Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 72 | Saturday, July 4, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

DEPRESSION: GETTING OUT OF THE BLUES

Serving a seamless society

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

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A dog is silhuoetted by a setting sun while it waits for its owners atop a bleacher in Sasa, Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

INFODEMIC Sara reminds public anew not to share unverified reports on social media

By MAYA M. PADILLO or the nth time, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded the public not to share unverified reports and information on social media after a text message reported 32 individuals from a popular shopping store in the city’s Chinatown area were tested positive of COVID-19.

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“Maghulat sila sa atong official na advise. Kung wala siya sa atoang city government of Davao na mga accounts then dili na

siya verified by the city government. Mag-remind ta na dili ta basta-basta mag-share ug information kung dili ma-verify

asa gikan. Dili ta basta-basta mag-share og mga information kung dili nato siya ma-verify kung asa siya gikan nga office or agency nga sinugdanan sa information,” the mayor said.

Mayor Sara added that shared information must also be verified with the Department of Health (DOH 11).

“Kung dili ninyo ma-verify with DOH, dili ninyo ipasa-pasa,” she said.

The same is applicable to the reports also circulating that BDO branch at SM City Davao in Ecoland will be closed due to some employees were reported confirmed positive with COVID-19.

BDO has issued a statement ensuring that employees are tested negative and that branches at SM are safe and open until banking hours.

“As I said it is important nga ang atoang

information kuhaon nato didto sa correct office and agency or establishment nga source sa balita ug information nga gipasa-pasa. In this case nga SM ug banko sa SM gipasa-pasa nga manarado tungod sa COVID-19 atoang pangayuon ang official statement sa SM ug sa BDO and in this case nag-release na ang BDO ug offical statement,” Mayor Sara said.

She also reminded

the public that information like these are needed to be presented first to the public.

“These are things nga dili ginatago-tago as these are things nga dili kinahanglan nga murag surreptitious ang pagpasa pasa ang information nga murag it’s a highly confidential information,” she said.

The mayor assured that the city government of Davao will not

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

Residents pass through a disinfection booth before entering Barangay 23-C, one of the high-risk villages in Davao City due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases there. MindaNews Photo

BTA Parliament appeals to PRRD to veto Anti-Terrorism bill T

SEC warns public on Forsage, other investment schemes

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lease veto the Anti-Terrorism bill, Mr. President, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament appealed on Thursday.

The Parliament passed a resolution “respectfully appealing” to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the Anti-Terrorism Bill which is awaiting his signature to become law, “to provide Congress the opportunity to review and address the issues of vagueness, overbreadth and other concerns.”

Resolution 239, as amended, was adopted at 6:02 p.m. without objection.

From the original 12 proponents, the Parliament also approved that all members be named as authors of the resolution.

The 80-member BTA is the governing body during the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until June 30, 2022.

The BTA members are appointed by the President, in accordance with the Organic Law for the BARMM, a product of the peace negotiations between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Filed on June 5, Resolution 239 expressed “grave concern” over the passage of the bill but in Thursday’s special session, it was amended to read a “resolution respectfully

appealing to His Excellency, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to veto SB 1083 and HB 6875 or the (proposed) Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 to provide Congress the opportunity to review and address the issues of vagueness, overbreadth and other concerns.”

Bangsamoro Member of Parliament (MP) and Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Muraj” Ebrahim sent the Parliament a letter on June 22, stating his position on the issue and calling on the President to “exercise his veto power vis-à-vis the Anti-Terrorism Bill,” noting that “while we agree that a policy framework needs to be enacted to fight the menace of terrorism, we feel that the fundamental guarantees of liberty and the institutions of democracy must be protected.”

Ebrahim, chair of the MILF since 2003, said they condemn terrorism and have worked consistently to fight it but as the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro “I cannot help but be alarmed by the language and foreseeable consequences of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill,” noting that it “stems from the long history of persecution, human rights violations, and discrimination suffered by

the Bangsamoro.”

“As the leader of a political entity born out of the struggle against injustice and oppression, it is my moral duty to speak out in order to ensure the measures intended to address terrorism will not be used as a means to subvert the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, in general, and normalize abuse and discrimination against the Bangsamoro, in particular,” Ebrahim added.

He cited three major concerns: the “overly vague definition of terrorism and penalizing various acts related thereto that not only violate the due process clause of the Constitution but also make easy targets of innocent individuals and make them vulnerable to human rights violations; the surveillance of suspects and interception and recording of communications, and detention without a judicial warrant of arrest for prolonged periods of detention that violate fundamental rights, including the right to privacy and the rights of the accused; and the power of the Anti-Terrorism Council to order an arrest and to designate persons, groups, organizations, or associations as terrorists which violate the separation of powers and again, the right to due process.

He expressed fear that when the Anti-Terrorism

bill is passed into law, “among the hardest hit …. would be the Bangsamoro” and that incidents of violations of human rights will be on the rise “and the Bangsamoro people, easily labelled as terrorists would again be subject to discrimination and abuse.”

Representatives of the Bangsamoro People In the Parliament’s session livestreamed from Cotabato City, MP Omar Sema, a lawyer and son of former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chair Muslimin Sema, proposed to amend the resolution calling on the President to veto the bill so he could return it to Congress, so Congress can consider the concerns raised by the Bangsamoro officials and other groups, among them the issues of alleged unconstitutionality, vagueness and overbreadth of the provisions.

One MP asked that the Sema’s proposed title be amended to add “respectfully” while another suggested they use “appealing” instead of “calling,” and still another asked that the word “unconstitutionality” be deleted from the title as it seems like they are preempting judgment on the bill.

In accepting Sema’s proposed amendment, MP Amir Mawallil, one of the original proponents of the resolution, said, “With all of my heart, I accept the

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against individuals and groups engaged in unauthorized activities such as investment-taking in the guise of cryptocurrency trading and online selling.

In separate advisories issued on June 30, the Commission encouraged the public to exercise caution in dealing with Forsage, RCashOnline and The Saint John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. Forsage, which is headed by Lado Okhotnikov, is not duly registered with the SEC and lacks the necessary license to solicit, accept or take investments from the public or issue investment contracts and other forms of securities.

RCashOnline, which claims to represent Royale Business, is likewise not registered as a corporation or a partnership. It neither possesses a secondary license to solicit investments from the public.

Meanwhile, the certificate of registration of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta Foundation has been revoked as early as February 3, 2003 for noncompliance with its reportorial requirements.

Accordingly, the SEC warned the public against placing money in Forsage and RCashOnline, and joining in any scheme operated by The Saint John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta Foundation.

A maximum fine of P5 million or imprisonment

of 21 years or both await those who act as salesmen, brokers, dealers or agents of entities engaged in unauthorized investment schemes, for violation of Republic Act No. 8799, or The Securities Regulation Code Securities Regulation Code, among others.

Republic Act No. 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, also punishes those participating in cyber incidents that make use or take advantage of the current crisis arising from the COVID-19 outbreak to prey on the public through scams, phishing, fraudulent emails, or other similar acts.

Forsage Forsage touts a Crowdfunding International Platform or a Smart Contract Crypto Earning Program based on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain technology, which supposedly provides long-term active and passive income to investors through a crowdfunding referral system.

As posted online, Forsage offers two commission payout systems or compensation plans called Forsage X3 and Forsage X4 for a minimum investment of 0.05 ETH, or at least P600, and a maximum of 51.2 ETH, or almost P600,000. Each program has 12 income slots that the investor may activate.

