Edge Davao | Vol 11 Issue 232 | Tuesday, February 12, 2019

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

P 15.00 • 16 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

DAVAO YOUTH, MEDIAMEN INVITED TO JOIN SSEAYP P2

EDGE DAVAO Serving a seamless society

MEASLES STRIKE AGAIN

HEALTH P9

BILATERAL MEETING. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (right) meets Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono for a bilateral meeting at Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City on Sunday. FM Kono said the Japanese government has pledged support for the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Lean Daval Jr

BARMM ERA AID Japan pledges stronger support for Mindanao

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he Japanese government pledged stronger support to Mindanao as the era of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) begins after the overwhelming ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in separate plebiscites held on January 21 and February 6, this year.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono met separately with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al Haj

Murad Ebrahim on Sunday at the Waterfront Hotel in Lanang, Davao City.

During the bilateral conference with Sec. Dominguez, Kono said

the Japanese government welcomed the ratification of the BOL as it has been supporting the Mindanao peace process development for more than a decade.

The Japanese foreign minister was also pleased with the opening of the Consulate-General of Japan in Davao City, which will serve as “springboard to enhance the bilateral rela-

FBARMM, P10

Agreement signed for P650-million high-impact projects in Davao Oriental

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okyo is expanding its presence and consular operations to Mindanao, with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono inaugurating the newest Japan Consulate-General in Davao on Sunday, the Japanese Embassy here said.

“We newly opened

a consulate-general in Davao and its official inauguration is coming this Sunday,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda told reporters on the eve of Kono’s official visit to the country.

The official opening follows the visit of Japanese Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe to Davao in January 2017, which guided the entry of investment opportunities in the area, particularly in the agriculture sector.

However, aside from the investment prospects in region, the envoy said Tokyo seeks to attract

FAGREEMENT, P10

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

SUPPORT. Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald Dela Rosa (left) says he fully supports the move to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old to prevent minors becoming members of violent gangs and use them to do the dirty job such as peddling illegal drugs,

robbery etc. knowing that being underage make them immune from criminal prosecution. Dela Rosa, who was joined by actor Robin Padilla, made the statement at the sidelines of the block screening of Bato, the Ronald Dela Rosa story, at SM Lanang Premier on Sunday night. Lean Daval Jr

Davao youth, mediamen invited to join SSEAYP

By ADAM B. MORRELL

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otential youth leaders and qualified media practitioners are free to apply for scholarship in the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP).

SSEAYP is an annual cultural exchange program that started in 1974 as a joint understanding between Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries and Japan.

Participated by young people from these countries, the program’s objective is to promote friendship and mutual understanding among them and the local youth in their respective countries.

Sidney Lee of SSEAYP, in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw forum at the Annex of SM City Davao, said the program is designed to provide avenue for ASEAN youth leaders and the Japanese youth leaders to interact in an early stage.

“It aims to create a very strong bond that will enable the countries to avoid conflict in the future,” Lee said.

Each year, SSEAYP is in-

PRRD wants village chiefs to help in peace-order drive

“I

am confident that you will remain as this administration’s reliable partners in implementing peace and order programs that ensure the safety and security, and help uplift the lives of our countrymen,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his message read by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Eduardo Año to some 3,000 barangay officials from the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte.

The message was delivered by Sec. Año during the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order held on Feb. 1 at the Leyte Academic Center in Palo, Leyte, where the

President who was supposed to grace the occasion, did not make it for health reasons.

According to the President, peace and order and the adherence to the rule of law are vital in ensuring the progress of a nation.

He said, “It is imperative for our local communities to contribute to this undertaking by advocating the implementing policies and programs that strengthen the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption and terrorism.”

“Our barangays play a crucial role in preserving and protecting the rights

FPRRD, P10

volving 315 Asian delegates to a three-month long cruise to different ASEAN countries through a 1,000-capacity ship.

According to Lee, the program has institutional research and most importantly allows the leaders to interact with the locals of particular countries.

“The back bone of the program is to allow the youth leaders to have a home stay in particular countries,” he said.

Going on for 45 years now, the SSEAYP’s gathered 10 Asean counties including the pioneering members Philippines, Indonesia, Singa-

pore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Countries which recently joined the program are Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Brunei.

Lee, meanwhile, cited Davao City councilors Mabel Sunga-Acosta, April Dayap and Diosdado Mahipus to be alumni of SSEAYP. To qualify for the program, the applicant must be 18 to 30 years old, must be single and must be fond of youth group activities.

Lee urged the youth to visit the National Youth Commission (NYC) website and see further details on the application.

Riding-in-tandem men kill 3 in NorCot town

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OTABATO CITY – Authorities launched manhunt operations against gunmen, who separately killed three persons in Kabacan, North Cotabato, on Sunday.

Supt. Maximo Layugan, North Cotabato police director, said the military-backed manhunt operations aim to capture the gunmen who killed Abdulbasi Limbucan, and the couple Rebecca, 48, and Danny Ballasama, 50, all residents of Poblacion Kabacan.

Limbucan, a tricycle driver, was shot by a motorcycle riding-in-tandem while driving along USM (University of Southern Mindanao) Avenue, Kabacan at 9 a.m. Police re-

covered empty shells for .45-caliber pistol.

“Police investigators are still trying to determine the identities of the culprits behind the killing of Limbucan,” the police official said in a statement.

At about 2 p.m. on the same day, two men onboard a motorcycle also fired on the Bellasama couple who were aboard a separate motorbike along Abellera St. in Barangay Poblacion, of the same town.

“The husband was killed on the spot and his wife expired while undergoing medication at a hospital,” Layugan said.

Layugan believed that the two shooting incidents were triggered by personal grudge. (PNA)

cility.

“This only proves that we have so many irresponsible pet owners in the city,” she said.

“With the current facility we have, it is hard for us to accommodate more because we cannot overcrowd it will be sanctioned by the Animal Welfare Act,” Pinili said.

Impounded dogs or cats are given only three days before they will be subjected to euthanasia or mercy killing. Owners will be fined P500 per day where the pet was impounded.

Pinili clarified that the construction of the new facility will not change the number of days the pet owner can claim their impounded animal.

To promote responsible pet ownership, the CVO conducted a series of information drives in barangays and subdivisions were most of the impounded dogs have been captured.

Pinili said the campaign is aimed at lessening the number stray dogs in the streets and supplement the campaign against rabies.

New pet impounding facility to rise in Calinan

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he City Veterinarian Office (CVO) said that the construction of the new animal impounding facility, worth P5 million, will greatly help Davao City’s campaign against stray dogs and cats.

Impounding facilities are designed to impound and put down dogs that are of grave threat to the community.

Especially stray ones that are found lobbying in streets unleashed.

CVO head Dr. Cerelyn Pinili said that the new facility will be situated

in Malagos, Calinan, with a land size of 1 hectare, enough to accomodate more stray pets than the current city pound facility.

Pinili said that the current impounding area in Ma-a is not enough, as it can only accommodate some 150 dogs.

According to the city veterinarian, CVO captures an average of 15 to 20 dogs daily, while a total of 3,000 dogs are being impounded monthly.

Pinili said that only 10 to 15 percent of dogs are claimed by their owners from the impounding fa-

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

NEWS

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Davao notes 75% reduction in measles cases: Yumang

By ADAM B. MORRELL

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much lower number of measles cases in the Davao Region was reported by Department of Health Davao (DOH 11) Center for Health Development (CHD) based on the data collected by the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU).

This was bared by DOH Davao regional director Dr. Anabelle Yumang during yesterday's edition of Kapehan sa Dabaw forum at the Annex of SM City Davao.

From January 1 to February 10 of 2019, only a total 86 suspected measles cases were reported compared to the alarming 347 measles outbreak recorded in the same period of last year.

"This is 75 percent lower compared to the same period last year," Yumang said.

Reported Measles cases spiked during the first quarter of last year which prompted the agency to conduct Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) last year.

"House to house immunization of Measles Containing Vaccines (MCV) were conducted in areas where there were reported cases. This addressed the outbreak last year," the DOH regional director said.

With extended outbreaks declared in different regions, Yumang said resurgence of increasing Measles cases will be a serious concern.

"Measles is highly contagious and can cause fatal compli-

cations, especially among infants and young children with malnutrition and weak immune systems," Yumang said, adding that the urgent efforts to intensify the immunization campaign and increase the immunization coverage is the primary priority of the department.

Despite the decreased numbers of cases in this year, Yumang said the agency will continue to intensify its immunization campaign.

Thus, the DOH Davao CHD through Health Facilities would like to achieve 95 percent vaccination coverage among eligible children who are the primary focus of thecampaign to effectively halt the measles transmission.

The campaign covers six to 59months children who will be given one dose of MCV and Vitamin A supplement which followed by another dose of MCV to ensure the complete prescribed dosage.

"For those children who already received at least two doses of MCV shall not be vaccined," Yumang added.

On the other hand, two cases of Measles-related death were recorded this year.

However, the deaths is not caused by Measles but by the disease's complications which normally leads to pneumonia.

Signs and symptoms of this highly contagious disease are fever that goes with rashes and red watery eyes, and cough and runny nose.

Fire victims receive relief, financial assist

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total of sixty families who lost their homes in a fire that broke out yesterday evening in the City of Mati have received cash assistance and relief goods during this afternoon’s aid distribution.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang who led the distribution expressed his deep sorrow on the tragic incident that not only left the victims homeless but also claimed the lives of three children.

