Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 50 | Monday-Tuesday, June 8-9, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

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NOT JUST YET No groundbreaking for DavaoSamal Bridge in July: DPWH

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed on Monday there is no groundbreaking happening in July for the much-anticipated P23.04-billion Davao-Samal bridge project.

DPWH Project Manager 1 Engineer Lilibeth Rico said the Davao-Samal connector has not reached the stage to break ground for the start of its construction.

In March this year, Governor Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte has announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the mega project will be held on July 1, 2020. Jubahib said the groundbreaking will be simultaneously held at Azuela Cove

in Davao City and Barangay Caliclic in Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

Rico clarified that once the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is lifted and if permitted, DPWH may proceed with the contract negotiation for the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) for Davao-Samal Bridge.

According to her, duration of the DED runs up to 10 months.

“Definitely wala pa tayo sa

stage to conduct any groundbreaking for contruction in July,” she said in a text message.

“Before the lockdown, we are about to conduct contract negotiation for DED consultants, hindi natuloy due to ECQ. Since we work from home (WFH), pre-negotiation preparations lang ang pwede naming gawin,” she added.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, chair of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said the contract negotiation for the preparation of Davao-Samal Bridge project’s DED has just been finished and the start of the DED preparation is tentatively set in July 2020.

He said in a text message that this activity is funded by

Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF).

“The budget at the moment is for the Feasibility Study and DED, which is not locally sourced but loaned from the ADB thru the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility,” he said.

Piñol said given that the Davao-Samal Bridge is a priority project, the DPWH has included in its proposal for General Appropriation Act (GAA) FY 2021 the budget for its construction.

The Davao-Samal connector, which will span 2.8 kilometers and to be funded through official development assistance (ODA), has already received final ap-

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A Philippine Airlines (PAL) aircraft flies out of Davao International Airport in this undated photo. PAL was the first commercial flight that served the Davao City-Manila air route on Monday afternoon after flights were suspended last March due to COVID-19 pandemic. Edge Davao

WORLDWIDE COVID-19 NUMBERS BOARD

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PHILIPPINES

WORLDWIDE

CONFIRMED: 7,093,971 • DEATH: 406,231 • RECOVERED: 3,462,573

CONFIRMED: 21,895 • DEATH: 1,003 • RECOVERED: 4,530

As of June 8, 2020, here’s the Top 5 list of countries with most number of COVID-19 cases 1. U.S.A CONFIRMED: 2,007,449 DEATH: 112,469 RECOVERED: 761,708

2. BRAZIL CONFIRMED: 691,962 DEATH: 37,312 RECOVERED: 302,084

3. RUSSIA CONFIRMED: 467,673 DEATH: 5,859 RECOVERED: 226,731

4. SPAIN CONFIRMED: 288,630 DEATH: 27,136 RECOVERED: --

5. GREAT BRITAIN CONFIRMED: 286,194 DEATH: 40,542 RECOVERED: --

SOURCE: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

Quarantine reclassiffication possible by June 15: Palace

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A man uses a basin to protect himself from the rain while riding on a motorcycle that is traversing along the national road in Tamugan, Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

reclassification of community quarantines in different parts of the country is a possibility, but Metro Manila will have to be “examined closer”, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it is a “safe conclusion” that the government will reclassify areas following the decrease of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases by date of onset of illness, and a longer case doubling rate.

“I would say that it is a safe conclusion na magkakaroon na naman po ng (that there will be another) reclassification except iba po ang data ng Metro Manila (Metro Manila, which has different data),” he said in a virtual presser.

Roque pointed out that Metro Manila will be examined closer since it is the epicenter of Covid-19 cases in the country, “I think Metro Manila will have to be reexamined closer kung mag-e-MGCQ siya (if it will be downgraded to modified general community quarantine) next week. I cannot actually conclude because the data of NCR is different,” he said.

He said there is an “even chance” that relaxed quarantine protocols will be implemented in Metro Manila.

“It’s an even chance I would say pero titingnan po natin ang datos dahil alam niyo naman, talagang ang sentro ng Covid-19 ay dito sa Metro Manila (but we have to review the data because you know the epicenter of Covid-19 is here in Metro Manila),” he said.

Meanwhile, he admitted that the first week of implementation of the general community quarantine (GCQ) “needs improvement” but stood by its decision to only allow limited transportation from plying the streets.

“I would say that perhaps there are areas where we can improve pero wala tayong magagawa (but we cannot do anything about), for instance in transportation dahil talagang (because) we are still in community quarantine,” he said.

He reminded employers and business owners to only allow half of their workforce to physically report for work while allowing the rest to work-fromhome.

Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Zamboanga City, Davao City, Albay, Cebu City, and Mandaue City are under GCQ from June 1 to 15. The rest of the country is under MGCQ.

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Tagum City first LGU to download ROW funds for Minda train project

By MAYA M. PADILLO agum City in Davao del Norte is the first LGU in the Davao Region to download the P500 million right-of-way (ROW) funds within the month of June this year in line for the construction of the P82.9-billion Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), an official of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.

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The fund is intended for land acquisition kicking off of the construction of the first phase of the MRP Tagum-Davao-Digos (MRP TDD).

DoTr Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Eymard Eje, in a phone

interview, said the LGU of Tagum has already completed and submitted the program of work that include appraisal of the value of lots and may download the funds within this month.

The P500 million was

SPMC to increase daily virus tests to 1,000

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he fund is intended for land acquisition kicking off of the construction of the first phase of the MRP TagumDavao-Digos (MRP TDD).

DoTr Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Eymard Eje, in a phone interview, said the LGU of Tagum has already completed and submitted the program of work that include appraisal of the val-

ue of lots and may download the funds within this month.

The P500 million was culled out from the P5.6 billion budget provided in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for land acquisition and fees for the services on appraisal, survey works and administrative costs needed under the MRP TDD project.

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culled out from the P5.6 billion budget provided in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for land acquisition and fees for the services on appraisal, survey works and administrative costs needed under the MRP TDD project.

“After ma-download ang funds, the next step will be validating the appraisal of the land value as well as the resettlement action plans for the informal settlers,” Eje said.

Based on the latest documents submitted, the LGUs of Carmen in Davao del Norte, Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Digos City in Davao del Sur, and Panabo City in Davao del

Norte will probably follow after Tagum City.

Eje said areas for the railway alignment in Davao City has been already identified.

“We expect questions on ROW issues and we will deal them one by one,” he said.

According to Eje, the Embassy of China in the Philippines promised to send the short list of bidders for the MRP project also this month.

The project will be financed through an official development assistance (ODA) from China, but still awaiting for the short list that would serve as the project’s contractor

for the first phase of MRP Tagum-Davao-Digos (MRP TDD) segment.

The bidders from China will bid for two packages, project monitoring consultancy and the design and build contractor.

Once the Chinese government submits the list, DoTr will proceed with the bidding procedures.

Eje said they will announce the ceremonial groundbreaking for the project after the bidding.

However, there will be no official groundbreaking to happen for MRP but just ceremonial due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the groundbreaking supposedly hap-

pen first quarter of 2020, however, China was first hit by COVID-19 then lockdowns and health protocols such as social distancing were implemented.

“Because of these, although, mag-start na tayo baka ceremonial groundbreaking na lang,” Eje said.

The initial phase of MRP aims to establish a 74-kilometer at-grade and 26-kilometer single-track and non-electrified railway from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur. The Phase 1 will have eight stations located in Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao, Toril, Sta. Cruz and Digos.

he Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said persons behind the so-called "ghost accounts" of many Facebook users may be prosecuted for identity theft.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete, in a briefing with newsmen via Whatsapp, said criminal liability for computer-related identity theft defined and punished under Sec. 4 (b)(3) of RA No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 "is among the

possible violations being looked into" by investigators.

Perete said as of Sunday night, the DOJ Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) has received 112 reports from users with duplicate/dummy accounts.

"The preservation of these data, as well as the determination of the subscriber information of those responsible, is essential for us to determine why these so-called ghost accounts exist in the first

place. Suffice it to state that at this point, all possible angles and leads will be pursued," Perete said when asked following public speculation on the matter.

