Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 221 | Sunday-Monday, January 3-4, 2021

DAVAO ORIENTAL BARES SPORTS COMPLEX DESIGN

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

NEW YEAR PROMISE

SPORTS P8

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

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Mayor vows to continue services to Dabawenyos, finish projects in 2021 STORY ON PAGE 2

A blacksmith swings a sledgehammer on a hot metal to create a knife at a metalsmith shop in Bugac, Ma-a, Davao City a day after the New Year’s Day celebration. Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

Gov’t brings home 234 Filipinos from Mideast on New Year’s Day

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A policeman inspects a bus at the Tagum City Overland Terminal on Friday, January 1, 2021 to ensure compliance with health protocols in this time of pandemic. MindaNews photo by GREGORIO BUENO

NEW YEAR PROMISE Mayor vows to continue services to Dabawenyos, finish projects in 2021

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao vowed to continue and finish the projects that have been started while announcing that it will also start new projects to help boost the city’s economy and provide employment.

In her New Year’s message, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio assured that existing projects will continue to address the economic problems faced by the city due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

“Sa pag-abli sa bag-ong tuig, ipadayon ug humanon sa lokal nga gobyerno ang mga nasugdan niining proyekto dungan sa pagsugod niini sa mga bag-ong proyekto nga

ang katuyuan mao ang pagpalambo sa atong ekonomiya, paghatag og trabaho, pagprotekta sa kinaiyahan, ug pagpakusog sa atong dakbayan,” the mayor said.

She also assured that in the midst of the pandemic, the city government will continue to provide services and will not stop providing assistance to those in need.

“Wala kita niundang sa paghatag og mga hinabang sa

Alternative work arrangement in workplaces extended 'til June 30

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ll public and private offices will continue to adapt to the anti-Covid working measures until June 30, 2021, after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte issued Executive Order No. 56 or the order for the adoption of other alternative work arrangements in public and private offices.

EO 56 is effective until December 31, 2020, but Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, during her last broadcast with Davao City Disaster Radio on December 28 that all Covid-19-related directives, which are effective only until December 31, 2020, will be extended.

“It becomes necessary to extend Executive Order No. 56 s. 2020 to continuously avoid a close contact scenario for all employees and to decongest passengers of public utility vehicles throughout the day to lessen the risk of transmission,” the mayor said in EO 70.

Alternative work arrangements that can be implemented in public and private offices are skeleton workforce, workfrom-home, and staggered working hours.

The guidelines are aimed

at addressing the number of individuals, socialization, and overcrowding in workplaces and establishments as clustering of coronavirus cases has been traced in work areas and spread to households.

Private offices are strongly encouraged to adopt working arrangements notwithstanding the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) orders on operational capacity.

Government offices and establishments are ordered to adopt other alternative work arrangements (OAWA) until June 30, 2021.

For government offices, the alternative work arrangement that can be implemented as per Civil Service Memorandum Circular 10, s. 2020 is the skeleton workforce, workfrom-home, and staggered working hours.

Section 4 of EO 56 states that all government agencies and instrumentalities both national and local will adopt an OAWA that will fully operationalize their offices with a skeleton workforce inside the offic-

FALTERNATIVE, P7

mga katawhang nanginahanglan niini. Padayon sab ang mga proyekto sa mga kabukiran isip solusyon sa kawalay ekonomikanhong aktibidad sa maong mga komunidad,” she said.

The mayor said the city is doing its best to help all sectors particularly women, students, farmers, and public utility drivers.

She also urged Dabawenyos to continue and strengthen their support for the city government of Davao and to achieve their aspirations for the year 2021.

“Tinuod nga nakakita kita og paglaum nga atong malingkawasan ang problema nga

dala sa Covid-19 pandemic sa paggawas sa mga bakuna.

Apan padayon ang mga pagsulay ug kalisod. Pinaagi sa mga lakang nga ginapatuman sa atong gobyerno ug sa hiniusang kusog sa katawhan, nanghinaot kita nga matapos na ang problema nga dala sa Covid-19 karung tuig 2021,” she said.

She also urged the public to show its support to the government projects for communities that have long suffered because of the groups that opposed to peace and development.