Each of the families received P3,000 immediate cash assistance from the Governor and donations extended through him by a business group. The families also received foodpacks, non-food items like toiletries and blankets. The PBA Party list also donated 60 containers of distilled water.

Stress debriefing and psychosocial interventions were also conducted by the Philippine National Red Cross.

As of the latest official report, 44 houses were totally destroyed while two were partially damaged from the fire.

Following the distribution, Governor Dayanghirang called a meeting at Barangay Central Hall to facilitate the smooth flow of interventions for the fire victims.

Among his directives is to fast track the distribution of emergency cash assistance to the families by next week. Based on the agreement made, Barangay Central will give P 5,000 financial assistance to those families whose home were totally damaged and P3,000 for those with partially damaged.

The Provincial Govern-

ment and City Government of Mati, on the other hand, have each committed to give P10,000 for those with totally damaged houses and P5,000 for those with partially damaged homes.

Financial assistance of P10,000 for each death casualty will also be given to the bereaved families.

City Mayor Carlo Rabat also committed to provide a relocation site consisting of 40 lots for the victims.

Meanwhile, Governor Dayanghirang will request the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to supply some of the confiscated logs to the fire victims to be used in rebuilding their homes.

He instructed Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Head Sarah Gudes to coordinate with the Provincial Engineering Office for the materials that will be needed in the construction of houses. The City and Provincial Government have also agreed to give financial counterpart for the cost of the 1,008 galvanized iron sheets needed by the families to build their new homes.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) will request the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to conduct a Bayanihan Project to build new homes for the fire victims.

Meanwhile, Punong Barangay Danny Macaubos suggested the establishment of overhead tanks in Barangay Central for emergency purposes, considering that his barangay is the most densely populated among all barangays in the city. By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photos

by Eden Jhan Licayan.

EFFORTS VS MEASLES. Department of Health (DOH) 11 chief of Local Health Support Division Dr. Raquel Montejo (left), together with regional director Dr. Annabelle Yumang, discusses the agency’s efforts to intensify the awareness and prevention against measles in Davao Region during the Kapehan ng Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

LTFRB to implement new inspection system

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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oadworthiness must be based on vehicle condition, not age.

This was the pronouncement of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III after revealing plans to consider Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) in assessing public transport vehicles in the country.

ing the Vehicle Age Policy which means units older than 15 years are considered non-roadworthy and can no longer allowed be deployed.

“Road crashes is one aspect that we are looking into, because road worthiness more than just the number of

age,” Delgra said.

He said that the agency plans to procure MVIS as part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) modernization program.

“We need to adapt a new system. Because our basis on the roadworthiness of these vehicles are only visual,” Delgra said.

The new inspection system will give a more comprehensive and accurate measure on the vehicle’s roadworthiness as it will be determined through a computer machine.

MVIS will have a 60-point

inspection points, from the reliability of the steering wheel down to underchasis.

Delgra said that once MVIS will be fully implemented, the vehicle age policy will be scrapped.

LTFRB recently suspended local bus company Davao Metro Shuttle after the incident that killed seven people including their own driver.

Delgra insisted that their agency did not lack in monitoring not only with ‘colorum’ buses, but also with the roadworthiness of buses of regular franchisees from garage to bus terminals.

ormer Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Monday expressed his support to the move of authorities to declare the Chinese woman, who poured "taho" (soy pudding) on a policeman at a Metro Rail Transit’s (MRT) station in Mandaluyong City, as undesirable alien.

In a press briefing at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Go echoed the recommendations of Director Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office head, to deport Jiale Zhang, 23, a student residing in Mandaluyong, for pouring "taho” on Police Offi-

cer 1 William Cristobal after he stopped her from entering Boni Avenue station on Saturday.

“Kailangan po siya i-deport...kasi walang respeto.

Tayo ngang mga Filipino ginagalang natin ang ating kapulisan (She needs to be deported...because she's disrespectful. We Filipinos respect our police force),” said Go, as guest speaker at the launching of Kabataan Kontra sa Droga at Terrorismo.

Go said he already talked to Cristobal and congratulated the police officer for displaying the highest standard of state of discipline in managing the incident.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde conferred on Cristobal the "Medal of Papuri” for his exemplary action during the incident.

“Napakaganda pinakita niya sa taumbayan na talagang disiplinado at pasensyoso yang mga pulis natin ngayon at regardless kung local yan o foreigner hindi yun ang tinitingnan natin dito (He showed utmost discipline and patience to the public even if you're a local or a foreigner),” Albayalde said.

Cristobal, on the other hand, said he just did the advice of PNP chief to have more patience and to provide security

for the public.

“Ginawa ko lang po yung kung ano gusto mangyari ng aming Chief PNP na habaan pa yung pasensya at gumawa lang ng tama para sa bayan (I only followed what our Chief PNP wants -- to observe maximum tolerance and do good for our country),” Cristobal said.

Cristobal, who has been in the police service for 10 years now, started from the Manila Police District.

On Sunday, Zhang was charged with unjust vexation, direct assault, and disobedience to a person in authority before the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office. (PNA)

ITY OF MATI—Authorities have expressed their grief over the hours-long blaze that engulfed a community in Purok Masagana 9 Andravel, Barangay Central, City of Mati last night.

Three people were killed, all them children. They were identified as siblings 10-year-old Ahmily Earl Halipa and 3-year-old Chris Herish Halipa, and their cousin Alicia Denise Halipa, 8.

Some 50 families have lost their homes when the blaze swept through their area at around 11:30 yesterday eve-

ning. The Bureau of Fire Protection declared “fire out” at around 3:20 this morning, February 9.

City Fire Marshall SINSP Christian Cena of the Bureau of Fire Protection said that based on their initial investigation, the cause of fire was due to “electrical ignition caused by pinched wire”. The estimated cost of damage is initially pegged at P 1.5 million.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, who visited the evacuees earlier this morning, expressed his deep sorrow over the inci-

dent that claimed the lives of the three children and rendered scores of others homeless.

Aside from distributing food packs, clothing, blankets, and toiletries to the victims, the Governor also gave P3,000 emergency cash assistance to the families housed at the evacuation center.

The Provincial Government is coordinating with the City Government of Mati headed

by Mayor Carlo Rabat for assistance and interventions to help victims recover from their losses.

Aside from the Provincial Government and City Government of Mati, emergency aid has also poured in for the victims coming from private businesses and individuals. Relief goods, water, blankets, and medicines are among those that were donated.

The City Government of Mati is working closely with Barangay Central and other agencies to ensure the safety, health and sanitation at the evacuation center, considering that most of the evacuees are children.

The vehicle inspection system was brought up after the recent bus collision involving bus units of Davao Metro Shuttle and Bachelor Tours which killed seven people.

According to Delgra, the LTFRB is currently adapt-

Go backs deportation of Chinese woman over taho-throwing incident

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Grief overwhelms residents as fire kills 3, left 50 DavOr families homeless

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FGRIEF, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

REQUIREMENTS. Davao Metro Shuttle president and chief executive officer Oyo Uy says the company is currently complying requirements in connection to the 30-day preventive suspension ordered by Land Transportation Franchising and

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

PH bans pork from Japan due to swine fever T

Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB) after one of its buses figured in a fatal road accident in Nabunturan last week. Lean Daval Jr

Poll candidates dared to roll out an eco-friendly campaign

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waste and pollution watch group dared all political parties, party-list groups and individuals taking part in the midterm polls to protect the environment from being defiled further by irresponsible campaign activities.

The EcoWaste Coalition urged parties and candidates to “green” both their electoral platform and campaign strategy ahead of the start of the official campaign period this Tuesday for senatorial bets and party-list groups, “We dare all political parties and candidates to incorporate ecological sustainability into their electoral platforms. We challenge them to present green solutions to the electorate that will address our nation’s problems with environmental degradation, dirty energy and climate change, chemicals and wastes, including the plastic pollution crisis,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

“Politicians should tell the public where they stand with regards to burning en-

vironmental issues such as single-use plastics and plastic packaging, electronic and plastic waste importation, dumpsite closure, waste-to-energy incineration, among other concerns,” he said.

“We further ask them to show their concern for Mother Earth by rolling out an eco-friendly campaign that will not harm and pollute the ecosystems,” he added.

An eco-friendly campaign, the EcoWaste Coalition said, will be compliant to the country’s electoral, environmental and health laws, particularly the Fair Election Act, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Tobacco Regulation Act, etc.

Instead of the usual 4Gs (guns, goons, gold and gar-

bage) of dirty politics, the group urged politicians and their backers to embrace the 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, respect) of clean politics.

For a cleaner campaign, the group pushed for compliance to COMELEC Resolution 10488 providing for the rules and regulations implementing Republic Act 9006, or the Fair Election Act, in connection with the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.

The group specifically drew attention to Section 6 on “lawful election propaganda” in the said resolution where “parties and candidates are encouraged to use recyclable and environment-friendly materials and avoid those that contain hazardous chemicals and substances in the production of their campaign and election propaganda.”

The resolution also asked parties and candidates to comply with local ordinances governing the use of plastic and other similar materials.

The EcoWaste Coalition

last week revealed that laboratory tests found high levels of cadmium, a highly hazardous chemical, in plastic vinyl tarpaulins that have become a favorite material for election posters.