He added that an initial batch of accounts has been brought to the attention of Facebook to be taken down, with a concomitant request for their preservation.

"Our law enforcement agencies are doing the probe. We are coordinating with them to the extent that

their participation is necessary," Perete said, adding that the social media company's representatives are assisting in the preservation of data an obtaining a deeper understanding of Facebook's processes and protocols.

He also assured that those who report violations have ample protection from the law since the Data Privacy Act "prohibits disclosure of information without consent or beyond

DOJ eyes cybercrime raps vs. 'dummy accounts' perpetrators

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

This would have been a perfect summer snapshot save for the face masks and shields that Cassy 6, and her sister Hallie, 2 are wearing, as they play at the Boulevard in Dipolog City at sunset on Saturday, 06 June 2020. The facial protection measures betray a childhood rudely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photographer prays

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that “the memories they grow up with are not clouded by fear but inspired by witnessing kindness as humanity copes and rises from this dark chapter.” Photo by ARMAND B. FRASCO

DepEd: No vaccine, no A face-to-face classes

Bill penalizing cancellation of food, grocery deliveries filed

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ducation Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday that face-toface classes would remain prohibited until a vaccine against the new coronavirus was made available in the country.

“We will comply with the President’s directive to postpone face-to-face classes until a vaccine is available,” Briones said in a statement.

Briones was reacting to pronouncements made by President Rodrigo Duterte in a taped address, which aired Friday morning, where the chief executive suggested that there should be no classes until a vaccine against the respiratory ill-

ness was developed. Cc’d Duterte, in the same taped address, also expressed doubts whether the country was ready for distance learning, but said he would support the Department of Education.

“Indeed, it is a challenging task for us at the Department of Education to prepare our schools in a different set-up but we are committed to our duty to make education available

and thriving, even in the most difficult time,” Briones said.

Briones said they have started preparing for the implementation of blended learning, which involves the mixed use of online platforms, printed or digital modules, and radio and television.

Teachers are also being trained to utilize the new platforms in delivering lessons, she said.

Briones added that they are working with education experts and partners from the private sector to develop, acquire and deploy learning resources.

The education chief assured that they would regularly provide assessment

reports to the public.

As of Monday morning, around 6.4 million students have enrolled in public and private schools nationwide, according to data provided by the DepEd. “This has exceeded our expectations,” Briones said Monday in a Palace briefing.

For School Year 2019 to 2020, over 27 million K-12 students were enrolled in public and private schools, state universities and colleges, and Philippine schools overseas, DepEd data showed.

Learners may enroll in public schools for the entire month of June. The school year, meanwhile, is scheduled to start on August 24.

sistance for poor families under the government's social amelioration program.

"Tuloy po ang second tranche ng ayuda kahit kailan pa nag expire ang Bayanihan Act," Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

(The second tranche of cash aid will push through even if the Bayanihan Act expires)

"Hindi po apektado ng expiration 'yan dahil 'yung obligasyon at 'yung pera ay naririyan naman po," he added.

(That is not affected by the expiry of the law because the obligation and money is there.)

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, each beneficiary will receive cash aid ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 twice (April and

May) based on minimum wage rates in the region.

The program was later expanded to cover 5 million more families.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday said it is verifying the list for cash aid for the additional 5 million families.

"The Department will issue Social Amelioration

2nd round of cash aid to push through even if Bayanihan law expires: Palace

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alacañang assured the public Monday that the second tranche of COVID-19 cash aid will be distributed to poor families even if the law governing it expires this month.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the June 25 expiry of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act would not affect the second round of cash as-

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measure seeking to penalize individuals who will cancel their orders through food and grocery delivery service providers has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. filed House Bill 6958, or the proposed "Food and Grocery Delivery Services Protection Act," which seeks to provide protection to individuals engaged in food and grocery delivery services.

"Nais ng panukalang ito na protektahan ang mga rider ng food at delivery services companies katulad ng Grab Food, Lalafood, at Food Panda mula sa mga prankster at mga tao na basta basta na lamang nagka-cancel ng kanilang order na ang resulta ay ang pagkasayang sa oras at pagkawala ng puhunan ng mga riders," Garbin said.

"Sa panahon ngayon, napakahalaga ng mga riders na nais nating proteksyonan. Sila ay masasabing mga bagong bayani sapagkat sila ay nakikipagsapalaran upang matulungan tayo na manatili sa tahanan at maiwasan ang COVID virus," he added.

Under the measure, it is unlawful for a customer to cancel confirmed orders for the delivery of food and/or grocery items when they are already paid by the rider or are on the way to their delivery addresses.

This also applies to cus-

tomers who make "prank" orders for food and/or grocery items for delivery, or those who have no real intention to avail of these services causing damage to riders and the delivery service providers.

An exemption to this provision is when the delivery of the ordered food or grocery item is delayed for at least one hour from the expected time of arrival of the rider, except when the customer has been previously notified of the delay.

At the same time, the measure makes it unlawful for any customer to "shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate" delivery riders on any platform.

Individuals who cancel their orders under the circumstances stated in the measure may be penalized with prision mayor or six to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P100,000.

They will also have to reimburse the delivery service provider the amount paid by the driver in advance and likewise pay the provider the amount of money double the payment for the cancelled order.

Meanwhile, those who shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate delivery riders may suffer a jail sentence of six months to six years ---the penalty of prision correccional.

For additional protection to the rider, the measure likewise mandates food and grocery delivery

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

Diokno: Record-high unemployment rate in April 'grossly exaggerated'

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A pump attendant refills a vehicle with gasoline at a gasoline station in Davao City on Monday. Oil firms increase pump prices by more than P1 per liter starting today. Edge Davao

‘Bold’ autonomy initiative in BARRM to push through

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has reaffirmed the national government’s commitment to fully support and implement the “historic and bold” initiative of bringing genuine autonomy to the Bangsamoro people even amid the crisis spawned by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a statement Sunday, Dominguez said the second meeting of the National Government-Bangsamoro Government Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) conducted online last week to thresh out several concerns is the “clearest indication” of the Duterte administration’s resolve to help ensure the success of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“I assure you that the agencies of the national government serving as counter-parties in these coordination mechanisms are as fully committed to move forward with this bold initiative in auton-

omy,” Dominguez said during the May 29 meeting with BARMM officials held via the Zoom teleconference tool.

Dominguez said the national government has been impressed with the Bangsamoro government’s commitment “to build a fully capacitated bureaucracy with meritocracy as its guiding principle,” and has seen how BARMM is “fully committed to bringing social services closer to the people and transforming the (region) into an engine of growth in Mindanao.”

Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education,

thanked the national government, spearheaded by the Department of Finance (DOF), for holding the meeting despite the Covid-19 emergency.

Dominguez and Iqbal co-chair the IGRB, which is mandated to coordinate and resolve issues on intergovernmental relations between the national government and the BARMM through regular consultations and continuing negotiations.

Such issues include the effective implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the programs and projects of the national government in the BARMM. During the meeting, both Dominguez and Iqbal agreed to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the public launch at the soonest of the IGRB via an online platform even amid the Covid-19 emergency.

This move would signify, they said, the importance that both the national government and the BARMM attach to this intergovernmental body as a forum to forge closer

cooperation between the two sides.

“We are confident that our partnership will remain strong as we traverse the road to rapid recovery and bring the country back to the path of inclusive and shared prosperity upon the defeat of the virus,” Dominguez said.

In response to the concerns raised by the BARMM officials on their request to let the Bangsamoro government implement nationally funded programs in the autonomous region, Dominguez said he will urge national government agencies to enter into memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with their counterparts in the BARMM. Dominguez said he will also inform the concerned national government agencies to include the nationally funded programs of the BARMM in their respective budgets.

These projects are in the areas of health; local government; agriculture and agrarian reform; trade

as the purchase of major raw materials for food production, has benefited a lot of farmers suffering from loss of critical markets and income following the necessary imposition of enhanced community quarantine.

