Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 208 | Sunday-Monday, December 13-14, 2020

MARKETED HONEY MAY BE SWEET BUT THEY’RE NOT PURE AGRITRENDS P8

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

GOING ELECTRIC

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

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‘BEST’ buses to start running in Davao City’s streets

A sand miner unloads collected sands from the riverbed onto a boat at a sand mining site in Brgy. Waan, Davao City over the weekend.

Sand mining industry is slowly getting back to normalcy due to demand uptick as construction activities in Davao City is starting to become active again despite the current pandemic. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

GOING ELECTRIC

‘BEST’ buses to start running in Davao City’s streets

By MAYA M. PADILLO avao City is inching forward towards sustainable future with the recent launch of electric buses.

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Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio dismisses netizens’claims that Davao City’s“Stay Home, Save Money”campaign is anti-poor, saying it is intended for every Dabawenyo. Edge Davao

Voter registration for 2022 polls slow amid COVID-19, holidays

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he windows around the election office of Caloocan City's first district were not intended to be used for over-thecounter transactions.

But in the time of the pandemic, the casements used to let fresh air in were turned into Windows 1, 2, 3, and 4, all to accommodate residents applying to become registered voters.

The downside of following health protocols is that some applicants have to be turned away.

"Because the biometric scanners have to be disinfected after each use, it now takes 10 minutes to process each person, from 5 before," said election officer Ma. Anne Gonzales.

"And since there are only 50 walk-in applicants allowed each day, those who come from farther areas arrive past the cutoff."

Since the election building at the city hall compound is surrounded by an open driveway, registrants have the space to observe physical distancing-- until it rains.

Over 3 months since voter registration resumed throughout the country, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said registrants were coming in trickles, in large part due to the pandemic.

The ongoing holiday season, though muted, has also kept people from handling their vote-readying duties.

An estimated 700,000 registration applications have reached Comelec since

September, spokesperson James Jimenez said.

It's still far from the over 4 million new eligible voters for the 2022 polls the Comelec expects to register over the next 9 months.

"We still have to see 'yong talagang uptick ng registration numbers. I think people are still a little afraid, they're still a little concerned, and siyempre hindi mawawala 'yong impact ng holidays (of course the impact of the holidays can't be discounted)," Jimenez said.

"People are tired of COVID and with Christmas coming, 'yon ang (that's the) main item on the agenda for most people, not so much registration."

This is made up of the 50 walk-in applicants and 50 scheduled applicants.

Half are booked with the local Comelec's Facebook account and the other half through the iRehistro website, where online forms can be filled up.

Often, many with appointments fail to show up--a waste for the walk-ins who miss the cutoff time.

Vote-rich districts in Caloocan include Barangay 176 or Bagong Silang, the Philippines' largest village and voting precinct, which had nearly 100,000 registered voters in the last election.

The registrations can also be hampered when staff go on quarantine, Gonzales said.

Jimenez, meanwhile, said the Comelec has not

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In partnership with the city government of Davao, the Aboitiz Group with AboitizPower unit Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), GET Philippines, and QEV Technologies in Spain recently held a virtual launching of the BEST (Business for Environmentally Sustainable Transformation) Bus project, which is the first fully electric, free-ride shuttle service in Mindanao, with Davao City among the pilot cities in the country.

An initial fleet of seven new fully air-conditioned electric buses that feature a retractable ramp designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities and the elderly will start running in the city.

These buses will be operating from the Davao Light office in Ponciano, Davao City. Each has a maximum capacity of 30 per-

sons. However in observance of the current social distancing protocols, only half of this capacity will be allowed during the initial operations.

The electric bus will run on fast-charging lithium ion batteries. Through cloud-based software, it monitors the vehicle’s diagnostics to determine maintenance issue and ensure vehicle safety.

“These buses marry modern convenience, functionality and environmental sustainability, and will be a treat for Dabawenyos this Christmas season – for not only are they fully electric and zero-emission buses, but they are also equipped with internet connectivity, and ramps and wheelchair slots for persons with disabilities (PWDs),” Mayor Sara said.

BEST is an initiative advocating to “be green, be

Radio on Friday, the mayor said that the ‘Stay home’ campaign is for everyone, especially that the city is under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

“That is not particularly directed at the poor sector of our society. It is directed at everyone. Rich and poor are really affected by the community quarantine classifications,” she said.

The mayor emphasized that the ‘Stay home’ campaign is directed to discouraging Dabawenyos from

doing non-essential travels to avoid unnecessary exposure. This means that people are still allowed to go out to do essential things, such as accessing goods and services and doing work and business.

In her Christmas message, the mayor has asked for the cooperation of the Dabawenyo in the fight against the global pandemic.

“Magtinabangay kita sa pagbatok sa pagkuyanap sa bayrus. Ug sa atong pagtin-

digital, and be kind” for the betterment of the community.

The project also aims to leave a lasting impact on the environmental sustainability of the city and the country.

“Thank you to Davao Light and GET Philippines for providing Dabawenyos with a safer and more convenient transport experience, and for helping bring Davao City closer to a more sustainable future.

You have provided invaluable assistance in the areas of health, the economy, the environment, and now, in the field of transportation,” the mayor said.

Aboitiz Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sabin M. Aboitiz said BEST Bus serves as the company’s contribution to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by providing innovative solutions for a cleaner, safer, and kinder world.

Aboitiz has a long history with Davao City, start-

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'Stay Home Campaign' not anti-poor -- Sara

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avao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on Friday dismissed claims that Davao City’s “Stay Home, Save Money” campaign is anti-poor, saying it is intended for every Dabawenyo.

The reaction came after some netizens expressed their opposition to the campaign that discouraged people from going out of their homes for unnecessary activities — such as parties.

During her interview over the Davao City Disaster

abangay – mapakita nato ang atong kusog. Pinaagi niini, dili kita mapukan (Let us help one another against the spread of the virus. As we help one another, we can show that we are strong.

With this, we will not break),” Mayor Sara said.

Amid this challenging time, Mayor Sara Duterte wished Dabawenyos a meaningful holiday season but reminded people to stay home to save money and avoid parties and gatherings. CIO

A woman picks out head lice out of her companion's hair at a center island at the junction of E. Jacinto Extension and E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City on Saturday. Edge Davao

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

No torotot use in Davao City

By MAYA M. PADILLO part from the banned firecrackers, the use of the traditional New Year horn known to locals as 'torotot' (horn noisemakers) is discouraged in Davao City.

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This is in line with the Department of Health's (DOH) announcement discouraging the use of horn noisemakers in welcom-

ing the New Year because these could possibly help spread the Covid-19 virus.

