Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 73 | Sunday-Monday, July 5-6, 2020

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

f

@EdgeDavao

www.edgedavao.net

SUICIDE: EXTERMINATION

BY ONESELF BIGGER PICTURE P5 edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 12 PAGES President Rodrigo Duterte talks to military troops during his visit to the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City on Friday night. The President’s critics, who feared the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which was signed by Duterte on Friday, could be used to harass and suppress free speech, are preparing to challenge its legality before the Supreme Court.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

TOUGH RESTRICTIONS

After surge in Covid-19 cases, Brgy 23-C on ‘hard lockdown’ for 14 days STORY ON PAGE 2

WORLDWIDE COVID-19 NUMBERS BOARD

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PHILIPPINES

WORLDWIDE

CONFIRMED: 11,197,278 • DEATHS: 529,197 • RECOVERED: 6,342,850

CONFIRMED: 40,336 • DEATHS: 1,280 • RECOVERED: 11,073

As of July 4, 2020, here’s the Top 5 list of countries with most number of COVID-19 cases 1. U.S.A CONFIRMED: 2,890,588 DEATHS: 132,101 RECOVERED: 1,235,488

2. BRAZIL CONFIRMED: 1,543,341 DEATHS: 63,254 RECOVERED: 978,615

3. RUSSIA CONFIRMED: 667,883 DEATHS: 9,859 RECOVERED: 437,893

4. INDIA CONFIRMED: 649,889 DEATHS: 18,669 RECOVERED: 394,319

5. SPAIN CONFIRMED: 297,625 DEATHS: 28,385 RECOVERED: --

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

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

PRRD to military to remain calm

P

Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta (2nd from right), Lt.Col. Raquid (rightmost), Ed Leuenberger (leftmost), Councilor Jay Quitain Jr. (2nd from left) and Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte (center) lead the second City Bike Ride for the amendments to the Bike Lane Ordinance of Davao City

on Saturday. The 10.5-kilometer north-bound bike ride’s route was from Sangguniang Panlungsod- Quirino- JP Laurel- SPMC- Cabaguio Ave.Magsaysay Park- Boulevard then back to Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Photo courtesy of Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte’s FB page

resident Rodrigo R. Duterte has appealed to the military to remain calm and not to take revenge against the police over the recent shooting incident where four soldiers were killed, saying this will not do the country any good.

The President made the appeal in his “Talk to the Troops” during his visit to the Edwin Andrews Air Base here late Friday.

Justice, Duterte said, will be given to the victims and those culpable will be punished.

He said he has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to speed up the investigation into the alleged “misencounter” between members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Jolo, Sulu last June 29.

Slain in the incident were soldiers Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime

Velasco, 38; and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33. They were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened.

Duterte acknowledged that the incident has created animosity between the AFP and PNP, “which is not good because, in the end, it would be the people (who) will bear the brunt of all these things.”

He told the military not to hold a grudge against the police as “there is a more important task to do and that is to protect the people of the Philippines.”

Duterte told both the military and the police to wait for the result of the investigation being conducted by the NBI, which will be made public “so that everybody will understand the situation.”

Killing policemen will not bring the four slain soldiers back to life, he said.

During the visit, the President had a closeddoor meeting with top mil-

FPRRD, P10

After surge in Covid-19 cases, Brgy 23-C on ‘hard lockdown’ for 14 days

By MAYA M. PADILLO avao City’s Barangay 23-C was placed under ‘hard lockdown’ for 14 days beginning Saturday due to a surge in COVID-19 positive cases.

D

Barangay residents were recently subjected to testing through Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conducted in the area.

“Very severe ang situation nato sa Barangay 23-C because daghan kaayo ta og [positive] patients nga gikan diha.

Bag-o lang ta nag-pahigayon og RT-PCR testing dinha and daghan gyud ang nag positive dinha sa ilahang lugar,” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

in a live interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) 87.5 on Friday.

Barangay 23-C has a total estimated population of 18,000 and its total infected residents so far is 88. Two residents have died. The youngest infected resident is a 25-day old infant while the oldest is 75 years old.

Based on the data released by Department of Health 11 (DOH 11) there were 13 cases in barangay 23-C from the period of

Skills acquisition, online jobs can address unemployment

T

he Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE XI) has recognized the increased demand for employment due to the high unemployment rate in the Davao Region brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

This can be directly remedied if the working force would resort to skills acquisition which would open new opportunities for potential job seekers.

Based on the data provided by DOLE XI, the Davao Region is currently seeing an increase in the unemployment rate which was at 17.9% at the end of June this year.

This is due to a 50% decrease in employment in almost all sectors within the region where a total of 5,517 individuals lost their jobs from January to

June.

In light of this, DOLE XI’s Regional Focal on Employment Marlito D. Ayala discussed that skills acquisition can be a great way for job seekers to increase their competitiveness when it comes to seeking for employment despite the set limitations under the ‘New Normal.’

“Now, under the current circumstances, what I can advise job seekers is to study since it is needed to learn of new ways to seek employment and add more to our skill sets,” Ayala said in the vernacular.

Ayala brought up that there are certain jobs that are in-demand where the use of the internet can be a means to submit work outputs for each worker.

“We have observed

FSKILLS, P10

July 1 to 3, 2020. Ten cases were reported on July 1; two cases on July 2; and one case on July 3. The most recent patient who died due to COVID-19 in Davao City was a 52 yearold female from Brgy.

23-C last June 28.

Mayor Sara cautioned Dabawenyos to avoid “for whatever purposes” Barangay 23-C. “Trabaho man o dili, or pag-adto sa mga establishments nga nag-langkob niining area,” she said.

Based on the Facebook page post of Barangay 23C, the lockdown has been decided by the local government of Davao and Barangay Chairman Alimo-

din “Wating” Usman.

The admin of the page assured the residents that the officials and staff members of Barangay 23-C, together with the city government of Davao and the City Mayor’s Office along with other local government agencies, are now working for the delivery of assistance.

The post also urges the residents in the said barangay to support the decision and to be firmed against discrimination and criticism from other people.

The residents are also being urged to remain disciplined, cooperative, and to understand the sit-

uation.

Mayor Sara earlier announced that Davao City will still implement a barangay enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or house, street, purok, and compound lockdowns during the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) to prevent the spread of the virus.

Lockdowns are implemented in the areas with alarming number of positive COVID-19 cases.

When an area is in lockdown, residents are required to undergo 14-day home quarantine. Affected residents will be tested on the 14th day and those who are positive will be

A group of Badjao hawkers peddle used shoes at a subdivision in Bangkal, Davao City on Saturday. Edge Davao

transferred to an isolation facility.

Mayor Sara said implementing lockdown aims to control the transmission of the virus especially in the identified very high risk and highrisk areas in Davao City.

She also said that if lockdowns and ECQ happen in specific areas, offices and establishment owners must be considerate to their employees that will be affected by these control measures.

The city government of Davao assured that ration and psychosocial support will be provided to the residents under lockdown.

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

PRRD orders NBI: Uncover truth in Jolo ‘misencounter’

P Covid-19 Task Force deputy chief implementer and testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon, SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (Photo courtesy of SMC)

WHO urges countries to 'wake up' to realities and halt virus

T

he World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged countries hit by serious coronavirus outbreaks to "wake up" to the realities on the ground instead of bickering, and to "take control".

"People need to wake up. The data is not lying. The situation on the ground is not lying," WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan told journalists at a briefing hosted by the UN correspondents' association in Geneva.

Touching almost every country on Earth since it emerged in China late last

year, the coronavirus has hit at least 10.8 million people and killed 521,000 worldwide.

The Americas are the hardest-hit region, with most cases and deaths registered in the United States, and with numbers skyrocketing in a several countries in Latin America.

Asked about the dire

situations in nations like Brazil and Mexico, which have been moving away from lockdowns despite ballooning numbers of infections and deaths, Ryan cautioned that "too many countries are ignoring what the data is telling them".

"There are good economic reasons that the countries need to bring their economies back online," he said.

"It's understandable, but you can't ignore the problem either. The problem will not magically go away."