As currently no law bars the use of cadmium-laden plastic tarpaulins, the group can only appeal to parties and candidates to keep their campaign tarpaulins within proper limits and to ensure that such materials will be taken down as soon as the polls are over for environmentally-sound management.

Following the Okada balloon drop controversy, the EcoWaste Coalition asked parties and candidates not to engage in any balloon dropping or releasing gimmicks and other activities that will only add to the country’s environmental woes, including throwing confetti and lighting firecrackers and fireworks during political sorties and meetings. (EcoWaste)

UBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE – Thousands of applicants got the opportunity to seek their next career, while hundreds were hired on the spot during the second "Build, Build, Build = Jobs, Jobs, Jobs" Caravan held at the Subic Gymnasium, Subic Bay Freeport Zone over the weekend.

The one-day job caravan last Saturday was aimed at accommodating job seekers in the country, especially the displaced workers of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil).

A total of 4,051 applicants attended the job caravan, wherein 2,464 or 60.8 percent were former HHIC-Phil employees, and the remaining 1,587 or 39.2 percent came in as walk-in applicants. Based on preliminary results, 186 applicants were hired on the spot, 99 of which were from HHIC-Phil.

According to the Depart-

ment of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the applicants who were hired on the spot yesterday would function in the following positions: welders, electricians, masons, fitters, engineers, drivers, painters, scaffolders, riggers, administrative assistants/clerks, sales, and marketing.

About 30,000 jobs were available from 106 employers during the event.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said it was President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself who ordered the holding of the job fair in Subic immediately.

"Nang malaman po ng Pangulong Duterte na nagkaproblema po ang Hanjin, nagpa-organize po siya agad ng jobs caravan, at natutuwa naman ako sa nakikita ko dahil marami ang naghahanap ng trabaho, at marami na ang na-hire on the spot. Asahan niyo po, walang tigil ang pro-

tive, pro-active measures, (and we are hoping that the public will understand) that we have to do this,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo said instead of complaining about the measures, everyone’s “whole-hearted cooperation” is needed to quell acts of terrorism.

The public is prohibited from taking with them inside MRT and LRT stations some bottled liquid items following the January 27 twin bombings of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu which killed 23 persons and wounded 95 others. (PNA)

were also advised to review their Quarantine Protocols, including the foot baths installed at the Ports of Entry and the monitoring of all meat products being brought into the country by tourists.

According to a report from The Japan News, the ASF virus gene was identified in four separate cases in Japan on Jan. 12 and 16, when it was found in carry-on baggage brought from China at Chubu Airport in Aichi Prefecture and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

The virus is believed to enter countries via international mail and foreign tourists’ carry-on baggage.

ASF is a viral disease that infects pigs and boars. It does not infect humans. The virus survives in the bodies of animals for three to six months, and spreads via feces and the raw and processed meat of infected animals. It also spreads through watering places and other mediums that have come into contact with infected animals. (PNA)

NorCot farmers get DA intervention through SAAD

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OTABATO CITY -One of the most successful programs and brainchild of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol has been making waves in his home province of North Cotabato after it made impressions in Luzon and the Visayas.

“The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) is one of DA’s successful and effective agricultural programs,” Department of Agriculture Region 12 Director Milagros Casis said.

Even on a Sunday, Casis led the mass distribution in two municipalities of the province that included work animals, seeds, agricultural equipment, among others.

More than PHP5-million worth of farm inputs was distributed by Casis to farmer beneficiaries of preferred far-flung barangays in the towns of Midsayap and Alamada.

In her message at the Midsayap distribution event, Casis said the SAAD project was start-

ed by Piñol when he was still the governor of North Cotabato. “When he was named DA executive, Piñol brought along and improved the project,” she said.

Romulo Dioquino, president of Malamote Farmers Association of Midsayap, was visibly elated when he told Casis and other DA officials that it was the first time his group received such intervention measure from the government.

“I assure the government that we will make sure this intervention will grow,” he said.

Antonio Camino, village chair of Barangay Dado Alamada, North Cotabato, said the DA assistance would help improve the lives of poor farmers.

"This project will surely alleviate poverty and create an impact on our community," Camino said.

Casis said more interventions were in the pipeline and would be allocated soon to farmer-beneficiaries. (PNA)

Hundreds hired, 2K ex-Hanjin workers apply for BBB jobs

AFP appeals to public: Help fight terrorism S A n official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is urging the public to cooperate in the implementation of security measures in the metropolis, including the prohibition of some bottled liquid items in metro rail stations.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo on Sunday said that while measures such as the prohibition of backpacks, knapsacks, large boxes and bags in churches may be an inconvenience, a “little sacrifice (is) for the good) of the many”.

“All of these pre-emp-

he Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday imposed a ban on the entry of pork and other pork products from Japan due to African Swine Fever (ASF).

“At 12 noon today, I have alerted the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) through (DA) Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo Serrano, to immediately impose a ban on the entry of pork and other pork products from Japan following reports of its spread in that country,” said DA Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol on his Facebook page.

He said a written formal directive will be issued shortly which will be in effect while quarantine officials are validating the reports with the OIE or the World Animal Health Organization.

“In view of this, all quarantine officers in ports of entry all over the country are directed to implement this directive immediately,” he added.

The quarantine officers

grama ng Pangulong Duterte at ang pangarap niya sa Pilipinas na lahat po ng ating mga kababayan ay magkakaroon ng trabaho (The President ordered us to organize the jobs caravan. Many were hired on the spot. Rest assured that the programs of President Duterte would continue and his dream for Filipinos to have jobs),” Villar said.

Various companies took part in the event, including contractors of the DPWH, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Department of Trade and Industry - Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP), and locators of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

"The 'Jobs, Jobs, Jobs' Caravan complements the 'Build, Build, Build' Program dahil nakakapagbigay tayo ng trabaho at oportunidad para makiisa

ang ating mga kababayan sa paggawa ng mga imprastraktura na naglalayong paunlarin ang ating bansa (The 'Jobs Jobs Jobs' Caravan complements the 'Build Build Build' Program because we are able to provide jobs and opportunities for our countrymen to help in the building of infrastructures that aim to make the country progressive)," DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The jobs caravan was organized by the "Build, Build, Build" Inter-Agency Committee, in partnership with the DOLE, DTI, SBMA, and CDC. The BBB Inter-Agency Committee is composed of the DPWH, Department of Finance, DOTr, Department of Budget and Management, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

The first "Build, Build, Build = Jobs, Jobs, Jobs" Cara-

FHUNDRED, P10

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DBP exec pushes for Islamic banking

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top executive of the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) called on Mindanawon lawmakers to pursue the proposed framework on Islamic banking in the Philippines for the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“We have not heard much about the initiatives, and probably since we are now doing the plebiscite on the BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law) we will eventually have the BARMM, this will be a good time to push those initiatives forward, and create that law, “ DBP chief executive officer and president Cecilia Borromeo said on Friday.

She said the DBP-owned Al Amanah Islamic Bank, the only Islamic bank in the Philippines, can help by establishing branches in the BARMM to make Islamic financing more accessible.

“If the BARMM will need an Islamic bank, then with the clearance the Department of Finance, the entire Board of DBP is willing to give Al Amanah Bank as its contribution to the Bangsamoro,” she said, noting that the framework for Islamic banking must be enacted to optimize the opportunities that can be offered by the Al Amanah Islamic Bank.

She said there are other Islamic financial institutions globally which are interested in Al Amanah Bank but are hampered by the lack of a general framework.

Borromeo explained the

framework is necessary because Islamic banking is different from the conventional banking system because it offers no interest rate and the arrangement between lender and borrower will be governed by the Shariah law.

“There are unique features of Islamic banking, very different from the regular banking that we know like charging interest rate – one basic difference. it’s not allowed under the Islamic banking, so the regulations that will govern the transactions under the purely Islamic banking would be very different from the regular banking that we know,” she said.

DBP director Maria Lourdes Arcenas said they want to provide a mechanism for Islamic financing to bring development that reduces vulnerabilities of the people in the Bangsamoro areas, among them related to finance, health, and education.

“Any project of development must reduce vulnerabilities especially in conflict areas.

For us now, especially in these kinds of situation, we would like to see development reducing vulnerabilities in these areas, financial vulnerability, health, education,” she said.

PH, Japan exchange notes on P24-B road, bridge projects

T

he Philippine and Japanese governments on Sunday signed an exchange-of-notes for the construction of 150 kilometers of roads and 40 bridges worth PHP24 billion under the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao.

In a ceremony held at Marco Polo Hotel here, Department of Foreign (DFA) Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin affixed his signature on behalf of the Philippine government while Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Kono signed for the government of Japan.

The Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), committed to a loan provision of USD202 million of the project cost.

The road network development project is set to enhance transportation capacity and efficiency in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. It will also improve access roads and logistics and enhance economic activities.

Locsin said the government is focusing on Mindanao, taking stock on the progress in broad areas of fruitful cooperation.

“Japan is in the forefront of the road to the realization of Mindanao’s important step towards a great promise,” the DFA chief said in his message.

He said the road project is an important step towards the goal of allowing

communities -- especially those of Bangsamoro people who have been affected by armed conflict -- to enjoy the dividends of peace.