Under Forsage X3, for instance, an investor needs three referrals to complete the cycle. The first two referrals’ membership fees shall be paid to the referring member’s account

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VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

IATF-EID approves Phase 2 of action plan vs. Covid-19: Palace

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President Rodrigo Duterte reviews a document during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang. The

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on Thursday approved a resolution urging President Duterte to veto the controversial anti-terror bill.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Sexual abuse among children amid the pandemic on the rise

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) reported 15 sexual abuse cases from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) in Davao City and Davao de Oro Police Provincial Office (DOPPO).

The report made Davao City and Davao de Oro as having the highest number of rape cases in Davao Region amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Police Major Jacqueline Antero, section chief of the Regional Women and Children Protection Desk of PRO 11, said sexual abuse topped the most incidents committed by the perpetrators in Davao Region wherein the highest numbers were recorded in Davao City and Davao de Oro for the period of March 16, 2020 to June 26, 2020.

Antero said the lowest

recorded cases of sexual abuse among children is in Davao Occidental.

Based on the Regional Women and Children Protection Desk gender-based violence cases during COVID-19 for the same period, the reported incidents under VAC are rape, acts of lasciviousness, RA 10364 (anti-trafficking in person), grave threats, less serious physical injury, murder, other acts of RA 7610, simple seduction, and unjust vexation.

Antero said region-wide there are a total of 133 cases: 64 reported cases of rape,

PH still facing ‘big problem’ due to Covid-19: Palace

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residential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said a vaccine or medicine must be developed to defeat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), admitting that the country is still facing a “big problem” due to the pandemic.

“Hanggang wala pong bakuna, hanggang wala pong gamot sa sakit na iyan, hindi po tayo mananalo laban sa Covid-19 (We will never win against Covid-19 unless there is a vaccine or medicine for that disease),” Roque said in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4.

A day before, Roque was euphoric that the country was able to disprove the prediction of the University of the Philippines’ (UP) research team that Covid-19 cases in the Philippines could swell to 40,000 by

June 30.

“Pero alam ko po, malaki pa rin ang problema, at ultimately, kailangan talaga ang bakuna at [gamot] (I am aware that the problem is still big, and ultimately, what we really need is vaccine and medicine),” he said.

As of June 30, the Philippines has reported 37,514 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 10,233 recoveries and 1,266 fatalities.

On July 1, Covid-19 infections in the Philippines have climbed to 38,511.

On June 22, President Rodrigo Duterte was elated that many countries have made significant progress in the development of Covid-19 vaccine.

In his 13th weekly report to Congress, Duterte also noted that around 288 Covid-19 patients in the

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10 cases of acts of lasciviousness, two for RA 10364, one for grave threats, six for less serious injury, three for murder, 35 for other acts of RA 7610 35, one simple seduction, two unjust vexation.

For the acts of violations of RA7610 Davao de Oro recorded the lowest with four incidents while the highest is Davao City with 14 incidents and Davao del Sur with 13 incidents. For the acts of lasciviousness, the lowest is Davao Occidental with zero incident and the highest is Davao City with four incidents reported.

"Davao City has the highest reported cases because it is an urban area and has higher population,” Antero said.

On the other hand, Police Major Elisa Ramirez, women and children protection

desk officer of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), reported that majority of sexual abuse in Davao City happened inside the victims’ homes.

“Isa pud sa mga gina-tutukan nga bisan naa lang sa balay, naa lang gihapon panghitabo nga sexual na pang abuso,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said based on the data covering from March 15 to June 30, 2020, DCPO has recorded 25 cases of sexual abuse involving children while last year in the same period DCPO has recorded 33 cases of sexual abuse.

“Comparing with previous years in the same period mas marami pa ring nangyayari na sexual abuse the previous years, but still it is alarming since we are in the period of staying at home

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he Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved the proposed second phase of the National Action Plan crafted by the National Task Force (NTF) to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Naaprubahan po ang Phase 2 ng National Action Plan ng NTF,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who also serves as IATF-EID spokesperson, said during the Laging Handa program aired on state-run PTV-4 on Friday.

The IATF-EID’s approval for the implementation of the second phase of the National Action Plan was included in its Resolution 51 issued on Thursday, Roque said.

“Itong Phase 2 na ito, kaya po nating kontrolin ang pagkalat ng Covid kung susunod tayo sa mga health protocols, kung paiigtingin ang testing, kung ipagpapatuloy ang granular at local testing (With the implementation of the second phase, we can arrest the spread of Covid-19 if we follow health protocols, expand testing, and continue granular and local testing),” he said.

Phase 2 of the National Action Plan against Covid-19 contains eight key features.

Roque said the second phase of the action plan aims to promote change in the people’s mindset with a “strong” focus on health and disease prevention.

The new action plan also seeks to balance health and economic activities, he said.

“Kinakailangan na po talagang buksan ang ekonomiya dahil kinakailangan na nating magkaroon ng hanap-

A worker rides his bicycle to work using construction helmet as a protective gear on Friday. Edge Davao

buhay (We need to reopen the economy because people need to go back to work),” Roque said.

The implementation of strict community quarantine in March forced many businesses to temporarily halt their operations.

However, more industries were allowed to resume partial operations after quarantine protocols were relaxed in May. Roque said the second phase also intends to institutionalize the “prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate” strategy and the zoning containment strategy that would be supervised by the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security.

He added that Phase 2 also includes strategies to sustain private and public partnerships; enhance risk communication and community engagements, particularly in the observance of health protocols; and highlight contingency, business continuity, and sustainability plans.

Capturing the management of returning overseas Filipinos, locally stranded individuals, and local travelers is also among the key features of the second phase of the new action plan, Roque said.

He said the new action plan would also concentrate efforts on expanded and targeted testing and contact tracing by gradually allowing travel, tourism, and non-disruption of work.

The task group on strategic communications is directed to ensure the effective communication of the new action plan to the public, according to IATF-EID Resolution 51.

(PNA)

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VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

DTI probes J&T Express mishandling of packages

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Carrying a stack of eggs, a vendor bucks the obstruction on his line of sight as he delivers at Bankerohan Public Market on Friday. Edge Davao

rade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has taken actions regarding the mishandling of packages by logistics firm J&T Express Philippines that became a viral video in social media.

During the Laging Handa public briefing Thursday, Lopez said the DTI has issued a warning to J&T Express regarding the issue.

“We investigate the J&T’s unlawful business practice, but the first responsibility of DTI is to ensure the consumers’ complaints on their purchased products are addressed by the seller merchants -- either they repair, replace, refund,” Lopez also told reporters in a text message.

“In most cases, it is a transaction of seller and buyer, and the seller is the one who engages with the logistics company. As far as

(the) buyer is concerned, the seller should be liable to him because the buyer is not privy to the delivery service engagement by the seller with the logistics company,” he added.

But Lopez said the seller has the right to run after the logistics company if it is the cause of the product defect delivered to the buyer.

“If a complaint is raised to DTI against that company, and finding is perennial and repeated violation of good business practice, we can recommend to LGUs (local government units) to cancel [their] business permit,” he said.

To recall, a video showing some personnel of J&T Express throwing packages inside a delivery truck went viral on social media.

President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier ordered the Criminal Investigation

epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has urged Filipinos to continue supporting local products to save local jobs.

During the Laging Handa public briefing Thursday, Lopez said buying locally made products will help stimulate demand for Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“Only with this support from our fellow Filipinos, we will reopen our economy,” he said.

He said even though some businesses have resumed their operation, consumer demand remains weak amid the pandemic.

“We continue to remind the consumers to patronize local products. In this way, our local companies, which create local employment, will survive. If we buy imported, what we are helping are those companies and jobs abroad,” the DTI chief added.