“We‘ve heard some reports of farmers who had difficulty shipping their produce or worse were left with no choice but to let their produce rot or spoil, or were forced to sell at below market prices,” Ang said in a statement Sunday. “Farmers are the backbone of our food supply chain and are essential

to our food security, that is why from the very start, we tried to think of programs to help them even more.”

The new “Kadiwa” stores are located at the following Petron gas stations: Bel-Aire Gil Puyat corner Makati Avenue; Edsa–Sierra Madre; Dasmarinas, Edsa; Katipunan Avenue (La Vista), Quezon City; Shaw Blvd corner Wack Wack; C5-Diego Silang, Taguig; Edsa corner Main Avenue, Cubao; 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Quezon City; Marcos Highway, Pasig; Connecticut, San Juan; Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Sucat, Paranaque; Doña Soledad

Avenue, Better Living, Paranaque; and Dr. A Santos Avenue, Sucat Road, Paranaque.

“Although we are glad to see more traditional markets opening up and catering to more people, there is still a need for the Kadiwa stores, especially for those who live nearby looking for a convenient way to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Anytime they stop by to fill up on fuel, or even if they’re just walking from home, we hope they will buy fresh produce to help our local farmers,” Ang said.

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SMC, DA open more ‘Kadiwa’ stores at Petron gas stations

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an Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the Department of Agriculture have expanded the network of “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” rolling farmers’ stores at Petron gas stations in Metro Manila, a further boost to the agricultural industry reeling from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic while providing consumers easier access to fresh fruits and vegetables straight from local farms.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said its partnership with the DA, covering the Kadiwa stores as well

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he record-high unemployment rate reported in April was "grossly exaggerated" and does not reflect the true state of the Philippine economy, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor said over the weekend.

In a text message, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos in April were mostly due to the coronavirus disease and did not necessarily reflect the economic state of the country.

"The increase in unemployment in April does not reflect the true state of the economy and the jobs market. It was more a result of the policy decision to save lives in response to the COVID -19 pandemic," he told reporters.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported last week that unemployment rate was at 17.7% in April, equivalent to an increase of 5 million from 2.3 million in April 2019.

On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) earlier said up to 10 million jobs could be lost due to the COVID pandemic.

"Note that the April 2020 Labor Force Survey (LFS) was conducted from 20 April to 16 May, at the height of the ECQ. A big part of the economy was shuttered; the consequent rise in joblessness was State-induced," said Diokno.

Metro Manila, along with several high-risk areas, was under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to May 15, followed by a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31.

"While the impact of the pandemic on the econ-

omy is broad-based, it is uneven across industries.

The loss of jobs follow the same pattern," said Diokno.

Most of the jobs lost during the period were in the services sector (wholesale and retail, transportation and storage, accommodation and food) and the industry sector (construction and manufacturing). Meanwhile, the agriculture sector was allowed to function under the ECQ. Looking ahead, Diokno said that the figures are expected to improve in the next LFS survey which will be conducted from July 20 to August 15, and will be reported in August 2020.

"Moving forward, as the containment measures are relaxed nationwide, job recovery is expected. But as job loss was uneven during the lockdown, so will job creation in the transition," he said.

Among industries Diokno said are expected to bounce back are construction and manufacturing, while a gradual resumption is seen in industries such as air travel, hotels, and tourism, which may take some time to restart due to risk aversion of consumers.

"Some might even take much longer such as theaters, ball games, conventions, and others. Some jobs might be permanently lost while new ones emerge," he said.

"On the part of the BSP, while it cannot directly ease the rise in unemployment, it recognized that the timely, proactive, and decisive monetary actions it deployed at the onset of the pandemic were strategic moves to contain the volatilities and ensure confidence in the financial market, thereby averting further damage to the economy," he added.

PCSO to slash lotto ticket price from P24 to P20

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he Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office will revert to P20 the lotto ticket price from P24, once the gaming operation resumes, according to a report on Sunday.

"Babalik po kami ng P20 inclusive na po ang VAT (value-added tax),” PCSO General Manger Royina Garma said.

In 2018, PCSO increased the lotto ticket price from P20 to P24.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, lottery tickets were subjected to higher document stamp taxes, prompting the PCSO to increase the prices of lotto.

Aside from this, Garma said PCSO will change its regulation on giving consolation prizes. She said the amount of consolation prize will be given to each winning bettor instead of splitting it among them.

“Except for jackpot prize, ‘yung other consolation prizes po, kung ano po ‘yung amount sa con-

solation prize ‘yun din po ang matatanggap ng ating mananaya,” she said. lottery, the PCSO also reduced the requirement for franchise of lotto outlet business.

The cash bond required in Manila is P300,000, while P200,000 in cities and P100,000 in municipalities, Garma said.

Due to the threat of COVID-19, the gaming operation of PCSO has been suspended since March.

Garma said PCSO already appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force to let the gaming operation resume three weeks ago.

“Sana po, so, kung napag-uusapan na, ibig pong sabihin na nabasa po nila ‘yung request namin at ito'y inaaral na rin po nila kung safe na bang ibalik ‘yung palaro,” she said.

Due to the suspended operation, the PCSO lost P12 billion to P13 billion in revenues. Around 7,000 lotto agents and 220,000 small town lottery operators were also affected.

VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

A street vendor selling mobile phone accessories waits for customers at a roadside stall along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City on Monday. Edge Davao

Oil prices up by over P1

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ump prices of petroleum products will be hiked by more than P1 per liter starting Tuesday, a week after restrictions on public transport were eased.

In an advisory, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. said it will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P1.75, diesel by P1.00, and kerosene by P1.00.

Petro Gazz will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which it does not carry.

The firms clarified that

the adjustments still do not include the 10% additional duty on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products imposed

by Duterte under Executive Order 113 which he signed on May 2.

The changes will take effect 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

Other firms have yet to announce any changes for the week.

According to the latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE), year-to-date adjustments stand at a net decrease of P9.52 per liter for gasoline, P12.44 for diesel, and P16.24 for kerosene.

The gradual resumption of public transportation will be made in two phases, with the first phase from June 1 to 21, allowing trains and bus augmentation, taxis,

transport network vehicle services, shuttle services, point-to-point buses, and bicycles.

Tricycles are allowed subject to the approval of the concerned local government unit, while provincial buses are still barred from entering and exiting Metro Manila during the period.

Meanwhile, the second phase will cover June 22 to 30, allowing public utility buses, modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) or jeepneys, and UV Express vehicles.

quarantine (GCQ).

“As we slowly transition to the new normal, we need to ensure the survival of businesses during these difficult times and in the months beyond the lifting of the quarantine,” Lopez said in a statement Sunday.

In the spirit of goodwill, generosity, and fair play, lessors of commercial spaces are also enjoined in the new MC to adopt any of the following: totally or partially waive the commercial rents that are falling due during the ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ; grant reprieve or a reduction in the amount of rent due in the months following the ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ; open for renegotiation the lease term agreements with the lessees; and use other recourse to mitigate the impact of the

ECQ, MECQ and GCQ to the MSMEs. The trade chief further reiterated his call to all lessors to continue to support and provide relief to MSMEs in anticipation of the slow restarting of the economy.

He added MSMEs currently employ 70 percent of the workforce and emphasized the need to ensure the survival of these businesses during the crisis, as well as protect the jobs it has created for millions of Filipinos.

“These guidelines will help our countrymen in the wake of the restrictions imposed during the community quarantines (CQ) that have severely affected businesses, especially MSMEs," Lopez added.

According to the guidelines, the grant by the lessor

of a minimum 30-day grace period for residential rent shall commence from the last due date or from the lifting of the ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ, whichever is longer.

For commercial rents falling due upon MSMEs and sectors not permitted to operate during the ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ, the minimum 30-day grace period shall likewise be from the last due date or from the lifting of the ECQ, MECQ and GCQ, whichever is longer.

