saw coming out from or the0% carinterest when I ardownpayment, rived home.atShe was smiling. I for 36back months 20% downhugged her and whispered, “It was payment, together with a free great, mom!”

5-year scheduled service plan.too, And, by the way, I learned, that Yorkmore neverabout sleeps.the ToNew know offers, visit www.ford.com.ph/ shopping/hot-deals/2020/retailoffers/ or any Ford dealership nearest you.

JAMESONINAND JOAO’S ‘MY JED MADELA FUELSJOINT MEANINGFUL AND SOLIDARY LIABILITY SEAFARERS’ ABANDONMENT CASESROMANCE’ DROPS HOLIDAY CELEBRATION WITH NEW SINGLE LOCKDOWN ON SKY PAY-PER-VIEW

Although international law POWER VOCALIST Jed Madprescribes that the seafarer has ela to reflect theinspires right toFilipinos be repatriated back to their point of origin, there are on the true essence of Christthose who suffer abandonment mas with his heartwarming by their employers.

Christmas single “A Very Merry Repatriation comes from Christmas,” set torepatriare, be released“rethe Latin word this turnFriday. to one’s own country,” from the“This prefix re, somehow “back,” and patria, song made “native land.” me stop and think of how Seafarers considered simple life was. Itare made me contractual employees since appreciate all the things I have. their employment is fixed for a Things we normally takenot for period that of time which shall exceed 12Jed months. granted,” said. commencement “IThe pray that it does the same of POEA contract is from thetotime to people when they listen when the seafarer actually deit.

I hope it brings back the realeiparts from the Philippines, essence and traditions of for Christther airport or seaport, employment. mas which is love,” he added, It shall cease whenhas he comsaying that Christmas pletes his period of contractual always been a “time to just love.” service aboard the ship, signsVerythe Merry off“A from ship Christmas” and arrives at was composed

by Jimmy Borja the point of hire.

POEA contractand requires and The Eymard Altoveros the seafarer to arrive at the produced by ABS-CBN creative point of hire as it signifies director Jonathan Manalo. It isthe completion of the employment the newestand yuletide tune toits beexcontract, not merely released piration.under Star Music for Similarly, a seafarer’s emthis year.

ployment contract is terminated even before the contract expires as soon as he arrives at the point of hire and signs off for medical reasons, due to shipwreck, voluntary resignation or for other just causes like vessel sale and change of principal.

However, in most cases of abandonment, a shipowner has become incapable of generating required funds to continue with daily marine operations.

It then withdraws all responsibility by failing to meet its obligations regarding seafarers’ financial and social security (contractual wages), the provision of basic necessities of life (adequate food, accommodation, and medical care) and repatriation costs.

Jed recently held his “New

Normal” digital concert last Combined withof the danJune, which was one the first gers of the elements of the sea, digital concerts tocrew be shown the abandoned have to exclusively via KTX.ph.

His face the stressful and inhumane consequences ofalbum, being stranded latest Star Music “Superin a country where do not hero,” was released inthey February speak the language, and the 2019 featuring tracks like “Bedifficulties of financial constraints With Again,” “Superman,” due toYou unpaid wages.

“Superhero,” “I Got YourInternaBack,” According to the tionalWere Maritime Organization “You Mine,” and “Di

(IMO), there are 438 cases of abandonment (5,767 seafarers) that have been recorded since 2004 until August 2020. In 2020 alone, 31 cases (concerning 470 seafarers) have been recorded to date.

Filipino seafarers stranded onboard the Oceanstar 86 for almost six months in the waters off the coast of Fujian, China were reported after a video showed their dire living conditions and pleaded for their immediate rescue. They were recently repatriated back to the country.

As long as the seafarers have not arrived at the point of hire, they are entitled to payment of monetary benefits under the contract.

Matitinag.”

The seafarer is entitled to be Embrace the spirit of Christpaid his wages and other benemas and stream Jed’s “A Very fits after the expiration of his Merry Christmas,” onextendcontract and duringout the various digital streamed period untilmusic the vessel’s arrival atplatforms a convenient ing this port.

Friday.The Forobligations and liabilities the local more details, like Star of Music agency and its foreign principal on Facebook (www.facebook. do not end upon the expiration com/starmusicph) and follow of the contracted period as they itwere on Twitter and Instagram (@ duty bound to repatriate the seaman to the point of hire StarMusicPH).

to effectively terminate the contract of employment. (InteroriA ghost from Jameson Blake’sInc. pastv. ent Maritime Enterprises, NLRC,330 493). comes backPhil. to haunt him as his The POEA states that estranged friend rules Joao Constancia the manning agency shall asreturns to reconnect in another sume “joint and solidary liabilmuch-awaited film from Star ity” with theBLemployer, which Cinema, “MytoLockdown Romance,” is meant assure aggrieved workers immediate and on sufwhich willofpremiere worldwide ficient payment of what is CineXpress via SKY Movies Pay-due them.