Kono, for his part, said Japan welcomed the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law last month.

He said his country has been consistent in supporting the Mindanao peace process for more than 10 years now.

“Japan will contribute to the developing the road network in Mindanao to improve access to schools and hospitals and revitalizing the economic activities,” he said.

“Japan will support efforts to ensure peace and stability,” Kono said, adding that it will also back job creation and livelihood improvement of the people in Mindanao, including the former combatants of the Moro Islamic liberation Front (MILF).

Japan also commits to contributing to the capacity building of the transitional authority and smooth implementation of the decommissioning and disarmament of MILF combatants as these are crucial steps in the peace process.

“Japan is ready to extend support to the peace process,” Kono further said.

Among other things, Locsin and Kono also discussed the bilateral and enhanced economic cooperation between the two countries. (PNA)

She said the DBP granted P5 million in regular loan to Mothers for Peace, but the group lent it the “Shariah way” with no interest to the Meranaw women from Marawi who are holed up in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro. “The Mothers for Peace is borrowing from DBP and applying interest rate but the microfinance on the ground is doing this with our Meranaw women without interest rate and the usual way to is take part of the equity,” she said.

But Acenas said some P1.6 million has been downloaded to women beneficiaries so far, as many of them are afraid to take out loan for fear of not being able to repay it. She said the project targets to benefit around 300 Meranaw women.

“The leaders (Mothers for Peace) provided a collateral. They took a a chance on our women, you have to take a chance on the conflict areas because… it is not incumbent on MinDA (Mindanao Development Authority), it is not incumbent on DBP, but there are institutions on the ground that need to take chance on peace and development,” she said.

“They have been having financial literacy programs, with the MSU (Mindanao State University). We have also our mothers from Manila who are also doing programs there to teach them about how to do social enterprise, it’s more on building partnerships on the ground,” she said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

ECONOMY

5

LOVE STRINGS. SM Supermalls group brand manager Aron Dalaza promotes the upcoming Love Strings Acoustic Popfest, a live acoustic competition for aspiring musicians, grand finals set on February 17 at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr

DOE reaches out to university students on EPIRA law implementation

L

OS BAÑOS, Laguna, Feb. 10 -- The Department of Energy (DOE) held the first leg of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns for the year on the implementation of Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) yesterday (7 February) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

The DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) and the DOE-Consumer Welfare Promotion Office jointly led said IEC series in collaboration with the UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-In-

dustrial Technology.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “The energy industry, particularly the power sector, is highly technical. Therefore, we need to equip our future energy professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills that would allow them to keep up with developments and innovate further.”

DOE-EPIMB Assistant Director Irma C. Exconde and Ms. Luningning G. Baltazar, Chief of the EPIMB-Power Market Development Division, led the discussions on the overview of the Philippine power sector, which in-

cluded an orientation on sectoral reforms, power systems, government plans and programs, components of electricity charges, the wholesale electricity spot market, retail competition and open access, as well as the magna carta for residential consumers. On the other hand, representatives from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) presented ERC’s mandates and the components of unbundled electricity rates.

The program was followed by an open forum, wherein the discourse revolved around the benefits of EPIRA, the government’s

Total Electrification Program, strategies to lower generation costs, maximizing renewable energy sources, consumer protection, and the impact of electricity prices on the costs of goods and services.

More than 200 students attended the IEC, with succeeding campaigns to take place in other Philippine universities and colleges in the coming months.

“This is also a good opportunity for the DOE to build stronger partnerships with the academe on economic and energy development,” Sec. Cusi concluded.

(DOE)

PH, US urged to boost collaboration in technology, innovation

S

takeholders in the Philippines and United States are being urged to be more aggressive in looking for areas of possible collaboration in the technology and innovation sector.

In a forum in Makati City on Friday, QBO Innovation Hub Executive Director Katrina Chan said the Philippines can learn a lot from the US in terms of investing heavily on innovation.

Chan admitted that although there is sufficient capital available in the country, most inves-

tors cannot afford to take the risk with startups.

“The problem is there aren’t many startups to invest in. But there’s money there, but there is no startup to invest in,” Chan said.

“That is why, grant money and low-risk money is important,” she added.

Chan noted that cross-border exchange and collaboration will also help the local startup community.

She pointed out that supporting startups in the country will facilitate

the creation of more jobs, encourage research and development, promote competition as well as disruption, to boost innovation in enterprises.

Science and Technology Advisory Council - Silicon Valley (STAC SV) President Christina Laskowski said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been providing scholarships for Filipinos to study in the US in various fields of science, technology, and innovation through the Science, Technology, Re-

search, and Innovation for Development or the STRIDE Program.

However, Laskowski noted that there is a gap that should be addressed, as those who were able to finish the STRIDE Program do not have enough opportunities to apply what they have learned in the Philippines.

“That’s what’s missing. In STRIDE Program, they will study in the US, and once they do finish, where do they go?

The gap needs to be addressed,” she said. (PNA)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

EDITORIAL Politicking thru sports

A

re Wow Pilipinas and 1-Pacman getting advantage of sports?

The campaign period for the 2019 Mid-term elections officially starts today for national and party-list candidates but these two party-list entities vying for Congressional seats jumped the gun on the rest of the field by getting big-time publicity exposures via the sports vehicle.

Wow Pilipinas started it all with its major sponsorship of the Manny PacquiaoAdrien Broner world title fight in Las Vegas where it had its logo imprint on the huge canvas ring mat and at the four corner posts. Wow Pilipinas also had acknowledgment mentions in the pre-fight announcement. The images were beamed vividly on global television. Pacquiao fights are a proven sellout among Pinoy television audience and the January 19 fight was no exemption. Everyone cannot help but notice Wow Pilipinas’ massive presence in the Pacquiao fight.

Wow Pilipinas Movement describes itself as a “tourism sector partylist and advocacy for sustainable, quality and modern tourism development.” According to the Certificate of Candidacy of Wow Pilipinas, its nominees are Bernice Marie Angeles, Steven Anthony Relova, Kerwin S. Valero, Marvin H. Vallido and Edzel R. Encarnacion.

The party’s exposure drew criticisms from viewers and online users who called it “shameless campaigning.” Some netizens also questioned who are behind the partylist’s major sponsorship for the Pacquiao-Broner Match, citing that sponsorship costs millions of dollars. Under the party-list system, nominees shall represent the marginalized sectors.

If we go by the figures, traditional boxing sponsor Mexican beer Tecate was the major sponsor of the historic match of Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather in 2015

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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Social Media Manager/Lifestyle KENNETH IRVING K. ONG MEGHANN STA. INES NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN Lifestyle

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. JAN MIKKO CANARIAS CHA MONFORTE Correspondent

DR. MAURO L. PUYOD LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Cartoonist Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GREGORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: D. TACIO G.•DELIGERO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VIDAGOTIANSE-TAN MIA S. VALVERDE•• NICASIO FRED C. LUMBA • ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO• DENNIS “GICO” R. G.GORECHO DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ MUJAHID NAVARRA • HAROLD CAVITE

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPERSOLANI V. BACSAL General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist VP Operations General Manager JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

which was considered as the biggest fight card of the century. Tecate reportedly paid over $5.6 million (P295.4 million) for the single-fight sponsorship. The asking price for the title sponsor costs $10 million or P527.6 million, according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell.

Last Saturday night, 1-Pacman Party-list duplicated, albeit in a less grander boxing card, the ply executed by Wow Pilipinas with its major sponsorship of the World Boxing Association (WBA) interim bantamweight championship fight between titleholder Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo of the Philippines and Yuya Nakamura of Japan at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila on Saturday night. The fight was beamed on national television and Facebook live. In this card, 1-Pacman brought it higher with some of the boxers featured in the fight and their team members wearing 1-Pacman shirts.

1-Pacman, for the record, is currently represented in the House of Representatives by business tycoon Mikee Romero, considered as the richest member of the lower chamber.

Now, did Wow Pilipias and 1-Pacman commit any election violation?

That is for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ascertain. The poll body has reiterated its call for candidates and their supporters to take down campaign materials.

In the cases of Wow Pilipinas and 1-Pacman, the exposures have been consummated and for sure, they have benefitted from it. There is no way the Comelec can ‘take it down’.

The use of legitimate sports events as a vehicle to promote political ends is a very abusive and hypocritical way of campaigning given the state of sports in the country.

At best, Wow Pilipinas and 1-Pacman can do better by spending their millions to help the hundreds of Filipino athletes not named Manny Pacquiao, and kids who need a playground even less fancier than a five-star hotel.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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EDGEDAVAO

“W

e have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” – Epictetus Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say,” Bryant H. McGill once said.

There was this young executive who took a trip into a far away place to give a talk on better housing for the people in the area. The time came for him to speak. While a huge crowd had gathered outside the hall, only some ventured inside.

The man stepped to the door and invited them to come in. He assured them the admission was free. There was a lot of mumbling and whispering, but the speaker could not make out just why they were reluctant to enter.

Finally, he called a bright-looking fellow and asked what the trouble was. “Before they come in,” the fellow said, “they want to know how much you pay them for listening.”

“What!” the speaker exclaimed with great surprise. “I should pay them to hear me lecture?”