While he acknowl-

Anti-terror law takes effect on July 18; SC fight looms

T

he contentious anti-terrorism law will take effect in 2 weeks, Malacañang confirmed Saturday, as critics who feared the legislation could be used to silence dissent prepared to challenge it before the Supreme Court.

The law that President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Friday would be imposed on July 18, 15 days after its publication on the state journal Official Gazette, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed.

The law, which was passed as the country grappled with the coronavirus pandemic, would let Duterte appoint a council that could order warrantless arrests of people it deems are terrorists.

It also allows for up to 24 days of detention

without charge, which the government argues is necessary to combat long-running communist and Islamist insurgencies.

"The signing of the... law demonstrates our serious commitment to stamp out terrorism, which has long plagued the country and has caused unimaginable grief and horror to many of our people," Roque said Friday.

The law defines terrorism as intending to cause death or injury, damage government or private property or use of weapons of mass destruction to "spread a message of fear" or intimidate the government.

Critics allege the legislation also strips away old safeguards, such as penalties against law enforcers

for wrongful detention of suspects.

"By signing the anti-terrorism bill into law, President Duterte has pushed Philippines democracy into an abyss," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch.

"The law threatens to significantly worsen the human rights situation in the Philippines, which has nosedived since the catastrophic 'war on drugs' began four years ago," Robertson added.

In a report last month, the UN human rights office said at least 8,663 people have been killed in the drug war with "near impunity" for offenders.

Several opposition lawmakers and groups have vowed to question the law

avao Light and Power Co., Inc. will conduct a 15-minute power interruption on July 7, Tuesday, anytime between 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m..

This service disruption will be necessary to facilitate maintenance works at Davao Light TSI Substation.

Specifically affected are customers from Gaisano

Grand Mall in Toril going to Baracatan, including Catigan, Sirawan, Binugao and neighboring areas.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience brought about by this scheduled power interruption. But it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier.

However, there may be in-

stances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

Please contact our 24/7 Customer Contact Service at 229-3572, 0917864-2793 (Globe) or 0920970-1357 (Smart) for any power interruption that will fall outside the given schedule.

FANTI-TERROR, P10

15-minute power interruption on July 7 in Toril

D

edged that countries facing explosive outbreaks had some "pretty stark choices" ahead, he insisted that "it is never too late in an epidemic to take control".

'Worst case scenario' Instead of placing an entire nation under lockdown, he suggested that countries could try to break down the problem.

It could be possible to loosen restrictions in areas with lower transmission rates and still contain the outbreak through things like physical distancing, hand-washing, testing, isolating cases and contact

FWHO, P9

resident Rodrigo Duterte on Friday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to search for the truth as it began investigating the recent shooting incident involving cops and soldiers.

Duterte made the order when he delivered a speech before uniformed officers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.

He said that while he was “very sad” and “angry” about the incident, it would be better for both the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to just await the results of the NBI investigation.

“May nakita akong mali.

Nag-neutral na lang ako sa salita ko (I saw something wrong but I prefer to be neutral). But I have my own misgivings about the whole thing. But pending the (results) of the investigation of the NBI, we all must just keep our silence and I hope the NBI would find the truth for us. Trabaho nila yan (That’s their job),” Duterte said.

Four members of an Army intelligence unit were tailing reported suicide bombers affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf group in Jolo, Sulu on Monday when they were shot to death by PNP officers.

Killed in the shooting incident were Maj. Marvin Indammog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco, and Cpl. Abdal Asula.

Duterte assured the military that the NBI, once done with its probe, would

make public its findings to make everyone “understand the situation.”

“And I’m sure they will not fail me. Kilala ko itong mga ‘to, sila (I know them).

So sabi ko (I told them), get the truth. Huwag mong sobrahan, huwag mong kulangan, ‘yung totoo lang (No more, no less, just the truth) because it will save us the trouble,” he said.

Plea for understanding Meanwhile, Duterte said he flew to Zamboanga City to ask for their understanding following the “misencounter” between the police and the military.

He made the appeal as he reminded them that such an incident could not be avoided.

“Mahal ko ang sundalo ko. Mahal ko rin ang pulis ko. Puro nagta-trabaho (I love my soldiers. I love my policemen as well. They are doing their jobs),” Duterte said. “Ang hinihingi ko na lang, yung understanding ninyo sa nangyari (I am only asking for your understanding following the incident).”

At least nine police officers who were part of a team that was reportedly involved in the killing of the four soldiers were relieved of their posts.

They are Staff Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior Master Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, Master Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, Staff Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, Staff Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani.

FPRRD, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

Logistics conference aims to resolve high shipping rates

By MAYA M. PADILLO he European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines – Davao (ECCP-Davao) in partnership with the All Transport Network will organize a webinar on Business Conference on Logistics on July 24, 2020, aiming to finally resolve the long standing issue of high shipping costs.

T

The activity is expected to gather an estimate audience of more than 200 including experts and stakeholders from freight forwarding companies, importers and exporters, air cargo companies, representatives from airports, terminals and customs to discuss the concerns per industry in terms of logistics.

“This conference aims to finally resolve the long outstanding issue of high shipping rates. This has been the case since the republic was born. This obviously can’t go on. We need to find a solution for this constraint,” said Antonio Peralta, ECCP-Southern Mindanao Business Council chairman through Facebook messenger.

Peralta said addressing the shipping cost will make agricultural products in Mindanao competitive in terms of pricing for mar-

kets in Cebu and Manila.

“It is cheaper to send agricultural products to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan than sending the same products to Cebu and Manila. We will find out why we even have this problem unresolved in decades.

Perhaps more opening of the shipping industry to foreign shippers to serve domestic routes. But we have to know. We can’t really have the right kind of policy for the shipping industry to effectively lower their shipping costs. If we don’t know why the rates are still higher,” Peralta said.

The shipping cost, which is calculated by the shipping rate nautical per mile and basically used Manila as point of reference for the shipping port: Manila to Kaoshiung, $0.55 and Manila to Hong Kong is $0.39 but Manila to Davao is $0.97. Basically this ex-

cludes terminal fee and documentation fee.

“It accounts for around 13 percent of the total cost of transporting commodities from farms in Mindanao to domestic markets in the Visayas,” Peralta said.

Based on the data from the World Bank and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA): transport and cargo handling cost (inclusive of transport packaging) is 7.78 percent in Luzon; 9.40 percent in Visayas; and 10.93 percent in Mindanao; for warehousing (cost of running own warehouse or buying the service) is 3.94 percent for Luzon; 3.80 percent for Visayas; and 5.79 percent for Mindanao; inventory carrying cost (inclusive of cost of capital tied in inventory) is 4.17 percent for Luzon; 9.60 percent for Visayas; and 10.85 percent for Mindanao; logistics administration (10 percent of above cost) is 1.59 percent for Luzon; 2.28 percent for Visayas; and 2.76 percent for Mindanao; and the total logistics cost sales is 17.48 percent for Luzon; 25.08 percent for Visayas; and 30.32 percent for Mindanao.

Peralta admitted that the amendments on the

FLOGISTICS, P10

An office worker checks her Paymaya account using her mobile phone. The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas is optimistic about the further expansion of electronic

FPI to gov't: Save big businesses first

B

ig businesses are asking the government to first save their ranks from financial ruin before focusing its limited resources on countless much smaller and supposedly less economically viable enterprises amid the pandemic-spawned economic recession.

The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said large corporations have taken the brunt of the lockdown’s effect because their operations are more spread out across tightly guarded local jurisdictions.

“During (an) economic crisis, it is the big ones that are more devastated. However, big ones employ more people,” FPI chairman Jesus Arranza told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Arranza said big companies generally do not require cash support from the government but what they need today is to be

less restricted by new regulations arising from the quarantine.

Relaxing restrictions imposed on mass transportation ranks high on FPI’s wish list, he said, noting that now that selected enterprises are given the go signal to resume limited operations, their employees must likewise have the means to come to work.

“We manufacturers need workers (to be) physically present at the factories for anything to get done. Only those performing clerical functions can work from home,” Arranza said.

The FPI represents mainly the local manufacturing sector. Its membership includes the largest manufacturers of food, textiles, automotive, construction materials, and defense products in the country.