Per-View.

The Amended Migrant In the latest directed by also Workers Act film ( R.A. 10022) Bobby Bonifacio, Jamesonwhich states that theJr.,agency deployed employees shall stars as Tom,the a young adult whose be jointly and solidarily liable suppressed feelings resurface as with the principal for the played money his college friend Kendrick, claims awarded to the employby Joao, comes back from Hawaii ees. to make As they becomeexTheamends.

Supreme Court plained in the Catan friends once more,case Tomofbegins to v.

NLRC ( 160 SCRA 691, 695) the question Kendrick’s true intentions, rationale : “This must be so, besensing the latter’s old and undesircause the obligations covenantablein behavior have not gone away. ed the manning agreement Will Tom this time entered intofind by healing and between the local and its foreign princior willagent the bridge between him and pal are not coterminus Kendrick burn for good? with the term of such agreement that SKY subscribers can availso of Star if either or both of the parties Cinema’s movie commer-the decide tonewest end the agreement, cial-free and in high responsibilities of definition such parties towards the contracted via its pay-per-view serviceemployfrom

ees under the agreement do not at all end, but the same extends up to and until the expiration of the employment contracts of the employees recruited and employed pursuant to the said recruitment agreement. Otherwise, this will render nugatory the very purpose for which the law governing the employment of workers for foreign jobs abroad was enacted.”

The 2014 amendments to the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC2006) require shipowners to26, have November 13 to withcompulso48-hour ry insurance to cover access upon purchase, forabandononly ment of seafarers for up to four P150. months’ outstanding wages and Alongside theItpremiere of “My entitlements. must also cover Lockdown Romance” this Novemreasonable expenses from the moment of abandonment the ber, SKY Movies Pay-Per-Viewtowill time of arrival back home such also bring home viewers on a jouras food, ney repatriation, to different parts of theclothing, world accommodation, drinking water, through “#Wanderlust,” exclusively medical care and essential fuel brought to you by CinemaWorld. for survival on board.

Atty.

Gorecho the SKY subscribers withheads SKYcable, seafarers’ division of the SKY Fiber with HD Cable TV,Sapaand lo SKYVelez FiberBundang with All-InBulilan Box sub- law offices. For comments, send scription of these pay-peran e-mailcan toavail info@sapalovelez. view movie offerings.

Visit mysky.or com or call 09175025808 09088665786 com.ph for more details.

8 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Have Your Yellow Cab Squad Stuff Delivered For Free!

Looking for holiday deals to stuff your squad?

Look no further as Yellow Cab offers FREE DELIVERY for its Squad Stuff bundle from November 16, 2020 to January 17, 2021!

Save as much as P865 when you order Squad Stuff L, Squad Stuff XL, or Squad Stuff XXL. Starting at P999, get into the festive spirit and customize your bundle the way you and

your squad want to.

Choose from Classic Edge-to-Edge PizzasTM, local favorite Hawaiian or iconic Pepperoni. Get 10 pcs. of wings, and select two flavors, original Hot Chix, buttery Garlic Parmesan, lip-smacking Sweet Soy, or sweet and tangy Sriracha. Make it an even bigger feast with large servings of our pasta dishes from our selections:

creamy Chicken Alfredo, signature Charlie Chan, and Spaghetti with Meatballs. Top off this filling feast with a 1.5L bottle of Mountain Dew. What are you waiting for? Celebrate your #smallwins with your squad especially in this coming holiday season with this bang-for-yourbuck deal. Place your orders now at any Yellow

Cab store nationwide, or online at delivery.yellowcabpizza.com.

Visit bit.ly/YCopenstores to check the complete list of open branches and their respective business hours and contact numbers. Cut-off for placing delivery orders varies per store. For more information, visit facebook. com/YellowCabPizzaOfficial/.

SUICIDE... FROM10

suicide are not seeking help because of the stigma attached to it.

“The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the taboo in many societies to openly discuss it,” the

WHO says.

“Suicide is preventable,” Dr. Ghebreyesus says. “We call on all countries to incorporate proven suicide prevention strategies into national health and education programs in a sustainable way.” (Photos sourced from the net)

lighthouse, the beacon, the blue print, the compass that will guide the Government in its sports activities and programs .. that the sports community will cooperate with, participate in, and support. It will clarify the roles of the sports participants: the athletes, the coaches, the administrators, the media, and the fans, as well as the relationships between/among them. Sports is truly, a national movement .. and it is founded on the NPS. I invite you to join in the process of verbalizing that NPS. “How does the country search for its NPS?” The same way that each one of us searches for our personal Sports Philosophy: The question “Why?” is propounded. ​The sports leaders are asked: ​​​“Why Sports?”