Tenants also have the option to pay the cumulative amount of residential and commercial rents that fall due within ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ in installments equally amortized in six months following the end

Rent grace period applies to ECQ, MECQ, GCQ areas: DTI

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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has reiterated that the 30-day grace period in the payments for residential and commercial rents still has not changed, and still applies to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) not permitted to operate during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

This was followed by the issuance of DTI Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 20-31, series of 2020 on 4 June 2020, which clarified certain provisions in the earlier released supplemental guidelines of MC 20-12, particularly that the grace period on rents are covered under the ECQ, the modified ECQ (MECQ), and the general community

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Report ‘impostors’ on FB, PH privacy chief urges public

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he National Privacy Commission on Monday said social media users should immediately report fake or dummy accounts to Facebook so that the pages could be taken down immediately.

Suspected fake accounts of university students and alumni were reported Sunday. Some journalists and private individuals also reported dummy accounts over the weekend.

“Kailangan po ireport niyo iyan para matakedown nila, pangalawa tulong yan para malaman kung saan talaga ang source ng nagke-create ng mga account na ito,” NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro told Teleradyo.

(You need to report that so that it can be taken down. Second, it will help trace the source, who are creating these accounts) Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said the Department of Justice ordered its cybercrime office to coordinate with the police and the National Bureau of Investigations to look into the matter.

The Philippines is considered as the top social media user in the world according to the “Digital 2019: Global Digital Overview” by creative agency We Are Social. Filipinos spend an average of 10 hours and 2 minutes on the internet on any device, it said.

OPEC, allies agree to extend oil output cuts by 1 month

T

he Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies on Saturday agreed to extend oil production cuts by one month.

Saudi Arabia-led OPEC and Russia-spearheaded non-OPEC had agreed on April 12 to cut their total crude production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) from May 1 to June 30 to mitigate coronavirus-related low global oil demand and oversupply.

Oil-producing nations of the 23-member group known as OPEC+ agreed on Saturday to extend the

period of the agreement by one more month until the end of July 31.

However, some member countries that failed to reach full conformity with their production cut quotas in May and June will have to accommodate their curbs in July, August, and September, in addition to their already agreed production adjustment for such months, OPEC said.

In a statement, OPEC said it is vital that all major producers remain fully committed to efforts aimed at balancing and stabilizing

FOPEC, P10

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

On the accusation of House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate that the national government is behind the sudden proliferation of fake Facebook (FB) accounts of activists and university students:

Well, if Congressman Zarate has the evidence, file the corresponding charge. Pero sa panahon po ng pandemya, sana iwasan na yung ganitong conclusions na wala namang ebidensya (But in the time of a pandemic, I hope they avoid making conclusions without evidence).

Presidential Spokesperson

Harry Roque

EDITORIAL

Social media caveat

Netizens sounded off an uproar on Sunday over the proliferation of clone accounts on social media.

Hundreds of accounts on social media platform Facebook were apparently cloned prompting real holders of such accounts to raise a howl of protest. The incident took a different twist when holders of the cloned accounts blamed the administration for the so-called fake accounts. The politicization of the digital incident is another strange angle to an already polarized nation.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), however, dismissed the accusations saying it could just be a technical glitch. Theoretically, the NBI said it is impossible to create multiple accounts on Facebook, especially accounts under one ID, one cellphone number and one location. The likelihood is that it could be some technical flaws more than it being political.

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The Justice Department, nevertheless, will not let it pass.

If some persons are proven to be responsible, they may be prosecuted for identity theft. Criminal liability for computerrelated identity theft defined is punishable under Sec. 4 (b) (3) of RA No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

As of Sunday night, the DOJ Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) has received 112 reports from users with duplicate/dummy accounts.

But while everyone is concerned of their accounts being cloned, it is also a fact that by creating an account on cyberspace social media platforms and voluntarily providing personal details within the privacy rules of any such platform, the person creating an account submits to all possible ramifications of surrendering his details.

That is the caveat in social media one has to live with.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

COMPETITIVE EDGE

7

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

A MEDICAL DOCTOR’S WAR DIARY There are very few written eyewitness accounts depicting the emotions and observations the day Davao region was drawn into the global conflict in December 1941. Coinciding with the tragic destruction of Pearl Harbor, Davao City, home to roughly 20,000 Japanese nationals, was also bombed by Japanese Zero planes that same day.

Dr. Santiago Dakudao, first director of the Japanese-owned Mintal Hospital, was inside his room when the first bombs were unleashed. His war diary, written on fragile, onion-skin paper was later found by his architect-grandson, Michaelangelo E. Dakudao, in April 1987, inserted between the pages of a history book that was part of the old man’s library collection.

In clear language, Dr. Dakudao, now retired and successful as investor, realtor, and farmer, described what happened on December 8, 1941, feast of the Immaculate Conception: “We were awakened form out sleep by the heavy drones of devastating planes in the early morning. The calendar on the wood-panelled wood

of our bedroom said December 8, 1941. The thunderous explosion of the bombs shook the huse from its very foundation. The windows which I had opened revealed a clear vista of the planes in the formation of a 9O11 floating out of the now almost clear morning day. It was remarkable, I thought to myself, that the Americans were out on target practie this early. […]

“Japans truck without warning. The Pearl Harbor of the Americans was vanquished rendering it futile. This was the news we had heard all over the radio but not much detail was given. The saddest and most alarming information we got was that Manila was bombed, too. The extent of the damage was not yet available to the public. Alas, war was with us.

“Later this morning, I came across Engineer [Brigido] Valencia at San Pedro, the commercial district. The engineer has been a long time friend whose services had been employed in the construction of some of my buildings. He showed me some of the fragmentary shrapnels of the bombs used by the Japanese in ravaging the Sasa airdrome.

This tangible proof of the reality of war gave me qualms about what lay ahead of us.”

Dr. Dakudao had a particularly good impression about the Japanese people. His first encounter with them was as student of Japan Medical School and later as medical director in Davao. Following his resignation, he turned to agriculture and invited Keniche Migitaka, a Japanese, to manage his farm and hired Japanese laborers to cultivate his farms.

Given the destruction the attacks created, Dr. Dakudao did not harbor anger towards ordinary Japanese but strongly disagreed with the way the Japanese Imperial soldiers committed war atrocities. Continuing with his narrative, his diary provides evidence that Japanese landing in Davao via the gulf of Davao happened on December 19, 1941, a day early than widely recorded in many war chronicles and historical accounts: “In the wee hours of the 19th of December, we were awakened by the continuous rapping on the door. I had to drag myself from bed to go

down to check who it was. It was the watchman who was overly excited to inform me that a number of planes were flying all over. A few minutes later, bomb explosions were heard. I had gotten accustomed to these incidences that I accepted the fact that war was with us. Because of this, I managed to return to sleep. We woke up quite early to the new that the city was bombed. By eight o’clock, we were informed of a heavy combat ensuing at the Talomo area. Evidently, the Japanese had already landed. Bombing explosions interspersed with the sounds made from the firing of machine guns filled the air. We also learned that the Japanese troops, in flanking movement, were marching towards Davao City. They were landed one batch after another in Sasa and Talomo. Our troops were caught in between with no escape except towards the hills.

The Generoso Bridge was rendered useless by heavy bombing and the escaping civilians had to swim across the Davao River to get to the other side.

The casualties from both our Filipino troops and civilians

An immersive opportunity:

were innumerable, struggling in agonizing death throes against the formidable weapons of the Japanese. The invaders had tanks, planes and cannons all being nloaded from warships while our own soldiers had only their will to fight against the dreadful armaments of the Japanese. When our soldiers realized the futility in their struggle against the invaders, they retreated and started fleeing demoralized. The unbearable part was that the civilians became an easy target for the enemies’ bullets. The Japanese soldiers who seemed to relish in the positive ttucome of their military strategy made further attempt to disconcert the civilians by dropping their bombs at random.”

Dr. Dakudao, born in Dingle, Iloilo, on April 12, 1892, his wife Carmen Lacson, a native of Jaro, Iloilo, and his entire family survived the war. Highly esteemed and admired, he died on May 2, 1978 and his remains, along with those of his wife and son Santiago, Jr., were buried at the family mausoleum in Tugbok, which was a former residence when war broke out.