He also urged the Covid-19 Inter-Agency

Task Force (IATF) to rethink its directive allowing only a 50-percent resumption of operations on many companies because this may not be enough to ensure that they can run viably.

Arranza said firms may have to be examined on a case-to-case basis to find out at what level of operations they need to run to turn a profit.

“Manufacturers don’t need any stimulus package.

Just let them run freely, otherwise, they will die a natural death,” he added.

Meanwhile, business enterprises located in the town of Cainta, Rizal may be getting tax breaks soon, courtesy of the local government, to provide them a leg up following monthslong mandatory closures.

Entrepreneurs in this town in the fringes of Metro Manila have reportedly voiced out that their busi-

nesses have come to near bankruptcy because for nearly a quarter year, they logged zero income even while continuing to pay for overhead.

Cainta Mayor Keith Nieto said the Sangguniang Bayan (town council) is in the process of deliberating on the areas where tax relief can be extended to businessmen.

Nieto assured that the local business community would receive the support they desperately need to bounce back even as the town continues to be vigilant against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Cainta's current predicament is reportedly not unique among emerging business hubs around the metropolis, which are now struggling to recapture the economic momentum they were enjoying before the pandemic hit the country.

(PNA)

e-payments during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from mid-March to mid-May in Luzon and end-May in Metro Manila, among other areas, because of the expansion in the volume and value of transactions.

“This behavioral shift is easily accommodated because the policies, systems, and procedures were already set in place by the BSP and our supervised institutions in the

past year,” he said.

Diokno was referring to, among others, the national retail payment system (NRPS), the e-money framework, information technology risk management, and consumer protection framework.

“We are confident that consumers, having experienced the convenience, speed, transparency of e-payments will continue to use these services,” he said.

Two real-time electronic payment systems have been established under the BSP’s NRPS program – InstaPay and PESONet. InstaPay allows consumers to transfer funds up to PHP50,000 per transaction without limit daily while PESONet is a credit payment scheme for business-to-business and people-to-business transactions, such as

Strong e-payments growth in PH seen

B

angko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said he is optimistic about the further expansion of electronic payments in the country after consumers saw their benefits during the lockdown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Diokno said authorities consider as a success the rise in

FSTRONG, P10

payments in the country after consumers saw their benefits during the lockdown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis. Edge Davao

SMC opens Covid-19 testing facility for 70,000 workforce

S

an Miguel Corporation (SMC) on Thursday opened its Better World Edsa, a facility that houses the company’s own state-of-the-art Covid-19 RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) testing laboratory which aims to test some 70,000 employees in its network to unburden the health sector and help ensure a safe return-to-work strategy in the coming months.

Unveiling the marker for the new laboratory was SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Covid-19 Task Force deputy chief implementer, and testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon, and Department of Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega.

The Better World Edsa testing facility can process 4,000 tests per day, expandable to 12,000.

This is seen to help the government reach testing capacity to 50,000 per day, as well as ease the strain on the country’s testing and processing facilities.

It is equipped with two sets of RT-PCR machines and fully automated nucleic acid extraction systems or NATCH. A set comprises two PCR machines and one NATCH. This makes the facility one of the most ad-

vanced private testing laboratories in the country.

“Two weeks into the quarantine last March, we included the testing laboratory as part of our business continuity plan. We procured the machines, and had personnel undergo training for its full-scale operations,” Ang said.

Ang said the company aims to bring back 50 percent of its workforce in the coming weeks.

“With this facility, we are taking responsibility for testing our own employees and unburdening our health system. It also helps make our operations more resilient to disruptions brought about by the virus. Lesser disruptions on our operations will allow us to better contribute to the immediate recovery of the economy,” he added.

Before the shift to general community quarantine, SMC had already commenced testing its employees, prioritizing those in its food manufacturing facilities, to further stabilize the country’s food supply in the coming months.

Ang reiterated that companies should help the government with testing and reduce reliance on the already burdened system.

“It’s our contribution (to) the government’s effort to continuously test and trace Covid-19 transmission and contain it, as well as enable early intervention or treatment to

FSMC, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

BIGGER PICTURE

5

Suicide:

Extermination by oneself

I

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

t was around eight in the evening when a security guard heard a big bang at the entrance-exit of the parking lot of one of the biggest malls in Davao City. 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.

The victim was later identified as Nestor, who was only 26 years old. 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; 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.”)

A lady friend commented that he should not to do something drastic, he replied: “Dli ni sya dautan teh mao jud ni sya akong disisyon (This is not wrong, sister, this is really my decision).”

“Suicide is a tragic global public health problem,” the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out. “Worldwide, more people die from suicide than from all homicides and wars combined.”

One dies of suicide every 40 second In 2014, the Geneva-based World Health Organization published “Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative,” its first report on suicide as a public health issue. Suicide takes place as

often as every 40 second, the report said.

An earlier WHO report said the Philippines had suicide rates (per 100,000) of 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women. This fact may be appalling for Filipinos but the numbers are way too small compared to those in Western countries.

In fact, the Philippines has one of the world’s lowest suicide rates. The 2000 Philippine Health Statistics from the Department of Health (DOH) showed only 1.8 per 100,000 people to have inflicted harm on themselves.

In comparison, European countries had the highest figures which ranged from 30 to 42 per 100,000.

Suicide is a major contributor to premature mortality around the world.

Approximately 32% of the world’s suicides occur in Western Pacific region.

“While acknowledged as an important and neglected health issue, it 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.”

More male suicides According to their study, the incidence of suicide in males increased from 0.23 to 3.59 per 100,000 between

1984 and 2005. Similarly, rates rose from 0.12 to 1.09 per 100,000 in females.

Among females, suicide rates were highest among the age bracket of 15- to 24year olds; while in males, the rates were similar in all age groups throughout the study period.

The most commonly used methods of suicide were hanging, shooting and pesticide ingestion. In non-fatal attempts, the most common methods used were ingestion of drugs or pesticide ingestion. Family and relationship problems were the most common problems reported.

While suicide rates are low in the Philippines, there is an increase of suicide incidence among adolescents and young adults. Citing a report from the National Poison Management and Control Center of the Philippine General Hospital, Senator Joel Villanueva pointed out in one of the Senate hearings that 46% of the total suicide cases recorded since 2010 are from the youth.

According to the report, “30% of those who committed suicide are young adults (aged 20 to 35 years old) while the remaining 16% are teens (aged 10 to 19 years old).”

All in all, there may be more Filipinos who committed suicide that what is recorded. “Certainly, the actual rate in the Philippines is probably higher, with many doctors agreeing not to report deaths as suicides because of the stigma. But even if we could get the true figure, it would probably still be relatively low,” Dr. Michael Tan wrote in his weekly Philippine Daily Inquirer column.

Mental health issue Health experts consider suicide a mental health issue. Dr. Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte, a medical doctor who once studied psychology at the St. Paul University Manila, says mental health as a

vital part of a person’s total health.

“The problems on mental health contain not just the traditional mental health disorders but the issues of target populations susceptible to psychological risks caused by extreme life experiences such as disasters, near-death experiences, heinous and violent crimes, internal displacement brought about by religious and civil unrests as well as the psychosocial matters of daily living like preserving a sense of well-being in these complicated times,” said the Davao City councilor who has filed an ordinance entitled “Mental Health Code of 2016.”

Based on a survey conducted in 2000 by the National Statistics Office, mental illness is the third most common form of disability in the country – after visual and hearing impairments.

For every 100,000 Filipinos, about 88 of them suffer from mental illness due to heredity, psychosocial development and substance abuse.

“No health without mental health,” the Philippine Star said in its editorial after President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed the Mental Health Act (Republic Act No. 11036). It echoed the statement issued

by Dr. Brock Chisholm, the first director general of the World Health Organization, who happened to be a psychiatrist. “Without mental health,” he said, “there can be no true physical health.”

For a long time, mental health was regarded as something akin to quackery.

But thanks to the changing culture and social media, this thinking is now relegated to the past. It was culture that “played a big part” in the passage of the law after almost 30 years pending in Congress, according to Dr. Gia Sison, national adviser of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition.

Our past culture, she said, “was so laid back” that

people didn’t talk about it – although they knew that some Filipinos had the problem. Just like sex, it was a taboo to discuss the matter.