“Oh, sure thing!” the fellow said. “Anybody can talk, talk, talk, talk, but to

E

ven as the public is witnessing the long dragging, almost cinematic and heated controversy between the PAO’s Persida Acosta and DOH’s Sec, Francisco Duque on the scandalous Denvaxia issue, the country is besieged by a new disease outbreak – measles.

“Tigdas” in the local dialect, it is mostly affecting children, especially babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age although older children – even adults – are not exempted.

At last count, there were a reported 55 deaths with many hospitals nationwide overcrowded with young, sobbing and howling young patients.

Allegations by DOH officials that parents did not want to have their young children vaccinated because of the Denvaxia scare fed them by PAO does little justice to their mandate.

Reports reaching us say that communication alerts and warnings from

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

7

The power of listening listen long is so hard. Now, how much do you pay?”

Here’s another anecdote for you to ponder, as shared by Clifton Fadiman. Austrian-born American theatrical producer and director Jed Harris was so convinced that he was losing his hearing. So, decided to see a specialist who gave him a thorough check-up. The doctor pulled out a gold timepiece and asked, “Can you hear this ticking?”

Harris answered affirmatively. The specialist walked to the door and held up the watch again. “Now, can you hear it?” he asked.

Harris concentrated and answered, “Yes, I can hear it clearly.”

The doctor walked out of the door and into the next room and said, “Can you hear it now?” Harris again replied affirmatively.

The doctor went back to the room and told Harris bluntly: “Mr. Harris, there is nothing wrong with your hearing. You just don’t listen.”

Listening is defined as to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing. “Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the one we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand,” American psychiatrist Karl A. Menninger pointed out.

Why is it too hard to

listen? It may be because we have so many things to share that we don’t have time to listen to others. Or maybe because, we don’t understand what others are telling us.

“Effective listening is more than simply avoiding the bad habit of interrupting others while they are speaking or finishing their sentences,” Dr. Richard Carlson wrote in his book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. “It’s being content to listen to the entire thought of someone rather than waiting impatiently for your chance to respond.”

According to Dr. Carlson, the way we fail to listen is actually a symbol of how we live. “We often treat communication as if it were a race,” he explained. “It’s almost like our goal is to have no time gaps between the conclusion of the sentence of the person we are speaking

with and the beginning of our own.”

This thought seems to jibe with what American motivational speaker Stephen R. Covey said. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand,” he said, “they listen with the intent to reply.”

Most people who become successful in life are those who listen. I got that from Bernard Baruch. His exact words were: “Most of the successful people I’ve known are the one who do more listening than talking.”

Now, are you listening? But how do we become a better listener? “Slowing down your responses and becoming a better listener aids you in becoming a more peaceful person,” Dr. Carlson wrote. “It takes pressure from you. If you think about it, you’ll notice that it takes an enormous amount of energy and it very stressful to be sitting at the edge of your seat trying to guess what the person in front of you (or on the telephone) is going to say so that you can fire back your response.

“But as you wait for the people you are communicating with to finish, as you simply listen more intently to what is being said, you’ll notice that the pressure you feel is off. You’ll immediately feel more relaxed, and so will the people you are talking to. They will feel safe in slowing down their own responses be-

cause they won’t feel in competition with you for ‘airtime.’”

Pulitzer-prize winning author Ernest Hemingway knew it. “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen,” he said.

Now, allow me to share another anecdote which came out in National Canvas Goods: A group of applicants in a steamship office were waiting to be interviewed for a job as wireless operator. The room was filled with such a buzz of conversation that they paid no attention to the dots and dashes which began coming over the loudspeaker. Then in came a newcomer who sat down quietly by himself. Suddenly, he snapped to attention, and walked into the private office and came out smiling.

“Hey,” someone from the crowd called out, “how’d you get in ahead of us? We were here first.”

“One of you would have got the job,” he replied, “if you had listened to what the message from the loudspeaker.”

“What message,” they asked, surprised.

“Why, the code,” the stranger said. “It said: ‘The man I want must always be alert. The first man who gets this message and comes into my office will be placed on one of my ships as radio operator.”

Listen!

the WHO have been sent world-wide about the measles threat. It appears from our perspective that the DOH was caught flat-footed because the dissemination of appropriate information was slow in coming.

Measles is not strange to us. I mean I had it as a young boy not yet in grade school. I have observed that every year, children get sick with it and very rare that it becomes an epidemic. Surely, the DOH must have a communication template every time something worse comes along.

Ringing the alarm bells should be easy. After all, media outlets are always cooperative when it comes to information dissemination as scary as this.

However, without condemning the DOH, health officials are all on the defensive as their sad, excruciating experience against the Denvaxia scandal has all but stymied Duque and

agement conflicts that have crippled its operational efficiency such that even elementary procedures have been left hanging.

I fear that, unless DOH officials commit to plug this like a leak in the faucet, minor irritants can grow and develop to become major headaches.

Parents like to be assured that every time a SPECKS OF LIFE needle is injected into their babies’ sensitive skin, they Fred C. Lumba can sleep well into the night his officialdom from pro- that tomorrow when they actively meeting the prob- wake up, their baby would be wearing a cute smile. lem head-on.

This is no longer the This is a sad commentary because it reflects just happy set-up.

Can we blame the parhow inadequately prepared the DOH is in facing ents from exhibiting such an aloof attitude towards contingencies.

Compared to the Eb- DOH? Credibility - yes, credola virus that has dogged African countries several ibility – has been lost. A years ago, measles is treat- great chunk of it, to be able and can be contained sure.

The DOH should expect by an effective vaccination more contingencies of this program.

Unfortunately, the DOH nature. Tourists coming has been saddled by inter- into the country may, witnal leadership and man- tingly or not, have brought

some virus that may have not been noticeably present while passing through the medical scanning apparatus at the airport. Oftentimes, viruses are said to favorably germinate in tropical countries under humid conditions.

Well, I think this is enough wake up call for the DOH to reform its communication approaches and institute effective strategies, including applying a sort of corporate social responsibility technique.

A Third World country like the Philippines is susceptible to become a dumping ground of un-desirable and un-healthy stuff like the two times that unwanted trash and garbage from abroad were scrupulously dumped into our shores. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) John 1:3: “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

DOH helpless?

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Aboitiz, DICT sign MOU for telecom common tower

A

A bigger and bolder WORLDBEX this year

F

ollowing the success of its 23rd edition, the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition (WORLDBEX) is gearing up to showcase a newer, better, and bolder installment this 2019. Intent on championing sustainability and innovation as the benchmark of excellence, this year’s WORLDBEX aims to forge “A World Built Bolder”. The upcoming show aims on bringing its audience the latest and most relevant trends in the global field of construction and design plus a host of exciting new highlights that everyone should watch out for.

Wider product showcase, increased global connections Set to occupy over the 33,000sqm exhibition space of World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center Manila combined, this year’s WORLDBEX welcomes an increased number of exhibitors and partners, both old and new.

To date, over 600 local and international exhibitors are expected to participate at the show with over 1,500 booths along with various embassies and reputable associations. More countries have also pledged to take part in this year’s International Pavilion with over 15 countries participating such as Czech Republic, South Korea, Australia, New

Zealand, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand and more.

Venues for trendsetting and innovation As WORLDBEX carries on with its mission of gathering the best and brightest product innovations in the market under one venue, attendees can once again expect an impressive display of state-of-the-art technologies in the market at WORLDBEX Lab. Meanwhile, the Architects’ Gallery and Interior Designers’ Gallery shall continue to turn the spotlight on the latest and most groundbreaking trends in design. Also returning is the City of Tomorrow – an exhibit of an ever-evolving scale model metropolis as envisioned by an esteemed group of Filipino architects.

Knowledge continuously uncovered Committed to promote the value of continued learning, WORLDBEX takes pride in being a platform for the free-flowing exchange of relevant industry information through its well-conceptualized and organized line-up of seminars and conventions. Industry professionals and enthusiasts alike are also encouraged to take advantage of this year’s WORLDBEX Seminars and WORLDBEX MiniCon – a one-day seminar

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

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND OR PAG-IBIG FUND (HDMF)

Mortgagee, - versus -

hosted by the supporting associations of this year’s WORLDBEX. The expo in the palm of your hands To enhance the trade show experience of everyone, WORLDBEX has recently upgraded its app to accommodate new changes. The app now functions as a virtual tour guide by enabling visitors to explore the expo virtually and obtain all the information needed to navigate the expo with ease and comfort.

Nurturing new talents Conceived to provide young and aspiring professionals an opportunity to showcase their skills and talents in various disciplines, also making a much-anticipated comeback at this year’s WORLDBEX are the Design Excellence of Landscape, Architecture, Exhibit and Exposition (DELAXX) competition and Projéto Manila design competition.

Organized by Worldbex Services International, WORLDBEX 2019 is happening on March 13 to 17, from 10:00am to 8:00pm at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the SMX Convention Center. For more information, call (02) 656-92-39, email inquire@worldbexevents.com, visit www.worldbex .com or follow @worldbex on Facebook and Instagram.

boitiz InfraCapital, the infrastructure business unit of the Aboitiz Group, is seeking to build, operate, and maintain a network of towers throughout the Philippines in a bid to improve the connectivity of the country’s cellular network.

This will likewise pave for the expansion of the capabilities of both current and future telecommunications companies.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. and Aboitiz InfraCapital Chief Operating Officer Cosette V. Canilao signed last February 7 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which recognized Aboitiz InfraCapital as a potential common tower provider.