MCM launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020

M

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

matics, Business, may proceed to alayan Colleges Mind- MCM’s online ed by MCM. anao, a Mapúa School learning tools In order for Humanities and this link: https:// SMOKING AND as Blackparticipants to COVID-19 Social Sciences, bit.ly/MCMDIGIannounced its first Dig- such OF Learn, maximize the and Basic Ed- TALBOOTCAMP ital Learning Bootcamp 2020, board Col- improves online andlearning ucation and follow the Smokers are like- and is considered to be atBlackboard least as circulation with low birth weightsfor and inand Portuguese word tabainviting allmore SHS College ly to develop severe disease hard as quitting heroin.” your lung function increasmiscarriage. co.

“The precise origin of this laborate, Mic- experience, they coming Grade 11 subsequent inwith coronavirus disease Some people try to stop es; 1-9 months, coughing and Tobacco use is a cause or word is disputed, but it is genstudents in Mindanao to experosoft 365, Miwilldecrease; need ariskdeBasic and 2019 (COVID-19) compared smoking but mostly fail.

Feld- shortness of breath factor students; for many diseases; erallystructions thought to have derived rience the a first to non-smokers, review fully of manintegratreports: “People who 1 year, your risk of coronary especially those affecting the at lest in part from Taino, the crosoft Teams, vice such as a Algebra, Gener- link to the “MCM studies by public health exregularly consume nicotine heart disease is about half heart, liver, and lungs, as well Arawakan language of the Caed online learning system in Zoom, Panopto, computer al Physics, BusiDigital” account perts convened by the World and then suddenly stop expe- that of a smoker’s; 5 years, asunit, many cancers.

In 2008, ribbean,” Wikipedia says.

Health Organization (WHO) rience withdrawal symptoms, your stroke risk is reduce to WHO named tobacco use as In the Philippines, Wiley Plus, and laptop or a tab- ness and Man- that will be tobacsent the region — MCM Digital — found. which may include: cravings, that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 the world’s single greatest co was reportedly introduced Learnlet; and through and get the toemptiness, use Cengage “COVID-19 is opportunity an infec- a sense of anxiety, years after quitting; and 10internet preventableagement, cause of death. and by the Spaniards when the they tious disease that primarily depression, moodiness, irriyears, your risk of lung can“Tobacco kills more than 8 came to the country.

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impairs lung function making “Nicotine replacement thera- esophagus, bladder, cervix from direct tobacco use and bacco produced in the counThisfor theDigital themselves inandcoming Grade 11 decreases. sessions and at1.2students. tion. it harder body to fight pies, such as gum patches and pancreas around million are dueA to full try, with 0.29% of agricultural off coronaviruses and other are designed to help smokAccording to the WHO, non-smokers being exposed land devoted tobacco culLearning Boot- the first fully in- and 1st Year Col- least 2 Mbps for course on Math, For toany addidiseases. Available research ers quit tobacco,” the WHO the following are benefits in to second-hand smoke.” tivation, the tobaccoatlas.org camp will bearetegrated online students. s ythose n c hwho r o n o According u s Humanities, tional inquiries suggests that smokers at said, urging smokerslege to take comparison with to the UNand reports. higher risk of developing seimmediate steps to quit by continued: at about 30, gain health agency, nearly half of “The Philippines has held on June 1 to learning system These tasks sessions.

Social Science about the MCM vere disease and death.” using proven methods such almost 10 years of life ex- all children breathe air pol- made progress on tobacco 13,There 2020 in Mindanao. delivwill also beand made Digital wereand some is reports as toll-free quit lines,will mobile be pectancy; at aboutFamiliariza40, gain luted by tobacco smoke control in recentLearning years,” the that tobacco can be used in text-messaging programs and 9 years of life expectancy; at 65,000 children die each year Tobacco Atlas states. described as an The partic- ered in either tion with the on- available for Bootcamp “Howev2020, treating COVID-19. The WHO nicotine replacement thera- about 50, gain 6 years of life due to illnesses related to sec- er, people continue to die and immersive ipants orat about line 60,system and smoke. demonstration please feel free dispels it and in factexurges repies. will be synchronous expectancy; gain ond-hand become sick needlessly, and searchers, scientists and the What happens to those 3 years of life expectancy.

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8 AGRITRENDS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

What you need to know about durian?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“I

t’s the world’s smelliest snack.”

That is how author Prianka Ghosh considered the boulder-like durian.

Depending on which side you are in, durian is controversial and wellloved. There are avid fans and there are those who shunned it. Westerners who have never seen the fruit or even tried how it tastes are very much intrigued.

While I was attending an international conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida some years back, I asked a fellow journalist, who’s American, if he has tried eating durian.

When I tried to describe it to him, he wondered: “What’s that?”

“If you’ve never travelled to Southeast Asia, it’s possible that you have never encountered fresh durian fruit, the infamous and healthy but divisive Southeast Asian snack that is popular in the region,” Ghosh wrote in the website, theculturetrip. com.

“However, once you have tasted the stinky fruit, it is an experience you are not likely to forget.”

A scribe, definitely a foreigner, described durian like this: “It smells like hell but tastes like heaven.”

It’s the smell that makes durian controversial and shunned. The New York Times touted durian as the world’s smelliest fruit. “Durian stinks so badly that it’s banned from hotels and mass transit in parts of Asia,” it said.

In introducing durian to American readers, Alison Spiegel wrote: “If a fruit smelled like feet, would you eat it? If that fruit smelled like damp feet that had been festering in a soggy boot for hours, could you even bear to look at it? What if the moisture came not from a puddle or some sort of bad weather, but from dank, dirty sweat?

Would you run away and never speak this fruit’s name again?”

The fruit stinks so much that 550 people, mostly Australian students, were forced to evacuate the University of Canberra library “due to a gas leak,” but turned out the offending smell was due durian fruit, according to a CNN report.

To most who like durian, that seemed funny.

But not this one: In November 2018, an Indonesian plane was grounded after passengers complained of a stench in the cabin which was traced up to a cargo of durian.

The shape of durian fruit ranges from oblong to round, the color of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

What makes it distinct is that it is covered in formidable looking spikes that if you hold the fruit with your bare hands, the spikes could potentially pierce the skin.

That unique appearance is dwarfed by another attribute – the smell.

Even if you wrap and place it in a box, the smell escapes. “Durians have a strong, rank smell that permeates the outer shell and lingers after the fruit has been removed,” Ghosh wrote.

Its potent, lingering smell is the reason why durian fruits are banned on airplanes, trains, vans and buses. It is also banned on many types of public transport across Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

In the Philippines, it is prohibited to bring the fruit inside the hotels and other enclosed public places. Don’t be surprised to see “No Durian” signs plastered on the front desk when the fruit is in season. Hotel owners find it almost impossible to exorcise the smell from the beds and furnishings.

The odor is best described as “pig shit, turpentine and onions garnished with a dirty gym sock,” to quote the words of food writer Richard Sterling. He added that it can be smelled from yards away. Chef and television host Anthony Bourdain went on overboard with his description: “Your breath will smell as if you’ve been French kissing your dead grandmother.”

Smelling it is one thing, but eating it is something. “It tastes like completely rotten mushy onions,” said Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods. “Like eating raspberry blancmange in the lavatory,” author Anthony Burgess penned.

But what makes this

fruit’s smell so distinctly different from other fruits? A group of scientists from the German Research Center for Food Chemistry tried to discover the mystery on how exactly the fruit produces such a powerful stench.

The study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, found 50 discrete compounds in the fruit responsible for its uncommon aroma.

“Their analysis suggests that it is not any single compound but instead the mixture of different chemicals that produces the fruit’s powerful stench,” wrote Joseph Stromberg, who obtained a copy of the study, in Smithsonian. “The compounds are identified by their chemical formulas, which are likely cryptic to anyone without a degree in organic chemistry, but the research team associated each one with a particular odor.