Then to their answers, you ask: ​​​“Why (is that so)?”

And to their last answer, you ask again:​“Why (is that so)?”

A reference to existing laws may make it easier to find the answer to the first “Why?” The Philippine Constitution for example, declares – in Art. XIV, Sec. 19 (1) – what is the expected contribution of sports to the nation, viz., The State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. (bolds mine) The Law creating the Philippine Sports Commission (The “PSC Law”; RA

6847) even emphasized that Constitutional expectation, by declaring it as the “policy of the State”.

Almost all – if not all – the Legislative Bills on sports, filed by the Senators and Congressmen, refer in their “Explanatory Note” to the above-quoted Constitutional provision. And in some sports laws – if not in all – it is a “Declaration of Policy” (as in the “PSC Law”, supra) or is included in the “Declaration of Principles” (as in the “National Academy of Sports” law; RA 11470). It is also written, in so many words, in the PSC’s “FIVE-YEAR SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Second Cycle) 20172022 PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS”.

Thus, I submit that for “Why Sports?”, the answer is: Because Sports is a requisite part of the holistic development of man. That is, at the least, hinted by the above citations.

I venture no answer though, to the second and third “Why?”. The sports leaders – after more self-reflection and discussion/consultation – will best answer them. But in the end, everything leads to the NPS, to be verbalized to and by the sports community, and to all and sundry.

As an aside: May I also submit that we need the NPS as the step towards the creation of a Culture of Sports Excellence. The NPS will define for us, what “sports excellence” is. It will in fact, define us.

Now is the time for the sports community to move forward as one, to “march to the beat of just one drummer”. And that one drummer is the National Philosophy on Sports.

NATIONAL... FROM12

Leap Further Ahead with HUAWEI Mate 40 Series: Huawei Unveils the Most Powerful Mate Line-up Ever

H

uawei Consumer Business Group (BG) recently launched its product line-up with the advanced HUAWEI Mate 40 Series, the latest revolutionary flagship smartphones that empower users to leap further ahead. Showcasing the pinnacle of Huawei technology, the new Series reinforces Huawei’s dedication to innovation and its unrelenting determination to create the best Mate ever.

The HUAWEI Mate 40 Series has the Mate Series DNA at its core. Over the last eight years, there have been 10 outstanding generations of Mate Series devices and now the latest flagship smartphones take Mate to new heights with the best technology in the industry. From powerful performance to unique user interactions, everything about the HUAWEI Mate 40 Series has been fine-tuned to provide the most exciting smartphone experience possible.

HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+ incorporate the world’s first 5 nanometer 5G SoC, Ultra Vision Cine Camera system and the iconic Space Ring Design, as well as a smarter, more attentive digital experience.

Richard Yu, Executive Director and CEO of Huawei Consumer BG said: “Each year the HUAWEI Mate Series brings the most exciting technology together into one stunning package. This is what defines the Mate Series DNA and is all made possible by our

dedication to innovation. In these unprecedented times, we remain committed to creating a better future, with innovative technology that delivers a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of consumers. In the future, we will continue working closely with our partners to bring the Seamless AI Life experience to consumers all around the world.”

Leap further ahead with the iconic Space Ring Design Marrying iconic design with innovative technology, HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+ are informed by the design principle that form manifests function. The uncompromised design of the HUAWEI 88° Horizon Display creates an immersive viewing experience in a compact package, while the silky curve also means the devices are comfortable to hold. The handsets also offer IP 68 dust and water resistance, a choice of both virtual and physical volume controls and enhanced mistouch prevention algorithms.

Objects of sheer beauty, the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+ devices carry a small front camera cut-out, which is packed full of technology, with 3D Face Unlock, an Ultra Vision Selfie Camera and Smart Gesture Control.

Turn the devices over and you will see that the HUAWEI Mate 40 Series adopts the Space Ring Design, an evolution of the

HUAWEI Mate Series’ iconic circular and symmetrical design. HUAWEI Mate 40 and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro are available in Black and White, as well as an enchanting Mystic Silver, a finish with a colour-shifting effect that evokes the mysteries of the unseen. There are also two vegan leather variants, Yellow and Green.

Meanwhile, HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+ features an exquisite nano-tech ceramic back panel available in two iconic colours: Ceramic White and Ceramic Black.

Leap further ahead with Kirin 9000 setting a new standard for performance Powering the best Mate ever, the Kirin 9000 Series is fully equipped for 5G, capable of handling intensive computations and multi-tasking operations with ease. Embedded in HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+, the Kirin 9000 is the most sophisticated 5nm 5G SoC available, delivering vastly improved performance and power efficiency over its predecessor. For the first time ever, the flagship 5G SoC has more than 15.3 billion transistors , making it the densest and most full-featured 5G SoC to date.