“This MOU simply states DICT recognizes Aboitiz as capable, and that it has the financial capacity to invest in towers that it can lease to the telecommunication companies…we want to have better telecom services within our lifetime, and we are hoping to have 50,000 towers in seven to 10 years,” Secretary Rio said.

ABOITIZ BIDS FOR COMMON TOWER PROJECT. DICT Sec. Eliseo Rio, Jr. (4th from left) and Aboitiz InfraCapital COO Cosette Canilao (2nd from right) sign the MOU recognizing Aboitiz InfraCapital as a potential common tower provider.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF Davao City

RCBC SAVINGS BANK,

Mortgagee, - versus -

EJF-REM CASE NO. 17,068-18

EJF-REM CASE NO. 17,098-19

NELSON E. GORGONIO,

Mortgagor/s.

SPS. BAINGAN W. IBRAHIM and DANNY P. USMAN,

Mortgagor/s.

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

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

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) against NELSON E. GORGONIO, Single, of legal age, Filipino Citizen with residence and postal address at Lot 22, Blk. 24, Phase 03, Deca Homes Resort Residences Subdivision Brgy. Tugbok Mintal, Davao City, in favor of Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG-IBIG FUND), to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 15, 2018, amounting to P1,026,252.19, Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees and other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction February 14, 2019 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City, to the highest bidder for CASH and/or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below with the improvements found thereon, to wit;

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee RCBC SAVINGS BANK against the mortgagor/s SPS. BAINGAN W. IBRAHIM and DANNY P. USMAN with residence and postal address at 182 VIRGO ST. corner PLUTO ST., GSIS HEIGHTS, MATINA, DAVAO CITY, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of NOVEMBER 20, 2018 amounted to THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FORTY FIVE PESOS & 91/100 (Php3,127,345.91), Philippine Currency, inclusive of principal and interest and penalties and other charges, plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on February 28, 2019 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 with all its improvements found thereon particularly described below, to wit:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 146-2017000661

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 146-2013008645 “A Parcel of Land (Lot 5, Blk. 20-A of the subdivision plan (LRC) PSD-201405, being a portion of Lot 1000-B-2-N-2-C, (LRC) PSD-3703, L.R.C. (GLRO) Cad. No. 317), Situated in the Barrio of Matina, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx, xxx. Containing an area of Three Hundred Fifty Six (356) Square Meters, more or less, xxx, xxx”

“A parcel of land of the consolidation-subdivision project (Lot 22, Blk.24, of the consolidation-subdivision plan Pcs-11-003470, being a portion lots xxx, all of Psd-112402-040969; lots xxx all of PSD-002815), situated in the Barangay Tugbok, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TEN (110) SQUARE METERS, more or less.”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on March 07, 2019 without further notice.

That in the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on MARCH 28, 2019 without further notice.

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

Davao City, Philippines, January 22, 2019.

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

Davao City, Philippines, January 07, 2019.

FOR: Atty. Francisco M. Campaner OIC-Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Prov’l Sheriff

For ATTY. FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER The OIC Clerk of Court / Ex-Officio Prov’l. Sheriff:

(sgd.) SERGIO LEONARDO J. TUPAS

Sheriff IV

Jan. 29, Feb. 05 & 12, 2019

Secretary Rio noted the advantage of Aboitiz InfraCapital as one of the potential common tower providers. “All cell sites need power, so the others (common tower providers) will have to get it from outside their organization.

Except for Aboitiz, they can get power using their sister company,” Sec. Rio said.

Aboitiz InfraCapital, through its sister company AboitizPower, can well provide the expertise to find efficient solutions for the power requirements of the cellular towers.

Part of Aboitiz InfraCapital's responsibilities is to secure a binding contract with telco operators in the country.

Once this is secured, a Memorandum of Agreement will then be discussed with DICT. Canilao underscored the need to build a robust, modern, and efficient telecommunication infrastructure which is very crucial to the economic development of the Philippines. With the reputable and strong track record of the Aboitiz Group, it is offering its services to provide a solution to such pressing need.

“The Aboitiz group possesses extensive experience

in building and operating utility networks, for example, through its distribution utilities Visayan Electric Co. Inc. (VECO) and Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC).

Moreover, the Aboitiz group has established a strong track record on the management and execution of complex projects,” Canilao said.

A strong nationwide presence, coupled with proven project development, execution, and asset management capabilities, will enable the Aboitiz group to implement its initiatives efficiently and maximize its full potential.

Among the other projects of Aboitiz InfraCapital include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) expansion (Aboitiz InfraCapital is part of the NAIA Consortium) and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport operation & maintenance projects, both of which were granted Original Proponent Status. In addition, Aboitiz InfraCapital unit Apo Agua is currently constructing the country’s largest private bulk water supply facility in Davao City. It also has stakes in Lima Water Corporation and Balibago Waterworks Systems, Inc.

Joining them are (from left) Ivin Alzona, DICT Assistant Secretary; AlanSilor, DICT Assistant Secretary; John Henry Naga, DICT Undersecretary; and (far right) Jerome Cachau, Aboitiz InfraCapital Infra Group Lead.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Municipal Trial Courts in Cities 11th Judicial Region Branch 5 Davao City

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF JENNIFER ASAYAS JUNTILLA with Registry No. 99-5,570, with PRAYER FOR ANNOTATION OF LEGITIMATION AND THAT SHE BE LEGALLY KNOWN AS “JENNIFER ASAYAS JUNTILLA” JENNIFER ASAYAS JUNTILLA, NESTOR AGRAVANTE JUNTILLA, SR. and MARLINDA ASAYAS JUNTILLA,

Petitioner, -versusTHE OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF DAVAO CITY, Respondent, X-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X ORDER The petitioner through counsel filed this verified petition seeking an order from this Court, that after due notice, publication and hearing, to direct the Local Civil Registrar of Davao City to correct the following entries in petitioner’s Certificate of Live Birth, particularly her name from “JENNIFER ASAYAS JUNTILLA” to “JENNIFER ASAYAS”; and the date of her birth from “December 1, 1988” to “December 1, 1982”; and to direct the Local Civil Registrar to annotate her Legitimation and that she will be legally known as “Jennifer Asayas Juntilla”.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given due course and set for hearing on FEBRUARY 25, 2019 at 8:30 in the morning, at which date and time any interested party may appear and show cause, if any, why said petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published, at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a Newspaper of general circulation in the City and Province of Davao, as determined by raffle in accordance with law.

Petitioner is directed to submit the Judicial Affidavits of her witnesses five (5) days before the scheduled hearing. The Branch Clerk of Court is hereby commissioned to hear and receive the evidence of the parties.

Furnish the Office of the Solicitor General, the Local Civil Registrar of Davao City and the City Legal Office of Davao City with a copy of this Order and each with a copy of the Petition, who may oppose the same within fifteen (15) days from notice hereof.

SO ORDERED. Davao City, Philippines, August 31, 2018.

(sgd.) ORLANDO S. ACOSTA Sheriff IV Jan. 29, Feb. 05 & 12, 2019

(sgd.) RETRINA E. FUENTES Judge

9 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

MEASLES

STRIKE

AGAIN

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“Measles is incredibly resilient and our success is fragile. If we drop our guard, this disease will regain a foothold and spread like wildfire once again.

We must stay vigilant.” -- Dr. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the American Red Cross, 2009 Eighteen-month-old Jessie was an active, playful toddler.

Then, one day, he was struck down with a high fever, severe coughing, diarrhea, vomiting and a red rash on his face and chest.

When Jessie started gasping for breath on the sixth day of his illness, his parents rushed him to a hospital. The doctor diagnosed pneumonia, a complication of measles. Although he was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics, his condition worsened. Two days after admission, Jessie died.

Sarah, the boy’s mother, later told doctors she didn’t realize that measles was life-threatening. She hadn’t had Jessie vaccinated against the disease even though she lived just over a kilometer away from a health center.

“If only I had known,” she said.

With vaccine available for measles, the acute bacterial respiratory infection should have been part of history already – but such is not the case.

In fact, it has returned as a major public health threat. In 2011, for instance, 158,000 people from around the world – mostly children under the age of five – died of measles. That’s 18 deaths every hour or 430 deaths every day. “More than 95% of measles deaths occur in low-income countries with weak health infrastructures,” the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

Most of those hit by measles are developing countries, including the Philippines. In 2014, measles was a real battle in the country, with the final measles tally at 58,010 cases, according to the WHO. The figure included 110 people, mostly children, who lost their lives to the contagious virus.

The battle continues even today. A surveillance report from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that from January to March 2017 there was only one reported measles case in Davao Region but it surged to 167 cases (with five deaths) the following year on same time period.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao trailed with 157 cases (but no reported casualty) from one case in 2017. Other regions with increasing number of measles cases were Region 9 (114 cases from 6 cases), Region 12 (87 cases with one death from no reported case the previous year), National Capital Region (86 cases and 5 deaths from two cases in 2017), and Region 10 (59 cases with one death from one case).

According to the surveillance report, the top provinces with confirmed cases from 2015 to 2017 were Davao del Sur (107 cases), Metro Manila (87), Zamboanga del sur (76), and Maguindanao (61).