The DOH discouraged the public from using horns

and whistles in time of revelry because blowing them can expel virus into the air, which may be transmitted to others.

"If there is already an announcement or a declaration from DOH then kita tanan dapat musunod," Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a live broadcast interview last Friday.

The mayor said there

is no need to issue a policy about this because since March this year the city follows the guidelines provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) of Emerging and Infectious Diseases and issuances of the national government with regards to Covid-19 regulations.

Among yearly attractions in the city is the Davao

City Torotot Festival, which is celebrated every New Year's Eve which involves the simultaneous blowing of party horns or commonly known to Filipinos as torotots.

The festival was first held during the city’s 2014 New Year’s eve celebration at the Freedom Park along Roxas Avenue from 1 pm on December 31, 2013 to 1

am on January 1, 2014.

The Torotot Festival was organized in line with the city’s firecracker and pyrotechnic ban.

The health department also urged local government leaders to strictly implement health protocols against Covid-19, as various Christmas attractions are now starting to open in public places.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Davao Light and Power Co. and GET Philippines officials lead the lunching of BEST Bus on Friday. The BEST (Business for Environmentally Sustainable Transformation) Bus Project is a partnership by the Davao Light, GET Philippines, and the LGU of Davao City. Contributed photo

Pandemic forces Sara to suspend traditional gift-giving activity Penalties for DQR violations okayed

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ayor Sara Duterte has “put on hold” the Christmas Day gift-giving tradition at the ancestral house of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Davao City as a precautionary measure to prevent more COVID-19 infections.

During her live interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) Duterte said local government offices tasked to prepare for the event were wary that basic health protocols may not be properly observed.

Thousands of Dabawenyos are expected to troop to the president’s ancestral house on Taal Road, Central Park Subdivision in Barangay Bangkal if the event would push through.

“We have a plan for that

but it is put on hold because there is recommendation from the inter-office who is preparing for that December 25 event in Taal that COVID-19 health protocols may not be possibly implemented,” Duterte said.

She said the city was awaiting directives from the national government.

“We already submitted it high above the Davao City LGU on what direction we should take regarding that.

We are awaiting response on that matter,” she said.

She added the local government is nonetheless prepared to push through with the event if given the go-signal.

“Has it been planned?

Are we ready? We are ready.

But if that will be pushed

through, that decision is not yet final. We are waiting for that one answer. It is above city government because the decision is with the national government,” she said.

Last Oct. 19, Duterte said the city government would prepare 10,000 gift packs.

“We still have traditional and yearly grocery pack distribution. We are still figuring out how we can carry that out while making sure protocols are implemented because our expectation is that there will be around 10,000 people who will flock to Taal in Bangkal,” she said then.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Dis-

eases has prohibited mass gatherings, which are perceived as a “super-spreader” of COVID-19.

Davao City reverted to a General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from Modified GCQ from Nov. 20 supposedly until Nov. 30, but was extended until the end of this year.

As of Dec. 10, Department of Health-Davao reported a total of 10,432 cases in the region, with 2,793 active ones, 7,237 recoveries, and 402 deaths.

Of the total cases, Davao City reported 7,319, Davao de Oro 480, Davao del Norte 1,271, Davao del Sur 767, Davao Occidental 122 and Davao Oriental 473. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

he Department of Health on Friday said there’s nothing wrong with Russia asking vaccine takers not to drink alcohol before and after being immunized against COVID-19.

“Yung sinasabi na nagkaroon ng warning in Russia na umiwas muna sa paginom ng alak prior and after receiving the vaccine, these are just precautionary measures,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing.

(The warning of Russia to avoid drinking alcohol before and after receiving the vaccine, these are just

precautionary measures.)

Reuters recently reported that Russia had advised anyone taking its Sputnik V vaccine not to drink alcohol 2 weeks before being vaccinated and 42 days after that.

The social media account of Sputnik, quoting the vaccine’s developer Dr. Alexander Gintsburg posted, “One glass of champagne won't hurt anyone, not even your immune system.”

The Russian health official who gave the advice said alcohol can reduce the body’s ability to build immunity against COVID-19.

This opinion was shared by Vergeire.

“We all know that when you drink alcohol, especially if you drink it too much, bumababa ang immunity natin. And when you take a vaccine, para magwork sa iyo ang bakuna kailangan robust ang system mo, 'yung immune system mo ay maayos para nakakapagdevelop ng antibodies ang iyong katawan,” she further explained.

(We all know that when you drink alcohol, especially if you drink it too much, your immunity can be weakened. And when you take a vaccine, for it to

work, your system must be robust, your immune system should be okay for your body to develop antibodies.)

Vergeire said such precautions are “part of the uncertainty of what is happening right now with this pandemic.”

“I think people should heed this call para lang po magkaroon ng magandang epekto ang ating bakuna.

Iwasan muna natin ang nakakasama sa ating katawan,” (I think people should heed this call to get a good effect from the vaccine. We

No alcohol for 2 months if taking Sputnik V vaccine? DOH says it’s precaution

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FNO, P9

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he implementation of the SafeDavao QR (DQR) now comes with corresponding penalties after the 19th City Council on Monday, December 10 approved the ordinance requiring its mandatory implementation for all establishments, individuals, and non-residents of Davao City.

Under Section 12 of the ordinance, the prohibited acts are: a) Use of a DQR for non-essential movement; b) Lending a personal DQR to another person permitting the use or abusing the use thereof; c) Use and possession of a fake DQR; d) Use of a cancelled DQR; e) Failure and refusal to present a valid DQR for scanning or inspection purposes when so required by persons in authority; f) Use of a fake ID, birth certificate, and Business registration number, or another individual’s ID or birth certificate or another’s Business registration number to register for a DQR; g) Making or selling fake identities for DQR registration; h) Hacking of the DQR system and/or identity theft; i) Failure to comply with the provisions of this Ordinance.

Violators of the DQR will face penalties of up to

one-month imprisonment, P1,500 fine, or both. Penalties include: a. First Offense – an amount of Five Hundred Pesos (₱500.00) will be meted for the violators of this Ordinance. b. Second Offense – an amount of One Thousand Pesos (₱1,000.00) for the second offense. c. Third Offense – an amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (₱1,500.00), or one (1) month imprisonment, or both, for the third offense.

Violators will be issued a citation ticket. The responsibility to issue the tickets will be given to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Task Force Davao (TFD), Barangay Officials, and other authorized enforcers as commissioned by the City Mayor.

The ordinance also stated that any shop or person guilty of tampering or hacking the online link shall be prosecuted for cybercrimes under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Acts constituting violations of Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act shall likewise be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The Ordinance came to strengthen the City’s Executive Order No. 60, or ‘An Order Providing for the Guidelines of the Safe Davao QR (DQR) issued last November 3, 2020.