The powerful CPU features a three-level power efficiency architecture with cores running at clock frequencies of up to 3.13GHz. Also integrated into the SoC is a 24-core Mali-G78 GPU, as well as an innovative NPU featuring two big cores and one tiny core, taking on-device AI to a new level.

The 24-core Mali-G78 GPU in HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+ is the most powerful GPU ever seen on a Huawei device. This delivers advanced graphics performance and is complemented by an amazing audio visual experience for immersive gaming. The 90Hz display works together with 240Hz touch sampling rate for greater responsiveness and now provides haptic feedback to correspond with the visual experience.

This entertainment set-up is completed with dual stereo speakers to create experiences with super bass stereo.

The HUAWEI Mate 40 Series is also equipped with the battery technology that is needed to keep up with the demands of 5G, supporting the fastest iteration of HUAWEI SuperCharge.

Leap further ahead with an all-round imaging system engineered to make photography simple The camera system on the HUAWEI Mate 40 Series has been co-engineered with Leica to provide the best camera solution possible and sees breakthrough upgrades to the ultra-wide angle lens, powerful high-definition main camera, impressive telephoto camera and more. With the Dual Cine Cameras and Dual Ultra Wide Cameras on HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+, users can capture amazing wide angle videos and images from both the frontand rear-facing cameras.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

GONE... FROM2

fective on Dabawenyos’ capacity to report possible threats,” she said.

The Culture of Security Project is a people-centered campaign that encourages Dabawenyos to adopt vigilance as their way of life. The campaign “May Nakita? Dapat Mag-

salita!” is an order encouraging Dabawenyos to adopt the Culture of Security as part of their way of life. It was conceptualized and launched by the city government of Davao and TF Davao on July 1, 2020 to ensure that bombing incidents in Davao City

will not happen again.

Through the campaign, Dabawenyos are urged to volunteer themselves for inspection and help in the implementation of security measures in the city; report all suspicious persons and activities in their commu-

nity; remind friends and family of all the security regulations within Davao City; and Participate in implementing the culture of security within their workplace, school, purok, subdivision and to be an active part of their community defense system.

the day), God… You were presuming that I should be giving orders on the day of the storm. That is stupid.

That is why you cannot become a president really. Mahina ka eh. Wala ka nang ibigayorder kasi ang order naibigay na two or three days (You’re weak.

You didn’t have to give any order because I gave it two or three days before). You

do not give orders on the day of the war,” he said.

The President also denied that he was sleeping on the job, saying he was monitoring the typhoon situation while attending the summit.

“Gusto ninyong ipalabas natutulog. Kung ordinary times, walang emergency, walang typhoon (You want to make

it appear like I was asleep.

In ordinary times, when there’s no emergency, no typhoon), I told you right at the beginning of my term, I am a night person. My day starts at 2 o’clock in Malacañan,” he said.

Insisting that it was a “sin” for Robredo to not know what was happening in government, Duterte explained that he delivered

about two speeches during the summit and later made an aerial inspection of the typhoon-hit areas.

In a tweet, Robredo debunked Duterte's allegations, denying that her office did nothing during the height of the typhoon.

She said her office was busy repacking relief goods in their headquarters in Quezon City. (PNA)

ed areas (MAA).

MCG chairperson Drieza Lininding noted that three years after President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi liberated from the clutches of Islamic State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, at least 100,000 residents remained displaced and yet to be compensated for their properties destroyed by the five-month war.

“There is nothing to commemorate, only pains and our sufferings that continue until today,” he said during the third anniversary of “Marawi’s liberation” last October.

Basman said the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which was ratified in January 2019 paving the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro region, “reserves the authority over the re-

habilitation of Marawi to the TFBM.” “That’s why we [BTA] focus our interventions and recommendations to the BARMM government on things that we can deliver even if we’re not given access to the MAA,” she said.

The creation of the Bangsamoro region is the key component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the final peace deal between the government and the MILF signed in 2014 after five decades of conflict that claimed at least 120,000 lives, including civilians.

Last October, the BARMM government allotted P500 million for its Marawi Rehabilitation Program, marked by the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 150

units of permanent shelters for the residents displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege.

“Together with the entire Bangsamoro, we will help you rebuild. We will help you recover. We will help you ensure that, In shaa Allah, Marawi will rise again,” Ahod Ebrahim, BTA interim chief minister, said in a statement then.

Basman said the BARMM government’s interventions in Marawi include the provision of food relief assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the temporary shelters and community-managed evacuation centers in other parts of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

She added that the Bangsamoro government has been working to improve the delivery of water

supply and the construction of sanitation and hygiene facilities for those affected by the Marawi siege.