However, Lopez said DTI is not looking into restricting the entry of imported products in the country just to stimulate demand for local products.

“We follow the free market and in the end, we will create the environment of competition. If we ban the import, we might spoil the local manufacturing and that’s what we are avoiding. Free market but what we are asking on the demand side from our consumers, is to prioritize the local produce,” he added.

The DTI launched the Buy Local, Go Lokal campaign to promote patronizing Filipino products and services.

“Let us shop local, eat local, and travel local particularly in areas where the quarantine level allowed local travel. Our objective here is to really bring back confidence, to stimulate demand for products and services provided by our MSMEs,” Lopez said. (PNA)

Dominguez cites need D to open up economy

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Buy local, save jobs: DTI chief

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III cited the need to allow the economy to continue opening up to allow the people to “get back on their feet” and regain what was lost during the community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

During the televised public address of President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday night, Dominguez said the people and the government have to face the new reality that the Covid-19 will not be addressed unless a vaccine has been produced.

“We really should begin opening,” he said, citing the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) account for about 60 or 67 percent

of the annual output.

“That should move more to the MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) as quickly as possible because people have to start working,” he added.

In case there is a rise of Covid-19 cases in some areas, Dominguez said any quarantine should be made on a case-to-case basis or a company-to-company basis so as not to affect a large area.

Luzon was placed under

DA earmarks P400M to help small hog raisers hit by ASF

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he Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a program to help small swine raisers affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) in a bid to boost production of pork and strengthen industry awareness of biosecurity protocols.

“We have earmarked P400 million to jumpstart the economic and income-generating activities in the livestock sector, particularly in some parts of Central Luzon and CALABARZON, where ASF was prevalent last year,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said on Thursday.

The DA’s intervention plan involves the establishment of swine multiplier farms through “clustering” or village-level approach composed of 20 hog farmers each.

The department, through its livestock program, will provide every

member with five piglets, 20 bags of animal feed, and biologics.

Thus, each cluster with 20 members will have a total of 100 piglets to raise, according to the DA. Dar said the clustering strategy will be implemented initially in ASF-affected areas as part of the DA’s enhanced hog production stimulus package.

The clustering project is in line with the strategic interventions of the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) to be implemented by the DA National Livestock Program (NLP).

“INSPIRE intends to speed up the recovery of the hog sector and ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of pork and pork products,”

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an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the middle of March until the middle of May while Metro Manila until the end of May, to contain the rise of Covid-19 infections.

To date, the NCR is under general community quarantine (GCQ), which allows more workers to be out of their residences.

In a virtual media briefing Wednesday, Dominguez said the various levels of community quarantines are being implemented to contain the virus’ spread and allow the economy to function even on a limited basis compared to a few months ago.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) has “some sort of achievements” by bringing the Covid-19 death rates and the rate of rising

infections to lower levels.

These developments, he said, provide a leeway for people to get back to their previous lives but they should also make sure that health protocols are being met so their savings if they still have, will not be depleted.

“We mentioned that to the AITF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) as well as the President. If your savings are depleted, how can you address other diseases?

So we should begin opening up,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dominguez and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) chief representative Eigo Azukizawa signed on Wednesday the JPY 50-billion (PHP23.5 billion)

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Trays of fresh chicken eggs are piled outside a rice dealership outlet at Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City on Thursday. Traders have continued to flood the markets with fresh chicken eggs as the demand went up after the city implemented quarantine. Edge Davao

5 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

Depression: Getting out of the blues

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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hen Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines in 2013, over 800,000 people suffered from different mental health conditions the following year, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

“Of this, 80,000 Filipinos, or 1 in 10, had conditions in need of further medication and support,” psychologist Carolina Uno-Reyco from the Philippine Mental Health Association was quoted as saying by Rappler.

As the number of people infected with SARSCoV-2 – the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – continues to increase, it is expected that more Filipinos will experience anxiety and depression due to unprecedented periods of quarantine, isolation, and uncertainty.

Jean Goulbourn was not surprised at all when there was a recent spike in calls to the Hopeline hotline for Filipinos feeling depressed. In April 17, Asia Times reported that the COVID-19 pandemic “has spurred a near 200% increase in calls in the past month.”

“We’re getting calls that we never did before – 70% to 85% are high anxiety,” Goulbourn, a fashion designer who launched “Hopeline 24/7 emotional crisis line” in 2011. With a small crew, the hotline answers phone calls and links what could be high-risk callers to psychiatrists and therapists.

The spike in calls alarms Goulbourn as, according to her, “there are fewer than 5,000 licensed psychiatrists, psychologists and guidance counselor available for anyone feeling lost or wanting self-harm.”

Even before the threat of COVID-19 pandemic, Filipinos are already struggling with depression. In fact, some years back the United Nations health agency considered the Philippines

as having “the highest incidence of depression in Southeast Asia.”

In a privilege speech, Representative Rida Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan lamented that depression is “becoming as prevalent as the common cold in the country, affecting around 3.3 million Filipinos.”

What is even more alarming is that only one-third of these depressed people seek professional help, according to the Department of Health (DOH), which recognized it as “a serious health condition.”

The WHO estimates more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. It is the leading cause of disability for people ages 15 to 44 and more women are affected by depression than men.

But the good news is that nearly all cases of depression can be reversed – even the most serious ones. However, if it is not treated immediately, depression may drive some people to commit suicide.

In Metro Manila alone, around five to seven people who tried to commit suicide were rushed to hospitals last year, according to Goulbourn. “It’s an estimate as there are few hard statistics and even fewer current ones on suicides, largely because shame and stigma lead families to plead with doctors to record the cause of death as something else – a heart ailment, an accident, anything but suicide,” Asia Times quoted her as saying.

In Davao City, suicide as a result of depression is nothing new. One of the most tragic deaths happened to a

26-year-old man who committed suicide. At around eight in the evening in one of the biggest malls, a security guard heard a big bang at the entrance-exit of the parking lot. He was at the ground floor at the time. So, he tried to find out what the noise was all about. He was shocked to see a bloodied man, wearing a white polo shirt and black cargo pants, lying face down.

Did he fall from the fourth level parking of the mall accidentally or did he commit suicide? The answer to the question was found in his Facebook account, which he posted in his wall that he was planning to do it.

“I decided to go hindi dahil sa kasalanan ko ngaun… dahil matagal ko na tong plano, sana pala ginawa ko na noon di na sana ako nka gawa pa ng ibang kasalanan at makapanakit ng damdamin ng ibang tao,” he wrote. (“I decided to go not because of the mistake I did now… I had planned this before, if I had done it before I would have done other mistakes that would hurt the feelings of others.”)

Not just ‘being in the dumps’ Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It’s more than just a feeling of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. It’s a kind of feeling that do not go away. They persist and interfere with a person’s everyday life.

Depression doesn’t discriminate. Researchers and historians have speculated that a number of famous individuals suffered from depression. In fact, the Holy Bible records the depressive symptoms of such men as Job, Moses, Elijah, David, and Jeremiah.

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps had his first “depression spell” in 2004.

However, his lowest point came after the 2012 Olympics, according to a CNN

report. He came to London games at that time with “no self-confidence, no self-love.”

“I think the biggest thing was, I thought of myself as just a swimmer, and nobody else,” he told NBC Dateline.

His depression even caused him to push people who were important to him out of his life.

In one of his bouts, Phelps reportedly sat alone in his bedroom for 3 to 5 days “not wanting to be alive,” to quote his own words. He knew then that he needed help.

After he sought treatment and started talking about his feelings, he said “life became easy.” These days, he understands that “it’s okay not to be okay.”