“What’s interesting is that none of the compounds individually seem to match with the characteristic durian smell – they range widely, and include labels like fruity, skunky, metallic, rubbery, burnt, roasted onion, garlic, cheese, onion and honey,” Stromberg continued. “A number of them have been detected in just a few other substances, such as cooked beef, yeast extract, dried squid and leeks. Somehow, the combination of these 50 chemicals produces the powerful scent that has entranced and repulsed people the world over.”

Despite the stench, a lot of people, particularly those from Southeast Asia – where it is grown extensively – love it.

“Durian, of course,” replied Dr. Hilario Lapena, a Filipino physician who now resides in Canada, when asked what is his most favorite fruit.

“Nothing beats it. I have tasted lots of exotic fruits but I still go back to my all-time favorite – durian.

Friends who used to say that they hated it are now converts.”

He is not alone. There are many people out there who love eating durian.

“To durian lovers, the taste is mildly sweet, almondy and very creamy, not unlike a rich cheesecake,” wrote Monica Tan for The Guardian. “It has a whiff of alcohol about it, which explains why eating it gives you this hot feeling inside – like you’ve downed a shot of vodka.”

But you should not eat durian too much. Theculturetrip.com reported of the 2010 case of Malaysian politician Ahmad Lai Bujang who “was rushed to hospital complaining of breathlessness and dizziness after gorging himself on durian.”

In the Philippines, adults are advised not to eat durian as if there is no tomorrow. Some people believe that eating too much of the fruit can cause blood pressure to rise. It happened to my father who ate a whole durian fruit.

Aside from those with heart problems, pregnant women are also advised not to eat durian.

Some health experts believe consuming durian at the same time as alcohol can cause problems.

“Scientists believe that sulfur-like compounds in durian may prevent certain enzymes from breaking down alcohol, causing increased alcohol levels in

the blood,” healthline.com explains.

The Smithsonian feature cited a Japanese study done in 2009 which said that “durian extracts strongly inhibits the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), used by the liver to break down alcohol.”

“Eating durian with hard liquor is considered a no-no; it leads to an uncomfortably bloated belly,” writes Anita Isalska for Lonely Planet. “Accompanying durian with beer is thought to create a fermenting effect that may make you unpopular on long-distance bus journeys.”

The word “durian” comes from the Indonesian duri (thorn) and is botanically known as Durio zibethinus. The latter species name is derived from the name of the civet (Viverra zibethai), known for its odor.

Durian is native to Indonesia and Malaysia.

It also grows in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the Philippines, durian grows profusely in Mindanao, particularly in Davao Region.

Generally, the fruit is eaten fresh. The edible portion, known as the aril (usually referred to as the flesh or pulp) only accounts for about 15%30% of the mass of the entire fruit. The ripe pulp can also be made into jam, preserve (often packed like long sausages), candies and other sweets.

Durian can also be made into an excellent ice cream, or a cold milk shake. As a blender ingredient, though, it seems the king of fruits does not mix well with lesser commoners. The distinct durian

flavor usually dominates, and in some cases mixing with other fruits accentuates the garlicky component of durian in unfavorable ways.

One known harmonious flavor with durian is coffee. Drinking coffee while eating durian is quite pleasant and invigorating – and a durian-flavored gourmet coffee would be an exotic treat. If you happen to visit Davao City, where the fruit grows abundantly, try drinking the durian coffee.

When unripe, durian can be cooked like a vegetable – including frying unripe slices just like potato chips to make uncommonly good durian snack chips. The seeds are edible, too, if boiled or roasted.

Durian is extremely healthy, even more so than many other fruits.

One cup (243 grams) of pulp provides 357 calories, 13 grams of fat, 66 grams of carbs, 9 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein, according to the healthline.com.

Kerri-Ann Jennings, who wrote the Health Line feature, said one cup of durian pulp can provide 80% of the daily nutritional requirement of vitamin C, 65% of thiamine, 39% of manganese, 30% of potassium, 29% of riboflavin, 25% of copper, 22% of folate, 18% of magnesium, and 13% of niacin.

The fruit is also rich in healthy plant compounds, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. Many of these function as antioxidants, which means they can help defend your cells from damage caused by

FDURIAN, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

Republic of the Philippines City of Davao Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod 19th City Council 19th Regular Session Series of 2019 PRESENT:

Councilor J. Melchor B. Quitain Jr. -Temporary Presiding Officer Councilor Ralph O. Abella Councilor Nilo D. Abellera Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique N.Advincula Councilor Wilberto E. Al-ag Councilor Dante L. Apostol Sr. Councilor Conrado C. Baluran Councilor Louie John J. Bonguyan Councilor Pilar C. Braga Councilor Augusto Javier G. Campos III Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang Councilor Jonard C. Dayap Councilor Edgar P. Ibuyan Jr. Councilor Edgar R. Ibuyan Sr. Councilor Jaffar U. Marohomsalic Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar Councilor Antoinette G. Principe-Castrodes Councilor Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte

ABSENT:

Vice Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte

Councilor Maria Belen S. Acosta Councilor Jessica M. Bonguyan Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang Councilor Richlyn N. Justol-Baguilod Councilor Pamela A. Librado-Morata Councilor Diosdado Angelo Junior R. Mahipus Councilor Myrna G. L’Dalodo-Ortiz Councilor Alberto T. Ungab Councilor Jesus Joseph P. Zozobrado III

- OB- Exchange of Cooperation by and among the City of Davao and the Cities of Jinjiang, Chongqing and Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China - On Official Business - On Domestic Emergency Leave - On Official Business - On Domestic Emergency Leave - On Official Business - On Official Business - On Official Business - On Official Business - On Official Business

ORDINANCE NO. 0105-19 Series of 2019 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING ANNUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL QUALIFIED SENIOR CITIZENS OF DAVAO CITY Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City in session assembled, that: SECTION 1. TITLE – This Ordinance shall be known as “THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL QUALIFIED SENIOR CITIZENS ORDINANCE OF DAVAO CITY”.

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICIES – Article XV, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that it is the duty of the family to take care of its elderly members while the State may design programs of social security for them. In addition to this, Section 10 in the Declaration of Principles and State Policy provides that the State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development. Further, Article XIII of the Constitution provides that the “state shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and social services available to all people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the elderly”.

SECTION 3. PURPOSE - This Ordinance aims to support the senior citizens in the cost of their maintenance for medicines and other expenses relative to their health.

SECTION 4. AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - Qualified Senior Citizens shall be entitled to a financial assistance in the minimum amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PHP 1,500.00) annually. This provision shall be subject to review every two (2) years by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

SECTION 5. QUALIFICATION - The applicant must possess all the following qualifications, to wit: a) Must be sixty five (65) years old within the calendar year starting 2020; b) Must be a holder of an original Senior Citizen’s Identification Card issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of Davao City; c) Must be a registered voter of Davao City as evidenced by the list of registered voters issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC); d) Must be a member of a duly recognized Senior Citizens Organization recognized by OSCA and CSSDO; e) In case of permanent bedridden senior citizen due to illness who is not a registered voter, he/ she must present a certification from CSSDO assigned in the barangay as to his/her condition.

SECTION 6. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE 1. Composition – The Grievance Committee shall be composed of the following: a. OSCA Head or an authorized representative b. CSSDO Head or an authorized representative c. Davao City DILG Director or an authorized representative d. Chairperson, Committee on Social Services of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or any member in case of his absence; 2. Functions – The Grievance Committee will settle any qualification issued duly referred to it through a written complaint within a period of three (3) working days from the receipt thereof.

SECTION 7. ENFORCEMENT - The Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of Davao City, the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) and the City DILG shall enforce this Ordinance.

The CSSDO shall take charge in the processing of the application and shall prepare the payroll of the qualified applicants.

SECTION 8. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISTRIBUTION - The annual financial assistance to all qualified senior citizens of Davao City shall be given every second week of November of each year starting the year 2020. The financial assistance shall be distributed by CSSDO at the Barangays on a date that will be announced by OSCA in coordination with the City Treasurer’s Office, the City Social Services and Development Office and the City Accountant’s Office.