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

Lumad leaders gather before a feast of sacrificial chicken meat during the ritual marking the opening of the vegetable festival in Miarayon, Talakag town in Bukidnon on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. Miarayon is one of the five top vegetable producing areas in Region 10. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

DTI 11 reveals winners T in business pitching tilt

BSP: PH foreign debt now at $92B as of end-Sept.

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o strengthen the promotion of youth entrepreneurship in the country, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 conducted a regionwide online business pitching competition. This is part of the Davao Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP).

The Davao YEP! Pitch Competition was aimed at promoting creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial mind-setting among the young people of the region by seeking business opportunities in the community and creating social impact. Pitched business proposals were deemed on addressing pressing problems in the society through their business ideas. Likewise, it was seen to build the confidence and public speaking skills of the youth by challenging them to come up with a

clear and concise presentation given a limited time.

In the meantime, the YEP is a program to address the young demographics of the country to become productive individuals through entrepreneurship. It will help young Filipinos develop their entrepreneurial skills by offering them a comprehensive package of interventions. It is an initiative intended to harness public and private resources and direct these resources to the development of youth entrepreneurship.

This

collaboration is directed towards assisting the youth in exploring their full potential to becoming successful entrepreneurs.

The YEP’s official tagline, “Harnessing Our Own Resources for the Advancement of the Youth” (HOORAY!), captures the program’s vision, as envisioned in Republic Act (RA) 10679, or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act. DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said it is crucial to encourage the youth to become innovative.

“We at DTI, along with our partners, have always believed in the potential of the youth. We just have to motivate and inspire them to create their own niche in their chosen industry,” Ambi said.

Along this line, Davao Region Micro Small and

Medium Enterprise Development (RMSMED) Council Chair John Carlo Tria encouraged the young Dabawenyos to find new ideas and see the pitching competition not as a contest but a venue to maximize their innovativeness.

Here are the winners of the pitching tilt: 1st place (cash prize of P20,000) Edrian Abad, Jamy Castro Tristine Luga, Jareen Tan, and Jan Solamillo of Davao City for their project Flood Resistant Watertight Device; 2nd place (P15,000), YANO Your Online Concept Store, by Ronal Vidoy, Eric Rojas, PJ Mabini Aman, Field Melan Bulaong, and Van Jorain Rufin of Davao Oriental; 3rd place (P10,000) Christelyn F. Mangaga, Angelina R. San Juan, Esperidion Pamat Jr., Godwin Melendrez, Rey-

-- about 5.3 percent higher than the USD4.01 billion these exports generated last year, showed data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Wednesday.

Such export receipts this year were generated from copper concentrates (USD128.19 million), copper metal (USD1.14 billion), gold (USD670.51 million), iron ore ag-

glomerates (USD145.81 million), chromium ore (USD4.97 million), and others (USD2.13 billion).

Receipts in 2019 amounted to USD513.34 million, USD991.52 million, USD821.64 million, USD11.28 million, USD6.82 million and USD1.66 billion, respectively.

PSA reported no export data for nickel this

year but said receipts for such mineral product amounted to USD97,000 in 2019.

Outbound shipment of Philippine mineral products helped bring to some USD52.11 billion, total receipts from the country's January-October 2020 exports.

Corresponding 2019 receipts totaled USD59.55 billion. (PNA)

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Total mineral product export earnings rise

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anuary-October freeon-board receipts from Philippine outbound shipments of mineral products collectively surpassed the corresponding total in 2019, partly fueled by the nearly 1,193 percent increase in 2020 export earnings of iron ore agglomerates.

The country's mineral product receipts totaled USD4.22 billion in 2020

he country’s running foreign debt balance grew further as of end-September 2020, mainly on ramped up borrowing efforts to address COVID-19 pandemic challenges, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Friday.

Data released by the BSP showed the Philippines’ outstanding external debt stood at $92.0 billion as of end-September 2020, up by $4.5 billion or 5.2% from the $87.5-billion level as of end-June 2020.

The increase in the foreign debt stock during the period was due largely to net availments of the following: $2.8 billion by private non-banks to augment its working capital $2.4 billion by the national government (NG) to fund its COVID-19 pandemic response programs/projects and various infrastructure development projects The further increases to the debt level were attributed to positive foreign exchange (FX) revaluation of $636 million as the US dollar weakened against other currencies amid a slowdown in the United States’ (US) economic recovery and escalating US-China tensions during the quarter; and increase in non-resident investments in Philippine debt papers issued offshore to the tune of $294 million.

“The rise in the external debt was partially offset by prior periods’ adjustments of $2.1 billion,”

the BSP said.

External debt Year-on-year, the country’s foreign debt stock rose by $9.3 billion, which was brought about by net availments of $5 billion mainly by the NG; transfer of Philippine debt papers from residents to non-residents amounting to $2.8 billion as several credit rating agencies affirmed their confidence in the economy during the period; positive foreign exchange revaluation at $936 million; and prior periods’ adjustments of $645 million.

External debt is defined by the BSP as all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents, following the residency criterion for international statistics.

The central bank further stated that despite the increase in the external debt level, key external debt indicators remained at prudent levels as the country’s gross international reserves stood at $100.4 billion as of end-September 2020 and represented 9.0 times cover for short-term debt based on original maturity.

Public sector external debt increased to $54.4 billion from $51.0 billion in the previous quarter.

About $48.0 billion of public sector obligations were national government borrowings while the remaining $6.4 billion pertained to borrowings of government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial insti-

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VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

TURNOVER CEREMONY. Aeon Luxe Properties Vice President for Sales and Marketing Ms. Almira Mariano handed over the turnover kit to the newest homeowner of a premium condo unit Aeon Towers on December 7, 2020 held at the Club Aeon. This ceremony was witnessed by Aeon Luxe Vice President for Operations Engr. Daniel Manalo and Sales Admin Manager Luis Dollesin and members of the sales team.

BOC seeks to collect P2.4B in tax deficiency of rice importing co-ops

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he Bureau of Customs said Friday it is working to collect some P2.4 billion in tax deficiencies uncovered in a post-clearance audit of cooperatives that imported rice in 2019 and 2020.

In a statement, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said a post-clearance audit done on rice imports for 2019 alone showed 48 cooperatives with tax deficiencies totaling P1.4 billion.

It said the 48 cooperatives came from an initial batch of top 60 importers out of the list of over 320 that imported rice last year, Guerrero said.

“They have been issued audit notices and subsequent demand letters for the payment of additional duties and taxes as a result of the under declarations (of their imports),” the Customs chief said.