In recent years, this thinking was shattered. “(Today’s) youth have been vocal that they really pushed for this whole-heartedly and the need was really there,” Dr. Sison was quoted as saying in an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News channel. “Statistics were going up. Reported cases are more accurate now because of raised awareness.”

Thanks also to social media. “It raised awareness,” pointed out Jarvin Tan, the coalition’s director for education. “Back then, there weren’t as many spaces to talk about taboo or stigmatized things. But suddenly, there’s this big arena, you have social media.”

Given attention “Mental health is one aspect in the society that is not given utmost attention,” said then Senator Loren Legarda after the president signed the Mental Health Act, which seeks to provide affordable and accessible mental health services for Filipinos suffering from mental disabilities.

“With various societal issues that we are facing, we sometimes neglect to prioritize the mental health of every citizen of this nation without us knowing its effects on people’s day-to-day performance on education, employment, physical health and even relationships.

“Adding to the woes of those who are suffering from mental health illnesses is the shortage of qualified mental health professionals as well as the stigma being associated with it,” added Legarda in a statement.

At present, there are only an estimated 490 psychiatrists and 1,000 nurses working in psychiatric care, and even lesser general practitioners trained in early assessment and manage-

ment of common mental health problem in the community.

“The number of addiction specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, guidance counselors and social workers are extremely inadequate to meet the mental health needs of 100 million Filipinos,” Legarda deplored.

According to Legarda, there are only two mental hospitals, 46 outpatient facilities, four-day treatment facilities, 19 community-based psychiatric inpatient facilities and 15 community-residential (custodial home-care) facilities in the entire country.

Most of these facilities are not in the countryside.

“Almost all mental health facilities are in major cities,” Legarda said. In the National Capital Region, the only mental hospital houses only 4,200 beds.

COVID-19 Just recently, health experts are alarmed that many Filipinos would have mental health problems due to the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“With the alarming spread of COVID-19 and the sudden stringent health and safety measures being implemented across the country to contain the spread of virus, people have been reported to be suffering from anxiety, stress, and even depression,” Legarda noted.

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.

“Moreover, those who said the pandemic brought great stress are those who have jobs but were not receiving compensation and those who were laid off their jobs,” Legarda added. – ### (Photos taken from the net)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

On Republic Act No. 11479 or Anti-Terror Law: We confirm that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, today, 3 July 2020. As we have said, the President, together with his Legal Team, took time to study this piece of legislation weighing the concerns of different stakeholders. Terrorism, as we often said, strikes anytime and anywhere. It is a crime against the people and humanity; thus, the fight against terrorism requires a comprehensive approach to contain terrorist threat. The signing of the aforesaid law demonstrates our serious commitment to stamp out terrorism, which has long plagued the country and has caused unimaginable grief and horror to many of our people.Together, let us defeat terrorism and make our communities safe and secure under the rule of law.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL Layout/Cartoons

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

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA JASPER V. BACSAL OLIVIA D. VELASCO General ManagerPresident Advertising Specialist General Manager/Finance VP-Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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)

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 7373 • SUNDAY-MON-

VANTAGE POINTS

COMPETITIVE EDGE

7

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DAVAO STREETS AND THEIR COLONIAL PAST Streets may look like simple markers that direct commuters and travelers to their intended destinations. But more than that, they speak volumes about our colonial past and provide us a window of understanding on how early administrators planned and named our thoroughfares.

The Davao City map dated October 20, 1944, released by the U.S. months before Davao became the focus of intense aerial bombings, offers interesting clues, even unwritten anecdotes, of the streets that existed during the Commonwealth and wartime periods.

Before the Davao was dragged into the global conflict, there were only three city streets that were named after Americans. These were Edward R. Bolton, after the district governor who was assassinated in 1906; Frank W. Carpenter, after the governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu (191317); and George Washington, after the first American president (1789-97).

The first American honored

with a city street was Washington, a road stretching from the Bonifacio Monument at Magallanes street (now Capt. Antonio Pichon Sr.) to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). There was no Cabaguio Avenue yet to speak of. Bolton, eulogized by the legislative council of Moro Province after his death, was the first American soldier given a street-name in Davao, followed by Carpenter. Bolton Street, now Paciano Bangoy, was originally named Nueva, probably opened during the last decade of Spanish rule.

Interestingly, the original Carpenter Street was the road linking Santa Ana wharf to what is now known as Leon Ma. Guerrero Street. Exactly when the old Carpenter Street was reassigned to what is now Leon Ma. Garcia Street is something future research will surely unravel.

The same 1944 map also tells us that Rizal Street was arguably an American creation.

Prior to American occupation, that road did not exist. A 1903 road sketch done by Rev.

Franklin Black, the first American Protestant pastor in Davao, shows that at the time Rizal Street was a short trail that linked Claveria Street to an area where Metrobank now stands.

Black’s road plan also tells us that the primary roads in 1903 were limited to Fernando Magallanes, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Simon de Anda y Salazar, Narciso Claveria y Zaldua, Jose Uyanguren y Cruz, and San Pedro Streets. All are Spanish or Hispanized names chiefly named after conquerors. Cortez Street, which was an unnamed trail at the time, reached only as far as Ponciano Reyes Street, now Cayetano Bangoy. Everything else in present-day Vicente Ilustre Street and the peripheral areas in the north were all rice lands.

In the 1944 map, Cortez and Escario, both Spanish conquerors. were already introduced as street names. Hernan Cortez de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano was the conqueror of Mexico and the Aztec Empire while Federico Escario y Garcia was the subjugator of Cuba.

In the post-war period, presumably due to rising patriotism, officials committed to revive the city from ruins opened new roads and named them in honor of Filipino heroes. Consequently, you find national icons such as Andres Bonifacio, Miguel Malvar, and Antonio Luna interlinked and getting their credit in city streets. Before liberation, Bonifacio was the alternate name of Piapi. The old Hospital Avenue, meanwhile, stretched from Acacia area to SPMC. Part of it is now officially called J. P. Laurel Avenue.

Beyond these extant streets, the 1944 map also gives us an idea where many of the iconic structures and landmarks in prewar period were situated. For instance, the main public market, which occupied the space now used by University Mall, was along C.M. Recto Street.

The other landmarks not spared from the conflict were the Spanish Club (just across the original site of Ideal theatre); Carriedo’s (at Tagumpay theatre site), Davao Japan As-

An immersive opportunity:

sociation (where University of Mindanao tower stands), Filipino Club (near the old Puericulture Center across Osmeña Park), Helen’s Hotel (barbecue stalls at Bolton-Magallanes streets); Davao Autobus Co. terminal (old Davao Motor Sales at Bankerohan), the cockpit (inside the block fronting the Bankerohan flower market), Davao Lumber Yard (between Monteverde and Uyanguren streets), ‘Radio’ Theatre (Lizada Street area), Awad building (where Development Bank of the Philippines and Maguindanao Hotel stand), and Davao Club (on a strip linking J. P. Laurel and Quirino streets).

Moreover, the original length of Alvarez Street, then unnamed, stretched from Oyanguren to Iñigo Street at what is known informally as Rosemarie Street or 6th Street. The Japanese school was housed in a structure built at the UMBolton grounds and across it, the UM Multi-test Center, was where the Japanese consulate stood.

MCM launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020 HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

M

MCM’s online ed by MCM. MIGRAINE matics, Business, may proceed to alayan Colleges MindCOVID-19 TRIGGERS ATTACKS anao, a Mapúa School learning tools In order for Humanities and this link: https:// such as Blackto theSocial Sciences, announced first Dig- migraine Stress and anxiety induced its “Unfortunately, triggers.

I have toparticipants take a strong pocrates, father of medicine, shock,bit.ly/MCMDIGIphysical exertion, a blow by the coronavirus disease is widely misunderstood and medicine and take a nap before was familiar with its symptoms. to theTALBOOTCAMP head, some foods, and board Learn, maximize the and Basic Edital Learning 2020, 2019 (COVID-19) haveBootcamp been misconceptions abound,” Dr. showtime, so I could ease my However, it was Greek physi- some drugs,” says the Guide Blackboard ucation for inand follow the found to triggerall migraine ReginaCollege Macalintal-Canlas, pres- migraineColand beonline able to per-learning cian Galen who called it “hemito Prescription and Over-theinviting SHSat- and tacks. ident of the Philippine Headform my role as host.” crania,” which, loosely translatCounter Drugs. laborate, Mic- experience, they coming Grade 11 subsequent inA social media analysis ache to Society, was quoted as Generally, migraine strikes ed, means half a head.