The financial assistance shall be claimed personally by the qualified recipient except in case of bedridden senior citizens who may claim through a relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.

SECTION 9. BUDGETARY ALLOCATION - The budgetary requirements for the annual financial assistance to senior citizens shall be included in the annual budget of the City subject to the usual auditing and accounting rules and procedures.

SECTION 10. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE BARANGAY - The Barangay may likewise grant the same benefits to its Senior Citizens with funds to be taken from its Real Property Taxes (RPT) subject to the availability of funds.

SECTION 11. REPEALING CAUSE - All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations whose provisions are inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. APPLICABILITY CLAUSE - The provisions of existing ordinances, resolutions or executive orders which are not contradictory with this ordinance are hereby adopted as an integral part of this ordinance.

SECTION 13. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Ordinance is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be full time and effect.

SECTION 14. EFFECTIVITY - This Ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.

ENACTED, November 19, 2019, by a unanimous vote of all members of the Sanggunian, there being a quorum.

CERTIFIED CORRECT: ATTESTED:

J. MELCHOR B. QUITAIN, JR. Temporary Presiding Officer cns/ray

For in the absence of the Secretary:

MA. THERESA A. REYES

Acting Secretary to the SangguniangPanlungsod (Local Legislative Staff Officer IV)

07 JAN APPROVED : ________________, 2020

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9

proval from the national government through the National Economic and Development Authority

(NEDA).

The final location of the bridge will be in R. Castillo Street, Brgy. Agdao on

the Davao City side and in Barangay Caliclic in Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).

“After ma-download ang funds, the next step will be validating the appraisal of the land value as well as the resettlement action plans for the informal settlers,” Eje said.

Based on the latest documents submitted, the LGUs of Carmen in Davao del Norte, Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Digos City in Davao del Sur, and Panabo City in Davao del Norte will probably follow after Tagum City.

Eje said areas for the railway alignment in Davao City has been already identified.

“We expect questions on ROW issues and we will deal them one by one,” he said.

According to Eje, the Embassy of China in the Philippines promised to send the short list of bid-

ders for the MRP project also this month.

The project will be financed through an official development assistance (ODA) from China, but still awaiting for the short list that would serve as the project’s contractor for the first phase of MRP Tagum-Davao-Digos (MRP TDD) segment.

The bidders from China will bid for two packages, project monitoring consultancy and the design and build contractor.

Once the Chinese government submits the list, DoTr will proceed with the bidding procedures.

Eje said they will announce the ceremonial groundbreaking for the project after the bidding.

However, there will be no official groundbreaking to happen for MRP but

just ceremonial due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the groundbreaking supposedly happen first quarter of 2020, however, China was first hit by COVID-19 then lockdowns and health protocols such as social distancing were implemented.

“Because of these, although, mag-start na tayo baka ceremonial groundbreaking na lang,” Eje said.

The initial phase of MRP aims to establish a 74-kilometer at-grade and 26-kilometer single-track and non-electrified railway from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur. The Phase 1 will have eight stations located in Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao, Toril, Sta. Cruz and Digos.

Roque said once all types of community quarantines have been lifted and there is a lower Covid-19 infection rate,

areas could transition to a “new normal”.

There are 22,474 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country with 1,011

deaths and 4,637 recoveries as of Monday.

More than half of the cases were recorded in Metro Manila. (PNA)

the purpose for which data was obtained/provided".

"Liability, including criminal penalties, is im-

posed upon those who violate this prohibition. The DOJ Office of Cybercrime is not only aware of this

prohibition, it will assiduously uphold the law that protects the privacy of citizens," Perete added. (PNA)

Card (SAC) forms with code specifically for the additional beneficiaries," it said in a statement.

Poor families in Ben-

guet, Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog Region, Central Luzon (except Aurora province), Pangasinan, Albay Province, Zamboanga

City, Iloilo, Cebu Province, Bacolod City, and Davao City are entitled to the second tranche of cash aid according to the DSWD.

service providers to reimburse their riders for all the amounts resulting in the cancelled orders within 24 hours from cancellation through bank deposit or other means of fund transfer.

Violation of this provision will result in a penalty of P5,000 on the delivery service provider.

Customers are also required to provide proof of identity and residential address or proof of billing upon signing up for a food delivery service through apps, websites and other similar platforms, verified through video call.

Delivery services providers who fail to mandate its customers to provide

proof of identification will be made to pay a fine of P1 million per violation.

"Nais ng panukala na ito na maging hadlang sa pang-aabuso sa mga rider natin na nagbubuwis ng kanilang sarili upang tayo ay maaaring manatili sa ating mga bahay nang hindi makakuha ng sakit na COVID," Garbin said.

and investment tourism; transportation and communications; public works and highways; science and technology; social welfare; and basic, higher, and technical education.

He likewise assured the Bangsamoro officials that he will remind the representatives on the side of the national government to start convening with their BARMM counterparts to begin the process of activating the following five mechanisms: -- the Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation (responsible for formulating policies relating to the

Zones of Joint Cooperation in the Sulu Sea and Moro Gulf); -- Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board (responsible for coordinating and synchronizing both the national and Bangsamoro infrastructure development plans); -- Intergovernmental Energy Board (responsible for energy issues); -- Council of Leaders (provides advice to the Chief Minister on matters of governance in the BARMM); and -- the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (for purposes

of cooperation and coordination of legislative initiatives).

Dominguez called on the BARMM to also work on the establishment of the Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB), one of the IGRB mechanisms that require legislation by the Bangsamoro Parliament.

The BSDB will help ensure that economic, social, and environmental considerations are harmonized and integrated in the development of sustainable development policies and practices in the BARMM, Dominguez added. (PR)

Durant helped US national team earn gold medals in the 2012 and 2016

Summer Olympics.

Durant also bagged a gold medal with the US

in the 2010 FIBA World Championship held in Turkey. (Anadolu)

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10 EDGEDAVAO

SMC... FROM4

The Kadiwa stores have complemented SMC’s efforts to boost food accessibility throughout the quarantine.

It made fresh poultry, meats, and ready-to-eat products more easily accessible to consumers through the deployment of reefer vans-cum-rolling stores also at Petron gas stations.

It also rolled out an online ordering platform, www.order.sanmiguelfoods.com, where orders are fulfilled by, and picked up at, nearby Petron Treats outlets.

Apart from the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” rolling store program, SMC has also utilized the DA’s network of farmer cooperatives to source agricultural inputs like corn and cassava for its various food products.

Through its long-term agreement with the DA, SMC has purchased 69 million kilos of corn from local farmers with payments released promptly.

It has recently sourced 92,000 kilos of corn from farmer-cooperatives in Central Luzon and Pangasinan and 50,000 kilos of corn from Camarines Sur. The Maymatan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Camarines Sur will provide another 100,000 kilos of corn during the period of May 26 to June 15.

SMC has also announced that it is set to buy excess supply of carabao milk from farmer-cooperatives for donation to poor communities and feeding centers in Bulacan, Navotas and various areas in Metro Manila. (PR)

the global oil market.

"The production adjustments in May, as well as the gradual relaxation of many of the lockdown measures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe and an economic pick-up, had contributed to a cautious recovery and the return of more stability in the oil market," the statement said.

"Nevertheless, with global oil demand expected to contract by around 9 million bpd for the whole of 2020, consolidating this gradual recovery will require continued com-

mitment and intensified efforts from participating countries and all major producing countries," it added.

OPEC's next ordinary meeting will be in the Austrian capital Vienna on Nov. 30, while the non-OPEC ministerial meeting will convene on December 1.

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which closely reviews market conditions, members' oil production levels, and conformity levels, will next meet on June 18 and it will convene monthly until December 2020. (Anadolu)

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

NOTICE OF LOSS/THEFT/DESTRUCTION/ MUTILATION/DEFACEMENT Notice is hereby given of the loss/theft/destruction/ mutilation/defacement of the following AGRARIAN REFORM/ LANDBANK BONDS on (date) __________.