Basman stressed the need to improve access to electricity in the affected villages and the provision of business and livelihood opportunities to the IDPs for them to have better lives.

The Marawi siege displaced at least 350,000 civilians, killed 1,100 civilians, mostly Islamic militants, and left the core of the city in shambles.

At least P75 billion would be needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi, government data showed.

TFBM slated the completion of Marawi’s rehabilitation “in December 2021.” (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

tations on the pending bills.

“I believe in the program," Legarda said. "I believe that we must prepare the provinces to receive families, but we must also con-

sult agencies and see how much allocation we need to prepare communities."

Legarda stressed that relocation in the provinces as proposed in the bills will

be voluntary, but there will be provisions for economic infrastructure to be put in place so returnees can have jobs.

Based on data from the

Population Commission, the top three most populated regions in the Philippines are Metro Manila, Region 3 or Central Luzon, and Region 4-A or CALABARZON.

players sit at tables in the front of the arena and when their names are called, put on a hat with the logo of the team that picked them and walk onto the stage for a handshake and a photo with the commissioner.

This time, Silver will be announcing the picks from the ESPN campus in Bristol, Connecticut. Players have been shipped boxes of hats for wherever they will be watching to choose the one they need when their name is called.

It's not the draft night they wanted, but the excitement of becoming a pro player won't diminish. Not when they've been waiting since March, when sports stopped just days before the selection of the NCAA Tournament field, to start playing ball again.

"I mean, playing in games, I missed it a lot. But at the same time, this extra time, it's only helping me," said forward Obi Toppin, the national college player of the year from Dayton.

"I feel like I'm more prepared and mentally

prepared for when the time comes, and I feel like when I'm on the court and that jump ball goes up, I feel like I've been waiting so long that it's going to be an amazing feeling."

The Golden State Warriors have the No. 2 pick, a chance to add a top young player to a team that reached five straight NBA Finals before tumbling to the bottom of the league when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were injured. Charlotte picks third, followed by Chicago and Cleveland.

The teams lacked some resources to evaluate players, without the normal draft combine in Chicago or the ability to invite players to their facilities for meetings and workouts.

Perhaps that's partly the reason there is no consensus No. 1 pick this year like Zion Williamson in 2019.

"I would say the analysis is fair. There is no guy that has separated themself from the pack, from public or external view," Timberwolves President

Gersson Rosas said.

Edwards believes the lack of an NCAA Tournament hurt the players. They couldn't make a final collegiate statement like Ja Morant did when he turned in a triple-double in an upset victory for Murray State in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. That helped secure him as the No. 2 pick behind Williamson and he was a runaway winner of the Rookie of the Year award after nearly leading Memphis to the playoffs.

Wiseman wouldn't have had that chance anyway. He averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games after arriving as the nation's No. 1 recruit, then was suspended by the NCAA for eligibility reasons and announced he was leaving the program to prepare for the draft.

"Of course I wanted to win a national championship, of course I wanted to establish that situation with my teammates," he said. "I love my teammates, I actually text them every

day. But you know how life happens. Like, stuff hits you out of nowhere, but I feel that me just being there gave me a lot of mental toughness, gave me a lot of maturity as a person."

He worked out for only the Warriors and Hornets, suggesting the Wolves may be choosing between Edwards and Ball with 2015 No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns entrenched as their man in the middle.

If it's Ball, he ends a run of 10 straight one-and-dones to be the No. 1 pick.

Blake Griffin in 2009 is the last non-college freshman to be the top selection.

Ball didn't do college at all, playing professionally in Lithuania and Australia. It certainly wasn't the smoothest path to the NBA, which perhaps makes him the perfect player to handle a year when everything else about the draft process has been upended.

"I feel like I'm just the right man for it," Ball said.

"Like I said, I feel like I'm born for this whole thing going on."

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she said, will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 11332 "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern

Act" and Republic Act 9271 "Quarantine Act of 2004."

Camile also asked the public to report to authorities any cockfighting event in the province. (PNA)

through the Master Plan for High Standard Highway Network Development and conduct of the Project Preparatory Survey, as well as the provision of Japanese ODA (Official Development Assistance) loans worth a total of JPY 58.7 billion to support the financing requirements, including the detailed engineering design, construction supervision, and capacity development components.

The project is also expected to contribute to the improvement of the transport and logistics network in the region, generate additional businesses and jobs, and boost the economic recovery of the country as part of the “Build Build Build” program of the government of the Philippines.