According to Guerrero, several of the importers with tax deficiencies are contesting the demand letters, which has slowed down the BOC’s efforts to collect the additional duties and taxes from them.

For this year, Guerrero said the BOC estimated that a post-clearance audit of another set of top 60 importers for this year would yield an additional P1 billion in tax deficiencies on undervalued rice imports.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar earlier issued DA Administrative Order (AO) No. 34 suspending the issuance of sanitary

and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) to cooperatives and irrigators’ associations, effectively barring them from importing rice, after the DA received reports that these organizations have resorted to rice imports rather than carry out their purpose of procuring local rice from farmers.

Both the Department of Finance and DA have also received reports that the SPSICs issued to cooperatives have been misused by traders to avoid legal responsibilities and evade the payment of the correct amount of import duties.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier directed the BOC and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to assist the DA in investigating the reported use of cooperatives by private traders as dummies

what was supposed to be a banner year for Philippine tourism, seen as one of the country's primary economic drivers.

Instead, Tan said the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has crippled the economy following movement restrictions imposed by the government to contain the

virus.

"The campaign is our response to the call of our regional tourism stakeholders to bring back travel confidence. We also strive to properly communicate our message of safe and responsible travel in the new normal," Tan said.

She said that with the "Amping Kita" (roughly

After interested job seekers download LapitJobs, they need to register their account before it is activated. Similar to food delivery apps, LapitJobs will need to know the user's location and then show a list of jobs nearest to the user.

LapitJobs users can choose the type of job they want as well as the preferred distance from their location.

"You also have the option to check a certain location for a job position you’d like to apply for," APPScape said.

LapitJobs has a Net Pay feature that shows how

much the applicants will bring home from their estimated salary, minus the deductions from benefits and time they will consume due to traffic in transportation.

The Quality of Life Factor Score lets the app users know their estimated Job Satisfaction, by considering the distance and salary if they continue to proceed with the job position.

Employers can also register for free and use APPScape's LapitTauhan app, which allows them to find job hunters.

"Once you have posted an offer, your location will also be included. This portal allows the employers

for rice imports.

According to Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko, while cooperatives are not exempted from paying duties for importing rice, they can be exempted from paying the income tax subject to certain conditions.

All import duties collected from rice imports go to the annual P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which aims to raise palay productivity and sharpen the global competitiveness of local farmers by providing them with inputs, farm equipment, credit and mechanization program.

As a result of the improved rice valuation system implemented by the BOC, the average value of rice imports grew by 6.8% from January 1 to October 31 this year, Guerrero said.

BSP to shift 50% of retail payment to digital form

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ccording to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Director Mel Plabasan, its Digital Transformation Roadmap, which was recently introduced, ushers in a whole-of-society approach to democratize financial services, initially targeting to shift 50% of retail payment to a digital form, and 70% of Filipino adults to have access to their own transaction accounts.

This was the highlight of the second panel on the second day entitled “The Legal and Regulatory Framework: Fintech’s Lifeline to Global Competitiveness,” moderated by Ida Tiongson, CEO - President, OPAL Portfolio Investments (SPVAMC).

“Securing financial and data security is our mission, there must be a tight

grip on how development is made,” said tech attorney Mark Gorriceta, Managing Partner of Gorriceta, Africa, Cauton, and Saavedra.

“We also have some of the highest internet penetration, and when we combine these with the changes happening we can see the Philippines is at par with some of the most prominent fintech markets. We’re at the forefront of these emerging technologies.”

Securities and Exchange (SEC) Commissioner Ephyro Amatong reminded that, “Regulation is necessary to promote sustainable growth when dealing with innovation. One of the primary lessons we learned in past economic crises is that regulations help to keep things in order and will help keep distribution

FBSP, P9

Forest product Oct. DOT-11 launches 'Amping Kita' campaign exports receipts up

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he Department of Tourism in Region 11 (DOT-11) launched Friday the "Amping Kita" campaign as the agency’s response to tourism stakeholders' call to bring back travel confidence.

In a statement, DOT-11 Director Tanya Rabat-Tan noted that for months, the pandemic has interrupted

translated as "let's be careful), DOT-11 intends to espouse "regional renewal" to renew public confidence in the local tourism industry.

“It also declares our identity and is more endearing, closer-to-heart, and thoughtful. It is a phrase bundled with a si-

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Job-hunting app aims to help Pinoys find work amid pandemic

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technology firm has developed a jobhunting app- that seeks to help Filipinos find work in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Application developer APPScape Corporation created LapitJobs, a new and free employment app for Filipinos to download and use for job hunting.

"We’ve designed the app to fit the employment procedure for the New Normal Lifestyle," APPScape said.

"With LapitJobs, we take advantage of technology and social media for our applicants to get ahead from the competition."

to post their job offers to LapitJobs," the app developer said.

LapitTauhan has a dashboard for shortlisting, scheduling, and conducting interviews — which are likely virtual in nature due to the pandemic. Job seekers will be informed of the status of their application.

According to APPScape, it aims to have 1,000 openings nationwide by yearend.

According to the Social Weather Stations’ national mobile phone survey, which was conducted last July, around 27.3 million individuals are jobless due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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ctober receipts from Philippine forest product exports exceeded this year what these outbound shipments generated during the same month in 2019.

Such exports' 2020 freeon-board (FOB) receipts totaled USD36.83 million, reflecting a 22.9 percent increase from last year's USD29.96 million, showed data released by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) this week.

This year's receipts covered lumber (USD19.50 million), plywood (USD9.93 million) and others (USD7.40 million).

Corresponding receipts in 2019 were lower at USD18.52 million, USD8.28 million, and USD3.17 million, respectively, but PSA reported no export data for logs and veneer sheets/ core stocks exported during both reference years.

Forest products accounted for some 0.6 percent of all October 2020 Philippine exports totaling USD6.20 billion.

Such total is 2.2 percent lower than the USD6.34 billion which the country's exports generated last year.

As such, total January-October receipts from Philippine exportation of forest products decreased by 19.6 percent this year from what these outbound shipments collectively generated during the same period in 2019.

FOB 2020 receipts from such exports totaled USD243.45 million -- lower than the corresponding USD302.95 million last year, PSA data further showed.

The exports this year were lumber (USD139.55 million), plywood (USD69.33 million), veneer sheets/corestocks (USD20,000) and others (USD34.56 million).

Receipts were higher last year at USD172.58 million, USD72.90 million, USD94,000 and USD57.38 million, respectively.

For both reference years, PSA reported no export data for logs.