Registered Owner ANTONIO L. LABAD ANTONIO L. LABAD

Serial No. AR-0018205 AR-0018206

Face Value 344,734.60 32,862.78

Any person/entity other than the registered owner who has claim/ interest on the above Bond/s is requested to notify immediately the BOND SERVICING DEPARTMENT, Land Bank of the Philippines, 26th Floor, Land Bank Plaza, M.H. Del Pilar cor Dr. Quintos St., Malate, Manila. Any such claim presented on this/these bond/s after the period of two (2) years counting from the date of the fourth publication of this Notice shall no longer be entertained. NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN. March 06,2020 *First, Second, Third or Fourth, as the case may be.

Doc. No.253; PageNo.152; Book No.184; Series of 2020.

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EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late GLORIA G. ALDAY who died on August 7, 2005 at Davao City, Philippines has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed by Maria Loretta Cabrera-Balbuena, as the sole and only heir of the deceased per Doc. No.196; PageNo.41; Book No.XXII Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY.MOHAMMAD JAMALUDIN A. GUINOMLA.

of the 30-day minimum grace period.

All unpaid rents during the CQs shall not incur interests, penalties, fees, and other charges.

No eviction for failure to pay the residential or commercial rent may be enforced during the quarantine period.

However, lessors are

not obliged to refund residential and commercial rents paid by the lessees before or during the period of the community quarantine.

The complete amend-

ed supplemental guidelines on the concession of residential and commercial rents can be accessed thru: https://bit.ly/DTI_ MC2031. (PR)

potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals.

Durian can also prevent heart disease and fight infection.

Several com-

pounds in durian may help reduce cholesterol levels and risk of atherosclerosis.

The rind has been found to contain compounds that have antibacterial and an-

ti-yeast properties.

Now, are you ready for your durian? You need gloves or mitts to protect your hands when opening the durian’s hard, spiky

shell. Cut the shell with a knife and pry it open with your hands before gently removing the flesh. Then eat it with much gusto.

Never mind the smell.

pionship) fighters boasting a record of 22 wins and four defeats.

He won his first champion’s title of the UFC in 2015 and eventually be-

came the first MMA fighter to simultaneously hold the champion’s belts in

the UFC featherweight and lightweight divisions.

(TASS)

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

11

The Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard go face to face in this file photo.

NBA tweaks standings, will clarify roster rules N

Superstar Kevin Durant opts out of NBA season

T

he NBA continues to fine tune the structure and rules it will follow when the season resumes July 31 at the Disney World campus in Orlando, Fla., including tweaks to the standings and potential roster changes.

ESPN reported Saturday that the league will use win percentage -- rather than a measure of games relative to .500 -- to set the order of the standings, a clarification that is necessary because teams have played a different number of games thus far.

Before the season paused in March, NBA teams had played anywhere from 63 to 67 games.

The 22 teams returning in Orlando will each play eight “regular season” games for seeding, maintaining the disparity in total games and thus making win percentage the first

tiebreaker.

The Western Conference currently has the Portland Trail Blazers (29-37), New Orleans Pelicans (2836) and Sacramento Kings (28-36) at 3 1/2 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies (32-33) for the eighth and final playoff spot, but the Blazers’ win percentage (.439) gives them a narrow advantage over the Pelicans and Kings (.438).

Similar situations could emerge for seeding in either conference.

The league’s restart plan features 13 teams from the West and nine from the East, with the pos-

McGregor retires

C

onor McGregor, a former Irish Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight and lightweight champion, has announced his retirement from fighting.

“Hey guys. I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories!

What a ride it’s been!” the 31-year-old McGregor wrote on his Twitter account, posting a picture with his mother at one of the world title wins.

It was not the first time McGregor has announced his retirement.

In 2016 while pre-

paring for a rematch with mixed martial artist Nate Dia, McGregor made his first announcement about his plant to retire.

However, after talks with UFC President Dana White, McGregor returned to the octagon and won a championship belt.

McGregor also announced plans to wrap up his sports career in March 2019 after defeating US mixed martial artist Donald Cerrone in the first round.

McGregor is one of the most popular UFC (Ultimate Fighting Cham-

FMCGREGOR, P10

sibility of a play-in series for the final playoff spot in each conference. Memphis (currently eighth in the West) and the Orlando Magic (eighth in the East) must finish at least four games ahead of the ninthplace team in their conference to avoid a play-in series.

If ties within winning percentage exist, they will be broken by the league’s standard tiebreakers, ESPN reported, starting with head-to-head record from the regular-season.

Meanwhile, ESPN also reported Saturday that the NBA is preparing rules for how teams can add players to their roster in the event of injury or a player testing positive for COVID-19.

Per the report, teams will likely be allowed to sign as many players as they desire, but only from a particular pool, primarily players

who played in the NBA or G League or were on training camp contracts this season.

That would rule out any veterans who have gone unsigned all year, such as guard Jamal Crawford, and any international players.

The status of players on two-way contracts remains unclear.

According to ESPN, the league and players union must agree collectively on such regulations, with negotiations expected next week.

For any player who tests positive for COVID-19, a quarantine period of at least a week and up to two weeks is expected. All players and staff are expected to be tested every night at the enclosed campus.

A number of other details, including the schedule for the eight “seeding games,” have yet to be determined.

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor is leaving the sport for good.

BA franchise Brooklyn Nets will be without their US superstar, Kevin Durant this season in Florida as the player ruled himself out.

"My season is over.

I don't plan on playing at all. We decided last summer when it first happened that I was just going to wait until the following season. I had no plans of playing at all this season," Durant told US media as he referred to his major injury in June 2019.

Durant had his Achilles tendon ruptured in last season's NBA finals Game 5, where his former team Golden State Warriors faced Toronto Raptors.

The 31-year-old missed a large part of the 2019-2020 season after the serious injury as well as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In addition to the tendon injury, the Brooklyn

Nets forward tested positive for Covid-19 in March but he said that he recovered from this disease.

NBA had to stop the season in March due to the pandemic but it will resume on July 31.

The Brooklyn Nets will travel to Orlando to finish the season as 22 teams will compete for the 2020 title.

"I don't think I'm ready to play that type of intensity right now in the next month. It gives me more time to get ready for next season and the rest of my career," Durant said, adding that he does not want to play the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Durant won the NBA title twice in 2017 and 2018 when he was playing for the Western Conference franchise, Golden State Warriors.

He was a 10-time NBA All-Star from 2010 to 2019 and an Olympic gold medalist.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 50 • MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 8-9, 2020

THE WHOLE GANG'S BACK

Golfing senior, juniors now allowed to play

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

H

appy days in the fairways are here again.

The young and not so young bunch of Davao City's golfing community got their tee cards beginning Saturday (June 6, 2020) after the city government finally gave the approval for senior golfers (aged 60 years old and above) and junior golfers (aged 21 years and below) to play.

The approval came with the reminder to golf clubs to follow the safety protocols agreed upon with the city government.

Tommy Iñigo, general manager of Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, expressed elation over the approval.

‘We are happy that it was already approved that they can already play. We are now accepting tee time reservations for both senior and junior golfers,’ Iñigo said.

Aside from Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, Apo Golf

and Country Club and South Pacific Golf Club also opened doors to seniors and jungolfers.

The city government earlier gave the green light for golf clubs to resume operations following the order of the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow non-contact sports like golf to resume.

To get things going last May 28, the city government, in agreement with the three golf clubs, laid down the safety protocols under the GCQ (General Community Quarantine) which included caddies to be assigned per flight acting only as spotters or markers and to repair divots and rake bunkers; mandatory face masks; social distancing; no large gatherings on the first tee, driving range or after the rounds; no ball marking, handshakes and high fives; no use of lockers; one player per cart; bringing personal towel and water bottle; and limiting of golfers playing per day.

Observing safety protocols on social distancing, among others, these four golfers play under new normal conditions at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in Cabantian. Tommy Iñigo photo