Varied symptoms The American Psychiatric Association (APA), in its website, symptoms of depression vary and they include: feeling sad or having a depressed mood; loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed; changes in appetite (weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting); trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; and loss of energy or increased fatigue.

Other symptoms are as follows: increase in purposeless physical activity (examples include hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others); feeling worthless or guilty; difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions; and thoughts of death or suicide.

“At its worst, depression can lead to suicide,” the United Nations health agency points out. “Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.”

Gab Valenciano, the son of famous singer Gary Valenciano, became a hot topic on social media when he admitted that he attempted to commit suicide two times.

“One person died every forty seconds by suicide,” he said.

“That is not a good statistic at all. I would have been part of that statistic, twice, if not for the grace of God and love for my family and friends.”

In 2014, the world was shocked when Oscar-winning Robin Williams, a beloved comedian, committed suicide after battling severe depression. “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” Williams’ wife Susan Schneider said in a written statement.

Depending on the number and severity of symptoms, a depressive episode can be categorized as mild, moderate or severe. “An individual with a mild depressive episode will have some difficulty in continuing with ordinary work and social activities but will probably not cease to function completely,” the WHO states. “During a severe depressive episode, it is unlikely that the sufferer will be able to continue with social, work or domestic activities, expect to a limited extent.”

Depression in Filipinos Depression among Filipinos is very hard to detect. “In the Philippines, many people still think that depression is not an illness, but something that one eventually snaps out of, and that’s the reason so many people who are suffering from depression feel embarrassed to seek help,” said Senator Grace Poe, who filed a resolution on the increasing incidence of suicide and depression in the country.

More often than not, Filipinos equate depression with feelings. “People confuse depression for normal sadness,” Dr. Randy Dellosa, a psychiatrist, was quoted as saying. As a mental health disorder, it is different from sadness or grief. The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences and most people describe themselves as being “depressed.”

“But being sad is not the same as having depression,” the APA says. “The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities. They are also different in important ways.”

Causes Until now, the medical community are still baffled on the causes of depression.

In an article on depression which appeared in Medical News Today, Laura Goldman writes, “There are many possible causes, and sometimes, various factors combine to trigger symptoms.”

“Depression is believed to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, when there are not enough neurotransmitters (chemical messengers), causing a communication breakdown between cells,” Dr. Tordesillas explains. “It also seems that depression could be genetic.”

Generally, depression is almost always associated with events in a person’s life – like a death in the family or the loss of a job. “It is also associated with medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and anxiety and eating disorders,” he says.

“Alcohol and drug abuse can also be linked to depression,” says Dr. Edward C. Tordesillas, clinical associate professor of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital. He added that “depression is not a sign of a person’s weakness or lack of willpower.”

There are also foods that

can trigger depression, research done by this author showed. Take the case of high fructose corn syrup – or any processed sugar – which reacts negatively with serotonin — the happy hormone and excessive amounts in the body is also known to decrease energy and leave a person feeling fatigued.

Eating foods high in sodium may also lead to depression, health experts claim. Some studies claim that too much salt leaves a person feeling bloated and lifeless, plus it throws off the neurological system which can lead to depression. The American Heart Association recommends 1,500 milligrams or less per day.

Dietary recommendation One of the best ways to fight depression, according to some researches, is by consuming the right diet.

It has been seen that consumption of foods rich in B vitamins (avocado, sweet potato, banana, black beans, asparagus, and watermelon, to name a few) has a positive effect on the mood of a person.

Doctors suggest that those who are feeling depressed should start eating apples, legumes, fortified cereals, malunggay and other green leafy vegetables, along with vitamin C-rich food items like calamansi juice.

Selenium has long been renowned as a cancer-fighting food. However, very few are aware of the fact that a diet rich in selenium can help people fight the symptoms of depression, too. They can get it from seafood, poultry, mushrooms, sea vegetables, and wheat.

More than 50 percent of a person’s brain is made up of fats. Health experts say the right kind of fats, if consumed in appropriate amounts, can help it in running smoothly. Omega-3 fatty acids – which can be found in seafood, like salmon, tuna or mackerel fish, along with nut oils – are the ones that have been associated with boosting the mood of an individual and driving depression away.

An episode of depression typically lasts about six months if untreated, but sometimes it lasts for two years or more. “Episodes generally tend to recur several times over a lifetime,” says The Merck Manual of Medical Information.

Treatment Meanwhile, there are effective treatments for moderate and severe depression.

Health-care providers may offer psychological treatments such as behavioral activation, cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, or antidepressant medications.

“Health-care provers should keep in mind the possible adverse effects associated with antidepressant medication, the ability to deliver either intervention, and individual preferences,” the WHO says.

Different psychological treatment formats for consideration include individual and/or group face-to-face psychological treatments delivered by professionals and supervised by therapists.

“Psychosocial treatments are also effective for mild depression,” the UN health agency says. “Antidepressants can be an effective form of treatment for moderate-severe depression but are the first line of treatment for cases of mild depression.

They should not be used for treating depression in children and are not the first line of treatments in adolescents, among whom they should be used with extra caution.”

– ### (Photos from the net)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

On the sharing of unverified reports and information on social media: Maghulat sila sa atong official na advise. Kung wala siya sa atoang city government of Davao na mga accounts then dili na siya verified by the city government. Mag-remind ta na dili ta basta-basta magshare ug information kung dili ma-verify asa gikan. Dili ta basta-basta mag-share og mga information kung dili nato siya ma-verify kung asa siya gikan nga office or agency nga sinugdanan sa information.

MAYOR SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DAVAO GULF’S ENDANGERED CETACEANS If you chance upon a pod of lumba swimming side by side with your motorboat, you are witnessing frolicking porpoises contentedly enjoying the gulf of Davao as their home. At times the bay also hosts whales, which Visayans call balyena.

A tripartite survey done in 2004 labeled the 650,000-hectare gulf as one of the country’s top mammal sanctuary. At least ten whale and dolphin species were recorded in the census, namely: the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima), Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), long-snouted spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), and Indo-Pacific beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus).

In Visayan dialect, cetaceans are known by different names. Balyena refers to

any whale species, while ambuhutan specifically means sperm whale. Those classified under or having similar appearance to Bryde’s whale are called bongkaras. Dolphins, on the other hand, are generally known as the lumba (in Visayan, to race) because of their behavior of chasing each other. The bottlenose dolphin is popularly known as the lumod while the Irrawaddy dolphin is lampasot.

Except for the 2008 case when the bureau of fisheries charged a Davao fisherman for killing a dolphin and selling its meat, the primary causes of cetacean deaths are chiefly traced to fishing nets, plastics, and man’s lack of appreciation for the role dolphins, porpoises, and whales, play in balancing the world’s maritime ecosystem.

A University of the Philippines-Mindanao study showed that in April-July 2014, two cetaceans were stranded in Davao region. The scientists identified the dead whales as Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) and dwarf sperm

whale (Kogia sima). The carcasses were subjected to histopathological (diagnosis and study of tissue diseases) and hematological (blood disorders and blood-forming organs) evaluations.

The World Cetacean Alliance describes whales, porpoises, and dolphins as “represent[ing] our best hope for protecting marine species and habitats, as well as the global human community that relies on our oceans for its very survival,” adding: “Cetaceans are ecosystem engineers. They modify habitats in a way that increases species richness and habitat productivity. As a result, cetaceans are important for maintaining the health and stability of the environment they are living in. Whales modify habitats by a simple mechanism called a whale pump. They feed at varying depths, but they generally defecate at the surface.

These massive clouds of poop provide a big boost of iron and nitrogen to many ecosystems, directly benefitting the marine food chain and renewing fish

stocks…

“Cetaceans live in complex social societies and have incredible cognitive skills.