All January-October Philippine exports collectively generated receipts totaling about USD52.11 billion in 2020, 12,5 percent lower than these shipments' USD59.55 billion last year. (PNA)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

On the proposed House Bill 1526, or “An Act Banning Minors from Full-Contact Competitive Sports” authored by Reps. Alfredo Garbin and Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol Party List:

Hindi mali yung banning.

Yun lang, sabi ko, ‘I-amend na lang yun,’ (The banning itself is not wrong. It is just that I told them, ‘Just amend it instead’).”

William Ramirez

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman

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VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

LIFESTYLE

MAKING COMMUNITIES HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

BIKE-FRIENDLY A WORLD WITHOUT CERVICAL CANCER

A world without cervical cancer is possible, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

“Eliminating any cancer would have once seemed an impossible dream, but we now have the cost-effective, evidence-based tools to make that dream a reality,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But we can only eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem we matchestablishthe power of WITHifprivate the toolsrecently we have with unrelentments rolling out ing determination to scale up their bicycle-friendly facilities use globally.” thatCervical empower in cancercyclists is a preventable disease. is also curable their daily Itcommute, theif detected to early andDavao adequately dream make a treated. Yet it is the fourth most bike-friendly city is on common cancer among women the horizon. globally, the WHO points out.

This“Without kind of support intakingonadditional action, annual number of new clusive the infrastructure in the cases of cervical cancer is expectcity celebrates the bicycle as a ed to increase from 570,000 symbol of sustainable transpor-to 700,000 between 2018 and 2030, tation--and the city’s growing while the annual number of deaths number of cyclists is projected to rise and fromadvo311,000 to 400,000, ” the WHO says in a cates welcome this development. statement released the “Establishments withduring bike parklaunching of the Global Strategy ing slots make me feel more to Accelerate the Elimination of Cersecured as I last rideNovember and do my17. vical Cancer errands around city,” said In lowandthe middle-income countries, the WHO adds, the incibicycle blogger/advocate Karim dence of cervical cancer is nearly Elijah. “Access to bike repair twice as and highparking and its racks deathgives rates stations three times as high as those in us a sense ofcountries. security and less high-income worry during commutes.”

“The hugeour burden of mortality related cancer is a Leaders in to thecervical city who are also consequence of decades of neglect working to improve the Bicycle by the global health and community.

Ordinance of Davao to However, the script can be rewrit-

implement a more bike-friendly road program also embraced the visible progress.

“I am very pleased to see that safe cycling is a community effort in Davao City and I hope that this continues to grow,” said Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta. “I have seen how everyone is working together to create a safe and inviting environment for all.”

Councilor Acosta noted the team effort that is put into The Davao’s recent story of Amermaking bike-friendly ican sailor who was rescued by communities.

Filipino seafarers may aptly be “Establishments an application ofthat theprovide “Good Sasafe bikeat parking and repair maritan Sea” doctrine or stathe

ten,” says Dr. Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, WHO Assistant Director-General. “Critical developments include the availability of prophylactic vaccines; lowcost approaches to screening and treating cervical cancer precursors; and novel approaches to surgical training.”

She said that through a shared global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and leaving no-one behind, the countries of the world are forging a new path to ending cervical cancer.

“Today’s development represents a historic milestone because it marks the first time that 194 countries commit to eliminating cancer - following adoption of a resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly,” WHO says.

Meeting the following targets by 2030 will place all countries on the path toward elimination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age; 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed).

The United Nations health agency is recommending vaccination to those between the ages of 9 and 14.

Prevention of cervical cancer should start early – before girls are exposed to human papillomavirus (HPV). “The vaccine provides up to 95% coverage against cervical cancer,” Dr. Chia Yin Nin, a gyneco-

logic oncologist practicing at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore, told Business World.

Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer site among Filipino women, the Department of Health (DOH) reports. Every year, an estimated 7,277 new cases are reported with 3,087 deaths. In recent years, however, more cases and more deaths are being reported.

The cervix is part of the female reproductive system located at the junction of the vagina and the uterus (womb). It is often called the neck of the womb.

“Generally, all women who have had sexual intercourse are at risk of cervical cancer,” DOH states.

“However, rare types of cervical cancer can occur even in women who never had any sexual intercourse in their life.”

In recent years, however, there had been overwhelming evidence that HPV causes cancer of the cervix. HPV takes several forms, which are referred to by number. “There are about 100 types of HPV that generally infect people in various parts of the body but there are only 13 types that can cause cancer in the cervix,” wrote Dr. Cecilia Ladines-Llave in a paper presented at the Global Conference on Low-Resource Setting Cervical Cancer Prevention held at the Johns Hopkins University.

The most common causes of cervical cancer are HPV Types 16 and 18. These two types are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer around the world. HPV Type 16 also causes oropharyn-

geal cancer. Condoms do not fully protect against infection because the virus can exist throughout the genital area and around the anus.

“We realize that, although HPV is sexually transmitted, it is not a sexually transmitted disease,” Dr. Nin explained. “It can be acquired through personal contact like fondling, petting and sexual intercourse.”

The following had been established as possible causes of cervical cancer: have had multiple sexual partners, have had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves had several sexual partners, have had sexual partner who is infected with HPV, and had first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old.

The risk of developing cervical cancer is increased by the following: smoking, long-term use of oral contraceptives, a weakened immune system, and a family history of cancer, especially cervical cancer.

HPV is so prevalent in the community, almost all women can have it. However, there are many forms of HPV, and many do not cause problems. “HPV infections usually clear up without any intervention within a few months after acquisition, and about 90% clear within 2 years,” the United Nations health agency says. A small proportion of infections with certain types of HPV can persist and progress to cervical cancer.

Dr. Llave, who is the director of Cervical Cancer Prevention Network, was quoted as saying

by Philippine News Agency (PNA)

that 99.7% of the cervical cancer are caused by HPV. It takes 10 to 30 years of incubation before HPV infection becomes symptomatic. “There are no signs and symptoms about 18% of the time,” Dr. Llave stated. “Most women don’t go to the health centers unless they’re bleeding profusely and they experience too much pain.

For about 20% of the women who are infected with HPV, cervical cancer may develop. “It is only when the cancer develops that you experience the signs like bleeding during intercourse, bleeding between menstrual periods, or bleeding after menopause,” Dr. Nin said. “The patient can also experience other symptoms like back pain, cough and swelling in the abdomen or limbs if the cancer has spread.”

When detected early, cervical cancer, however, is curable.

However, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes a saying. Currently, there are 3 vaccines protecting against both HPV 16 and 18, which are known to cause at least 70% of cervical cancers. The third vaccine protects against three additional HPV types, which cause a further 20% of cervical cancers.