“Sa atong pagpadayon sa atong mga kinabuhi taliwala

FNEW YEAR, P7

Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert EA Borje (left) conveys President Rodrigo Duterte's message of appreciation and concern for OFWs during the arrival of 234 overseas Filipino workers from the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates at the

total of 234 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Kingdom of Bahrain and United Arab Emirates are back home as they arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on January 1.

The 234 repatriates included three abandoned minors, several detainees who had been imprisoned in Dubai, wards, and minor children from the shelters of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai.

Joining the repatriated OFWs in the chartered flight was a 14-man Philippine delegation led by Special Envoy and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert EA Borje, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Arriola, and Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary for Global Media and Public Affairs JV Arcena.

The flight was the 60th chartered flight arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs as part of the Duterte administration’s “Kalinga at Malasakit” for OFWs amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, the Philippine government has taken intensified efforts, such as the Assistance to Nationals and repatriation programs to ensure the welfare of the OFWs. Those awaiting repatriation were either affected by lockdowns and unavailable commercial flights, as well as those whose work contracts have expired.

More than 320,000 Filipinos overseas have been repatriated since Covid-19 broke

out.

In his speech upon arrival at NAIA, Borje conveyed President Rodrigo Duterte's message of appreciation and concern for OFWs. He said all Filipinos, regardless of their status, would not be left behind, adding that the administration would continue to provide “Kalinga at Malasakit” assistance to OFWs affected by the pandemic.

With the OFWs ringing in the new year mid-flight on the way back to Manila, Borje reassured repatriates of the President’s and the government’s continued commitment to serve and ensure their well-being.

He expressed hope that the repatriation flight’s arrival on the first day of 2021 would gain special meaning and significance as it also represented a new life and new opportunities back home for the passengers.

The repatriation mission capped the four-day official visit to Manama, Bahrain, spearheaded by Borje as Duterte’s special envoy to the kingdom and highlighted by the audience granted by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

A courtesy call was granted by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifah Al Khalifa while meetings were conducted with Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Interior to discuss migrant workers’ rights, efforts to address the pandemic, and expand the two countries’ cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment.

(PR)

Customs-Davao seizes P9.97M worth of smuggled cigarettes

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he Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Davao apprehended 450 boxes of illicit cigarettes consigned to NMCA Rice Trading on December 14, 2020.

Armed with an alert order issued by Port of Davao District Collector Erastus Sandino B. Austria, members of the Port's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and X-ray Inspection Project (XIP)

apprehended the shipment which was declared as Brand new PP Bags.

However, after conducting physical inspection, yielded positive for misdeclaration as 450 boxes of President brand cigarettes was found. This has an estimated market value of P9,974,729,87 million.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) was immediately issued against the entire shipment pursuant to R.A.

FCUSTOMS-DAVAO, P7

Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday (Jan. 1, 2021). With Borje is Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Arriola.

(Presidential photo)

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

YEARENDER: A crazy,

transformational 2020

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

ndeed, 2020 is a year like no other.

From the eruption of Taal volcano to African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak to typhoons and then this global Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 is considered the year of the wrath.

Edge Davao asked some Dabawenyos to sum up the year 2020 and here’s what they said.

Nikki Gomez, an author and freelance writer, described 2020 as a transformational year.

“Collectively, as a nation, and personally, it was transformational. Kay ngano? It changed us. All. Made us adjust to a new reality. Parang death and taxes, the great leveler,” Gomez said.

He added that whoever you are, rich or poor, pro or anti-government, has no match against Covid-19.

“That’s how transformational it was kasi lahat tiklop. Lahat follow the rules or else you get the virus, get sick, and die. Ganun ka simple ang equation,” he said.

Gomez said the pandemic has also brought out the best in the Filipinos such as the government has restored the economic activity as soon as practicable, companies tried to cope by improvising on staffing, going online, cutting costs, etc., and ordinary citizens coped by living simply.

“Embracing small entrepreneurship like selling plants and homemade food. Transformational talaga,” he said.

Generose Tecson, head of Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), described 2020 as a year with full of challenges.

“It made people realize that in the face of a pandemic there is no difference of social status or race we are all equal. We were able to appreciate the importance of family, relationships, the difference between needs and wants and most importantly the belief in God,” she said.