The “Davao Bypass” (south and center section) project is among the seven out of 25 ongoing project loans of JICA as of December 2019 allocated for roads and bridges or roughly 136 out of 903 billion yen loan assistance. The other ongoing roads and bridges projects that contribute to the “Build Build Build” agenda of the Philippine government include: Road Upgrading and Preservation Project, Central Luzon Link Expressway Project, Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project (Phase VI), Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project, Arterial Bypass Road Project (Phase III), and Road Network Development Project in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao.

lion as of end-September 2020, the peso has appreciated by around 4.9 percent against the US dollar to date, and the job market has improved.

“This big financial build-

up has buttressed our country from the financial effects of the contagion so while we are seeing a drop in GDP growth. We are still in very good financial health,” Dominguez added. (PNA)

children's education, the program also aims to revive the “savings culture” in the country, said Consuelo Garcia, liaison director for Capital Markets of FINEX. "It is actually to be the missing link to what we

have right now. The PERA (Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) is for the working class.

This one is for the young people. The baby boomers already got left behind so I think we could have this as a starting point,” she said.

offseason as point guards who could be moved and were expected to be in high demand.

Hours after the Paul deal got done, Holiday was headed to Milwaukee. The Bucks’ message is clear: They want to win a title, and they want to give Antetokounmpo enough incentive to sign his supermax extension — one that will be worth more than $200 million for five years — before Dec. 21. When Antetokounmpo was announced as the back-to-back MVP in September, he stated his intention openly.

“I’m happy for this, I’m happy for this award,” Antetokounmpo said at the time. “But I want more. ...

I’ve got to keep getting better. I want to be a champion.”

Bucks general manager Jon Horst, speaking to reporters earlier Monday about the draft and the free-agent period that starts Friday, seemed to drop hints that the Bucks expected to put together a roster that would be better than the one they had last season — when Milwaukee had the NBA’s best regular-season record for the second consecutive season, but fell short of making the NBA Finals anyway. This past season, they were

ousted by the Miami Heat in the second round.

“Fun, busy, exciting time of the year,” Horst said.

“We are heavily focused on continuing to improve the team. ... A lot of action. A lot of activity. And really looking forward to improving the team and getting the season going in early December.”

Holiday will almost certainly make them better. Widely considered one of the best defenders in the NBA, he averaged 19.1 points and 6.7 assists last season and now joins Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton on a Milwaukee roster that will obviously look very different than it did this past season.

Holiday is due to earn $25.4 million this season and holds a $26.3 million player option for next season. Therein lies the gamble for the Bucks: There’s no guarantee that Holiday will stay more than a year, and Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee remains in at least some question as well. And it’s now almost certain that the Bucks will have to fill out their roster for this season with several minimum-salary players, since they’ll owe about $86 million to just Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Holiday this season.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Suicide in time of pandemic

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

M

ichael was one of the most gregarious persons you’ll ever meet, his friends could attest that. But it all changed when his beloved mother died of a heart attack. He became aloof and loved to be alone.

It became worse when, two months before their wedding day, his bride-tobe died in an accident. He couldn’t accept that the apple of his eyes would soon leave him. “He was completely devastated,” said his father, Jonathan.

In order for him to forget what happened to him, he accepted the offer to work in the United States. While there, he communicated with his family in the Philippines by talking with them over the phone.

In some of their talks, Jonathan sensed there was something wrong with his son. “He may be tired from his work,” he surmised.

But two years after working in the United States, Michael decided to go back to the Philippines for good.

His family was completely surprised by his decision.

But they accepted it anyway.

It was at the height of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) when he returned.

Arriving in his hometown, he was required to do the mandatory 14-day quarantine. He was alone in his room – even his roommates at the facility wouldn’t talk with him as he came from another country.

On the ninth day of his isolation, he was found hanging in a room – dead.

He committed suicide. He left a note with these words: “I could no longer take the pain.”

Only then his family knew that he was suffering from depression. The loneliness he experienced during the quarantine may have contributed to drive him to commit suicide. He never revealed it to his family the struggles he was fighting.

The total isolation was the culmination of it all.

Michael’s story paralleled that of what happened to Matthew Beckham, an actor and professor of theater at a local Houston commu-

nity college in Texas. He was happily married for twenty years. He had parents, siblings, relatives and friends who loved him and with whom he interacted regularly.

But he was wrestling with a difficult life issue (“The world has got more pain and evil than I think we were expecting when we were kids. I know that is true for me,” he wrote a friend). When he could no longer face it, he committed suicide.

Unintended COVID-19 consequences may have driven him to do it. “In two different conversations with different brothers-in-law,” his brother Joey Beckham wrote in Katy Christian Magazine, “Matt mentioned his struggle during the isolation of COVID. He commented to both of them on different occasions. ‘The home is so quiet all day; it is so lonely.’