“The fight against cervical cancer is also a fight for women’s rights: the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects the injustices that uniquely affect women’s health around the world,” says Dr. Princess Nothemba Simelela. “Together, we can make history to ensure a cervical cancer-free future.”

DENNIS R. GORECHO

SM supports inclusive and safe mobility, and promotes a culture of cycling.

KUWENTONG KULE tions are very helpful especially for cyclists who experience emergencies on the road, like flat tires and broken gears. Bicycles also need constant care and maintenance and we are very lucky to have establishments seafarer Lacruiser Relativotosaid or both. who provide these services in his facebook post.

While seafarers will have the public. These encourage For centuries, the “Good Sa- the same compassion and inDavaoenosmaritime to use their bicycles maritan” rescue doc- stinct as other professionals, more!” she said. seafarers to go they have a legislated obligation trine encourages

FILIPINOS SEAFARERS AND THE “GOOD SAMARITAN AT SEA” DOCTRINE

obligation to render assistance to the aid of life and property in at sea. distress.

The 63-year-old sailor StuLife as a seafarer involves art Bee was missing at sea for obligations that are unlike alnearly two days after his boat most any other occupation as capsized on the Atlantic Ocean. they have long understood that He was found by Filipino a moral, if not legal, obligation is seafarers on board the ves- upon them to render assistance sel “Angeles” last November 29 to persons in peril at sea. adrift in the middle of the AtlanThe biblical anecdote of tic Ocean while clinging to his the Good Samaritan pertains to boat 86 miles from the shore of the traveler who, for no other Port Canaveral, Florida. reason than a desire to help a “The story of Stuart is no fellow human being, stopped on different from others who are the road to Jericho to help a man pleading for help today; in this who had been beaten and bloodtime of pandemic. You don’t ied by robbers. need to sail out in the ocean to The Samaritan bandaged rescue and serve your purpose. the victim’s wounds, and took There maybe too many Stuarts him to an inn to recover, which who happen to be your neigh- was a gratuitous act for which bor, a friend, or just like the Stu- no reward was sought and by art we came to know, a stranger his actions the man was saved. that needs help. Help in any way In most cases, a person reyou whenever the acts to establishments save another Bicyclecan, blogger/advocate KarimopportuElijah said bike-friendly giveperson cyclists aas nity help is present,” Filipino result of compassion or instinct, senseto of security.

to render assistance.

The duty to render assistance is a general reflection of customary international maritime law.

Whether vessels sailing under their flag operate in either a private or public capacity, the requirements incumbent upon the masters of the vessels are the same.

This obligation comes from various legal sources, most from notably international SM Supermalls in Davaoconvenhas tions of the United Nations (UN) recently strengthened its supand the International Maritime port by adding more parking Organization (IMO). facilities and reliable mainteThe United Nations Convennance tion ontools.

Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says that every signatory to the This effort is in line with the convention must require brand’s vision to promote a the master of a ship flying its flag to culture assistance of cycling in where render to cities any person SM operates. found at sea in danger of being “By transforming malls into lost and to proceedour to the rescue of persons in distress. bike-friendly establishments,

The exemption is when the assisting vessel, the crew or the passengers on board would be seriously endangered as a result of rendering assistance to those in distress.

The Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) says “the master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance, on receiving a signal from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so.”

The International Convention on to Maritime Search and we hope support inclusive Rescue 1979 (SAR) manand safe mobility, andalso promote dates this principle “regardless a culture of cycling,or “said Engr.of of the nationality status Jonathan Nick Santos, such a person or theSM circumstances in which thatOperaperson is Supermalls Regional found.” tions Manager. “This is a part The to Salvage Convention of of a plan make communities 1989, although primarily directwhere SM malls are ed at addressing thelocated, salvage of more inclusive, livable, and of property and the prevention marine pollution, nonetheless sustainable.” repeats theand SOLAS obligation Bike racks repair stations on

the master to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea.

States, both signatories and non-signatories to the conventions, are duty bound to ensure Earlier those in distress at sea arethis year, cityrendered assistance on a non-discriminatory basis. councilors However, there and arebike some advocates jurisdictions where the law has studied developed that those who uns roads dertake to render Davao’ assistance to implement must exercise reasonable care a more in and acceptable seamanship bike-friendly doing so, or else suffer liabilifor ty for the aggravationprogram or excess all. harm that they cause to the individuals or property. are accessible to all. “We have They expected designed ourare bike facilitiestoto exbe ercise reasonable care to avoid enjoyed by all members of the negligent conduct that worsens community across all agesand andto the position of the victims avoid wanton bikingreckless abilities,and whether it beconfor duct in performing the rescue. utilitarian or recreational purAtty.

Gorecho headsthat the poses,” he said.

“SM hopes seafarers’ division of the SapathisVelez will encourage more people lo Bundang Bulilan law to take upFor biking as a healthy offices. comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, call and environment-friendlyormode 09175025808 or 09088665786) of transportation.”

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

AGRITRENDS

Marketed honey may be sweet but they’re not pure

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

hey may be sweet but they’re not pure.

That was the finding of the researchers from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) of the honey being sold in groceries, souvenir shops and online platforms.

About 80% of those honey products are not pure honey but sugar syrup, said a press release disseminated by the DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute (STII).

Honey is one of the most common food items being sold throughout the world. While its demand can make honey farming a promising business, it also became a subject of fraudulent production.

In the PNRI study using the nuclear-based tests, they found out that those honey products sold in the local market actually contain syrups made from sugar cane and corn.

This fraudulent practice allows manufacturers to increase the volume of their products while reducing the production costs.

Of the 76 honey brands that were studied, 62 of them were found to be adulterated; they were composed of 95% C4 sugar syrup. “So, they are not actually adulterated but they are just completely purely sugar syrup,” pointed out DOST-PNRI Dr. Angel T. Bautista VII. According to Dr. Bautista, 12 out of 16 (75%) local honey brands sold either in groceries or souvenir shops are not entirely honey. In addition, a staggering 87% or 64 out of 74 of local honey products sold online are impure.

What is ever more alarming is that 41 imported honey products being marketed in local stores, “none of them were found to be adulterated.”

“The problem is that people are being tricked,” Dr. Bautista said. “You may be buying honey for its wonderful health benefits, but because of adulteration, you may actually just be buying pure sugar syrup. Consuming too much pure sugar syrup can lead to harmful health effects.”

It may be profitable for some unscrupulous manufacturers but in the long-run this practice can totally affect the local honey industry.

“Impure honey can seriously damage the local industry for it can pull down the price of honey,”

wrote David Matthew C. Gopilan, author of the press release. “Fake honey can be sold as low as onethird of the original price of the authentic honey.”