For businessman Lafayette Lim, 2020 deserves to be described in much harsher terms but he would simply call it a “crazy” year.

“For a virus to cause such chaos to the whole world where simply surviving was the best measure of success, we just have to be grateful we get to hopefully see 2021,” he said.

Joel Botoy, an HR officer, said 2020 in general is not a good year particularly for those companies with big number of employees who have lost their jobs due to pandemic same with the establishments whose line of business are labelled as non-essentials and forced to close and shut down operations.

“But as HR practitioner we have also discovered other skills and competencies of the retained employees specifically in practicing multi-task-

ing. To those who have been laid off and retrenched were able to discover also their entrepreneurial skills in order to survive. But all in all the fact would remain that people in 2020 have lived in fear, mentally disturbed and the anxious feeling of how long these restrictions should be and if everything would still be back to normal,” Botoy said.

Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte described 2020 as the year the whole world was brought down to its knees because of an unseen enemy.

“It will also be the year that we discovered once again what is truly important in our lives. Above all is Family, our loved ones. We realized that we needed to pause and work together to keep each other safe, that we were ultimately responsible for our family members, work mates’ lives. The new normal was forced on all of us. We sought strength through prayers for a miracle,” she said.

Retired teacher Gelsomina Pulido said the pandemic has brought the people back to basics and now give more importance to food and health.

“Kung mga mata ang hisgutan di ba 20/20 is an ideal vision man unta?

Unya Leap Year pa gyud. Pero January 12 pa lang Taal figured in a big bang. Linog diri, linog didto, bagyo, baha, then Covid-19 that has claimed lives all over the world. It has afflicted families, countries, churches, societies, governments, the sports world, and baffled the medical world. Pero nakakita ko ug kaayuhan gamay like families getting closer kay puyo sa balay, online class, work from home, the plantitos and plantitas rediscovering love for plants, not forgetting the heroism of frontliners. Unya ang kahilom ganahan kaayo ko. Ang technology bringing online masses right in our sala. Maghimamatay pud ang pamilya bisan pag lagyo ang pinuyanan. Tambal sa kamingaw. Pagkaon ang importante, dili ang lipstick, etc. ug mas concerned ta sa health nato ug sa loved ones,” she said.

Jayson Garrido Nierra, biking enthusiast, described 2020 as a desperate year. He said the rising cases of Covid-19 and restricted movement have negative effects to the people and the economy.

“But still we should be grateful that we have survived. 2020 is not over yet, experiencing life’s struggle and difficulties due to lockdowns and curfews was not that easy. We are all waiting for this year 2020 to end and find some hope that this deadly pandemic will be over soon,” he said.

For Lawyer Algene Cutamora, 2020 was a year of doubts and uncertainties.

“Most of us were clueless about what’s going to happen, and others have been forced to change a lot of things in their lives. 2020 made me realize that nothing matters more than having the right people in our lives,” she said.

Hope for 2021 Edge Davao also asked them what they are hopeful for in 2021.

Gomez said for 2021, the key is to learn the lessons well and not to squander them when everything returns to ‘normalcy. ‘ Tecson is optimistic that people will realize the importance of working together for the common good and won’t forget the lessons learned because of Covid-19.

“I am most hopeful for the coming vaccines, the anti virals which will soon be discovered. The unity of humanity, the heroism of frontliners, our love for each other,” Villafuerte said.

Cutamora said for the coming year, she hopes that the people can move forward to better days and do more of what they love.

“May 2021 bring us peace of mind and genuine happiness,” she said.

Nierra wishes that in 2021 the people’s lives will return to normal state and that people will learn to take care of their health especially their immune system.

“I hope 2021 will not take too long in recovering and moving forward from the craziness of 2020. May we not waste whatever realizations we had that revealed themselves only because the whole world locked down for a while for there were many,” Lim said.

Pulido is expecting for a more disciplined Filipinos in 2021.

“I hope sa 2021 wala na’y Covid, dili na manganak ug bag-ong virus ang Covid. Ma-vaccinate tanan. Unta maulian na ang world, malooy ang Ginoo, parehas tung una - pero mas disciplined na ang mga tao,” she said.

Botoy is praying that 2021 is going to be a year far different from 2020.