Some species have been proven to show an intelligence and self-awareness comparable to those of apes and elephants, and there is evidence that they are more compassionate than humans! Cetaceans also have culture: unique ideas, songs, customs, and social behaviour that are passed from generation to generation within a society. The disappearance of a population of cetaceans therefore takes on extra significance, because we are likely losing unique cultures that have developed over thousands of years!”

In 2019, three cetacean incidents in the gulf of Davao provided a grim picture of the impact of man’s trash and fishing nets in the survival of these huge marine mammals.

Darrell Blatchley, a Davaobased marine mammal expert and curator of D’ Bone Collector Museum, recovered 40 kilos of plastic waste inside the animal’s belly, described

as “hard and compacted as a baseball,” adding that plastic items were bursting out of the animal’s stomach, which when collected reached over 16 jute sacks. The marine mammal was recovered on the shoreline of Davao de Oro. The young male Curvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) was roughly 15 feet long and weighed about 1,100 pounds; it died from starvation and dehydration due to the damming of the plastic waste inside its stomach. With the belly clogged, food intake was impossible.

In another event, a Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) was recovered but its tail and internal organs were missing. Covered with wounds, the carcass was washed up on the shore of Times Beach, Davao City. The mammal could have been caught in a fisherman’s net and butchered.

In July that same year, a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia sima) was also found along the shoreline of Davao City. Found in its intestines were a plastic cup and some nylon rope.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

BEATING DEPRESSION The current pandemic, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is heightening hunger in many countries, especially to those that were already undergoing food insecurity even before the disease outbreak.

This is according the recent findings of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

“The COVID-19 pandemic poses a clear and present danger to food security and nutrition, especially to the world’s most vulnerable communities,” deplored FAO Director-General Qu Dongy during a virtual event.

The 2020 Global Report on Food Crisis said 135 million people around the world were already coping with acute hunger prior to the pandemic. With an additional stressor, another 183 million people were at risk to be pushed towards extreme hunger.

Hunger, in some instances, may pushed people to too much stress and depression. A survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations in May showed nine out of ten Filipinos are stressed due to the pandemic. Of those who experienced great stress, at least 4.2 million families experienced involuntary hunger due to lack of food to eat.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) said that only one out of three depressed people seek pro-

fessional help. One third don’t even know of their condition.

“People confuse depression for normal sadness,” says Dr. Randy Dellosa, a Filipino psychiatrist.

“Depression is a devastating illness that affects the total being – physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” wrote Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier in their book, Happiness Is a Choice. “The emotional pain of depression is more severe than the physical pain of a broken leg.”

Many think depression is not an illness, but something that one eventually snaps out of.

“That’s the reason why so many people who are suffering from depression feel embarrassed to seek help,” said Senator Grace Poe, who filed a resolution on the increasing incidence of suicides and depression in the country.

Depression is a common mental disorder, the UN health agency points out. Globally, more than 264 million of all ages suffer from depression.

“Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease,” the WHO says.

“No health without mental health,” the Philippine Star said in its editorial. It echoed the statement issued by Dr. Brock Chisholm, the first WHO director general, who happened to be

a psychiatrist. “Without mental health,” he said, “there can be no true physical health.”

More women are affected by depression than men.

“Depression can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family,” the WHO says.

At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the leading cause of death in 15-29-yearolds. Approximately 32% of the world’s suicides occur in Western Pacific region.

“While acknowledged as an important and neglected health issue, (suicide) remains a low priority in most Western Pacific countries due to competing health problems, stigma and poor understanding of the condition,” wrote Maria Theresa Redaniel, May Antonnette Lebanan-Dalida, and David Gunnell, authors of “Suicide in the Philippines: time trend analysis (1974-2005) and literature review.”

Suicide, the process of purposely ending one’s own life, has always been viewed negatively in most culture. But not in Asia, where 60% of all the suicide deaths in the world are reported from. In fact, two of the countries with relatively huge suicide rates are Japan and South Korea, which have a very

high level of competition that starts right from childhood.

“Although some attempted or completed suicides come as a shock even to family and friends, clear warnings are given in most cases,” points out The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “Any suicide threat or suicide attempt is a plea for help and must be taken seriously. If the threat or attempt is ignored, a life may be lost.”

The WHO says there are known, effective treatments to mental disorders, between 76% and 85% of people oi low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment for their disorder.

There are different types of depression and their symptoms also vary. Depending on the number and severity of symptoms, a depressive episode can be categorized as mild, moderate or severe.

Recurrent depressive disorder involves repeated depressive episodes. “During these episodes, the person experiences depressed mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and reduced energy leading to diminished activity for at least two weeks,” the WHO says.

“Many people with depression also suffer from anxiety symptoms, disturbed sleep and appetite, and may have feelings of guilt or low self-worth, poor concentration and even symp-

toms that cannot be explained a medical diagnosis,” the WHO further states.

Depending on the number and severity of symptoms, a depressive episode can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. “An individual with a mild depressive episode will have difficulty in continuing with ordinary work and social activities but will probably not cease to function completely. During a severe depressive episode, it is unlikely that the sufferer will be able to continue with social, work or domestic activities, except to a limited extent.”

In the case of bipolar affective disorder, it consists of both manic and depressive episodes separated by periods of normal mood. “Manic episodes involve elevated and irritable mood, over-activity, pressure of speech, inflated self-esteem, and a decreased need for sleep.”

There are effective treatments for moderate and severe depression, the WHO says. Examples include cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, or antidepressant medication.

Psychosocial treatments are also effective for mild depression. Antidepressants can be an effective form of treatment for moderate-severe depression but are not the first line of treatment for cases of mild depression, the WHO says.

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EDGEDAVAO

LIVING

SMART BOOSTS CONNECTIVITY IN UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO

PLDT WIRELESS ARM SMART COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Smart) is boosting its network services at the University of Mindanao in Davao City, one of the oldest and biggest universities in southern Philippines, to benefit its students, teachers and surrounding communities and help the university gear up for online learning.

Aside from the cell site under construction inside the campus, Smart has also recently rolled out MultiElement on Wheels (MEOW) equipment at UM to boost data, voice and SMS experience inside the university.

Such measures are part of the preparations being undertaken by PLDT and Smart to help schools nationwide adopt flexible learning strategies.

“With improved connectivity, we expect stronger signal for voice calls, stable LTE connection, and increased speed in accessing information,” said UM Senior Vice President Edgardo O. Castillo.

“Being in the academe, the swift delivery of instruction is as crucial as the content itself.

Quicker access to the cloud is

country.

“As we gear up for the opening of classes, e-learning is shaping up to be one of the vital components of the new normal. With better connectivity, students and teachers alike will be able to interact with each other, access learning management systems, and share other online educational resources,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT-Smart Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Engineering.

As of end-March, Smart has increased the number of 4G/LTE base stations nationwide to 26,000, up 6% from end-2019 and 60% more than end-2018. PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which supports Smart’s network by providing high-capacity links to LTE base stations, is now at 338,500 kilometers nationwide, 5% more than end-2019 and up nearly 40% from end2018.

In April, Smart further increased the capacity of its LTE network by reallocating its assigned 1800 Mhz frequency from 2G to 4G/LTE. As a result, 3,785 2G base stations of Smart are now also providing additional capacity for its LTE network.

much desired by both the faculty and the students. We also look forward to better support for connected multiple users coupled with enhanced security. At the end of the day, it will result to decreased stress to all users and savings for stakeholders in terms of time and finances,” Castillo added.