“Imagine, incomes that are supposed to be for our honest beekeepers and honey producers are being lost instead due to adulteration and fraud,” Dr. Bautista was quoted as saying. “This is affecting our local honey industry so badly that we estimate that they are losing P200 million per year.”

The Philippine National Standard for Honey of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards said that honey sold in the market must not have any food additives and other substances. If so, any substance added to the mixture must be declared in the labeling. Moreover, the geographical location where the honey was sourced should be written in labels.

Honey is a food substance made by honey bees and some related insects. It is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate.

Honey also contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen.

In addition, copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities.

Dr. Bautista knows those information as he leads a laboratory which studies application of nuclear and isotope techniques in the environment, geology, and food authentication.

Joining him in the recent study were Marco R. Lao and Norman DS. Mendoza, also both from DOSTPNRI, and Dr. Cleofas F. Cervancia, a retired professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) who previously led its bee program.

Dr. Bautista and his team have already forwarded their findings to the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

“If we just release the names of the companies, they may stop for a

while. But no one can stop them from faking honey again in the future. If we incorporate these isotope-based standards into our regulatory system and the Philippine National Standards, then we think it will be a long-lasting solution to this problem,” Dr. Bautista believed.

They also call for stricter policies, regulation, and control measures to protect the honey industry and buyers.

This is good news for beekeepers as this would mean higher price for their honey products, thus making the enterprise more profitable and viable.

Raising honeybees is one venture Filipino farmers should consider as it can provide additional income from the farm. Aside from helping fertilize the flowers of crops and fruits, bees are equally important for the honey and wax they produce.

Some crops like beans, corn, and okra and almost all fruit trees depend on insects, particularly bees, to bear fruits and to produce seeds.

In many countries, honeybees – which can be managed easily – are moved from place to another as they are needed in pollination.

The chief value of honeybees is their ability to cross-pollinate flowers considering that, in nature, insects pollinate as much as 80 to 85 percent of all crops. In recent years, however, many wild insects which performed the pollination were killed due the heavy use of pesticides by farmers.

As such, the task of pollination in orchards, vegetable farms, and pastures, among others, is more and more carried out by honeybees. Some studies have shown that farmers can double if not triple the production of their crops with honeybees.

“Beekeeping is a profitable endeavor in the Philippines because of our mild climate and lush vegetation,” said the late Joel F. Magsaysay when interviewed by this author in the 1980s. His family had been raising honeybees since the late 1970s. Today, the bee farm is managed by his wife and one of his children.

Beekeeping technology is fairly simple once a farmer gets to know the basic bee behavior and the flowering season in the area. “After only six to twelve months, you can start harvesting honey,” Magsaysay said. “Once

you start harvesting, the maintenance cost would already be minimal.”

The primary source of income for the farmer is of course the honey. It is nothing more than nectar gathered from the blossoms of many flowers by bees. It is then taken into the beehive and changed by the worker bees. Worker bees remove the liquid from the nectar.

Aside from honey, beekeepers can also collect pollen from honeybees.

Pollen is the vegetable equivalent of the semen of animals. Bee pollen is special because bees instinctively and carefully select only the best, purest, and freshest flowers from which to gather it.

According to Magsaysay, collecting bee pollen is also a profitable venture.

In fact, he sees the potential of the Philippines as the “pollen capital of the world.” The Scandinavian countries, which are one of the main sources of pollen, have snow and therefore no pollen to collect for a greater part of the year.

In comparison, the Philippines has favorable weather. In addition, the country’s flora is one of the richest and most varied in the world – an inex-

haustible, natural pollen gathering ground for bees.

Other products that can be derived from honeybees are propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom. Propolis – also known as bee glue – is a sticky material which plugs the holes of the beehive. It contains a chemical that can be used as anesthetic.

The recent DOST-PNRI study is welcome news as it will also boost the use of pure honey as people will no longer fear if they will use it for treating some ailments, which range from allergies to indigestion. The body of Alexander the Great is said to have been preserved in honey. John the Baptist lived for a long period of time in the wilderness on a diet consisting of locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).

For at least 2700 years, honey has been used to treat a variety of ailments.

But it’s only in recent times that scientists have been investigating the use of honey in modern medicine.

In Hamilton, New Zealand, scientists at the honey research unit of the University of Waikato have found that honey kills a wide range of bacteria. Part of honey’s antibacterial activity can be explained by what’s known as an “osmotic” or “water-withdrawing” effect. Honey reportedly has a density of about 1.36 kilogram per liter (that’s 40% denser than water!). ”Honey has very little water – that’s what makes it thick and gooey – whereas bacteria are made mostly of water,” explained Dr. Peter Molan, professor of biological sciences and the unit’s director. “So, when certain kinds of bacteria come into contact with honey, the honey basically sucks the water out of the bacteria like a sponge, and the bacteria die.”

In Europe, honey has been used internally to help cure ulcers, particularly stomach ulcers. Experts recommend taking 1-2 teaspoons of honey on an empty stomach (at least half an hour before meals). This should be done one to four times a day “to assist in healing and provide pain relief.”

Before doing so, however, be sure you have no other ailments.

Here’s a word of caution: Due to the natural presence of some spores which cannot be destroyed by their digestive tracts, children under one

FMARKETED, P9

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

GOING... FROM2

ing with the city’s 9-1-1 system that used Davao Light’s electric posts as one of the means to get the system running.

The company also established the Cleanergy Park, which is considered an icon of biodiversity in the city.

Aboitiz is also the operator of Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., which is

a joint venture company between Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) and J.V. Angeles Construction Corporation, that is currently building the bulk water infrastructure that will provide the Davao City Water District (DCWD) with over 300 million liters of safe water per day for the more than one million Davaoeños.

listed a COVID-19 transmission case in its registration centers.

The commission is looking forward to the easing of quarantine restrictions in 2021, should COVID-19 cases recede, to help boost registration numbers, Jimenez said.

This would enable them to resume satellite registrations, where they bring their facilities to bigger, more accessible areas such as schools and community centers.

Currently, they could not conduct them because of stringent requirements, such as areas having zero COVID-19 cases for 2 weeks, as well as the partner location complying with health safety requirements.

Add to that, most major urban centers, including Metro Manila, are still

under General Community Quarantine.

"Hopefully by next year, when conditions have settled down a little further, baka kaya na nilang mameet iyan (maybe they can finally meet the requirements) and we can have our satellite registration centers then," Jimenez said.

"At that point, we expect na talagang papalo iyong (a big spike in) registrants, because then it will send a message that it's safer, it's more convenient, and so on and so forth."

For now, the Comelec continues its call to prospective voters not to wait for the September 2021 registration deadline.