‘Meaning we might or we will still have the pandemic around but people are strong enough to embrace the consequences brought about by the pandemic. Be more equipped with the knowledge on how to take care and protect oneself because our goals (the private, civilians and the LGUs) is to stop the spread of the virus, stop the death caused by the virus and a virus free 2021,” he said.

Botoy added that if people would come to correctly play their respective roles to protect and be safe all the time then 2021 would be a triumphant year over Covid-19.

NEWS

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4 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

On the city government’s plans for the start of 2021: Sa pag-abli sa bag-ong tuig, ipadayon ug humanon sa lokal nga gobyerno ang mga nasugdan niining proyekto dungan sa pagsugod niini sa mga bag-ong proyekto nga ang katuyuan mao ang pagpalambo sa atong ekonomiya, paghatag og trabaho, pagprotekta sa kinaiyahan, ug pagpakusog sa atong dakbayan.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

TRADITION AND SUPERSTITION Hello 2021! Is Covid 19 still threatening the world?

(Oops, sorry but this pathogen of Wuhan, China origin is not our topic today. I am just excitedly greeting you as we welcome with guarded optimism the first few days of the new year even as sketchy reports of a new mutated strain of the virus is being widely reported.)

I am writing about tradition and superstition because I feel that our people are still in ridiculous bondage somewhat, thus keeping them unprepared to tackle the ever-increasing challenges of the times.

Our traditions as a people have been keeping us at bay – to say the least – because it appears that we have not moved up in the same scale as our Asian neighbors. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos – they are moving in step with the times.

A tradition is a “belief or behavior, folk tale or custom handed down from one generation to another within a group or ethnic society or race that has symbolic meaning or special significance

with its basis in the past.”

A second definition I found is that tradition is an “inherited, established or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (such as a religious practice or social custom).

Traditions die hard. (Or they never die.)

Fiestas and special holidays that are wanton expensive celebrations are examples of traditions observed to the letter by Filipinos. Every household I know spend hard-earned money or even borrow from the “Bumbay” in their desire (and pride) to offer the best food galore to visiting friends and relatives.

The Romans celebrated hedonistic rituals that might have been the origin of fiesta celebration. Whenever generals and their soldiers come home from a successful war campaign, they are paraded and heralded around in abandoned revelry that lasts for days and weeks.

On the other hand, a superstition is defined as “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or

chance, or a false conception of causation” or “an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature or God resulting from superstition.”

Examples of superstitious beliefs are bad omens like “Friday the 13th, black cats crossing your paths, trimming nails at night, whistling, posing in threes for a picture, breaking a mirror carries a seven-year bad luck as penalty, don’t walk under the ladder, knocking on wood to avoid or prevent a jinx, a woman sitting on the cold ground will result to impotency or barrenness, etc.

Somehow, our people take both tradition and superstition with a relevance that only they can relate to.

When I was a kid, I always hear our elders (uncles, aunts, grandparents and even neighbors) warning us children to be careful when walking in the dark because we might trip on “spirits” residing on big trees and dwarfs in bushes and anthills.

(Say, how would our elders then and those who still persist in believing in Pinoy

superstitions relate these to the grim specter of CoVid 19 that is sowing alarm, anxiety and even death to our countrymen?)

What if we were colonized by Great Britain (England) instead of Spain?

Would Filipinos today be as superstitious and traditional as they were during the Spanish times?

Did I hear somebody say “of course, not?”

If GB had colonized us, would the US have dared declare war against the English as the American patriots led

by George Washington did in 1776 when they revolted and drove out their English masters?

Would the Philippines be better off today as an independent nation - prosperous, politically stable and united as a people?

Personally, I am inclined to say so.

Two countries GB colonized that are now teeming with progress and political stability are Malaysia and Singapore.

Did the centuries of repressive Spanish coloniza-

tion, decades of American brainwashing and years of Japanese brutal occupation wrought traumatic scars on our cultural well-being - mental, physical as well as spiritual - thus producing a Filipino with an identity crisis?

We are a mix of the old, the modern and the neo-halfbreed that is struggling to swim along with the global tide.

But our traditions and superstitious beliefs seem to be taking us down.

We cannot tell the right hand from the left.