Some studies show that students in Mindanao experosoft 365, Mineed students; structions and done by Novartis found that saying. “People living with mi- women.

In fact,will seventy per- a de“It alludes to the fact thatBasic a migraine can be hereditary.

Up rience the first fully integratthe stress and anxiety brought graine may experiencecrosoft a lack centTeams, of migrainevice sufferers are migraine typically affects only to 90 percent of sufferers have such as a Algebra, Gener- link to the “MCM about by the COVID-19 pan- of empathy from employers female. In 2006, Janet Jackson one side of the head – usually a family history of the condied learning system in frequent Zoom, cancelled Panopto, computer unit,the al Busiaccount demic online have generated migraine and colleagues when a number of concerts around eye –Physics, and caused by tion. Digital” The father of Gonzalez, attacks in patients all over the migraine attacks prevent them due to migraine.

In her book, changes in the blood vessels,” for instance, is also a sent the region — MCM Digital — Wiley Plus, and laptop or a tab- ness and Man- that will bemigraine world. The analysis took a clos- from delivering optimal work Coal Miner’s Daughter, Loretta Philip Goldberg and the Editors sufferer. “If your parents are and internet agement, through thea and the opportunity er look get at 3,645 posts (in En- outputs.” to use Cengage LynnLearnwrote aboutlet; her migraine of Prevention Magazine wroteand migraine sufferers, there’s glish), mostly on Twitter, from The Geneva-baseding World attacks while on stage. in Pain Remedies.

75% chance you’ll acquire the connectivity ofThe atpainP may ro gbera m m i n g email address MCM’s powerful learn- (WHO)to complete March 15 to April 15, 2020 thatonline Health Organization Other famous migraine sufaccompa- disease,” Dr. Macalintal said. learning leastSharon 1 Mbps and andCoding provided upon mentioned migraine.

King- ferers tasks are Carly Simon, niedfor by nausea vomiting for Most people require preingThetools for FREE! reports that in the United overlapping of mi- dom alone, some 25 million Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow, Whoo- and preceded by an hour of scription medication to redesigned for in- asynchronous incoming college your

registra-

graine and COVID-19 symp- working-or school-days are lost pi Goldberg, Lisa Kudrow, Vir- more of other symptoms, like lieve migraines. A doctor may This themselves inof migraine. coming ginia Grade 11Serena sessions at or students.

A full tion.either prophylactic toms – such as Digital headache, nauevery year because Woolf, Williams, and numbness weakness on one prescribe sea and vomiting – was the Ninety percent of people report and Elizabeth Taylor. side of the body that marches (preventive) abortive medLearning Boot- the first fully in- and 1st Year Col- least 2 Mbps for course on Math, Foror any addimain stressor among migraine they cannot work or function Males, however, are not up the arm, leg or face over the ication, depending on the frecamp be tegrated onlineaccording lege tostudents. s y n cInhhis r o ncourse o u sof minutes.

Humanities, tional inquiries sufferers, thewill study showed. with a migraine, spared from migraine.

Occasional-and quency and severity of the at“Due to these overlapping Migraine Research Foundation. autobiography, This Is Me, ly, speech may be impaired, and tacks. held on June 1 to learning system These tasks sessions.

Social Science “Prophylactic about thedrugs MCM symptoms, migraine sufferThe Journal of Headache Olympic gold medalist Ian the attack may be disabling. are 13, 2020 is in Mindanao. will be delivFamiliarizawillaalso be made ers feared they and had COVID-19, and Pain singled out migraine Thorpe, admitted he has miSometimes, migraine is takenDigital on a dailyLearning basis, while which triggeredas migraine as the third most common dis- graine. British reality TV judge preceded by an aura – visu- abortive drugs are taken only described an at- The particered tion for with on- available 2020, tacks,” Novartis said in a press ease in the world – after dental in Simoneither Cowell is noted hav- the al distortions such as blurred for whenBootcamp a migraine occurs,” says release. “Limited exaccess ipants to caries and head- ing a migraine attack system which vision zigzagging lights. Dr. Jerome Goldstein, immersive willtension-type be synchronous or line andanddemonstration please feel director free clinic visits and migraine med- ache. The estimated global caused him to miss five hours- This “announcement” of a of the San Francisco Headache perience inside given access to asynchronous tools willof initiate the bootications due to the coronavirus prevalence is 14.7% – that’s worth of auditions from one migraine’s during pending arrival is Clinic.to email at adlockdown and fear of infection around oneonline in 7 people.learninghis TV shows. neverafwelcome: It foretells in“Migraine patients and MCM’s Online MCM’s ses- the program, camp period. missions@mcm. increased the risk of patients’ When migraines attack, it The following famous men capacitating pain that can last their neurologists should disLearning learning portal, sions allow for from ter migraine: which, anywhere par- fromTo register or conmigraine to worsen,Syswhich furcan be chilling.

“It’s very dif-toalso suffer a few hours to cuss edu.ph treatment goals, which ther induced stress and anxificult to be a migraine sufferHugh Jackman, Ben Affleck, several days. should not be limited stoptem, aiming to “MCM Digital” participants to ticipants will be for this activity tact +63918to918 ety.” er,” admits television host and Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, The sad thing is that med- ping the headache attack but demonstrate andaround where get“My a feel for S.the se- and get a what chance 1626, +63999 In the Philippines, modelthey Bianca can Gonzalez.

Ulysses Grant,allowed Charles Dar- toical science doesn’t know to prevent recurrence,” Dr. Ma12 million Filipinos suffer from worst migraine attacks last win, Thomas Jefferson, Miguel causes migraine until now. calintal stated.

“Newer give participants explore and get different modal- lect short learn- to win amazing 227 7493, treator migraine, the Global Burden of three days. Whenever I had to de Cervantes, Julius Caesar, and “The exact cause of migraine is ment on preventive managean opportunihands-on ities remote on but prizes, interest+63917recurrence831 Disease Study 2016 showed. host showsexpeand events, there ofSigmund Freud. ing modules unknown, an attack may be ment addresses and This is alarming as suffering were bright lights and loud Migraine has been around triggered by emotional factors, other limitations of oral medity to immerse rience utilizing learning provid- General Mathe- ed participants 8048. from migraine is no joke. sounds, which are all migraine for more than 2000 years. Hip- including excitement, tension, cations.” – ###

8 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

LIVING

Journaling can be therapeutive. Don’t know where to start? How about by writing down what you’re grateful for each day? Gratitude goes a long way. Photo by Gabrielle Henderson.

IT’S BEEN a little over four months of community quarantine. Nobody has the answer how long this will last or when we can finally have our normal lives back.

A personal question I’ve been meaning to answer, probably also the questions a lot of us have (especially those who have booked flights this year) is what will travel be like after the coronavirus peaks? Will we be traveling at all?

Like you, I don’t have the answers YET. I’ll be mulling over these questions and doing some research. But for now, let’s continue where we left off last week and why I believe this quarantine season is good. Hopefully, you’ll be able to count your own blessings and privileges in these less than opportune times.

Start new habits One thing I never had the time for or even the knowledge that it was good for me was making my own infusion tea in the morning. After some research on the best, cheapest, most natural tea, that’s high on vitamin C and other bonus nutrients, I discovered lemon ginger tea.

Tea and a good old book you missed reading_ Perfect to spend the days while the quarantine is still effective. Photo by Loverna Journey.

LIFE IN A WORLD OF SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN A COMMUNITY QUARANTINE IS THE BEST THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU: PART 2

Time to whip out your hobbies or try a new one!

Photo by Steve Johnson.

I have one every morning before breakfast and sometimes I have it throughout the day. It’s versatile! You can have it hot or cold and without any sweeteners but I’ve found adding a dash of turmeric makes it spicy and a dab sweet.