"Whether or not there's a holiday, whether or not it's convenient for people, we ask them to register if they haven't yet."

should just avoid things that are bad for our health.)

Russia’s Gamaleya Institute is among those applying for clinical trials in the Philippines. The govern-

ment also recently said that the first vaccine for public use in the Philippines next year might be Gamaleya’s Sputnik V or China’s vaccine from Sinovac.

Task Force Davao Commander Consolito Yecla welcomed the passage of the ordinance for the implementation of the DQR in Davao City.

“With the ordinance, we can really implement the DQR. We can deny individu-

als entry sa checkpoints natin for the basis of no DQR. With this, we expect a much higher level of compliance from travellers,” he said.

The ordinance will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. CIO

lent prayer, hope, and love.

It is simple yet powerful and caring at the same time," she added.

Tan said DOT-11 aims to begin planning for recovery by taking stock of the lessons gathered from the pandemic, "without losing sensitivity to reality."

“The campaign also in-

tends to advocate support for local tourism and bring back our pride of place.

With digitalization at heart, it strives to minimize critical touchpoints in the traveler's journey to restore confidence while keeping them enlightened, connected, and safe," the DOT-11 chief said. (PNA)

of wealth and financial opportunities.”

Addressing the interest in a deeper collaboration between public and private sectors, JustPayto CEO Gemma Guerrero, said, “Hopefully, the government can help to put mandates

in place thatwill allow tech, like cashless transactions, to really help the population to pivot with the necessary changes due to COVID-19.

From 200 fintech companies we can see how the regulation can evolve from there.”

year of age should not be given honey. Infants, on the other hand, can contract botulism from honey.

Honey produced from some flowers may cause honey intoxication. Symptoms include dizziness,

weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea and vomiting. Less commonly, low blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities and convulsions may occur, with rare cases resulting in death.

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NO... FROM3

PENALTIES... FROM3

DOT-11... FROM5

BSP... FROM5

MARKETED... FROM8

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A trader peddles flower pots and other merchandise using a tricycle around a subdivision in Brgy. Sasa, Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

BSP... FROM4

tutions and the BSP. Private sector debt increased from $36.5 billion as of end-June 2020 to $37.6 billion as of end-September 2020.

The recorded rise was due to net availments of $2.8 billion by private non-banks and $1.1 billion bond issuances - $600 million and $500 million - by two private local banks.

Major creditor coun-

tries were Japan at $15.4 billion; The Netherlands at $3.2 billion; United States of America at $3.2 billion; and the United Kingdom at $2.4 billion.

Loans from official sources such as multilateral and bilateral creditors consisted of Japan at $8.7 billion; China at $1.2 billion; and France at $732 million, among others.

Loans from official

sources had the largest share of 36.3% of total outstanding external debt, followed by foreign holders of bonds and notes at 34.2%.

Meanwhile, obligations to foreign banks and other financial institutions accounted for 23.5%; and the rest or 5.9% were owed to other creditor types mainly suppliers or exporters.

In terms of currency

mix, the country’s debt stock remained largely denominated in US dollar by 54.8% and Japanese yen by 12.6%.

US dollar-denominated multi-currency loans from the World Bank and ADB represented 18.7%.

The 13.9% balance pertained to 15 other currencies, including the Philippine peso, euro and Special Drawing Rights.

chell Joy Cantomayor for their project Utilization, Production & Marketing of Tilanggit (Dried Marinated Tilapia) of Davao Occidental; and consolation prizes of P5,000 each to the three non-winning entries from Davao del Sur for their project HIMSOG Your New Normal Health and Wellness Toolkit, NomNom Taho Cart The first flavored Taho of Davao del

Norte, and from Davao de Oro for their project WENDY Minimizing the gaps, providing help and support for people that are experiencing mental health issues.

The panel of judges was composed of National MSMED Council Private Sector Representative for Mindanao and Honorary Consul for Hungary in Davao Mary Ann M. Mon-

temayor, SVLand Corporation Corporate Secretary and Managing Director of the and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) - Davao City Young Entrepreneurs Association (DCYEA) vice president for events Jennifer Ellen D. Dumlao, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 11 senior science research specialist Arnel

Rodriguez, and DTI 11 chief for investment and industry development Arriel N. Nengasca.

Prior to the pitching proper, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Innovation and Technology Support Office’s Jason Occidental discussed the Anatomy of Business Pitching, giving tips on how to make a successful business pitch.

DTI11/GGE/jmm

ing this proposal. But we can work hand in hand to work on this. Sana makapag-usap ang lahat at makuha ang aming mga opinion tungkol dito. Pare-pareho tayong ang gusto ay ang safety ng mga bata (I wish everyone will talk to use and get our opinion about

it. We all want safety for the children),” added Karate Pilipinas president Richard Lim. However, contrary to what Aguilar said, Ramirez claimed that most of the combat sports NSA’s do not have a “genuine grassroots program”.

“You cannot call it a grassroots sports program kung wala kang (if you do not have a) collaboration with the PSC, DepEd (Department of Education), DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), CHED (Commission on Higher Education),

armed forces, DOH (Department of Health), etc.,” he added, citing that one must need manpower, expertise, and a huge sum of money.

He then insisted that what these NSA’s are doing are minor programs within a certain community. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 208 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2020

BAN ON MINORS

Butch calls for amendment to combat sports bill

P

hilippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez said on Friday that he prefers that the controversial Congress bill seeking to ban minors from competing in combat sports be amended instead of fully junking it.

“Hindi mali yung banning. Yun lang, sabi ko, ‘I-amend na lang yun,’ (The banning itself is not wrong. It is just that I told them, ‘Just amend it instead’)” Ramirez said in an online press conference.

However, he admitted that the said bill was a “wake-up call” within the agency, indicating that they have been lax regarding sanctions among amateur sports officials.

He was present during the first hearing about House Bill 1526, or “An Act Banning Minors from Full-Contact Competitive Sports” authored by Reps.

Alfredo Garbin and Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol Party List.

The said bill met serious opposition from 13 national sports associa-

tions (NSA’s) which cater to combat sports, saying that the bill could hamper grassroots development among future martial artists.

“We are supposed to be preparing for the Olympics, the largest sporting event for the world, pero iisipin pa natin na may bill na aalisin yung mga (but we are still thinking that there is a bill that would take out) grassroot movements,” Wrestling Association of the Philippines president and Universal Reality Combat Championship founder Alvin Aguilar said on Thursday during the Usapang Sports forum by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports.

“We are really oppos-

FBAN, P10

House Bill 1526, or “An Act Banning Minors from Full-Contact Competitive Sports”is authored by Reps.

Alfredo Garbin and Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol Party List.