These efforts are part of PLDT and Smart’s fixed and wireless network expansion and upgrades across the

TAGALIZED THAI SERIES ‘2GETHER’ ARRIVES ON IWANT GMA HEART OF ASIA BRINGS FEEL THE THRILL of young love on iWant as it finally streams the Thai romance-comedy “2gether The Series,” starring the blockbuster tandem of Bright Vachirawit and Win Metawin, starting June 28.

“2gether The Series” is the first Tagalized Thai series in the country and follows the unexpected romance between two popular college boys.

Fans who have been following the series can expect new Tagalized episodes on the streaming service every day at 10 PM. In “2gether,” ladies’ man but all-around nice guy Tine (Win) is plagued by the romantic gestures of a persistent gay admirer in his university named Green (Korawit Boonsri).

To get Green off his back, Tine’s friends devise a plan for him to seek the help of the popular yet mysterious guitarist Sarawat (Bright) to become his fake boyfriend. After refusing Tine’s first attempts to woo him, Sarawat eventually caves when Tine joins his music club.

In their deliberately public but pre-

BACK SECRET GARDEN

Win Metawin and Bright Vachirawit. tend relationship, lines begin to blur as the two start to fall for each other for real.

Bright and Win’s tandem has gained a legion of passionate fans all over the world since the show debuted this year and became a consistent

trending topic on social media platforms in the Philippines.

“2gether The Series” is the first Thai show that will be shown on iWant after ABS-CBN announced its partnership with leading Thai content company GMMTV.

GMA HEART OF ASIA brings back the hit Koreanovela “Secret Garden” on Philippine television.

Secret Garden is an award-winning romantic comedy featuring Hyun Bin, popularly known as Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok of Crash Landing On You and Cyrus of My Name is Kim Sam Soon, and Ha Ji Won, lead star of Hwang Jini.

A magical accident intertwines the fates, and even the hearts, of Owen (Hyun Bin) and Jamie (Ha Ji Won), two people from very different backgrounds. Owen is an eccentric bachelor who is about to inherit his family’s department store business. Although he is annoyingly arrogant and lazy, his employees respect him for his smartness.

On the other hand, Jamie is not the average, girly kind of woman. She is very unique in many ways - she is an orphan, stuntwoman and principled person altogether. Coming from opposite worlds, Owen and Jamie often argue and mock each other until their bodies get switched when they woke up one morning.

Witness how this magical twist opens their eyes and hearts to each other as they live the other person’s life in the much-awaited comeback of “Secret Garden” after Stairway to Heaven on GMA’s Afternoon Prime block.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

9

EDGEDAVAO 9

COMPETITIVE EDGE

An immersive opportunity:

MCM launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020

M

alayan Colleges Mindanao, a Mapúa School announced its first Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020, inviting all SHS and College students in Mindanao to experience the first fully integrated online learning system in the region — MCM Digital — and get the opportunity to use MCM’s powerful online learning tools for FREE! This Digital Learning Bootcamp will be held on June 1 to 13, 2020 and is described as an immersive experience inside MCM’s Online Learning System, aiming to demonstrate and give participants an opportunity to immerse

themselves in the first fully integrated online learning system in Mindanao.

The participants will be given access to MCM’s online learning portal, “MCM Digital” where they can explore and get hands-on experience utilizing

MCM’s online learning tools such as Blackboard Learn, Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Panopto, Wiley Plus, and Cengage Learning to complete learning tasks designed for incoming Grade 11 and 1st Year College students.

These tasks will be delivered in either synchronous or asynchronous learning sessions to allow for participants to get a feel for the different modalities of remote learning provid-

ed by MCM. In order for participants to maximize the online learning experience, they will need a device such as a computer unit, laptop or a tablet; and internet connectivity of at least 1 Mbps for asynchronous sessions and at least 2 Mbps for synchronous sessions.

Familiarization with the online system and tools will initiate the program, after which, participants will be allowed to select short learning modules on General Mathe-

matics, Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Basic Education for incoming Grade 11 students; Basic Algebra, General Physics, Business and Management, and P ro g ra m m i n g and Coding for incoming college students. A full course on Math, Humanities, and Social Science will also be made available for demonstration during the bootcamp period.

To register for this activity and get a chance to win amazing prizes, interested participants

may proceed to this link: https:// bit.ly/MCMDIGITALBOOTCAMP and follow the subsequent instructions and link to the “MCM Digital” account that will be sent through the email address provided upon your registration.

For any additional inquiries about the MCM Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020, please feel free to email at admissions@mcm. edu.ph or contact +63918 918 1626, +63999 227 7493, or +63917 831 8048.

10 EDGEDAVAO

INFODEMIC... FROM1

withhold information from the public.

“Because it is important nga mahibalo ang mga tao sa information, timely, accurate information nga muabot sa ilaha so that ang mga taga Davao they can properly respond and planned kung unsa ang ilahang mga lihok. The fact nga gipasa-pasa siya nga murag ayaw saba this is confidential information

kanang mga ingon ana, sa ingon ana pa lang nga tono klaro na kaayo nga dili siya tinuod because the city government will not withhold information na importante sa inyuhang safety and protection. In fact naa gani ta risk assessment nga gina-publish para sa mga tao na gibabuhat nato to guide them sa ilahang pagtuyok,” she said.

may mga abuses pa rin na nangyayari,” she said.

Ramirez said what is important is the victims were able to report and DCPO was able to act on it. She

said DCPO has able to file, cleared and solved the cases except one case, which is still under investigation.

“Because the victim is not yet ready,” she said.

Philippines have enrolled in the Solidarity Trials of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The “Solidarity Trial” launched by WHO and its partners is meant to test the safety and effectiveness of possible vaccines against Covid-19.

Four possible drugs and drug combinations that have been tested in the trial include Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, Lopinavir or Ritonavir, and Lopinavir or Ritonavir with Interferon beta-1a.

‘Ultimate weapon’ vs.

Covid-19 Roque said the actions taken by the government only help slow the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

He also warned that people’s defiance of health and quarantine protocols would only lead to “100 percent” fast transmission of Covid-19 infections.

“Sa pagbabago ng uga-

li at nakasanayan tulad ng pagsusuot ng face mask, paghuhugas ng kamay, pagso-social distancing, mananaig tayo laban sa sakit (When we change our habit by using face mask, washing our hands, and observing social distancing, we will win against this disease),” Roque said.

Roque said following the quarantine rules is the country’s “ultimate weapon" against Covid-19.

He, however, said the success of the country in fighting Covid-19 lies in the hands of Filipinos.

“Nasa kamay po natin kung anong mangyayari sa atin dito sa gitna ng pandemyang ito (Our fate amid this pandemic lies in our hands),” Roque said. “’Yung ultimate weapon na gagamitin natin, nasa kamay po ng taumbayan (The ultimate weapon that we will use is up to the public).”

(PNA)

and Detection Group, the National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Internal Revenue to investigate the logistics company.

On Thursday, J&T Express Philippines released a statement regarding the mishandling of parcels.

J&T Express Philippines vice president Zoe Chi said the company will cooperate with the government in the

investigation.

“In the event that the parcel is damaged, they can be identified in our facility, be traced and accounted for either in our branches, warehouses and down to the very name of the rider who delivers these parcels to their recipients,” the firm’s brand manager Leonardo Alampay added.

(PNA)

Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan at the Department of Finance (DOF) office in Manila.

Dominguez said the loan will be used for general government operations to augment revenues, which have been affected by the impact of the pandemic.

He said Japan accounts for nearly over 40 percent of Philippines foreign fund sources.

Dominguez, however, said domestic borrowing remains the primary source of government’s borrowing activities at around 75 percent.