“Clearly, the isolation that has been implemented to ‘protect’ from COVID had a significant negative impact on Matt and his mental stage,” Joey surmised.

“As societies across the world continue living under strict confinement rules to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, there are other illnesses as dangerous as COVID-19 spreading fast in the Philippines – depression and suicide,” wrote Father Antonio Carlos in his November 2020 editorial of World Mission Magazine.

Fr. Carlos reported that since the beginning of the pandemic, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) rang the alarm bells about the rising cases of depression and calls registered in suicide hotlines.

“As the government continues to prevent and treat the spread of COVID-19, a mental health pandemic is brewing,” said Jacqueline De Guia during the marking of World Suicide Prevention

Day last September 10.

“This problem is compounded by an increasing number of companies shifting towards work from home arrangements and the online delivery of classes,” De Guia said in a statement.

“Certain individuals may feel overwhelmed unable to find balance or routine in their life.”

Records released by NCMH showed there was in increase in suicide-related calls of 33 monthly calls from January to March 2020, to 66 in April, 80 in May, 112 in June, and 115 in July.

“The importance of mental health initiatives is just as crucial as those for the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III. “Now more than ever, we need to promote holistic health, where we are caring for the body, the mind, and even the spirit.”

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Philippines, agrees. “I know how difficult it has been for Filipinos enduring the setbacks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and of the quarantine to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. Many people haven’t been able to work or have lost their jobs, some may have had difficul-

ty going back to their home provinces or are impacted by the loss of loved ones or are separated from loved ones,” he says in a statement obtained by EDGE Davao.

“This continues to be an especially stressful time,” Dr. Abeyasinghe continues.

“Someone in your community, workplace, family or circle of friends, or even you may be feeling hopeless, isolated, and feeling they have no reason to live. We are not facing this alone. With compassion and understanding for others, we can recognize the signs and educate ourselves how to access help.”

This problem may continue as there’s no end of the pandemic insight yet.

“Thinking of whether life will ever return to normal, and how one will survive amid the pandemic, are some of the questions making ordinary Filipinos very anxious,” said WHO in statement.

Thus, Filipinos are urged to help those who are undergoing depression. “I want to tell our countrymen, first, it’s OK not to be OK. All of us experience that feeling now because of this situation, but we need the support of the family and the community,” said Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing held in Manila.

In its website, the WHO listed some ways how people could help those are experiencing the mental health problem: · Let them know that you care about them and that they are not alone, empathize with them. You could say something like, “I can’t imagine how painful this is for you, but I would like to try to understand.” · Be non-judgmental. Don’t criticize or blame them. · Show that you are listening by repeating information they have shared with you. This can also make sure that you have understood them properly. · Ask about their reasons for living and dying and listen to their answers. Try to explore their reasons for living in more detail. · Ask if they have felt like this before. If so, ask how their feelings changed last time. · Reassure them they will not feel this way forever. · Encourage them to focus on getting through the day rather than focusing on the future. · Volunteer to assist them in finding professional help. If need be, offer to keep them company during their session with a licensed therapist. · Follow up any commitments that you agree to. · Make sure someone is with them if they are in immediate danger. · If you’re unsure about how to help, reach out to medical professionals for guidance.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide is already recognized as a global health challenge.

According to the United Nations health agency, someone loses their life to suicide every 40 seconds. In fact, close to 800,000 people die each year due to suicide.

“For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide every year,” WHO deplores.

Suicide is the second leading a cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years, after road injury. Among teenagers aged 15-19, suicide is the second leading cause of death

among girls (after maternal conditions) and the third leading cause of death in boys (after road injury and interpersonal violence).

The most common methods of suicide are hanging, pesticide self-poisoning, and firearms. “Around 20% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in lowand middle-income countries,” the WHO states.

“Every death is a tragedy for family, friends and colleagues,” WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reminds.

Suicide is not common only in high-income countries but it is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In the Philippines, the WHO Global School-Based Health Survey conducted in 2011 has shown 16% of Filipino students between 13-15 years old have “ever seriously considered attempting suicide” while 13% have “actually attempted suicide one or more times during the past year.”

Suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths around the world, making it the 18th leading cause of death in 2016, as per data from the WHO pointed out.

“Many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness,” the WHO says.

Those experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are also strongly associated with suicidal behavior, the WHO adds.

Suicide rates are likewise high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LBGTI) persons; and prisoners. “By far, the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt,” the WHO says.

According to the UN health agency, many people thinking of taking their own life or who have attempted

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The TNT Tropang Giga mix it up with the surprising Phoenix Fuel Masters in their best-of-five semifinals starting Wednesday at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Gym in Angeles City. RR Pogoy will be at the forefront of the Tropang Giga campaign. PBA Images

Thursday's NBA Rookie Draft: Who's picking who?