We are not decisive.

We allow problems to scare us out of our wits before taking the bull by its horns.

Somehow, I find this quote from Thomas Jefferson germane to our existence.

He said: “Governments big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

GET READY FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC “In any outbreak or emergency, some factors will always be beyond human control and unique to the event,” said the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement. “What is certain, however, is that careful preparedness and rapid response can limit loss of life, societal disruption and economic losses.”

In his book Connections, James Burke wrote: “Why should we look to the past in order to prepare for the future?

Because there is nowhere else to look.” To which American statesman Benjamin Franklin added, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

It’s not only for natural disasters that the world should be prepared – even for epidemics. For the first time in history, the world is observing the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness last December 27. It was called for by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partner-

ship against epidemics.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of investing in systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks,” the WHO said of the coronavirus disease 2019 that is wreaking havoc around the globe.

“With COVID-19 having now killed more than 1.7 million people, devastated economies, upended societies and exposed the world’s vulnerabilities in the starkest ways, the value of health emergency preparedness has hit home like never before,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

“As we strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, we must think about the next,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine a virus just as infectious but even more lethal.”

In a press statement, Guterres said the world can already draw many lessons from the experiences of the past.

“Preparedness is a sound

investment, costing far less than emergency expenditures,” he pointed out. “Societies need stronger health systems, including universal health coverage. People and families need more social protection. Communities on the frontlines need timely support.”

The UN official suggested that “more effective technical cooperation” among countries is needed. “And we need to pay greater attention to the encroachment of people and livestock into animal habitats; 75% of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic.”

All these must be done in a scientific manner, he pointed out. “Across this work, science must be our guide,” Guterres stressed. “Solidarity and coordination are crucial, within and among countries; no one is safe unless all of us are safe.”

It is but fitting to raise awareness on epidemics on a certain day of every year.

“In the event of the absence of international atten-

tion, future epidemics could surpass previous outbreaks in terms of intensity and gravity,” the WHO said in a statement.

“There is great need of raising awareness, the exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices, quality education, and advocacy programs on epidemics at the local, national, regional and global levels as effective measures to prevent and respond to epidemics.”

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness falls on the birthdate of Louis Pasteur, the French biologist for ground-breaking work on vaccinations.

“In honoring his work, I salute today’s medical professionals, front-line personnel and essential workers who have carried the world through this emergency with such remarkable commitment,” Guterres said. “As we recover from the pandemic, let us resolve to build up our prevention capacities so that we are ready when the world faces the next outbreak.”

Meanwhile, a new strain of COVID-19 – which is potentially 70% more contagious than earlier ones – has been reported. On December 14, British authorities told the WHO that a new variant had been identified.

The WHO, regarding the United Kingdom strain, issued this statement: “There is not enough information at present at present to determine if this variant is associated with any change in (the) severity of clinical disease, antibody response or vaccine efficacy.”

Among the countries where the mutated virus has been reported include Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

Another COVID-19 variant, different from the one unearthed in the UK, was reported in South Africa.

Because of this new development, President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the extension of the travel ban for flights from the UK for another two weeks; the ban is originally set to expire on December 31.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

ECONOMY

New COVID-19 variant a 'downside' to PH economic recovery: economist

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he new variant of the COVID-19 virus is posing a downside risk for the Philippines' economic recovery, an economist said Wednesday.

Oil firms increase the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products by more than P4 per kilogram at the start of a new year. Edge Davao

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of RCBC, said countries worldwide including the Philippines are expected to impose travel bans and some lockdowns, which will "slow down" global economic recovery.

He said if the new variant is detected in the Philippines, the country would likely implement more quarantine restrictions which may drag the local economy's recovery prospects.

RCBC forecasted a 6 to 10 percent contraction in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) this year, and a growth of 6 to 7 percent in 2021.

"At least a 6 percent growth would translate, well for 2021, we would be back to somewhere between 96 to 97 percent of the 2019 preCOVID levels for the whole economy," Ricafort said.

Election spending to start next year leading up to the 2022 presidential elections may bolster the economy to growth, he said.

The approved 2021 national budget and reforms such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) can also boost growth, he added.