Finance Undersecretary Mark Joven said foreign borrowings for this year were programmed to be around USD8.6 billion.

To date, the government has sourced nearly USD5 billion from these. (PNA)

contender Josh Greer in a 10-round action in Las Vegas.

Only players, trainers allowed A joint administrative order was made between GAB, DOH, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to determine the number of people who can

be inside the practice facility at a time during a certain lockdown status.

In the case of provinces under the general community quarantine (GCQ) like Metro Manila and Cavite, only five people, four players and one trainer, can do conditioning drills at a certain time.

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proposed amendment of MP Omar Sema.”

Resolution 239 states that the BTA members represent the concerns of the Moros, especially in the conflict-affected population “who have fallen victim to terrorist attacks and human rights violations.”

The resolution said they support the national government’s initiative to strengthen the law to prevent, prohibit, counter and penalize terrorism but noted that an effective counter-terrorism law “must be evidence-based and intended to respond to the actual evil sought to be prevented or penalized with provisions that do not encroach on fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.”

It added that the proposed law must also “clearly establish conduct that is lawful from unlawful to avert any misinterpretation and arbitrary, and discriminatory enforcement in its implementation, giving individuals adequate notice of their legal obliga-

tions so that they can govern their behavior accordingly.”

It said what Congress passed not only contains provisions that could easily be questioned for constitutionality, overbreadth and vagueness “but also lacks adequate measures to ensure its insusceptibility to abuse and/or human rights violations.”

It cited the following provisions: sanctioning warrantless arrests outside of the limitations allowed by the Rules of court and allowing wire-tapping of private conversations/ communications upon ex parte application before the Court of Appeal and without an opportunity for the “suspect” to prevent counter-veiling evidence at any stage of the proceedings; detention of suspects for 14 to 24 days without a valid commitment order from the courts, and unilateral designation of persons or groups “as terrorist” by the Anti-Terrorism Council, consisting of members appointed by the

executive and lack of remedies to question such designation before the courts.

“Such provisions, once enacted, could be counterproductive as it could instill fear or compound resentment among our peoples,” it said.

Proponents When filed early this month, Resolution 239 was initiated by Member of Parliament (MP) and Minority Leader Laisa Maluhud but it mustered a mixed authorship of six majority and six minority members, with MP and Cabinet Ministers Mohagher Iqbal and Abdulraof Macacua among the authors from the majority.

The four other co-authors from the majority are MPs Eddie Alih, Muslimin Jakilan, Jamel Macaraya and Abdulmuhmin Mujahid while those from the minority aside from Alamia are Rasol Mitmug, Baintan Adil-Ampatuan, Rasul Ismael, Don Mustapha Loong and Mawallil.

Iqbal was chair of the MILF peace panel who

signed a peace pact with the government — the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro — on March 27, 2014 after 17 years of negotiations. He is now Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education and co-chair with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, in the Inter-Governmental Relations Body.

Macacua, now Minister of Environment and Executive Secretary, was Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) who was then known by his nom de guerre, Sammy Gambar. Decommissioning of the BIAF’s firearms and combatants is ongoing, in accordance with the peace agreement and RA 11054, the Organic Law for the BARMM. Alamia was former Executive Secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the BARMM’s predecessor, and was the first chair of the Regional Human Rights Commission. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

while the third referral’s membership fee shall be considered as a “re-entry fee” and awarded to the referring member’s sponsor or upline.

Basically, the active income generated from the compensation plans depends on the number of referrals and/or membership fees gathered while passive income is acquired through spillovers.

Accordingly, Forsage’s so-called smart contract is synonymous to an investment contract, where there is an investment or placement of money in a common enterprise with a reasonable expectation of profits to be derived from the efforts of others.

An investment contract is a security and, therefore, must be duly registered with and approved by the

SEC before it could be sold or offered for sale to the public, pursuant to Section 8 of The Securities Regulation Code.

Aside from lacking the necessary licenses, Forsage’s compensation plan resembles a Ponzi scheme, where investors are paid using the contribution of new investors, according to the SEC. The Commission also noted that Forsage does not appear in the list of virtual currency exchanges registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

RCashOnline RCashOnline,meanwhile, offers business packages, which include Royale products for resale, starting at P18,660 for one account and going as high as P130,620 for seven accounts with insurance

worth P1 million.

The scheme of RCashOnline relies heavily on recruiting members in exchange for high monetary rewards rather than on selling products.

The Commission also noted that RCashOnline employs the same schemes and is being managed by the same persons or groups operating OnlineBiz and ELITE Entrep Blue Print, which have been the subjects of previous advisories.

The Saint John The Saint John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta Foundation, on the other hand, invites members to join its programs for free.

The group promises members P5,000 worth of grocery items every month and offers 21-year-old male agriculture students

and graduates all-expenses-paid training with $1,000 allowance in Israel for six months, in exchange for personal information.

The group also claims that it will soon purchase a 100 hectares of land for future housing/ agricultural projects.

SEC warned that any matter entered into by a corporation whose registration has been revoked, other than for the purpose of liquidation, is void.

The Commission encourages the public to visit the SEC website to see the advisories it issues regularly and to report unauthorized investment-taking and suspicious activities of corporations to the SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department through email at epd@sec.gov.ph.

the DA said.

Strict observance of biosecurity measures and strong animal health support, and veterinary extension services are integrated into the program to ensure the protection of the country’s swine herd from diseases, it said.

“Rest assured the DA will continue to support the livestock and poultry industry, and empower smallholder farmers, including micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, throughout the food value chain,” Dar said.

The Agriculture chief

also repeated his appeal to local chief executives to help the DA in protecting their borders and apprehend unscrupulous traders from trading sick hogs and selling contaminated imported meat.

“We must always calibrate our moves and not

to lose sight of our commitment to see an empowered livestock and poultry sector, teeming with prosperous farmers.

Thus, we in government will continuously provide smallholder farmers with opportunities to produce and earn more,” he said.

both camps. It is a date selected, according to Top Rank's Bob Arum, for how it fits into the NFL schedule.

"We've reserved that date for Allegiant Stadium," Arum said. "The Raiders are playing on that Thurs-

day [Dec. 17], which is perfect. After the game is over, we put up the ring and so forth. We have a couple of days to do it, and Saturday we have the fight."

Top Rank president Todd duBoef added that all sides are looking at op-

tions for fans to attend the fight even under social distancing guidelines should the pandemic still demand such measure be taken.

Without restrictions, the live gate for the fight would be in the tens of millions of dollars.

"We understand [the limitations on crowds], and we're looking at all the different options that relates to if it's a larger venue with big spacing or if it's a normal venue," duBoef said. "We're taking all that into consideration."

I will never tire of thanking all the doctors, nurses, who give their best every day, regardless of the risk they take. I may be a former World Champion, but you are the true CHAMPIONS OF LIFE. I care for

you all, please # stay in the house, follow the # quarantine and under no circumstances let anyone enter your house. Stone hands."

Top names from the fighting world including

Sugar Ray Leonard and Canelo Alvarez sent Duran well wishes and hopes of a speedy recovery. The video messages were posted on Durán's Instagram story.

Duran was initially

hospitalized on June 25 and was having cold-like symptoms. Due to previous conditions related to lung health, he and his family made the decision to be cautious and seek medical treatment.

SEC... FROM2

DA... FROM4

FURY-WILDER... FROM11

AFTER COVID-19... FROM11

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

Lakers still hoping Howard will play

D

wight Howard’s status for the resumption of the NBA season remains uncertain, but the Los Angeles Lakers don’t plan to replace him on the roster.

Coach Frank Vogel confirmed the team’s position Wednesday while speaking on a conference call with media members.