“Areas with declared epidemics were: Davao City, Zamboanga City, Isabela City in Basilan, Alicia in Zamboanga Sibugay, Taguig City in Metro Manila, and some municipalities in Antique,” the surveillance report pointed out From January to March 2018, the health department’s Public Health Surveillance Division also tried to figure out if those confirmed measles were

anti-dengue vaccine which, according to the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), has resulted in the deaths of several children who were vaccinated.

“Since I assumed office in November 2017, I found myself faced with the Dengvaxia crisis,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, said in a television interview in January 31. “In attempt to collaboratively resolve this issue, we also reached out to various government agencies, including the Public Attorney’s Office. Unfortunately, my fellow public servants… refuse to cooperate. As a consequence, we saw a decline in vaccine confidence and a rise in cases of measles

vaccinated against the disease. Majority (80%) were unvaccinated.

“Top reasons for non-vaccination of measles-containing vaccine among confirmed cases were: not eligible for vaccination (28%), mother was busy (20%), and child was sick (16%),” the report stated.

Other reasons cited were schedule forgotten, difficult access to health services, and fear of side effects. There were also children not vaccinated because it was against their belief, moved residence, war conflict, refusal of parents, lack of knowledge, child was abandoned, and history of travel.

Some people believe that the recent spike of measles cases in the country was due to “the low trust in the government’s mass immunization program” as a result of the controversial

and other vaccine preventable diseases.”

PAO’s Atty. Persida Acosta, in a television report in February 6, responded: “Iyong kakulangan nila sinisisi nila sa PAO eh sila itong hindi nagbakuna ng measles vaccine sa mas nakararaming Pilipino. Inatupag nila Dengvaxia. Ano ba ang binabakunahan ng measles vaccine, ‘di ba one year old? Bakit ‘di nila binabakunahan? Bakit ‘di sila nangumbinsi?”

As a result of imbroglio and lack of immunization of Filipino children, the health department feared that about 2.4 Filipino children are at risk of getting infected with measles. “We are impending that we will have another outbreak for this year,” Dr. Ruby Constantino, director of the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau told CNN Philippines in a television interview.

Measles has often been described “the simplest of all infectious diseases.” It is probably the most “visible” infection due to a consistent clinical picture and the fact that virtually everyone contracted it before vaccination was introduced in the early 1960s.

Also called rubeola, measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It usually affects children but can occur at any age in susceptible persons. A person who has been infected with measles become immune for life.

The measles virus is not the same virus that causes German measles, or rubella.

“The virus is spread by droplets from the mouth or throat secretions,” explained Dr. Donald M. Vickery and Dr. James F. Fries, authors of Take Care of Yourself.

The measles virus, which remain suspended in their air for several hours, can only be killed by sunlight. It is very active during the cold months, particularly December to January.

Measles – locally known as “tigdas” or “tipdas” – is a very contagious illness caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family (which also caused mumps, German measles and chicken pox). “The measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs,” the WHO said. “Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals.

Measles is easily spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person. Sneezing and coughing can put contaminated droplets into the air. “The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours,” the WHO said.

Those who have had an active measles infection or who have been vaccinated against the measles have immunity to the disease. Before widespread vaccination, measles was so common during childhood that most people became sick with the disease by age 20.

Due to a boost in global efforts to vaccinate people against measles, total cases declined. But in 2010, cases of measles increased again, driven largely by outbreaks, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreaks were mainly linked to low vaccination coverage of the population, in some cases due to little access to health services. There are also parents who do not let their children get vaccinated because of unfounded fears that the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles,

mumps, and rubella, can cause autism. Large studies of thousands of children have found no connection between this vaccine and autism.

“Not vaccinating children can lead to outbreaks of a measles, mumps, and rubella – all of which are potentially serious diseases of childhood,” reminded Dr. Neil K. Kaneshiro, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said that a person infected with measles can infect up to 12-13 more people. So, how will you know that a person has measles?

“The first sign of measles is usually a high fever, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus, and lasts four to seven days,” the WHO informed.

“A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage.

“After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about three days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet.

The rash lasts for five to six days, and then fades. On average, the rash occurs 14 days after exposure to the virus (within a range of seven to 18 days).”

Most measles-related deaths are caused by complications associated with the disease. Complications are more common in children under the age of five, or adults over the age of 20. The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhea and related dehydration, ear infections, or severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

“As high as 10% of measles cases result in death among populations with high levels of malnutrition and a lack of adequate health care,” the WHO said. “Women infected while pregnant are also at risk of severe complications and the

pregnancy may end in miscarriage or preterm delivery.”

One good thing: People who recover from measles are immune for the rest of their lives.

Among those who are at risk of being infected with measles are unvaccinated young children; they are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. Unvaccinated pregnant women are also at risk. Any non-immune person (who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected.

Until now, no specific antiviral treatment exists for measles virus. But it can be prevented, according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). It urges mothers to have their children immunized with measles vaccine at 9 months old.

“In case of measles outbreak, measles vaccine can be given again to infants (6 months old), children and adults by health workers,” PRC says, adding that vitamin A supplementation may be given during routine measles vaccination.

Severe complications from measles can be avoided though supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution.

This solution replaces fluids and other essential elements that are lost through diarrhea or vomiting. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat eye and ear infections, and pneumonia.

Even in countries with good health services, measles can be very serious, particularly in young children, according to Dr. Peter Strebel from the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the WHO. “Measles still causes an estimated 197, 000 deaths each year around the world, the majority of them children under the age of five. Parents and doctors need to be reminded that measles is a highly contagious disease,” he said.

10 NEWS BARMM... FROM 1 tionship and close cooperation between Japan and Mindanao.”

“We appreciate your driving force to get the bilateral relationship closer and stronger,” Kono said.

The Consulate-General of Japan in Davao is located at Jose P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City.

Kono also sent the Japanese government’s sympathies to the victims’ families of the bombing inside the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Jolo, Sulu which killed 21 people and injured 100 others.

Kono reiterated the Japanese government’s condemnation against any act of terrorism in the country.

Joining Dominguez and Kono during the bilateral meeting are Jose Laurel, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Japan and DOF undersecretary Mark Joven.

The finance secretary thanked Japan for its continuous support to the Philippine government in the major infrastructure projects and sectoral cooperation.

“Over the years, Japan remained to be the Philippines’ top official development assistance or ODA partner. We recognize the steadfast commitment of the Government of Japan in supporting our country’s development agenda especially in helping us jumpstart the aggressive Build, Build, Build infrastructure

modernization program so crucial to our nation’s sustained economic development,” Dominguez said.

The DOF chief said that nine loan agreements were signed between the government of Japan and the Philippines, while six high-level meetings were already convened since 2017, in view of strengthening of Philippines-Japan Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation.

“With frequent coordination meetings, our accomplishments in the last two years are unprecedented,” Dominguez said as he personally looks forward to the 7th High Level meeting in Osaka, Japan later this month to further explore economic cooperation between the two countries.

In a separate interview shortly after emerging from the closed door talks with Kono, MILF chair Ebrahim said that he is happy with Japan’s pledge of support to Mindanao especially now that transition towards BARMM will be formalized within this month.

Ebrahim said that that the discussion was more focused on the Japan’s participation on the programs of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

“We wish the Japanese government will continue and strengthen their support of the development program of the (BARMM) area,” Ebrahim said.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

AGREEMENT... FROM 1

PRRD... FROM 2

more Filipinos to visit Japan as he cited the growing tourist arrival from the Philippines in the past few years.

“Last year, half a million Filipinos visited Japan and it expanded six times over the last six years and we’d like to welcome more visitors,” Haneda said.

“Visa has been relaxed for some while and now we are giving you a 10-year visa starting last August.

We would like to welcome more Filipinos,” he added.

Japan is similarly a top source market for the Philippines.

Data from the Department of Tourism showed that the Japanese market yielded a total of 631,801 tourists in 2018 alone, reflecting an 8.1 percent growth from the previous 584,180 figures. Manila is targeting to increase visitor

arrivals from Japan to 1.37 million in 2022.

Promoting Saga Meanwhile, Japan is hyping up the promotion of Saga Prefecture, popular for the trademark Saga beef that rivals the more prominent Kobe Wagyu for its finely marbled meat and sweet, full-bodied flavor when grilled.

On Friday night, Saga Governor Yoshinori Yamaguchi visited Manila to promote their tourism products at the “Sights, Sounds, and Tastes of Saga” reception in Makati.

“There’s a lot of foreigners, including Filipinos, come here (Saga). We are enthusiastic to attract more,” Yamaguchi said.

Saga is located in the north of Kyushu and is bordered by Fukuouka Prefecture and Nagasaki Prefecture. (PNA)

The Governor thanked the responders and volunteers that include the BFP, PEEMART Rescue Group, the Provincial Engineering Office, PNP, Philippine Army, the reserve force, and the City and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, among others for their prompt action.

Meanwhile Fire Marshall

SINSP Cena called on the residents of the city and the province to wield necessary precautions against fires so that incidents like this will be prevented.

He also asked people, especially the bystanders, to cooperate with the authorities during emergency cases so that quick interventions will not be hampered. By Karen Lou Deloso

and freedom of the citizenry,” the President added.

PRRD also expressed his gratitude to the local officials of Eastern Visayas for the unwavering commitment to eradicate the ills of society.