However, some industries like property and tourism will take a longer time before they can go back to pre-pandemic

levels, with some studies estimating these to happen in 3 to 4 years' time.

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) agrees that the new coronavirus variant is clouding the country's economic prospects.

It expressed its support for the government's action to prevent the spread of the virus into the country by banning travelers from countries where the new variant has been reported.

"For us, it's necessary because we really don't know the extent of the impact of the new variant," MAP President Francis Lim said.

"So I think the government wanted to err on the side of caution. Of course, it's not easy to impose, to bar the entry of travelers from about 19 countries, including some of the ASEAN brothers like Singapore. Hong Kong is also one of them. South Korea. We do business with them," he added.

The government has implemented wider travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom.

"We just have to take that bitter pill, because if it enters into the Philippines, we still don't know what's the real score, so to speak. Our health

DOH’s Covid-19 program focuses on human resources for health and the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets and other protective equipment, he said.

Relatively, Avisado explained that there is a PHP25-billion standby funds for vaccine procurement under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, thus, there was no provision for

this for the DOH budget anymore.

He said next year’s national expenditure program includes a PHP2.5-billion budget for Covid-19 vaccine acquisition and Congress augmented this through an additional allocation of PHP70 billion, although as an unprogrammed fund.

He said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez has said that the unprogrammed

sector, our health capacity is not as strong as the others. So we agree with the imposition of that travel ban on those identified countries, otherwise, the economy will suffer," Lim said.

He shared that based on estimates, stricter lockdown protocols like the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) cost the local economy P1.2 billion a day.

Lim urged the government to quickly acquire vaccines against the deadly disease and inoculate as many people as possible.

"If we do that, then public confidence will be regained.

Even if you open up the malls, the stores, the bars, if the public confidence is not back, the effect of the opening up of the economy will not be as envisioned," he said.

Lim added, "Until we inoculate at least 80 percent of our people, we would be hard put in getting back to near normal. Unfortunately, based on what people say, the earliest we can start inoculating people would be the second quarter, and some say towards the end of next year."

MAP is the second private-sector group to warn about the economic implications of the reported new variant.

Earlier, another major local business group, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (PCCI), said the country's economic recovery will be delayed if the new variant enters the country.

Avisado assures proper usage of P838-B for Covid-19 programs

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udget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado on Thursday assured the public that the PHP838-billion budget allocated for the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will be used properly.

“Maliwanag po ang instruction at direktiba ng Pangulo -- siguraduhin na yung pera ay mapunta sa tamang pagkakagastusan

(The President’s instruction and directive is clear -- ensure that the funds will be used for the right expenses),” he said in an interview at the Laging Handa Public Briefing program aired over PTV-4.

These funds include those allocated under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Bayanihan to Recover as One Act and the 2021 national budget.

While the combined budget for Covid-19 programs is huge, funds given to programs of the Department of Health (DOH) under the 2021 national budget only amounts to PHP2.5 billion.

Avisado, however, stressed that this is not an issue because the fight against the pandemic and its impact is a shared responsibility among government agencies.

DTI adjusts cement safeguard duty in 2021

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is adjusting safeguard duty for imported cement this 2021 for the second year of the imposition of the trade remedy.

In an interview with reporters, DTI-Bureau of Import Services director Luis Catibayan said safeguard duty this year is being eyed at PHP9.80 per 40-kilogram bag of cement, which is higher from the initial recommendation of PHP9 per 40-kg bag.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez also told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that he already approved the new rate of safeguard measure for cement imports.

This, as the local cement

industry requested for higher safeguard duty due to the influx of imported cement even with the imposition of PHP10-safeguard duty in the first year of the trade remedy.

In 2019, DTI imposed a definitive safeguard duty on imported cement for three years.

A PHP10-safeguard duty per 40-kg bag of imported cement was imposed in the first year of the safeguard measure to redress serious injury in the domestic industry.

The safeguard duty was supposed to be PHP9 per 40kg bag of cement for the second year and to PHP8 per 40kg bag for the third year. This recommendation, however, is subject to annual review.

“But under the WTO (World Trade Organization), under the law, we cannot increase the duty,” said Catibayan. “There is a requirement to progressively liberalize the duty.”