“We’ve been in communication with Dwight the whole way,” Vogel said. “We don’t know what the level of participation is yet. He wants to play. We’re hopeful he’s able to join us. We’re hopeful and optimistic that he’ll be able to join us in Orlando.

“We don’t have any intention of replacing Dwight’s roster spot when we believe he’ll hopefully be able to join us.”

The Lakers and 21 other NBA teams will head to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando next week ahead of the restart of play July 30.

According to ESPN, Howard is currently home in Georgia, adhering to the NBA’s isolation and testing regulations.

Other members of the Lakers are gathering in Los Angeles this week ahead of their relocation to central Florida next week.

Howard reportedly is dealing with several circumstances while weighing his options.

ESPN reported that Howard currently has custody of his 6-year-old son, David, after David’s mother died of an epileptic seizure in March.

“He has an extenuating circumstance that he’s

working with the league on in terms of what that is ultimately going to look like,” Vogel said.

In addition, Howard has been outspoken, along with Lakers teammate Avery Bradley and Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, about NBA players’ social responsibilities in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.

Howard issued a statement to CNN last month that read, “Basketball, or entertainment period, isn’t needed at this moment, and will only be a distraction. Sure, it might not distract us the players, but we have resources at hand a majority of our community don’t have. And the smallest distraction for them can start a trickle-down effect that may never stop.

“Especially with the way the climate is now. I would love nothing more than to win my very first NBA Championship. But the unity of My People would be an even bigger Championship, that’s just too beautiful to pass up.

What better time than now for us to be focusing on our families?”

The Lakers did make a roster move Wednesday, deactivating Bradley and signing free agent JR Smith. Bradley stated that he won’t play the rest of the season in order to remain with his family.

Howard, 34, is averaging 7.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game for the Lakers this season. He had made two starts in 62 appearances.

The eight-time AllStar is on his fifth NBA team in the past five seasons.

11

Basketball and football teams have been given the green light to practice.

Gov’t allows basketball, football teams to practice

P

ractice and conditioning for basketball and football are now allowed even while community quarantine protocols are still in place across the country, Malacañang said Friday.

The government’s pandemic task force has approved the resumption of practice for players of the two sports, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

“Pinayagan po ‘yung practice and conditioning ng basketball at saka football,” he said in a virtual press briefing.

The approval comes on the request of the Philippine Basketball Association and football associa-

Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

The three sports that submitted their practice protocols are basketball, football, and boxing.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Philippines Football League (PFL), and the Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3 have drafted their respective protocols last month in hopes that their member clubs can return to practice very soon, the first step for them to begin or resume their season during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Regarding boxing, GAB chairman Abraham Mitra said they made the proto-

cols with some additional rules from the Omega and the Elorde Boxing Gyms.

However, he added that the Department of Health (DOH) is still barring GAB from reopening practices for boxing.

“Ayaw pa rin talaga ng DOH eh. Walang go signal (The DOH still does not want that to happen. There is no go signal yet),” Mitra said, although he added that he is still working with the IATF for boxing to return, citing the return of the sport in the United States.

The Philippine boxing community came alive recently when Mike Plania stunned world title

he picture at the top of boxing's heavyweight division has become increasingly blurry, with mandatory challengers and planned fights standing in the way of a potential unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. One thing that is certain, however, is the trilogy fight between Fury and rival Deontay Wilder. According to both camps, that fight could go down at Allegiant Stadium

in Las Vegas on Dec. 19.

After battling to a dramatic draw in 2018, Fury and Wilder rematched in February. Fury battered Wilder in the bout before scoring a stoppage win in the seventh round. After the fight, Wilder cited the heavy costume he wore to the ring as the cause of his loss, sapping his strength.

Wilder's brother recently implied Fury used loaded gloves in the rematch after a doctor found a "dent" in

Deontay's head from "a blunt object." Fury has denied those allegations.

With a third fight between the men contractually guaranteed should the loser choose to initiate it, Wilder quickly activated the clause before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the bout off its planned summer timeframe.

According to an ESPN report, the Dec. 19 date is now being targeted by

n Thursday, WBA Boxing reposted a video announcing that boxing legend Roberto Duran was discharged from the hospital and will continue his COVID-19 recovery at home. He is reportedly recuperating with his family and is in better health.

A video of the 69-yearold was posted on Twitter and Instagram, with Duran giving a thumbs up while medical professionals around him clapped for

his recovery.

He wrote a post on Instagram regarding his status, which translated to English reads: "Good afternoon my people! Today, with God's favor, I returned home after battling the COVID-19 virus. It was a World Championship fight, which I could win as a team, with the support, love and dedication of a medical team, who not only took care of me, but of all the patients, who, like me, fought in

the hospital against this virus, which does not discriminate against legends, world titles, social status, race, religion, etc ... To all those people who continue in the fight, I send a lot of strength and my prayers, to their relatives so that they do not lose their hopes and know that God is in control. To all my fans around the world, I thank you for praying for me and for all your messages of encouragement.

tions, Roque said.

The joint administrative order on guidelines on sports during the coronavirus pandemic was approved by the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, and the Department of Health.

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) earlier submitted the “new normal” protocols in team practices for three sports to the Inter-Agency Task

FGOV’T, P10

Fury-Wilder 3: Allegiant Stadium in Vegas reserved for potential Dec. 19 fight date

T

FFURY-WILDER 3, P10

After Covid-19 scare, Duran discharged from hospital

O Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder Part 3 could happen on December 19 in Las Vegas.

FAFTER COVID-19, P10

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EDGEDAVAO

TRAIN

VOL.13 ISSUE 72 • SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020

FROM HOME

PSC officer-in-charge Ramon Fernandez takes a swab test.

(PSC photo)

Petecio to return home to Davao to train with father, brother World champion Nesthy Petecio is shown after taking a swab test conducted for Philippine national athletes and officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). (PSC photo)

A

lmost nine months after seeing her family due to her busy schedule and the lockdown amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, world champion Nesthy Petecio is coming home.

“Makakauwi na rin (I’ll be finally coming home),” Petecio, a Baguio-based national team member and reigning (Amateur) International Boxing Association and Southeast Asian Games champion (SEAG) told the PNA. Petecio said that she is returning to Davao to be with her family that will be her “inspiration” in getting the last flight to the postponed Tokyo Olympics after she was denied a seat last March in Amman, Jordan.

“Sila po talaga ang inspiration ko (They

are really my inspiration),” said Petecio, who is waiting for her flight back home after nearly three months of inactivity due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that prevented her from training.

“As much as I wanted to train during the lockdown, our neighbors asked us not to for fear that I could contract the disease,” she said.

Petecio said it will be her father Teodoro, a former boxer, who will be handling their training with her brother Norlan, who is also part of the Philippine boxing team.

“Kaya po ako uuwi para mas maganahan at mas maging 100 percent yung motivation (That is why I am going home so I will be more inspired and have a 100 percent motivation),”

she added.

Petecio lost to arch-rival Irie Sena of Japan in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Asia and Oceana Boxing Qualification Tournament in the Jordan capital.

She was supposed to get one final chance in the Global Qualifiers in Paris, France supposedly last May but it was postponed until further notice due to the pandemic.

Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam also lost in Amman, Jordan but could still make it to the Tokyo games if he gets past his rivals in the Paris qualifiers.

Paalam won a gold medal in the last SEAG. Female boxer Irish Magno has already qualified to the Tokyo Games, the first female pug to do so.

Magno won a silver medal in the 2019 SEAG hosted by the Philippines.

Last week, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has told all athletes eyeing slots for the Olympics to renew their training, including weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the 2016 Brazil silver medalist. (PNA)