Manila Chooks players T test negative for Covid-19

T

he delegation of the Manila Chooks squad for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters has been cleared to participate in the event after everyone in the group tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, and Santi Santillan got the confirmation of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results through text messages at

about 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday (7 p.m. in Manila).

However, the team will remain in isolation until Wednesday, although they can dine in the restaurants within the Marriott

Holiday goes to Bucks for Bledsoe, Hill, picks

P

oint guard Jrue Holiday is being traded from New Orleans to Milwaukee, which is aiming to give two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo the improved roster that he seeks with the decision on his supermax contract extension looming, a person with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday.

The Pelicans are getting Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and a package of future first-round draft picks from the Bucks, the person told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no deal had been finalized.

ESPN, The Athletic and The New York Times first reported details of the Holiday trade. ESPN also said the Bucks were executing a second trade with Sacramento, with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Justin James going to Milwaukee for Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova.

The trade of Holiday was the second blockbuster involving a point guard since the league allowed transactions to begin again Monday. Chris Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns by the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier Monday; Paul and Holiday had been mentioned throughout the

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Marquis City Center Doha Hotel.

“Hindi pa rin makalabas kaya review muna ng video at exercise muna rito sa kwarto (We still cannot get out, so we are just reviewing the videos and doing exercises in our rooms for the meantime),” said Pasaol, the designated team captain.

Santillan added, “Okay lang naman sa amin ‘yun kasi business trip naman talaga ito (That is okay with us because this is a business trip).”

The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters happening this weekend will be played through a semi-bubble setup, that is, the teams will be strictly transported back and forth from Marriott to the Al Gharafa Sports Complex without any stopover.

The hotel and the arena are 12.1 km. apart.

The winner of the Doha Masters will receive USD40,000 (almost PHP1.93 million), while four runners-up will also get cash prizes. (PNA)

here was no dancing on the court after a March Madness victory. No bounding onto the stage in a spiffy suit to meet the commissioner in June.

The coronavirus pandemic wiped out the traditional end of a college career and the usual start of a pro one. Players such as Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman should be about a month into their rookie seasons by now, but their plans were put on hold.

After multiple delays, the NBA draft finally arrives on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

Like everyone else in 2020, this year's class of players has tried to make the best of their difficult circum-

Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is headed to Milwaukee in a trade for Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and future icks.

stances.

"I feel like it was better for me," Edwards said. "I haven't complained, I haven't tripped about it at all.

I just felt like it was better for me because more time for me to get better and get ready for the NBA." The freshman guard from Georgia is one of the leading candidates to be picked first by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ball, a guard who skipped college to play professionally overseas, and 7-foot-1 Memphis freshman center Wiseman are the other headliners in the class.

The draft is usually held in June in New York, where Adam Silver announces the first-round picks. The top

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VOL.13 ISSUE 188 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

COMMENTARY

National Philosophy on Sports

By VICTOR AFRICA Editor's Note: The author is an Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law​​​​​ by profession and a sports advocate and reformer.

W

hat is the National Philosophy on Sports?

“The unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates).

Was Socrates advising us to do an occasional self-reflection, probably to improve ourselves and also to deepen our involvement with whatever we have dedicated our lives to? If so, what better time for self-reflection, than now .. now that we are confronted with situations that question what are our real values in sport.

Maybe we can make use of the present free time, to review our basics of sports .. and to re-state them to the other members of the sports community.

To us, persons/organizations in sports, basic is the individual’s Philosophy on Sports. Everyone

has one, although there may not have been a need to verbalize it. Indeed, everyone must have one; for without it, how does s/he/it choose the course s/he/it will take? I put to you that Philosophy is a way of life. From it naturally come our tenets on values/culture/ethics.

Our Philosophy on Sports is a reflection of how we live sports.

But to us, as the sports community, basic is: The National Philosophy on Sports (the “NPS”). It is what we – each one – tack our personal sports philosophy to; it is what we bear in mind when we – together – exert a national effort in and for sports; it is what binds us – a united Philippine team – when we talk about national sports development.

Meralco forward Chris Newsome gets challenged by SMB defenders Moala tautuaa and Arwind Santos. PBA Images The NPS will answer the question “Why?”: Why the country is into Sports, why the country allocates its resources – people, funds, and facilities – to Sports, and why the coun-

try invites the sports community to join in and support the national sports development. The NPS will identify the reason for the nation’s attention to sports and its involvement

in sports activities and programs.

Mailing Address: MCPO Box 2319 Makati MM, the Philippines 1200 Email Address: victorafrica@gmail.com

Cell phone: +63 (0) 917-854-3620 Similar to what one’s personal Philosophy on Sports does for an individual, the NPS will be the

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