He added that in order to heed the call of the domestic cement manufacturers without defying WTO rules, DTI eyes to decrease the safeguard duty by only 20 centavos from the PHP10-safeguard duty in the initial imposition of the trade remedy.

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo also said that as the government is rolling out its infrastructure project, they would like to see local cement manufacturers fill in the domestic demand. (PNA)

ewatered sludge, a residue generated out of the process of treating wastewater before the water can be released back into the environment, makes a good and effective organic fertilizer.

In a research conducted by the Municipal Agriculture Office here headed by Doctor Gina Fueconcillo and George Saniel, samples of plants applied with dewatered sludge from San Miguel Brewery,

Inc. came out as having better performance to eggplant over other samples applied with Coffee Chaff, Vermicast and Ordinary Garden Soil.

In the production result presented by the researchers, eggplants grown in 100% dewatered sludge gave the highest production of 13607.00 grams, while those grown in 100% vermicast harvest was 13112.00 grams. Lesser harvest in 100% coffee chaff only with 12299.00 grams

and the least was on the 100% ordinary garden soil with 10558.00 grams. Furthermore, dewatered sludge ensures better growth for the studied plant due to its richness in nutrients, which confirms the beneficial effect of dewatered sludge on plant cultivation.

Fueconcillo concluded that agricultural waste recycling is a good practice to follow. In this study, the use

fund can be accessed through bilateral, multilateral, domestic or foreign borrowings.

“So makakayanan talaga nating makalap yang pera or halaga na yan para ibili ng vaccine (So we can really source the funds to procure the vaccines,” he said, adding that the vaccine procurement program has a minimum timeframe of three years. (PNA)

Dewatered sludge classified as effective organic fertilizer

D

FDEWATERED, P7

SM Group spreads holiday cheers through a gift giving drive that brought joy to PWDs and senior citizen communities in the city. During Christmas week, over 3,000 “Kalinga Packs” containing food essentials were

distributed to beneficiaries identified by the City Government of Davao’s City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and Office of the Senior Citizen’s Affairs (OSCA). CIO

VOL.13 ISSUE 221 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JANUARY 3-4, 2021

NEW YEAR... FROM2

EDGEDAVAO

sa hulga sa Covid 19 pandemic, atong panalaminan ang mga milabay nga katuigan kung diin malampuson natong natabok ang mga butang bisan pa man sa hagit, kalisod, ug mga pagsulay nga miabot kanato. Tungod sa tinuod lang,

walay dako o gamay nga hagit, kalisod, ug pagsulay nga dili nato mapildi, malampasan, o malingkawasan kung kita ligon sa atong baruganan, determinasyon, pagpaningkamot, ug pagtinabangay. Ipakita nato nga kita disiplinado. Ipa-

kita nato nga kita dunay pagmahal sa atong isig kaingon,” the mayor said.

She said 2021 is not the year for Dabawenyos to bend.

“Dili kini ang tuig kung diin atong itugyan ang atong kaugmaon sa dautang dikta

ug laraw sa uban. Dili kini ang tuig kung diin atong tugutan ang kahuyang, kahadlok, ug kawalay pagmahal sa atong nasud nga maghari sa atong kinabuhi. Mobarog kita. Magtinabangay kita. Lig-on kita,” she said.

es while others are working from home and the working hours are staggered throughout the day from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening.

This arrangement applies to all employees, including consultants, job orders, and contracts of service workers.

The EO also allows an employee who has a specific task to come in only when they are expected to work and may be sent home immediately after completing their task.

“The hours at home will be counted as worked hours provided that they can deliver

their tasks correct and complete.”

No person should be allowed to loiter in offices.

However, the OAWA will not be accepted as an excuse for the delay in government service, and that all offices should be able to deliver

timely and efficient public service while in the said arrangement as per Section 8 of the order.

Employees are also to be strictly monitored by heads of offices and make sure that they comply with the 40-hour workweek. CIO

of 100% dewatered sludge showed significant promise for eggplant production.

For its part, the San Miguel Brewery plant in Darong is willing to partner with gov-

ernment agencies particularly local and national agriculture offices, as well as farmers

for free dispersal of its dewatered sludge out of its beer manufacturing operation.