If you’re out of lemon (which happens at smaller groceries), you can add five squeezed out kalamansi. Drink

the squeezed juice before putting the slices of lemon or kalamansi in your hot drink to get all the vitamin c.

Spend time pursuing passion projects or doing the things you used to have no time for This is similar to what I wrote above except that, this one is something I’m sure we’ve all had a list of. Those things

that we keep saying “I’d love to do it if I had more time!”—now you have the time for it. Read a book, write a journal entry, cook a new dish, use that something you bought but never opened or used fully. There are so many things we can do now that we have the time to do it.

I personally will start learning website development but more on

the visual and design aspect since I have no background in coding and all that computer lingo. Also since turning plant-based, I’ve grown to know a ton more recipes making my favorite dishes from scratch.

Start exploring sustainable travel for the next time we can all travel again For sure, we can all

travel again. The question is when and how.

Now that the earth has had a chance to breathe more cleanly in the last decade, let’s continue the clean streak.

For the meantime, choose domestic travel over going abroad.

Support our local businesses who have suffered the most during the pandemic. Staycations aren’t a bad idea and if you’re like me, still reeling financially from the lack (or loss) of work, long weekends would be favored over the usual week-long vacations.

Nature can humble us any time and in any way Perhaps it’s the natural balance of things, a natural world order when things start to go out of balance. There has to be some drastic action done to reverse the damage.

Sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie? Well, this is the reality now, and it’s only going to be a firmer reality when we don’t listen and take action.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

WHO... FROM3

9

tracing.

But in areas where the virus is spreading uncontrollably, strict measures could be unavoidable, he said.

"If countries proceed with opening up without the capacity to cope with

the likely caseload, then you end up in a worst-case scenario," Ryan warned.

"If the health system stops coping, more people will die."

He said there could be places in Mexico and in other countries "where it

may be important to slow down or to reverse some of the measures aimed at opening up society."

"It is looking at: can you control transmission by any other means other than transmission? If you can't, you may not have an

alternative" to lockdown.

In the case of Brazil, which counts almost 1.5 million confirmed cases, second only to the United States, Ryan meanwhile said that the numbers had "stabilised", meaning they are no longer rising as

steeply, but they are "still rising".

He also stressed that despite "fighting a large number of cases for a long time now," Brazil's hospitals and intensive care units had not yet been overwhelmed.

"We want to see them intensify efforts and we want to see more progress," he said, "but we also have to pay credit to the health system in Brazil for its capacity to cope for what has been a long battle against this virus."

of Anthony Davis getting into foul trouble, proved surprisingly fruitful. The key to containing the MVP is keeping him away from the basket and effectively contesting him once there.

James, bulkier in this later stage of his career, did so effectively. Giannis could not overpower him as a driver.

Nor could he do so in post-up situations.

Giannis was so seemingly rattled by LeBron’s defense that it seeped into his decision-making. With James on him, he simply didn’t muster his typical aggressiveness.

For the game, Giannis shot 2-of-8 from the field with LeBron on him, but 8-of-13 against the rest of the Lakers. James is the rare defender who can hold up both physically and mentally against Antetokounmpo. He’s strong enough to deter him, long enough to contest him, and smart enough to lead him into the right places defensively. The Lakers may have mimicked the popular wall-building strategy others have employed against Giannis, but having LeBron to shepherd him into that wall made it noticeably more effective.

Even when faced one-onone, though, he more than held his own against the NBA’s best power forward.

That is a key distinction.

While James rarely takes on the toughest opposing matchup defensively, the rare occasions that he has proven successful against power forwards. Weeks earlier, LeBron spent much of the fourth quarter in a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans hounding Zion Williamson (with Davis out due to injury).

The same general principles applied. James did an excellent job of keeping Zion away from the basket and settling for jumpers, but when he did attack, LeBron surrendered no ground and played great defense at the basket. The Lakers are so big that LeBron doesn’t often need to defend power forwards, but when he has, he has proven that his physicality is one of his best defensive traits.

He hasn’t had the same success in matchups based more on finesse. The Clippers game wasn’t nearly as kind to LeBron. To put it frankly, Kawhi Leonard roasted him. James didn’t spend the entire game on

Leonard, but what became clear in the minutes he did was that Kawhi is too quick for LeBron at this stage of his career.

When the totality of the Laker rim-protection proved too strong, Leonard had no trouble negotiating the small spaces his reflexive advantage over James granted him in the middle of the floor to soar into clean mid-range looks.

This isn’t to say that James was bad defensively for the entire game. He contributed quite a bit as a helper, switched effectively, and generally played a positive role in his team’s overall effort. But one-onone against Kawhi, he was overmatched.

Leonard shot 5-of-6 from the field with LeBron on him in that game.

Struggling against Kawhi is nothing to be ashamed of. No defense has yet cracked the Leonard puzzle, and as he has evolved into a strong passer, teams can’t even double him safely anymore. For the year, Kawhi is averaging 30.7 points on 53.6 percent shooting against the Lakers. This is not exclusively a LeBron problem, but the

idea that there could be a LeBron solution in the playoffs now seems optimistic.

Winning a championship is going to necessitate beating him and perhaps a facsimile or two at some point, and the film suggests LeBron, at the age of 35, is no longer suited for that specific task. If he struggled against Kawhi once, in a regular-season game, how would he fare playing extra minutes across seven consecutive playoff games?

There isn’t a simple answer to the Kawhi problem, but there’s a tweak that will help against everyone else.

We know LeBron’s best offensive position is power forward. The concept is simple: sliding him and Davis up a spot increases spacing by subbing a shooter in for a center. If the evidence now points to LeBron being a better defender at power forward as well, then logic dictates that should be, if not his full-time postseason position, then at least his primary one.

There were markers pointing in that direction anyway. Most contenders downsize in the playoffs for both spacing and athletic purposes. Losing Avery

Bradley as a point-of-attack defender was going to make it harder for the Lakers to take advantage of their size defensively anyway. Dwight Howard has not confirmed whether or not he will play at Disney, and there is no telling what impact JaVale McGee’s asthma will have on his own availability. The Lakers have outscored opponents by a blistering 15.8 points per 100 possessions with James at power forward, according to Cleaning the Glass.

Strategically, this simplifies matchups against the power forwards James might need to defend oneon-one, like Giannis and Zion, but in more typical matchups, allows him to remain in his off-ball role.

Bradley’s absence potentially accentuates it. Without him to chase ball-handlers over screens, the Lakers would be better-served switching more heavily defensively, especially with bigger guards like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso ideally absorbing his minutes.

Such a maneuver would be welcomed by Leonard. Isolation scorers are kryptonite to switch-

heavy schemes, but an elite team-defender like James mitigates the damage.

While switching may empower Leonard, it makes life harder for the rest of his team. This was, in a nutshell, the strategy that the Houston Rockets twice used to nearly topple the Golden State Warriors: let Kevin Durant shoot a bunch of typically inefficient jumpers and make everyone else miserable. If Kawhi scores 50 against a series of bad matchups? Then more power to him, he deserves to win.

The Lakers will tinker with a number of looks against Kawhi. They’ve done so through three regular-season games and haven’t yet found a favorable look. That included the supposed nuclear option of letting LeBron try his hand at guarding him one-onone, and even that failed.

But his success all season, and against Giannis, makes it clear that he is better in a different role anyway.

James’ already impressive defense is likely going to get even better in the playoffs, but maximizing it will require the smartest possible use of his talents.

LAKERS... FROM11

10 EDGEDAVAO EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PABLO M. UNGAB JR.has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE leaving the following real and personal properties described as follows: TCT No. 161-2014000023, A.Soriano Corporation Common Stocks executed among his Heirs-Vendor, per Doc. No 59; PageNo.13; Book No.83 Series of 2019, of the NOTARY PUBLIC NEIL B. JAO

PRRD... FROM2

itary and police officials, as well as government officials, at the Edwin Andrews Air Base.

It was the first time

he met with government troops since the country was hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. (PNA)

before the Supreme Court.

Progressive group Bayan Muna last month said it was "researching" its next legal step if Duterte approved the law in which the definition of terrorism is allegedly vague and could strengthen the government's campaign against critics.