“Your presence and participation in this gathering reaffirms your commitment to protect our people and ensure the safety of our communities, and your support to these endeavors has indeed improved the capacity of our law enforcement agencies in defending our freedom,” he said.

The President further acknowledged the village chiefs’ efforts saying, “Your hard work serves as an inspiration for our people especially the youth, to take part in the noble work in nation building.”

Meanwhile, Año stressed the importance of barangay officials as the implementers of national and local laws and ordinances and thereby the instrument of change.

“These baragay officials are the instrument of change because they are the little presidents and chief

executives in the barangays.

They have the responsibility and power in the fight against criminality at the local level,” he said.

“I believe you are all aware of the programs of the government, the advocacies and priorities of the president. Today’s wide knowledge and understanding will also pave the way to peace and order and total development of our community,” Año added.

The DILG chief finally assured said public servants of its agency’s support in their initiatives towards peace and order of the community, while at the same time reminding them to be always vigilant and remain sincere in the fight against all forms of criminality.

Discussed during the Barangay Summit spearheaded by the DILG and the Office of the President were the government’s campaign on the prevention of illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, violent extremism, current administration’s quest for Federal Republic and the DILG’s mandate to maintain peace and order. (LDL/GTT/ PIA-8 Leyte)

van was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on August 12, 2018, where

12,000 job vacancies from more than 40 employers were offered. (PR)

Homenetmen at striking distance, but a buzzer-beating triple from Juan Gomez De Liaño kept Mighty Sports' lead at eight, 42-34, entering halftime.

Mighty Sports then began pulling away in the third quarter as Justin Brownlee and Jeremiah

Gray led the team to open a 13-point lead, 67-54.

Not helping Homenetmen's cause was the technical fouls slapped on Elias Rustom and the entire coaching staff, leading to free throws from Lamar Odom that sparked his own great run in the game.

(PNA)

GRIEF... FROM 3

HUNDRED... FROM 4

MIGHTY... FROM 11

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

76ers rout Lakers by 23

L

OS ANGELES - Joel Embiid scored 37 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to power the Philadelphia 76ers over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 143-120 Sunday in a matchup of high-profile NBA clubs.

The 24-year-old Cameroon 7-footer (2.13m) was supported by 22 points from Tobias Harris and 21 more from JJ Redick in a romp over LeBron James and the Lakers, who fell to 28-28.

At 36-20, the 76ers pulled within 5.5 games of Eastern Conference leader Milwaukee as Embiid pondered the team’s title hopes.

“We’ve got a chance, especially this year. We’ve got to keep working,” he said.

“I plan on being here for a long time. This is my city.”

A trade with the Los Angeles Clippers added Harris to the lineup and Embiid likes the move even though new players must adjust to the 76ers in mid-season.

“I think we got better,” Embiid said. “These new

guys, we’ve got to teach them the new system, but I think we’re going to be great.”

Every Embiid rebound came on the defensive boards, with the African star already seeing himself as the NBA’s top defender.

“I feel like defensively I’m the best in the league and that’s where it starts,” Embiid said. “When I can carry the load defensively I’m going to do so.”

James had 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a losing cause.

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, averaging 18.7 points a game, scored 23 of his game-high 39 points in the first quarter to give the Lakers a 40-39 lead. Kuzma made 8-of-11 shots from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

Redick sank a corner 3-pointer falling beyond the baseline after being fouled and then sank a free throw to complete a four-point play with 2:32 remaining in the second quarter. That gave the 76ers a 69-63 lead on the

way to a 76-67 half-time advantage and the hosts dominated in the second half.

Slovenian 19-year-old swingman Luka Doncic scored 28 points, including what proved to be the game-winning 3-point play, as the Dallas Mavericks edged visiting Portland 102-101.

Doncic, who also had nine rebounds and six assists, boosted Dallas ahead 102-99 with 88 seconds remaining but Portland’s CJ McCollum hit a jumper to create the final margin.

Doncic missed a late 3-pointer but Damian Lillard missed a jumper for the Trail Blazers to secure the Dallas triumph, the Mavericks having outscored Portland 24-9 in the fourth quarter to rally for the triumph.

Tim Hardaway Jr added 24 points for the Mavericks. Lillard scored a gamehigh 30 points for Portland while Bosnian big man Jusuf Nurkic added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.

M

first time they met, Mighty Sports torched Homenetmen early on en route to the blowout win.

Jett Manuel, who only had six points all tournament-long prior to the bronze medal game, scorched for eight points in just the first quarter as he

helped Mighty Sports take a 23-21 lead at the end of the period.

Santi Santillan then went on to work in the second quarter, scoring six points to bring the lead up to eight.

Jerar Hadidan kept

TOP GUN. Davao's Alexander Tila scores on a drive to power Davao City past Cagayn de Oro City in the finals of boys basketball in the recent 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg in nearby Tagum City. Davao City, represented mostly by players from Holy Child College of Davao, will advance to the National Finals in Ormoc. KOII CANARIAS

Mighty Sports finishes 3rd ighty Sports capped its stint in the Dubai International Basketball Championship on a high note after mauling Homenetmen, 92-76, in the battle for third at the Shabab Al-Ahli Club in Dubai on Saturday night.

In a far cry from the

FMIGHTY, P10

GOLD IN THE DIAMOND. Davao City's boy baseball team captured the gold medal in the recent 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg in nearby Tagum City. The DC nine will represent Mindanao in the National Finals slated in Ormoc City. KOII CANARIAS

Champ breaks foe's nose

G

Davao’s fitness community continues to grow along with the mushrooming gym facilities around the city. The good news is, fitness buffs can now get a hold of the world’s top of the line fitness equipment Technogym dubbed as the “Rolls Royce of Gym Equipment” which is now available at

the Arcadia Fitness Gym inside the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center. To draw more Dabawenyos to a healthy lifestyle, Arcadia Fitness Gym offers seven percent off on annual membership for sign ups until Tuesday, February 12.

ervonta Davis retained his World Boxing Association super featherweight world title with a vicious firstround knockout of former world champion Hugo Ruiz on Sunday.

Unbeaten Davis lived up to his knockout-artist reputation with his 20th win inside the distance out Gervonta Davis and Hugo Ruiz in action. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) of his 21 victories.

The powerful southpaw hurt Ruiz Ruiz was a late re- stopped the fight when with a straight left, and placement for three-di- Ruiz failed to say if he then followed up with vision champion Abner felt he could continue. a three-punch com- Mares, who withdrew “Ruiz didn’t answer bination capped by a from the bout two weeks me,” Reiss said. right hook to the side of ago with a detached ret“I told them clearly Ruiz’s face that dropped ina in his right eye. in the dressing room the challenger to a knee.

Ruiz, a former super that you’ve got to show Ruiz, blood stream- bantamweight world me you want to be in ing from his nose, was champion, was com- this fight. able to rise but refer- ing off a unanimous “When I asked him ee Jack Reiss called a 12-round decision over ‘Can you continue’ in halt at 2:59 of the first Alberto Guevara on the Spanish he kind of just round. undercard of Manny looked down and didn’t “Tonight I just want- Pacquiao’s 12-round answer. ed to put on a great per- demolition of Adrien “He was really hurt, formance,” said Davis, Broner and took the that nose was broken who posted his 12th fight on 10 days’ notice. earlier and then he got straight knockout.

Reiss said he hit on it again.”

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL.11 ISSUE 232 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

UNSCATHED

Gensan’s Gaballo retains WBA title

W

orld Boxing Association (WBA) interim bantamweight champion Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo kept his unblemished record unscathed with a knockout win against Yuya Nakamura of Japan in their 10-round fight at Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila on Saturday night.

Gaballo scored his third knockdown with a thundering left hook that sent Nakamura to the canvass at the middle of the second round, prompting referee Virgilio Garcia to count the Japanese fighter out.

Nakamura protested the call for being premature but Garcia stood firm in his call as Gaballo improved his impressive ring record to 21-0 with 19 knockouts.

The Filipino champ scored his first two knockdowns in the opening round to the delight of the crowd.

“I was trying to size

him up in the opening round but his cockiness encouraged me to go for an early knockout while sticking to the game plan,” Gaballo said.

In the co-main event, Romero “Ruthless” Duno patiently studied and sized up his opponent Kuldeep Dhanda of India in the opening and scored knockdowns midway.

Smelling blood in the following round, Duno decided to go for the kill.

Dhanda tried to stay away from Duno’s attacks but got caught by a perfect vicious right haymaker that caught him flush on the jaw sending him sprawled on the canvass unconscious.

The Indian remained asleep for minutes with the medics attending to him. Luckily, he was able to recover and rested in his corner while Duno’s hands were raised in victory.

With the victory, Du-

TWIN GOLDS. Davao City’s Andrei Kenny Sing shows fine form en route to winning two golds in the recent 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex Tennis Center. Sing, a standout of Holy Child College of Davao, took the gold medals in boys singles and boys doubles events.

KOII CANARIAS

no’s record improved to 20 wins with 16 knockouts and one loss.

“I am happy I won but I got so concerned

when I saw him unconscious longer than I expected,” Duno said.

Meanwhile, Dave Apolinario also kept his

clean record intact at 11-0 with a unanimous decision win against Romshane Sarguilla.

Sarguilla had his

good moments in some rounds but Apolinario dominated the fight with class and excellent ring generalship. (PNA)