ALTERNATIVE... FROM2 DEWATERED... FROM6

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PEDRITO VALMORES COLLADO who died on April 18, 2004 leaving a parcel of land consisting of 10,188 square meters with TCT NO. T-59366 has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.29; Page No. 7, Book No. CLXX Series of 2020 of the Notary Public JOSEPH DOMINIC S. FELIZARTA, C.E.EnP.

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late JAMES ZAFRA COLLADO who died on November 30, 2010 in Davao City leaving a portion of the said parcel of land which he inherited from his Father PEDRITO VALMORES COLLADO with TCT NO. T-59366 has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.366; Page No. 75, Book No.III Series of 2020 of the Notary Public ATTY. ARNOLD DORIA

ECONOMY 7

CUSTOMS-DAVAO... FROM2

10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). This latest apprehension was also identified to be linked to several apprehensions of multi-million illicit cigarettes traded in other countries.

Customs Davao will continue its intensified campaign

against the smuggling of these illegally imported goods into the country led by its District Collector, Atty. Austria in line with Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s priority programs steering BOC to international standards in revenue collection, border protection and trade facilitation.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF Davao City

AMELIE SIA, Mortgagee,

- versus - EJF-REM CASE NO. 17,847-20 EARN CHRISTSON C. CAPUNDAN married to EDA CHRISTIANIE C. CAPUNDAN

Mortgagor/s.

X---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee AMELIA SIA against the mortgagor/s, EARN CHRISTSON C. CAPUNDAN married to EDA CHRISTIANIE C. CAPUNDAN with given at # 73, KAIMITO AVENUE, NORTON SUBD.,MATINA APLAYA DAVAO CITY, to satisfy the indebtedness which as of December 4, 2020, in outstanding obligation of the mortgagor/s with the mortgagee amounts to TWO MILLION PESOS (Php 2,000,000.00) Philippine Currency, including interest thereon, penalties and other charges and plus other legal expenses incident to foreclosure and sale, the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on January 21, 2021 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City, to the highest bidder to CASH and/or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property/ies together with all its improvements found thereon,particularly described below to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO.146-2011013118 “A parcel of land (Lot 5, Block 8, PSD-11-011057, being a portion of lot 376, CAD-102) situated in the Barrio of Matina Aplaya, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (150) SQUARE METERS, more or less.”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the abovestated time and date.

That in the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on February 18, 2021 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the above-described real property and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, December 14, 2020.

For ATTY. FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER – the OIC Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Prov’l Sheriff (sgd.) MELRON A. BARTOLOME Sheriff IV

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SPORTS HUB

Davao Oriental bares sports complex design

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he Province of Davao Oriental will soon join the growing lost of areas in Mindanao with its own worldclass sports facility.

In a statement on Thursday reported by Tempo, the provincial government of Davao Oriental said the sports facility is being built in a 12-hectare area in Barangay Don Martin Marundan, Mati City.

The sports complex has a total area of 119,940 square meters.

The project for the construction of the Davao Oriental Provincial Sports Complex broke ground last January 2020 and is currently in its first phase of construction.

“Currently, the construction is in its first phase which includes road network, drainage, site preparation,

and fencing. The project is being hoped to be completed within the next few years,” the provincial government said.

Once completed, the sports complex is expected to house a 29,000-sq.m. football field, track oval and stadium that has 10,000-seating capacity.

It will also boast of 8,600-sq.m. athletics field, an archery field, ball games area, a 8,600-sq. m. aquatics center and a 5,200sq.m. athletes’ village, sports commission and training gym.

The facility will have a dormitory for ath-

National athletes who will be competing overseas will be prioritised in the vaccine procurement.

letes to house athletes from other municipalities or provinces participating in sports events.

It will also have administrative and reception buildings, parking and commercial spaces.

“More than just a sports center, the

sports facility will also feature a forest park and playground, which complies with the green building design standards,” it added.

Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said the project aims to make the prov-

ince “a new hub for sporting events in the region and even in the country.”

Dayanghirang added that the complex will “not only help inspire local athletes but will also draw more opportunities for the prov-

ince in terms of investments and tourism.”

The sports facility could be the answer to the prayers of Mindanao athletes to be discovered and trained properly. It will also create jobs for Mindanao folks.