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio in June

also urged the public to "all work to have the objectionable provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act invalidated by the Supreme Court or repealed by Congress."

Government officials say alarm about the law is overblown, citing provisions that exempt "advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work... not intended to cause death or serious physical harm."

crediting of salaries to employees’ accounts.

Earlier, the central bank said transactions that use the InstaPay platform registered a volume of about 8.86 million last April, up by about 509,151 percent compared to 1,740 when it was launched in April 2018.

PESONet transactions, in turn, totaled 1.08 million last April from about 330,000 when it went live in November 2017.

The BSP aims to in-

crease the share of digital payments to about 50 percent of total transactions by 2023.

Diokno said the pandemic highlighted the importance of digital financial services, hence, the bid to increase digital literacy among Filipinos.

“As the BSP intensifies (the) implementation of digitalization and financial inclusion policies, we are confident that the surge in e-payment transactions will continue,” he added. (PNA)

World of Sports Complex with 22 teams vying for playoff berths. Miami's first game will be on Aug. 1 against the Denver Nuggets.

The Heat joined a list

of NBA teams that reportedly have shut down practice facilities due to coronavirus cases in the past few weeks, along with the Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets.

something' or 'we've been trying'. They need to try harder because it is still a big issue that the world is fighting 60 years later, after Martin Luther King was fighting for it and gave his life."

Hamilton was slow to join the early fray in earnest on Friday in first free practice, not clocking a "timed" lap until 30 minutes into the 90-minute session, but he swiftly went top of the times half a second clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

McLaren's Lando Norris was a second adrift in third ahead of Ferrari-bounf team-mate Carlos Sainz on the damp track at the Red Bull Ring, following overnight rain.

The action signalled the return of Formula One for the first time in seven months – albeit behind closed doors and under strictly regulated conditions -- after the original season-opener in Australia was cancelled in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANTI-TERROR... FROM2

STRONG... FROM4

HEAT... FROM11

FORMULA... FROM11

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

DITO says it’s on track for March 2021 comm’l launch

T

hird telco player DITO Telecommunity Corp. on Friday said it is on track to have its commercial launch or the onboarding of subscribers

by March 2021 despite being given an extension to satisfy its commitment to the government, which it earlier said will be unlikely met on the July 8 deadline.

“We are moving heaven and earth to make that happen,” DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano told reporters in a virtual press conference.

“We will make our services available. If not earlier, the March 2021 date, that is the latest,” he said.

Tamano made the statement after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) extended the July technical audit on DITO due to

the delay caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the current extension, DITO is given within six months to deliver the commitments for the technical audit requirements- that is to provide a speed of 27 megabits per second to cover 37% percent of the population, which is supposed to be on July 8.

According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology, most of the scheduled material supplies from China such as fiber cables, DC containers, base stations, towers, and telecom ancillaries failed to arrive as scheduled causing delays in the company’s roll-out.

Under the provisions of the DITO’s Certificate of Public Convenience and

Necessity, the company must meet its voluntary commitments every year for the first five years of operations, else lose its P24 billion performance bond.

To achieve a 37% network coverage, DITO committed to put up a total of 1,300 cellular towers across the country.

On Wednesday, DITO said it has 1,300 towers in construction, but only 300 of which are already live, givingdifficulty to meet the July 8 deadline.

During the virtual briefing, DITO chief technology officer Rodolfo Santiago said the 300 active towers or cell sites cover 9% of the population.

“The population coverage of 37 percent, we can achieve that late October,” Santiago said.

“Two weeks from now, ‘yung 300 na ‘yung they will become 500... everyday we start construction in several sites,” he said.

Santiago explained that construction was also affected by work stoppage amid the enhanced community quarantine, but since restrictions are easing the company can fasttrack the network build up.

Metro Manila and other “high-risk” areas were placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to May 15, followed by a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31.

A general community quarantine (GCQ) was put in place from June 1 to 15, and has since been extended until July 15.

that there a jobs that are productive despite the fact that you’re just at home since you can use the internet to submit your work output…for example data entry jobs, graphics and design jobs, virtual as-

sistants, editing, drawing or content writing,” Ayala said in the vernacular.

The advantage of said job opportunities is that job seekers, once armed with the proper skill sets, will have access to a wider

job market since employment will no longer be limited to their respective localities.

“The advantage of this [online job] is since they [workers] will not be limited to employers within

Davao City. They may have employers who are residing at the other side of the world,” Ayala said in the vernacular when discussing a wider range of opportunities for online job seekers. (PIA XI/KPLCaro)

They were disarmed and placed under the custody of the Sulu police.

Duterte guaranteed that the relieved cops would be held accountable if probe results show that they committed a mistake in the shooting incident.

“I’m giving you my word of honor that the investigation will proceed to find out the truth, unbridled by anybody. Walang makialam at yung totoo lang. ‘Yun ang maaasahan

niyo (No one will interfere and we will stick to the truth. You can expect that).

At kung sinuman ang may kasalanan (Whoever has committed a mistake), then he has to pay for it,” he said.

Help each other For now, personnel of the AFP and PNP should help each other, Duterte said.

He reminded the military that they would need the police.

“We need the police

diyan sa labas (there) because you take care of insurgency and the more serious problems of the country involving law and order.

Itong mga pulis na ito (The police), they have the purpose there and we need them. The Republic of the Philippines needs them,” the President said.

Policemen, he said, would likewise need the help of soldiers.

“Police would also need you,” Duterte said. “Impor-

tanteng ma-imbestiga at (It’s important to investigate the incident and make sure) justice is rendered.

But walain ninyo ang hatred kasi it has no place sa atin (But stop the hatred because it has no place in us). We cannot take revenge.”

He also told the government troops that the “real enemy” of the state are the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf group.

(PNA)

Cabotage Law regulating the shipping industry has reduced the shipping cost, but very little.

“If it is a market concern, then perhaps more competition with the entry of foreign vessels serving domestic routes may be needed. But then again we need to validate these,” he said.

Peralta said this was the same advocacy he pushed with former Presidential Assistant of Mindanao Paul Dominguez, however, this

remained almost the same like in a static position after almost three decades.

“I couldn’t understand why but really its either inefficiency or just plain common pricing implemented by local shipping companies,” he said.

Peralta cited MinDA that states that the shipping industry facilitates 98 percent of domestic inter-island trade accounts for about 80 million tons of cargoes every year, including agri-fishery products,

facilitates the movement of over 40 million Filipinos and foreign tourists within the country.

The second of the series of Business Conference on Logistics, ECCP has organized the first logistics conference in the Visayas-Mindanao Region last January 31, 2020 wherein logistics bottleneck, demographics, characteristics of the market, and opportunities in the Visayas and Mindanao were discussed.

Also one of the prob-

lems identified in the first conference is the high shipping cost.

“The preliminary results indicated that there is a need to lower the shipping costs and undertake a more systematic approach in shipping commodities from Mindanao to Cebu and Manila. The inclusion of shipping companies in Manila will further validate what we suspect. This could be the case where shipping cartels are present,” Peralta said.

save lives,” he said.

Ang added: “The country and the rest of the world are still feeling the effects of the pandemic on the economy, particularly on businesses and loss of jobs for many of our fellowmen. We have to take more aggressive steps in addressing the virus and make sure that no more lives and livelihood are lost further."

Dizon commended SMC for taking the lead in helping rebuild confidence in

the economy by putting up its own laboratory and testing all its employees.

Galvez echoed the same sentiment as he and the other government officials present underwent swab tests for Covid-19 to signify the laboratory’s official start of operations.

The SMC lab is capable of continuous testing and processing of results.

Among the personnel running the facility are molecular pathologists, medical

technicians, data managers, and lab aides.

Ang earlier batted to make testing available at little or no cost, particularly for the most vulnerable communities.

In line with this, SMC has donated swab booths as well as PCR testing kits equivalent to 34,000 tests to 17 Metro Manila LGUs. The company also provided three sets of RT-PCR testing machines and RNA machines to key govern-

ment hospitals, aside from the five sets of the same machines donated to the Department of Health, which also received testing kits equivalent to 20,000 tests.

It also donated 55 sets of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) machines for the use of severely-ill Covid-19 patients to the government and 10 quarantine facilities each with a 15-bed capacity beside military camp hospitals nationwide. (PR)

SKILLS... FROM2 PRRD... FROM3

LOGISTICS... FROM4

SMC... FROM4

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

11

Heat end workouts after 2nd positive COVID-19 test

T Experts say Lebron James’defense could be the key to the Lakers’success in the playoffs.

he NBA logo is displayed as people pass by the NBA Store in New York City, U.S., October 7, 2019. Brendan McDermid, Reuters/File The Miami Heat closed their practice facility for training after a second player tested positive for the coronavirus, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

Derrick Jones Jr. was identified as testing positive last week, but the name of the latest player to contract COVID-19 was not reported.

According to the Miami Herald, the latest player to

test positive was placed in quarantine but is still expected to be ready to join the team for the season's restart. The newspaper also reported that a Heat staff member tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week.

The Heat reportedly will not train again in Miami before heading to the Orlando area next week ahead of the resumption of NBA action, but they will continue to test players at their South Florida facility.

Play is due to begin July 30 at the ESPN Wide

He almost never leaves his feet. He can cover enough ground to get a hand in almost anyone’s face, but he rarely sells out for the sake of a single play.

LeBron doesn’t need to exhaust himself on a nightly basis by making highlight plays. Most of the time, consistently steady defense is more than enough for these Lakers.

Emphasis on most, because as the stakes rise against elite opponents, LeBron is inevitably going to be asked to do more.

Proof of that came just before the NBA season shut down. In two of their final three games, the Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers over the course of a

single weekend. They held arguably the NBA’s two best teams to 103 points, each, and LeBron taking on a greater defensive role played a big part in each.

Despite usually guarding weaker scorers, James defended reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for most of the win over the Bucks and reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard for portions of the win over the Clippers. James drew widespread praise for his defense in both matchups.

The truth is a bit more complicated, however, and suggests the Lakers should make a rather significant strategic change.

The Giannis matchup, which came as the result

FHEAT, P10

What the Lakers can learn from LeBron James’ signature defensive performances this season

L

eBron James mastered the art of pacing himself with the Cleveland Cavaliers. For all four years of his second tour of duty with his hometown team, James essentially spent his regular seasons as a designated hitter. He relaxed defensively in order to preserve his aging body for offense knowing that when spring rolled around, he could dial things up and turn himself back into a stopper. A few unflattering lowlight reels notwithstanding, the plan worked.

Cleveland made the NBA Finals four years in a row.

The Lakers would like to emulate those results, and in doing so, have adopted a form of Cleveland’s

strategy. In terms of effort and effectiveness, James’ defense this season is leaps and bounds ahead of where

he was in Cleveland. The numbers bear that out. He ranks seventh in the entire NBA in Defensive Win Shares, 13th in Defensive Box Plus-Minus and 17th in Defensive Real Plus-Minus.

The Lakers are 3.6 points per 100 possessions better defensively with him on the floor. In an anonymous poll of NBA coaches taken

by The Athletic, he even garnered four All-Defense votes. LeBron has been stellar defensively this season, but he has done so within a role designed to preserve the majority of his energy for offense.

LeBron almost never guards the best opposing scorer outside of the occasional switch. More often, he’s hunkered down in the

Formula 1 season roars back, Hamilton bares new suit, helmet

L

ewis Hamilton unveiled a new Black Lives Matter helmet design on Friday, as Formula One roared back to life in the Styrian Alps in opening practice at the belated and surreal season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

The six-time champion, who has been an outspoken supporter of the campaign for equality and diversity since the death of American George Floyd last month, revealed the statement helmet before climbing into his Mercedes in anger for the first time this year.

His new helmet is predominantly black and the

branding includes a logo for Black Lives Matter, the anti-racism campaign that sparked worldwide demonstrations following Floyd's death, under the knee of a police officer, in Minneapolis.

Hamilton's Mercedes W11 car was also running in revised new black livery, instead of the team's traditional silver, with a message to "end racism" on the halo.

"For a long time, we've been planning for the livery change for the car, for the (driver) suit change and I have also designed my helmet in black," said Hamilton, speaking on a video released on social

media.

"Normally, my helmet is white, my suit is white and obviously the car is in silver…. This is why – it's the whole reason that the helmet has changed its colour and the suit and the car.

"It's supporting equality, above all, and just really continuing to solidify that important message as we currently have 'the mic' and people are starting to listen. So, it's an opportunity to push that message and really hold people accountable.

"It's not good enough, even if someone says to you 'we've been doing

the result came back today and I am positive," he said.

"So my family and I will be quarantining ourselves for the next 14 days."

Aung La, a Florida-based Burmese, said he experienced COVID-19 symptoms for 2 days.

"I had a slight fever, congestion, body ache and fatigue on the first two days.

Besides that, I am blessed

that my whole family is doing well. We are really in this together and we will get over this," he said.

The last time Aung La fought in ONE Championship was in October, when he defended one of his titles against Filipino champion Brandon Vera.

He knocked out Vera in 2 rounds to retain the ONE light heavyweight crown.

corner on a lesser threat, which allows him to serve primarily as a help defender. He’s excelled in that role, particularly as a rim-protector.

Opposing players know this, and they try to avoid challenging James when possible. His mere presence combined with his generally easier assignments has made him a deterrent.

Watch Jayson Tatum consider attacking the rim in transition before eyeing LeBron in his path and thinking better of it.

This role is essential defensively, but it’s not overly taxing, and LeBron has married it with some conservative tactics of his own.

Watch the way he has largely closed out this season.

FFORMULA, P10

ONE champion tests positive for Covid-19

M

ixed martial arts champion Aung La N Sang said he has caught COVID-19 and is now undergoing quarantine with his family in the United States.

The 2-division ONE titlist revealed the development on Instagram.

"Dear family and friends, I got tested for covid-19 on Monday and

Lewis Hamilton unveiled a new Black Lives Matter helmet design on Friday.

FLAKERS, P9

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 73 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JULY 5-6, 2020

EXTRA CAUTION Fernandez says PSC will await IATF guidelines

P

hilippine Sports Commission officer-in-charge Ramon Fernandez said the agency is awaiting more information from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 on the joint working group between GAB, DOH and PSC. “We shall await more information and instructions from the IATF on the joint working group between GAB, DOH and PSC so we can proceed more efficiently and effectively,” Fernandez, a member of the PSC Board, said in a statement.

“We plan to meet with POC and CDM Nonong Araneta to discuss the resumption of training on the national team, especially the Olympic hopefuls,” Fernandez, who took the reins on July 1 from PSC Chairman on-leave William “Butch” Ramirez, said.

Meantime, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) welcomed the government’s announcement that allows teams to practice again, as this will boost efforts to hold live games eventually.

“Natutuwa kami sa naging pahayag ng gobyerno tungkol rito,” PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said.

The PBA executive said he did not expect the announcement to come out so soon, but nevertheless he said it is crucial for the league that was forced to suspension when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Marcial expects teams to return to formal practices by the final week of July, as he is scheduled to meet with the PBA governors within the next few days.

However, nothing bars PBA players from holding practices as long as they follow the protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Effective immediately na ‘yan, sinabi nila na

City Sports Development Office (CSDO) personnel inspect the Beefit Gym prior to its re-opening last Friday. Gym owner and fitness instructor Vicky Javier (left) answers questions from the inspecting team in this photo. pwedeng mag-practice na ang basketball, football at boxing,” he said. “So kami naman sisimulan naman din namin ‘yung protocols.

Dahan-dahan lang muna, susunod naman doon ‘yung scrimmages.”

The approval boosted the league’s chances of

holding at least a single basketball conference this year.

The league has previously submitted a plan to the Inter Agency Task Force to allow PBA teams to resume training in small groups. The proposal included regular testing and limited number of people

present during the practices.

“Hopefully makakabalik na tayo by September to October,” said Marcial.

But the PBA executive said he will still meet Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and PBA draftee Adrian Wong on Monday

to get their side regarding their participation in a recent basketball practice.

The practice, which also included Isaac Go and Thirdy Ravena, took place before the ITAF’s easing of restrictions on basketball.

“Magkikita pa rin kami sa Monday,” he said.